Christ: “The Covenant”

Isa.42:6-7; 49:8; 61:1; Jeremiah 3l:31-33; Heb. 9:14, 13:20; 1 John 1:7; Rev. l:17-18

For us to understand more about God, we must understand who Jesus Christ is, and what he came to do. One cardinal or basic truth found in the Bible, when speaking of Jesus, Paul the Apostle states, "For in him dwelleth ALL THE FULLNESS OF THE GODHEAD BODILY." (Colossians 2:9) Is that not saying, Jesus is God in body? In another place, the Apostle Paul speaking of Jesus states, “And without controversy great is the mystery of Godliness: God was manifest in flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." (1 Timothy 3:16)

From the foundation of the world, those that testify they have seen God, if they saw a bodily form, saw Jesus in the body of His Spirit. God's word says Jesus is the fullness of God, bodily. Moses saw God in a burning bush and heard a voice.

GOD IS A SPIRIT
"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in truth." (John 4:24)

"From these scriptures we know God is a Spirit and Jesus is the fullness of God bodily All that believe the Genesis account of Creation must believe "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: ..." (Genesis 1:26-27). Therefore, man is in the image and likeness of God. Man was created first a spirit, then out of the dust of the earth God formed a mortal body for the spirit of man to dwell in while upon the Earth. Another way of expressing this would be, with the Breath of Life from God which God breathed into the mortal body of man, and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7) Three in one: Man has spirit, soul, and body, YET ONLY ONE MAN. (1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 4:12) Man was created in the image and likeness of God: The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. These three are ONE GOD. (1 John 5:7)

The brother of Jared saw Jesus 2200 years before his birth. On that occasion Jesus said to the brother of Jared, "Behold, I am he which was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ, I am the Father and the Son...Behold, this body, which you now behold, is the body of my spirit: and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee in the spirit, will I appear unto my people in the flesh...therefore it sufficed me to say, that Jesus shewed himself unto this man in the spirit, even after the manner and in the likeness of the same body, even as he showed himself unto the Nephites; And he (Jesus) ministered unto him, even as he ministered unto the Nephites; and all this, that this man knew that he was God,...” (Ether 3:14-18)

During the ministry of Jesus he always glorified the Father. He talked unceasingly about the Father. Jesus told them, "The Father is greater then I." He prayed to the Father. He told them, "I am the truth, the way, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Jesus told his followers, "...but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” (John 14:10) Those who believe in two or three gods should remember Jesus also said, "If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from thenceforth ye know him, and have seen him."

Even after this plain statement, it seemed to only confuse His disciples. They couldn't grasp the statements of Jesus about the Father and the Son. It was Philip who finally came right out and said to Jesus, "Show us the Father and it sufficeth us.” Jesus said to Philip, “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, He doeth the works." Let all grasp this key. “The Father that dwelleth in me, He doeth the works.” Repeat that phrase with me. "The Father that dwelleth in me, He doeth the works." (John 14:1-10) Is the Father dwelling in you? Jesus prayed, "Father let them be one as we are one.” Or do you think that you are doing all the work by yourself? Jesus taught that the Father was dwelling in Him, Jesus also taught His Father was in Heaven. The Father is Spirit, He is everywhere. Jesus Christ desires all who choose to follow him, to become like him! To be like Jesus, the Father must be dwelling in them and doing only what the Father tells them. Are you listening? The Apostle put it this way, “If we are born of the Spirit, let us walk in the Spirit." Jesus wants you to let the Father, 'the Spirit' dwell in you just as the Father dwelt in him. “God is a Spirit” (John 4:24)

The Bible tells us, Jesus is the image of the invisible God. In speaking of Jesus, the Bible tells us, "Who is the image of the invisible God, the first born of every creature." (Colossians 1:15) If we let the Holy Ghost dwell in us, if we obey Christ's Word, keep His commandments, follow His example, and listen to His still small voice we can be like Jesus. Have you stopped to think of this: The Bible says we can have the mind of Christ and the fullness of God. (I Corinthians 2:16; Matthew 16:16; Ephesians 3:19)

Following our resurrection we will be like Jesus was following his resurrection. By that statement I’m not saying we will each be gods. I am saying, our resurrected immortal body will be like His. We are told, "Beloved, now we are the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see him as He is." (I John 3:2)

The only way that we can be like Jesus, in this life or in the life to come, is for the Father, 'the Holy Spirit' to be dwelling, abiding in us, and in control of our lives just as the Father 'Spirit' dwelt in Jesus, and Jesus could say, I do nothing except the Father tell me.

THE FATHER: THE HOLY GHOST Matthew 1:18-20; Luke 1:35

"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was this wise: When his mother Mary espoused to Joseph, before they come together, she was found of child of the Holy Ghost." Matthew 1:18-20. This scripture informs us 'the Holy Ghost was the Father of the child conceived in Mary.’ Right? Right!

Jesus was not just of the brethren. He was not just another man. True, He had a human mother, Mary; but the Holy Ghost was His Father. That is to whom Jesus prayed and confessed, “He is greater then I.” Let’s read a little further. Joseph was concerned about this development, so God sent an angel to Joseph in a dream. This was the Angel Message. “But while he (Joseph) thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, GOD WITH US." (Matthew 1:21,22,23)

Who is God? The Bible plainly gives us the answer, "God is a Spirit." (John 4:24) Again, who was the Father of Jesus, who caused the conception in Mary? Again the Bible gives the answers, it was of THE HOLY GHOST. (Matthew 1.20; Luke 1:35) By understanding this, one can better understand the words of Jesus himself as recorded in John 7:38-39 "But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified." And in John 16:7, Jesus, speaking before his ascension to heaven said, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you.”

With the Father abiding in Jesus he said ‘I do only what the Father, [The Spirit] tells me.’ Are we listening to the voice of the Father, ‘the Spirit’? Are we doing only what the Spirit tells us? Did I hear someone say, ‘I want to!’ We can only if we have been born of the Spirit, and if we are walking in the Spirit. However, to do this we must first be covered by "the blood of the covenant." Cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus, "The Everlasting Covenant."

THE BLOOD OF THE EVERLASTING COVENANT

"Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the Everlasting Covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." Hebrews 13:20-21.

Here the Word speaks of Jesus as the 'Blood of the Everlasting Covenant'. (Hebrews 9:14) This covenant is not written on tables of stone or on parchment. No indeed! 'This Covenant' [Jesus] must be written in our hearts. (Jeremiah 31:33)

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (I John 1:7) When the word states "the blood of the covenant" or the blood of Jesus Christ His Son, it is speaking of one and the same. The blood of Jesus "The Covenant”, made so by His precious blood shed on Calvary. The believer having been obedient to the Fullness of the Everlasting Gospel of Jesus Christ, having been born, again is cleansed from all sin. By what? By the blood of Jesus [The Covenant]. No atonement of man could suffice. Only, Jesus the ‘Infinite One' could, and did, shed his blood for the sins of die world. (Alma 34:9-12) Remember, He was God manifest in the flesh.

SHEMA: (Hebrew, Listen-Hear)

"Hear O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord." (Deuteronomy 6:16)

"Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know 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 besides me there is no Saviour.” (Isaiah 43:10-11)

"...Ye are my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? There is no God; I know not any." (Isaiah 44:8)

"That they may know, from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:6)

PURPOSE OF THE NEPHITE RECORDS

Preface to the Nephite Records

“…and also to the convincing of Jew and Gentile that JESUS IS THE CHRIST THE ETERNAL GOD.”

A MAN NAMED ZEEZROM ASKED: “IS THE SON OF GOD THE VERY ETERNAL FATHER?”

And Amulek saith unto him, Yea, He is the very Eternal Father of Heaven and Earth, and all things which in them is; He is the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” (Alma 11:38-39)

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“…And shall make known to all kindred, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto Him, or they cannot be saved.” (I Nephi 13:40)

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” ( I Timothy 3:16)