• Prov 1:5  “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:”
• Jer 5:21  “Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:”

Chapter 7 in the gospel of Matthew is one of a number where our Lord Jesus expressed His words with power and authority that many of His listeners were heard saying:

Mat 7:28  “And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:

Mat 7:29  For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”

It is in this chapter that our Lord gave the parable of the “wise and foolish builders.”

Mat 7:24  “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

Mat 7:25  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.”

Mat 7:26  “And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

Mat 7:27  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”

Here are the common explanations we hear regarding the parable:

“A real believer must do what our Lord is telling His Disciples. This is through His Two Great Commandments of loving Him and doing charity works to our fellowmen. This is the rock that our life on earth should be founded. Then whatever storm or great trials we may encounter, our faith stands imperturbable, unruffled and find ourselves at peace with the Lord.”

“The lesson is not hidden like some of Jesus' parables because He gave the meaning right then and there.  The house is one's life and the rock is His words, His teachings.  Sand is any doctrines that one might turn to on how to live life that is contrary to Jesus and His word. Those who live their life prudently are what Jesus says are wise and will surely overcome life's storms. Those who live by some other standard are foolish and will fall in the face of those same storms.”

Before our Lord gave that parable, He put across this warning:

Mat 7:21  “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

Mat 7:22  “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Many have the misconception that Jesus referred to their deeds of not doing the will of Father God that prevented them from entering the kingdom of heaven. But from the tenor of our Lord’s rebuke, no mutual recognition between Him and the professing believers is actually the reason. They knew His name and used it, then claiming having performed wonderful works with miracles. Jesus’ rebuke to the Jews leads us to the reason for His denunciation of the professing miracle workers:

Joh 8:54  “Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55 Yet ye have not known him…”

Joh 8:19  “Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.”

Have we not heard from these people that Father God is a mystery that cannot be clearly identified, while professing to know Jesus? And, do the miracles performed have the desired effect as Jesus did during His time?

The miracles of Jesus

Jesus Christ opened the eyes of the man born blind. The Pharisees who were not literally blind did not worship Jesus because they did not know Him. The “man born blind” on receiving the miracle recognized JESUS and worshipped Him:

Joh 9:38  “And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.”

It is at this point that Jesus emphasized the intended message of His miracle. In this case, it is actually the “spiritual opening of the eyes.”

Joh 9:39  “And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.”

Joh 9:40  “And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? 41  Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.”

Jesus told His Disciples:

Joh 6:63  “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

Did these professing believers or apostles of Christ perform the kind of healing as Jesus did? Very clearly to them, it is only the body that benefited from the miracles. This is the reason why Jesus called them “ye that work iniquity” because people are deceived into believing these miracles came from God. Let us remember miracles of God are superior to the wonders from Satan.

Miracle from God:

Exo 7:10  “And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.”

Wonder from Satan:

Exo 7:11  “Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.”

Great deception is exposed:

Exo 7:12  “For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.”

The superiority of miracles over wonders is the guiding principle that God gave His chosen in discerning truth from deceptions. Wonders simply benefit the body that all ends in the cemetery, while real miracles lead to the salvation of the soul.

Here is the qualification of the ministers of the New Testament:

2 Cor 3:6  “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”

The healings of Jesus Christ benefit the soul, but many people perceived them to be for the body. Jesus Christ demonstrated this when He opened the eyes of the “man born blind.” Note the perception of the Natural Man of the miracle in contrast what our Lord told His listeners after the “blind man” began “to see.”

Joh 9:36  “He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?

Joh 9:37  And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.”

Joh 9:38  “And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.”

Joh 9:39  “And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.”

Joh 9:40  “And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?”

Joh 9:41  “Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.”

Jesus reminded His listeners regarding the power of His words:

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

This truth was further revealed to Paul in the following:

2 Cor 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

May we be reminded that the primary reason for “God manifesting Himself in the flesh” is the salvation of the soul.

1 Tim 3:16  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.

The “wise” builder

Here is the wise builder “who heareth” and does what God says:

Mat 7:24  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

Mat 7:25  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

Very clearly our Lord is speaking in a parable. His intended message is actually revealed through the words of God.  Jesus demonstrated this when He told His listeners, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” In that parable, there were to classes of people. The Jews who ridiculed Him for taking the words literally (Joh 2:20, Mat 27:40), and His Disciples who received the message after His death and resurrection ( Joh 2:21-22) . How many people noticed the following?

Mar 4:34  But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

In the parable of the wise and foolish builders, God through His words gives the equivalent of the following:

“house”

A house is a dwelling place. The house that the two builders are building is actually the “temple” where God would reside, and this refers to the real believer:

1 Cor 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

1 Cor 6:19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Simon Peter, Martha (Joh 11:27) , Nathanael (Joh 1:49) and the other Apostles and Disciples of Christ must have been “wise builders” in the eyes of our Lord. They all declared, “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,” and this must be by divine revelation.

Jesus and the people at Caesarea Philippi

Mutual recognition was demonstrated to be an important factor in quest for salvation. When Jesus went to Caesarea Philippi people saw and heard Him speak, but look how they recognized Him.

Mat 16:13   When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

Mat 16:14   And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

Then Jesus asked His Disciples:

Mat 16:15  He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Mat 16:16  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:17  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Today, professing Christians declare Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Yet, like the people at Caesarea Philippi, how could they differ in their recognition of Him?

• Some say, “Jesus Christ is the name of the Father and the Holy Spirit.” (Oneness doctrine by Sabellius, AD 215)
• Some say, “Jesus is only a man and not God.” (Arian doctrine initiated by Arius, AD 250-336)
• Many say, “Jesus is both God and man and He is the second person of the Trinity.” (Doctrine espoused by Athanasius, First Council of Nicaea in 325)
• Recently others say, “Jesus is only a mighty God for there is a supreme or Almighty God.” (Jehovah doctrine by Charles Taze Russell in 1879)

Have they not read the warning of the original apostles?

2 Cor 11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

Adherents of the different doctrines have a common belief that Jesus Christ is the Savior or Redeemer, and all expect His Second Coming. However, they have their respective doctrines of salvation and spiritual perfection.

Establishment of the Church

After Simon Peter declared Jesus is the Christ and the Son of God, Jesus announced the establishment of the “church founded on a rock.”

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church ; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

This was the result of Peter’s clear recognition of Jesus which, according to our Lord, did not come from “flesh and blood” or human competence but “by the revelation of the Father”.” (Mat 16:17)

There must be something in the mind of Peter when he called Jesus as the CHRIST and the SON of God that required the revelation of God. How come people declare the same thing about Jesus, but they cannot agree on His identity as earlier mentioned. In the minds of many people evolved the belief that God is a mystery incapable of clear identification.

FATHER God speaking and Isaiah wrote:

Isa 43:10  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.

Apostle John wrote:

1 Joh 5:20  And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

With the difficulty of identifying God who is the subject of love, Jesus said:

Joh 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Therefore knowing the One True God must be the “first of all the commandments” that Jesus told a humble Scribe, as distinguished from many religious leaders who were proud. Let us listen to their conversation:

The question:

Mar 12:28  And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?

Our Lord replied. Is not this a prerequisite to love?

Mar 12:29  And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

Love of God:

Mar 12:30  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Love of neighbour as distinguished from fellowmen. “Neighbor” as distinguished from “fellowmen” is discussed in another article.

Mar 12:31  And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Satisfaction of the inquirer

Mar 12:32  And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
Mar 12:33  And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

Our Lord’s approval

Mar 12:34  And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

The Rock

Since “rock” is the kind of foundation that the wise builder used in building his house, very clearly this refers to the true identity of Jesus Christ for a professing believer to be exempt from His rebuke in:

Joh 8:19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

Peter’s declaration (Mat 16:16-17)

• When Simon Peter called Jesus “Thou art the Christ” - he must have seen Him as the Savior or Redeemer.
• When he called Jesus “Thou art the Son of God,” Simon Peter must have discerned Him to be the Anointed One.

The general belief that Jesus, the SON of God, is the Savior is premised on the following. FATHER God entrusted and thus relinquished to Him this function of salvation by citing loosely related verses, such as:

Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Rom 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Act 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.(Plus many more)

On the other hand Jesus as SON of God and very clear to all Bible believers are the following statements in relation to the Father:

Joh 14:28  … If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

Joh 5:19  Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself…

Mat 24:36  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Luk 18:18  And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 19  And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

Luk 23:34  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Mar 15:34  And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Joh 20:17  Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

In the foregoing verses, JESUS takes only a secondary role acting simply as Son of God to show the way, by example, as model to the chosen and for this He is called the mediator between God and men:

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

1 Pet 2:21  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

Rom 8:29  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

1 Tim 2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

In the verses cited, Jesus as Son of God performed a very limited role. However in the succeeding revelations of God from His words, Jesus takes a primary role fitting only to FATHER God in the flesh. This therefore must be God’s way of identifying JESUS CHRIST!

Joh 8:58  Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

Joh 8:56  Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

Tit 1:2  In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

After the Fall, God had to make a covenant or testament for the redemption of man since it was His plan to establish His kingdom composed of people. Initially God committed Himself to Abraham and to his offspring:

Gen 17:7  And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

Later God included the Gentiles in His testament setting the following condition:

Gal 3:28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Gal 3:29  And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

The lone condition imposed on the Testament of FATHER God in order to become a beneficiary is simply “to belong to Christ.” Professing Christians all claim they belong to Jesus, yet they cannot agree on His identity.

If Simon Peter saw Jesus as the Redeemer, let us remember salvation was initially promised by FATHER God in His covenant with Abraham. Therefore the relationship between Jesus as Redeemer and FATHER God should ultimately resolve this mystery of the identity of God. The requirement for the fulfillment of the testament is the core of this mystery:

Heb 9:16  For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

How could FATHER God, a Spirit, fulfill His testament of salvation with death, asks the Natural Man? “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” The problem is unbelief, for it is written in the Holy Bible, “God was manifest in the flesh.”

1 Tim 3:16 (KJV and Bishops Bible)  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.

Other Bible versions render it differently by avoiding the word “God.”

ASV (American Standard Version)

• 1 Tim 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; He who was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the spirit, Seen of angels, Preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

NIV (New International version)

• 1 Tim 3:16 Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.

NLT (New Living Translation)

• 1 Tim 3:16 Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith Christ was revealed in a human body and vindicated by the Spirit.He was seen by angels and announced to the nations. He was believed in throughout the world and taken to heaven in glory.

AMP (Amplified Bible)

• 1 Tim 3:16 And great and important and weighty, we confess, is the hidden truth (the mystic secret) of godliness. He was made visible in human flesh, justified and vindicated in the [Holy] Spirit, was seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, [and] taken up in glory.

ESV (English Standard Version)

• 1 Tim 3:16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

It is written there is only One God, and FATHER God in the Old Testament specifically stated the following?

Alone:

Isa 43:10  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.

Lone Savior:

Isa 43:11  I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.

Solo Creator:

Isa 44:24  Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
Neh 9:6  Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein…

In the fulfillment of the Testament of Salvation of FATHER God, John the apostle attests and this is rendered in the KJV of 1611:

1 Joh 3:16  Hereby perceive we the love  of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

As in “God was manifest in the flesh,” other versions again avoid the word “God.”

ASV1 Joh 3:16 Hereby know we love, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

NIV1 Joh 3:16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.(And other modern versions.)

The first role of Jesus Christ as “FATHER God in the flesh” is vigorously resisted by the intellect, senses, and feelingwhich are the components of the condemned human wisdom.

Two sources of wisdom:

1. From GOD for “divine wisdom”
2. From MAN for “human wisdom”

Unknown to many, this is the original sin of Eve and she represents the people. Intellect, senses, and feeling are the fruits of the forbidden Tree of knowledge of good and evil”. God’s warning:

Gen 2:17  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

The serpent’s temptation strikes the very foundation of Truth:

Gen 3:2  And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3  But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

Gen 3:4  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5  For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Eating the “forbidden fruits” which to God is human wisdom makes man formulates his own standard of good and evil. This led to the diverse identities of Jesus Christ, and the common belief of the “mystery of the identity of God.” And so is the formulation of the different doctrines of salvation and spiritual perfection.  Apostle Paul aptly put it in the following:

Rom 10:2  For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

Rom 10:3  For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

Emmanuel - God in the flesh:

Mat 1:23  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.

For God manifesting Himself in the flesh, there is no entity pointing to this truth but to Jesus Christ!

Phi 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Phi 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Phi 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Very clear therefore to Simon Peter when he declared Jesus is the “Christ,” he saw Him as FATHER God in the fleshwho made the Testament of Salvation that could only be fulfilled by death. This truth is written in the four gospels:

• Christ accepted worship which is exclusive to God and this came from the very lips of Jesus (Mat 4:10) .
• Jesus declared, “It is finished” when He was about to die on the cross indicating the fulfillment of the Testament of FATHER God (Joh 19:30) , as required in Heb 9:16.
• Jesus performed great miracles in His first role showing His supernatural power.
• Apostle John attests to this in writing:

1 Joh 3:16 (KJV) Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

1 Joh 5:20  And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.(More evidence later)

And when Simon Peter declared Jesus is the “Son of the living God,” he saw Him as the “Anointed One.” In this role, Jesus was to show the way (Joh 14:6), by example (1 Pet 2:21), as model to the chosen (Rom 8:29), and is called “mediator” between God and men (1 Tim 2:5).

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

1 Pet 2:21  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

Rom 8:29  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

1 Tim 2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

In this role of Jesus as Son of God, He clearly submits to His primary role as FATHER God in the same person. These are the proofs He Himself emphasized:

Joh 5:19  Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself…

Joh 14:28  Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

Mar 13:32  But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

Luk 18:18  And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? Luk 18:19  And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

Luk 23:34  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Mat 27:46  And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Joh 20:17  Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

THE “FOOLISH” BUILDER

Mat 7:26  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27  And the raindescended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

The foolish builder used “sand” instead of “rock” in building his house. Let God reveal the intended meaning of the following:

“sand” – clearly it symbolizes people

Gen 32:12  And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.

Isa 10:22  For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of themshall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.

Rom 9:27  Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:

The following doctrines of identifying JESUS are based from human perception, in contrast with how Simon Peter recognized Him by “divine revelation.” Let us remember the warning of the original apostles:

2 Cor 11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

• Arian doctrine (belief that Jesus is only a man and not God)
• Oneness or Sabellian doctrine (simply believing that Jesus Christ is the name of the Father and the Holy Spirit)
• Athansian Creed or Trinity doctrine (belief that Jesus is both God and man, and He is the 2nd person of the Blessed Trinity)
• Jehovah doctrine (belief that Jesus is only a Mighty God for there is supreme or Almighty God)

With these doctrines, the clear identity of Jesus as Savior and the One True God is mired by philosophy causing the division of Christianity into sects and denominations.  It is from one of the foregoing doctrines that the “second builder” recognizes JESUS CHRIST.

After Simon Peter identified Jesus by divine revelation, He told him:

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

If “hell” is believed to be the dwelling place of the unsaved, our Lord used this word in rebuking the Scribes and Pharisees:

Mat 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

Mat 23:33  Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

If truth is for “heaven,” then falsehood and religious deceptions is for “hell” as our Lord informed His listeners.

The great flood

Mat 7:25  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

After God revealed the kind of foundations that the “builders” used in building their “house,” let us wait for God to reveal the intended meaning of the following:

“rain”

Very far from what the Natural Man understands (1 Cor 2:14), God has this to say of “rain.”

Deu 32:2  My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:

“floods”

Floods from rain killed many people in the Great Deluge.

Gen 7:11  In the six hundredth year of Noah's life…the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.

Gen 7:12  And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.

God reveals that the Great Deluge is not just a story that happened in the past, but rather of current importance with the “spiritual meaning” from the “letter” of the word (2 Cor 3:6). That is why God said after the flood, never again would He destroy the world with water.

THE WISE BUILDER

Only the “house” of Noah was spared from the great floods! Jesus Christ warned His listeners.

Mat 24:37  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Mat 24:39  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Let us remember “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today.”  He is the “rock” or the TRUTH in the word. Truth yesterday is truth today.  For the “foolish builder” when the “winds blew” his “house” went down crumbling.

“winds blew”

The Apostles/Disciples of Christ are the epitome of the “wise builder.” The “winds blew” “as of a rushing mighty wind” and they remain steadfast receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

Mat 7:25  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

Act 2:1  And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

Act 2:2  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

Act 2:3  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

The Natural Man (1 Cor 2:14) sees all these literally-physically. However, things of God were revealed to Paul in:

2 Cor 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

God gave the spiritual meaning of “rock, sands, rain, and floods.” Now He will reveal who the Holy Spirit is that the Disciples received at Pentecost. After Jesus gave the signs of His coming in Matthew 24, He told them:

Mat 24:34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

Mat 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Relating this to the promise of Jesus of His coming:

Joh 14:18  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Joh 14:19  Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

And assuring them of the following:

Mat 28:20  … lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Finally the identity of the HOLY SPIRIT is revealed!

The Holy Spirit

Perhaps unknown to many people, FATHER God promised Himself to be the INHERITANCE in His testament of salvation and David confirmed this:

Eze 44:28  And it shall be unto them for an inheritance: I am their inheritance…

Psa 16:5   The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup…

The beneficiaries are the following:

Eze 44:15  But the priests the Levites…that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me…

God revealed to Peter and John that His chosen are the spiritual priests:

1 Pet 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Rev 1:6  And hath made us…priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.  Amen.

Therefore at the death of Jesus Christ in His role as FATHER God, it was time for the priests or the Disciples to inherit FATHER God. However in that manifestation He is too frightening to be received as shown in the following:

Exo 20:18  And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.

Exo 20:19  And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

Therefore FATHER God took the amiable characteristic of a “dove” of which the Holy Spirit is popularly known. Thus it was in that manifestation that the Disciples received Him at Pentecost.

THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

The Disciples asked our Lord Jesus “for the signs of His coming and the end of the world (Mat 24:3). Among others He told them, “there shall be famines and pestilences” (Mat 24:7), and “the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven” (Mat 24:29).

The Natural Man (1 Cor 2:14) by taking the “letter” of the word perceives all these literally-physically (2 Cor 3:6). However let us remember that our Lord revealed He was speaking “spiritual things” or in parables:

Mar 4:34  But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

“world”

If to the Natural Man the “world” pertains to planet earth, however it is written:

Jer 22:29  O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.

Very clear this cannot refer to the inanimate object “earth” but rather to God’s chosen that have ears to “hear His word.”

“famines”

To the Natural Man “famine” refers to hunger for food. However when Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, Satan perceived Him to be hungry for bread. Jesus told him:

Mat 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Fasting or hunger for the chosen is not for food but for the truth in the word. Thus, Jeremiah said:

Jer 15:16  Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

“pestilence”

If to the Natural Man pestilence refers to diseases of the body that Jesus healed, He demonstrated that these were for the healing of the soul. Example, Jesus “opened the eyes” of the man born blind in John 9. How many people realized the real significance of the miracle?

The beneficiary of the miracle:

Joh 9:35  Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

Joh 9:36  He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?

Joh 9:37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.

Joh 9:38  And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

The Pharisees who were not literally blind:

Joh 9:39  And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

Joh 9:40  And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

Joh 9:41  Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

“the sun be darkened”

Since Jesus is speaking in parables, “sun” does not refer to the heavenly body that generates light and heat, but rather referring to God:

Psa 84:11  For the LORD God is a sun and shield…

Did not Jesus tell His listeners, “I am the light of the world?” Of course He is referring to the “light” or truth of the gospel. This is the intended meaning of the “letter” of the word, and Jesus is the Word (Joh 1:14, Rev 19:13).

“moon shall not give her light”

Again, our Lord does not refer to the satellite of the earth that receives light from the sun and reflects this to the earth. Rather “moon” refers to the chosen of God who are His “wife” (Isa 54:5): that He uses the pronoun “her” in Mat 24:29.

Songs 6:10  Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon…

At the death of Jesus in His role as FATHER God, truly His “light” could not have reflected on the Disciples who, spiritually speaking, are the “moon.”

“the stars shall fall from heaven”

Literally, the earth is much bigger than the sun and the stars much bigger than the sun. Therefore, how could the stars fall on earth? Rather, God identifies the “stars” in the following:

Rev 12:9  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Rev 12:4  And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth…

Jud 1:13  Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

The “stars” do not only refer to the fallen angels but also to “false prophets and apostles” who are unwittingly being deceived, and at the same time misleading the people:

Jud 1:11  Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

2 Cor 11:13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

2 Cor 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

2 Cor 11:15  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness…

Jesus said “all the signs” happened in the life of His Disciples:

Mat 24:33  So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

Mat 24:34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

Mat 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Human wisdom cannot reconcile all the foregoing statements of our Lord that caused unfounded fear, skepticism and even agnosticism. Thus,

2 Pet 3:4  And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

Jesus Christ already came the second time in the life of the chosen! He had not been remiss of His promises in the following:

Joh 14:18  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Very clear from the vow of our Lord Jesus is His role as FATHER God who made the Testament and promising Himself to be the INHERITANCE. The Disciples received the HOLY SPIRIT at Pentecost. Unknown to many FATHER God took the characteristics of a “dove.”

Therefore while many people are still waiting for the second coming of Christ, the real believers both alive and already in Paradise are just waiting for His second appearance:

Heb 9:28  So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Then in the resurrection of the dead, all the promises of our Lord would be fulfilled among His chosen.

1 Joh 3:2  Beloved, now are we 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.

Lesson:

Who can avoid the following taboos?

Jer 17:5  Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

Prov 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Jer 17:9  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

• 1 Cor 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
• Joh 2:20  Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
• Mat 27:40  And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
• Joh 2:21  But he spake of the temple of his body.
• Joh 2:22  When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
• Joh 11:27  She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
• Joh 1:49  Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.Church, as a residence of God, may refer to the congregation or to an individual believer:
• 1 Cor 11:18  For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
• 1 Cor 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
• Luk 18:27   And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
• Mat 4:10  Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
• Joh 19:30  When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
• Heb 9:16  For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
• 1 Cor 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
• Isa 58:6  Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
• Isa 58:7  Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
• Jer 3:14  Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:
• Isa 54:5  For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.

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