.. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these…” “..24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Heb 9:22-24.

Some charismatics often sing the song “There is power in the blood.. etc” but it seems but few professing Christians really have little understanding of the power and efficacy of the blood of Christ as to its merits and its application by the Spirit upon His called people. Also, many seem to think that there is something “magical” about the blood of Jesus; therefore they enter into much ritualism concerning this. However, they do not comprehend the great significance and glory of Christ’s blood being shed for the forgiveness of their sins, and also then being sprinkled upon the conscience of those He died for.

“.. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission (forgiveness) of sins..” Matt 26:27-28.

“.. And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem..” Luke 24:46-47.

Oh, the glory that Christ came to display for and in His people! As it was spoken before by the holy prophets:

“.. And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son..”Zech 12:10.

“.. For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly..” Psa 84:11.

It was necessary in God’s Wisdom that the preaching of the cross be considered foolishness (or of completely no interest) to the natural mind of man; but through this “foolishness” (to the natural mind) would be the means of salvation and deliverance to a believer’s spirit and understanding of the mind of God in Christ through the Spirit.

Jesus also thanked His Father that He had hidden these things from the wise and prudent of this natural world (devoid of the Spirit of Christ;) but had revealed them unto mere babes in Christ. The only reason He gave for God doing so was: “For so it seemed good in His sight...:Matt 11:26.

“.. For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe..” 1 Cor 1:21.

It was also necessary in God’s Purpose that the blood of Christ should be given to save His people from their sins; because the Life is in the blood. The preaching of a blood sacrifice is yet considered as foolishness to not a few - as it was in the days of the Apostles:

“.. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God..” 1 Cor 1:22-24.

This gospel “is the power of God unto salvation” unto those who are called to believe it - but it remains foolishness to those who are yet left to comprehend it only in their natural mind; for then they only hear it outwardly, only in words of man’s natural teaching and wisdom; but those who are given and enabled to hear this good news inwardly in the Spirit, as the word of Divine Grace for and to them personally, it is the effectual power of salvation or deliverance when it comes in “power and much assurance and glory, as it then becomes the salvation of their very souls.”

“.. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our (the saints) glory..”1 Cor 1:7.

“.. Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. 5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance..” 1 Th 1:4-5.

“. Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls…” 1 Pet 1:8-9.

One has asked: “What does the blood of Jesus Christ mean to you? Can you explain to me, to your family, to a coworker the value and virtue of the blood of Jesus?..” This writer seems typical of so many preachers. He (like all Arminians) seems to think that anyone can receive, and thus appreciate the Gospel of Christ in truth only by one carefully explaining it, (as he continues to attempt to do.)

But the teaching and subsequent learning of and by the truth as it is in Christ Jesus does not come in this manner - but as the above; because, as the apostle continues in 1 Cor 2:9:

“.. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of (the natural) man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us (the called) by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God..”

Paul continues to explain this mystery of how God deals with His children in enlightening them to the glory of the Gospel, while He leaves the natural mind of man in nature’s darkness, and that according to His good pleasure and Purpose in Christ Jesus:

“.. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God..” (verse 11)

Here is this great mystery that is hidden from the world of unbelief and the unregenerate: And as Jesus said unto Nicodemus:

“…Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God..” John 3:3.

One that has truly been born of the Spirit can often detect those who have not been so born. By these evidences believers are given to know and perceive those who are of the spirit of true gospel truth, and those who are not. The Apostle John gives them this standard to judge by, and he calls it the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. This was the principle that the apostolic believers were given to judge by, and it also holds good to this day. Because not all that call Jesus Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of God, but only they who do so by the will of their Father in Heaven.

The Apostle John had quite a bit to say upon this subject in comparing those who are called by grace with those who yet trust in works for salvation. This of course, in his times were mainly the unbelieving Jews, who professed Abraham and their natural lineage from him as their father, and thus heirs to the special blessings and privileges of the kingdom of heaven on earth. However the world of mankind in general is yet full of such who can look no further than their own works, merits, efforts and goodness for the favor of God - thus giving no regard to the merits of Christ-Jesus, except perhaps only in lip service.

“..4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.."

As it was during the apostles times, so is it in our present generations. There are yet many false Christs or those who call themselves prophets which abound throughout the religious world. There are to this day those who claim to be prophets of God that declare that the end of the physical world is close at hand. It may be, as far as we know; but the question is - do these “prophets” have a revelation of this? - as all of the predictions of such have always failed in the past - except the predictions of Christ concerning the destruction of Jerusalem which literally came to pass in 70 AD. Multitudes believe and follow these false prophets and spirits of delusion, error and emotionalism, whose scenarios are often entertaining to the natural mind; but as they are pure fancy, they contain no spiritual truth of any value to the children of God who trust in the living God.

"..2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

Many professors will say that Jesus is (historically, at least) the Christ, the Son of God. But have they really believed in Him as the True and Only Consummate Savior of and for His people? Have they really believed that He did actually redeem, save and deliver His Own people that were given, chosen or elected in Him in the Mind of God in Eternity when He came into the world as a Lamb Who stood from the foundation of the world as such in the Purpose of God? Or do they believe or think that He only CAME TO make an opportunity FOR or TO every individual of the human race to thus close with the TERMS OF A MERE OFFER TO THEM IN HIS SACRIFICE and thus having only put them in a SAVABLE OR SALVAGEABLE CONDITION to be saved. If so, what did Christ do for them in His Coming more than they already had under the terms of the Law Dispensation, which offered them eternal life upon conditions of obedience? The doctrine and plain Scriptural truth of eternal and spiritual election is abhorrent and odious to many. This they say would make God unfair and unjust to His creatures by not “giving them all an equal chance” to be saved. This has been the common AND PREVAILING religious jargon throughout so called Christendom during all of the 20th and most of the 19th century - since many departed from the path and life of the faithful Reformers, Puritans, Baptists, Presbyterians and others, and descended again into the blankness and darkness of mere humanism, Deism and stark Arminianism. Now even the political world is consumed with humanism, socialism and political correctness in order to chastise the righteous, but to encourage and keep evil-doers upon their throne of lawlessness, and this contrary to the precepts of the teaching of the word of God, but which has fulfilled its truth:

“.. They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight. 21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered..” Prov 11:20-21.

“.. He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD..” Prov 17:15.

“.. Let favour be showed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD..” Isa 26:10.

Continuing with the text in John 4:3.

".. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.."

It is now common on TV and the Internet to see many “Apocalyptic” scenarios conjured up from the minds of show business writers. These usually feature an “antichrist” figure or embodiment of such a person which is predicted to appear some time in the future, and which was prophesied by the Apostle John as seen in his vision in the book of Revelation. However, this “antichrist” is only spoken or of as such by the Apostle as above, and he states that this was not a person, but a spirit, and was already in the world (even before the destruction of Jerusalem,) and explains that this spirit was the spirit of unbelief of Christ’s coming - that is, that spirit which prevailed among the Jews, and said that the Anonted One had not yet come; neither could they see any evidence of His coming, and was as stated by the Apostle Peter:

“.. 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..” 2 Pet 3:4.

“.. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world..” (of unbelief)

When the Apostle speaks of “the world”, he is speaking of the Law world of the Jews, who mostly remained in unbelief at the Coming of Christ:

However, this was according to the will of God:

“…But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: 38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? 39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them…” John 12:37-40.

Neither can anyone believe in Christ as Savior. unless it is first given them to believe according to God’s sovereign will in Him:

“.. And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. 29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake..” Phil 1:28-29.

It is even given unto the saints to also suffer for His sake and cause. In fact, all things are given to them for His sake.

5 “…They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them..” John is somewhat here repeating what he had before learned directly from Jesus Himself:

“…If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 “… Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

21 “… But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not Him that sent me..” John 15:18-21.

Jesus said that a corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit, neither can a good tree bring forth corrupt, or bad fruit. Such comparatively, was the spiritual condition of the unbelieving Jews - and all men in nature’s darkness, until they are lighted by that light that lightens ever one that comes into the world of light in Christ.

6 “… We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error…”

John is again repeating what he had before learned directly from Jesus, and as recorded in John 8:45:

“..45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. 46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God..”John 8:45. Jesus also said concerning His people, or sheep - that they know Him and His voice; and they follow Him; because they know not the voice of strangers - just like the nature of sheep.

“..Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. 26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand…” John 25:28.

Then unbelief is a possible manifestation of not being a sheep according to Jesus’ own words. And Jesus said that in the end of the Age, He would separate the Sheep from the goats - and this He did, and is still doing. And thus revealing who they are that are serving God, and also they who are not. In the last days (which are now - and have been since Christ’s first Coming) God through the prophet (which finished the prophets and their administration) said He would burn them up, leaving neither root nor branch:

“..For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch…” Mal 4:1.

“…The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that WAS, and is NOT and yet IS..” Rev 17:8.

Dear reader: by now if you have true wisdom, do you know WHO this BEAST under consideration who WAS, is NOT, and yet IS - IS?

Hint: In another place in Revelation it was cast into the bottomless pit, a seal set upon him, and bound for a thousand years, after which he was released for a little season. It is also called THE SEED OF THE SERPENT that went to persecute the remnant of those who had the world of God and the (true) testimony of Jesus - which is preaching Christ as the True and Consummate Savior of His chosen people, which were given Him before the world began.

OAB