17/09/13

God alone is Good

Matthew 19:16-19
16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.



The Gospel of Matthew tells us about a young rich man who lived a good life, did his duty towards God and never harmed anyone. This man comes to Jesus and calls Him Good and Jesus rebukes him for calling Him Good, Jesus tells him no man (including Himself) is Good, leaving God alone.

One will wonder why Jesus who was God who humbled Himself and came as man said He was not Good even though He was without sin?

Some translations could not understand this scripture therefore changed its meaning like NASB states instead of 'Why callest thou me Good?' into 'Why are you asking me what is good?'.

In the Bible there are many Greek words translated as good like 'kalos' or 'ischuo' but the word used here in today's message is 'agathos'. This adjective is more a superlative tense and unlike the previous 2 words which are comparative adjectives.

This same word is used by Paul in Ephesians 5:9 as one of the especial Fruits of the Holy Spirit which man cannot grow but is given as a gift. This word can be translated as best but the most appropriate English word is Holy. You may have noticed I have been using a capital alphabet G for the word Good stated here for Holiness is a unique character of God.

We need to understand holiness to understand why Jesus said God alone is Holy and did not associate Himself with that character even though He was perfect as a human being and had not committed any sin.

We need to understand Holiness is just not about not sinning. Holiness is about being perfect and God alone is perfect; man including the Angels and the Cherubs do not count in the category of being Holy or perfect this we see by the fact they fell. We also see in Heaven the Heavenly Beings call out the Name of God as Holy, Holy, Holy for He alone is Holy.

We need to understand JESUS WAS GOD THE SON WHO HUMBLED HIMSELF AND CAME AS MAN. I wrote this in caps since it is very important for us to have this written in our hearts and minds.

In the Gospel of John Jesus in His prayer to the Father, asks the Father for the glory HE HAD before the world was, and the Bible says He became a sacrifice in the beginning (of creation). Thus this scripture is a clear proof of Jesus leaving His God (The Son) power or God (The Son) status when He became man and that He became a man like you and me. He overcame sin as a man and became our sacrifice for our sins because He was a 100percent man.

The only God power He had was - as Christ, the power was the power of the Holy Spirit. We who are in Christ, who receive the Holy Spirit, have the same power which Jesus had as man. There was only one thing that was unique to Jesus and that was He could transfigure, and that was only because He had overcome the corruption of this world and the image of God was perfect in God and that is why He was called Son of God. Transfiguration is coming out of the flesh and having the ability to move between the dimensions of Heaven. In Genesis Adam and Eve had this ability before they sinned, note there are 2 gardens mentioned in Genesis - Eden which was in Heaven and the other which was on earth (written as garden to the east of Eden). As we grow in Spirit and overcome the corruption of sin (nature of Adam) and become Sons of God we too will have the power to transfigure and that is what happens in the end days and is known as rapture.

In today's message Jesus is assuring us that He was man as you and me, and He had victory over sin as man and that was by the power of the Holy Spirit. We too if we submit to the Spirit of God we will be like Jesus and one day man will be able to overcome the flesh and transfigure as Sons of God.

God says this will happen for by faith Bible says we are Sons of God and a Holy nation, and when the Bibles says, it comes to pass.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, after man sinned and corruption came into man, man lost the Truth and righteousness left him. Bible says none were found righteous therefore You came as man and became our sacrifice. You also became the way for us to receive Truth and Righteousness. Bible says the Angels our brethren in Heaven also await for us since we all will receive Holiness when You dwell with us in Heaven. Lord, what is man that You lifted him up and made a part of You. We thank You for yoor mercies...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference ]
Ephesians 5:9 - (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

John 1:12 - But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Luke 4:33-34
33 And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,
34 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.

Genesis 2:8 - And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

Revelation 13:8 - And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

1 Peter 1:20 - Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

Hebrews 9:26 - For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

John 17:5 - And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

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