Let us continue with further understanding God’s creating us in His image and likeness. As we saw yesterday it is accomplished when we understand and accept it by calling out to God as our Father, and this leading us to entry into His kingdom in which resides righteousness. The idea of calling God Father is we accept Him as our guide into righteousness as we accept His correction. We understand His correction comes as our faithful Creator imparting His knowledge and wisdom with the intention of producing in us a perspective and inclination toward doing justice.
Man teaches justice is in what you do to someone for wrongs either done by them or against them. True justice is found in what you don’t do (because it implies it be measured against an objective standard and rights).
The end God seeks in us is to have a heart and mind in accord with His. As we have seen in many past studies the heart is the foundation of our reasoning, upon which all our decisions are based. We have often spoken of the mind of Christ, which is the mind of God formed in a human being. We have seen this many times as the objective of our understand God’s knowledge and wisdom – His mind being formed in us. We have seen it in God’s word also defined as well-formed conscience, and the Greek word translated as conscience meaning a co-perspective (with God).
The mind of Christ is our being aligned with God, meaning having received His understanding and wisdom (character) we act in accord with His will. The understanding and wisdom are the heart, and the mind is when our will is subordinated to God’s will.
The Greek word translated “mind” is nous, meaning intellect. It is the same word translated as understanding. Nous is from the base of the word ginosko, meaning to know, and in context it means to be aware, as in to perceive.
This brings us to the point some have already seen, which is all the above described in Romans 8. We read in verse 15 of the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. In the verse prior we are told of our becoming the sons of God by being led by the Spirit of God. In verse 16 we read that in crying out is the Spirit itself bearing witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.
Romans 8
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, “Abba, Father.”
16 The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
As we saw yesterday this is what Jeremiah 3:19 speaks of when it tells of how the LORD will make us His children and place us in His pleasant land, when we call out to Him saying, “My Father,” and not turn away from following Him. “…How shall I put you among the children, and give you a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, ‘You shall call Me, My Father; and shall not turn away from Me.'”
This passage in Jeremiah add to our understanding of being led by the Spirit as it is written in Romans 8:14 when it says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Romans 8:15 then goes on to tell of our crying out with, what is translated as, “Abba, Father.”
The word “Abba” is used three times and always transliterated rather than translated. The original text reads, Abba, o Pater. Abba is said to be from the Hebrew (Chaldean) word ab, meaning father. It appears better translated in context as from the Hebrews word abah, meaning to breathe -after, as in to be acquiescent. It is translated as consent (would), rest content, will, and be willing. It is telling of being in agreement with, and therefore going along with God, as in being “led by the Spirit,” or “not turn(ing) away from” following God. The phrase translated “Abba, Father,” could be more correctly translated as “I am in agreement with My Father,” as in, I and my Father are of one mind.
One of the other appearances of “Abba, Father” is in Mark 14:36 where it is used by the LORD telling of His understanding this agreement and demonstrating the acquiescence by saying “not my will, but Your will be done.” We see following this the reason the cup couldn’t and wouldn’t pass from the LORD’s hand. All those that should have been awake had fallen asleep. The final of three times this happens we see the LORD, instead of as the first two times awakening them, telling them to sleep on. This is telling of His knowing the cup was only meant for Him and only He could fulfill it. This sleep, in the now long night without light, is alluded to prior as the three times Peter would deny Him before the day would dawn. The darkness is mentioned in type when telling of the temptation that would come if they weren’t watchful. This is the same temptation we saw yesterday as the devil came to the LORD advising Him to abuse His authority and to act upon misrepresentations (ignorance) of the Word of God.
Mark 14
30 And Jesus said unto him, Truly I say unto you, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, you shall deny me thrice.
31 But he spoke the more vehemently, If I should die with you, I will not deny you in any wise. Likewise also said they all.
32 And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he said to his disciples, Sit you here, while I shall pray.
33 And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;
34 And said unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry you here, and watch.
35 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto you; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what you will.
37 And he came, and found them sleeping, and said unto Peter, Simon, sleep you? could not you watch one hour?
38 Watch you and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
39 And again he went away, and prayed, and spoke the same words.
40 And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither knew they what to answer him.
41 And he came the third time, and said unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners (those asleep in error).
42 Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrays me is at hand.
The only other use of “Abba, Father” is in Galatians 4:6 in telling of the LORD coming to redeem those in bondage under the elements of the world, so that we might receive the adoptions as the sons of God. The word “elements” here is the same word stoicheion translated “elements” in 2 Peter 3 telling of them melting away in the world purifying fires at the end of the age. We know these as the principles the world has as its foundation and upon which it relies on for the basis of all its reasoning. Here in Galatians 4 it is Paul telling of our being freed from these as we receive the adoption as sons of God, and asking why if we are freed do we want to return to these same ways of the world.
Paul then mentions how these Galatians where able to overcome the contradiction the earthly mind saw in him being a flesh man, and in overcoming this accepting him as an angel of God and as Christ Jesus. The meaning he is imparting is that he was giving God’s word as it had been given to him directly, just as it had been with Christ Jesus, and thereby being one with Christ Jesus. Paul uses this to lead up to his telling them this is God’s and his objective with them, that Christ would be formed in them.
The words Paul uses in Galatians 4:19 are “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you…” This brings to mind (of Christ) the words of Isaiah 8:18 when it says, “I and the children whom the LORD has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwells in mount Zion.”
We know that Isaiah 8 is telling of falling (turning) away from the LORD and of the means for returning being through accepting correction. We looked at the chapter in yesterday’s post, and as it is also written in Deuteronomy 8:5 in the context of man living by through/by the Word of God (manna as angel’s food). “3 And he humbled you, and suffered you to hunger, and fed you with manna, which you knew not, neither did your fathers know; that he might make you know that man does not live by bread only, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD [in the same form as it came from the source] does man live. 4 Your raiment waxed not old upon you, neither did your foot swell, these forty years. 5 You shall also consider in your heart, that, as a man chastens [corrects] his son, so the LORD your God chastens [corrects] you. 6 Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.”
Galatians 4
1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differs nothing from a servant, though he be LORD of all;
2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
4 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7 Wherefore you are no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
8 Howbeit then, when you knew not God, you did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
9 But now, after that you have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn you again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto you desire again to be in bondage?
10 You observe days, and months, and times, and years.
11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain.
12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as you are: you have not injured me at all.
13 You know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
14 And my temptation which was in my flesh you despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
15 Where is then the blessedness you spoke of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
17 They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that you might affect them.
18 But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
21 Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?
22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which produces to bondage, which is Agar.
25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
26 But [New] Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27 For it is written, Rejoice, you barren that bears not; break forth and cry, you that travails not: for the desolate has many more children than she which has an husband.
28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
30 Nevertheless what says the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
1 Corinthians 2
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to naught:
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the LORD of glory.
9 But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him.
10 But God has revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he that is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who has known the mind of the LORD, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.
Proverbs 7
1 My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with you.
2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of your eye.
3 Bind them upon your fingers, write them upon the table of your heart.
4 Say unto wisdom, You are my sister; and call understanding your kinswoman:
5 That they may keep you from the strange woman, from the stranger which flatters with her words.
6 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
10 And, behold, there met him a woman [the tempter] with the attire of an harlot, and subtle of heart.
11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
12 Now is she without, now in the streets, and lies in wait at every corner.)
13 So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
14 I have peace offerings with me; this day have I paid my vows.
15 Therefore came I forth to meet you, diligently to seek your face, and I have found you.
16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
19 For the good-man is not at home, he is gone a long journey:
20 He has taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.
21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
22 He goes after her straightway, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hastes to the snare, and knows not that it is for his life.
24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O you children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Let not our heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
26 For she has cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
