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"The Number One"
It is written in, (Deuteronomy 6:4
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:). There can be no doubt as to this primary number. In all languages it is the symbol of unity. As a cardinal number it denotes unity: as an ordinal it denotes primacy. Unity being indivisible, and not made up of other numbers, it is therefore independent of all other, and the source of all others. So with God. The first great cause is independent of all. All stand in need of Him, and He needs no assistance from any.One excludes all different, for there is not second with which it can either harmonize or conflict. When it is written in, (Deuteronomy 6:4
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:), it does not deny the “Doctrine of the Trinity,” but it excludes absolutely another Lord: it excludes, therefore, all idolatry.Hence the First Commandment declares in, (Exodus 20:3
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.). It asserts that there is in God a sufficiency which needs no other: and as independence which admits no other.It marks the beginning. We must begin with God. All our words and works must be characterized by the first words of the Bible: (Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.). Nothing is right that does not begin with Him. God first is the voice of Scripture. (Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.). Is the testimony of Christ. (Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.). God first is the great proclamation. The angels sang “Glory to God” in the highest. This was the beginning of their song. And it was after this that they sang “good will to all men.” This, too must be the great principle governing all our testimony and our work. We cannot give glory to God without doing good to men. And there is no real good will for men which does not spring from a desire to glorify God. The rapid deterioration, which is the great mark of these last days, comes from an ignoring of this great principle. God is shut out, and man is exalted. Hence, the gospel of God, (Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.). Is being rapidly and almost superseded by the gospel of man. Which is a gospel of sanitation, and indeed, is now openly called “Christian Socialism.” But it is a socialism without Christ. It does not begin with the glory of God, and it will not, and cannot end in any real good to man. It begins with man: its object is to improve the old nature apart from God, and to reform the flesh: and the measure of its success is the measure in which man can become good without God.Man`s ways and thoughts are opposite of God`s. God says, “Seek first.” Man says, “Take care of number one.” He is in his own eyes this number one, and his great aim is to be independent of God. Independent of God, is his glory. Independence in man, is sin, and rebellion, and shame. In the word of God, therefore, “God first, and before all.”
Isaiah 44:6
Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. Isaiah 48:12-13 Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last. Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together. Isaiah 43:10-11 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. Revelation 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. Revelation 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: Revelation 2:8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; Revelation 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.Thus God emphasizes this great foundation truth. All must be confusion where man refuse to recognize it. All must be peace where it is owned. The first is the only one. There cannot be two first. Man ignorantly speaks of the two first, or the three first, when he really means the two first, or three first. The Word of God does not thus ignorantly speak. He is the only one. He is first priority of time. He is first is superiority of rank, and He is first in absolute supremacy.
Redemption and salvation began with God. His was the word which first revealed it in, (Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.). His was the will which first purposed it, (Hebrew 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.). His was the power that alone accomplished it. Hence “Salvation is of the Lord,” (Exodus 14:13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will show to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. 2 Chronicles 20:17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you. Jonah 2:9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.). His is the will from which it all proceeds, (Psalm 40:7-8 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. Hebrews 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.).Jesus is the same as the Hebrew (Yehoshua), or the abbreviated form of Joshua. Compare, (Hebrews 4:8
For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.). And means the “Salvation of God,” or “God the Savior.”The name Jesus expresses the relation of God, of Him in Incarnation, by which “He humble Himself,” and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, (Philippians 2:8
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.). Who being “God” did not deem His glory a thing to be relinquished, (Philippians 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:).The name “Jesus” is the name associated with the shame which He (God) endured in order to save His people from their sins, (Matthew 1:21
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.). His people therefore never addressed Him as “Jesus,” but always as “Master” or “Lord,” (John 13:13-14 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?). And so should all His people today: not following the example of demons, (Matthew 8:29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?).
John 16:13
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. The three verbs are speaking, teaching, and admonishing yourselves, not one another. The great requirement for this is the Spirit, all wisdom, and grace.The words be filled with the Spirit are usually quoted as though they were followed by a full stop, and formed a complete sentence. This is not the case. How is one to know whether he is filled with the Spirit? The answer is given:
The Word of Christ will dwell in him richly: the word spoken by Christ, and the words relating to Christ: the word which has Christ for its object and Christ for its subject, or Christ Himself by the Spirit.
This indwelling of Christ will be the evidence of the Holy Spirit`s presence, and operation. For the Spirit and the Word can never be separated. He gives it: uses it: and operates through it. It is His work to take of the things of Christ, and show them unto us, and thus to glorify Christ: never calling our attention to His work is us, but to Christ`s work for us.
The Unity of the Spirit. this is the unity of the members of the one body of Christ, who are all animated by the same Spirit. It is a unity which we can not make. It is made for us in Christ. We can only preserve it, and live in the power of it by the Holy Spirit, who is “the bond of peace.” It needs indeed careful preserving, for it is opposed to all man`s ideas of unity in churches and sects. It is a spiritual unity.
Ephesians 4:4-6
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. This unity of the body and its members is set forth. And note the seven fold nature of it. It is set forth in an “Epanodos,” i.e., the sentences are arranged in an introversion, where the first answers to the last, the second to the next to the last, etc. The Lord is exalted by being placed in the center of the whole. There is one Body, and one Spirit, even as you are called (also) in one Hope of your calling: One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, One God and Father of all the members of this Body, who is above (or even over you) all, and through (or with you) all, and in you all.2 Corinthians 5:18-20
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
These verses paraphrased read, God, Who reconnected us again to Himself, by means of Christ, and having given to us the ministry of the reconnection, to which, that God was in Christ reconnecting a world to Himself, not reckoning their transgressions to them: and having laid upon us the responsibility or burden of the message of the reconnection. On Christ behalf therefore we are ambassadors, be reconnected, or united again to God.
We see here reveal in simple majesty, the sovereign grace of God in providing by virtue of the precious blood of Christ, a means whereby the rebellious creature can be restored to the favor of the justly alienated Creator. It is not an entreaty to forgive and forget everything on man`s side, but a command to return to God by means of the new connection, and by that means alone, the new and living way which God Himself provided through the death and resurrection of His Son. Acts 17:30-31
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. Hebrews 10:19-20 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Ephesians 2:16
And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: Colossians 1:20-21 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled. So that in God all is complete. Here again the graciousness of God is manifested. Who made peace by virtue of the blood of Christ, and thus gave access by means of Him, by one Spirit unto the Father, to those who were far off and to those who were near.The conclusion maybe summed up thus: Christ`s death upon the cross linked up again the connection with God, for all those who are the chosen subjects of His grace, (Ephesians 1:4
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:), and all who will believe and consequently become subjects of His grace, (Romans 10:11-13 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.)._______________________________________________________________________________________________-