My Father, My Father - Sam Soleyn

Transcription

My
Father!
Father!
My
My
Father!
Father!
My
SAM
SOLEYN
W I T H
N I C H O L A S
S O L E Y N
Copyright - 2012 – Sam Soleyn and Nicholas Soleyn
Publisher – Soleyn Publishing LLC and eGenCo. LLC
All rights reserved. This book is protected by the copyright laws of the United States of America. This book
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page copying for personal or group study is permitted and encouraged. Permission for other usages must
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within Scripture is the author’s own.
Soleyn Publishing LLC
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www.soleynpublishing.com
[email protected]
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twitter.com/SoleynPublish
Generation Culture Transformation
Specializing in publishing for generation culture change
eGenCo. LLC
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email: [email protected]
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experienced in practical reality within the context of my
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cknowledgments
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Thomas Hobbes. I have also been inspired by the insights of C.S.
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involving particular aspects of this book. To them and to a host
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for a time and a generation for whom they were meant to be given
as bread from heaven for this journey.
C
ontents
Foreword
i
Preface
v
ix
Introduction
1
Chapter 1
The Fatherless Culture
Chapter 2
The Effects of the Fatherless Culture
13
Chapter 3
A New Ethical and Moral Basis
25
Chapter 4
The Spirit of the Orphan
33
Chapter 5
The Knowledge of Good and Evil
47
Chapter 6
A Change from Spirit to Soul
57
Chapter 7
The Schemes of the Enemy
63
Chapter 8
The Last Adam
71
Chapter 9
How God Speaks
89
Chapter 10 Father and Sons
107
Chapter 11 Functioning as Fathers and Sons
123
Chapter 12 Turning the Heart of the Fathers to the Children
135
Chapter 13 Call No Man Upon the Earth Your Father
143
Chapter 14 The Arrangement of the House of God
151
Chapter 15 The Nation of Israel and the Early Church
171
Chapter 16 A Holy Nation
185
Endnotes
199
F
oreword
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family or household of God. God created the human race to be the
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The connection was that of the heavenly Father lovingly relating to
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resocialized and distinctly set apart from the families and organi]DWLRQVRI WKHHDUWK,I WKHFKXUFKLV*RG·VIDPLO\WKHQLWVKRXOG
function as a family functions.
Herein lies the crux of the present problems confronting the
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is generally accepted by most denominational traditions of ChrisWHQGRP LWV SUDFWLFDO RXWZRUNLQJ LV ODUJHO\ IRUHLJQ 2YHUDOO WKH
Church has strayed from God’s divine intention to have a family on
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encumbered by a plethora of regulations and practices. ConseTXHQWO\ VLQFH WKH IDPLO\ RI *RG KDV DEGLFDWHG LWV IXQGDPHQWDO
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My Father! My Father!
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the sovereign rule of peace in creation.
It is against this backdrop that My Father! My Father! by Sam
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of identity produces a malfunction in behavior—the cause of the
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Church. This does not imply the proposal of a new biblical order.
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the New Covenant people are constituted. He is simply imploring
the Church to return to the original divine arrangement.
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desire change. Sam’s insights are revelatory in that they emerge at
a time when a new hour has dawned upon the Church—a time for
the reformation of thought and praxis.
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boundaries of our habitation by advocating a more excellent way
in which believers may function as the sons of God in the earth.
This is a paradigmatic shift from many traditional and more recent
philosophical and humanistic ideals prevalent in church circles. This
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which enslave the children of God and prevent them from enjoying
the liberty made available through Jesus Christ. It’s a clarion call
ii
Foreword
for the restoration and reconstitution of the predetermined divine
intent; the realization of a corporate son in the image of Christ—
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Church is fundamentally patriarchal in nature—the family of God
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that the divine family may realize their calling and ministry in this
world. The objective is the strategic placement of mature sons into
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may be brought under the rule of Christ.
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Soleyn. In life there are those rare encounters that indelibly mark
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perspectives and order our steps in Christ. These are divine apSRLQWPHQWVRSHQLQJYLVWDVRI QHZVSLULWXDOH[SHULHQFH6XFKZDV
my meeting with Sam.
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exuding the wisdom of the ages. This was a servant and apostle of
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accurately communicated the culture of the Kingdom with grace
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the household of God. Not only did my spirit jump at the sound
of his voice and the clarity of his understanding of the times
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grateful.
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that his leadership ability was that of a father intimately relating to his
children. His whole disposition embodied the patriarchal grace of
the Father.
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simply philosophical; he has imparted his whole life. His relationships with a host of dynamic people across the earth underpin
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multiple households in the Church and in corporate society. In this
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incarnate in the life of the writer who has become the revelation. This
book will undoubtedly contribute to the restoration of the Church
to its glorious prophetic and consummate destiny in Christ.
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iv
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reface
I believe it is important to read My Father! My Father! within
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I received a classical education until I left the islands at the age of
eighteen for further studies in the United States. In college I studLHG UKHWRULF ODZ DQG WKHRORJ\ JDLQLQJ XQGHUJUDGXDWH GHJUHHV LQ
English and Speech and a juris doctorate from the University of
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My beginnings as a preacher include a background with the
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church. I now work extensively among widely diverse nations—
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and the former Soviet Union—and among even more widely
diverse racial groups.
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are as varied as the cultures that produce them. I was a believer for
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and religious practices in which the normal paradigm for my interpretation of Scripture was historic traditions of interpretation
mixed with the preference of societal appeal. In my wide-ranging
ÀHOGRI H[SHULHQFHRYHUWKHGHFDGHVKRZHYHU,EHFDPHDZDUHRI the fact that the culture of religion mitigates against the knowledge
of God.
I was introduced to the reality of the person of God in a
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of God Himself opened the eyes of my spirit to a reality that
greatly transcended religious normalcy. It opened my spirit to the
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RI *RGWKH.LQJGRPRI +HDYHQDQGWKHUHDOPRI WKH6SLULW
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note the biblical references relevant to the assertions made within
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FKDOOHQJHDQGHYHQRYHUWKURZFORVHO\KHOGEHOLHIVDQGORQJVWDQGing religious traditions.
Given much of the focus on the relationship between fathers
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familiar with the subject matter and my thought processes. He is
properly listed with me as one of the authors of this book. I am
indebted to him for his invaluable participation and contributions.
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helped on the journey by the blessed Holy Spirit whom Jesus sent
upon His return to heaven to reveal Himself to humans and to
restore the knowledge of God and His intentions for the creation
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written within the Old and New Testaments. According to Scripvi
Preface
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HQGµ'DQLHO.-9DQGWKHQWKH\DUHUHYHDOHGWRWKHJHQHUDtion for whom they are meant. I believe the revelations contained
in this book are for this time on the earth.
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This book establishes a framework in which to think about these
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and the Holy Spirit.
This work is deliberately limited to establishing the principles
of the relationship between God and man. It is an overarching
picture that presents a contrast to the traditional religious mindset
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into practical applications. It is a foundation upon which we will
build.
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vii
viii
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ntroduction
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%HIRUH*RGFUHDWHGWKHZRUOG+HFRYHQDQWHGZLWK+LPVHOI to establish the purpose and order of humankind in creation. The
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and man the principle actor in the drama of its unfolding. God
knew the end of the story from the beginning.
His purposes for creating the world were to put on display His
nature of love and to expunge the taint of sin from creation. God
FUHDWHGDVRQ$GDPWRZKRP+HJDYHWKHPDQGDWHWRUXOH+HDUranged the order of creation to facilitate His son’s rule and invested
His son with the authority to represent the culture of heaven in the
earth.
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attendant fatherless culture resulted.
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ix
became the de facto human culture. The culture of a son differs
entirely from that of an orphan. A son of God in creation is designated to radiate the glory of God’s nature and to represent exactly
the nature of his Father by ruling in the spheres of his authority as
the Father would. He is supported in these twin imperatives by the
resources of his Father’s house; whereas an orphan relies exclusively
XSRQKLPVHOI IRUKLVSURYLVLRQDQGSURWHFWLRQDQGKLVJRDOLVWRVXUvive. The fall of man introduced this culture as an alternative to the
original intention of God for the creation of man.
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of His house. “[T]he Lamb [was] slain from the foundation of the
world” so that the mandates associated with God’s son in the earth
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to reestablish His purposes for His sons. Jesus appeared at the appointed time to redeem man from the results of Adam’s choice.
Christ successfully confronted the enemy and succeeded in
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upon the earth in a manner distinct from all other humans. He
showed man that it is possible to hear God and to walk in divine
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proceeded from the mouth of God. His life was a complete display of the life God originally intended His sons to live upon the
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His love.
God raised Jesus from the dead as “both Lord and Christ.”
Christ is a reference to the corporate anointing to which all the
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Jesus himself ascended to heaven and now sits on the throne of
God as the head.
Jesus’ accomplishment in overthrowing the enemy’s deception
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has resulted in the reintroduction of the authority of heaven as
WKHDOWHUQDWLYHEDVLVRI SRZHUDQGUXOHVXSSRUWLQJWKHDFWLYLWLHVRI the sons of God upon the earth. This basis of authority is known
as the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is a functioning
reality upon the earth that gives order and form to the children of
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of Christ.
THE HOUSE OF GOD
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from all the ranks of humanity and formed into an arrangement
that presents the fundamental nature of God’s love. The sons of
*RGZKRPDNHXSWKLVIDPLO\DUHVSLULWEHLQJVVLQFH*RG+LPVHOI is a spirit. Although in their relationships with each other sons of
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HWKQLFEDFNJURXQGVDQGIURPGLIIHUHQWVRFLDOFODVVHVLQWKHLUUHODWLRQVKLSWR*RGWKH)DWKHUWKH\DUHDOOVRQV7KHHQWLUH+RXVHRI God is arranged to show the love of a father for a son and the trust
of a father by a son. This central value is presented with greater
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in both realms. The order of its arrangement is designed to display
the culture of heaven on the earth. The foundation of this culture
is the order of father and son through which the love of God is
presented on the earth as it is in heaven.
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gaining access to heaven in the afterlife and has offered no explanation for God’s placement of man upon the earth. All the narraWLYHVEHJLQZLWKWKHVWRU\LQSURJUHVVVWDUWLQJZLWKWKH*DUGHQRI (GHQ$WWKDWVWDUWLQJSRLQWWKHIRFXVFRPHVWREHRQWKHQHHG
for the redemption of man. No consideration is given to the prior
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on the earth.
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This book tells the story of God’s original intention for the
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God’s intention for creating him.
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CHAPTER 1
he Fatherless Culture
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passed from one generation to the next. An individual interprets
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legacy of society’s forebears lies in the characteristics of its cultural
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the outcome.
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This culture is a subtle and pervasive one that teaches people to
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own mind. An orphan has no protection and no provision other
than what he can create for himself and must struggle for survival
by whatever means necessary.
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1
Kingdom. The culture of the Kingdom of God is that of a house.
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continues to reveal his House on the earth.
The House of God is the family of God. It exists simultaneously in heaven and on earth. The Kingdom of God is the base
of authority and rule that empowers His House in both domains.
The Kingdom exists to support the children of God in their mandate to represent the nature and character of God Himself. It is
designed to restore the original intent of God for the creation of
PDQDQGLQWKHSURFHVVWRUHVFXHKXPDQNLQGIURPWKHFXOWXUHRI the orphan. The House of God is being revealed at this time to
provide God’s children with the righteous alternative to the earth’s
pervasive fatherless culture.
THE NEW GLOBAL CULTURE
The inheritance to which a child is entitled from a father is
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children. Applying this minimal standard highlights the pandemic
scope of the problem; the predominant global culture is that of
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inheritance is foreign to most of the world’s societies.
The modern orphan comes in many forms. Changing social
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systems in the many corners of the world have created orphans out
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eventually they impart their identity as orphans to their children.
The traditional family structure has changed in ways that
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children born out of wedlock or into a relationship of unmarried
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births are to unmarried women. Similar rates of birth outside of
marriage occur in England and other European countries.6
Fatherlessness in the United States is not centered on a
particular demographic. That more than half of all children in
the African-American community are living in fatherless homes is
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end in divorce. :KHUHDV $IULFDQ$PHULFDQ FKLOGUHQ DUH EHLQJ
ERUQLQWRIDWKHUOHVVKRPHVZKLWHFKLOGUHQDUHLQFUHDVLQJO\PDGHIDtherless through divorce.
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orphans of entire nations almost overnight. In Central and SouthHUQ$IULFDWKH$,'6HSLGHPLFKDVUHPRYHGDQHQWLUHJHQHUDWLRQ
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responsibility to raise and care for their younger siblings. They are
orphans raising orphans.
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)RU H[DPSOH LQ FRXQWULHV WKDW PDGH XS WKH IRUPHU )HGHUDO 5HSXEOLFRI <XJRVODYLDFLYLOZDUVKDYHGHVWUR\HGWKHVRFLDOVWUXFWXUH
and debased the role of fathers among the people. Many families
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a weapon of war and “ethnic cleansing” resulted in the births of
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Such a sizable population of orphans begot of violence robs an
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prey is the vulnerable children of these countries. Countries that
were part of the former Yugoslavia are now key staging areas for
“recruiting” children for the massive Eastern European sex trade.
3
The children of these nations have been left open to attack and
exploitation. They have no basis for understanding the love and
protection of a father.
COMMUNISM’S ROLE
In the wake of communism are millions of orphans and a
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control was subject to state interests. Families were units of the
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independent nations have no foundation on which to build a social
infrastructure.
Social phenomena in former communist countries demonstrate plainly the effect communism has had on the family unit.
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SURJUDPVLVDSURJUDPRQIDPLO\UHODWLRQVKLSVKRVWHGE\DQHYDQgelical preacher turned politician. He saw that the nation’s chances
of survival were very slim without the reintroduction of this
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RI RUSKDQVUHODWLYHWRWKHRYHUDOOSRSXODWLRQSODFHVWKHIXWXUHRI the nation at risk.
The national churches in these former communist countries are
marked by their cooperative relationship with the toppled regimes.
The churches offer little more than liturgical practices that are
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to Cuba and involves entire nations and almost all of their populations.
The fatherless culture represents the largest demographic
grouping of humanity today and has invaded every aspect of
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marketers all study different manifestations of this culture as it
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and in all areas of society illustrate that the fatherless culture
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RELIGION AS A CAUSE OF FATHERLESSNESS
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failed to impart the wisdom and revelation of the Kingdom of
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FXOWXUHUHOLJLRXVV\VWHPVKDYHEHHQUHYHDOHGDVWKHE\SURGXFWVRI spurious traditions.
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rules taken from outdated interpretations of sacred writings—usuDOO\DEOHQGRI KLVWRU\FXVWRPVDQGWUDGLWLRQV7KHLUDQWLTXDWHG
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these religions resort to shame-based manipulation and appeal
to the fear of being stigmatized in the community to control its
members’ conduct. That these religions advance their ideologies
through manipulation and intimidation is a clear sign the spirit of
a loving father is absent from within them.
The only goals religion can offer are those that feed the desires
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success or victory over one’s personal or social oppressors as the
great objective for surviving our time on this earth. Love is not a
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ment of these basic desires.
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anachronistic practices that carry the fear of punishment and the
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attitude of the god at the center of the religious faith. If the goal
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itself is valued more than the well-being of a child. A father’s love
LV ERWK FRQVWUDLQHG E\ DQG VXEVHUYLHQW WR WKH UHOLJLRXV UHTXLUHments. One of the most horrendous examples of this phenomenon
is the practice of honor killings: putting a child to death for infractions—either willful or unknowing—against the orthodoxy.
Killing a child to preserve one’s honor in the name of any religious
tradition empties that patriarchal religious order of the righteous
concept of fathering.
Embodying fatherlessness in religion are those priests who
have violated the persons of their most vulnerable charges. These
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FRPPLWWHGXQFRQVFLRQDEOHDQGFULPLQDODFWVDJDLQVWFKLOGUHQKDSlessly left in their charge. In protecting these miscreants for fear of
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favor of protecting its patriarchal order. The church has reinforced
the orphan mentality and bolstered the fatherless culture.
These religious systems disseminate a false vision of God the
Father to a fatherless culture. The vision of a loving father has
been lost to the imperative of preserving the institution. The rituals
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of the religious orders have denied any truth contained in either
the words or the rituals. By widening the gap between people
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THE MANY FORMS OF FATHERLESSNESS
The development of a culture depends upon the society’s
means and capacity for passing knowledge to successive generations. The most common manner of passing along cultural knowl6
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observe the characteristics of a culture in the relationships between
the people that model the cultural patterns.
The culture of the fatherless is most readily evident in the attitude of fathers toward their children. Fathers will model the image
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abusive or uninterested in their families.
The following anecdotal story highlights the pervasive character of the fatherless culture.
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the pain of rejection was as fresh as if it had only recently
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the result is anger toward the father and depression. Abuse may be
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as physical abuse in alienating a child. Harsh and humiliating words
can destroy children’s views of themselves and result in a profound
sense of rejection. A silent or uninvolved father communicates to
the child that the child’s interests are of no particular value to the
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Children raised in such environments do not feel that what
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but instead struggle every day with simply surviving. They grow
up without clear models of behavior and are therefore more susceptible to outside pressures and temptations. They often adopt
identities that are compatible with the instinct to survive.
THE VIEW OF FATHERS IN THE MEDIA
The pervasive nature of the fatherless culture is further
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outlets act as a reference point for a culture and provide a window
into the characteristics of a society. Because it represents the mainVWUHDPLGHDOVDQGSHUVSHFWLYHVWKHPHGLDERWKGHULYHVIURPDQG
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LQWULJXLQJRUHQWHUWDLQLQJ,QYDULRXVIRUPVRI UHDOLW\DQGK\SHUEROHWKHPHGLDSXWVRQGLVSOD\WKHFXOWXUHRI WKHVRFLHW\,I RQHLV
ORRNLQJIRUHYLGHQFHRI DIDWKHUOHVVFXOWXUHWKDWSHUVRQQHHGORRN
no further.
7KHLGHDOPDQWKHKHURW\SLFDOO\LVQRWDIDWKHUZKHQSRUWUD\HG
LQ SRSXODU PHGLD 0RVW FRPPRQO\ KHURHV DUH YLROHQW SLOODUV RI stoic masculinity. Not even Hollywood can place this kind of man
LQWRDIDPLO\VHWWLQJ1RQHWKHOHVVWKHVHDUFKHW\SDOKHURHVSURYLGH
the model for young men who will one day be fathers. To reconcile
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cultural ideal of a hero will often abandon their own children with
impunity.
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VXIÀFLHQWO\ ZDWHUV KLP GRZQ WR SXW KLP LQ D IDPLO\ VHWWLQJ WKH
resulting standard for fatherhood is bleak. Sitcoms seem to be
the most common popular media in which men are presented in
fatherly roles. The successful family sitcom typically portrays a
bumbling husband and father who is consumed by self-interest
DQGLVGLVWUDFWHGIURPWKHUHDOLW\RI IDPLO\OLIHDURXQGKLP:KHQ
KLVGLVFRQQHFWHGQHVVFDXVHVSUREOHPVWKHWDVNIDOOVWRWKHPRWKHU
or children to provide both obvious and insightful solutions. This
10
formula spans the scope of television culture.
,QWKHJHQUHRI UHDOLW\WHOHYLVLRQSRSXODUFXOWXUHVKDPHOHVVO\
ÁDXQWVWKHEDVHYDOXHVRI DIDWKHUOHVVFXOWXUH)HZSHRSOHREMHFW
WR WKH JORULÀFDWLRQ RI LQGLYLGXDOV ZKR H[KLELW VKRFNLQJ GLVSOD\V
RI VHOÀVKQHVVDQGGLVOR\DOW\5HDOLW\WHOHYLVLRQKDVHOHYDWHGVRPH
of the basest members of society to the status of cultural icons.
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TXDOLWLHVWKLVW\SHRI SURJUDPPLQJKDVH[SORGHGLQSRSXODULW\LQ
recent years.
The depiction of fathers in the visual media is consistent with
WKHRYHUDOOGHFOLQHLQUHVSHFWIRUIDWKHUVZLWKLQWKHFXOWXUH:LWK
the type of societal changes evinced by rising divorce rates and
WKH YDVW QXPEHUV RI FKLOGUHQ ERUQ WR VLQJOH PRWKHUV VRFLHW\ LV
understandably apathetic to the portrayal of fathers in these ways.
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RI WKHIDWKHUOHVVLVLQJUDLQHGLQWKHVRFLHW\DQGRQO\UHÁHFWHGLQ
the media.
THE SPECTER OF AN ORPHAN CULTURE
The culture of the fatherless has fully invaded human society.
:RUOGZLGHLWWDNHVPDQ\GLIIHUHQWIRUPVDQGLWLVUHVKDSLQJJOREDO
culture in fundamental ways. Survival and a search for an identity
are goals of the orphan mindset produced by this culture. At its
DSH[WKHIDWKHUOHVVFXOWXUHKDVXVXUSHGWKHLQGLYLGXDO·VLGHQWLW\DQG
replaced it with an identity dominated by a struggle for provision
and protection.
,QWKH.LQJGRPRI *RGHDFKSHUVRQ·VGHVWLQ\LVWKHSOD\LQJ
RXWRI WKDWSHUVRQ·VXQLTXHLGHQWLW\DVDVRQRI *RGUHJDUGOHVV
RI JHQGHUUDFHRUEDFNJURXQG7KHFXOWXUHRI WKH.LQJGRPLVD
FXOWXUHRI NLQJVIRXQGHGXSRQDQGPRGHOHGDIWHU*RGWKHORYing Father. This kingly culture cannot coexist with the fatherless
FXOWXUH7RHPEUDFHRQH·VLGHQWLW\DVDVRQRQHPXVWFKDQJHKLV
prevailing culture.
,QWKLVVHDVRQ*RGLVEXLOGLQJ+LV+RXVHLQWKHHDUWKZLWK
the relationship of fathers and sons as its foundation. Effecting cul11
WXUDOFKDQJHUHTXLUHVDWUDQVJHQHUDWLRQDOHIIRUWLQZKLFKDFKDQJH
LQ WKH FXOWXUH LV EXW RQH RI WKH ÀUVW VWHSV RI D ORQJ MRXUQH\ WR
UHHVWDEOLVK IXOO\ WKH +RXVH RI *RG 7KLV MRXUQH\ LV PHDQW WR
UHSRVLWLRQ PDQ LQ WKH UHODWLRQVKLS ZLWK *RG DV )DWKHU DV *RG
intended from the beginning. The purpose of repositioning humankind as sons and heirs to God is to establish the family of
*RG RQ WKH HDUWK DQG WR GLVSOD\ WKH ORYH RI *RG WKURXJK KLV
VRQVWRDOORI FUHDWLRQ:KHUHDVWKHGHVWLQ\RI HDFKVRQRI *RGLV
YLWDOO\LPSRUWDQWWKHHQWLUHSXUSRVHRI *RGFDQRQO\XOWLPDWHO\
be accomplished through the corporate form—the House of God.
12
T
CHAPTER 2
he Effects of the
Fatherless Culture
This fatherless generation exists globally and has been imprinted
with the identity of orphans. The worldwide spectrum of human
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the imperatives of this generation. It is reshaping these global systems in ways that are genuinely new and distinct. This has resulted
in noticeable clashes with the settled cultural norms of previous
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WKHROGHUPRUHWUDGLWLRQDOJHQHUDWLRQV
The reconciliation of the generations is an obvious imperative.
Yet there appears to be no clear way forward. The competition
between the generations has reached the point where there is a
noticeable disconnect between the older generations and the
fatherless generation. Entire communities lament this phenomHQRQDQGLQVRPHVHJPHQWVRI VRFLHW\WKHGLYLGHLVVHHQDVWKUHDWening the harmony and peace of the society itself.
A GENERATIONAL DIVIDE
The fatherless generation holds a deep-seated distrust of their
IDWKHUV· JHQHUDWLRQ :KHQ WKH DXWKRULW\ ÀJXUHV RI WKHLU IDWKHUV·
JHQHUDWLRQKDYHDWWHPSWHGWRLQÁXHQFHWKHIDWKHUOHVVJHQHUDWLRQ·V
GLUHFWLRQWKH\RXQJHUJHQHUDWLRQKDVUHVSRQGHGZLWKFRQWHPSW
13
One illustration of the struggle over the widening gap between
these generations is the efforts of Black civil rights leaders to
address the images and lyrics associated with hip-hop music. For
WKHSDVWWZRGHFDGHVSURPLQHQWOHDGHUVLQWKH$IULFDQ$PHULFDQ
community have criticized the lyrics of popular hip-hop music
IRU LWV JORULÀFDWLRQ RI YLROHQFH DQG LWV SUHVHQWDWLRQ RI VH[XDOO\ H[SOLFLWWKHPHVSDUWLFXODUO\ZKHUHWKRVHWKHPHVDUHVHHQDVGHJUDGLQJ
toward women. They also have criticized the lifestyle associated
ZLWKWKHKLSKRSFXOWXUHZKLFKHQFRXUDJHVDJHQHUDOGLVUHJDUGIRU
DXWKRULW\DQGDGYRFDWHVFRQVSLFXRXVFRQVXPSWLRQDQGWKH\KDYH
descried the violence that has surrounded some of the leading
ÀJXUHVZLWKLQWKDWFXOWXUHZKLFKKDVUHVXOWHGLQWKHLQFDUFHUDWLRQ
and the untimely deaths of several of its luminaries. These leaders
from the previous generations who have called for reform of this
culture have been largely ignored by the fatherless generation.
7KH GLVFRQQHFW EHWZHHQ WKH ROGHU DXWKRULW\ ÀJXUHV DQG WKH
fatherless generation is rooted largely in the younger generation’s
refusal to accept guidance from a generation from whom they feel
estranged. The example of the clash over hip-hop culture and
LWV UHVXOWV DUH IRUHVHHDEOH EHFDXVH LW UHSUHVHQWV D GHHS GLYLVLRQ
ZLWKLQWKH$IULFDQ$PHULFDQFRPPXQLW\ZKLFKKDVEHFRPHODUJHO\
a fatherless culture. Similar divisions occur across the spectrum of
the interactions between the generations within the community.
The culture of the orphan has confronted fathers from a previous
JHQHUDWLRQDQGWKHVHSDUDWLRQEHWZHHQWKHJHQHUDWLRQVLVDZLGHQing chasm.
POLITICAL DIVISIONS
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same fatherless characteristics. Current American politics provide
a more general example of this growing divide between the genHUDWLRQV7KH\RXQJHUJHQHUDWLRQKDVWHQGHGWRVXSSRUWHQPDVVH
WKHFXUUHQWSUHVLGHQWZKRKLPVHOI LVIDWKHUOHVV$WWKHVDPHWLPH
LWGRHVQRWLGHQWLI\LQDQ\JHQHUDOZD\ZLWKWKHPRUDOHWKLFDODQG
UHOLJLRXV YLHZV RI D PRUH FRQVHUYDWLYH FRQVWLWXHQF\ VLQFH WKHVH
14
7KH(IIHFWVRI 7KH)DWKHUOHVV&XOWXUH
views tend to represent the traditional perspectives of previous
generations.
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<RXQJ :HVWHUQ(XURSHDQV KDYH JRQH RQ DQJU\ UDPSDJHV LQ
FRXQWULHV VXFK DV )UDQFH DQG (QJODQG WR SURWHVW JRYHUQPHQWDO
GHFLVLRQVUDQJLQJIURPHPSOR\PHQWOHJLVODWLRQWRFROOHJHWXLWLRQ
hikes. They regard the use of political power as being opposed to
their interests and see themselves permanently installed in states
of poverty.
The problem of the division of generations takes on a difIHUHQWIDFHLQFXUUHQWDQGIRUPHUFRPPXQLVWQDWLRQV'XULQJWKH
FRPPXQLVW HSRFK WKH VWDWH UHSODFHG WKH IDWKHU DV WKH GRPLQDQW
RUGHURI VRFLHW\:LWKWKHGLVVROXWLRQRI WKHFHQWUDODXWKRULW\RI JRYHUQPHQW WKHVH QDWLRQV KDYH QR SUDFWLFH ZLWK IDPLO\EDVHG
DXWKRULW\ $V D UHVXOW DQ DEXQGDQW FURS RI RUSKDQV KDV VSUXQJ
up throughout these former communist countries. This generation
of orphans is merely biding their time to affect national changes
DFFRUGLQJ WR WKHLU LPSHUDWLYHV )RU H[DPSOH WKH FHQWUDO JRYHUQPHQW RI &KLQD KDV SOD\HG WKH UROH RI SDUHQWV WR WKH GHQLDO RI LQGLYLGXDO OLEHUWLHV DQG LQGLYLGXDO FUHDWLYLW\ FDXVLQJ D JURZLQJ
frustration among the younger generation. This generation is now
anticipating upcoming changes in the leadership of the central
FRPPLWWHHZKLFKDUHH[SHFWHGWRUHVXOWLQWKHYRLFHRI WKHQH[W
JHQHUDWLRQEHLQJKHDUGIRUWKHÀUVWWLPHDWWKHKLJKHVWOHYHOVRI national government.
,Q WKH FRPPXQLVW QDWLRQV RI &XED DQG 1RUWK .RUHD WKH
cults of personalities prevail. By contrast to the emerging former
FRPPXQLVW QDWLRQV WKH KRSH IRU FKDQJH KHOG E\ WKH \RXQJHU
generation in these countries is checked by the denial of access to
WKHRXWVLGHZRUOGWKURXJKRIÀFLDOJRYHUQPHQWSROLF\HQIRUFHGE\
WKHPXVFOHRI SROLFHSRZHU,Q&XEDWKHVWUXJJOHIRUGDLO\VXUYLYDO
has eviscerated the family structure and created an entire nation of
orphans.
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WKH 0LGGOH (DVW DQG ,QGLD DOLHQDWLQJ JHQHUDWLRQV RI WKHVH YDVW
15
SRSXODWLRQV5LIWVKDYHDSSHDUHGZKHUHWKHROGHUJHQHUDWLRQVFOLQJ
to the power structures of tradition and the wealth and privilege of
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\RXQJHUJHQHUDWLRQV,QWHUQDOFLYLOFRQÁLFWVFKDOOHQJHQDWLRQVIURP
6DXGL$UDELDWR3DNLVWDQDQGWKHHFRQRPLFPLJKWRI ,QGLDLVOLNHO\
to run aground on the shoals of the vast underutilization of the
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CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FATHERLESS GENERATION
The fatherless generation considers the position of their
IDWKHUVDVEHLQJGHYRLGRI LQÁXHQFHDQGUHOHYDQFHDQGWKHROGHU
generation has largely concluded that the fatherless generation is
self-centered and narcissistic. These positions are not the result of
serious examinations of the rift between the two groups. The older
JHQHUDWLRQLVQRWFRQVLGHULQJWKHGLUHFWLRQDQGFRQVHTXHQFHVRI the future that is being mapped out by the fatherless generation’s
SUHYDLOLQJLQÁXHQFH7KH\RXQJHUJHQHUDWLRQLVGLVFRXQWLQJZKDW
value might be derived from a more insightful evaluation of the
KLVWRU\DQGFXOWXUHRI WKHIDWKHUVDQGLQWKHSURFHVVLWUXQVWKH
risk of substituting information for wisdom.
The center of this culture is an individualism that is beholden
WRDXQLTXHVHWRI LPSHUDWLYHV7KHSULPDU\LPSHUDWLYHLVWKHQHHG
for an identity. Unconnected to an identity linked to past genHUDWLRQVWKHRUSKDQPXVWGLVFRYHUDQRWKHUEDVLVIRUKLVLGHQWLW\
An identity that is connected to the past is one that potentially
FRQWDLQVHOHPHQWVRI RQH·VIRUHEHDUVDQGRI DQLQKHULWDQFH:KHQ
WKLVLQKHULWDQFHLVHPSRZHULQJDQGHQDEOLQJLWLVOLNHDVSULQJERDUG
IRU D VXEVWDQWLDO OHDS IRUZDUG IRU RQH·V OLIH +RZHYHU ZKHQ WKH
LQKHULWDQFHLVDQHJDWLYHRUKXUWIXOOHJDF\LWLVDOLDELOLW\7KHKDUVK
WUXWKLVWKDWIRUWKHPDMRULW\RI WKHIDWKHUOHVVJHQHUDWLRQWKHLULPDJH
of a father is unpleasant and may be destructive to their sense of
ZHOOEHLQJVRWKH\GLVFDUGWKHSDVWDVDPDWWHURI VXUYLYDO7KH\
remain fatherless by the choice to reject the pain of their experience and are obligated to forge an identity without reference to the
past.
16
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orphan does not expect to receive any measure of help from the
generation of his father. Since he has inherited nothing of value
IURPWKHSDVWKHGRHVQRWEHOLHYHWKDWDQHFHVVDU\SDUWRI KLVLGHQWLW\
is to convey an inheritance to future generations. The resulting
FRQWH[WRI RQH·VLGHQWLW\LVWKHVFRSHRI DVLQJOHOLIHWLPHIRFXVHG
RQ SUHVHQW JRDOV DQG FLUFXPVWDQFHV 7KH RUSKDQ PXVW GHÀQH
himself and his destiny in terms of what is attainable within
WKHVSDQRI KLVRZQOLIH,QWKLVLQVWDQWFXOWXUHKHOLYHVZLWKRXW
reference to either the past or the future. He is himself fatherless
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HVVHQWLDOFKDUDFWHULVWLFVRI WKHQHHGIRUSURYLVLRQDQGSURWHFWLRQ
and they permeate all areas in which the fatherless generation has
VLJQLÀFDQWLQÁXHQFH
The fatherless generation has access to nearly unlimited amounts
of information. This generation makes connections globally and is
not necessarily loyal to any particular ethnic group or natural heriWDJH:KHUHDVSUHYLRXVJHQHUDWLRQVOHDUQHGIURPWKHWUDGLWLRQVRI WKHLUIDWKHUVDQGWKHLULGHDVZHUHÀOWHUHGWKURXJKWKHVHWUDGLWLRQV
the fatherless generation is not so limited when seeking out sources
for knowledge and wisdom. Information is accumulated and disWULEXWHG ZLWKRXW UHIHUHQFH WR DQ\ FXOWXUDO IUDPHZRUN DQG WKH
DEVHQFHRI LQÁXHQFHIURPWKHFXOWXUHRI IDWKHUVDOORZVWKHIDWKHUOHVV
to be unaccountable to any clear or distinct standards.
The business realm has tapped into the needs of the fatherless
JHQHUDWLRQWRGHYHORSSURGXFWVWKDWERWKFUHDWHDXQLTXHLGHQWLW\
IRU WKH LQGLYLGXDO EUDQGHG ZLWK WKH HSRQ\PRXV ´,µ ´P\µ DQG
´\RXµZKLOHFRQQHFWLQJWKHLQGLYLGXDOVLPXOWDQHRXVO\WRDJOREDO
community. The success of these products feeds the duality of the
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DQG\HWLWLVEDODQFHGDJDLQVWWKHQHHGIRUSURYLVLRQWKHFRUQHUVWRQH
of which is community. Social networking sites such as “MySpace”
and “Facebook” are at once private and public. “YouTube” is
simultaneously profoundly intimate and totally exhibitionist. Such
17
paradoxes have no rational explanation in the paradigm of the
SUHYLRXV JHQHUDWLRQ <HW WKHVH YHQXHV IRU ´VKDULQJµ DUH LQGLVpensable to the spread of this generation’s culture. The fatherless
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makes complete sense within their imperatives of provision and
protection.
/DFNLQJ VWDELOLW\ DQG SUHGLFWDELOLW\ LQ WKHLU UHODWLRQVKLSV WKH
fatherless generation searches for intimacy. As divorce has introGXFHG WKHP WR QHZ VLEOLQJV DQG VWHSSDUHQWV WKLV JHQHUDWLRQ KDV
had to learn to become a brother or sister to strangers. Family has
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These highly variable circumstances have resulted in a deep yearning
for a place of belonging and for identity. These experiences have
yielded the simultaneous and contradictory desires for privacy and
recognition. This generation tends to fear anonymity; so they are
inclined to tell the virtual world all of the inane details of their
OLYHV H[FHSW WKH GHWDLOV WKDW DFWXDOO\ PDWWHU VLQFH WKH\ DOVR FOLQJ
ÀHUFHO\WRDGHVLUHIRUSULYDF\,QWKLVYHLQFHOHEULWLHVHDJHUIRUDQ
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lunch at their favorite restaurant and tearfully plead to the same
audience for the respect of their privacy when going through an
agonizing divorce.
The generation’s interests in products and services also follow
these lines. Electronic games provide them with entertainment
DW D OHYHO RI KXPDQ LQWHUDFWLRQ GHÀQHG RQO\ E\ WKHLU GHVLUH DQG
personal boundaries. Ultimate control in the cyber world means
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danger of rejection and abandonment.
MATRIARCHY, A CULTURE OF SURVIVAL
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left to the task of raising children by themselves without much in
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LVWRFRQÀUPDFKLOG·VLGHQWLW\DQGLPSDUWDVHQVHRI SXUSRVHDQG
18
GHVWLQ\WKHEURNHQIDPLO\LPSDUWVPDLQO\WKHFXOWXUHRI VXUYLYDO
The common reality that faces single mothers is a lack of
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preoccupied with the daily struggle for provision and protection.
7KLVUHDOLW\IXUWKHUUHLQIRUFHVWKHRUSKDQPHQWDOLW\ZKLFKVXEVWLWXWHVD
destiny dominated by the imperatives of provision and protection.
7KHIRXQGDWLRQRI RXUUHODWLRQVKLSWR*RGWKH)DWKHUDQGWKH
IRXQGDWLRQRI RXUGHVWLQ\DVFKLOGUHQRI *RGLVWKHUHODWLRQVKLS
RI IDWKHUVDQGVRQV7KHUHIRUHDPDWULDUFKDOVRFLHW\LVDQXQDFceptable alternative to the pandemic of fatherlessness.
THE IMPACT ON GLOBAL SOCIETY
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global culture is measurable in the way it has begun to reshape the
major systems of society throughout the world. It is on track to
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$OWKRXJKLWLVVWLOOLQLWVLQIDQF\LWVLQÁXHQFHLVQHYHUWKHOHVVXQPLVWDNDEOHLQJOREDODUHQDVVXFKDVFRPPHUFHSROLWLFVDQGUHOLJLRQ
COMMERCE
The generation of the fatherless is at the center of commercial
innovation and is the driving force of consumerism. In past decades
RI IDVWULVLQJ FRQVXPHULVP WKH IDWKHUOHVV JHQHUDWLRQ ZDV DEDQdoned by busy parents and assuaged with the most popular forms
of electronic entertainment. Single mothers were overwhelmed
with the demands on their time and could do little more than meet
the basic needs of their children. The “latchkey kid” became a
VXEVHWRI WKLVJHQHUDWLRQ2QHFRQVHTXHQFHRI WKLVZDVWKDWWKLV
JHQHUDWLRQ EHFDPH SHUVRQDOO\ IDPLOLDU ZLWK WHFKQRORJ\ )LUVW LW
was a means of entertaining themselves; then it became a way to
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Electronics and technology became part of their identity. The latest advancements in entertainment and computer
WHFKQRORJ\ KDYH SURGXFHG ELOOLRQGROODU LQGXVWULHV VXSSRUWHG
almost entirely by the demand of the fatherless generation. Not
19
RQO\GLGWKLVJHQHUDWLRQVSDZQWKHDGYDQFHPHQWRI WKLVWHFKQRORJ\
their familiarity with the workings of the computer and its potential
IRUSURÀWKDGPXFKWRGRZLWKWKHGHYHORSPHQWRI RQOLQHFRPmerce.
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WKHIDWKHUOHVVJHQHUDWLRQKDVEHFRPHRQHRI WKHPRVWÀQDQFLDOO\
successful demographics in the world. Before the advent of the
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RI \RXQJ SHRSOH EHLQJ VR ÀQDQFLDOO\ SRZHUIXO 7KH\ VXFFHHGHG
LQE\SDVVLQJWKHDSSUHQWLFHVKLSV\VWHPZKLFKZDVWKHWUDGLWLRQDO
pathway to wealth and position in previous generations. Neither
did they have to wait for the deaths of their parents to inherit large
amounts of money with which to build their own fortunes.
They used the monetary freedom to create new areas of
business that are compatible with their culture—primarily in the
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UHODWHG LQIUDVWUXFWXUH UHSUHVHQWV D YDVW GLVWULEXWLRQ QHWZRUN IRU
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long-term strategies in mind. One of the results of this development is that older generations continue to invest in the industries
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generation has succeeded in creating a separate and distinct econRP\ $OWKRXJK WKLV GLYLVLRQ LV LQ WKH HDUO\ VWDJHV LWV FRQWLQXLQJ
GHYHORSPHQWZLOOKDYHIDUUHDFKLQJFRQVHTXHQFHVWKDWZLOOPDQLfest in growing unemployment and in economic polarization.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
The closest thing to a common spiritual belief among the
fatherless generation is the conviction that the environment needs
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because of their need for security in their provision. This generation
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20
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generation as rapacious and have characterized these environmentally
harmful policies as the result of being motivated by the desire for
ÀQDQFLDOJDLQ7KH\VHHWKHSUHYLRXVJHQHUDWLRQ·VGHVLUHIRUSURÀWability as having stripped future generations of an inheritance of
the planet’s resources.
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fatherless generation tends to be motivated by more utilitarian gains.
,Q WKH H[WUHPH WKLV JHQHUDWLRQ ZLOO SODFH WKH ZHOIDUH RI PRWKHU
QDWXUH DERYH WKDW RI DQ LQGLYLGXDO RU JURXS LQ IXUWKHUDQFH RI ´WKHJUHDWHUJRRGµ7RWKLVJHQHUDWLRQRQHRI WKHPRVWDSSHDOLQJ
aspects of the effort to protect the environment is that it affords
them the feeling of passing on an inheritance to future generations
WKDWLVFRPSDWLEOHZLWKWKHLUPRWLYDWLRQIRUVHOISUHVHUYDWLRQEXW
UHTXLUHVRQO\DYLFDULRXVFRPPLWPHQWWRIXWXUHJHQHUDWLRQV
Having maligned the previous generation’s environmental
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policymaking tends to lack the consideration of traditional forms
of energy supply and production. It is a common approach to
analysis in this generation: once the group agrees that the perceived
LOOZDVWKHSURGXFWRI WKHSUHYLRXVJHQHUDWLRQ·VFRQGXFWLWW\SLFDOO\
feels no obligation to justify its proposed alternatives. It is then
IUHHWRSURSRVHDQ\VROXWLRQYLHZLQJFULWLFLVPDVWKHSUHGLFWDEOH
UHDFWLRQRI WKHH[LVWLQJDQGIDLOHGDXWKRULW\VWUXFWXUH%\GLVFUHGLWLQJ
WKHSUHVHQWJHQHUDWLRQLWDVVXPHVDQHDUWRWDOIUHHGRPWRSURSRVH
alternatives with impunity. The result is a policy driven by such
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IULHQGO\µDQGWKHOLNHDQGVROXWLRQVWRWKHSUREOHPVRI PDQ·VPLVXVH
and abuse of the environment that may disregard related costs or
the effectiveness of the proposed solutions.
THE CHURCH
The widest chasms between the generation of the fatherless
and previous generations exist in their views of religion. Institu21
tional religion is based on tradition and practices that have been
HOHYDWHG WR WKH VWDWXV RI VDFUHG ZULW VLPSO\ EHFDXVH WKH\ DUH
FXVWRPDU\ZD\VLQZKLFK6FULSWXUHKDVEHHQLQWHUSUHWHG+RZHYHU
the fatherless generation is unbound from the traditions of their
fathers and views these traditions with suspicion.
The younger generation does not have the same need to
attend a religious service. The fatherless generation has previously
XQIDWKRPDEOH DFFHVV WR LQIRUPDWLRQ YLD WKH :RUOG :LGH :HE
8QOLNHSUHYLRXVJHQHUDWLRQVWKHIDWKHUOHVVJHQHUDWLRQGRHVQRWJR
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view of the local pastor is not necessarily the view of the congregation
DVDZKROH5HOLJLRXVSUDFWLFHVKDYHPDLQWDLQHGVRPHDSSHDOE\WKH
FRQWLQXLQJDJUHHPHQWRI WKHPDMRULW\RI WKHUHOLJLRXVFRPPXQLW\
but the young people who attend religious services do not necessarily hold the same views on religious subjects as the preacher or the
older church constituency. The conduct of the younger generation
RQNH\LVVXHVVXFKDVFRKDELWDWLRQWKHXVHRI GUXJVDQGDOFRKRO
and general social norms shows an astonishingly wide gulf between
the two generations within the same church denominations.
Some churches have adapted by effectively creating two
congregations: one for the older generation and one for the younger
generation. Nearly everything about these two expressions is radically different. This divided house acknowledges the rift between
the generations and yet further separates them.
AN AD HOC SPIRITUALITY
7RDYRLGLUUHOHYDQFHWKHFKXUFKHVWKDWKDYHODUJHQXPEHUVRI attendance have messages that are custom tailored to placate the
fatherless culture. These messages are a blend of self-help psycholRJ\DQGPRWLYDWLRQDOVSHHFKHVGHVLJQHGWRLPSDUWLQIRUPDWLRQRQ
DFKLHYLQJÀQDQFLDOVXFFHVVDQGPDLQWDLQLQJKHDOWK\OLIHVW\OHV7KH\
are market-sensitive messages designed around consumer preferences
DQG KDYH QR DFWXDO VSLULWXDO UHOHYDQFH +RZHYHU WKH\ VHHP WKH
perfect blend for the fatherless generation who are inclined to look
to church for information on lifestyle issues.
22
Although on the surface it appears that this generation is driven
E\FRQVXPHULVPLWLVWUXHQHYHUWKHOHVVWKDWLWKDVDGHHSORQJLQJ
for spiritual truth. It has searched for religious truth and has great
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RI WKH WUXWK $EVHQW JXLGDQFH DQG LQVWUXFWLRQ PHPEHUV RI WKLV
JHQHUDWLRQ DUH OLNHO\ WR VHHN RQO\ IRU VSHFLÀF QHHGV EXW GR QRW
understand the overarching principles that form the framework for
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DVVRFLDWHGLWZLWKKXUWIXOH[SHULHQFHVIURPWKHLUFKLOGKRRGVLQFH
many of this generation have come from broken families who were
members of religious denominations. They have seen the failure
RI WKHSUDFWLFHRI UHOLJLRQWRLQÁXHQFHWKHFRQGXFWRI WKHLUSDUHQWV
LQDUHDVRI IDPLOLDOVWDELOLW\DQGWKHIUHTXHQF\RI GLYRUFHDPRQJ
religious and nonreligious people alike.
23
24
A
CHAPTER 3
New Ethical
and Moral Basis
Continuing the discussion of the effects of the fatherless
FXOWXUHLWLVLPSRUWDQWWRQRWHWKDWWKHIDWKHUOHVVJHQHUDWLRQRSHUDWHV
IURPDXQLTXHPRUDOSHUVSHFWLYH7KHPRUDODQGVSLULWXDOFRQYLFWLRQV
RI WKLV JHQHUDWLRQ DUH QRW JHQHUDOO\ LQÁXHQFHG E\ DQ\ SUHYDLOLQJ
&KULVWLDQZRUOGYLHZ,QVWHDGWKH\WHQGWRDULVHIURPKLJKO\SHUVRQDO
convictions that come from within the spheres of their own expeULHQFHV7KHLUVWDQGDUGVDQGWKHFKRLFHVWKH\UHÁHFWDUHFRPPRQO\
in opposition to the standards of the older generation.
Some of the common points of disagreement between the
generations include their views on abortion and premarital sex.
:KHUHDVWKHROGHUJHQHUDWLRQPD\FRQVLGHUDERUWLRQDKLGHRXVVLQ
the younger generation tends to regard it as purely a matter of perVRQDOFKRLFH$QGZKHUHDVWKHROGHUJHQHUDWLRQZRXOGKDYHEHHQ
VFDQGDOL]HGE\DOOHJDWLRQVRI SUHPDULWDOVH[WKH\RXQJHUJHQHUDWLRQ
is likely to have had multiple sexual partners prior to marriage.
The fundamental change between the views of the generations
is a change from societal standards related to an overall worldYLHZWRDKLJKO\LQGLYLGXDOL]HGVWDQGDUG7KLVQHZVWDQGDUGDSSOLHV
beyond the religious context to virtually every form of interaction.
One example of this clash between cultures occurred recently in
UHODWLRQWRWKHPXVLFLQGXVWU\7KH1DSVWHUFDVHUDLVHGWKHTXHVWLRQ
of whether personal moral convictions should overrule an existing
25
VRFLDOVWDQGDUG6SHFLÀFDOO\WKHTXHVWLRQZDVZKHWKHUWKHH[LVWLQJ
social standard of paying for music should give way to the next
generation’s view that music should be free.
7KURXJKWKHH\HVRI WKH\RXQJHUJHQHUDWLRQIUHHPXVLFGRZQloads were an entitlement. Those engaging in “music sharing”
DUJXHG WKDW IURP WKH WLPH WKH\ ZHUH FKLOGUHQ PDUNHWHUV KDYH
enticed them to buy products by giving them free gifts. They cited
H[DPSOHVRI WKHFROODERUDWLRQEHWZHHQPRYLHVWXGLRVVRIWGULQN
FRPSDQLHVDQGKDPEXUJHUFKDLQVDQGWKHFDPSDLJQVGHVLJQHGWR
ERWKEULQJFKLOGUHQLQWRWKHPRYLHWKHDWHUVDQGWRVHOOSURGXFWV
DOODVSDUWRI DVLQJOHRYHUDOOPDUNHWLQJVWUDWHJ\7KHJHQHUDWLRQ
argued that companies had traditionally given them trinkets to
LQGXFHWKHPWRSXUFKDVHWKHLUSURGXFWV,QH[FKDQJHWKH\ERXJKW
an array of related merchandise.
6LQFHWKLVZDVWKHFXOWXUHLQZKLFKWKH\JUHZXSWKH\H[SHFWHG
music artists and the record companies to provide them with the
PXVLFIRUIUHHZKLOHWKH\DQWLFLSDWHGSD\LQJIRUWLFNHWVWROLYHFRQFHUWVZKHUHWKH\ZRXOGDOVREHHQWLFHGWREX\DOOW\SHVRI UHODWHG
merchandise. They cited the fact that many famous artists also created
FORWKLQJOLQHVDQGDFFHVVRULHVGHVLJQHGWREHQHÀWIURPWKHSXEOLF
appeal of the artists.
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ZHUHHQWLWOHGWRSURÀWIURPWKHVDOHRI WKHVRQJVWKHPVHOYHVDQG
that the taking without payment was a crime. Although the case
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impact brought to light the thinking of an entire generation. MoreRYHUWKLVFODVKKDGWKHHIIHFWRI IXQGDPHQWDOO\FKDQJLQJWKHPXVLF
LQGXVWU\1RZIRUDQRPLQDOIHHFRQVXPHUVPD\HOHFWWRSXUFKDVH
only the song they choose and many popular artists distribute their
music free over the Internet while making considerable revenues
from ticket sales to live concerts and having become recognized
brands for a wide range of consumer products.
FATHERLESSNESS IN THE BLACK CHURCH
The fatherless culture’s impact on churches in the United States
26
$1HZ(WKLFDODQG0RUDO%DVLV
has been different in large predominantly Black or predominantly
:KLWHFKXUFKHVKDYLQJIROORZHGWKHQHHGVRI WKHIDWKHUOHVVFXOWXUH
XQLTXHWRHDFKRI WKHVHFRPPXQLWLHV7KHPHVVDJHLQWKHODUJHU
Black churches has evolved from the days of the civil rights movePHQWWRWKHSUHVHQW'XULQJWKHFLYLOULJKWVPRYHPHQWWKH%ODFN
church played a key role in transitioning Black society from virtual
exclusion to a greater inclusion within the nation. Black leaders
from the older generation were both religious and political leaders
who attempted to play a fatherly role from within the church.
The institutional Black church accepted these leaders as both
UHOLJLRXVDQGSROLWLFDOFRQIHUULQJDQH[WUDRUGLQDU\VWDWXVWRWKHP
within the Black community. The term “reverend” was applied as
readily to a preacher as to a politician. The principle job of the
preacher-politician was to negotiate with the central government
on behalf of the Black community over a wide range of social
issues and empowerment initiatives. This model changed as Black
society itself made the long journey from mere survival to the
presidency of the United States of America.
$ORQJ WKH ZD\ %ODFN VRFLHW\ KDV XQGHUJRQH SURIRXQG DQG
LUUHYHUVLEOHFKDQJHV7KHVRFLHW\KDVUHPDLQHGIDWKHUOHVVHYHQLQLWV
evolution. The roles of preachers and politicians have been largely
separated as a result of the overall change in Black society. The
SUHDFKHULVQRORQJHUUHTXLUHGWREHDSROLWLFLDQDQGWKHFXOWXUH
of the orphan has changed the message of the preacher from an
HPSKDVLVRQSROLWLFDOHQIUDQFKLVHPHQWWRÀQDQFLDOHPSRZHUPHQW
with the Black church as the purveyor of the message. On Sunday
PRUQLQJVLQODUJH%ODFNFKXUFKHVWKHPHVVDJHIURPWKHSXOSLWLV
DVPXFKDERXWÀQDQFLDOSURVSHULW\DVLWLVDERXWIDLWK7KHWHDFKings of Jesus are typically reduced to statements that can be used
WRPRWLYDWHWKHDXGLHQFHWRZDUGÀQDQFLDOJDLQ
+RZHYHUEH\RQGWKHGHVLUHIRUÀQDQFLDOHPSRZHUPHQWWKHUH
is a yearning for a connection to eternal truths emerging within
%ODFNVRFLHW\$VROLGPLGGOHFODVVKDVDULVHQDQGLWLVOHDGLQJWKH
ZD\ WRZDUG D VHULRXV LQTXLU\ LQWR VSLULWXDO WUXWK DQG SUDFWLFHV
0DQ\YRLFHVDUHQRZDVNLQJTXHVWLRQVRI SURIRXQGVSLULWXDOGHSWK
27
for which there are no obvious answers. This search will continue
beyond the boundaries of Black society itself. As the changes conWLQXHWKH\RXQJHUJHQHUDWLRQRI %ODFNSHRSOHZLOOFRQWLQXHWRGHI\
the standards by which their forebears lived.
2OGHUJHQHUDWLRQVRI %ODFNSHRSOHIHOWOLPLWHGE\LVVXHVRI UDFH
HGXFDWLRQ DQG ÀQDQFHV <RXQJHU %ODFN SHRSOH DUH WKURZLQJ RII those limitations and seeking answers beyond them. This act yields
WUHPHQGRXVSRWHQWLDOIRUFKDQJHQRWMXVWLQWKH%ODFNFKXUFKEXW
also in Black society as a whole.
FATHERLESSNESS IN WHITE MEGACHURCHES
,Q FRQWUDVW WR %ODFN VRFLHW\ ZKLFK LV D IDWKHUOHVV FXOWXUH
EHFDXVHWKHPDMRULW\RI FKLOGUHQDUHERUQWRVLQJOHSDUHQWVFKLOGUHQ
LQ:KLWHVRFLHW\EHFRPHRUSKDQVSULPDULO\DVDUHVXOWRI GLYRUFH
$OWKRXJK WKH QHHG IRU ÀQDQFLDO HPSRZHUPHQW LV JUHDW DPRQJ
:KLWHRUSKDQVWKHQHHGLVJUHDWHU\HWLQ%ODFNVRFLHW\DQG:KLWH
orphans tend to have greater success in overcoming the obstacles
WR ÀQDQFLDO SURVSHULW\ WKDQ RUSKDQV ZKR DUH %ODFN +RZHYHU
EHFDXVHRI WKHDEDQGRQPHQWDQGQHJOHFWWKDW:KLWHRUSKDQVH[SHULHQFHWKURXJKWKHEUHDNXSRI WKHLUIDPLOLHVWKHLUVRFLDOWUDLQLQJ
LV RIWHQ GHÀFLHQW $ YDULHW\ RI VROXWLRQV KDYH SUROLIHUDWHG WR WU\
DQGUHPHG\WKLVGHÀFLHQF\
0DQ\:KLWHHYDQJHOLFDORUFKDULVPDWLF&KULVWLDQVJRWRFKXUFK
on Sundays to be instructed in good manners and social graces.
Television programs and social network sites offer advice on
everything from dating and cooking to child rearing. One of the
sources that provides this form of remedial information is the
:KLWHPHJDFKXUFK8QOLNHWKH%ODFNFKXUFKZKLFKFRQFHQWUDWHV
LWV PHVVDJHV RQ ÀQDQFLDO HPSRZHUPHQW WKH :KLWH FRXQWHUSDUW
offers information on a wider range of subjects.
The Sunday morning experience is an attempt to compensate
IRUWKHORVVRI IDWKHUVUHVXOWLQJLQWKHORVVRI FXOWXUH&KXUFKHV
WKHUHIRUHSURYLGHRSSRUWXQLWLHVIRUVRFLDOÀQDQFLDODQGSROLWLFDO
QHWZRUNLQJ 7KH SUREOHP KRZHYHU LV WKDW LW LV D JDWKHULQJ RI orphans who are then being instructed by orphans. Although this
28
H[FKDQJHODFNVWKHREMHFWLYLW\WKDWPLJKWRWKHUZLVHPDNHLWXVHIXO
it feels useful by the mere fact that the information appeals to the
LPSHUDWLYHVRI SURYLVLRQDQGSURWHFWLRQLQWKHIRUPWKDWLVLPSRUtant to the congregation.
THE FATHERLESS AS RELIGIOUS POSTMODERNISTS
Another permutation of the fatherless culture that has arisen
ZLWKLQDUHOLJLRXVFRQWH[WLVWKHUHOLJLRXVSRVWPRGHUQLVWVZKRKDYH
their own distinct point of view. They have largely rejected the
HPSKDVHVRQÀQDQFLDOHPSRZHUPHQWDQGVRFLDOPDQQHUVDVSDUW
of their overall rejection of the church system. Their beliefs are
formulated in the more general view of the failure of the systems
of modern society that is held by postmodernists. Like their secular
SRVWPRGHUQFRXVLQVWKH\UHMHFWWKHYDOLGLW\RI DOOWKLQJVODEHOHGDV
modernist and have an abiding faith in the “emerging church.”
By pointing to the obvious failures of church movements in
JHQHUDO UHOLJLRXV SRVWPRGHUQLVWV WDNH WR WKHPVHOYHV WKH ULJKW WR
GHFLGHWKHIRUPRI DOOWKLQJVUHOLJLRXVLQFOXGLQJWKHUHGHÀQLWLRQRI God. They have managed to fashion a god to their own liking. The
resulting god has none of the characteristics of the fathers they
despise and exhibits the behaviors that are socially acceptable and
QRQWKUHDWHQLQJ6XFKDJRGQHYHUGLVFLSOLQHVQRUUHTXLUHVDFFRXQWability. That god believes in the inherent goodness of man and
always interprets man’s behavior through the lenses of altruism.
7KURXJK WKLV OHQV WKH SHUVRQ ZKR KDV UHMHFWHG DOO WKH HYLOV
RI PRGHUQLVP VXFK DV UDFLVP HFRQRPLF FRORQLDOLVP DQG H[ploitation of nature and is laboring to create a society based
RQ IDLU WUDGH JUHHQ WHFKQRORJ\ DQG D ]HUR FDUERQ IRRWSULQW LV
RQH ZKR SRVVHVVHV DOO WKH TXDOLWLHV RI DQ HYROYHG KXPDQ 7KH
religious postmodernist is a person who has no need to be
DFFRXQWDEOH:KDWHYHUWKDWSHUVRQGRHVLVPRWLYDWHGE\WKHKLJKest of human ideals and will create a world the way God intended
it in the beginning.
An essential characteristic of religious postmodernists as a
group is that they have replaced the image of a father with that of
29
the group. The group is characterized by the lack of confrontation
and the constant search for consensus. They may accept a father
ÀJXUHDVD´PHQWRUµ+RZHYHUWKHPHQWRU·VLQSXWLVOLPLWHGWRVXJJHVWLRQVZKLFKWKH\DUHIUHHWRDFFHSWRUUHMHFWDWZLOO7KHPHQWRU
LVDOZD\VRQWULDODQGKLVDFWLRQVDUHVFUXWLQL]HGDQGFRPSDUHGWR
the fathers who failed that generation.
7KHVFRSHRI WKHUHOLJLRXVSRVWPRGHUQLVWV·LQÁXHQFHXSRQWKH
church culture of their generation will emerge with greater clarity
over time.
A UNIFIED GLOBAL CULTURE HAS ARISEN
Although the culture of the fatherless has permeated human
VRFLHW\LWKDVODUJHO\JRQHXQQRWLFHG,WLVIRUPLQJLWVHOI LQWRDQHZ
global order whose effects are everywhere. Yet the underlying cause
KDVUHPDLQHGXQQRWLFHGDQGXQLGHQWLÀHG7KLVJHQHUDWLRQW\SLFDOO\
derives its information from global sources and understands how
the greater systems upon which human life depends are becoming integrated seamlessly into a common global order. They view
QDWLRQDOFRQFHUQVDFFRUGLQJWRKRZWKH\DIIHFWWKLVJOREDORUGHU
and their loyalties are shifting from national preoccupations to a
global outlook.
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Access to the Internet has permitted this generation to peer into
VRPHRI WKHGHHSHVWVHFUHWVRI WKHZRUOG·VSROLWLFDODQGÀQDQFLDO
empires. Because this generation of fatherless people has transIHUUHGWKHLUVHQVHRI UHVSRQVLELOLW\WRDJOREDOFRPPXQLW\WKH\GR
not tend to observe restraint in distributing the information they
gather to a worldwide audience.
$VPHQWLRQHGSUHYLRXVO\WKHRUSKDQFXOWXUHRI WKLVJHQHUDWLRQLV
driven by the twin imperatives of the search for provision and proWHFWLRQ7KHRUSKDQUHOLHVXSRQQRRQHEXWKLPVHOIDQGEHOLHYHV
that his future is of his own making. He has received no inheritance
of value from previous generations and does not feel any measure
RI REOLJDWLRQWRHQGRZIXWXUHJHQHUDWLRQV,QKLVVHOIUHOLDQFHWKH
30
RUSKDQQHYHUIXOO\WUXVWVDQ\RWKHUSHUVRQDQGLVFRPPLWWHGWRKLV
RZQZHOOEHLQJDVKLVÀUVWSULRULW\+HLVJRYHUQHGE\WKHIHDURI not having enough to provide for all his needs and of never being
JRRG HQRXJK WR PHHW WKH H[SHFWDWLRQV RI RWKHUV $Q RUSKDQ LV
WKHUHIRUHDOZD\VLQVHFXUHDERXWWKHPRWLYHVRI RWKHUV+LVGHVWLQ\
LVGHÀQHGE\KLVVNLOOVDQGKHGRHVQRWYLHZKLVOLIH·VSXUSRVHDV
part of an unfolding reality. His destiny can only be calculated to
DXJPHQW KLV DELOLW\ WR VXSSO\ ZKDW KH QHHGV DQG KLV VXFFHVV LV
measured in terms of his accomplishments.
7KHRUSKDQKDVQRVHQVHRI DGLYLQHFDOOLQJGHÀQLQJKLVGHVWLQ\
:KHQHYHUKHWKLQNVRI KLVUHODWLRQVKLSWR*RGKHDXWRPDWLFDOO\
defaults to a standard of performance. He wants to know what
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HPEUDFHVDWKHRORJ\RI JUDFHKHVWLOOIXQFWLRQVRXWRI DPHQWDOLW\
of works. His religious faith seems to have almost no impact upon
these fundamental tenants of his culture. He lives between the
natural world and the spiritual world and manages to maintain his
mental health by keeping these two worlds completely separate.
7KH ULVH RI WKLV FXOWXUH LWV SHUYDVLYHQHVV DQG LWV VHHPLQJ
LQH[RUDEOH PRPHQWXP UDLVHV PDQ\ TXHVWLRQV UHJDUGLQJ PDQ KLV
H[LVWHQFH DQG KLV GHVWLQ\ )URP ZKHUH GLG WKH FXOWXUH RI WKH
RUSKDQRULJLQDWHDQGKRZKDVLWFRPHWREHVRFRPSOHWHO\SHUYDVLYH"
Has humankind always been like this? Is this culture the inevitable
result of man having evolved out of primordial substances to
become the dominant fearsome predator?
3HUKDSV PRUH SUHVVLQJ DUH WKH TXHVWLRQV RI D EHWWHU ZD\ ,V
WKHUHDZD\WRDQREOHUH[LVWHQFH",I VRZDVWKHUHHYHUDQDOWHUQDWLYH
YLVLRQWKDWGHÀQHGPDQ·VH[LVWHQFHDQGSXUSRVH"$QGFDQKHÀQG
his way home—perhaps even to his Father’s house?
31
32
T
CHAPTER 4
he Spirit of the Orphan
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The fall of man has been far more precipitous than religious
WUDGLWLRQVKDYHWDXJKW:KHQ*RGFUHDWHGPDQ+LVRULJLQDOLQWHQW
ZDVWRFUHDWHDVRQZKRVHSXUSRVHLQFUHDWLRQZDVWRUHSUHVHQW
*RGKLV)DWKHU7KHIDOOERWKVHSDUDWHGWKHVRQIURPWKHIDWKHU
and changed the culture of man from that of a son to that of an
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D GLVWLQFW DQG XQLTXH FXOWXUH WR WKH HDUWK DQG IUXVWUDWHG *RG·V
original purpose for creating man.
The fatherless culture is more than the impetus for the commission of sinful acts. It is an altered state of thinking and acting based
upon a fundamental change in the way man perceives reality.
$V WROG LQ 6FULSWXUH WKLV FXOWXUH KDV H[LVWHG DQG KDV JURZQ
to its present expression from the beginning of human history.
This was not the nature of the relationship between God and man
WKDW*RGRULJLQDOO\LQWHQGHGDV-HVXVRQFHUHPDUNHGÍURPWKH
beginning it was not so.”10
ADAM WAS THE SON OF GOD
7KLV WUXWK KDV EHHQ XQHTXLYRFDOO\ VWDWHG LQ 6FULSWXUH *RG
decided to make Adam in His own image and likeness;11 DQG
33
WKHUHIRUH $GDP ZDV FUHDWHG DV ´WKH VRQ RI *RGµ12 +RZHYHU
most religious traditions choose to see man as a creation that God
made for the purpose of worshiping Him. They present man as
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6DWDQ EHFDPH DQ XQFRQVFLRQDEOH LQJUDWH $V SXQLVKPHQW WKH
Creator banished him from paradise and condemned him to death
and hell until the time God would choose to save him. In these
WUDGLWLRQVPDQLVWKHUHDIWHUUHTXLUHGWRGRWKLQJVWRSOHDVH*RGRU
HOVHVXIIHUWKHFRQVHTXHQFHRI DQHWHUQDOKHOO7KLVVWRU\FRQWDLQV
VRPH HOHPHQWV WKDW DUH WUXH EXW LV IDU IURP WKH WUXWK RI PDQ·V
relationship to God.
A far greater purpose for the creation of man is revealed in
the preparations God made for the advent of man into creation.
*RGGHVLJQHGDZRUOGWKDWZRXOGUHQHZLWVHOI IRUDYHU\ORQJWLPH
indicating that His purposes for the creation of man were meant
to unfold over many millennia and would include a vast number
of human beings. God established an entire economy to provide
for His sons. He created “seed-bearing plants and trees on the land
WKDWEHDUIUXLWZLWKVHHGLQLWDFFRUGLQJWRWKHLUYDULRXVNLQGVµ
+H FUHDWHG ÓLYLQJ FUHDWXUHV DFFRUGLQJ WR WKHLU NLQGV OLYHVWRFN
FUHDWXUHV WKDW PRYH DORQJ WKH JURXQG DQG ZLOG DQLPDOV HDFK
according to its kind.”7KHQDIWHU+HFUHDWHGPDQ+HGHFODUHG
that these things were intended for man’s provision:
,JLYH\RXHYHU\VHHGEHDULQJSODQWRQWKHIDFHRI WKHZKROH
HDUWKDQGHYHU\WUHHWKDWKDVIUXLWZLWKVHHGLQLW7KH\ZLOO
EH\RXUVIRUIRRG$QGWRDOOWKHEHDVWVRI WKHHDUWKDQGDOO
WKHELUGVRI WKHDLUDQGDOOWKHFUHDWXUHVWKDWPRYHRQWKH
JURXQG³HYHU\WKLQJWKDWKDVWKHEUHDWKRI OLIHLQLW³,JLYH
HYHU\JUHHQSODQWIRUIRRG15
God created a son in God’s own image and in His own likeness.
The purpose for the creation of man is contained in this fact.
34
7KH6SLULWRI WKH2USKDQ
MAN IS SPIRIT
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QHFHVVDU\ WR VXVWDLQ KXPDQ OLIH +H FUHDWHG PDQ *RG ÀUVW
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likeness.16 7KHQ +H H[HFXWHG WKDW LQWHQWLRQ H[DFWO\ ´6R *RG
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him; male and female he created them.” God fashioned the form
RI PDQRXWRI FOD\IURPWKHGXVWRI WKHJURXQGDQG+HLQVHUWHG
LQWRWKLVIRUPDVSLULWZKLFKFDPHRXWRI WKHYHU\SHUVRQRI *RG
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fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much
more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!”
Man is the only creation that may claim to be the son of God.
6RQVKLSLVLQUHJDUGWRPDQ·VVSLULWQRWKLVERG\ Our physical
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his father. God created the form that the man’s spirit would occupy
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IDVKLRQHGIURPWKHGXVWRI WKHJURXQGZDVPHDQWWRGLH20 to be
discarded and raised as a spiritual body.210RUHRYHU*RGGRHVQRW
discriminate in the sonship of humans based on their physical attriEXWHV:HDUHDOOVRQVZLWKRXWUHJDUGIRUUDFHEORRGOLQHRUJHQGHU22
:KHQ *RG LPSDUWHG +LV 6SLULW LQWR PDQ RXW RI +LV RZQ
SHUVRQ +H FUHDWHG D EHLQJ WKDW ZDV FRPSDWLEOH ZLWK WKH QDWXUH
of God. The intent of God was to make a son who would be in
kind and nature like God. God designed him so that God could
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EHFDXVHKHZDVE\QDWXUHOLNH*RG*RGWKHQSODFHGWKLVVSLULWXDO
being into the previously formed creation.
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RI KLVVSLULWLVIURPWKHYHU\SHUVRQRI *RGPDNLQJPDQXQLTXH
among all created beings. Humans are an entirely different speFLHVIURPHLWKHUWKRVHWKDWH[LVWLQWKHKHDYHQVVXFKDVDQJHOVDQG
35
GHPRQVRUWKHDQLPDOVWKDWRFFXS\WKHSK\VLFDOUHDOP*RGKDV
never included any other creature in the designation “sons of God.”
2QHRI WKHFRQVHTXHQFHVRI WKHIDOOZDVPDQ·VORVVRI DELOity to hear God. It was always the intention of God to fellowship
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spirit that we are God’s children.” For God to communicate with
PDQWKHKXPDQVSLULWPXVWEHFRPSDWLEOHZLWKWKH6SLULWRI *RG
2WKHUZLVH*RGFRXOGRQO\FRPPXQLFDWHZLWKPDQWKURXJKV\PEROV
W\SHVVKDGRZVDQGFRSLHV
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God’s impartation—which man received during his daily visit
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and he was no longer informed through his interactions with God.
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culture of heeding his own wisdom had taken root. From that
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of God.
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tandem with God. He was to be the agent through whom God
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radically distinct culture of independence in the fall would continue
to oppose the culture of man as a son.
SONS ARE RULERS
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He created them male and female and blessed them. And when
WKH\ZHUHFUHDWHGKHFDOOHGWKHP¶PDQ·µ26 “Adam” is the proper
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the general sense.,WLVDSSURSULDWHWKHUHIRUHWRUHIHUWRWKHJHQHUDOFRQGLWLRQRI PDQNLQGLQWHUPVWKDWDSSO\WR´$GDPµDQGUHIerences herein to the rule of man or the fall of man apply to Adam
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God put man in creation to manage an order that God had
established in the earth prior to making man. The order of living
things was this:
36
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SODQWVDQGWUHHVRQWKHODQGWKDWEHDUIUXLWZLWKVHHGLQLWDFFRUGLQJWRWKHLUYDULRXVNLQGVµ$QGLWZDVVR«$QG*RG
VDLG´/HWWKHZDWHUWHHPZLWKOLYLQJFUHDWXUHVDQGOHWELUGV
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EOHVVHGWKHPDQGVDLG´%HIUXLWIXODQGLQFUHDVHLQQXPEHU
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WKH HDUWKµ «$QG *RG VDLG ´/HW WKH ODQG SURGXFH OLYLQJFUHDWXUHVDFFRUGLQJWRWKHLUNLQGVOLYHVWRFNFUHDWXUHVWKDW
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and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” Even the
lights in the expanse of the sky were part of this order. God created
WKHPWRQRWRQO\VHSDUDWHGD\DQGQLJKWEXWDOVRVHUYHDVVLJQVWR
GHVLJQDWH WKH FKDQJLQJ VHDVRQV DV ZHOO DV GD\V DQG \HDUV God
intended them not only to show the cycles of changing years and
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into time.%HIRUH$GDPVLQQHGKHZDVOLYLQJRXWWKHGHVWLQ\WR
rule over the earth as the son of God.
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FUHDWLRQ WKDW LQ KLV UXOH ZRXOG EH DV D VXUURJDWH RI KLV )DWKHU
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to do so through a surrogate.
All forms of rule express the nature and the imperatives of the
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of the rule of an agent of the sovereign. Since rule on the earth
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God’s representative on the earth be one who understood the naWXUHRI *RG0DQ·VUXOHLQWKHHDUWKWKHUHIRUHKDGWREHWKHH[DFW
PDQQHULQZKLFK*RGKLPVHOI ZRXOGUXOH2WKHUZLVHWKHIRUPRI rule of the earth would not represent the rule of God.
37
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accurately. Inasmuch as the son himself is a “[partaker] of the
GLYLQHQDWXUHµRI KLVIDWKHU a son would know and understand
the nature of the Father.
Only a son could impart the underlying culture of the father’s
rule to the domain over which the son has been established to rule.
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a form of order that was a mirror image of the existing order of
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existed in heaven into the earth. Both the form of his rule and the
spirit of his rule were to be representations of the existing heavenly
order.
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different from the rule of a son. The son knows the intent of his
father’s heart and is the heir of all that the father possesses. A
VHUYDQWRQWKHRWKHUKDQGFDQRQO\H[HFXWHZKDWKHKDVEHHQWROG
7KHVHUYDQWKDVQRFDSDFLW\WRUHSUHVHQW*RGEHFDXVHKHLVQRWD
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The servant is obligated to view everything from a servant’s viewpoint and not from the point of view of an heir. The heir seeks the
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associated with his station within the house.
/LNHZLVHDQJHOVDUHPLQLVWHULQJVHUYDQWVZKRVHUYHWKHLQWHUHVWV
RI *RGDQGWKHVRQVRI *RG:KHUHDVVRQVDUHFDSDEOHRI SRUtraying the nature and character of their father; a son is a personal
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GOD’S SOVEREIGN NATURE
All forms of government are rooted in some concept of sovereignty. Historic forms of sovereignty are mainly monarchical
38
and over time have ruled nations through dynasties. In modern
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the administration associated with the execution of the sovereign’s
power is inevitably through delegates. The associated bureaucracies
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DGPLQLVWUDWLRQDQGDUHWKHUHIRUHWKHIDFHWKDWWKHVRYHUHLJQSUHVents to the governed.
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common complaint is that the agents of the administration do not
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of the people’s discontent. The search is always for representatives
of the government who accurately portray the collective culture of
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routinely produced an administration characterized by contempt
for individual freedoms and aspirations. Maintaining the power of
the monolithic state has been characteristic of the nature of these
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administration in which the culture of the sovereign is most accurately portrayed.
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RI WKHKRXVHLQWRWKDWSODFH7KHVRQLVDYLFHUR\RI KLVIDWKHUWKH
king.
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RI DFRQTXHULQJNLQJWR´FLYLOL]HµQHZWHUULWRULHVDQGSHRSOHVE\
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WKH FRQTXHUHG SHRSOH 7KH WHUP ´FLYLOL]DWLRQµ LV RIWHQ XVHG WR
describe the process of imposing a standard of civil order upon
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people. The intent is to create uniformity throughout the empire.
The weaker nation is “civilized” to the standards of the more pow39
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and the new order is implemented.
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be no mistake regarding the intention of the king to bring those
territories under the rule of the throne and to infuse the culture of
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the undisguised intent of the monarch to give his highest priority to imposing the way of life already established in his kingdom
upon his new citizens.
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of his father and of the kingdom. It would be inconceivable that
the son would deviate substantially from the norms of the court of
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eventually he would be king. By accurately representing his father’s
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itself. Great noble families often ruled kingdoms for centuries in
WKLVZD\0RQDUFKLFDOUXOHLVE\QDWXUHWUDQVJHQHUDWLRQDO
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IRUWKHEHQHÀWRI IXWXUHJHQHUDWLRQVRI UXOHUV1RELOLW\LVGLVWLQguished by the sense of continuity through multiple generations.
The conservation of power over multiple generations produces a
distinctly different culture of rule than what may be accomplished
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GOD’S REPRESENTATIVE IS HIS SON
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40
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fashion in which it was in heaven. Although the domain of heaven
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Adam’s ability to accurately represent the nature of his Father.
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and accurate positioning with respect to the one who is being repUHVHQWHG$GDPZDVLQQDWXUHD´SDUWDNHURI WKHGLYLQHQDWXUHµ
since his being was issued out of the person of God. The term
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origin was out of the person of God. Although God implanted
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remained a spirit. God designed man with this sameness of spirit
with the intention of assigning him the role of exactly representing
God in the earth.
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positioning Adam as the head of the government of the Kingdom of Heaven in the domain of earth. The attack upon Adam by
Satan was targeted to disrupt the accuracy of his positioning.
Adam’s commission to rule the earth and to “subdue it” was a
grant of authority from God—it cannot function independently
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that was settled by God’s decision both to create Adam as His
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in the matter of the choices that informed the character of his
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rule devolved into his personal pursuit for provision and protection.
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display of the nature of God himself. Adam’s rule would por41
tray the order and the character of God. The result would be that
the same order of relationships that exists in heaven would be on
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of God. This is seen in Jesus’ declaration of the purpose for which
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be done on earth as it is in heaven.” :KHQ *RG PDGH $GDP
God intended that the Kingdom would exist on the earth as it did
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would come upon the earth through Adam.
The announcement of the birth of Jesus was the declaration of
God’s intent to restore the government of heaven to the earth in
the form of His Kingdom and to invite humans to seek the good
order and peace of His rule over their lives. God was resuming
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Adam. Isaiah prophesied the coming of Jesus and the restoration
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will be on his shoulders.”
THE SAME ORDER IN EARTH AND HEAVEN
God created the earth to house physical allegories of heaven’s
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LQYLVLEOH TXDOLWLHV³KLV HWHUQDO SRZHU DQG GLYLQH QDWXUH³KDYH
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that people are without excuse.” God often chooses to explain
great truths of heaven through references to the plant and animal
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reproduce according to their own kind. These physical representations
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utilized format through which God explains Himself. God created
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42
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issues out of another. Adam is then put into a deep sleep and God
takes a part of his body and forms another body out of it. God
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$GDP GHFODUHG WKDW VKH LV ÉRQH RI P\ ERQHV DQG ÁHVK RI P\
ÁHVKVKHVKDOOEHFDOOHG¶ZRPDQ·IRUVKHZDVWDNHQRXWRI PDQµ
(YHDOVRZDVJLYHQDVSLULWIURP*RGDVLVWKHFDVHZLWKDOOKXPDQLW\ 6LQFH $GDP KXPDQV KDYH KDG WKLV GXDO LGHQWLW\ VLQFH WKHLU
ERGLHVDUHWKHSURGXFWVRI WKHVHHGRI WKHLUIDWKHUVLQFXEDWHGLQ
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from God;DOOKXPDQVDUHERUQRI ÁHVKDQGPD\EHERUQDJDLQ
of spirit./LNHZLVHWKHUHODWLRQVKLSEHWZHHQDKXVEDQGDQGZLIHLV
part of God’s divine order and explains certain heavenly truths.
Paul taught that God designed this type and shadow to explain
the mystery of Christ and the Church. By making the woman’s
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and bone. God deliberately made woman this way as the foundation
of the essential character of heavenly government.
Not only did God make the physical creation to be an allegory
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under authority becomes mature and can replicate the same order
of rule in which he had been trained within the spheres of his
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domains over which his sons would rule. The father’s contribution
would be the creation of a culture and the sons would have executive decision making over their spheres of authority.
43
$VDZRPDQ(YHZDVERWKWKHVRQRI *RGDQGWKHVRQRI Adam. Eve’s administration was meant to display in part the
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anything he could possibly do himself. Although he contained the
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position as his wife. These twin roles were not incompatible inasPXFKDVWKHUROHRI VRQUHIHUVWRWKHFDSDFLW\RI UHSUHVHQWDWLRQ
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ZLWKKLPDORQH%\FUHDWLQJ(YHRXWRI $GDP*RGPDGHLWSRVsible for them to have the closest relationship possible between
two human beings. This was meant to portray the type of relationship
possible between God and man on the basis of one Spirit to
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children.” %\ PDNLQJ KHU GLVWLQFW IURP $GDP KRZHYHU *RG
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Although Adam and Eve were separate creatures with individual
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WKH IXQFWLRQDO FRQWH[W RI LQWHUGHSHQGHQF\ WKH XQLTXHQHVV RI each person may be fully celebrated. There would be no place for
MHDORXV\HQY\DQGVWULIHVLQFHWKHRQHVXQGHUDXWKRULW\DUHLQGLVpensable to the display of the culture of those in authority and the
true character and intent of those in authority are given the widest
possible expression through the administrations of those by whom
they are represented.
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became immediately apparent. All of his relationships were afIHFWHGE\WKHIDOODQGWKHVHHGVRI GLVFRUGZLWKLQKLVUHODWLRQVKLSV
44
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began to view her as wholly other than himself. Adam changed
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elevating the value of individualism over corpus.
The environment of comparison and competition that Adam’s
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introduced when Cain killed his brother Abel in jealousy.
$GDP UHPDLQHG LQ FUHDWLRQ IRU QHDUO\ RQH WKRXVDQG \HDUV
GXULQJZKLFKWLPHWKHRUGHURI KXPDQVRFLHW\IXOO\HYROYHGXQder his rule. Although he sinned and his rule increasingly deviated
IURP KLV RULJLQDO PDQGDWH *RG QHYHU UHYRNHG WKH DXWKRULW\ +H
gave Adam over creation. Adam was the original father who had
WDONHGZLWK*RGDQGKHHVWDEOLVKHGWKHIXQGDPHQWDORXWOLQHVWKDW
formed the context of his rule together with the accompanying
order of its government.
The form of Adam’s government was rooted in the centrality
RI WKH UROH RI WKH IDWKHU DQG WKH UHSUHVHQWDWLRQ RI WKH IDWKHU·V
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the descendants of a father multiplied in the earth. This form of
rule was the optimum form for the maintaining of good order and
peace over multiple generations. All of human society was initially
EDVHGXSRQWKLVIRUPRI RUGHUXQWLOWKHPHDQVRI WUDYHOLQJZLGHO\
allowed migration and the intermixing of nations to form alternative
social orders.
45
46
T
CHAPTER 5
he Knowledge of
Good and Evil
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DQGHYLOIRUZKHQ\RXHDWRI LW\RXZLOOVXUHO\GLH
God’s nature is to love. Love cannot remain as an unexpressed
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of that nature compels the one possessing it to put it on display.
%HFDXVH *RG LV ORYH LW ZDV DOZD\V LQHYLWDEOH WKDW +H ZRXOG
HYHQWXDOO\H[SUHVV+LVORYHDQGEHFDXVH+LVORYHLVSHUIHFW+LV
H[SUHVVLRQ RI LW ZRXOG DOVR GHÀQH WKH QDWXUH RI ORYH SHUIHFWO\
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give expression to the nature of God Himself:
«(YHU\RQH ZKR ORYHV KDV EHHQ ERUQ RI *RG DQG NQRZV
*RG :KRHYHU GRHV QRW ORYH GRHV QRW NQRZ *RG EHFDXVH
*RGLVORYH7KLVLVKRZ*RGVKRZHGKLVORYHDPRQJXV+H
VHQWKLVRQHDQGRQO\6RQLQWRWKHZRUOGWKDWZHPLJKWOLYH
WKURXJKKLP7KLVLVORYHQRWWKDWZHORYHG*RGEXWWKDW
>+@HORYHGXVDQGVHQWKLV6RQDVDQDWRQLQJVDFULÀFHIRURXU
VLQV'HDUIULHQGVVLQFH*RGVRORYHGXVZHDOVRRXJKWWRORYH
RQHDQRWKHU1RRQHKDVHYHUVHHQ*RGEXWLI ZHORYHRQH
DQRWKHU*RGOLYHVLQXVDQGKLVORYHLVPDGHFRPSOHWHLQXV
47
The facets of the love of God come together and are seen through
the Son. All who individually represent different aspects of the
love of God as parts of the body of the Son are destined to be
presented together as one corporate entity—the Body of Christ.
SATAN’S ARGUMENT
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*RG·VULJKWHRXVQHVVLPSO\LQJWKDW+HPDGHDQHUURQHRXVFKRLFH
when He chose man as His heir. The argument is simple: if the
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the argument of Satan that the angels and Satan were unfairly
passed over would be tantamount to God having made a mistake.
,I *RGZHUHWRKDYHPDGHDPLVWDNHWKHQDOOFODLPVWR+LVÁDZOHVV
wisdom and perfection would be spurious. Even if God did not
UHFDQW+LVFKRLFHRI PDQDQGFKRRVHDQJHOVLQVWHDGLI +LVFKRLFH
ZHUH SURYHQ WR EH PLVWDNHQ WKHQ 6DWDQ·V HIIRUW WR XQVHDW +LP
would have a chance of succeeding. God could have responded
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XQDQVZHUHG WKH TXHVWLRQ RI WKH ULJKWHRXVQHVV RI *RG·V FKRLFH
+HWKHUHIRUHFUHDWHGWKHHDUWKDQGPDQLQRUGHUWRUHVROYHWKLV
TXHVWLRQ
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KLVWRU\ZLWKWKHLQWHQWRI HQJDJLQJWKHFRQÁLFWRQWKHHDUWK$QJHOVHQMR\VLJQLÀFDQWDGYDQWDJHVRYHUPDQZKHQWKH\FRPHLQWR
the domain of man. They have prior knowledge derived from their
previous places in heaven together with the advantage of being
VSLULW EHLQJV LQ D QDWXUDO ZRUOG 7KHUHIRUH *RG KDV OLPLWHG WKH
manner in which Satan and his angels could engage man.
7KHHDUWKZDVFUHDWHGWRKRVWWKHH[LVWHQFHRI PDQZKRP*RG
FDOOHG+LVVRQ7KLVLV´WKHEHJLQQLQJµUHIHUUHGWRLQ*HQHVLV
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Since
*RG DORQH LV WKH %HJLQQLQJ DQG WKH (QG everything else that
exists God created. The angels and all other creations in heaven
preexisted man and this physical creation.
48
7KH.QRZOHGJHRI *RRGDQG(YLO
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son and created angels in anticipation of their service to the sons.
7KHFUHDWLRQRI WKHDQJHOVSUHGDWHGWKDWRI PDQEHFDXVH*RGFUHDWHGDOODQJHOVDVVHUYDQWVÀUVWWR*RGDQGVXEVHTXHQWO\WRPDQ
The order of created things shows God’s plan that He intended
WRSXWLQWRHIIHFWDWWKHDSSURSULDWHWLPHLQWKHVHTXHQFHRI +LV
choosing.
Angels were created into categories of service and are limited
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KLVVDPHQHVVRI QDWXUHPD\UHSUHVHQWKLVIDWKHUZKHUHDVDVHUYDQW
LVGHVLJQHGRQO\WRSHUIRUPDVSHFLÀFWDVNDQGQRWIRUEURDGDQG
general representation. Some of these categories include warring
DQJHOVPHVVHQJHUDQJHOVDQGDQJHOVGHVLJQHGIRUWKHKRO\RUGHURI procession when God chooses to reveal Himself to the spirit of
man in visions and dreams.
God announced His intention to bring forth a race of beings
through which He would put on display the totality of His being
according to His eternal plan. It was immediately apparent to the
DQJHOV³SDUWRI WKHSULRUFUHDWLRQRI ZKLFK6DWDQZDVWKHPLJKWLest and most eminent—that this decision would confer the greatest
inheritance possible upon a creature. Such a creation would be
PDGHDEHQHÀFLDOKHLURI WKHQDWXUHRI *RG+LPVHOI+HZRXOGEH
*RG·VVRQFUHDWHGLQWKHLPDJHDQGOLNHQHVVRI *RG$VWKHVRQ
RI *RGKHZRXOGKDYHJHQHUDODXWKRULW\LQKHDYHQDQGRQHDUWK
God’s decision to create a race of these creatures was rooted in His
nature to love; for God is love.
GOD’S LOVE
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nature that could choose to inherit the authority of God’s Kingdom and extend the rule of heaven to the earth; and by man’s
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/RYHLVLQKHUHQWO\YXOQHUDEOHLWSXWVRQH·VLQWHUHVWDWULVNLQWKH
KDQGVRI DQRWKHUZKLOHLQYHVWLQJIDLWKDQGKRSHLQWKHUHFLSURFDO
affection of the other. The reciprocal nature of love means that
49
love cannot exist if it is not expressed.
The love of God is different from His creative competence or
the glory evidenced by the harmonies of divine order. The highest
form of God’s love is expressed in the desire of the one created
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describes the most complete expression of this desire. Being like
God means loving as God loves. It means choosing a path that is
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rest of the world.
Until God created creatures capable of being endowed with
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like Him as their personal choice and would submit their personal
desires to the corporate government that would cause them to
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love of God would remain unrevealed. God expressed His love by
FUHDWLQJPDQZKRE\GHOHJDWLRQFRXOGIXOO\H[SUHVVWKHORYHRI God to all creation.
The full expression of God’s love is meant to occur corpoUDWHO\ZLWKHDFKLQGLYLGXDOEHLQJRQHIDFHWRI WKHODUJHUH[SUHVVLRQ
This corporate expression is built upon the father and son relationVKLS7KLVUHODWLRQVKLSLVWKHEXLOGLQJEORFNRI WKHIDPLO\RI *RG
also known as the House of God.
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within the designer of the house is outwardly put on display for all
to see. The house itself is useful for all that it has been designed
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7KHVWUXFWXUH·VEHDXW\WRJHWKHUZLWKLWVIXQFWLRQKRZHYHUFRQIHUV
a measure of honor to its designer that is even greater than may
be conferred upon the structure itself. The beauty of the form of
WKHEXLOGLQJVLOHQWO\WHVWLÀHVWRWKHFUHDWLYLW\DQGFKDUDFWHURI WKH
designer.
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confers value to the earth. In that sense he functions as a house. In
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RI *RGKLVGHVLJQHUDQGWKHJUHDWHUJORU\EHORQJVWR*RGZKR
50
PDGHKLP³´:KHQ&KULVWZKRLV\RXUOLIHDSSHDUVWKHQ\RXDOVR
will appear with him in glory.”
“…[J]ust as the builder of a house has greater honor than the
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EXLOGHURI HYHU\WKLQJ«$QGZHDUHKLVKRXVHLI ZHKROGRQWR
our courage and the hope of which we boast.” In representing
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KLVLGHQWLW\DQGKLVIXQFWLRQIURPWKH)DWKHU:KHQWKHVRQH[DFWO\
UHSUHVHQWV WKH )DWKHU KH LV GRLQJ RQO\ ZKDW KH ZDV GHVLJQHG WR
do. The beauty of the nature of the Father is displayed through
him and he brings glory to the Father in the same way that the
house brings glory to the designer. The house is a statement that
translates the intangible emotions of the designer into a functional
reality.
MAN’S CHOICE
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Satan is that of man’s choice to be like God. In engaging man on
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tactics they may employ to separate man from God. All of their
efforts are focused upon the ability of man to make choices independently of God.
The seat of man’s independence from God is his soul. God
endowed man with a spirit so that he might be able to fellowship
ZLWK*RGDQG*RGJDYHKLPDVRXOVRWKDWKHPLJKWH[HUFLVHD
meaningful choice to do so—or not.
The soul provided Satan with the richest possibility of engaging
man in his effort to prove that the creature was unworthy to be
God’s son and heir. God had to permit access to the human being
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+LVKHLUZDVLQGHHGFRUUHFWZRXOGFRPHZKHQLQVSLWHRI WKHIXOO
UDQJHRI WKHHQHP\·VDWWDFNVDJDLQVWKLPKHUHPDLQHGIDLWKIXODQG
unwavering in his love for and his pursuit of God and would continually present himself as a vessel in whom God can dwell as He
wills.
51
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WKH 6FULSWXUHV VD\ ´%H UHFRQFLOHG WR *RG *RG PDGH KLP ZKR
KDGQRVLQWREHVLQIRUXVVRWKDWLQKLPZHPLJKWEHFRPHWKH
righteousness of God.”7KHZDUEHWZHHQ*RGDQG6DWDQZKLFK
EHJDQLQWKHKHDYHQVKDVFRQWLQXHGRQHDUWKZLWKLQPDQ·VEHLQJ
7KHRXWFRPHZLOOHVWDEOLVKWKHULJKWHRXVQHVVRI *RGLQ+LVFKRLFH
by the undeniable evidence of man choosing to be like his Father
in the face of the enemy’s most unrelenting pressures. In man’s
FKRLFHWKHDVVHUWLRQWKDW*RG·VQDWXUHLVWRORYHZRXOGEHFRPHD
demonstrated reality.
0RUHRYHUE\SHUPLWWLQJ6DWDQWRJLYHIXOODQGXQUHVWULFWHGH[SRVXUHWRKLVQDWXUHHYLOZRXOGEHGLVFORVHGLQDOOLWVKLGHRXVQHVV
:KHQWKHSURFHVVKDVIXOO\UXQLWVFRXUVH*RGFDQWKHQH[SXQJH
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the authority of death is revoked. Anything that is sinful results in
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and corrupt. The rule of sin always leads to death to the thing
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ÁRXULVKHV³HYHQLQWKLVSUHVHQWZRUOG:KHQVLQLVUHPRYHGDQG
GHDWKLVGHVWUR\HGOLIHLQDOORI LWVDEXQGDQFHZLOOFKDUDFWHUL]HWKH
rule and reign of God and His sons.
MAN’S NATURE
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and the body.603ULRUWRWKHIDOOPDQVDZHYHU\WKLQJE\WKHVSLULW
and was in perfect union with God. Man’s soul had been in submission to his spirit; his spirit directed his choices.
Satan directed his efforts toward changing the way man saw
himself in relationship to God. His efforts were designed to “open
the eyes” of the soul.61 Satan told man that he had secret knowledge
of why God restricted man from eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. His assertion was that the fruit of the tree
was designed to unlock the hidden knowledge that would permit
access into the secrets of God. Satan’s effort was to create a means
E\ZKLFKPDQFRXOGUXOHLQGHSHQGHQWO\RI *RG%HLQJGHFHLYHG
52
man assumed that the creation could exist independent of a divine
purpose and would renew itself perpetually. Under the rule of man
DSDUWIURP*RGWKHGRPDLQRI HDUWKZRXOGEHVHYHUHGIURPWKH
culture of heaven and would exist and be ruled outside the authority
RI *RGVXEMHFWRQO\WRWKHZLVGRPRI PDQ
Since the earth was a territory in the domain of the Kingdom
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PDQNLQGVHFHGHGWKDWWHUULWRU\IURPWKHUXOHRI KHDYHQWKHQPDQ·V
inability to renew the territory would subject it to “the bondage to
decay.”62$QGWKHHDUWKZRXOGZDLWLQWKDWFRQGLWLRQJURDQLQJLQ
anticipation of the sons of God who would liberate it and restore
it to the function for which it was designed.
The success of Satan’s appeal to Adam’s soul would have disasWURXVFRQVHTXHQFHVIRUERWKWKHPDQDQGWKHHDUWK(DUWKZRXOG
EH LPSULVRQHG LQ WKHVH FRQVHTXHQFHV XQWLO PDQ ZDV UHGHHPHG
7KHFRQVHTXHQFHVWKHPVHOYHVZRXOGQRWUHPDLQVWDWLFEXWZRXOG
EHFRPHSURJUHVVLYHO\PRUHFRUUXSWXOWLPDWHO\SRUWUD\LQJWKHWUXH
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would also fully display the love of God. For where sin abounds
grace does much more abound.
:KHQWKHH\HVRI WKHVRXOZHUHRSHQHGPDQ·VYLHZRI KLPself and his purpose in creation underwent a complete change.
He transitioned from being a son to becoming fatherless; and in
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)DWKHUDQGVDZKLPVHOI DVÁHVK
THEREFORE AN ORPHAN
That transition shifted his perspective from one in which he
ruled over creation to merely a survivor. By separating himself
IURPKLV)DWKHUDQGFRPLQJWRUHO\XSRQKLPVHOIKHFRXOGQRORQJHU
represent the rule of his Father. All of his assumptions regarding
UHDOLW\SXUSRVHDQGGHVWLQ\FKDQJHG+HGHSDUWHGIURPWKHFXOWXUH
of his Father and began a culture driven by the imperatives of
provision and protection.
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53
DFWLRQVPDNHFOHDUWKHWUDQVLWLRQWKDWRFFXUUHG$VDQRUSKDQKH
could no longer rely upon the estate of his Father for support of
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both needs. He lost the sense of continuity of purpose and began
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God “among the trees of the garden.”
Adam’s actions were the result of the new knowledge he had
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and evil. The tree was planted in the Garden along with the tree of
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chosen independence from God. Man was created with the spirit
of God in him so that he would naturally depend upon God for
everything that pertained to his existence. As long as man chose to
ZDONLQIHOORZVKLSDQGFRPPXQLRQZLWK*RGKLVVXSSO\ZRXOGEH
unending and his life would be truly abundant. These two trees—
the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil—
were symbolic of the choices available to man.
The tree of the knowledge of good and evil embodied the
alternative to life supported by God. Since God gave “every treeEHDULQJIUXLWµWRPDQIRUIRRGLWLVVLJQLÀFDQWWKDW*RGIRUEDGH
him the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In
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was only kept from it after he chose to also eat of the tree of the
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RI DQHZDQGFRQÁLFWLQJEDVLVRI OLIHLWVHOI
It was not merely the act of eating the fruit that was sinful.
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creation to mirror realities already existing in heaven. These two
trees represented the extremes of the patterns of life that the earth
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*RGDQG6DWDQDQGZHUHWKHWZRH[WUHPHVRI WKHFKRLFHWKDWPDQ·V
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54
The compendium of knowledge represented by the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil was the basis for an alternative reality
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knowledge of the tree offered an order of life in which the creature
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This independent order obligated the creation to duplicate the
functions of God on its own and forge a destiny of his own choosing.
This was true of both man and Satan.
The choice of independence would appeal to the soul of
PDQ7KHNQRZOHGJHV\PEROL]HGE\WKHWUHHRI WKHNQRZOHGJHRI JRRGDQGHYLOLVWKHUHVXOWRI DSURFHVVRI REVHUYDWLRQDQDO\VLV
FRPSDULVRQWKHRU\DQGDFWLYLW\LQDZRUGUHDVRQ(YHREVHUYHG
WKDWWKHIUXLWRQWKHWUHHZDV´SOHDVLQJWRWKHH\Hµ66 and she had
been told that it was desirable to make her wise. She compared the
restraint of God’s warning against eating the fruit with the information from Satan to make her choice.
%\HDWLQJWKHIUXLWRI WKHWUHH$GDPGLVSOD\HGWKHQHFHVVDU\
recklessness that permitted him to throw off the restraint of his
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)DWKHU7KHQE\UHDVRQWKHPDQFRQFOXGHGWKDWKLVUHDOLW\ZDVQRW
VSLULWEXWÁHVKKHEHJDQWRHQJDJHWKDWUHDOLW\E\IDVKLRQLQJFORWKLQJ
IRUKLVÁHVK:KHUHDVSUHYLRXVO\DVORQJDVKHVDZKLPVHOI DVD
VRQWRKLV)DWKHUKHDFFHSWHGWKHIDFWWKDWKHZDVDVSLULWEHFDXVH
KLV)DWKHUZDVVSLULW+LVÁHVKZDVWKHFORWKLQJZLWKZKLFK*RG
FORWKHGWKHVSLULWDQGKHZDVQRWQDNHGEXWZDVDVSLULWFORWKHG
LQ ÁHVK Both Adam and Eve made a conscious and deliberate
choice that permanently altered their vision of reality.
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of a loving Father to an enemy. It was this change in perception
that explains his efforts to evade God by hiding among the trees of the
Garden. He would later explain to God that he hid out of the fear that
permeated him when he heard the sound of the Lord in the Garden.
55
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WR WKH LPSHUDWLYHV RI KLV SURYLVLRQ DQG KLV SURWHFWLRQ $W ÀUVW
DIWHUWKHIDOOWKHRQO\HQHP\PDQSHUFHLYHGZDV*RGDQGSURYLsion and protection were rudimentary. He fashioned clothing and
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options for protecting himself would come to include annihilating
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HYLOZRXOGKDYHDQHYHUH[SDQGLQJÀHOGRI H[SUHVVLRQWRLQFOXGH
ZDU JHQRFLGH DQG LQGLVFULPLQDQW PXUGHU 7KH H[SUHVVLRQ RI motivation for provision would expand to include unconscionable
and indiscriminant exploitation of the environment and all within it.
2QO\WLPHZDVUHTXLUHGEHIRUHWKHIXOOFRQVHTXHQFHVRI WKHGHFLsions of man’s soul—to deny the restraints of his Father and to act
on his own and for himself—would become evident.
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UHDOLWLHVDVSHUFHLYHGWKURXJKWKHVSLULWDQGWKHVRXOZRXOGZLGHQ
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the results of both would be presented in stark contrast at the end
of the age.
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perspectives of the spirit. This reality would be the fruit of the tree
RI OLIHIRUWKH\ZRXOGEHUHFRQFLOHGWR*RGWKH)DWKHUWKURXJK
-HVXVWKH6HQW2QHWKURXJKZKRP*RGZRXOGUHFRQFLOHWKHZRUOG
WR+LPVHOI´QRWFRXQWLQJSHRSOH·VVLQVDJDLQVWWKHPµ
56
A
CHAPTER 6
Change from
Spirit to Soul
God created man as an expression of Himself that was
intended to reside in a venue different from His own. The context
for God’s decision to make man in His own image and likeness
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LQ WKH VN\ RYHU WKH OLYHVWRFN DQG DOO WKH ZLOG DQLPDOV DQG RYHU
all the creatures that move along the ground.” This is consistent
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but shows that the sons’ representation was to take place on the
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breathed spirit from His own person into this created form. The
result was that man became a “living soul.”
The underlying intention of God in putting His son into the
earth was to cause Himself to be seen and understood within the
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FRPSRVHGRI WKUHHSDUWVDERG\DVRXODQGDVSLULW7KHERG\FUHDWHGRI GXVWZDVPDWHULDODQGFRPSDWLEOHZLWKWKHSK\VLFDOZRUOG
The environment of earth was neither harmful nor detrimental
WR WKH KXPDQ ERG\ EXW SHUIHFWO\ FRPSDWLEOH DQG VXSSRUWLYH WR
KXPDQH[LVWHQFH,QGHHG*RGGHVLJQHGWKHSK\VLFDOZRUOGWREH
both useful to and harmonious with man’s physical form.
7KHVSLULWZLWKLQPDQRULJLQDWLQJRXWRI WKHSHUVRQRI *RG
DVDJLIWIURP*RG+LPVHOIZDVQDWLYHWRWKHZRUOGRI *RGWKDW
57
RI VSLULWDQGRI KHDYHQ7KLVDVSHFWRI PDQ·VEHLQJLVWKHUHIRUH
as much at home in the invisible realm of spirits as his body is at
home in the natural world.
:LWKLQPDQWKHVRXOEULGJHVWKHJDSEHWZHHQWKHQDWXUDOZRUOG
and that of the spirit. The purpose of the soul is to translate the
realm of spirit to the natural. In his exercise of dominion on the
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LVPHDQWWREHLQIRUPHGE\DQGREVHTXLRXVWRWKHVSLULWRI PDQ
:KHUHDVWKHVSLULWRI PDQLVWKHSDUWRI PDQ·VEHLQJWKDWLVLQFORVH
fellowship and communion with God at all times.
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nature and eternal purposes to the natural world. The soul itself
LV D PLUURU LPDJH RI PDQ·V VSLULW PHDQW WR IXQFWLRQ LQ WDQGHP
with the spirit. A similar relationship exists between the Spirit of
God and the spirit of man. God imparted His own spirit into the
being of man so that the spirit of man could function in perfect
harmony with the Spirit of God. The ultimate outworking of this
arrangement is that “since the creation of the world God’s invisible
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LQ +LV LPDJH DQG OLNHQHVV DQG GHVLJQHG WR SUHVHQW WKH LQYLVLEOH
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opus—the greatest creation of which God is capable.
The fall destroyed this elegant balance and freed the soul to act
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VRXODQGVSLULWPDQZDVXQDEOHWRHQWHUDQGUHPDLQLQ*RG·VUHVW
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the rule of the spirit so that man may once again enter God’s rest
and function in the earth as God originally intended for him. This
JUHDWWDVNLVDFFRPSOLVKHGSURJUHVVLYHO\RYHUWLPHEHLQJ´ZRUN>HG@
out…with fear and trembling.”
SPIRIT, SOUL, AND BODY
The struggle between the two realities centered in soul and
spirit has continued from the time of Adam’s fall until now. Even
58
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Jesus was not immune to this struggle. As the hour of His death
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SRLQWRI GHDWKµ´«7KHVSLULWLVWUXO\UHDG\EXWWKHÁHVKLVZHDNµ
7DNLQJWKHSODFHRI +LVSUHGHFHVVRUWKHÀUVW$GDPDQGDOORI $GDP·VIDOOHQSURJHQ\ZDVVRXWWHUO\UHSXOVLYHWR+LVULJKWHRXVVRXO
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decreed “from the foundation of the world.”
The clarity of Jesus’ choice to subject His soul to the rule of
+LVVSLULWDQGVRUHWXUQPDQWRDQXQIDOOHQVWDWHZDVH[SUHVVHGLQ
His prayer in the garden of Gethsemane on the very night he was
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LVWURXEOHGDQGZKDWVKDOO,VD\"¶)DWKHUVDYHPHIURPWKLVKRXU·"
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your name!”,QWKDWPRPHQWWKHGHFOLQHRI KXPDQFXOWXUHZDV
arrested; the dominance of the soul over the spirit that began with
Adam and continued until then was fully arrested and reversed.
Although the imperatives of provision and protection would
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FXOWXUHZRXOGFRQWLQXHRQXQWLOLWUHDFKHVLWVDSRJHH-HVXVPDGH
man’s original culture fully available in the earth as a clear and
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RI *RG)URPWKLVWLPHRQZDUGWKLVFXOWXUHZRXOGDGYDQFHDORQJ
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is embodied in two distinct expressions. The culture formed out
of the soul’s perspective of reality would continue along the path
RI MHDORXV\HQY\DQGVWULIHDVWKRVHZKRWUXVWLQLWVHHNWRÀQG
well-being through the pursuit of provision and protection. The
culture of the spirit will develop into a corporate expression of the
full nature of God. Those who choose the latter as their way of life
ZLOOSXWRQGLVSOD\WKHORYHRI *RG$YLWDOSUHUHTXLVLWHWRPDNLQJ
59
the choice to live in either the culture of the soul or the spirit is to
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THE SOUL AND THE SPIRIT
Both the soul and the spirit are similar in their constituent parts.
(DFK KDV WKUHH FRPSRQHQWV D PLQG D ZLOO DQG D KHDUW 7KHVH
components serve similar functions within both the soul and the
spirit.
The mind serves as the basis for information upon which
the spirit or soul bases its view of reality. The will assembles the
resources available to the spirit or soul to interact with creation
and actualize that reality. The heart supplies the motivation for the
pursuit of the reality.
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three components out of the spirit and the soul produces radically
different results.
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WKHPDQ·VVSLULWZLWKLQKLP",QWKHVDPHZD\QRRQHNQRZV
WKHWKRXJKWVRI *RGH[FHSWWKH6SLULWRI *RG:HKDYHQRW
UHFHLYHGWKHVSLULWRI WKHZRUOGEXWWKH6SLULWZKRLVIURP
*RGWKDWZHPD\XQGHUVWDQGZKDW*RGKDVIUHHO\JLYHQWR
XV 7KLVLVZKDW ZHVSHDNQRW LQ WKHZRUGV WDXJKW XV E\
KXPDQZLVGRPEXWLQZRUGVWDXJKWE\WKH6SLULWH[SUHVVLQJVSLULWXDOWUXWKVLQVSLULWXDOZRUGV7KHPDQZLWKRXWWKH
6SLULWGRHVQRWDFFHSWWKHWKLQJVWKDWFRPHIURPWKH6SLULWRI *RGIRUWKH\DUHIRROLVKQHVVWRKLPDQGKHFDQQRWXQGHUVWDQG
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The mind of the soul receives its information from three
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from sources that are subject to the control of the enemy. Eve saw
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60
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desire to possess the wisdom that it promised. The information
regarding the possibility of hidden wisdom was supplied from the
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reality supplied by the wisdom of God. These three sources of
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:KHQWKHVRXOUXOHVWKHSHUVRQLVGUDZQWRWKHVHVRXUFHVRI LQIRUPDWLRQUHJDUGLQJUHDOLW\7KHVHLQÁXHQFHVDUHFRUUXSW7KHUHIRUHWKHLQIRUPDWLRQDVVHPEOHGE\WKHPLQGRI WKHVRXOLVFRUUXSW
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corruption.
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assembled by the mind of the soul deceived man into thinking
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KLVHIIRUWKHXWLOL]HGZKDWVNLOOVKHKDGDQGZKDWUHVRXUFHVZHUH
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emotion that motivated him to undertake these actions—fear. He
confessed that he was afraid.+LVWRULFDOO\PDQKDVEHOLHYHGWKDW
WKH KHDUW ZDV WKH FHQWHU RI WKH KXPDQ EHLQJ DQG DOWKRXJK WKH
6FULSWXUHVGRQRWUHIHUWRWKHWHUP´HPRWLRQµWKHKHDUWKDVDOZD\V
been considered the seat of all emotions. Every decision the human
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the heart of the soul often drives the rationale for one’s decisions
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in harmony with the Spirit of God. The human spirit remains
submerged and inactive until the Spirit of God energizes it. Scripture describes that occurrence as being born again of the Spirit.
This act of being born of the Spirit of God awakens the human
spirit and begins to reform the human being by restoring the spirit’s
dominance over man’s soul.
61
SOUL VERSUS SPIRIT
6LQFHWKHVRXO·VGRPLQDQFHKDVEHHQDPDWWHURI ORQJVWDQGLQJ
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UHVWRUDWLRQRI WKHFXOWXUHRI WKHVSLULWLVSURJUHVVLYHQRWLQVWDQWDneous. It begins with the mind of the spirit being instructed by the
Spirit of God.
The source of the information on which the mind of the
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see and understand all things in the same way that God views reality.
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the mind of Christ. The continuous yielding to this different reality
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The will that is employed in the furtherance of a heavenly view
of reality must also be supplied by God who wills and does His
own pleasure. The Holy Spirit supplies the power that enables the
human to function in a heavenly view of reality in the form of
“Gifts of the Spirit.”
The dominant expression that arises out of the heart that lies
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DFWLYLWLHVRI WKHVSLULWLVORYH/RYHLVWKHRQO\HPRWLRQJUHDWHUWKDQ
fear. God’s perfect love casts out fear.:KHQ*RGGHVLJQHGPDQ
He placed the greatest emotion of which He is capable within man’s
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of ruling the human being. Because it is true that whoever loves is
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KRZ GHSUDYHG WR FKRRVH WR EH ERUQ DJDLQ RI *RG·V 6SLULW 7KH
love of God demonstrated to even the most hardened of human
beings has the innate capacity of activating the emotion of love
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goodness of God that draws men to repentance.
62
T
CHAPTER 7
he Schemes
of the Enemy
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DJDLQVW WKH GHYLO·V VFKHPHV )RU RXU VWUXJJOH LV QRW DJDLQVW
ÁHVKDQGEORRGEXWDJDLQVWWKHUXOHUVDJDLQVWWKHDXWKRULWLHVDJDLQVWWKHSRZHUVRI WKLVGDUNZRUOGDQGDJDLQVWWKH
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alternative to God built upon the motivation of fear that lies within
the heart of the soul. This entrapment comprises many systems
designed to exploit man’s fear of death and his obsession with
comfort. Though he continues to utilize his minions to harass and
H[SORLWSHRSOHRQDQLQGLYLGXDOEDVLVWKHJUHDWHUWKUHDWSRVHGE\
his administration is systemic. These compounded systems make
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WRGDUNHQKLVXQGHUVWDQGLQJRI *RGZKLOHSURPLVLQJHQOLJKWHQPHQW
of the self. The Scriptures refer to these systems collectively as “the
world.”
These systems that oppose God and the truth operate on the
same basis of Satan’s original engagement of man. His schemes
are built on the anticipation that man will be governed by his soul.
He continues to offer man the opportunity to create and control
his own reality. Anyone who relies on these systems pursues the
63
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these systems have little ability to affect one who is ruled by his
spirit. They are ineffective in predicting or controlling the mind of
the spirit.
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the schemes of the enemy. Satan fashioned the systems of the world
as an entrapment to exploit Adam’s separation from the Father.
THE KOSMOS
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the context of the surrounding text. There are multiple meanings
to the term “world” or “kosmos.” The apostle John uses at least
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KHGHFODUHVWKDW´*RGVRORYHGWKHZRUOGµ but he also cautioned
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ZKRORYHVWKHZRUOG´WKHORYHRI WKH)DWKHULVQRWLQKLPµ The
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64
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RI KLVH\HVDQGWKHERDVWLQJRI ZKDWKHKDVDQGGRHV³FRPHV
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This kosmos LV EDVHG XSRQ WKH QDWXUH RI LWV FUHDWRU WKH RQH
referred to as the kosmokratorRUZRUOGUXOHUDQHSLWKHWRI 6DWDQIt
focuses upon man’s desire to assure the certainty of his provision
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rely upon God. The apostle John understood that these systems
were designed to seduce anyone who relied upon them away from
reliance upon God as their Father. He accurately concluded that
one cannot rely on God the Father for provision and protection
and simultaneously trust in systems designed to replace a relationship
to God with a reliance on one’s self.
The strength of Satan’s kingdom is the collective appeal of
these interconnected systems in that they are designed to address
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LQWHUZRYHQOLNHDVSLGHU·VZHEWRHQWUDSDQGWRFRQWDLQWKHHQWLUHW\
of humanity. Entire nations form their governmental systems to
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Even Jesus was tempted to concede the validity and primacy of
these systems.
THE SYSTEMS OF THE KOSMOS
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the Kingdom of God or the NRVPRV The nature of the king over
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WUDQVODWHGLQWRWKH.LQJGRPRI *RGZHDUHJRYHUQHGE\WKHFXOWXUH
RI WKHRUSKDQWKHODVWLQJOHJDF\RI RXUJUHDWDQFHVWRU$GDPSHUSHWXDWHGE\6DWDQWKHJRGRI WKLVZRUOG,QWKH.LQJGRPRI *RG
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of God and heirs of the promise of eternal life.
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65
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the characteristics of the citizens’ lifestyle. The existence of these
different systems is warranted by the need for governmental administrations to address the issues that arise among citizens of any
kingdom. The systems of the kosmos have their counterparts in the
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THE SYSTEM FOR RESOLVING CONFLICTS
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LQDQ\NLQJGRPLWLVQHFHVVDU\WRKDYHLQSODFHDV\VWHPIRUUHVROYLQJGLVSXWHVEHWZHHQLWVFLWL]HQVWKHJRDORI ZKLFKLVWRGHWHUPLQH
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a judgment. The determination of the parties’ relative rights and
duties centers on that which is deemed valuable within the system.
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is determined by the culture of the kingdom. In the kosmosYDOXH
is measured by the imperatives of provision and protection. In
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These are all things to which courts can ascribe monetary value. In
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and its citizens and the liberty interests of an individual.
That which is valuable within the kosmos is that over which the
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or those deeper hurts between individuals that take root when one
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This is an adversarial system that places primary importance
RQZLQQLQJEHFDXVHWKHUHLVQREDVLVIRUPHDVXULQJWKHYDOXHRI a relationship between the parties. Any matter submitted for resolution is subject to a process that anticipates each party’s zealous
advocacy for a one-sided outcome. Although the proceedings may
66
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the result favors. Friends and family members are made enemies
simply by submitting a dispute to the authority of the kingdom.
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successful in severing the relationship between Adam and God.
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WKHGLVSXWDQWVPDNLQJWKHJRDORI WKHSURFHVVWKHUHFRQFLOLDWLRQRI the parties in dispute. Jesus outlined the steps for reconciliation:
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The value of the relationship is preserved throughout the entire
process. The initial step of approaching one’s brother privately is
designed to minimize the potential for his embarrassment and invite reconciliation in an environment of discretion. This approach
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permitting an honest discussion of the substance of the dispute.
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has been wronged places on the relationship with the one who
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retribution. This matches exactly the attitude of God toward man.
)RUZKHQPDQVLQQHGDJDLQVW+LP*RGLQLWLDWHGWKHSURFHVVRI reconciliation in the person of Jesus Christ.
67
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the process is continued by the inclusion of the least number of
people necessary to help bring resolution. These “two or three
witnesses” are selected on the basis of their willingness to prefer
the reconciliation of the relationship as the primary goal of their
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three witnesses” was the minimum number necessary to establish
a matter by testimony. The term Jesus uses for “witnesses” has
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VHFRQGLWGHVFULEHVRQHZKRLVDQDORJRXVWRD´PDUW\Uµ In this
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lives on behalf of the disputants to achieve a reconciliation of
the relationship. Because of the witnesses’ devotion to the parties
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reconciled.
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report of the facts to the spiritual household of the parties precludes the need for a new investigation into the facts. This permits
anyone with a relationship to the party at fault to attempt to persuade him to change and be reconciled.
7KH ÀQDO VWHS LQ WKLV SURFHVV LV WDNHQ DIWHU DOO WKH SUHFHGLQJ
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council of Christ offered to him throughout the entire process.
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in the process places him outside the authority of the Kingdom.
One in the Kingdom must be submitted to Christ the King. It is
that submission that enables the reconciliation of the relationship.
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hearts of people.
68
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shown himself not submitted to the Kingdom of God. Before he
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Kingdom.
The last option for one not submitted is to release him from
the protection of the Kingdom and to permit his enemy to rule
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even this step is designed to produce the desired result.
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establish a factual basis upon which to render a righteous outcome.
This brief comparison highlights the contrast between the two
systems arising from the culture of drastically different kingdoms.
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kingdom with the nature and authority of the king. Satan values
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came to restore man to God as sons of God.
KINGDOM AGAINST KINGDOM
The systems of the kosmos are designed around man’s desire
for provision and protection. The promise of these systems is the
illusion of the control over these imperatives. There is a wide array
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protection for his person and possessions. Even a religious system
will emerge to provide a spiritual legitimacy to all the other systems.
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the zenith of the culture of the orphan.
69
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society. The integration of these systems is producing fewer sysWHPVZLWKJUHDWHUFRQWURO$VWKHVHV\VWHPVLQWHJUDWHWKHUHVXOWZLOO
EHDKROORZLQJRXWRI WKHLQGLYLGXDOQDWLRQ·VVRYHUHLJQW\UHTXLULQJ
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mandates of these global systems.
The promise of these systems and their demands will be the
basis of a de facto global kingdom. Citizenship in traditional
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symbolic value. In order to comply with the global mandates of
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70
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CHAPTER 8
he Last Adam
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importance of the cross in the story of man’s redemption is beyond
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of the story.
A focus limited to Christ and the cross does not consider that
this event is part of a greater context. That context is a covenant
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which has as its centerpiece the reconciliation of man through
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VDFULÀFH RQ WKH FURVV LV WKH IXOFUXP XSRQ ZKLFK WKH KLVWRU\ RI PDQUHVWVDQGLVUHFWLÀHG7KHUHIRUHWKHUHOHYDQFHRI &KULVWDQG
the cross is best understood within the context of a precreation
covenant established between God the Father and God the Son.
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71
It also explains why the earth was the designated situs to host the
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creation and for mankind. The unfolding of events within time is
FDUHIXOO\FDOLEUDWHGE\*RGWRIXOÀOOWKHUHTXLUHPHQWVRI WKLVSUHcreation covenant. Human history is not a series of random acts
occurring as reactions to conditions existing at particular times in
WKHKLVWRU\RI KXPDQNLQG,QVWHDGLWLVWKHVHDVRQDOXQIROGLQJRI things in heaven that were conceived before the creation of the
world and destined to appear in time as God had foreordained.
God foreknew that man would sin and planned to rescue him.
+HODLGRXWWKHUHTXLUHPHQWVRI WKLVSODQDVHVVHQWLDOSDUWVRI WKLV
precreation—or preexisting—covenant that He obligated Himself
to perform. The terms of this covenant include the offer and satisfaction of Jesus’ death on the cross and God’s acceptance of this
VDFULÀFH7KLVFRYHQDQWLVWKHIRXQGDWLRQIRUWKHUHFRQFLOLDWLRQRI man to God and to the destiny for which God created him.
*RG HVWDEOLVKHG WKH UHTXLUHPHQWV IRU WKH UHFRQFLOLDWLRQ RI PDQWR+LVGLYLQHSXUSRVHVEHIRUHFUHDWLQJKLPDQG*RGDJUHHG
WR XQGHUWDNH DOO WKDW ZDV GHPDQGHG E\ WKHVH UHTXLUHPHQWV DQG
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also designed to restore man to the eternal purpose for which man
was made.
This is the administration of the mystery of Christ that Paul
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things.” The covenant itself envisioned man being restored to
what God made him to be:
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72
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man’s reconciliation to God and concerns God’s choice of man as
His heir. The purpose of Satan’s plan to oppose God on all levels
of human existence is to discredit humans by attempting to show
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IDWKHURI WKLVJUHDWOLHE\VKRZLQJWKHWUXWKWKDWPDQZDVFUHDWHG
WREH*RG·VVRQDQGKHLUWKDWWKLVFUHDWLRQLVLQQDWHO\FDSDEOHRI PDNLQJWKDWFKRLFHDQGWKDWPDQLVZRUWK\WREHFDOOHGWKHVRQVRI God and to be appointed the heirs of God.
Beyond the designation as sons of God is the matter of man
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DVZHOODVFRUSRUDWHO\,QGLYLGXDOO\SHRSOHGLVSOD\WKHFKDUDFWHURI *RGLQWKHZD\WKH\DGPLQLVWUDWHWKHDXWKRULW\RI *RGGHOHJDWHG
WRWKHPLQWKHIRUPRI JLIWVRI WKH+RO\6SLULWDQGZLWKLQWKHLU
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to the kingdom of Satan.
The precreation covenant is the skeletal framework that is
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THE OATH AND THE PROMISE
The precreation covenant was established by God’s oath to
Himself:
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FRQÀUPVZKDWLVVDLGDQGSXWVDQHQGWRDOODUJXPHQW%HFDXVH *RG ZDQWHG WR PDNH WKH XQFKDQJLQJ QDWXUH RI KLV
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73
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God determined before He made man that He would establish
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established the means by which man could choose to be fully reconciled to God. The design of man allows him to possess the holy
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that man could be a son as opposed to another ministering servant.
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against Him.
Choice would include not only the choice to rebel against
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God would have to provide the means by which this choice was
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he himself could not pay. God would have to pay on his behalf.
The preexisting covenant is the manner in which God established
the terms for the reconciliation of man. God swore by himself so
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man to have the ability to choose not only to sin but also to be
reconciled to God.
74
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actor on both sides of the covenant. This arrangement is possible
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manifestations perfectly captured the existing need. Man would be
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as His son to represent the interests of His Father.102
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the Father and the Son as the parties to the covenant—“since there
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The Son’s part was to take on human form and to come to earth
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sins of all humankind. God would appoint the Son as the mediator
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neutralize the effects of Adam’s actions and nullify all of Satan’s
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and heirs of God. The precreation covenant would reopen the
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Father and himself as a viceroy of the Kingdom of Heaven.
FROM SYMBOL TO REALITY
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DFFRUGLQJ WR WKH WHUPV RI WKLV FRYHQDQW ZDV IRUHRUGDLQHG DQG
this foreordination was revealed through Jesus as “the Lamb slain
from the foundation of the world.” God inserted the knowledge
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The exact time of the introduction of this knowledge is not
75
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offering of “fruits of the soil.” The lamb became the appropriDWHDQGUHTXLVLWHVDFULÀFHWR*RGDVDFHQWUDOWHQDQWRI WKHFXOWXUH
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knowledge of the covenant was maintained.
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In the fact that God provided the lamb in the story of Abraham
DQG,VDDFWKHVLJQLÀFDQFHRI WKHVDFULÀFHZDVH[WHQGHGWRGHPRQstrate God’s promise to be the lamb Himself.
This symbol of the covenant was maintained and expanded
during the time of the deliverance of Israel from Egyptian slavery.
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households the night before He liberated Israel from Egypt. The
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because the entrances to the houses in which they lived were
smeared with the blood of the lamb applied in the form of a cross.
The symbol of the lamb would continue to evidence the existence
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entire nation of Israel.
God preserved the knowledge of the covenant in the earth so
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in the Son’s performance of the covenant that would implicate all
the terms of the covenant.
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76
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ZKRWDNHVDZD\WKHVLQRI WKHZRUOGµ106 he would do so against
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D OHJLWLPDWH SULHVW RI WKLV RUGHU VLQFH SULHVWKRRG ZDV KHUHGLWDU\
DQG -RKQ·V IDWKHU KDG VHUYHG LQ WKH WHPSOH DV D SULHVW ZKR RIÀFLDWHGLQ WKHSUDFWLFHRI RIIHULQJVDFULÀFHV7KHULWXDODVVRFLDWHG
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DOVR WR ZDVK WKHP SULRU WR VDFULÀFLQJ WKHP 7KLV H[SODLQV ZK\
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and transformational. The reality of Christ had replaced the symERORI WKHVDFULÀFLDOODPE7KLVNH\UHTXLUHPHQWRI WKHSUHFUHDWLRQ
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CHRIST FULFILLS THE COVENANT
Since the precreation covenant is the foundation for the
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be unimpeachable. He accomplished this with an oath. In ancient
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person who gave his oath. God clearly intends the same force of
DIÀUPDWLRQ DV ZKHQ -HVXV +LPVHOI GHFODUHG ´+HDYHQ DQG HDUWK
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established for all time the reliability and certainty of the precreDWLRQFRYHQDQW3VDOPUHFRJQL]HVWKHVWDWXVRI WKHRDWKVZRUQ
by God: “I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise
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have so exalted your solemn decree that it surpasses your fame.”
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77
covenant is absolute and inevitable.
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Jesus represents the interests of man. He is the Mediator between
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VWDQGDUGVRI ULJKWHRXVQHVVDQG+HIXOO\VDWLVÀHVDOORI LWVUHTXLUHPHQWV 2Q WKH RWKHU KDQG -HVXV LV WKH &UHDWRU RI PDQ ´,Q WKH
EHJLQQLQJ ZDV WKH :RUG DQG WKH :RUG ZDV ZLWK *RG DQG WKH
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all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been
made.”+HFUHDWHGPDQWREHVRQVRI *RG+HWKHUHIRUHFDPH
to display among men the perfect picture of what He designed.
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removes the darkness of sin that had clouded man’s understanding
of his true purpose for being in creation since the fall occurred.
´)RUDOWKRXJKWKH\NQHZ*RGWKH\QHLWKHUJORULÀHGKLPDV*RG
QRUJDYHWKDQNVWRKLPEXWWKHLUWKLQNLQJEHFDPHIXWLOHDQGWKHLU
foolish hearts were darkened.”110%\LOOXPLQDWLQJWKHGDUNQHVV+H
becomes the “light of the world.”111
Jesus Himself swore an oath. Jesus has the same standing as
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the full implications of the covenant the night before He was cruciÀHGVD\LQJ´0\)DWKHULI LWLVSRVVLEOHPD\WKLVFXSEHWDNHQIURP
PH <HW QRW DV , ZLOO EXW DV \RX ZLOOµ112 “Because of this oath
Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.” The Levitical
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guarantees a better result.
78
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authority to cancel men’s debts against God and to invite them to
take up citizenship within the Kingdom of Heaven. As ambassaGRUVRI WKH.LQJGRPRI +HDYHQWKH\RSHUDWHXQGHUWKHSURWHFWLRQV
RI WKHDXWKRULW\RI WKH+RO\6SLULWZKRHTXLSVWKHPZLWKJLIWVRI Jesus’ authority commensurate with the spheres of administration
WR ZKLFK WKH\ DUH DVVLJQHG /LNH -HVXV WKHLU DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ UHFonciles men to God and brings about lasting peace in the lives of
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priests empowered by kingly authority—a royal priesthood.
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to select sons of God from among the race of humankind and to
form them into a royal priesthood that puts on display the nature
of God.
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THE TESTAMENT OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
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Jesus gave the content of His estate in the covenant to those
who were called and selected to be sons of God. The “New Testament” describes Jesus’ estate and its administration and names the
inheritors of Jesus’ estate as “sons of God” who are drawn from
all the nations of humankind. In order to be added to the class of
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and be made a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven:
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\RX WR VKDUH LQ WKH LQKHULWDQFH RI KLV SHRSOH LQ WKH NLQJGRPRI OLJKW)RUKHKDVUHVFXHGXVIURPWKHGRPLQLRQRI GDUNQHVV DQG EURXJKW XV LQWR WKH NLQJGRP RI WKH 6RQ KH
ORYHVLQZKRPZHKDYHUHGHPSWLRQWKHIRUJLYHQHVVRI VLQV116
Those who are already vested heirs are empowered to invite others
to become members of the class.
:LWKLQ WKH GHVLJQDWLRQ ´VRQV RI *RGµ H[LVWV GHJUHHV RI maturity and inheritance. Being translated into the Kingdom of
*RGRQHLVLQLWLDOO\DQGDXWRPDWLFDOO\QDPHGDVDQKHLURI &KULVW
+RZHYHU HDFK LQGLYLGXDO PXVW XQGHUJR DQ H[WHQVLYH SURFHVV RI change and transformation from the culture of orphans to the culWXUHRI VRQVDQGVXEVHTXHQWO\WRWKHVWDWXVRI PDWXUHVRQV2QO\
by this process can one faithfully represent the Father in all things.
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WRRQH·VPDWXULW\)RUH[DPSOHWKHZRUGXVHGIRURQHZKRLVÉRUQ
again” and in the infantile state is nepiosRI ZKLFK3DXOZURWHLQ
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heir is a childKHLVQRGLIIHUHQWIURPDVODYHDOWKRXJKKHRZQVWKH
whole estate.” This is distinguished from a teknon of which the
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he power to become the sons of God….” Here the word used
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and trust; such as a disciple.120
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a son in theKXLRVVWDJHZKLFKLVRQHZKRLVDPDWXUHVRQÀWWR
represent the Father.121$VVRQVJURZLQPDWXULW\WKH+RO\6SLULW
endows them with greater measures of their inheritance. The scope
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and the power that sustains them is increased accordingly.
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part of the estate that originally belonged to the Father. The Holy
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is intimately familiar with everything Jesus sought to present in
His life on the earth. He is capable of directing the process of
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gifts of the authority of Jesus commensurate with the standards
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Executor. That is why Jesus has committed into His administration
81
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the earth.
Any administration of the estate of the Lord Jesus Christ
that takes place outside of this basis of authority is categorically
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The administration of the estate of the Lord Jesus Christ has not
been left subject to the collective will of the heirs. All delegates
of the Kingdom of God purporting to act on behalf of the Lord
Jesus Christ must derive their authority to do so from the Holy
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protocol is exercised in opposition to the administration set by the
Lord Jesus Himself.
Such alternative administrations are actively opposed to Christ’s
interests. The Holy Spirit is the active agent for the administration of Jesus’ estate. He chooses to work through those who are alUHDG\VRQVRI *RGWREULQJRWKHUVLQWRWKH.LQJGRP+RZHYHUQR
one is empowered to act in furtherance of the administration of
the Lord’s estate independent of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit
remains in total control of all facets of the administration of the
estate of Jesus Christ.
COVENANT AND PROMISE
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OLIH-XVWDVQRRQHFDQVHWDVLGHRUDGGWRDKXPDQFRYHQDQW
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LVWKLV7KHODZLQWURGXFHG\HDUVODWHUGRHVQRWVHWDVLGH
WKHFRYHQDQWSUHYLRXVO\HVWDEOLVKHGE\*RGDQGWKXVGRDZD\
ZLWKWKHSURPLVH)RULI WKHLQKHULWDQFHGHSHQGVRQWKHODZ
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82
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&RYHQDQWDQGSURPLVH³WKHVHWZRWHUPVKDYHSDUWLFXODUGLVWLQFWPHDQLQJVWKRXJKWKH\DUHFRPPRQO\FRQIXVHGDQGIUHTXHQWly used interchangeably. The FRYHQDQW is the precreation covenant
between God the Father and the Son before the establishment of
creation itself. This agreement between God and God formed the
basis for the structure and operation of all creation that followed.
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of human history. This covenant produced an estate to both the
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estate be conveyed to man. God entered into this covenant with
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The promise ZRXOG YHVW ZKHQ WKH LQWHQGHG KHLUV DUULYHG 6R
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KHLU$VWKHÀUVWVRQRI *RGWKHEHQHÀWVRI WKHFRYHQDQWYHVWHG
ZLWKKLP+RZHYHUZKHQKHVLGHGZLWKWKHHQHP\RI *RGKHUHMHFWHGKLVHVWDWHDVDVRQFKRRVLQJLQGHSHQGHQFHIURP*RGLQVWHDG
7KHHVWDWHUHPDLQHGKRZHYHUVLQFHLWVH[LVWHQFHGHSHQGVRQ*RG·V
RDWKDQGLVWKHUHIRUHLPPXWDEOH,QHVVHQFHZLWK$GDP·VUHMHFWLRQ
WKHHVWDWHUHFRQYHUWHGWRDSURPLVHRQFHDJDLQDZDLWLQJDQKHLU
God found an heir in Abraham and gave him as much of the
promise as Abraham’s condition would allow him to receive—alWKRXJK$EUDKDPDFWHGRXWRI DKHDUWWKDWGHVLUHG*RGDVDVRQ
of Adam his culture was already compromised. God promised to
make a great nation out of Abraham and to bring through his line
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vest. By selecting Abraham to be the father of the race out of
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promise would eventually vest.
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covenant and to cause the promise to fully vest. Upon His death
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to be distributed.
83
The intent of God that was the subject of the precreation
covenant had transitioned fully from covenant to reality. The sons
of God assembled to Christ are the reality envisioned by the covenant.
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in the earth.
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IRU DOO RI \RX ZKR ZHUH EDSWL]HG LQWR &KULVW KDYH FORWKHG
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THE MAN FROM HEAVEN
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disrepute.
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the mandates of His heavenly origin. He would be called “the Last
Adam.”
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LVRI KHDYHQ$VZDVWKHHDUWKO\PDQVRDUHWKRVHZKRDUH
RI WKHHDUWKDQGDVLVWKHKHDYHQO\PDQVRDOVRDUHWKRVH
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84
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Son of God. He is given the title “the Christ” to signify that He
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original purpose of God as foreordained through the preexisting
FRYHQDQWFRXOGSURFHHG2QFHDJDLQPDQFRXOGEHFRPHVRQVRI God through Christ Jesus.
All who are to be sons of God necessarily have a second birth
experience. This experience is the activation of the spirit within a
person and the restoration of the rule of his spirit over his soul.
This results in a different order of governance within the person’s being. Such a person experiences a change in the mind that
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pleasing and perfect will.”
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ultimately what He came to accomplish was to create a spiritual
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heirs who came out of his physical being. The last Adam presents
sons to God who are heirs of God’s estate through Christ’s spiriWXDOEHLQJ7KHERG\RI $GDPIURPZKLFKDOOPHQKDYHFRPHLV
a natural body. It is not possible to have a relationship with the
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anyone come out of his natural form. The body of Christ is a
spiritual body to which the Holy Spirit assembles all who are the
sons of God.
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to be assembled as a spirit into the corporate Christ.
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RI \RXLVDSDUWRI LW
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subject to the factors that govern the natural man.
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86
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is to grant to humans access into the estate created by the covenant
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restore the primacy of the spirit of man within his being and to
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body on the earth from His seat on the throne of God in heaven.
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in turn prosecutes the interests of Christ through the members of
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of the Body of Christ. This is the manner in which access into the
estate of Jesus is secured.
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the Christ. This was the essential message that was proclaimed
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WKHGHFHSWLRQRI WKHNRVPRVDQGWRÀQGUHIXJHXQGHUWKHUXOHRI the ascended King.
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KHDYHQEXWLVWKHSURFHVVE\ZKLFKPDQLVVDYHGIURPWKHFRQGLtion of separation from God that has existed since the days of the
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assembled into the spiritual man and reunited with his true purpose
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empower one’s calling. Although salvation includes avoiding the
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he is no longer subject to the law of sin and death. That is an existing
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the purposes for which we were originally created. This is accomplished primarily by the removal of the mindset inherited from the
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Salvation means being saved from the mindset and culture of an
87
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be spiritually minded is life and peace.” The life of a son is lived
in deep fellowship with the Holy Spirit as part of the corporate
Christ.
88
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CHAPTER 9
ow God Speaks
Even though man has been restored to his position as God’s
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even a born-again believer will begin to accept the assumption that
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by religious institutions.
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GLIÀFXOWIRUPDQ+RZHYHUVLQFHWKHIDOOWKHFODULW\RI *RG·VFRPmunication with man has been distorted by the preeminence of
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Man was not preoccupied originally with either his provision or his
SURWHFWLRQVLQFHWKHWUXHQDWXUHRI PDQ·VEHLQJLVVSLULW+LVFRPmunication with God was not distracted by his preoccupation with
these imperatives.
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commission as the representation of God in the earth. Man’s rule
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original way in which God intended to communicate with His sons.
89
Jesus communicated with God in this fashion while He was on
the earth. His intimate familiarity with God was one of the greatest
offenses to the people of His day. It was “for this reason they tried
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with God.” Jesus explained:
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Jesus.
6LQFHWKHWLPHRI $GDPEHIRUHWKHDGYHQWRI -HVXV*RGFRQtinually attempted to speak face to face with man but had very
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they confessed to being afraid of the presence of God. Moses
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it is the height of arrogance and presumption to suggest that an
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the culture of religion often attribute an attitude of pride and hubris to those who claim to hear God. Though it is true that often
people claiming to hear from God attribute things to God that are
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90
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heart of the resistance to the idea that a person may hear directly
from God is a lack of expectation. The culture of the orphan has
no capacity for the intimacy with the Father that would cause the
Father to earnestly desire direct communication with the spirit of
His son.
FACE TO FACE
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presented as humility.
Scripture shows a picture of God continuously seeking communication with man throughout all the epochs of history. The
assertion that a holy God would never deign to speak directly to a
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He would communicate with man once He could no longer speak
to him face to face.
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no basis for man’s harmonious interaction with God and creation.
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remained as the irrevocable guideline for the evolution of human
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which creation speaks to man’s soul. He established creation to
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Although the culture of the orphan continued to widen
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together with various other symbolic observations and practices
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the knowledge of God. “For since the creation of the world God’s
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that people are without excuse.”7KHVHLQÁXHQFHVDUHYHLOHGDV
shadowy images that reference realities that lay beyond the ability
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through the eyes of his spirit.
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such responses from man as the unenlightened soul is capable of
producing. God did not refrain from pursuing His purposes in the
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soul cannot grasp His true intent. God knew that when He comPXQLFDWHGWRPDQWKURXJKQDWXUDODVRSSRVHGWRVSLULWXDOPHDQV
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as in a mirror dimly.7KHUHIRUHZKHQ*RGVSRNHWRPDQFRQcerning the principle of the innocent atoning for the sins of those
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His true intent was to prepare them for “the bread of life” from
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and responses until the restoration of God’s communion with
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connection between man’s culture on the earth and the culture of
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would again be restored to the earth.
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recognize that reality exists simultaneously on the planes of
the natural and the spiritual. The soul sees all things exclusively
from a natural perspective. “The man without the Spirit does not
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are spiritually discerned.” The soul’s mind lacks the capacity to
understand the subtleties and the multidimensional platforms of
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as they exist in heaven and are manifested in the natural creation.
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He may preserve a predisposition toward the truth until the Holy
Spirit reveals God’s mind. The Holy Spirit reveals the true meanings
of what had been previously cloaked in types and shadows to the
spirit of man.
The soul continues to wrestle with the spirit for control of the
human being; and though it is always possible to make choices by
WKHVSLULWPDQLQKLVLPPDWXULW\ZLOORIWHQGHIDXOWWRWKHYLVLRQRI reality with which his soul has become familiar over the years of
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on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with
the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.”
GOD KNOWS THE END FROM THE BEGINNING
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structure the early stages of His relationship with man in a fashion
that predisposes man to understand his true intentions as they are
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take on greater depth and profundity as the cycles reoccur.
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of reference against which he may understand present occurrences.
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evidence of things not seen.”
Jesus is presented in the Gospel of John as the person of the
Godhead who designed the creation. “In the beginning was the
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was with God in the beginning. …He came to that which was his
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humankind knowing exactly what the end would be like before
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last piece of the puzzle to be put in place as the stage upon which
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designed the creation to accommodate the precise unfolding of
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The spiritual man is invited to enter God’s rest and enjoy the
peace that comes from knowing the totality of God’s control over
the unfolding of human events.
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&RPPXQLFDWLQJWKHP\VWHULHVRI KHDYHQWRPDQ*RGLQWURduced themes early in the history of man that He has developed as
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there are numerous instances throughout the Scriptures in which
lambs are slain as atonement for sins. Each succeeding cycle of this
tenet that is present in Scripture contains greater meaning and adds
depth to the symbol right up until John the Baptist announced
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sin of the world”—who gave full expression to all that had been
symbolically preserved in the culture.
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and love—are both cyclical and concurrent. The types and shadRZVRI WKHVHF\FOHVUHFXUFRPLQJFORVHUWRJHWKHUXQWLOWKH\DFWXally overlay each other at the point where the shadows merge into
the spiritual reality. One’s understanding of the reality referenced
by the cycles and the veiled truths they contain grows commensurate with his maturity.
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insight that is imparted to him by the Spirit of God. The process
of maturing is designed to limit and restrict the input of the soul
in determining the nature of reality. The soul’s determination to
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ability to grasp reality as revealed from God’s point of view.
This process is inseparable from suffering and the apparent
loss of control. Suffering is experienced when the soul perceives
that its view of reality is shifting from a basis of reason to one of
revelation. The soul may control the process of reason and the
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substance of revelation. The corresponding vulnerability makes
the human feel adrift and at the mercy of the unknown. This loss
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to allow one’s spirit to part the veil of the apparent loss of control
and return to the reality of the spirit and the provision and protection
of the Kingdom of God.
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95
all the themes in every epoch in such a fashion that the end of the
age is the climactic summation of all the themes converging into a
single reality:
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CREATION AS A TYPE AND SHADOW
The gap between God and man widened following the fall; and
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original intent of God became formidable. God destined the human
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the world for the coming of Christ and the repositioning of man
as sons of God. The work of restoring the fatherhood of God
through Christ was placed upon this foundation. This work will
culminate at the end of the age with the full revelation of Christ
through His spiritual body.
God began creation by arranging preexisting elements. “Now
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and the land covered by the waters. Prior to God speaking the
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and the earth were not arranged in their present form. He com96
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manded the dry land to appear and separated the waters with a
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land underneath to appear.
God arranged the preexisting elements purposefully to acFRPPRGDWH WKH H[LVWHQFH RI PDQ $IWHU WKH ÀUVW IRXU GD\V RI UHRUJDQL]LQJWKHH[LVWLQJHOHPHQWV+HWKHQEHJLQVWRFDOOIRUWKDFWV
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God creates a son out of one whose life has become formless and
misdirected without the preeminence of His spirit.
The functioning of the Godhead in creating the natural world
was such that the Holy Spirit was hovering over the elements as
WKH\ H[LVWHG DZDLWLQJ WKH FRPPDQGV IRU FUHDWLRQ WR LVVXH IURP
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EHFDPHÁHVKµLVVXHGWKHFRPPDQGV The Holy Spirit executed
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method of creating is a type and shadow preceding the recreation
of the fallen man into sons of God.
The resulting new creation begins with a rearrangement of
WKHH[LVWLQJRUGHU´>,@I DQ\RQHLVLQ&KULVWWKHQHZFUHDWLRQKDV
FRPH7KHROGKDVJRQHWKHQHZLVKHUHµ This “new creation”
is in contrast to one’s existence being perceived according to his
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a worldly point of view.” The control of the soul over the spirit
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sinful desires of man and becomes available to the spirit to put on
display the glory of God. The Holy Spirit accomplishes the separation and rearrangement of these fundamental elements of the
human being into their proper order.
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positioned to execute His commands in the being of each person
97
in whom Christ is formed. The Holy Spirit begins by rearranging
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the commands of Christ regarding that particular person. The
Holy Spirit empowers a person’s belief in Christ and transforms
human nature into a divine nature. He constructs faith out of unformed convictions and brings the light of revelation to separate us
from the darkness of unbelief. The divine nature of God replaces
human nature and evinces the process at work in which Christ is
being formed in the person.
The events of one’s early years as a believer typically elicit
WKLVPDVVLYHUHIRUPDWWLQJRI WKHSHUVRQ·VQDWXUH2IWHQRQHZLOO
undergo a period of suffering and an apparent loss of control. The
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because one is never actually in control. The antidote to control
is faith. Suffering and trials disabuse the soul of its notions of
sovereign preeminence by exposing the weaknesses and limitations
inherent in the soul. One cannot put on display the character of
Christ in any area in which the person’s soul retains its preemiQHQFH$VWKHGRPLQDQFHRI WKHVSLULWLVUHVWRUHGWKHGLYLQHQDWXUH
into which one is born again begins to emerge preeminently.
GOD SPEAKS THROUGH TYPES AND SHADOWS
God always intended two creations. The natural creation came
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spiritual reconstruction. Everything in the natural world has its
counterpart in the spiritual realm. The Spirit provides clarity by
lifting the veil that would limit one’s perception of reality to merely
the natural world:
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98
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The glory of an eternal perspective dimmed as man’s soul interIHUHGZLWKKLVFRPPXQLRQZLWK*RG6SLULWWRVSLULWDQGWKHUHDOLties of this perspective appeared only as shadows upon a veil. As
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of man’s reason.
Even this theme of a veil between God and man is presented
in type and shadow in Scripture when the nation of Israel stood at
the base of Mount Sinai forty days after their release from slavery
in Egypt. God invited them to come up into His presence and
to meet with Him face to face. Their souls were overcome with
SDUDO\]LQJIHDUDQGWKH\UHMHFWHGWKHLQYLWDWLRQFKRRVLQJLQVWHDG
to send Moses as their representative. As a result of his encounter
ZLWK*RG0RVHV·IDFHEHFDPHVRUDGLDQWDIWHUEHLQJLQWKHSUHVence of God that it was necessary for him to wear a veil for some
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that in their choice of an intermediary between themselves and
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and God. This barrier was an alternative that accommodated the
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things to come.
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about the relationship between types and shadows and the
corresponding spiritual reality:
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LQOHWWHUVRQVWRQHFDPHZLWKJORU\VRWKDWWKH,VUDHOLWHVFRXOG
QRWORRNVWHDGLO\DWWKHIDFHRI 0RVHVEHFDXVHRI LWVJORU\
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QDWLRQZDVJORULRXVKRZPXFKPRUHJORULRXVLVWKHPLQLVWU\
WKDWEULQJVULJKWHRXVQHVV)RUZKDWZDVJORULRXVKDVQRJORU\
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of that which lasts!
Fundamental to one’s understanding of how God speaks to man
through types and shadows is that the glory of the spiritual reality
far supersedes that of the veiled natural representation.
6LQFHWKHWUXHLQWHQWRI *RGLVWRFUHDWHWKHQDWXUDOWRUHÁHFW
WKHVSLULWXDORQO\ZKHQWKHVSLULWXDOUHDOLW\DSSHDUVFDQWKHQDWXUDO
EH SURSHUO\ XQGHUVWRRG 5HOLJLRXV SUDFWLFH LV EDVHG ODUJHO\ XSRQ
relating to the natural as if it were the spiritual. Old Testament
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observation of the dietary laws.
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ZDWHU EDSWLVP DQG WKH WLWKH ZKLFK KDYH EHHQ WDXJKW RQO\ DV
DUFKHW\SDO SUDFWLFHV ZLWKRXW VSLULWXDO UHYHODWLRQ 5HOLJLRXV SUDFWLtioners cleave to these practices as if the truth of them is contained
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VSLULW·V UHVSRQVH WKHQ WR WKH VSLULW RI PDQ·V LQTXLUHV LQWR GHHS
WKLQJVRI *RGLVWRFODLPHLWKHUWKDWWKHUHOLJLRXVSUDFWLFHLWVHOI KROGVYDOXHEHFDXVHLWLVWKHWKLQJWKDW*RGORYHVDQGUHZDUGVRU
that such deeper understanding is unknowable.
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who only see through the eyes of the soul a central part of a
national identity. The practice is linked to important historical
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hollowed out of its original meaning.
100
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Abraham’s descendents became “as numerous as the stars of the
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-HVXVZDVWKH´/DPERI *RGµFRPHWREHVDFULÀFHGIRUWKHVLQVRI WKHZRUOG7KURXJKWKHSHUVRQRI -HVXV*RGUHYHDOHGWKHP\VWHU\
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from religious practice throughout the history of human civilization.
$SDUWIURPWKLVWUXWKWKHNLOOLQJRI ODPEVIRUUHOLJLRXVSXUSRVHV
KDVQRLQWULQVLFYDOXH+RZHYHUZKHUHDFXOWXUHLVKHOGWRJHWKHU
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RYHUULGHVWKHZLOOLQJQHVVWRDEDQGRQWKHSUDFWLFHHYHQLQIDYRURI the superseding glory of the reality that has fully appeared. By culWXUDODQGUHOLJLRXVWUDGLWLRQVWKHSUDFWLFHEHFRPHVPRUHYDOXDEOH
than the reality.
God intended that the copy or shadow of the heavenly reality
remain in place only until the time for the reality arrives and the
reality reveals God’s true intentions. In the example of the priests
ZKRVHUYHGLQWKHWDEHUQDFOHDQGVXEVHTXHQWO\LQWKHWHPSOHLQ
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DQGVKDGRZRI ZKDWLVLQKHDYHQµ161 and that “the Holy Spirit was
showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet
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God does not empower both the shadow and the reality at the
same time. Such a duality is both unnecessary and would cause
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THE VALUE OF REALITY
The value of the reality cannot be compared to that of the
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whereas the Spirit is the arbiter of the true reality. Those who are
established in religious traditions as the pontifex between heaven
and earth have no interest in the advent of the reality. The coming
101
of the reality transcends the limitations of the archetypes of reliJLRXVDQGFXOWXUDOWUDGLWLRQVDQGXQLIRUPO\XSVHWVWKHV\VWHPVRI authority by which their interpretation and practice are determined.
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of the shadow irrelevant and threatens any such institution with
extinction.
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Yet God’s purposes for humankind that He had ordained from the
beginning would continue until all such purposes had been fully
accomplished. It would simply be a matter of time before the full
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DQGRI HDUWKZRXOGEHXQLWHGXQGHUWKHUXOHRI RQHNLQJDQGWKH
Kingdom of Heaven would appear upon the earth in the same
fashion in which it existed in heaven. “[H]e made known to us
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under Christ.”
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IRRGDQGGULQNEXWLQDIRUPRI UXOHWKDWLVULJKWHRXVDQGUHVXOWV
LQSHDFHDPRQJWKRVHZLWKLQLWVGRPDLQ´)RUWKHNLQJGRPRI *RG
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and joy in the Holy Spirit.”166 God continued to prepare men for the
revelation of His Kingdom by inserting these divine reminders into
the center of human culture. These divine symbols would remain
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had been lost to the human race.
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when it is time for the realities underlying the symbols to appear on
the earth. As the time for the appearing of the spiritual reality draws
QHDUWKHUHDOVRDULVHVDFRUUHVSRQGLQJORQJLQJIRUWKHVHWUXWKVWR
DSSHDUZKHWKHURUQRWKXPDQNLQGFDQDFWXDOO\LGHQWLI\RUXQGHUstand the thing for which they are longing.
102
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RI WKHHDUWKDQGDVLVWKHKHDYHQO\PDQVRDOVRDUHWKRVH
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PDQ
THE PROMISE OF A KING
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by the restoration of rule through the last Adam. The loss of
dominion meant that his purpose in creation changed from that
of a ruler to a survivor. God’s plan from the beginning was to
send a second King to restore the culture of rule to His House.
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relationship between God and man was meant to be accomplished
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Satan was aware that God’s plan was “to destroy the devil’s
work.” Christ would destroy man’s dependence upon the systems
of the kosmos through the reintroduction of a different Kingdom.
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of men’s sins and to rescue them from the domain of Satan and
receive them into His own Kingdom.
All kingdoms are based upon some form of authority. The
term “kingdom” means a foundation or basis of power and rule.
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WKH UHTXLVLWH DXWKRULW\ WR JXDUDQWHH WKH VDIHW\ DQG ZHOOEHLQJ RI his subjects against all opposing forces. That authority not only
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primary undertaking.
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103
lays out a clear path that keeps this preeminent focus throughout the Bible. Types and shadows representing this truth are not
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numerous stories in the Old Testament. Two examples of which
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is to acknowledge his line as the lineage of the King. He says:
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Jacob is identifying Judah as the one among his twelve sons who
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come.
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Jacob did not choose Judah; he was chosen by God.
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because he demonstrated the characteristics consistent with the
purpose for the existence of Abraham’s family. This is demonVWUDWHGLQ5XEHQ·VDQG-XGDK·VUHVSHFWLYHRDWKVWRUHWXUQ%HQMDPLQ
and Simeon from Egypt. To convince Jacob to send Benjamin to
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104
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offered the lives of both of his sons as surety against Benjamin’s
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the sons’ safe return with his own life.,QWKLVSOHGJH-XGDKSUHÀJXUHV WKH UHTXLUHPHQWV QHFHVVDU\ IRU WKH UHGHHPLQJ RI DOO WKH
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8QOLNH5XEHQ-XGDKHPERGLHGWKHHVVHQWLDOFKDUDFWHULVWLFVRI Christ by pledging his life as a guarantee that he would return the
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6LPLODUO\WKHVWRU\RI 7DPDUVKRZVDGHGLFDWLRQWRWKHSUHVervation of the line of the King. Judah was reluctant to honor
Tamar’s right to raise a son to carry on the promise of Abraham’s
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broke through all barriers and allowed her the right to be tied to
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of his authority. The staff of Judah represented the scepter in the
hand of the King that would come from his bloodline. The signet
ring was the symbol of his authority. She valued the things that
God valued and was therefore accorded the right to keep the line
of Judah alive. In honor of her persistence in preserving the life
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which means the one who breaks through. He is the offspring
through whom Jesus comes.
These stories are types and shadows given to provide insight
into the mind of the Lord and as illustrations that the ways of God
are both knowable and reliable.
105
ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
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strategically placed to illuminate a path that reliably progresses to
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of Scripture. They represent the consistent unfolding of the mysteries of heaven.
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and in that condition man could only see and understand heavenly
things in a veiled way. He would be distracted by his obsessive search
for provision and protection and would stumble over profound
truths about the purposes of God without recognizing their value.
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connection between man’s culture and eternal realities through
these types and shadows.
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because the meaning of all the forms of types and shadows are
illuminated through His word and His person. He is the new
template for the deconstruction of all the mysteries hidden in the
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RI 7UXWKZKLFKZDVLQ+LPZKLOH+HZDVLQWKHHDUWKWRFRH[ist with the spirit within man. The same Spirit animated the spirit
of man and brought about the same revelation that Jesus came to
present.
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disclosed so that one who is led by the spirit may clearly understand
what Jesus meant to convey. The types and shadows in both the
QDWXUDOZRUOGDQGWKHVWDWHPHQWVRI 6FULSWXUHDFWDVUHOLDEOHFRQÀUmation of the accuracy of a believer’s understanding of the person
of Christ. “For everything that was written in the past was written
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106
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RI PDQ VSHDNLQJ WR KLP DV FRPSOHWHO\ DV KLV VRXO FRXOG XQGHUstand. Since God always planned to restore a primary connection
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to keep him aware of basic things about God until the day when
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of his spirit would be reopened.
The battle for the reality of man’s vision of God was lost in the
*DUGHQRI (GHQEXWZDVUHJDLQHGLQWKHJDUGHQRI *HWKVHPDQH
,Q WKH *DUGHQ RI (GHQ WKH H\HV RI WKH VRXO ZHUH RSHQHG DQG
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that His spirit was willing to trust God through the looming events
of the cross.
107
108
F
CHAPTER 10
ather and Sons
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“Son” is the term that describes an issue out of the person
of a father. To impart one’s image and likeness to another is
simultaneously the greatest act of generosity and the most complete expression of goodness. To be inextricably bound to another
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LVDQDFWRI VXSUHPHKXPLOLW\HVSHFLDOO\ZKHQWKH)DWKHULV*RG
and the son is man.
The most profound aspect of the character of God is that of
Father. God as Father expresses completely His nature of love: the
ORYHRI *RGLVLQVHSDUDEOHIURPLWVH[SUHVVLRQDV)DWKHUDQGWKH
QDWXUHRI )DWKHULVLQVHSDUDEOHIURPWKHFKDUDFWHURI ORYHSDUWLFXODUO\
when fathering is by design.
God conceived of man as His son deliberately to express the
nature of love. His careful attentiveness of this purpose explains
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before He created Him. Man was not designed as merely a continuDOO\ HYROYLQJ SURWRSODVPLF ÁRWVDP DGULIW LQ WKH YDVWQHVV RI WKH
universe. God tied His own being to man by His unbreakable oath
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109
for the demonstration of His nature of love. Although God always
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of His love could not fully be displayed until He created a Son in
His own image and likeness.
This process exists due to the nature of love. Love does not
H[LVWPHUHO\DVDWKHRU\RUFRQFHSW)RUORYHWRH[LVWLWPXVWEH
actualized—expressed and tested. Love may be demonstrated in
DYDULHW\RI ZD\V,QWKH.LQJGRPRI *RGVXFKGHPRQVWUDWLRQV
H[LVW DV IRUPV RI RUGHU DQG JRYHUQDQFH WKDW EHQHÀW DOO ZKR DUH
ZLWKLQWKH.LQJGRP+RZHYHUORYHLVSUHVHQWHGSHUIHFWO\ZLWKLQ
WKHFRQWH[WRI DIDWKHUDQGKLVFKLOGUHQEHFDXVHWKDWLVWKHRQO\
IRUPLQZKLFKWKHQDWXUHRI ORYHDVGHÀQHGE\*RG·VUHODWLRQVKLS
WRPDQFDQEHIXOO\WHVWHGDQGWKHUHIRUHIXOO\H[SUHVVHG
*RG·VUHODWLRQVKLSWRPDQDV)DWKHUWRVRQVLVQHLWKHUDFFLdental nor casual. It is a deliberate order and foreordained by God.
*RGGHFLGHGWRFUHDWHPDQDV+LVVRQPDQZDVSRZHUOHVVWRLQÁXence this decision in any way.
The love of God for man is the foundation for man’s
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his purpose in creation was lost. It is only by being reconciled to
his Father that he may regain the true purpose for being. The love
of God should never be construed as the basis for permitting man
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and the hereafter. These profound truths about the nature of God
and His purpose for creating man seem contrary to the normal
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against which to view the charity of God.
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PDQ·VSXUSRVHLQFUHDWLRQZDVGHÀQHGE\WKLVKRSHRI UHGHPSWLRQ
$FFRUGLQJO\LQWKLVWLPHRI W\SHVDQGVKDGRZV*RGIDYRUHGFHUWDLQ
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the participants. People were allowed to engage in religious activities
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110
)DWKHUDQG6RQV
the purpose for creation and the hope of redemption in the culture.
)RUH[DPSOH$EUDKDPGLGQRWXQGHUVWDQGZK\*RGZRXOGDVN
KLPWRJRWKURXJKWKHSUHSDUDWLRQVRI VDFULÀFLQJ,VDDFWKHQVWD\
KLVKDQGDWWKHODVWPRPHQWDQGSURYLGHDVDFULÀFH+LPVHOI+RZHYHU
his willingness to proceed as far as he did showed the heart of God
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EDVLVRI WKDWXQGHUWDNLQJWKHQ*RGTXDOLÀHG$EUDKDPWREHWKH
recipient of the promise to bring Christ into the world through his
lineage.
One should not construe this hope of restoration nor the
restoration to sonship through Christ as the end within itself. The
restoration of man through Christ is primarily a restoration to his
ORVWVWDWH,WLVDUHSRVLWLRQLQJRI PDQ*RGPDGHPDQDVDVRQDQG
Christ restored him to sonship. The restoration to sonship is God’s
provision for accurately realigning man in the earth so that God
may put on display the true meaning of Father through him.
Just as a son needs a father in order to properly understand
KLVLGHQWLW\DQGKLVSXUSRVHDIDWKHUUHTXLUHVDVRQLQRUGHUWRSXW
on display the father’s nature. A son’s history and his origin are
determined by the father out of whom the son issued. AccordLQJO\KLVSXUSRVHFDQQHYHUEHIXUWKHUHGLQFRQWUDGLVWLQFWLRQIURP
KLV IDWKHU &RUUHVSRQGLQJO\ WKH IDWKHU LV SOHGJHG WR VXSSRUW WKH
existence of his son. This is the role God chose when He created
WKH VRQ WR SXW +LV QDWXUH RQ GLVSOD\ )DWKHU DQG VRQ WKHUHIRUH
is a symbiotic and intricately interconnected relationship toward a
mutual and continuing purpose.
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KDGSHUPHDWHGHYHU\DVSHFWRI KXPDQLQWHUDFWLRQDQGLWZDVUDUH
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this foundational aspect of heavenly culture was singularly absent
on earth necessitated the advent of a model to guide man in his
understanding back to the standard of father and son. God sent
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to provide a template against which this restored relationship could
111
be understood and measured. The imagination of man could
not replicate this essential culture. It had to become visible again
through Jesus’ pristine heavenly model.
BORN AGAIN
The salvation of man comprises the tasks of rescuing him from
the culture of the orphan and restoring him to the culture of a son
of God. The process involves rescuing him from his reliance upon
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7KH.LQJGRPRI *RGLVDVDIHKDYHQRI DXWKRULW\URRWHGLQ
the sovereignty of Christ. It is an environment in which one’s spirit
regains control over his soul. The process of being translated into
the Kingdom of God is described as being “born again of the
spirit.”
$VZLWKDQ\ELUWKWKHRULJLQDOFRPLQJIRUWKLVLQDQLQIDQWLOH
state. The newborn son goes through distinct stages of growth
and maturity before he becomes capable of functioning in the
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distinctly heavenly in origin.
There are seven distinct characteristics of the Holy Spirit that
Jesus displayed as the model to inform the progression of an infant
son to maturity. The seven characteristics of the Spirit result in the
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for the nature of God. Although these characteristics may have
WKHLU HDUWKO\ FRXQWHUSDUWV WKHLU VRXUFH LV GLYLQH DQG WKH\ IXQFtion to change man’s fundamental nature from carnal to divine.
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EHJLQWREHPRUHSURQRXQFHGFRPPHQVXUDWHZLWKWKHPDWXULQJ
of the son.
A mature son is produced by a deliberate process. One is born
again of spirit in order to restore the original balance of the spirit’s
dominance over the soul. Being born again of the Spirit is not by
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The process for the maturing of sons of God is stewarded
within the order and arrangement of the House of God. Unlike
DQRUSKDQDVRQUHSUHVHQWVFRQWLQXLW\LQKLVJHQHUDWLRQDQGFDUries forward the purposes for which a family exists. The House of
God derives its relevance from God Himself. In every successive
JHQHUDWLRQ*RGUHYHDOV+LPVHOI PRUHFRPSOHWHO\XQWLO+HLVIXOO\
GLVFORVHG :KHUHDV WKH SXUSRVH RI DQ RUSKDQ LV DOZD\V FRPSOHWHG
ZLWKLQ WKH VSDQ RI KLV RZQ OLIHWLPH D VRQ·V GHVWLQ\ UHSUHVHQWV
the ongoing disclosure of the purpose of the house to which he
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son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of
his being.”(YHU\VRQZDVGHVLJQHGWRSUHVHQWDXQLTXHIHDWXUH
RI KLVIDWKHU·VQDWXUHDQGDOOWKHVRQVWRJHWKHUPDNHXSWKHFRPSOHWH
expression of the Father’s family in the earth in any epoch of time.
This is the critical framework by which a son is restored to
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original intent for him. Each son is raised to maturity to present
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of each son is to radiate his Father’s glory and to represent Him
H[DFWO\ &RUSRUDWHO\ WKURXJK WKH +RXVH RI *RG PXOWLSOH IDFHWV
RI *RG·VQDWXUHDUHUHYHDOHGXQWLOXOWLPDWHO\*RGUHYHDOV+LPVHOI completely in the closing age of man.
THE RADIANCE OF HIS FATHER’S GLORY
God intends to convey His love to humankind in every generation.
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been permanently presented. Jesus’ death displayed the love of
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The nature of God displayed in that moment was meant to resonate within human beings wherever and whenever they live. God
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through them the face of His love might be presented throughout
113
the earth in every generation.
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currently in the lives of the sons of God. “For you died and your
OLIHLVQRZKLGGHQZLWK*RGLQ&KULVW:KHQ&KULVWZKRLV\RXU
OLIHDSSHDUVWKHQ\RXZLOODOVRDSSHDUZLWKKLPLQJORU\µ The
VRQVLQWXUQDUHGHSOR\HGWRJLYHERWKIRUPDQGVXEVWDQFHWRWKH
reality of God and to the truth of the message of the cross. By
GLVSOD\LQJDFWVRI +LVJRRGQHVVWKHVRQVGHPRQVWUDWHWKHORYHRI God among humankind on an everyday basis. The relationship between the Father and the Son provides for the appropriate format
from which God’s glory may radiate in the earth.
God’s glory is His goodness. It is not the dazzling light that surURXQGV+LPQRULVLW+LVDZHVRPHSRZHUWRFUHDWH7KHGD]]OLQJ
OLJKW WKDW VXUURXQGV +LP LV +LV RUGLQDU\ HQYLURQPHQW DQG +LV
competence to speak the universe into being is not extraordinary
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they are not noteworthy to God. God is singularly unimpressed
when we reference the brightness of His environment and enumerate long lists of His accomplishments.
,I ZHZHUHWRZRUVKLS*RGEHFDXVH+HZUDSV+LPVHOI LQOLJKW
RUEHFDXVHRI +LVXQLPDJLQDEOHSRZHUWRFUHDWHRXUZRUVKLSZRXOG
be rooted in dread and fear of Him. There would be nothing that
would distinguish the worship of God as Father from that form
RI ZRUVKLSRIIHUHGWRIDOVHJRGVPRWLYDWHGE\DGHVLUHWRDYRLG
WKHLUZUDWKDQGVHFXUHWKHLUIDYRUWKURXJKRIIHULQJVDQGVDFULÀFHV
He would be no different from the impersonal gods of pagan
mythology to whom their devotees gave obeisance based upon the
putative threats to one’s welfare and the ire of powerful beings.
God does not need the assurance of humans that His creative
accomplishments entitle Him to their worship. Everything He
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man about the existence of God and the beauty of His order.
,WLV*RG·VJRRGQHVVWKDWEHVWGHVFULEHV+LVJORU\:KHQ0RVHV
UHTXHVWHGRI WKH/RUG´1RZVKRZPH\RXUJORU\µ God replied:
114
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,ZLOOFDXVHDOOP\JRRGQHVVWRSDVVLQIURQWRI \RXDQG,ZLOO
SURFODLPP\QDPHWKH/25'LQ\RXUSUHVHQFH,ZLOOKDYH
PHUF\RQZKRP,ZLOOKDYHPHUF\DQG,ZLOOKDYHFRPSDVVLRQ
RQZKRP,ZLOOKDYHFRPSDVVLRQ«7KHUHLVDSODFHQHDUPH
ZKHUH\RXPD\VWDQGRQDURFN:KHQP\JORU\SDVVHVE\,
ZLOOSXW\RXLQDFOHIWLQWKHURFNDQGFRYHU\RXZLWKP\KDQG
XQWLO,KDYHSDVVHGE\
:KHQ WKH HYHQW RFFXUUHG WKH /RUG FDPH GRZQ LQ D FORXG DQG
stood before Moses.
7KHQWKH/25'FDPHGRZQLQWKHFORXGDQGVWRRGWKHUHZLWK
KLPDQGSURFODLPHGKLVQDPHWKH/25'$QGKHSDVVHG
LQIURQWRI 0RVHVSURFODLPLQJ´7KH/25'WKH/25'WKH
FRPSDVVLRQDWHDQGJUDFLRXV*RGVORZWRDQJHUDERXQGLQJLQ
ORYHDQGIDLWKIXOQHVVPDLQWDLQLQJORYHWRWKRXVDQGVDQGIRUJLYLQJZLFNHGQHVVUHEHOOLRQDQGVLQ<HWKHGRHVQRWOHDYHWKH
JXLOW\XQSXQLVKHGKHSXQLVKHVWKHFKLOGUHQDQGWKHLUFKLOGUHQ
IRUWKHVLQRI WKHIDWKHUVWRWKHWKLUGDQGIRXUWKJHQHUDWLRQµ
0RVHVERZHGWRWKHJURXQGDWRQFHDQGZRUVKLSHG
The event acts like a formal introduction in which God presents
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God described Himself in the encounter by emphasizing His comSDVVLRQ JUDFH SDWLHQFH VWHDGIDVW ORYH DQG IDLWKIXOQHVV DQG +LV
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of resistance to His plan and will. God showed Himself not by
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declaration of His goodness. God chose to be known for His
all-surpassing goodness.
*RGKDVQHYHUFKRVHQWRGLVWDQFH+LPVHOI IURPPDQ,QVWHDG
He has consistently chosen a relationship of intimacy with man.
$VD)DWKHUZLWK+LVRZQRIIVSULQJ+HKDVVRXJKWWRLQIXVH+LV
nature into the very being of man—from the beginning when He
VTXHH]HG WKH IRUP RI PDQ RXW RI WKH GXVW RI WKH JURXQG +H
115
breathed spirit out of His own person into the container of clay.
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pattern has been His search for an intimate connection to man.
:KHWKHU+LVXQVXFFHVVIXODSSURDFKRI ,VUDHORQ0RXQW6LQDL or
+LVSHUIHFWFRQWDFWWKURXJK-HVXV His desire to present His goodness has been constant in His outreach to man.
%\ FRQWUDVW UHOLJLRXV FXOWXUHV WHQG WR RSHUDWH EDVHG RQ WKH
presumption that the respective deity is distant from man and is
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FRQWLQXH WR YLHZ *RG WKURXJK WKLV FRPPRQ UHOLJLRXV PLQGVHW
FRQVLGHULQJIDPLOLDULW\ZLWK*RGGLVUHVSHFWIXODQGERUGHUOLQHEODVSKHPRXV7KLVSRLQWRI YLHZKRZHYHULVLQFRQVLVWHQWZLWK*RG·V
KLVWRULFDSSURDFKWRPDQDVZHOODV+LVSUHVHQWLQWHQW
:KHQWKHRULJLQDOVRQUHTXLUHGUHVFXLQJ*RG+LPVHOI FDPH
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The form of a son is necessary to accommodate the purpose for
which God created man: to show the nature of the Father. God
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-HVXV FRXOG VD\ ´7KH ZRUNV WKDW , GR DUH QRW P\ RZQ LW LV WKH
Father living in me who is doing his work.” 6R -HVXV LQ +LV
HDUWKO\OLIHEHFDPHWKHSDWWHUQIRUDOOVRQV´>$QG@ZHEHKHOGKLV
JORU\WKHJORU\DVRI WKHRQO\EHJRWWHQRI WKH)DWKHUIXOORI JUDFH
and truth.”
A LIVING SACRIFICE
The ultimate demonstration of the goodness of God displayed
WKURXJK WKH SHUVRQ RI -HVXV WKH 6RQ ZDV RQ WKH FURVV -HVXV·
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the presentation of the glory of God through the person of Jesus
&KULVWFRQVXPHGWKHOLIHRI -HVXV+LPVHOIEXWVLPXOWDQHRXVO\SXW
on display the ultimate standard of love. God chose to love the
son who strayed away from Him enough to consume the life of
the Son who remained obedient to Him in order to rescue the
116
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depths of His goodness. His choice was entirely benevolent in that
+HVDFULÀFHGWKH6RQZKRORYHG+LPWRVDYHWKHRQHZKRGHVSLVHG
+LPXQLQÁXHQFHGE\DQ\EHQHÀWWR+LP7KLVLVSXUHJRRGQHVV
:KHQVRPHRQHORYHVDQRWKHUHQRXJKWRVDFULÀFHKLVOLIHIRU
WKH RWKHU ZKLOH WKH RWKHU KDWHV KLP WKHUH LV D WRWDO DEVHQFH RI VHOÀVKPRWLYDWLRQIRUWKLVEHKDYLRU,QWKDWVFHQDULRWKHSXULW\RI one’s love is undeniable. The display of such goodness shows the
glory of one’s nature.
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established by Jesus Christ. He was completely available to the Father as a source from which the glory of the Father could radiate
LQWKHHDUWK)ROORZLQJ+LVH[DPSOHWKH6FULSWXUHVXUJHEHOLHYHUV
´RIIHU\RXUERGLHVDVDOLYLQJVDFULÀFHKRO\DQGSOHDVLQJWR*RG³
this is your true and proper worship.”
$VDOLYLQJVDFULÀFHHYHU\EHOLHYHULVFDOOHGWRDOLIHLQZKLFK
the priority is to put on display the goodness of God within the
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the way that a son of God presented the goodness of God in his
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of grace and truth.”:KHQ+HUDLVHG/D]DUXVIURPWKHGHDG+H
H[SODLQHG +LV DFWLRQVWR 0DUWKD ´'LG , QRW WHOO\RX WKDWLI \RX
EHOLHYHG\RXZRXOGVHHWKHJORU\RI *RG"µ Even His death on
the cross is explained as the act by which He most clearly puts on
display the glory of the Father. The world was given the opportunity
to observe the goodness of God through Jesus’ rule.
ADMINISTRATIONS
Administrations are designed to give force and effect to a
SUHH[LVWLQJSKLORVRSK\RI UXOHDQGWKHSKLORVRSK\RI WKHUXOHXQderlies the structure of the administration of power. The condition
117
of the subjects of a ruler is the best indication of the character of
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$GDP RYHU FUHDWLRQ KLV LQWHQW ZDV WKDW $GDP ZRXOG UHÁHFW WKH
culture of the house to which he belonged as a son. It was God’s
design that He would put on display His own goodness though
the agency of His son in the form of the governmental order He
introduced to the earth. That order was not designed to function
WKURXJKOHJLVODWLYHGHFUHHVDQGEXUHDXFUDFLHVEXWWKURXJKWKHDGPLQLVWUDWLRQRI WKHVLPSOHDQGHOHJDQWÁRZRI IDWKHUVDQGVRQV
The entire human race was organized under Adam’s adminisWUDWLRQWKURXJKSDWULDUFKDOUHODWLRQVKLSVIRUWKHÀUVWPLOOHQQLXPRI PDQ·VH[LVWHQFHRQHDUWK$OWKRXJK$GDPVLQQHG*RGVWLOONHSW
him at the helm of human society for almost one thousand years.
One thousand years was long enough for this model to take root
among the tribal societies as they were being formed into what
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)DWKHU$GDPZDVVWLOOXVHIXOWRHVWDEOLVKDIRUPRI RUGHUWKDWZDV
a type and shadow of the heavenly government.
Christ fully established the model of God’s intent to present
His goodness to humankind through His sons and has passed
that legacy on to the succeeding generations of the sons of God
XSRQWKHHDUWK:KHUHDVQRLQGLYLGXDOVRQLVDVVLJQHGWKHYDVWQHVV
RI WKHVFRSHSUHYLRXVO\FRQYH\HGWRERWK&KULVWDQG$GDPLWLV
nevertheless unmistakable that all sons have been given a sphere
of rule in which they are commissioned and empowered to put on
display the glory of their Father’s love.
7KH YDVWQHVV RI WKH UROH RI GLVSOD\LQJ *RG·V JRRGQHVV
FRPPLWWHG WR WKH KDQGV RI -HVXV LV FDUULHG RQ LQ WKH HDUWK LQ
the corporate Body of Christ. Jesus described that work as being
even greater in scope than what He individually undertook. In its
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corporate Christ will be inclusive of the portions given to both the
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of that expression will be a complete model on the earth of what
exists in heaven.
118
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THE EXACT REPRESENTATION OF HIS BEING
God brings a son to maturity not only to express His goodness
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they honor the Father….”$PDWXUHVRQWKHUHIRUHLVPHDQWWR
speak and to act on behalf of the Father as His designated agent.
The mature son is capable of accurately and consistently
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by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and
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The process by which the mature son is able to distinguish between
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by the renewing of the mind. The Holy Spirit works to restore the
soul of man to its proper place of submission to his spirit. The
renewing of the mind that follows is the reassertion of the mind
RI KLV VSLULW RYHU WKH PLQG RI KLV VRXO SHUPLWWLQJ WKH ÁRZ RI information from the Holy Spirit to the mind of the man’s spirit.
The effect is to transform his view of reality. The result is a perfect
realignment between the mind of man and the will of God.
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empowered by the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to know how to
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the Son and shows him all he does.”
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again. The culture of the orphan is inherently competitive and
emphasizes the difference between God and man.
The culture of the son embraces the truth of the reconciliation of the Father and the son and the re-issuance of the nature of
spirit in the son that makes him compatible with the Holy Spirit.
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competition:
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+HZDV*RGLQKXPDQIRUP,QVWHDG+HLVWKHPRGHOWKDWLOOXVtrates to man how a son may be the exact representation of his
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He did would have demonstrated His own competence; His modHO ZRXOG EH XQDWWDLQDEOH E\ PDQ DQG +H FRXOG RQO\ KDYH EHHQ
viewed as His gift of labor to the Father. He would have indebted
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kindness of Jesus to us. The nature of the Father would have
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of the Father.
The highest attainment possible within a competitive standard
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in terms of fairness. There is no basis in relationships for trans120
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generational building within an environment of competition. The
relationship between a father and a son cannot be expressed within
the context of competition. The goal of everyone within this
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part to respond would leave Him indebted to man since He has
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7KHUHIRUHPDQPD\RIIHUKLVUHVRXUFHVWR*RGDVWKHRIIHULQJRI his righteousness.
A RIGHTEOUS OFFERING
This form of bargain holds that the righteousness of man
may be offered in an exchange with God. On the basis of this
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to have any explanation except to suggest that perhaps God is at
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inconsistent with the Scriptures.
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suggestion of a relationship based upon the mutuality of exchange
does not permit the Father to function through the son and does
not give the son access to the resources of the Father on the basis
of being His heir. This is not the model that Jesus established. Jesus
described His relationship with the Father as “you are in me and I
DPLQ\RXµ signifying that the Father worked from His location
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the authority of His Father.
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practical functioning of that role.
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when the son permits his life to be consumed by the Father in order
to set forth the perfect standard of the Father’s love and declares
the will of the Father exactly as the Father Himself would. In the
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creation. …For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in
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EORRGVKHGRQWKHFURVVµ The work of representing the Father
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the Holy Spirit was given to reveal the will of the Father and to
empower the son.
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122
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C H A P T E R 11
unctioning as
Fathers and Sons
Jesus fully presented an understanding of a true relationship
with God as Father. Adam’s early departure from this intended
relationship to God left unshown God’s intended relationship to
man as sons. Adam’s default to the culture of the fatherless provided no foundation for humankind to live in relationship to God
as a Father whom he loves and trusts.
7KH *RVSHOV KRZHYHU LQWURGXFH -HVXV &KULVW DV WKH 6RQ RI God and presented to humankind with the declared purpose of
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records of Luke and Matthew introduce Jesus through complete
and deliberate genealogical records. Luke presents Jesus as the Son
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who appears as the incarnate God “full of grace and truth.”200 The
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123
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Jesus as His Son on the occasion of His baptism by John in the
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heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a
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love; with you I am well pleased.’”201
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the stages of a human life. Though ultimately He was killed on
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-HVXV·OLIHSURYLGHVD KLVWRU\ÀOOHGZLWKGHWDLOVDERXWWKH6RQ RI God and His relationship to His Father. This life was designed to
be a template for understanding how God relates to His sons and
how sons of God are meant to relate to the everlasting Father.
-HVXV·OLIHÀOOHGWKHYRLGWKDW$GDPOHIWUHJDUGLQJDPRGHOIRUXQderstanding the relationship between man as a son of God and
God the Father.
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ZRUOG ZLWKRXW D )DWKHU *RG DFNQRZOHGJHG WKDW $GDP·V FRQGLtion entitled him to the bread of his own toil.202 Adam’s separation
from his Father also resulted in a separation from the estate designed to supply him in this way. He and his progeny came to rely
instead upon the force of their own strength and their skill in the
development and use of technology.
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for his successful administration.
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124
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and supply to function.
The relationship between Jesus and God the Father shows this
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divine goodness is resplendently displayed through the words and
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relationship that God envisioned when He made man as His son.
7KHUHIRUH-HVXV·OLIHLVWKHLQWHQGHGSRLQWRI UHIHUHQFHIRUXQGHUstanding the father and son relationship as God originally intended it.
A CHILD IS BORN
Extreme hostility opposed Jesus’ introduction into the world.
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that he would suffer no potential challenges to his rule. Herod was
known for his murderous elimination of any opposition to his rule.
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typically unavailable to the normal human birth.
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circumstances. Although some choose to see the circumstances of
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humans might be born. The Father took advantage of Satan’s pride
and his inability to envision the Son of God arriving in such humble
and meager circumstances. The enemy was not looking for the
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125
in Egypt was reminiscent of their tenure as slaves in that country.
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IROORZLQJWKHVDPHSDWKLQRUGHUWRIXOÀOOWKHSURSKHF\´2XWRI Egypt I called my son.” God simultaneously protected the Son
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The circumstances of Jesus’ birth demonstrate the role of the
Father in presenting a son. The Father protected the Son even as
He developed the unimpeachable testimony that supported Jesus’
claim to be the Son of God. He did this through evidence that
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7KHHDUO\HYHQWVRI -HVXV·OLIHVKRZWKLVVDPHTXDOLW\RI UHODtionship between Himself and the Father. As soon as Jesus had the
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Jesus accompanied His parents to Jerusalem. He remained behind
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did so because he “must be about [his] Father’s business.” Jesus
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to take up an apprenticeship in His Father’s business. The doctors
of the law in the temple were the best and most complete source
of information available to help Him understand the nature of
His Father’s business. He had enough clarity of understanding to
seek the most complete understanding of His identity and purpose
from the custodians of that knowledge.
Jesus’ life from the age of twelve until He was thirty years old
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and in favor with God and men.”206 Paul would also write about
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suffered. The Father permitted every form of trial to which a
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fully monitored His progress and gave Him what help He needed.
The Father did not simply abandon Jesus to the circumstances of
life until He was thirty. Jesus’ path was laid out carefully so that His
sufferings and trials would install the layers of obedience necessary
to sustain the pressure of His destiny. God’s intent was to prepare Him for the time of His maturity through the incidences that
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and unambiguous. Jesus grew in favor with God as He submitted
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both of which informed His choices consistently.
God put the results of Jesus’ training on display for us to observe
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the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. In the three recorded
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to produce disobedience and death. Jesus restored the appropriate
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with the Spirit in His use of Scripture and would distinguish the
misuse of Scripture by those well-versed in the knowledge of the
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The temptations and Jesus’ responses reveal the results of the
Father’s deliberate preparation of the Son with full knowledge of
the Son’s destiny. Jesus’ trials produced a dependence upon the SpirLWRI *RGZKLOHHPSOR\LQJWKHNQRZOHGJHRI WKHWH[WRI 6FULSWXUH
This was His consistent pattern of response. His Father arranged
the trials to take Him to increasingly higher levels of maturity and
preparedness. These progressive increases were the evidence of
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127
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pleased.”210 This is not the declaration of an absent father who
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Son as His designated heir and representative. Since God Himself
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three and a half years later in order to be perfect in His obedience
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both represent the Father perfectly in His years of ministry and to
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Jesus’ three years of ministry provide a detailed look into the structure
and function of the relationship between the Father and the Son.
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would be placed. These were careful selections previously arranged
to accommodate all the training and preparation necessary to make
Him ready for His destiny. Jesus could choose how He responded
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Spirit had with the Holy Spirit who lived in him. Even from His
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The arrangement of Jesus’ circumstances and His righteous
choices within those circumstances are demonstrated in His ministry. The Father placed among the choices of Jesus’ disciples
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128
Judas as a selection that God had given to Him: “I have revealed
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gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destrucWLRQVRWKDW6FULSWXUHZRXOGEHIXOÀOOHGµ211 Jesus even gave God an
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responsibility for Judas as if He had selected him to be among the
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In the model of the Father-Son relationship presented between
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that the Son had an eternal destiny for which He has come into
the world. The Father’s responsibility was to select and arrange the
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preexisting destiny. The Son’s choices ranged from among the
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number of possible choices.
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need to make His selections according to the Spirit. Being led by
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routinely different from those of His Father. He would remain
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YOU ARE IN ME AND I AM IN YOU
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129
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Father in this prayer to God. This description leaves no doubt that
the life of Jesus was connected to the life within the Father in a
virtually inseparable fashion. “You are in me” is an indication that
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RI WKH)DWKHU$V6SLULWWKH)DWKHUFRXOGOLYHLQ-HVXVÉRWKWRZLOO
and to do of his good pleasure.” The Father prepared Jesus for
the destiny of hosting the presence of God in an unobstructed
way. No independent desire of Jesus’ existed to compete with the
use of His person by God. Jesus voluntarily submitted His whole
being to God for whatever use God chose to make of it.
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IDWKHU7KLVWUXVWLVQHLWKHUEOLQGQRUXQLQIRUPHGVLQFH-HVXV+LPself was apprised fully of the eternal purpose that He was living
out upon the earth. He trusted the love of His Father for Him and
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foundations of the world.
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RI ZKDWKLVGLYLQHGHVWLQ\LVGHVLJQHGWREH7KLVSUHUHTXLVLWHSHUmits the son to agree with the Father’s selections and to adopt them
130
as his own willing and conscious choices. It was this process that
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The irony was that Jesus made a choice when He consented to the
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accurately said that “I and the Father are one.”
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in his father. God’s intention is that the purpose of a son is to
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is commonly considered apart from the unfolding of enormous
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unfolding. Even large accomplishments within a single lifetime are
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foundation of the world by the Father and the Son.
The particular arrangement of father and son was the necessary
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purpose in time. The Father determined how His love would be
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took the roles of both Father and Son by which to express His
divine nature. He planned that “His only begotten Son” would be
131
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the Son to be able to handle the administration of His authority
and power as well as to speak for Him in all things.
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representation. “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through
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days he has spoken to us by his Son….” “God was reconciling
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them.”220 %\ UHPDLQLQJ LQ WKH )DWKHU WKH )DWKHU ZRXOG SXW RQ
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may claim the legitimacy of being the extension of the person
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as was foreordained.
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“…the Son can do nothing by himself….”221 He remained in the
Father inasmuch as no aspect of His life was conducted indepenGHQWO\RI +LV)DWKHU:LWKWKLVEHLQJWKHFODULW\RI -HVXV·XQGHUVWDQGLQJLWLVQRWGLIÀFXOWWRXQGHUVWDQGZK\+LVEHLQJZRXOGEH
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you forsaken me?”222 Although His Spirit knew that He took the
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separated from God but always remained in the Father.
The picture that Jesus’ life presents of the relationship between
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chose to embrace that destiny even from the earliest days of His
training. The adversities that attend Him from early on are purposefully aligned to results that were necessary to prepare His path.
He trusts the Father who arranges these circumstances that shape
132
the path along which His destiny emerges. His trust of the Father
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and to complete His destiny. He presents the Son and shows Himself to the world in the most complete expression of His nature
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between Jesus and God and is the archetype for the restored relationship between God and man.
133
134
T
CHAPTER 12
urning the Heart
of the Fathers
to the Children
THE SPIRIT OF ELIJAH
The relationship between God the Father and Jesus Christ the
Son is the standard order for the restoration of God’s house. In
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and sisters.” The prophecy regarding the restoration of God’s
House at the end of the age is contained within the understanding
of the restoration of the relationship of fathers and sons. HowHYHUWKHLQWHQWLRQRI *RGLVQRWIRFXVHGXSRQWKHUHVWRUDWLRQRI QDWXUDOIDWKHUVDQGVRQVEXWLQVWHDGXSRQWKDWRI VSLULWXDOIDWKHUV
and spiritual sons.
God planned that the arrangement of His spiritual house
should be done around this central concept of spiritual fathers and
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RI WKH2OG7HVWDPHQW´%HKROG,ZLOOVHQG\RX(OLMDKWKHSURSKHW
EHIRUHWKHFRPLQJRI WKHJUHDWDQGGUHDGIXOGD\RI WKH/25'
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with a curse.” Jesus spoke of this prophecy early in His ministry
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LWKHLVWKH(OLMDKZKRZDVWRFRPHµ226 Jesus conditioned the fulÀOOPHQWRI WKHSURSKHF\WRWKDWJHQHUDWLRQRQWKHLUDFFHSWDQFHRI LW³WKRXJK WKH SURSKHF\ LWVHOI ZDV EHLQJ IXOÀOOHG ,QGHHG -RKQ
135
the Baptist was the spirit of Elijah who was promised.
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of the prophecy within their day. Other generations who would
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beginning of the restoration of the House of God through the
restoration of spiritual fathers and sons. The key to the revelation
RI WKHRUGHURI IDWKHUVDQGVRQVDVWKHEDVLVRI WKHDUUDQJHPHQW
RI WKH+RXVHRI *RGOLHVLQWKHXQGHUVWDQGLQJRI WKHVSLULWRI Elijah.
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RI KXPDQKLVWRU\SURSKHVLHGWRWKHIDWKHURI -RKQWKH%DSWLVW
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John was the spirit of Elijah that preceded Jesus in order to announce Him as the one with the authority to restore the House of
God. Jesus would replace the culture of the fatherless with that
of a son and would heal the breach between God and man that
existed since Adam. He was the scion of the House of God who
would restore the glory of a holy people.
The key to this understanding of Jesus is the story of the great
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136
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VHUYDQWV ODQG OLYHVWRFN DQG RWKHU SURSHUW\ VXIÀFLHQW WR HVWDElish and maintain the family of the inheritor and to carry on the
function of the house of his forefathers into the next generation.
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family.
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is based upon a connection or relationship distinct from a biological one. This is shown by example in the prophetic designation of
Judah’s tribe as the inheritors of the promise given to Abraham.
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to be presented to the prophet Samuel who had come to Jesse’s
house at God’s instruction to select and anoint the king of Israel.
137
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The concept of the double portion is intertwined with the perpetuation of a house. The double portion concept refers to the son
whose character is most closely aligned to the purpose for which
the house of his father exists. Every house is established according
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The Son of Promise is a designation that was usually reserved for
the person in whose lifetime the promise was meant to be comSOHWHO\ IXOÀOOHG 7KH KRXVH ZDV PDLQWDLQHG WKURXJK VXFFHHGLQJ
generations through the bestowing of the double portion upon the
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most closely aligned to the spirit of the promise.
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He was the recipient of this double portion. His double portion
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orphan upon humankind and to model the culture of the son.
John the Baptist was sent to announce Jesus as the pattern Son to
restore the Father’s House. God established the prophetic sign of
this occurrence at the close of the Old Testament and opens the
New Testament by introducing Jesus as His Son.
Elijah functions in a similar capacity in his relationship to
Elisha. Elijah was the spiritual father of Elisha; he was not his
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to carry on the purpose for which Elijah himself had been called
as a prophet.
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double portion. That role is reprised by John the Baptist in regard
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,VDLDKWKHSURSKHW¶,DPWKHYRLFHRI RQHFDOOLQJLQWKHZLOGHUQHVV
“Make straight the way for the Lord.”’”
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come in the spirit of Elijah as the reliable witness to identify the
one sent from God to restore the order of His house.
MY FATHER! MY FATHER!
Elisha’s cry of “0\)DWKHU0\)DWKHU” was in recognition that
Elijah was his spiritual father. Elisha had followed Elijah and
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this relationship to have been formed.
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DVRQ+RZHYHUWKHFXOWXUHRI KLVVRXOLVVWLOOLQWDFWDQGDOWKRXJK
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relationship through the culture of an orphan. He has been repatriated to God the Father and has access to the resources of
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of heaven. This task is assigned to a spiritual father.
139
The roles of the spiritual father and the spiritual son are based
on the relationship between God the Father and Jesus Christ the
Son. This relationship is the only way to supplant the culture of
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again inevitably will continue to function in his native culture of
IDOOHQQHVVEHFDXVHWKHVRXOPXVWEHEURXJKWEDFNWRLWVSODFHRI subservience to the spirit. The culture that is native to the spirit
must be modeled so that the son can practice it. The spiritual faWKHULVWKHUHIRUHRQHZKRP*RGKDVVHWLQWKHOLIHRI DVRQWR
watch over his soul.7KXVWKHVSLULWXDOIDWKHULVUHTXLUHGWRJLYH
an account to God regarding the spiritual son. A spiritual father
must be someone who is mature enough to be given as a gift to a
spiritual son to reveal the nature of God the Father.
Since God Himself established the arrangement of father and
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in the spiritual father over a considerable period of time to proGXFHDFFXUDWHUHÁHFWLRQVRI WKHQDWXUHRI *RGLQWKDWIDWKHU+H
KDVJRQHWKURXJKDOOWKHVWDJHVWKRXJKZKLFKWKHVRQZLOOSURJUHVV
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has suffered. It is God’s grace to give a father who is mature in
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exactly that kind of supervision and oversight.
God places both the father and the son in this relationship and
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arranged by force or convenience.
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and not an institution. The spiritual son possesses a destiny that is
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the spiritual father is very clear that the vision he received is greater
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spiritual son to be carried on to the next generation. A true spiriWXDOYLVLRQFDQRQO\EHSDUWLDOO\IXOÀOOHGZLWKLQDVLQJOHOLIHWLPH
140
<HWDIDWKHUUHFRJQL]HVWKDWWKHFRQWLQXLQJXQIROGLQJRI WKHYLVLRQ
may only be accomplished in succeeding generations through the
HQGRZPHQWVRI *RG·VJUDFHDQGDQRLQWLQJJLYHQXQLTXHO\WRLQdividuals in those periods of time. Even if the father has a general
outline of how God may accomplish the promise in succeeding
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his understanding to permit him to ordain the course of future
generations.
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of having the vision he was given pass into the hands of succeeding
JHQHUDWLRQVDQGSHUPLWWKHPWRSXWRQGLVSOD\WKHIXOÀOOPHQWWKDW
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UHFHLYHG DV WKH IDWKHU ZDV IXOO\ LQWHUSUHWHG WKURXJK &KULVW DQG
even the relationship between God and Abraham was meant to be
understood through the administration of Jesus.
THE EVERLASTING FATHER
Jesus is the reliable and faithful witness of God the Father.
One of the titles of Jesus is the “Everlasting Father.” He came to
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spiritual father to the twelve disciples and showed them the exact
nature of the Father in Heaven. Because He so fully and accurately
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Father.”
Like the relationship between God the Father and Jesus the
6RQDVSLULWXDOUHODWLRQVKLSLVEXLOWXSRQDIXQGDPHQWDOWUXVWRI WKH
spiritual father by the son and a profound love of the son by the
IDWKHU7KHVRQWUXVWVWKHPRWLYHVRI KLVIDWKHUZKHUHDVWKHIDWKHU
DOZD\VDFWVIRUWKHEHQHÀWRI WKHVRQ7KHPDWXUHIDWKHULVKLPVHOI a source for the radiation of God the Father’s glory and a mature
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tutor and governor to that son of God assigned to him to be matriculated through the stages of sonship from infancy to maturity.
,QWKLVZD\DVRQLVDEOHWRQDYLJDWHWKHGLIÀFXOWSDWKIURPRUSKDQ
141
to become a mature son of God and to take up his inheritance and
destiny in the House of God.
The power of this arrangement presents an eternal reality that
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to the world a relationship in which all of the hostilities driving
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revealed again upon the earth.
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VRFLRHFRQRPLF FODVVHV HWKQLF EDFNJURXQGV DQG JHQGHU FDQ EH
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HQWLUHQDWLRQZKLFKZLOOKDYHVXFFHHGHGLQHUDGLFDWLQJDOOIRUPVRI human competition and division. The central idea around which
such a nation will be assembled is the principle of a spiritual father
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reality of the order that is in heaven itself; the Father and the Son
seated upon the throne of God. It will be on the earth as it is in
heaven.
142
C
CHAPTER 13
all No Man Upon the
Earth Your Father
At the center of the relationship between God and man is the
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to an understanding of father. In establishing this relationship
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be replicated on the earth in the House of God is unmistakably
patriarchal.
The orphan culture in present society opposes the idea of a
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The culture of the orphan typically responds with overwhelming
negativity to the term “father.”
Although large numbers of people are content to forge a life
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$V GLVFXVVHG LQ WKH HDUOLHU FKDSWHUV RI WKLV ERRN WKH IDLOXUH RI fathers has been both personal and systemic in the chronicle of
the evolution of the culture of orphans from its inception in the
Garden of Eden to its current manifestations. Because there has
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make great efforts to avoid discussion or even mention of the issue.
143
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language that supports this pattern of avoidance. This preference
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security and well-being apart from the order of fathers and sons.
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-HVXV· VWDWHPHQW ´GR QRW FDOO DQ\RQH RQ HDUWK ¶IDWKHU· IRU \RX
KDYHRQH)DWKHUDQGKHLVLQKHDYHQµ to support an idea that
the only proper usage of the term “father” is one directed toward
God. Any other usage is contrary to the words of Jesus and places
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following this concept is an argument suggesting that the only
RUGHURUDXWKRULW\WRZKLFKRQHVKRXOGHYHUVXEPLWLV*RGGLUHFWly. This has become many people’s personal interpretation of the
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the status of orthodoxy.
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writings from the early church apostles. Paul describes his relationVKLSWRWKHEHOLHYHUVLQ&RULQWKDQGWR7LPRWK\DVIROORZV
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everywhere among the believers. Because Timothy was his spiritual
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“Christ-centered life.” Paul understood his role as the father to
the Corinthian believers and to Timothy to have been ordained
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everywhere he preached.
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but in dealing with the Corinthians he actively asserted his fatherly
responsibility to confront them with their need for discipline. He
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would come to them at a later time to bring correction to them in
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ZLOOLQJDQGWKHQ,ZLOOÀQGRXWQRWRQO\KRZWKHVHDUURJDQW
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This letter shows clearly that Paul was the father to the Corinthians.
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relationship between individuals as fathers and sons. In addition to
UHIHUULQJWR7LPRWK\RQVHYHUDORWKHURFFDVLRQVDVKLVVRQ Paul
DOVRUHIHUUHGWR7LWXVDQG2QHVLPXVDVVRQV and he functioned
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common faith…. The reason I left you in Crete was that you might
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WRZQ DV , GLUHFWHG \RXµ showing that Titus represented Paul
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2QHVLPXV·SURYLVLRQDQGWUHDWHGKLPDVDVRQZULWLQJ
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SULVRQHURI &KULVW-HVXV³WKDW,DSSHDOWR\RXIRUP\VRQ2QHVLPXVZKREHFDPHP\VRQZKLOH,ZDVLQFKDLQV)RUPHUO\KH
145
ZDVXVHOHVVWR\RXEXWQRZKHKDVEHFRPHXVHIXOERWKWR\RX
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referred to groups of believers as his “children.”
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-RKQ7KHH[SODQDWLRQLVTXLWHVLPSOH0RVWODQJXDJHVDVFULEHPXOWLSOHPHDQLQJVWRDVLQJOHZRUGDQGGHÀQHWKHSDUWLFXODUPHDQLQJE\
the context of usage and one’s familiarity with the different ways
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speaker would understand that there are many different usages of
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ZRUOGµKHZRXOGLQWHQGDGLIIHUHQWPHDQLQJWKDQLI KHZHUHWRVD\
´0\IULHQGDQDEVWUDFWWKLQNHUOLYHVLQKLVRZQZRUOGµ7KHÀUVW
VWDWHPHQWXVHVWKHWHUP´ZRUOGµJHRJUDSKLFDOO\LQGLFDWLQJWKDWWKH
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statement’s usage speaks of an intellectual construct regarding the
friend’s interests and activities.
$FFRUGLQJO\LWLVHDV\WRXQGHUVWDQGWKDWZKHQWKHDSRVWOH-RKQ
VD\VÍRU*RGVRORYHGWKHZRUOGµ he is referring to a different
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of the Father is not in him.” Although he uses the same term
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that Satan has created to compete with the Kingdom of God. Both
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refer to are completely opposed to each other.
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denote different usages and meanings of the same word. There is no
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and God as “our Father in heaven.” It is possible to be born of both
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146
SPIRITUAL FATHERS
There are nine distinct usages of the word “father” throughRXW WKH 6FULSWXUHV -HZLVK SHUVRQV PD\ UHIHU WR $EUDKDP ,VDDF
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the Father of our spirits if we are born again of the Holy Spirit.
Paul clearly understood this when he wrote:
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ZKROLYHVLQ\RX«7KH6SLULW\RXUHFHLYHGGRHVQRWPDNH
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although we remain housed in the same bodies. Since being born
again is the restoration of the proper order of spirit and soul withLQPDQ*RGEHJLQVWRVSHDNDJDLQWRRXUVSLULWVDV+HSUHYLRXVO\
did with Adam in the Garden. He becomes “the Father of our
VSLULWVµ inasmuch as we are born again through the work of the
Spirit of our Father.
$VVSLULWXDOEHLQJVZHGHULYHRXUH[LVWHQFHDQGLGHQWLW\IURP
God our Father in contrast to only being born of our natural
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SURSHUO\FDOO*RG´)DWKHUµLVRQHERUQDJDLQRI +LV6SLULWVLQFHLW
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children. It would be inappropriate to refer to anyone else as the
one from whom we have derived our spiritual existence.
A spiritual father is God’s manner of providing a representation
of Himself to His children to bring them to their full maturity. God
intends that this order be accorded the honor and respect that re147
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reality on the earth and to restore the culture of heaven to humanNLQG5HJDUGLQJWKHSXUSRVHRI KLVUROHDVDIDWKHU3DXOODWHUZULWHV
WRWKH&RULQWKLDQV´,DPMHDORXVIRU\RXZLWKDJRGO\MHDORXV\,
SURPLVHG\RXWRRQHKXVEDQGWR&KULVWVRWKDW,PLJKWSUHVHQW
you as a pure virgin to him.”+HDOVRZURWHWRWKH*DODWLDQV´0\
GHDUFKLOGUHQIRUZKRP,DPDJDLQLQWKHSDLQVRI FKLOGELUWKXQWLO
&KULVWLVIRUPHGLQ\RXKRZ,ZLVK,FRXOGEHZLWK\RXQRZDQG
FKDQJHP\WRQHEHFDXVH,DPSHUSOH[HGDERXW\RXµ Paul understood his role as one assigned by God to produce mature sons to
God. He was the one through whom they received the gospel of
&KULVWVRKHIDWKHUHGWKHPLQWKHIDLWKDQGDVVXPHGDQRQJRLQJ
responsibility for their growth and maturity.
6LPLODUO\-HVXVJDYHDQDFFRXQWIRUWKH7ZHOYHWKDW*RGKDG
JLYHQ WR +LP VD\LQJ ´, KDYH UHYHDOHG \RX WR WKRVH ZKRP \RX
gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me
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WRWKHPDQGZLOOFRQWLQXHWRPDNH\RXNQRZQLQRUGHUWKDWWKH
love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in
them.” Both Jesus and Paul understood that God cares for His
FKLOGUHQLQWKHZRUOGE\DVVLJQLQJWKHPWRVSHFLÀFIDWKHUVZKRDUH
assigned the responsibility of bringing them to maturity.
The twin factors of the culture of the orphan and the historic
abuse and neglect of fathers have created a climate of hostility
toward the order of God for the arrangement of His House. Any
conception of Scripture that supports and even legitimizes the
climate of hostility toward the order of God is erroneous.
God fully intends to restore the order of fathers and sons to
His House and to structure a governmental form that models that
UHDOLW\7KHSXUSRVHRI WKLVIRUPLVWREHQHÀWWKHVRQVE\WUDQVforming their culture through the functioning reality of spiritual
fathers who effectively model the character of God the Father. The
restoration of heavenly culture is the necessary foundation upon
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148
pleased to offer His rule as an alternative to the slavery inherent in
the kingdom of Satan. God destroys the appeal of this kingdom
through the righteous alternative of His mature children.
His House is designed to receive all those escaping the darkness
of Satan’s kingdom and the blinding effect of the orphan culture
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RUSKDQVWRDIDWKHUUHVWRULQJWKHLUGHVWLQ\DQGHVWDEOLVKLQJWKHP
with a continuity of purpose trans-generationally.
The order of the arrangement of the House of God is the
context in which the authority of Christ is received in the earth.
The functioning of the Kingdom of God is the governmental
basis of support for the entire structure of life that models the
order of heaven in the earth. The arrangement of the House of
*RGLVGHVLJQHGWRUHFRQQHFWPDQWR*RGUHVWRUHKLVDXWKRULW\WR
IXQFWLRQDQGUHLQVWDOOKLPLQKLVGHVWLQ\
149
150
T
CHAPTER 14
he Arrangement of
the House of God
ORIGINAL AND DELEGATED AUTHORITY
The House of God is established on the authority of God
Himself. He gave that authority to Jesus as an original and exclusive grant.:LWKWKHYHVWLQJRI WKDWDXWKRULW\-HVXVEHFDPH
the undisputed King of heaven and earth. His claim is plenary
and establishes an absolute preemption against all other claims to
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nor can He ever alienate it. God would never take it from Him
since God swore an oath to establish Jesus as the scion of His
+RXVH7KHUHIRUHQRRQHHOVHPD\FODLPRULJLQDODXWKRULW\LQKHDYHQ
or on earth.
Jesus’ advent into the world took place pursuant to this oath.
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DQGLQWURGXFHG+LPDWWKHEHJLQQLQJRI +LVPLQLVWU\DV+LV6RQ
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Holy Spirit descending on Him and the voice of God speaking
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the occasion to announce to the Jewish nation that Jesus was the
151
King whose advent had been long prophesied. Peter was part of
DFRPSDQ\RI WZHOYHZLWQHVVHVQHFHVVDU\XQGHUWKHOHJDOUHTXLUHments of the day to establish proof of an event. They offered the
eyewitness testimony that Jesus was resurrected and ascended to
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HVWDEOLVKHGE\.LQJ'DYLG
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and earth must show a legitimate connection to Jesus’ plenary
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RI &KULVW)URP+LVSODFHDWWKHULJKWKDQGRI WKH)DWKHU-HVXV
directs the use of His authority on the earth in all of its manifestations. He designated the Holy Spirit as His prime delegate and
committed to the Spirit His authority to establish His Kingdom on
earth. The authority of Jesus came to earth when the blessed Holy
Spirit was “pour[ed] out” on all people.
The Holy Spirit arranges all of the relationships that form the
House of God and controls how they function. He is also present
in each person who is part of the House of God. It is the central
presence of the Holy Spirit that permits the alignment of the sons
of God into the collective family. If God could not fellowship with
WKHVSLULWRI DQLQGLYLGXDO+HFRXOGQRWDVVHUWWKHQHFHVVDU\LQÁXence over the person’s character or actions. This fellowship functions
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are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.”260
THE HOLY SPIRIT
Since no institution has a living spirit with whom the Holy
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order and discipline to any institution. Institutions are merely
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as they are empowered by a group or government. The authority
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not in a relationship to God. It is impossible for any institution
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152
7KH$UUDQJHPHQWRI WKH+RXVHRI *RG
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Holy Spirit is the only means He appointed for the administration
RI +LVSRZHU$OOLQVWLWXWLRQVWKHUHIRUHDUHRXWVLGHWKHÁRZRI the delegated authority of Christ.
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which makes him into a son who represents the Father in His rule.
A claim that a grant of authority from Jesus to a particular indiYLGXDOPD\VXEVHTXHQWO\EHFRQVHUYHGLQDQLQVWLWXWLRQDQGIXUWKHU
GHOHJDWHGWKURXJKWKDWLQVWLWXWLRQ·VDGPLQLVWUDWLRQLJQRUHVWKHIDFW
that the Holy Spirit continually stewards such a grant of authority
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JUDQWRI DXWKRULW\GLHVWKHSXUSRVHIRUKLVXQLTXHVSLULWHQGVDQG
the power granted to him lapses; his destiny is complete. The Holy
Spirit does not continue to steward the grant of authority in an
institution. Institutions can never accommodate the Spirit of God
since they do not exist as living beings with spirits.
The power of Christ is delegated to enable persons under the
FRQWURORI WKHVSLULWWRIXOÀOOWKHGHVWLQ\*RGDSSRLQWHGIRUWKHP
Any attempt to represent the power of Jesus Christ other than
through the Holy Spirit constitutes a challenge to the place of the
+RO\6SLULWDQGWRWKHYHU\DXWKRULW\RI &KULVWRI ZKLFK+HLVWKH
exclusive delegate.
THE SPIRIT ARRANGES THE HOUSE
The Holy Spirit assigns the fathers to the sons and the sons
WR WKH IDWKHUV PDWFKLQJ WKH IDWKHUV· DELOLWLHV WR WKH VRQV· XQLTXH
needs. The fathers are judged to be worthy of being fathers by
UHDVRQRI WKHLUGHPRQVWUDWHGPDWXULW\7KH6SLULWNQRZVWKHXQLTXH
GHVWLQ\RI HYHU\VRQEHFDXVH+HLVIDPLOLDUZLWKWKHLQWHQWLQWKH
mind of God behind the creation of each person.
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KXPDQPLQGKDVFRQFHLYHGµ³WKHWKLQJV*RGKDVSUHSDUHG
153
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The Holy Spirit holds the fathers accountable for the proper treatPHQWRI WKHVRQVDQGUHTXLUHVWKHVRQVWRDFNQRZOHGJH+LVDXWKRUity in the fathers and to be accountable to them. The arrangement
of the relationship is designed with the good of the sons in mind.
The order established by the Holy Spirit is designed to mature the
sons as well as to make the entire House of God the instrument by
which God accomplishes His eternal purpose on earth.
7KH+RXVHRI *RGLVQRWDQHQGZLWKLQLWVHOIEXWDPHDQVWR
DQHQG$VDVRQRI *RGLQFUHDVHVLQPDWXULW\*RGHQGRZVKLP
with greater knowledge of his destiny and an increased measure
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destiny entrusted to him at that time. The Holy Spirit then integrates
each son’s destiny into the unfolding manifestation of God’s corporate purpose. Just as Jesus revealed the nature of the Father and the
)DWKHUJORULÀHGWKHVRQVRDOVRWKHFRUSRUDWH&KULVWUHYHDOVWKHJORU\
of the Father. The Holy Spirit arranges the corporate Christ so that
HDFKVRQLVDOVRUHYHDOHGLQWKHOHYHORI KLVPDWXULW\DVWKHIXOOQHVV
of Christ is put on display:
6LQFHWKHQ\RXKDYHEHHQUDLVHGZLWK&KULVWVHW\RXUKHDUWV
RQWKLQJVDERYHZKHUH&KULVWLVVHDWHGDWWKHULJKWKDQGRI *RG6HW\RXUPLQGVRQWKLQJVDERYHQRWRQHDUWKO\WKLQJV
)RU\RXGLHGDQG\RXUOLIHLVQRZKLGGHQZLWK&KULVWLQ*RG
:KHQ&KULVWZKRLV\RXUOLIHDSSHDUVWKHQ\RXDOVRZLOO
DSSHDUZLWKKLPLQJORU\262
$OOWKHVRQVSURSHUO\DUUDQJHGDVWKH+RXVHRI *RGDQGIXQFWLRQLQJE\WKHDXWKRULW\RI &KULVWHVWDEOLVKRQHDUWKDSLFWXUHRI WKH
order of God in heaven. This alternative way of life will stand in
stark contrast to the form of life that has been on the earth since
WKHIDOORI PDQLQZKLFK6DWDQ·VLQÁXHQFHKDVEHHQFRPSRXQGHG
154
and has had the long-term effect of blinding man to the reality of
the love of God.
The restoration of the order of the House of God is designed
to put on display the complete picture of the nature of God as
revealed through Christ during His time upon the earth. God’s
intent is to reconcile humankind to Himself through the corporate
Christ.
A COPY AND SHADOW OF WHAT IS IN HEAVEN
God planned to bring realities that have previously existed in
heaven into the earth in the same manner in which they exist in
heaven.7KHVHUHDOLWLHVDUHIRUWKHEHQHÀWRI DOOKXPDQNLQGEXW
particularly that portion of His house that lives upon the earth.
The simultaneous coexistence of these heavenly things in both
realms is meant to harmonize the standards of earth to those of
heaven. This was always part of the overall plan of God to redeem
humankind to His original intent for them.
The House of God on the earth is the enclave through which
God introduces the realities of heavenly standards into the earth.
:LWKLQWKHYHQXHRI HDUWKWKH+RXVHRI *RGLVGHVLJQHGWRSXW
heavenly realities on display. The environment within this enclave
is simultaneously compatible to heaven’s mandates while foreign
to the normal environment of earth. Although it is meant to be
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even hostility.
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heavenly realities among His people in advance of the coming of
the realities to remind His people of the promises that He has
PDGH WKDW ZRXOG SURJUHVVLYHO\ EH IXOÀOOHG DV WKH UHDOLWLHV WUDQVLtioned into the earth from heaven. These types and shadows are
sent in order to sensitize their culture and predispose their souls
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of God who walk in the understanding provided by types and
shadows are lights to the nations in which they are placed.
155
The existence of a shadow of a heavenly thing presumes that
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Levitical Priests] served at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of
what is in heaven.…But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as
superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is supeULRUWRWKHROGRQHVLQFHWKHQHZFRYHQDQWLVHVWDEOLVKHGRQEHWWHU
promises.”2663DXOZULWHVLQ+HEUHZVWKDWE\FDOOLQJWKHFRYHQDQW
EURXJKWE\-HVXV´QHZµWKHROGFRYHQDQWVHUYHGE\WKH/HYLWLFDO
priesthood was made “obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated
will soon disappear.”$VORQJDVWKHFRS\UHPDLQHGLWZDVFHUWDLQ
that the reality had not yet appeared.
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0RVW+RO\3ODFHKDGQRW\HWEHHQGLVFORVHGDVORQJDVWKHÀUVW
WDEHUQDFOHZDVVWLOOIXQFWLRQLQJ«%XWZKHQ&KULVWFDPHDV
KLJKSULHVWRI WKHJRRGWKLQJVWKDWDUHQRZDOUHDG\KHUHKH
ZHQWWKURXJKWKHJUHDWHUDQGPRUHSHUIHFWWDEHUQDFOHWKDWLV
QRWPDGHZLWKKXPDQKDQGVWKDWLVWRVD\LVQRWDSDUWRI WKLVFUHDWLRQ
$VORQJDVWKHFRS\UHPDLQVLWLVFHUWDLQWKDWDFFHVVLQWRWKHUHDOLW\
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is supported by the necessary power and authority to enable it to
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purposes for which it was designed:
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WR EH SXULÀHG ZLWK WKHVH VDFULÀFHV EXW WKH KHDYHQO\ WKLQJV
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IRUXVLQ*RG·VSUHVHQFH
It is only after this transition has occurred that access into the reality
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156
5HJDUGLQJWKH+RXVHRI *RGLWVHOILWH[LVWHGSUHYLRXVO\LQW\SH
and shadow in Abraham’s house. The arrangement of Abraham’s
house was a copy and shadow of the House of God designed to
familiarize the earth with the order of a holy nation. The order of
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of the revelation of the House of God in the earth.
FROM CHALDEA TO CANAAN
God gave the promise to Abraham that he would be the faWKHURI DJUHDWQDWLRQWKURXJKZKLFK&KULVWZRXOGHYHQWXDOO\EH
brought into the world. Although God gave the promise to AbraKDPGLUHFWO\LWZDVQRWXQWLOIRXUJHQHUDWLRQVODWHUWKDWDVNHWFK\
outline of the form of the promise would begin to emerge—it
would be forty-two generations from the time of the promise to
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take shape. These twelve sons would become the patriarchs of the
tribes that would form the framework for the future nation. HowHYHULWZRXOGQRWEHIRUDQRWKHUIRXUKXQGUHG\HDUVZKHQ,VUDHO
HPHUJHGIURP(J\SWWKDW0RVHVZRXOGDUUDQJHWKHPLQWKHIRUP
of a nation.
The timing of the Lord is a vital component of His promLVHV)URPWKHWLPHRI WKHLVVXDQFHRI DSURPLVHWRLWVIXOÀOOPHQW
PDQ\FKDQJHVDUHQHFHVVDU\LQRUGHUIRUWKHSURPLVHWREHIXOÀOOHG
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promise.
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Ur of the Chaldees and grew up in a polytheistic society. Although
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family that had household gods. .QRZLQJ WKLV KH ZRXOG QRW
SHUPLW KLV VRQ ,VDDF WR OHDYH &DQDDQ HYHQ WR JR WR ÀQG D ZLIH
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the mission.$IWHU$EUDKDPKDGEHHQOLEHUDWHGIURPWKHLQÁX157
HQFHVRI WKDWSRO\WKHLVWLFFXOWXUHKHZDVXQZLOOLQJWRSHUPLWWKH
VRQRI SURPLVHWRFRPHXQGHUWKDWLQÁXHQFH7KUHHJHQHUDWLRQV
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JHQHUDWLRQWKHIDWKHUVRI WKHQDWLRQZHUHERUQ
%\WKHQWKHFXOWXUHKDGIXOO\WUDQVLWLRQHG7KHFKDQJHZDVHYLdent when Joseph prophesied the resurrection of the nation from
Egypt and charged Israel to take his remains back to Canaan for
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EXULDO FKDPEHUV LQ (J\SW EHFDXVH RI KLV H[DOWHG VWDWXV LW ZDV
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type and shadow prepared the way for the advent of the House of
*RGLQZKLFKWKHIXOOQHVVRI ZKR&KULVWLVDQGZKDW+HDFFRPplished would be put on display through a holy nation.
The comparison between reality and its antecedent is obvious.
Jesus also began to form the holy nation with the twelve men God
gave Him. The notable difference between Abraham and Jesus was
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and His disciples could learn the culture of heaven from His perfect presentation of it.
The Old Testament revealed in detail the order of the nation
that emerged from Egypt through an incident that occurred shortly
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of bronze and iron taken from the city of Jericho be devoted to
Him and be put into the treasury of the Lord’s house. The fact
that not everyone complied with this was not discovered immediDWHO\,VUDHO·VÀJKWLQJIRUFHDQWLFLSDWHGDVHFRQGPLUDFXORXVYLFWRU\
over the city of Ai as they moved into position to attack that city.
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about three thousand men. They were completely taken by surprise
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PHPEHUVRI WKHDWWDFNLQJSDUW\LQWKHVNLUPLVK-RVKXDQRZWKH
OHDGHURI ,VUDHOVLQFHWKHGHDWKRI 0RVHVVXIIHUHGKLVÀUVWPDMRU
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his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the Lord and
stayed in that position for several hours.
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GRZQRQ\RXUIDFH",VUDHOKDVVLQQHGWKH\KDYHYLRODWHGP\
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VRPHRI WKHGHYRWHGWKLQJVWKH\KDYHVWROHQWKH\KDYHOLHG
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WKH ,VUDHOLWHVFDQQRW VWDQG DJDLQVW WKHLU HQHPLHVWKH\ WXUQ
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of this nation. They were to consecrate themselves as they prepared
to stand before the Lord the following day.
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WKH/25'FKRRVHVVKDOOFRPHIRUZDUGFODQE\FODQWKHFODQ
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IDPLO\WKH/25'FKRRVHVVKDOOFRPHIRUZDUGPDQE\PDQ
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LQ,VUDHO %\WKHVHLQVWUXFWLRQV*RGUHYHDOHGKRZ+HFRQQHFWHGUHODWLRQships that formed the nation of Israel.
This was God’s design for connecting a person to an entire
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and the actions of the individual could determine what happened
to the entire nation: “But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to
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RI =HUDKRI WKHWULEHRI -XGDKWRRNVRPHRI WKHP6RWKH/RUG·V
anger burned against Israel.” $OWKRXJK $FKDQ DFWHG DORQH KLV
DFWLRQVZHUHDWWULEXWHGWR DOO RI ,VUDHO DQG WKHDWWHQGDQW FRQVHTXHQFHVZHUHERUQHE\WKHHQWLUHQDWLRQ:KHQ*RGDGGUHVVHGWKH
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sin of Israel. The entire nation was contaminated by the sin of one
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A further examination of the story of Achan yields valuable
insights into how God structured the nation of Israel as a type and
shadow of His spiritual house:
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WULEHVDQG-XGDKZDVFKRVHQ7KHFODQVRI -XGDKFDPHIRUZDUG DQG WKH =HUDKLWHV ZHUH FKRVHQ +H KDG WKH FODQ RI WKH=HUDKLWHVFRPHIRUZDUGE\IDPLOLHVDQG=LPULZDVFKRVHQ-RVKXDKDGKLVIDPLO\FRPHIRUZDUGPDQE\PDQDQG
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Upon the discovery that Israel’s troubles were related to the
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origin. These he had hidden under the main pole in his tent.
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,VUDHOVWRQHGKLPDQGDIWHUWKH\KDGVWRQHGWKHUHVWWKH\EXUQHG
WKHP2YHU$FKDQWKH\KHDSHGXSDODUJHSLOHRI URFNVZKLFKUHmains to this day….”+LVLPPHGLDWHIDPLO\ZDVNLOOHGZLWKKLP
160
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actions were as extreme for him personally as they were for the nation of Israel. Joshua and the army lost the battle with Ai and suffered thirty-six casualties. Achan lost his life and those of his sons
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FAMILIES AND HOUSEHOLDS
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OHYHORI WKLVRUGHUZDVWKHIDPLO\$FKDQKDGKLVRZQIDPLO\FRPprising his sons and daughters. He was selected from among the
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that came from the line of Zimri. Because Achan himself had a
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reference to the collection of families known as a household.
:KHQ WKH 6FULSWXUHV UHIHU WR WKH IDPLO\ RI =LPUL WKH LPSOLcation is that all the families out of his line were selected from
among the clan of the Zerahites. Since a person’s immediate family
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DIDPLO\+RZHYHUWKHWHUP´KRXVHKROGµLVDSSURSULDWHZKHQLWLV
necessary to distinguish between an immediate family and a group
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WKHLQGLYLGXDOIDPLO\XQLWVXFKDV´$FKDQ«KLVVRQVDQGGDXJKters….” :KHUHDV WKH ZRUG KRXVHKROG ED\LWK PD\ UHIHU WR D
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several families.
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IDPLO\EXWRI KLVNLQVPHQ$FFRUGLQJO\ZKHQZRUGFDPHWR$EUDKDPWKDWKLVQHSKHZ/RWKDGEHHQDEGXFWHG´KHFDOOHGRXWWKH
three hundred eighteen trained men born in his household and
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hold. Lot was of the household of Abram before he separated
his family and went out on his own.
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His decision to destroy the city of Sodom where Lot lived with his
wife and his two daughters. God decided to tell Abraham what He
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to destroy Lot in the process. The Lord said:
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God’s plan for Abraham was to train him to faithfully obey the
ways of God. He was also instructed to direct his children to observe carefully and to incorporate as the central tenet of their family life the will of God from one generation to another. The result
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mature into a holy nation.
God established the family as the environment in which the
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the training and instructions of their fathers. The principal duties of the father were to instill obedience and reverence for the
commandments and decrees of God and to supervise the disciSOLQLQJDQGWUDLQLQJRI HDFKFKLOG*RGVSHFLÀFDOO\KHOGWKHIDWKHU
accountable for these results.
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162
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as they proceeded to walk in this knowledge:
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RI \RXUFKLOGUHQPD\EHPDQ\LQWKHODQGWKH/25'VZRUH
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The duty of a father was to provide continuity of instruction reJDUGLQJ WKH UHTXLUHPHQWV RI WKH SURPLVH WKDW GLVWLQJXLVKHG WKLV
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the necessary duty of maintaining a culture that was conducive to
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IDWKHUVDQGWKHFXOWXUHLWVHOI ZDVPHDQWWREHQXUWXUHGDQGSUHserved within the family.
DUTIES AND BENEFITS OF BELONGING TO A HOUSEHOLD
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WRJHWKHULQWRKRXVHKROGVDQGHYHQWXDOO\LQWRDQDWLRQ7KHPLVFRQGXFW RI DQ LQGLYLGXDO FRXOG KDYH OHWKDO FRQVHTXHQFHV QRW
only for his family but also for the household to which the family
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individual members of the family are meant to be part of a greater
community to which they owed the duty of maintaining the good
name and reputation of the family line. Inasmuch as God’s promLVHV DUH WR IDWKHUV DQG WKHLU JHQHUDWLRQV DIWHU WKHP QR RQH ZDV
meant to live and function exclusively as an individual. There was
an established sense of accountability not only to one’s father and
the immediate family but also to that group of families who came
from a common ancestor.
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ZKHQ7HUDKGLHGWKH/RUGVDLGWR$EUDP´¶*RIURP\RXUFRXQWU\
your people and your father’s household to the land I will show
\RX·«6R$EUDPZHQWDVWKH/25'KDGWROGKLPDQG/RWZHQW
with him….”)LUVW7HUDKDVVXPHGUHVSRQVLELOLW\IRUKLVJUDQGVRQ /RW DQG XSRQ KLV GHDWK WKDW UHVSRQVLELOLW\ ZDV WUDQVIHUUHG
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164
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The role of households was critical to the stability of early citLHVDQGIDWKHUVRI KRXVHKROGVDFWHGIRUWKHEHQHÀWRI WKHIDPLOLHV
under their protection. Because ancient peoples settled in ancestral
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to facilitate trading and protection. These cities were populated by
households. Fathers of households would assemble at the gates of
the city to conduct all manner of transactions. The orderliness of
their administration was the underlying foundation for the peace
and prosperity of the families that made up the city. These cities
were part of the inheritance given to a clan.
CLANS, TRIBES, AND A NATION
7KHKRXVHKROGVRI =LPULZHUHSDUWRI WKHFODQRI WKH=HUDKLWHV
and the clan of the Zerahites was among the many other clans that
formed the tribe of Judah. The nation of Israel itself comprised
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divisions of the nation was designed to perform a particular function
intimately associated with the very reason for the existence of the
nation.
Each tribe was given an allotment of land as its inheritance.
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bound together by a common bloodline and a common history
populated all the cities within an ancestral land grant. This afforded
maximum regional stability and ultimately national stability. It was
the foundation of both national identity and prophetic purpose.
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everyone was aware of belonging to a greater whole. Personal identity
was supported by a greater sense of common history and an
inheritance in land. The laws of Israel recognized the importance
of maintaining a person’s connection to an estate in land.
$ SULPH H[DPSOH LV WKH \HDU RI -XELOHH ZKLFK ZDV GHVLJQHG
165
to restore families to their connection with their ancestral identity
WDQJLEO\FRQQHFWHGWRWKHLURZQHUVKLSRI WKHODQG(YHU\ÀIWLHWK
\HDUDOOODQGVDOLHQDWHGIURPWKHLURULJLQDORZQHUVWKURXJKKDUGships and adversities will return to the direct descendants living at
the time.
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WKHODQGWRDOOLWVLQKDELWDQWV,WVKDOOEHDMXELOHHIRU\RX
HDFKRI \RXLVWRUHWXUQWR\RXUIDPLO\SURSHUW\DQGWR\RXU
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RUEX\ODQGIURPWKHPGRQRWWDNHDGYDQWDJHRI HDFKRWKHU
<RX DUH WR EX\ IURP \RXU RZQ SHRSOH RQ WKH EDVLV RI WKH
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P\ODQGDVIRUHLJQHUVDQGVWUDQJHUV«,I DQ\RQHDPRQJ\RX
EHFRPHVSRRUDQGVHOOVVRPHRI WKHLUSURSHUW\WKHLUQHDUHVW
UHODWLYHLVWRFRPHDQGUHGHHPZKDWWKH\KDYHVROG
:LWKLQWKH/HYLWLFDO&RGH[PDQ\UHJXODWLRQVSURYLGHGIRUWKHUHGHPSWLRQRI DJULFXOWXUDOODQGKRXVHVZLWKLQFLWLHVDQGHYHQSHUsonal service contracts. The laws that governed the repatriation
of families to their ancestral estates in land were clearly designed
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descendants of Abraham. They did so by creating and maintaining
a culture that held the people together. The order renewed the naWLRQHYHU\ÀIWLHWK\HDUE\UHVHWWLQJWKHIDPLOLHVZLWKLQWKHLUKHULWDJH
and inheritance.
Even the concept of patriarch was associated with a land grant.
+LVWRULFDOO\ WKH ZRUG ´SDWULDUFKµ UHIHUUHG WR ERWK IDWKHU DQG
ancestral homeland. The term “patria” is derived from that root
DQG FRPPRQO\ UHIHUV WR WKH FRXQWU\ RI RQH·V IDWKHUV :KHQ WKH
/RUG JDYH WKH SURPLVH WR $EUDKDP +H JDYH WR KLP DQG KLV
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166
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Girgashites and Jebusites.”%HJLQQLQJZLWK$EUDKDPWKHSURPise of the Messiah included the grant of land.
,QWKHWLPHRI -RVKXD*RGJDYH,VUDHOWKHLQKHULWDQFHLQODQG
He had promised to Abraham. Joshua presided over the orderly
distribution of it. Each tribe was given its portion with the excepWLRQRI WKHWULEHRI /HYLVLQFHWKH\ZHUHWRVHUYHDVSULHVWVDPRQJ
the people. Each tribe subdivided its grant among the clans of
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allotment among the families of the household. Israel received and
occupied the land according to this order.
This order persisted until the time of enslavement in Babylon.
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DUUDQJHGWKHGXWLHVE\WULEHVFODQVKRXVHKROGVDQGIDPLOLHV The
same order was carried over into Solomon’s temple that followed.
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DIWHUVHYHQW\\HDUVLQFDSWLYLW\LQ%DE\ORQERWK(]UDDQG1HKHPLDK
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the returning refugees according to the same ancient order.
This arrangement of a nation preserved in human culture the
order that presents heavenly realities. The nation was arranged
in this fashion to contain the heavenly order of the Father and
Son and to exhibit this heavenly culture among the nations of the
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love a father has for a son and the trust of a son for the father
is the central form of this order. The complete display of all the
facets of this central relationship could only be demonstrated in its
entirety through a nation.
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to infuse this order with the heavenly reality. No order may exist
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expression is the summary of what exists in the individual compoQHQWV,I WKHLQGLYLGXDOJDYHKRQRUDQGUHVSHFWWR*RGWKHQWKH
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would the nation.
SUMMARY OF PURPOSE FOR THE ORDER OF THE HOUSE
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the purpose of the order was the same. At all of the levels of its
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to reconnect him to the Father’s nature as expressed through the
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to restore him to the status as a son so he may be trained to repreVHQWKLV)DWKHU7KHÀQDOREMHFWLYHRI WKHSURFHVVLVWRUHVWRUHKLV
destiny and to empower him to function within it.
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within the family of his Father. This primary step facilitates two
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DQGVHFRQGKHOHDUQVKRZWRUHODWHWRRWKHUVDVEURWKHUV,QOHDUQLQJDERXWWKHZD\VRI WKH)DWKHUKHOHDUQVKRZWRUXOHLQKLVVSKHUH
RI LQÁXHQFHIRUWKHEHQHÀWRI RWKHUVLQVWHDGRI XVLQJKLVDXWKRULW\
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is rescued from a culture of competition and self-centeredness.
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for his brothers as his Father would.
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JHQHUDWLRQWKHVSLULWRI JHQRFLGHZDVLQWURGXFHGWRKXPDQFXOWXUH
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extinguished as well. The root of the scourge of genocide is the
devaluation of the brother due to a lack of common identity deÀQHGE\ DIDWKHU7KHUHVWRUDWLRQ RI WKHYDOXHRI WKHEURWKHU LV
essential to the eradication of the culture of genocide from human
society. The spiritual family is vastly superior to the biological famLO\LQDFKLHYLQJWKLVUHVXOWVLQFHZLWKLQDVSLULWXDOIDPLO\WKHSHDFHIXOFRH[LVWHQFHRI UDFHVJHQGHUVDQGVRFLDOFODVVHVDVVRQVWRWKH
same spiritual father is an earthly model of a divine concept.
168
THE SPIRITUAL FAMILY
The spiritual father trains sons individually even though they
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7KHLQVWUXFWLRQLVSHUVRQDODVZHOODVJHQHUDODQGUHOHYDQWLQVWUXFWLRQLVDOZD\VLPSDUWHGSHUVRQDOO\VRWKDWWKHDSSOLFDWLRQEHQHÀWV
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the place of the life of a family. The members of the family know
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gifts and divine calling of each member of the family and are aware
of the level of their maturity and relate to them based on these
factors. They routinely update their understanding of the family
PHPEHUVWRUHÁHFWWKHJURZWKDQGPDWXULW\RI HDFKPHPEHUVR
WKDWQRRQHKDVWRÀJKWIRUKLVSODFHLQWKHIDPLO\7KHIDWKHU·VUROHLV
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As each son is ready to assume greater measures of rule and
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and make the way for his advancement to the new levels of auWKRULW\DQGUHVSRQVLELOLW\$WWKHVDPHWLPHWKHIDPLO\DIÀUPVKLV
advancement and supports the son as he accedes to his place of
JUHDWHULQÁXHQFH$QLQKHUHQWYDOXHRI WKLVFXOWXUHLVWKHYDOXHRI the individual to the whole family. The advancement of one means
WKHDGYDQFHPHQWRI DOOZKLOHWKHFRQVHTXHQFHRI WKHPLVFRQGXFW
of one attenuates to everyone.
This culture recognizes that individuals are like parts of a body
and they exist in a harmonious and symbiotic arrangement. One
of the metaphors that describes this arrangement is the Body of
Christ.
7KHJUHDWHUOHYHOVRI FRPSOH[LW\GHVFULEHGE\WKHKRXVHKROG
FODQDQGQDWLRQSHUPLWWKHLQGLYLGXDOWRDFWLQSXUVXLWRI KLVGHVWLQ\
LQJUHDWHUÀHOGVRI HQGHDYRUDVZHOODVZLWKJUHDWHUVXSSRUW+LV
OLIHZLWKLQDKRXVHKROGLPSDFWVDFLW\ZKLOHKLVOLIHZLWKLQDFODQ
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the nations of the world. The culture rooted in the relationship of
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169
FXOWXUHLVFDUULHGIRUZDUGE\PHDQVRI DKRO\QDWLRQLWVHIIHFWVWUDQVform the culture of fatherlessness and are not dissipated over time.
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which this ancient order is being established in a new manifestation on the earth. Human creations that have substituted for this
divine imperative are being disrobed of their pretense and shown
in all of their nakedness and vulgarity. Human society has already
turned away from these aberrations in their search for answers.
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authentic truth. It is into this environment that God has chosen to
insert the current revelation of this truth. He is assembling people
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desiring to be part of the heavenly reality—even if they are not
clearly aware that this is what they are seeking.
170
T
CHAPTER 15
he Nation of Israel
and the Early Church
A TYPE AND SHADOW
God intended to present Israel as a holy nation among nations.
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RI WKHUHDOLW\RI DKRO\QDWLRQEXWRQO\DW\SHDQGVKDGRZ,VUDHO
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WKH +RXVH RI *RG LV D VSLULWXDO UHDOLW\ EDVHG XSRQ VSLULWXDO UHlationships. All of Israel was related by blood as a single race of
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the type and shadow of Abraham’s race would be replaced by the
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to make the nation of Israel a type and shadow of the Body of
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kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are
to speak to the Israelites.” 7KLV UHVXOW KRZHYHU GLG QRW FRPH
DERXWEHFDXVHRI ,VUDHO·VIHDURI *RGDQGLWVVXEVHTXHQWUHIXVDOWR
accept this offer. Instead of going up into the presence of God as
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171
representative before God. God responded by giving them the
Law instead of this covenant and selecting the tribe from which
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DQG WKH SHRSOH LQDVPXFK DV WKH SHRSOH FKRVH 0RVHV WR EH WKH
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were permitted to function as priests.
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natural picture of the House of God among the nations of their
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they would have become the existing order of royal priests among
whom the Gentile believers in Christ would have been integrated.
The priesthood would never have been changed from the existing
order of Melchizedek to the order of Levi. This prior existing
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bread and wine.
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not to follow this example of unbelief:
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RI WKHEUDQFKHVKDYHEHHQEURNHQRIIDQG\RXWKRXJKDZLOG
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The apostle Peter concurred and declared that the Gentiles indeed
had succeeded whereas Israel had been rejected because of their
unbelief:
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God’s intended purpose of Israel as a nation was to put them on
display as the model of heavenly order and culture among the
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opportunity before the Law was given to them on Mount Sinai.
God’s original plan was to make them into a picture of the spiritual house among the nations of the world until the reality of the
house had fully migrated from heaven to earth. They would have
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came following the resurrection and ascension of Christ Himself.
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to accommodate the substance of being a royal priesthood and a
holy nation.
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to accommodate the reality of this promise. It was created this way
to nurture a culture compatible with the promise of a Seed arising
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refusal to obey God and accept the offer made to them did not
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Israel did not become the type and shadow of a holy nation to
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them in this way in anticipation of offering them the opportunity
to become an expression of the holy nation.
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had the effect of making them into a symbol of the reality. “The
law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not
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who draw near to worship.”,QWKHDSSRLQWHGWLPHKRZHYHUWKH
reality appeared as the Body of Christ. It was always God’s plan to
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to make them familiar with it.
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through human personages. The genealogical reports act as an
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unfolding through the generations of humanity. This is a blatant
declaration that there is divine order by which all things are arranged
within the physical creation. This repetitive and redundant prac174
tice is to alert even the casual observer to the fact that the visible order is a type and shadow of an invisible order that is no
less real than the visible order. Familiarity with the visible order
is designed to predispose the understanding of humankind to the
existence of this spiritual order and to induce reliance upon it as a
means of entering into the designated purpose that underlies the
known physical order.
THE SPIRITUAL ORDER OF THE HOUSE OF GOD
The obvious distinction between Abraham’s house and the
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gone through a process of rebirth into one spiritual race:
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Israel represents the arrangement of the natural house while the
spiritual house is the Body of Christ.
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his fatherly status together with his intentions to actually discipline
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to whom the races of humankind may be assembled as the House
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God gave Abraham the vision of a race coming from him that
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In the prophetic psalm regarding the role of Jesus as the anointed
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to Jesus: “…You are my son; today I have become your father. Ask
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The House of God was to be drawn from all the nations of
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on display. Their order would permit the showing of the grace
and goodness inherent in the nature of God. Since they would
be drawn from the diversity of all the different racial and cultural
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a spiritual house.
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FLWLHVVXFKDV&RULQWK(SKHVXVDQG5RPHZKLFKEHFDPHWKHYLVible order of the New Testament church. This order would remain
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THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM
The Church started in Jerusalem and was exclusively Jewish
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nent expression of the Body of Christ in the world.
The early Jerusalem model provided insight into how the Body
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The New Testament presents a picture of the Body of Christ
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is observed within the city of Jerusalem. Among the major developments of that early group of believers was the need for orderly
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of a virulent persecution against them by the temple authorities.
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The apostles provided leadership and introduced the order of
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aid. They distinguished between an administration that provides
spiritual direction and oversight and one that attended to mateULDO QHHGV 7KH DSRVWOHV GHYRWHG WKHPVHOYHV WR WKH :RUG RI WKH
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an administration designed to provide an orderly distribution of
resources for general needs. They selected seven men to oversee
the distribution of resources. They chose these men because they
were “full of the [Holy] Spirit and wisdom.” The apostles themVHOYHV VWDWHG ´:H ZLOO WXUQ WKLV UHVSRQVLELOLW\ RYHU WR WKHP >WKH
seven] and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the
word.”
The material supply came from the unforced generosity of the
early believers themselves. This spontaneous sharing of resources
seems to be emblematic of the way they demonstrated their sense
of oneness and community. Shortly after the inception of the church
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The next great challenge they faced came in the form of
persecution. It began with the arrest of the apostles Peter and John
following “an outstanding miracle” performed at the very gates of
the temple in Jerusalem. The effects of this spectacular occurrence
became impossible for the Jewish leaders to ignore. The growing
legacy of Jesus of Nazareth had become problematic for these
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of His disciples. These teachings were often accompanied by demRQVWUDWLRQV RI PLUDFXORXV SRZHU UHVXOWLQJLQ D UDSLG LQFUHDVHLQ
the number of Jesus’ followers.
There was a backlash from the temple authorities who became
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from the temple and the persecution of the followers of Jesus.
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to the Church. Philip went to Samaria and many converts resulted from his visit. Peter and John were later dispatched to help
establish the church in that area.
The Jerusalem church at the beginning established a sense of
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in Jerusalem and the initial scattering of many believers into the
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than that which initially emerged in Jerusalem. Paul would lead this
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take on greater complexity as it met the challenges both within and
outside of Jerusalem. Slowly the picture emerged of the Body of
Christ comprising both Jews and Gentiles.
Eventually the church in Jerusalem would face extreme economic hardships and would receive material supply from among
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of humankind. This result was achieved after many hard-fought
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among the Jewish believers.
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of the Church on behalf of the Jewish authorities. His apostolic
administration directed the rapid rise of the Church in the Greco5RPDQ ZRUOG DQG EURXJKW WKH LVVXH RI UHFRQFLOLDWLRQ EHWZHHQ
Jews and Gentiles in the Body of Christ to the forefront. Once
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-HUXVDOHP the Church’s growth among the Gentile nations was
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established became the foundation for the rule of the Church.
PAUL’S ADMINISTRATION OF THE
MYSTERY OF THE BODY OF CHRIST
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181
It is clear that Paul himself is the instrument by whom the
mystery and its administration are revealed to the rest of the apostles. Paul begins his journey by taking others with him. Barnabas
and his cousin John Mark are among his early traveling companions who set out from Antioch.
After Paul and Barnabas separate over the issue of John Mark’s
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speak and act as their father. He instructs Timothy to pattern his
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you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust
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had found in Timothy a reliable son whom he raised to become a
leader in the Body of Christ. His fatherly dedication to Timothy
is expressed in this admonition. Paul traveled with Timothy for
many years and exposed him to the same kind of discipleship that
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Paul’s relationship to Timothy was that of a devoted father and a
faithful son. Just as the twelve became the leaders of the Church
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provided the continuity necessary for the advance of the Kingdom
in succeeding generations.
Paul considered believers in entire cities to be his spiritual chilGUHQ$VKDVEHHQQRWHGHDUOLHULQKLVOHWWHUWRWKH&RULQWKLDQVKH
addressed them with the familiarity of a father who was displeased
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conviction. He understood that he had a duty to confront them
and to demand that they change their way of life to conform to
the standards that he had established both by his instructions and
his way of life.
182
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regions. He gave orders to the churches of Galatia to set aside
sums of money on a regular basis to relieve the brethren in Jerusalem in a time of severe famine. Paul and Barnabas established
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within the region known as Galatia. The same was true to an even
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Thus is the unfolding of Paul’s administration. He starts out
as a spiritual father to sons such as Timothy and Titus. Then his
spiritual family grows to include a household in many cities. As
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Church among the Gentiles.
Paul used his standing as a father of men to disciple them to
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endured the discipline of their training under his hand became
mature leaders who could be trusted to faithfully represent the Lord
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that the people of God could be cared for in the fashion in which
the early apostles arranged the order of the House of God in the
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among households but also among entire races.
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clans to gather resources and to send aid to the Jews who had
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183
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WKHLQÁXHQFHRI WKHRWKHUOHDGHUVDPRQJERWKWKH-HZVDQG*HQtiles. He expanded the early governmental form of the apostolic
council to include representation from the apostles who worked
DPRQJWKH*HQWLOHV establishing the format for the resolution of
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goals of disciplining and training individuals to maturity so that
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failed to speak boldly and consistently in advocating and supporting
the one Body of Christ. It was always clear to him that the order in
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since it is the same house whether it is in heaven or on the earth.
184
A
CHAPTER 16
Holy Nation
The relationship between God and man is the most compreKHQVLYHDQGFRPSOH[UHODWLRQVKLSRQHFDQH[SHULHQFH7KHXQLTXH
aspects of the relationship highlight this fact: God is Spirit while
PDQLVVSLULWFORWKHGLQÁHVKKHDYHQLVWKHVHDWRI *RG·VJRYHUQment while earth is the dwelling place of man; God loves man and
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between God’s purpose for him and his own way; both God and
man have a common enemy who opposes God by alienating man
IURP*RGDQG*RGWRRNRQWKHIRUPRI PDQLQRUGHUWRUHFRQcile man to God.
In order to show completely all of the different facets of the
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forms of human relationships that God established are veiled
portrayals of His relationship to man. The metaphors of human
relationships are mysteries revealed fully in their appointed time.
Examples of common human relationships that are “profound
myster[ies]” are the father and son relationship and the husband and
wife relationship. These two relationships in particular are used
to show that the exact representation of another is possible only
through sameness of being.
A dissimilar being will highlight the differences in beings
185
through their representation. A servant cannot represent the character of his master because he is unfamiliar with both the character
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the character of his father because he originated from within the
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´$Q\RQHZKRKDVVHHQPHKDVVHHQWKH)DWKHUµ and “I and the
Father are one.”7KDWDQJHOVODFNWKHUHTXLVLWHVDPHQHVVRI EHLQJ
is also the reason that angels are incapable of exact representation
of God.
A marriage highlights the principle of sameness and exact repUHVHQWDWLRQZKHQYLHZHGIURPDKHDYHQO\SHUVSHFWLYH$GDPFDPH
out of God and so was a son who was capable of representing
*RGKLV)DWKHU(YHFDPHRXWRI $GDPLQWKHÁHVKDQGRXWRI *RGLQWKHVSLULWVRVKHZDVERWKWKHVRQRI $GDPDQGWKHVRQRI God. She was made to exactly represent both. As a representative
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of those sources of authority.
A king and his relationship with his kingdom help reveal the
divine intentions regarding authority and representation. UnderVWDQGLQJDNLQJDVVRYHUHLJQKHOSVWRGHÀQHWKHRULJLQDQGIXQFWLRQ
RI DXWKRULW\6LPLODUO\WKHVWUXFWXUHRI DNLQJGRPKHOSVGHOLQHDWH
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with the Kingdom.
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family to a father’s plan. The house itself monitors the progress
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of time. The order of the arrangement of the house is important
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186
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may be chronicled through the maintaining of a meticulous geneaORJLFDOUHFRUG7KHVHUHFRUGVVHUYHDVDNLQGRI VHOISURYLQJDIÀGDYLW
certifying the claims of sons in any generation to the promises arising
out of the covenants of their fathers. This order mirrors the same
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)LQDOO\DQDWLRQVHUYHVWRUHYHDOWKHP\VWHU\RI *RG·VFKDUDFWHU
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of His order to the world. He arranged for the testing of the heavHQO\RUGHULQDQHQYLURQPHQWRI FRPSOHWHKXPDQGLYHUVLW\UHSOHWH
ZLWKDOORI WKHFRQÁLFWVLQKHUHQWDPRQJKXPDQEHLQJV%HFDXVHRI WKHH[WUHPHFRPSOH[LW\RI WKHUHODWLRQVKLSEHWZHHQ*RGDQGPDQ
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&RQVHTXHQWO\*RGKDVHPSOR\HGDUDQJHRI UHODWLRQVKLSVGHsigned to highlight structural aspects of the complete relationship.
These metaphors describe this relationship from its most intimate
forms to its broadest corporate expressions—from a father and
son to a holy nation. Each relational model carries the substance
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nature of God the Father in relationship to Jesus Christ the Son.
The cumulative result is a broad display of the relationship among
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God always intended that His House exist on the earth as a
nation among the nations. The order of its government is meant
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all governments inevitably put on display the nature of their
sovereigns. Heaven is unwaveringly committed to the forming of
this reality upon the earth.
THE GLORY OF THE LAMB
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an island off the coast of Ephesus in the Aegean Sea. This would
187
seem a cruel fate for one who had served God for most of his
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priority that would shape the course of history for all of the
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the formal decrees that would create a holy nation on the earth.
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preached on the day of Pentecost. Peter and all of the witnesses
present on that day were dead. Even Paul by now was dead. Only
John was left. The order of Judaism had been dismantled with the
destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. John himself had lived for
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one generation and will advance its implementation in the succeedLQJ JHQHUDWLRQ )RU H[DPSOH +H GHOLYHUHG WKH DQFLHQW +HEUHZV
from slavery in Egypt in one generation and brought them into
the Promised Land in the next. Even a generation that sees the
astounding works of God may become like an old wineskin as it
relates to the further advancement of the things that were introGXFHGLQWKHLUGD\7KHÀUVWJHQHUDWLRQRI EHOLHYHUVJUDSSOHGZLWK
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short of the full intention of heaven.
In order to prepare a generation to receive the complete revelaWLRQRI ZKDWKDGEHHQUHOHDVHGLQWRWKHHDUWK*RGZDLWHGXQWLOD
new generation had arisen with a new mindset. He had also removed
the obstacle of Judaism by permitting the destruction of the temple
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the next great increment of the unfolding picture in a new generational wineskin.
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188
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which Jesus was holding seven stars in His right hand as He was
walking among seven candlesticks. ,Q WKH HQFRXQWHU -HVXV UHvealed the twin mysteries of the seven stars and the seven candlesticks: the seven candlesticks were the believers in seven cities in the
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the seven stars were seven messengers to the believers in seven cities. Each messenger was given a distinctive message for the group
to which he was sent. The messages were urgent and timely but
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particular city. The messages were about things that were to occur
shortly as well as conditions among the believers that were in urgent
need of address.
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enter the door into that realm to witness the opening of the seven
seals on the scroll in the hand of the Almighty God.:KHQWKH
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WRRSHQWKHVHDOV heaven erupted in a song of praise. This song
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Heaven honored Jesus the Lamb by declaring that He had accomplished God’s will on earth. Following John’s witness to these events
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earth as they were declared and celebrated in heaven.
The future imperative for earth was that heaven would bring
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class. Those comprised within the nation would speak different
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they would be united under the sovereignty of Christ as a nation
189
of royal priests. As Abraham’s nation’s purpose was to bring Jesus
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display all of the characteristics found in the Christ. Each member
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But the complete revealing of Christ would be through the corpoUDWHHQWLW\WKHKRO\QDWLRQZKRVHSXUSRVHZRXOGEH
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necessary culture to receive the fullness of the revelation of a holy
nation comprising people from such diverse origins. By the second
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over the known world made up the Body of Christ. This change
was necessary in order to accommodate the full accomplishment
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ZDVFDOOHGWRZLWQHVVLQKHDYHQ7KLVZRXOGEHWKHXOWLPDWHIXOÀOOment of the precreation covenant.
THE RELEVANCE OF A HOLY NATION
God sent Jesus into the world to reveal His love for all human
beings. He is certain that when humankind understands the true
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come home to Him.
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)URPWKHWLPHRI $GDP·VVHSDUDWLRQIURP*RGWKHFXOWXUHRI humankind has continued to degenerate to its present state. All of
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polluted beyond recognition by the continuing effects of the fall.
The order of husband and wife has been repositioned from exact
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between husband and wife. Individual obsession with provision
and protection has eviscerated the father and son relationship and
has sundered the trans-generational heritage of families. The loss
of these relational patterns has resulted in a destruction of these
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continuity. The only remaining reliable basis upon which people
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citizenship.
Even an orphan is a citizen of a nation. The last hope of man
for the assurance of provision and protection is in the laws and
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to the control of the strong and the powerful and is increasingly
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The earth is in desperate need of a model of order and peace
in which the problems of humankind are subject to permanent
resolution. The solution lies in a nation of people “from every
tribe and language and people and nation” that reveals the mystery
of God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son by demonstrating the
goodness of God. The order of a holy nation has the power to
redeem men to God from the furthest depths of their brokenness
and fallen estate. This is the promise of a holy nation.
LET THEM BE ONE IN US
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191
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HYHQDV\RXKDYHORYHGPHµ Jesus prayed to the Father that the believers would all be one in
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would see that the Father loves them in the same way that He loved
Jesus. This ultimate expression of the many as one encapsulates
the gospel of the love of the Father.
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that is visible to the world. Christ intends to present His relationship to
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nature of the Father’s love—not only for Jesus and the corporate
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of the gospel of the Father and the Son is reserved for this form.
The world cannot see the spiritual Body of Christ; spiritual
things are spiritually discerned. Their vision of the spiritual Body
of Christ must be presented in a familiar form in order for them
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to convey to them.
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expression of the Body of Christ to function as a nation among
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“a royal priesthood [and] a holy nation.” John was invited into
heaven to witness the formality of heaven’s declaration of its commitment to present the glory of the Lamb within this form upon
the earth.
This holy nation is designed to show how people from all of
the divisions within the human community may be reformatted
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nation capable of receiving any person in any condition and developing them to the place of a mature son of God. Humans with
the most shattered lives could be rescued and restored to such
completeness that they are available to put on display the very
nature of God in the form they were created to exhibit.
This restorative process is rooted in a relationship to a human
father who replicates the role of God the Father in a person’s life.
The spiritual father is central to the order that rescues a person and
restores his destiny. A person saved in this way is placed within the
context of a holy nation that empowers and enables him to put on
display all that God designed him to be.
The display of the love of God within this context is both prisWLQHDQGUHOLDEOHVLQFHDOOUHODWLRQVKLSVDUHRUGDLQHGE\*RGDQG
acknowledged by the participants. These voluntary relationships
connect people into a corporate form that does not rely on natural
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would not be unusual for the father and son relationship to defy
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IRUDQ$UDEWREHWKHIDWKHURI D-HZLVKSHUVRQDQGD-HZLVKSHUson to be the father of a Persian. It would not be unusual for an
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diversities that would be unimaginable in conventional society.
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193
way for them and by giving inheritances of every kind to enable
their progression toward mature representation of God. This holy
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of which are scourges that put on display the basest nature of
human beings. Husbands love wives as they love themselves in the
model of Christ and the Church; and wives replace competition
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of oneness that starkly contrasts with the present order of domestic
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to their own complete maturity.
A nation that puts on display the love of the father for his
son in its forms of order and government will stand in absolute
contrast to all other nations.
A CITY UPON A HILL
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spoke of a gospel that put on display the nature of the Father.
Jesus referred to this prophecy and instructed His disciples that
they were “the light of the world” and “[a] city that is set on an
hill [that] cannot be hid.” God always intended to culminate the
age of man with this expression of the gospel in the world. Jesus
Himself came to show us the Father and prayed that all those who
would believe in Him would live corporately in the model of how
He and the Father lived. The prophecies regarding the order of the
Church at the end of the age never speak of an urgent escape in
WKHIDFHRI JURZLQJRSSRVLWLRQ,QVWHDGWKH\SUHVHQWDSLFWXUHRI DSHRSOHZKRVHOLYHVDUHFKDUDFWHUL]HGE\ULJKWHRXVQHVVSHDFHDQG
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The House of God stands as a holy nation before the nations
RI WKHZRUOGZKLOHWKHF\FOHVRI ZDUYLROHQFHDQGLQMXVWLFHGHFLPDWH
the hope of humankind and keep the peoples of the earth deeply
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195
such harmony and peace that they will have “beat[en] their swords
into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.”
The economy of the House of God will not in any way be
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nations of the world there will be the continuing cycle of “wars
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that are at war with each other in the world will live together as
fathers and sons.
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for the instruction of the nations in how to transition to that result.
3HDFHUHPDLQVHOXVLYHDQGORRPLQJFRQÁLFWVDOOEXWFDXVHWKHKHDUWV
of men to despair. Because religion fails to see the model of a holy
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major contributing factor to human hopelessness.
The prophecies regarding the elevation of the status of the
House of God to that of a city on a hill envision that when the
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IRU DQVZHUV :KHUHDV WKH UHOLJLRXV &KXUFK KDV KLVWRULFDOO\ SRVLWLRQHGLWVHOI WRFRRSWWKHFXOWXUHRI QDWLRQVDQGWRLQÀOWUDWHLWV
politics as a way of creating a favorable climate for the receiving of
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governance. It is this clear alternative that God intends to use in
the last days to present the message of the Father and the Son as
the complete expression of the love of God.
The House of God is this holy nation that God envisioned
when He brought Adam into the world. The rule of righteousness
is the order of the House of God. God originally gave Adam dominion over the earth to introduce this way of heaven within the
natural creation. Jesus came to recapture this mandate and to give
it complete expression as the template upon which His corporate
Body would function. God intended that the corporate Body of
196
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Himself before the worlds were formed to bring the age of man
to a conclusion by displaying Himself in the earth in the glory of
this form.
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Protects Pregnancy.” BJOG: an International Journal of Obstetrics and
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Control and Prevention. “Marriage and Cohabitation in the United States:
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199
81´5DSHDQGDEXVHRI ZRPHQLQWKHDUHDVRI DUPHGFRQÁLFWLQWKH
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FKLOGUHQRI VH[XDOYLROHQFHVXUYLYRUVLQFRQÁLFW]RQHVµ.XPDULDQ3UHVV
,QF$YDLODEOHDWKWWSERRNVJRRJOHFRPERRNV"LG 3[7(Y+65B
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10. Ibid.
11. *HQHVLV´7KHQ*RGVDLG¶/HWXVPDNHPDQLQRXULPDJHLQRXU
OLNHQHVVDQGOHWWKHPUXOHRYHUWKHÀVKRI WKHVHDDQGWKHELUGVRI WKHDLU
RYHUWKHOLYHVWRFNRYHUDOOWKHHDUWKDQGRYHUDOOWKHFUHDWXUHVWKDWPRYH
DORQJWKHJURXQG·6R*RGFUHDWHGPDQLQKLVRZQLPDJHLQWKHLPDJHRI God he created him; male and female he created them.”
12. /XNH´1RZ-HVXVKLPVHOI ZDVDERXWWKLUW\\HDUVROGZKHQKHEHJDQKLVPLQLVWU\+HZDVWKHVRQVRLWZDVWKRXJKWRI -RVHSKWKHVRQRI +HOL«WKHVRQRI (QRVKWKHVRQRI 6HWKWKHVRQRI $GDPWKHVRQRI God.”
*HQHVLV´7KHQ*RGVDLG¶/HWWKHODQGSURGXFHYHJHWDWLRQVHHGEHDULQJSODQWVDQGWUHHVRQWKHODQGWKDWEHDUIUXLWZLWKVHHGLQLWDFFRUGLQJWR
their various kinds.’ And it was so.”
*HQHVLV´$QG*RGVDLG¶/HWWKHODQGSURGXFHOLYLQJFUHDWXUHVDFFRUGLQJWRWKHLUNLQGVOLYHVWRFNFUHDWXUHVWKDWPRYHDORQJWKHJURXQGDQGZLOG
DQLPDOVHDFKDFFRUGLQJWRLWVNLQG·$QGLWZDVVRµ
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the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They
will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of
the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has
the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.’ And it was so.”
16. *HQHVLVVHHQRWH
*HQHVLV
+HEUHZV +HEUHZV ´(QGXUH KDUGVKLS DV GLVFLSOLQH *RG LV
treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are
QRWGLVFLSOLQHGDQGHYHU\RQHXQGHUJRHVGLVFLSOLQHWKHQ\RXDUHLOOHJLWLPDWHFKLOGUHQDQGQRWWUXHVRQV0RUHRYHUZHKDYHDOOKDGKXPDQIDWKHUV
who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should
we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us
IRUDOLWWOHZKLOHDVWKH\WKRXJKWEHVWEXW*RGGLVFLSOLQHVXVIRURXUJRRG
200
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EXWSDLQIXO/DWHURQKRZHYHULWSURGXFHVDKDUYHVWRI ULJKWHRXVQHVVDQG
peace for those who have been trained by it.”
It is no distinction of man’s that his body was formed out of the earth.
*HQHVLV´$QG*RGVDLG¶/HWWKHZDWHUXQGHUWKHVN\EHJDWKHUHGWR
RQHSODFHDQGOHWGU\JURXQGDSSHDU·$QGLWZDVVRµ*HQHVLV´7KHQ
*RGVDLG¶/HWWKHODQGSURGXFHYHJHWDWLRQVHHGEHDULQJSODQWVDQGWUHHV
RQWKHODQGWKDWEHDUIUXLWZLWKVHHGLQLWDFFRUGLQJWRWKHLUYDULRXVNLQGV·
And it was so.”
20. +HEUHZV´-XVWDV PDQ LVGHVWLQHGWR GLHRQFH DQG DIWHUWKDWWR
IDFHMXGJPHQWVR&KULVWZDVVDFULÀFHGRQFHWRWDNHDZD\WKHVLQVRI PDQ\
SHRSOHDQGKHZLOODSSHDUDVHFRQGWLPHQRWWREHDUVLQEXWWREULQJVDOYDtion to those who are waiting for him.”
21. &RULQWKLDQV´6RZLOOLWEHZLWKWKHUHVXUUHFWLRQRI WKHGHDG
7KHERG\WKDWLVVRZQLVSHULVKDEOHLWLVUDLVHGLPSHULVKDEOHLWLVVRZQLQ
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LVVRZQDQDWXUDOERG\LWLVUDLVHGDVSLULWXDOERG\,I WKHUHLVDQDWXUDOERG\
there is also a spiritual body.”
22. *DODWLDQV´<RXDUHDOOVRQVRI *RGWKURXJKIDLWKLQ&KULVW-HVXV
for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with
&KULVW7KHUHLVQHLWKHU-HZQRU*UHHNVODYHQRUIUHHPDOHQRUIHPDOHIRU
\RXDUHDOORQHLQ&KULVW-HVXV,I \RXEHORQJWR&KULVWWKHQ\RXDUH$EUDKDP·VVHHGDQGKHLUVDFFRUGLQJWRWKHSURPLVHµ
It was the Spirit of God itself that is said to have made man a “living
EHLQJµ*HQHVLV´WKH/25'*RGIRUPHGWKHPDQIURPWKHGXVWRI WKHJURXQGDQGEUHDWKHGLQWRKLVQRVWULOVWKHEUHDWKRI OLIHDQGWKHPDQ
became a living being.”
+HEUHZV´)RUWRZKLFKRI WKHDQJHOVGLG*RGHYHUVD\¶<RXDUHP\
6RQWRGD\,KDYHEHFRPH\RXU)DWKHU·"2UDJDLQ¶,ZLOOEHKLV)DWKHUDQG
he will be my Son’?”
5RPDQV.-9´7KH6SLULWLWVHOI EHDUHWKZLWQHVVZLWKRXUVSLULWWKDW
ZHDUHWKHFKLOGUHQRI *RG$QGLI FKLOGUHQWKHQKHLUVKHLUVRI *RGDQG
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26. *HQHVLV
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at http://www.geocities.ws/fweinreb_documentation/Tradam.html
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201
was so called because he had been taken from the earth. Yet this is essenWLDOO\FRPSOHWHO\ZURQJDOVROLQJXLVWLFDOO\,QGHHGWKHZRUG´PDQµ$GDP
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man was made in the likeness of God. The word “likeness” has the same
stem as “man”; so the essential of man is not that he was taken from the
HDUWKEXWWKDWKHUHVHPEOHV*RGOLNH*RGVDLGDW&UHDWLRQWKDW+HZRXOG
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ZKHQLWLVNQRZQWKDWPDQLVDOVRGLYLQHWKDWLQGHHGWKHGLYLQHLQPDQLV
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*HQHVLV
Genesis 1:26.
*HQHVLV
An example of which was the appearance of the star as a sign visible in
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redeem humankind to the purposes of God.
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LQQXPEHUÀOOWKHHDUWKDQGVXEGXHLW5XOHRYHUWKHÀVKRI WKHVHDDQGWKH
birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’”
3HWHU1.-9É\ZKLFKKDYHEHHQJLYHQWRXVH[FHHGLQJO\JUHDWDQG
SUHFLRXVSURPLVHVWKDWWKURXJKWKHVH\RXPD\EHSDUWDNHUVRI WKHGLYLQH
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+HEUHZV ´$UH QRW DOO DQJHOV PLQLVWHULQJ VSLULWV VHQW WR VHUYH WKRVH
who will inherit salvation?”
(SKHVLDQV
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*HQHVLVVHHQRWH
Matthew 6:10.
/XNH.-9´*ORU\WR*RGLQWKHKLJKHVWDQGRQHDUWKSHDFHJRRG
ZLOOWRZDUGPHQµ1,9´*ORU\WR*RGLQWKHKLJKHVWDQGRQHDUWKSHDFH
to men on whom his favor rests.”
202
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who will inherit salvation?”
6HHHJ,VDLDK´,QWKH\HDUWKDW.LQJ8]]LDKGLHG,VDZWKH/RUG
VHDWHGRQDWKURQHKLJKDQGH[DOWHGDQGWKHWUDLQRI KLVUREHÀOOHGWKH
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Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.’”
&RORVVLDQV
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life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
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have it more abundantly.”
60. 7KHVVDORQLDQV´0D\*RGKLPVHOIWKH*RGRI SHDFHVDQFWLI\\RX
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203
less at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
61. *HQHVLV´)RU*RGNQRZVWKDWZKHQ\RXHDWIURPLW\RXUH\HVZLOOEH
RSHQHGDQG\RXZLOOEHOLNH*RGNQRZLQJJRRGDQGHYLOµ
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hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and
brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.”
6HH5RPDQV
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66. 6HH*HQHVLV
&RULQWKLDQV´1RZZHNQRZWKDWLI WKHHDUWKO\WHQWZHOLYHLQLV
GHVWUR\HGZHKDYHDEXLOGLQJIURP*RGDQHWHUQDOKRXVHLQKHDYHQQRW
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so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.”
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&KULVWQRWFRXQWLQJPHQ·VVLQVDJDLQVWWKHP$QGKHKDVFRPPLWWHGWRXV
the message of reconciliation.”
Genesis 1:26.
*HQHVLV.-91,9ÓLYLQJEHLQJµ
5RPDQV
Philippians 2:12.
0DUN0DUN.-9
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LQKLP)RUHYHU\WKLQJLQWKHZRUOG³WKHFUDYLQJVRI VLQIXOPDQWKHOXVWRI his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the
Father but from the world.”
6HH*HQHVLV
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204
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3KLOLSSLDQV .-9 ´/HW WKLV PLQG EH LQ \RX ZKLFK ZDV DOVR LQ &KULVW
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DEOHWRWHVWDQGDSSURYHZKDW*RG·VZLOOLV³KLVJRRGSOHDVLQJDQGSHUIHFW
will.”
6HHHJ&RULQWKLDQV
-RKQ ´7KHUH LV QR IHDU LQ ORYH %XW SHUIHFW ORYH GULYHV RXW IHDU
because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made
perfect in love.”
5RPDQV1,9´2UGR\RXVKRZFRQWHPSWIRUWKHULFKHVRI KLV
NLQGQHVV IRUEHDUDQFH DQG SDWLHQFH QRW UHDOL]LQJ WKDW *RG·V NLQGQHVV LV
intended to lead you to repentance?”
Ephesians 6:11-12.
6HH+HEUHZV1,9´6LQFHWKHFKLOGUHQKDYHÁHVKDQGEORRG
he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the
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those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”
&RULQWKLDQV
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´SRZHUVRI WKLVGDUNZRUOGµWKHŃRVPRNUDWRUµ(SK6HHDOVR)LUVW
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YLFWRU\WKDWKDVRYHUFRPHWKHZRUOGHYHQRXUIDLWK:KRLVLWWKDWRYHUcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God”; First
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called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
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and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.”
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singular translation of a spectator or recorder who gives testimony.
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Ibid.
100. Hebrews 6:16-20.
101. 5HYHODWLRQ1,9´$OOLQKDELWDQWVRI WKHHDUWKZLOOZRUVKLSWKH
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the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.
102. *RG·V FKRLFH WR DSSHDU DV )DWKHU DQG 6RQ ZKHQ +H LV E\ QDWXUH VSLULW
LV QRW D OLPLWDWLRQ RQ WKH DELOLW\ RI *RG WR DSSHDU LQ LQÀQLWH SHUPXWDWLRQVRI 6SLULWVLQFH*RGDV6SLULWLVSUHVHQWLQ+LVFRPSOHWHQHVVLQHDFK
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those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit
\RXUHFHLYHGGRHVQRWPDNH\RXVODYHVVRWKDW\RXOLYHLQIHDUDJDLQUDWKHU
the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by
KLPZHFU\¶$EED)DWKHU·7KH6SLULWKLPVHOI WHVWLÀHVZLWKRXUVSLULWWKDW
we are God’s children.” God as Spirit is present as His complete self in
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He is simultaneously seated on the throne in heaven as both the Father and
WKH6RQ$FWV´%XW6WHSKHQIXOORI WKH+RO\6SLULWORRNHGXSWR
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because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son
of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”
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world.”
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fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing
among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.
<RXOHDUQHGLWIURP(SDSKUDVRXUGHDUIHOORZVHUYDQWZKRLVDIDLWKIXO
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Spirit.”
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stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are
just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!”.
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mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know
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Testament. Oxford and Cambridge: Oxford University Press and CamEULGJH8QLYHUVLW\3UHVV
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Ibid.
Ibid.
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Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life.
7KHVHDUHWKHYHU\6FULSWXUHVWKDWWHVWLI\DERXWPH\HW\RXUHIXVHWRFRPH
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7KLVLVHYLGHQWIURPWKHIDFWWKDWDIWHUWKLVHYHQW*RGFKDQJHGWKHQDPHRI Abram to Abraham. Abram meaning “exalted father”; whereas Abraham
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of God.
See Isaiah 11:2.
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Herod had a history of inordinate violence before Jesus was born. He had
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and Aristobulus. It was also widely rumored that Herod had issued a standLQJRUGHUWKDWDOOWKHVHYHQW\HOGHUVRI ,VUDHOEHH[HFXWHGXSRQKLVGHDWKVR
that there would be mourning in Israel.
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salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest
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from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.”
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died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and
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strangers on earth.”
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See Strong’s supra H1 “ab.” (showing nine separate meanings of the word
for “father” as used in the Old Testament including “the head or founder
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2 Corinthians 11:2.
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Note for study: this is the story of the prodigal son.
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them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you
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with the oil of joy.’”
See Acts 2.
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is in heaven.”
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every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.”
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and the listing of the heads of households of each tribe.
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the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought
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Jesus Christ!”
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did not go up the mountain.”
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this is before the creation of the Levitical priesthood and the people are
still in the state of coming out of Egypt. Before God established the order
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of Melchizedek.
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excuse.”
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See Acts 10.
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See Galatians 2:6-10.
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2 Timothy 2:1-2.
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all the Gentiles might come to faith and obedience—to the only wise God
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the sameness of being He has with the Father: “…Anyone who has seen
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and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works
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accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them
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through the Spirit.”
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My Father, My Father - Sam Soleyn

Transcription

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