Why God in flesh

Why God had to be revealed in flesh

Many of the readers could at this point of time ask questions as to why God created that tree and its fruit in the garden of Eden? Had he not done that Adam and Eve would not have ate that fruit? Is not God responsible for entrance of sin and death in this world? We need to understand one thing that God is scrupulous in His wisdom, Almighty, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and knows the past, the present and the future. He also knew that if Adam and Eve subject themselves to eating the fruit, death will definitely come to them and their descendants. God also foreknew, He Himself had to take up death on the cross.  But yet
another chief character of God is Love. The Bible tells us " God is Love". Therefore he has to resurrect mankind from the death that came due to sin and ensure that they become partakers with Him in eternal Life. Moreover God had to reinstate Righteousness and Justice through His laws and also to show Love. Therefore He had to come to pay for the penalty of death that he levied upon man as man could not subject himself to the Law mediated by God. If God remains as God, he cannot fulfill it. Therefore he took the form of a man. Even at the instance of taking the form of a man he cannot die, if He does not have sin in Him. At the same time, He cannot sin, being subject to the Law given through Moses by God. Yet He has to die. God is Spirit, He cannot be killed by Mankind. If man can kill Him then God is inferior to man. How did it become possible? God in the name of Jesus took the form of a man and came into this world. Then He took upon Him the sins of the world. By this act He was made sin and the second death (Death for eternity to follow after judgement by God) that was to come upon us came to Him. He was crucified and He gave His life for mankind. He was not killed by soldiers. Let us look at the following Bible verses to confirm it.

God was manifested in the flesh (1Timothy 3:16)

"Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me. but I lay it down of myself. I have the power to lay it down, and I have the power to take it again. This command I have received it from My Father. (John 10-17-18)

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.(2 Corinthians 5:21)

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.(Hebrews 9:26)

Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth (1 Peter 2:22)

And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.(1 John 3:5)

"Which of You convicts Me of Sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? (John 8:46)

Jesus Authority

The following is one of the most powerful passages in the New Testament, revealing the heart of the Son of God

Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,(Philippians 2:6)

But made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.((Philippians 2:7,8)

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,(Phillippians 2:9)

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.(Phillippians 2:10,11)

We saw that God when He spoke through his mouth about salvation and his righteousness, he said that his word shall not return back to Him. How true it is, that God fulfilled it and has worked out a way of salvation through His son who is called Jesus (The Saviour) on whom the entire governance of the affairs of the Heaven, the earth and the sea and all things that are in them have been rested with.

Jesus Christ is coming Again

The coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is very near according to the following verses.

For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with His righteousness. And the people with His Truth. (Psalm 96:12)

Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord is near.

And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.(Mark 13:26)

But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:(Malachi 3:2)

And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.(Mathew 24:30)

Let us turn to have a look at what the scriptures of our land (India) has to say about the God in Flesh in the next post.

                                                     

                                         

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Testimony 1

My name is Rekha.  I am from a Hindu Brahmin background and accepted Lord Jesus Christ as my savior when I was 24 years old. Every time when I think how I got saved, tears wells up my eyes.  Such a loving God who created this entire Universe came to reside in my heart as my Savior.  My mother was a very loving woman who taught me values in life and I grew up seeing her miseries in life.  I always used to have one question in my heart; is there a true God? If so, why so many sorrows in my family and in the world?  But I could never find an answer with my human mind.  As a Brahmin I knew about Hinduism and later got exposure to the other religions by pursuing my studies in Christian school and Muslim college.  There was a time when I became an atheist when I could not find an answer for my inner questions.  I had no interest to go to temples and follow any rituals.  Life went on like this and my inner man was always feeling sad about something and nothing of this world could satisfy me.  When my elder sister went through a crisis in her marital life, I was very much disturbed and started hating everybody, especially men.  To get a solution to the problem, I started doing everything what people told me to do, going to temples, meeting astrologers etc.  Alas, all was in vain. One night, I was so disturbed in my heart and before I went to sleep I cried out to the Almighty God like this; “If there is a true God, reveal to me who you are and put an end to all these sorrows”.  I also cried that if I am not going to get an answer I should get buried in the sand and no one should know that a girl like me existed in this world.  I woke up in the morning with a heavy heart.  In the course of the day, I spoke to one of my friends and she told me “Jesus Loves You”.  These words may look very common for many.  But at that moment, I felt that was the answer to my cry.  I became interested to pray to Jesus, but just to get relief from the problems that my family faced.  At that point in time, it was another way for me and I was really not interested to follow Jesus as my Savior.  I started attending the Church though I could not understand a word they spoke.  The first time when I attended and when the Pastor asked everybody to close the eyes for prayer, I closed my eyes.  I felt something like a human hand touching me and it was very gentle.  I thought it was the pastor who touched and prayed but later on I came to know it was not he.  In the following days, God started revealing Himself to me through His words and opened my spiritual ears and eyes so that I can understand what was spoken.  Deep in my heart, I only wanted to have some solution for my problem and never wanted to follow Jesus.  For the next two years there were so many ups and downs in my life but I was stubborn that I will not accept Jesus as my savior as I am a Brahmin by birth.  God started speaking to me through His Holy Spirit and I could hear His gentle voice wherever I went.  He used to answer all my questions.  These were some of the questions that I asked and He answered me;

Me: Jesus, you are so mean.  Why do you say that I should not follow other gods?

The gentle voice:  I am the One who created the heavens and earth and you cannot see me in the idols you worship.

Me: Then why did you not make me born in a Christian family and why I am born in a Brahmin family.

The gentle voice:  Child, I did not create religions, go to history and see who created religions.  Just because a person is born in a Christian family, he is not a Christian.  The one who follow me sincerely is my child.  You are only seeing yourself as a Brahmin, but I want to see you as my child.  Come to Me and accept Me.

Like this, God answered many of my questions through the gentle voice, through other believers and through the Church.  Now, I was clear that Jesus is the true God.  But still the self-will was holding me.  One day I told, God I know it is You who is speaking to me and I know You are the true God.  But please leave me.  I cannot accept you as my savior.  From that day I stopped hearing His voice.  But in the following weeks, I could not stay without attending the church.  In one of the services, God clearly spoke through the pastor “There is girl here whom I have been talking for a long time.  But you are rejecting me, “This is the time for your salvation and receive it”. I could clearly understand that God was speaking to me and I was pushed down on my knees and I accepted Jesus as my savior and told Jesus, whatever problems I may face, today, I accept you as my personal savior and I committed my life to him.  Though I went to Jesus for a solution to my problem, I received the greatest miracle of salvation.  It has been more than eighteen years now and I cannot put everything in this testimony how God has been leading me.  I underwent lot of sufferings when I confessed my faith to my parents but God was by my side all through these years.  I am married to a believer from Brahmin background and Jesus has been so faithful to me.  All Glory to God!

Through this testimony, I would like to give a call to all the people, especially youngsters.  We ask so many questions for many worldly things.  But when it comes to God, we close our eyes and accept what our parents say and follow some religion and god blindly.  God says in His word “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”  I am sure every true search for God will end up in Jesus.  I pray for all those who read my testimony that God would open up your spiritual eyes and ears so that you may see “JESUS IS THE TRUE GOD AND SAVIOR”.  MAY GOD BLESS YOU.

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God in Vedas

There are four vedas. Rig veda, Yazue veda,Sama veda and Atharvana veda. Vedas are regarded as revelation by the Hindus. It includes Bhraamanas, Upanishads and sutras. Vedas are the sacred knowledge that the Aryans brought into India which was later developed in the sub continent. The vedas are the search of the Indian saints for the truth.

God does not have a fragmented plan for the earth which will embrace every doctine. He does have a singular plan that unifies every culture and fulfills the promises He has made known to every diverse people throughout time. He has heard the cry of every sincere seeker throughout the ages.He is not limited by our dimension of time, He will answer all (Who did, who are or who will diligently seek Him). It must be known that God has already revealed Himself to many throughout the world.The most common themes are monotheism, the efeects of sin and the concept of a singular divine saviour. The Bible tells us

 And he has put (written) Eternity in their hearts (Ecclessisates 3:11)

Even in vedic period the saints felt that they were born in sinful nature.The prarthasnana mantra which is chanted before the gayathri mantra goes like this.

Papokam, papa karmaham, papatma, papa sambhava, thrahimam pundarikaksha, sarva papa hari hare.

This prayer is chanted before taking bath. By doing this the saints remembered that water cannot cleanse their sins. The meaning of this prayer is "I am born in sin, doer of sin, a sinful self. I am the worst sinner. Lord save me from all sins." (Sarva papa can be by Manasa = thinking; Vasa = words; Hastapyam = look, Drehimam = body).They asked God (did not know who that God is, but yet they said "Hari Hare") to forgive their sins.

Baja Govindam Says " Punarapi janana punarapi marana; Punarapi janani jadarey sayana; In sansarey wah dustarey; Krupya parey pahi murarey" meaning repeated birth, repeated death and repeated lying in mothers womb.This worldly process is too difficult to cross.Save me O destroyer of death by your Grace.

All animal sacrifices both in Vedic times in India and in Old Testament times in Palestine are shadows for the real sacrifice of God or Prajapatti. (Praja = People; Pathi = God, so God is called God of people).

Atonement for Sins

In the beginning, God allowed mankind to sacrifice animals, so as to make them understand that there is atonement for everyone's sins, as it is written in Thertiriya Aranyaka verse 3, Sarvapapa pariharo raktha prokshna mavasyakam, which means that the atonement is through shedding of blood only.

"Prathamani Dharmani"; "Sacrifices are the foremost of our first duties."

 "Yagnovai Bhuvanasya Nabhih"- "Sacrifice is the mainstay of the world".

 "Yagne Sarvam Pratishthitam" - "It is sacrifice that bestows all things".

 "Yagnovai Sutarmanowh"- "Sacrifice is the bark (boat) that enables one to live well".

 "Yagnena Va Deva Divangatah" - "Only by means of sacrifice, the gods attained heaven"

 "Rutasyanah Pathanaya Ati Viswani Durita"- "Deliverance through the path of sacrifice"

The above doctrines proclaimed by the Vedas emphasize that sacrifices should be the foremost of all penances that must be performed for the atonement of sins. 

Tandya Maha Brahmanam says,  "Yagnota avati tasyachhaya kriyate" - "It is a sacrifice that saves.  What is being performed, is the shadow of sacrifice". 

In Rig Veda, we read, "Atmada baladah yasya chhaya-mrutam yasya mruatyuh" - "He whose shadow and death become nectar shall, by his shadow and death, confer the spirit and strength". 

The above sayings clearly reveal that the sacrifices performed do not themselves confer salvation but they are the type and the shadow of a great salvation-giving sacrifice. 
Though the animal's blood is not a substitute, it was expected that man would repent and turn away from his sinful ways by seeing the animal, which is being sacrificed on his behalf. But mankind started practicing it just as a ritual, and thus came into condemnation.
If mankind were to be saved from this predicament, as Thertiriya Aranyaka 3rd verse says again, "thad raktham Paramatmena punyadana baliyagam" which means that-blood has to be through the sacrifice of God himself.

Aitareya Brahmanam says, "Yaja-manah pashuh yajamanameva suvargam lokam gamayati" - "He who offers the sacrificial animal; therefore, he who performs sacrifices goes to heaven" 

In the Satpatha Brahmanam, we read, "Prajapatir yagnah" - "God Himself is the sacrifice". 

In Tandya Maha Brahmanam of Sama Veda, we read, "Prajapatir devebhyam atmanam yagnam krutva prayachhat" - "God would offer Himself as a sacrifice and obtain atonement for sins" 

Satapadha Brahmanam says, "Tasya prajapatirardhameva martyamasidardhamrutam" - God became half mortal and half immortal". This means that He united in Himself the human and the divine. 
The Purusha Sukta says, there is no other way other than the sacrifice of Purusha Prajapati. Purushao vava yagna (Chandokya Upanishad 3.16.1), God, the Purusha is the sacrifice.
Bagvat Gita 11:53 says " Naham vedair na tapasa na danena na c'ejyaya; sakya evam vidho dhristavan asi mam yatha" which means neither by vedic studies, nor by austerities, nor by charities, nor by sacrifices could one behold Me. Nor by any works you have done.
Yazhur veda 32.3 says " Nathasya prathima asityasya namma hastha" means God has no image. His name is Holy.

Swethaswathara upanishad 4:20 says " Nasathushay thishtathi roopmasya na chashusa paryathi garchanainam;Hithhathistam manasa ya yena mevam vithurmuthastey bhavanti" which means the image of God will not be visible to our eyes. No one has seen God.Whoever receives Him in their mind, soul and heart they will obtain salvation.

Bruhat aranya upanishad 1.3.28 says "Asatoma sath gamaya; Tamasoma Jyothir Gamaya; Mruthyoma amrutham gamaya;" which means Deliver me from untruth to truth, Deliver me from darkness to light, Deliver me from death to eternal life.

Hear the audio track on some vedas with meaning in Tamil by clicking the play button in the audio player provided below.

                                                

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God in Tamil Poems

The Bible tells us that when Jesus appeared in this world in flesh He quoted the following words.

Jesus said,"You Search the scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life: and these are they which testify of Me" (John 5:39)

If it is so, why many of us are blind to it and do not take any effort to find it. The truth is revealed in the Bible.

But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God should shine in them.(2 Corinthians 4:4)

This verse tells us that there is a god of this world who is against the Gospel of Jesus Christ ( the image of God) and His Glory should shine as light in the hearts of men for which he has put a veil. This suggests that those whose hearts are veiled to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ shall perish.

Did you notice the word the god of this age? who is he? he is the same old serpent (satan) who looked at Jesus when He was on this earth and  showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, and said, "All these things I will give you if you will fall down and worship me." Can you understand now.

There is a verse in the Bible which tells us " Open My eyes that I may see wondrous things from your law."(Scriptures) (Psalm 119:18)

Similarly many of us could be like Paul. But Jesus who encountered Him in the broad Day Light also loves to encounter us through our own scriptures. May we ask God to open our spiritual eyes such that His light will shine upon in our hearts and the wondrous things that are hidden in the Tamil poems, and other scriptures about God are revealed to us as we study them. In view of the complexity of reproducing the tamil words in english, it is limited only to a few which could easily be understood by the readers.

Thiruvanthair 41  says the following;

Mukthi mudal kodikkey moka kodi padarnthu;

Atthee pazhuthathu enru unthipara;

appazham unnathey unthi para.

This means even the first man created by God was covered by sin and because of this act evil existed. Do not eat that fruit.

In Tamil we have the saiva siddhanta or siva gnana botham which was written by 14 Saints also called Meykanda shastra which conveys the message of the fall of man, his redemption by God through sacrifice, salavation and union. For example Siva Gnana Botham 1 says the following;

Avan, Aval, Athu ennum moovinaimaiyin;

thotriyathithiye odungi malathulatham;

Antham adhi enbanar pulavar. 

This means God created man, woman, and the world in three different ways.They all fell to sin in the very beginning. That was the end of Holiness (End of a sinless nature) and the emergence of sin. This is the message of the pulavar.

 Sivagnana Botham 8 says;

Aimbula vedarin ayarnthanai valarnthu ena;

tammudal guruvu mai tavathinil unarthavittu;

anniyam inmaiyin aran kazhal sellume.

This means The soul that grows together with the five senses such as Mey, kan, vai, mooku, sevi fell without knowing him and the creator. The creator who is from the beginning having seen it, appears in the world as a Guru and bears the sin on Him and when He offered Himself as the sacrifice on the cross, the soul is cleansed of its sin and the darkness that caused divison due to sin is removed and shall raech the feet of God.

Nammazhvar Thiruvirutham says;

Poi Ninra Gnamum polla ozhukkum azhukudambum;

Inninra neermai iniyam uraamai uyir alippan;

Enninra yoniumaip piranthai imaiyor thalaiva; which means

God was born in a woman, such that the defiled wisdom, corrupt moral practices and the sinful body shall not reign over us and that we may have a Good life.

Irava inbathu yemai irutha; vendi pirava mudalvan piranthan. This means To give me the eternal joy the God was born in flesh.

Thiruvasagam says;

" Arooparathoruvan avaniyil vandu;

Guruparan aagi aruliya perumaiyai;

sirumai enru igazhathe;

This means Understand properly the plan of God as to why he has to manifest Himself in the flesh. Behold do not mock at it.

Thirukural says " Porivayil aiyinthavithan poideer ozhukka; Neri ninrar needu vazhvar." meaning The instrument that was a trap (Cross) where God sacrificed his soul and its senses for atonement of sin is the way and the one who seeks that way shall attain Eternal Life.

In parabara kannimalai the poem goes like this " Banthamellam theera paranjothi Nee guruvai ; vanda vadivai maraven parabarame" meaning, I cannot forget the form in which The almighty and supreme God came into this world as the Guru to destroy and deliver the soul from bondage to the worldly pleasures that have bound it.

Agathiyar Gnanam 15 says " Alagai (satan, devil) yathu devanukku sariyay ninru ; Aangaram than eduthu aganthai yale; Nilai kulaindu badala kuzhikkul ninru; nittamum manidarai mosam pokki;" which means satan out of his pride for power wanted to set his throne before the throne of God and make himself equal to God. because of that he had fallen and was cast into the pit. Every day he deceives the people by his deceit and craftiness. Let us look at what the Bible has to say.

"You are of your father the devil,He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him.when he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources for he is a liar and the father of lie."(John 8:44)

Agathiar Gnanm 21 says " Vananguvai jegajothi oruvanagi manilathai; Oru nodiyil vagutthe mannil; Gunamana manitharaiyum padaitha pinbu kuvalayathil; Than uditthu guruvai vandu; Sanamana samsaram onrum illamal sanniyasi pol;Irundhu thavathai katti; Anbana sitthargalai irutthi pottu aganda thalam; sendra varai anduvaye; which means Worship the Father of lights and the creator who created

the universe in the twinkling of an eye. Although He created the human being out of the dust of the earth, He himself appeared in this earth in flesh and lived without a wife or children, chose the disciples and showed the way of life on this earth and then departed to the heavens whom you shall approach and hold on to.

Concept of Triune God

Agathiar Gnanam 29 says " Mucchudarum ondram, mummoorthy alla; Moovarume aluruvam ondre aagum; acchuda ivargalume Aann, Penn alla; Aranum alla, Lingam alla, Anadiyana; satchidanandanaiye vanakkam seidhu; Sathguruvai dhraisithu charanpatri; Yetcharikkai kondu nada appa; Yennila mukthi vazhi yeiduvaaye" which means The three forms of lights are one but not three gods. All the three of them have personality but yet are one. They are neither man, woman, king or lingam. Worship the god who is everlasting truth, wisdom, knowledge and joy and have the vision of the Sath guru (who manifested Himself in flesh to reveal God and his charecter) and follow his footsteps. Beware of it and lead your life. Then you shall attain the countless Eternall Life.

The sanskrit scriptures say " Vagyo vai Brahma (Word is God); Shabdo vai Brahma (Voice is God); Shabdakshara Para Brahma (Word and voice became absolute God).

The Bible conforms this truth. We saw in the Beginning God spoke in plurality " Let us make man in Our image" at creation of man and woman.

In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God (John 1:1)

He (Jesus) was in the beginning with God (John 1:2);

He was clothed with a robe dipped in Blood and His name was called "The word of God"(Revelation 19:13);

And the spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.( Genesis 1:2)

Then a voice came from heaven, " You are my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased." (Mark 1:9-11)

'And the word became flesh and dwelt among us." (John 1:14)

" For there are three who bear witnesses in heaven: The Father, The word, and The Holy Spirit: and Theses are one (1 John 5:7)

The Bible very clearly tells us as the Three personalities of God were involved in the creative act, they were also involved in the plan of salvation that is when Jesus appeared in this world in flesh and was coming out of the waters after baptism:The spirit of God was seen descending upon Him like a dove and the heavens opened and the Father declared You are my beloved Son in whom I am pleased.. This shows they were all together.

Siva Vakkiar's poem goes like this : "Natta kallai deivam endru nadi pushpam sathukirir; Sutthi vandu munumunu vendru sollum mandiram yethada; Natta kallum pesumo nathan ul irukkayil; Sutta satti satthuvan kari suvai ariyumo. This means oh mankind, you worship the planted stones and adore them with flowers as God. You go around them chanting mantras. Also think about this,  you cook food in a moulded clay pot. If you ask it to tell the taste of the cooked food will it know and will it be able to tell you the taste. In a similar way understand, Will the planted stone speak when the creator thy God is within your heart. Let us look at what the Bible tells us;

" God who made the world and everything in it, since He is lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands, Nor is He worshipped with mens hands as though He needed anything. since He gives to all life, breadth and all things.(Acts 17:24-25).

But Solomon built Him a house. However the most High does not dwell in temples made with human hands as the prophet says:(Acts 7:47-48)

Thus says the Lord" Heaven is My Throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest?(Isaiah 66:1)

Has My hand not made all these Things? (Acts 7:50)

God who accepted the stone, tent and temple worship now refuses that practice. Why? God wanted to make men understand as to How they should worship Him. God who created everything by His word did not create men and women by word but by His own hand. This means God built His own temple. This inspiration was given to men when the promised Holy Spirit permanently rested upon them as promised By Jesus to lead them in all truth. What does the word of God say?

" Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the spirit of God dwells in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16)

" I saw no temple in it (Heaven), for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. (Revelation 21:22)

We did see it is not possible to limit or contain God within an idol, or the sculptured stones or in any image in the first few pages.

Many ways or one way

Swethaswathara upanishad 3:8 says " Vedaaha metam purusham manantam; Aaditya vamam tamasah Parastath ; Tameva viditvati mutu meti; naanyah panthaa vidyate ayanaaya; this meaning I know the mighty purusha beyond darkness. Only in knowing Him does one can passover death (Second death, Eternal death). There is no other way other than this.

Lot of philosophical things about attaining Eternity are being talked about. One may have his own religion. But we have one God and a singular plan only. People might say all Roads lead to Rome. One need to think there is agreat potential disaster in this universal thinking. Unless God made the road, there is no Guarantee of its destination. Man does not have the eternal vision necessary to build a road to the Eternal kingdom of God. That is what the Bible tells us very clearly.

" Enter ye at the straight gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in by it; Because straight is the gate, and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are a few who find it." (Mathew 7:13-14)

Every effort has been made to bring out with the help of God the truth in the Indian scriptures which might have been kept hidden to you so that God's light is made to shine in your heart. The Bible tells us

"For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.(Luke 12:2)

Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known."(Mathew 10:26)

Forever, O LORD, Thy word is settled in heaven. (Psalm 119:89)

   

God’s Word comes to us in the book that we call the Bible and here, in the book, it tells us something about itself. It tells us three wonderful things about its own character.

First of all, “it’s forever.” It’s eternal, it’s not temporary. It doesn’t change with the events of history or the attitudes and thoughts of man. It’s forever – an eternal word.

Then again, “it’s God’s word.” It’s not man’s word. It didn’t start with man. It came from God. It’s the revelation of God Himself – His ways, His thoughts, His attitudes, His purposes, His laws. Men were the channels through which it came, but always God was the source.

The third thing it tells us is that “it’s settled in heaven.” Nothing that happens on earth can ever change the Word of God. It’s not subject to the decrees of kings or emperors, nor to the opinions of politicians or to the violence of armies. It’s out of reach of all those evil forces; it’s settled forever in heaven.

The Bible tells us the following

"Finally bretheren, whatever things are true,whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praise worthy, meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do and the God of peace will be with you.(Philippians 4:8-9)

God has given us a free will to choose either death or Life. As per the above saying, it is upto the readers to discern concerning the truth that have been laid forth before them and to see if they are true,noble, just,pure,lovable, good and there is virtue in it and it is praiseworthy. If it is done the God of peace can be found and He shall be with You. The Bible tells us "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, (1 Corinthians 14:33)

We have seen in this post that the ancient scriptures written in the form of Tamil poems are all fulfilled only in Jesus Christ as the God Incarnate. 

Let us look at the next step.

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Three questions- Explanation and its application for us

What do those three questions addressed to Adam and Eve tells us?

Where are You? Honest communication had previously flowed between God and them. After they had sinned, however they felt, for the first time, exposed vulnerable, fearful and threatened. God's presence which they had enjoyed is something they now shy away from. God asks this question out of a desire to restore the fellowship which Adam and Eve has broken.

Who told you that you were naked? when God asked this question Adam's answer was not forthcoming. instead, he seeks to avert the question by offloading the blame on to God and Eve. Both Adam and Eve were responding defensively, not truthfully. Many think there was a supernatural force at work which brought about their downfall against their will. It is not so. The truth is they listened to the lie which they could have disputed. It was simply words containing a thought which should have been resisted by the word God had given them. (You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of Good and evil). The serpent is described as crafty and his craftiness aided the downfall of Adam and Eve. intellectually the serpent quoted God's prohibition but overstated it by adding any tree in place of the tree that was banned by God. This created the doubt in Eve's mind as to what God exactly said. The
problem was not Eve's doubt but her willingness to entertain by not bringing it into judgement. She knew the truth and did say it to the serpent. The serpent added another word " You will not surely die". he introduces a thought and pretended to have a privileged insight into what God knows and thinks and posses inside information on what God's real intentions were. ( You will not surely die, For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened. The serpents deceiving voice offered Eve and Adam insight into God's motives and suggested that at heart God was not good, because if He were, He would not have prohibited them from eating the fruit. Presumption. It reminds us that our thoughts and ideas, which lead to action, have consequences - For Good or evil. In asking this question, God seeks to ask what is going on inside them, to drive away confusion and gain a hearing with them.

What is this you have done? addressed to Eve to confront with the fact that she was a responsible being. Adam and Eve trod their chosen path because they failed to trust that God loved them and failed to understand that God had the best interests in them. believing a lie, suspicion had taken root in them and they yeilded to temptation which led to disobedience. Failure to trust God's word caused them to turn away from God. This question was asked not to condemn but to help the human pair to deal with the reality and to lead them to confession and through that to forgiveness and back into fellowship with God.

Where are You?

Have You been running away or hiding from God? He misses You, He wants You to be His voice, His ambassador. He will run to meet you. He is waiting for you, longing for you to be reconciled.Come Home to the Father's side.

Whose voice are You hearing?

The voice heard in the garden of Eden is a voice to which we are still exposed. The very first lie, invented by the devil consisted of an idea that a more fulfilled experience could be found by acting independantly of The True God, rejecting Him in favor of self made idols. There are many voices in this world calling for our attention - voices that spell out ideologies which often run counter to our Creator's (Father's) will. We should beware of those who claim to have superior spiritual knowledge and mysterical understanding not available to ordinary men and women who sit's humbly before God's word. Truth always triumphs. Perhaps not today, but always tomorrow.

Check what have you done?

We are responsible beings. check whether now you are walking outside of God's dependant relationship. God holds each one of us responsible for our actions and reactions. We are beings made in God's image with the ability to choose and sometimes those choices have a great impact on the course of life in the present and the one to come thereafter(Eternity)

There comes a time when we must accept responsibility for ourselves. We live in a moral world, where we can chose to obey or disobey. When we obey we get results. when we disobey we get consequences. Are you willing to take that responsibility for what you have done till now? Genuine repentance turns us back to God. The Cross answers this perfectly by forgiveness and the non condemnation it provides. We need not shift the blame to others (Our forefathers and the previous generations because of whose belief I have turned away from the real God etc), but to face our negligence and confess our sin, as Jesus has paid the price.The best thing God has done about sin is to provide forgiveness for it. The best thing we can do about sin is to admit it and confess it. 

The Bible tells us " He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whosoever confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. (Proverbs 28:13)

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Wages of sin and God's Provision

Are all Human beings sinners (How & Why)

" And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation. So that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him, though He is not far from each one of us. (Acts 17:26-27)

God made Human beings from one mans blood and multiplied them upon the face of the earth in His pre appointed times and earmarked their places of habitation such that they might seek Him as He is not far from any one. The following verses tells us the root cause for sin and death.

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. (1 John 3:8)

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12)

" For all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God" (Romans 3:23)

" For the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23)

" If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us".( 1 John 1:8)

" Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law".(1 John 3:4)

"For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners: ..........".(Romans 5:19) 

As the above verse suggests, when sin came into the first man it found expression in an act of disobedience to God. Therefore Sin enters as disobedience, to create first of all a separation between God and man whereby man is put away from God. God can no longer have fellowship with him,for there is something now which hinders, and it is that which is known throughout Scripture as `sin'. Thus it is first of all God who says, "They are all under sin" as stated in Romans 3:9 

Our ways

"All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way," (Isaiah 53:6)

"There is a way which seems right to a man. But its end is the way of death" (Proverbs 14:12)

The above verses tell us that we have found our own ways which we claim to be right and are lost and it will lead us to eternal death 

Is it possible to reach God with sin

"But your iniquities have separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. (Isaiah 59:2)

Our ways that we have found have separated us from God and our sins have hidden His face from us and will make Him not hear our pleas and prayers

Gods Provision

Jesus died for our sins. What is sin? It is a human will colliding with the divine will - the ego bent on rebellion, hatred and suspicion. The ego, in the place where God wants to be. sin took the Holy God, incarnate here on earth, (who never harmed a single person) to be stripped, spat, laughed at, hands hammered with nail, and subjected Him to die the most agonising death.

To surrender to God is not comfortable for the ego, and therefore many try every way they can to skirt around the necessity. They will allow rules of religion, try to do good, give liberally, in fact, they will do everything except the one thing that is of prme importance: the surrender of self. The law of self surrender is the first law in the kingdom of God. One should know, in self surrender the self ceases its own rule and takes God's rule, gives up their throne and kneels before the throne of God.

I am the Way, The Truth, and The Life. These could not be just a way of words: It had to be the Word became flesh. It needed to be more than to be spoken, it needed to be embodied. The life could not be uttered only- It had to be lived. Salvation could never have come to us if God had just laid it before us as a preposition; salavation comes in and through a person - The incarnate Son of God.

The first human pair could not go back to the garden of Eden, they could only go forward. And the way forward was difficult and painful - accompanied by thorns, weeds and frustrating situations. We really cannot go back to Eden without going forward through a world that has been upset and tainted by sin. We need Jesus to fortify us for the journey through this painful world and to enter eternity. The following verses tells us clearly. How did Jesus open the way?

For the life of flesh is in the blood, and I have given it unto you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar. It is blood that makes atonement for ones life (Leviticus 17:11)

And according to the law almost all things are purged with blood and without shedding of blood there is no remission.(Hebrews 9:22)

Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. (Hebrews 9:12)

This is the blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins (Mathew 26:26-27)

Shedding of Blood is the essence of sacrifice. This is fulfilled in Jesus Christ only when He was nailed on the cross. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves, but entered the most Holy place once for all by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.

And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.(1 John 3:5)

"And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all," (Isaiah 53:6)

For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.(Romans 6:20)

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.(1 John 1:7)

As the above verses suggest,to redeem us and to bring us back to the purpose of God, the Lord Jesus had to do something.Our sins had first to be dealt with, and this was effected through the shedding of the precious Blood of Christ.

Let us turn to the next post to see what is Salvation ?

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