“This shall be written for THE GENERATION TO COME: and THE PEOPLE WHICH SHALL BE CREATED shall praise the Lord.” Psalms 102:18

“Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee NEW THINGS from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them. THEY ARE CREATED NOW, AND NOT FROM THE BEGINNING.”  Isaiah 48:6-7

“Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit. And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: For the Lord God shall slay thee, and call His servants by another name: that he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes. For, behold, I CREATE NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH: and the former shall not be re­membered nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice forever in that which I create: for behold, I CREATE JERUSALEM (new Jerusalem) a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.” Isaiah 65:14-19

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, HE IS A NEW CREATURE (creation): Old things are passed away; Behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ.” II Corinthians 5:17-18

“For we are His workmanship, CREATED in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

“And that ye put on the new man, which after God is CRE­ATED in righteousness and true holiness.” Ephesians 4:24

“And I saw a NEW HEAVEN and a NEW EARTH: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; And there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, NEW JERUSALEM, coming down from out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Revelation 21:1-2

“And he that sat upon the throne said, BEHOLD, I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW. And he said unto me, Write: For these words are true and faithful.” Revelation 21:5

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

Our God is a creator. We serve the creator of heaven and earth. The pattern of creation is revealed repeatedly in the first chapter of Genesis; “ And God said, Let there be light: AND THERE WAS LIGHT.” (Genesis 1:3) Six times in the first chapter it is recorded, “ And God said,--: and it was so.” God spoke the Word, and all things were created out of nothing. He did not need anything to work with, because God is a creator.  God is not an evolutionist. He did not evolve new species out of old species. The evolutionary theory is totally alien to creation. God wanted fish. He said, “let there be fish,” and it was so. He wanted birds. He said 'let there be birds,” and it was so. There can be no limits on the creative power of God, for “all things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made.” (John 1: 3)

Religion is inconsistent in its concept of God as the creator. On one hand, churches will fight with the state and local governments all the way to the Supreme Court of our nation, for the right to teach creation in our schools. On the other hand, many of the same churches teach a form of evolutionary salvation. Whereas they would plead the case that Adam was created in perfection, and was not the product of evolutionary processes, they teach a new creation that is created imperfect, and evolves through religious processes. Again, such a teaching is a total contradiction of the teaching of the scripture:

“For by one offering He hath PERFECTED forever them that are sanctified.”  Hebrews 10:14

“For we are His workmanship, CREATED in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

Our God is a creator.

“Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee IN THE DAY THAT THOU WAST CREATED. THOU ART THE ANOINTED CHERUB THA T COVERETH; AND I HAVE SET THEE SO: THOU W AST UPON THE HOLY MOUNTAIN OF GOD; THOU HAST WALKED UP AND DOWN IN THE MIDST OF THE STONES OF FIRE. THOU WAST PERFECT IN THY WAYS FROM THE DAY THAT THOU WAST CREATED, TILL INIQUITY WAS FOUND IN THEE. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and THOU HAST SINNED: THEREFORE I WILL CAST THEE AS PROFANE OUT OF THE MOUNTAIN OF GOD: AND I WILL DESTROY THEE, O COVERING CHERUB, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.”  Ezekiel 28: 12-17

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God:

I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.” Isaiah 14:12-15

Both Isaiah and Ezekiel give some insight into the origin of the one we call “Lucifer” or “Satan.” Ezekiel reveals that he was created by God to be the “anointed cherub.” (Ezekiel 28:14) He was perfect in beauty, (Ezekiel 28:12) and perfect in all his ways until iniquity was found in him. (Ezekiel 28:15) Verse 16 declares that he sinned and must be destroyed, in that his heart was lifted up because of his beauty. (Verse 17) Isaiah reveals his name to be Lucifer (the shining one), and further reveals his sin; “I will exalt my throne--: I will be like the most High.” (Isaiah 14:13-14) Again, Ezekiel reveals that Lucifer corrupted his wisdom because of his “brightness.” (Ezekiel 28:17) The apostle Paul reveals him as an “angel of light.” (II Corinthians 11:14)

Evidently, Lucifer was the highest of all the angels of God, next to God Himself. Jude relates that “--Michael, the archangel, (dared) not bring against him (the devil) a railing accusation, but said 'The Lord rebuke thee.”' (Jude 9) When God created this “anointed cherub,” he was perfect in every way. But, iniquity was “found” in him. Sin was not created by God, but was rather found in God's anointed cherub. The text in Ezekiel 28 tells the story of the original sin, and it was found in the highest of all the angels of God.

“And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation” he hath reserved in everlasting chains of darkness unto the judgment of the great day.”  Jude 6

“Fo if God spared not the angels that sinned, but casteth down to hell, and delivered them into chains of dark to be reserved unto judgment;” II Peter 2:4

“For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation:” Hebrews 2:2-3 6

The New Testament writers use the record of the fall of Lucifer and his angels as proof of both the justice of God, as well as the inevitable judgment of God upon all sin and sinners. Jesus said the Holy Ghost would “reprove (convince) the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:--of Judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.” If God would judge the prince of this world, the very highest of His angels, and cast him into the eternal lake of fire because of one sin, then Paul asks a pertinent question,  “How shall we es­cape--?”

“Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.” Titus 1:1-2

In this text Paul speaks of himself as being “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.” Before God created man, He made a promise of a people with eternal life. Obviously, since this promise was made before the world began, it must have been made to Himself. Regardless, Paul records that God cannot lie. He will have such a people.

 “According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:” Ephesians 1:4

Here, Paul reveals that God chose a people before the foundation of the world that would be “holy and without blame before Him in love.”

“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.”  Romans 8:29

Long before God created man, He had promised Himself a people; A people with eternal life, a people that would be holy and without blame before Him, and a people conformed to the image of the Son of God.

“So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.” Genesis 1:27

Remembering that God, as creator, creates only in perfection, we can be assured that Adam was everything God had promised His people to be. Adam was created in perfection, in the very image and likeness of God. He was much more than just innocent, Adam was Holy. There was no sin in him, neither was there a sin nature. Adam had perfect fellowship with God. He knew nothing about guilt, condemnation, shame, or any of the horrors that come from sin. He lived in the paradise of God. Every work of God's hand was given to Adam. Obviously, Adam was the most intelligent man ever to live upon this earth, for he gave names to every living creature that God had created. He subdued the earth, and had dominion over all things that God had made. Adam could have eaten of the tree of life, and continued forever in this wonderful state God had created him in.

Recently, on a national religious television broadcast, there was a discussion between six different ministers concerning whether or not it is possible to “backslide” or “fall from grace.” One minister, from the eternal security position, said that if a person went back into a life of sin; he was never really saved to begin with. Though I did not totally agree with his position, I do not see any great danger in, the teaching of this man. Two of the ministers taught, as I also believe, that regardless of who you are, sin will separate you from God. The other three ministers openly held the theory that once you have believed on Jesus Christ, no amount of sin would cause you to miss heaven.

One of these, a lady minister, began to ridicule those that stood firmly against sin. “How many sins,” she asked, “will it take to send you to hell? Three sins? Four sins? Maybe a dozen sins?”

As I heard these things, I was grieved in spirit. I wondered, “Why don't we ask Adam? “Adam, you were created in the image and likeness of God. You had perfect fellowship with God. You lived in the paradise of God without guilt, and without shame. Adam, how many sins did it take to separate you from God?” Listen closely and see if we can hear Adam's answer. “Only one!”

“Adam, is that you? What did you say?” “ONLY ONE SIN!!!”

Can you comprehend that paradise was lost because of one sin? The whole of Adam's race fell because of one sin. Today there are well over five billion souls in hell because of that one sin. By the end of this generation, there will be over ten billion souls in hell because of Adam's one sin. If there was ever a sin that God could overlook, it would have been Adam ' s sin, but God cannot overlook sin

If these things be so, then surely Adam's sin must have been something more horrible than man today could even imagine. But what was the sin? Adam ate of the wrong tree. He could have eaten of any of the trees of the garden, including the tree of life, but he ate of that one tree that God had said would bring death. Adam was not deceived, he was not trapped, and he was not ignorant of the penalty. The bible says that the “transgressed.” (I Timothy 2: 14) Adam chose to disobey God, and Oh, what horrible consequences followed. Of his own free will, Adam sinned against God, and became a fallen man.

Adam's race could never again be that which God had promised. God cannot lie. Because of His promise, He could not simply destroy His creation, and start over. There had to be a redeemer for man. There had to be a new creation, but it had to be brought out of the first creation. Immediately after Adam's sin, God gave the promise of a redeemer, “The seed of the woman,” who would “bruise the head of the serpent.” (Genesis 3: 15) This was the first promise of Jesus in the Bible. The promise made “before the world was” would be fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

“And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the Lord said, 'I WILL DESTROY MAN WHOM I HAVE CREATED from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; For it repenteth me that I have made them.”' Genesis 6:6-7

“And God said unto Noah, 'THE END OF ALL FLESH IS CO ME B EFO RE ME; for the earth is filled with violence through them; And, behold, I WILL DESTROY THEM WITH THE EARTH.”' Genesis 6:13

Approximately 970 years before the flood, at least 179 years before Adam passed away, the prophet Enoch prophesied of the second coming of Jesus, as recorded in the New Testament:

“And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying” Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”  Jude: 14-15

Obviously, when God spoke to Noah about the end of all flesh, He was foreseeing far beyond the flood, even to the time of the end of the world.

We teach much about the end time judgments and the destruction of the wicked upon this earth. Finally, at the end of the thousand-year reign of Christ, the earth itself will become a ball of fire, the elements melting with fervent heat, the temporary things being burned up, and the earth itself fleeing away from the face of God almighty. And there will be no place found for it anymore. (Revelation 20: 11) In that day, all “flesh” will have been cast into the lake of fire. In that day, there will be a new heaven, and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. (II Peter 3: 13) It will be the dwelling place of the sons of God, born of the spirit of God, the new creation God spoke of in Revelation 21:5 saying, “Behold, I make all things new.” The first creation; heaven, earth, man, animal, plant, fish, and fowl is going to pass away, as it is written:

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: FOR THE FORMER THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY.”  Revelation 21:4

“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” Genesis 6:8

It was out of Noah's seed that Jesus must come. The Adamic creation could not be utterly destroyed until the new creation was in place.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD

I remember an experience I received from God about twenty years ago. At that time, I knew a number of preachers that were preaching their revelations of “the kingdom of God. “ It seemed they could teach for day after day about the kingdom, and as a young minister, I was fascinated by the depths of their doctrine. Yet, try as I would, it seemed that I could not even begin to comprehend what they were saying. I determined to enter into a time of fasting and prayer, to receive from God the revelation of the kingdom of God. After about nineteen days of fasting, I was shut up in a motel room in Joplin, Missouri where I had been praying. It was after midnight, and I had just laid across the bed to rest, when the presence of God came upon me in a most powerful manner. I somehow knew God was about to speak to me, and reveal to me His kingdom. This was one of a few times in my experience with God that I have heard Him speak so plainly while I was awake. I heard His voice, and this is what He said, “ JESUS CHRIST IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD.”

I knew beyond any doubt, God had spoken to me. The glory of His presence was beyond words. The experience was powerful, but frankly, when I later considered what I heard, I was disappointed. I had fasted for nineteen days to receive a revelation that others had devoted their entire ministries to, and God gave it to me in only seven words. It was too simple to even believe. It was, in fact, years later before the impact of what God had spoken really hit me. I had indeed received the true revelation of the kingdom of God.” Jesus Christ is the kingdom of God.” That, my friend, says it all.

“ And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a LIVING SOUL; the last Adam was made a QUICKENING SPIRIT.”  I Corinthians 15: 45

Traditional theology would tell us that every man is a spirit, has a soul, and lives in a body. But notice the distinct difference shown in this scripture between Adam, the first man of the earth, and Jesus Christ the new creation. Adam was made a living soul, but Jesus was made a quickening spirit. The world had never seen another man like Jesus Christ. But where did Paul get his knowledge that Adam was a living soul, and Jesus a quickening spirit?

“ And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living “soul.” Genesis 2:7

Notice that Adam was a living soul. It is the word “living” that makes the distinction between a man and an animal. God had made a man that would live forever in some state, in some place, either in fellowship with God or out of fellowship with God. But He called him a living soul. The meaning of the term “living soul” is a “living, breathing creature.” The breath of life from God was living in him; he was eternal in nature, but a soul nonetheless.

“The first man (Adam) is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.” I Corinthians 15:47

When God brought forth His Son, He was not formed of the dust of the earth; neither was he an overhaul job, not just a new model of the old failure. God did not simply repair (revive, renew, or restore) the old creation, He made a new creation. The very God of heaven conceived in the womb of a woman and produced a species upon this planet such as never was before. He was made, not a living soul, but a quickening spirit. This is the reason Jesus tells us that we must be born again. That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the soul is soul; but that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. That which is born of God is spirit. Please don't confuse this truth with the teaching of those that have perverted the truth by teaching that we are gods. No, we are not gods. We are the sons of God. “ 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.” (1 John 3:2)

“As is the earthy (Adam), such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly (Jesus), such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.” I Corinthians 15:48-49

Much of the church today teaches that God is restoring us back to Adam's position before the fall. This is not true. The scripture is plain in it's teaching that before we were born of the spirit, we bore the image of Adam, but after we are born of the Spirit, we bear the image of Jesus Christ. In Revelation 14:4, the scripture says we are re­deemed from among men, not restored back to man. We are redeemed to be sons of God, the children of God.

“What is man, that thou are mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour . Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All the sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the sea.” Psalms 8:48

Adam had dominion over the earth. The things of earth were made for Adam, but notice the extent of Adam's dominion; sheep, oxen, birds, and fish. This is certainly not the domain of God's new creation.

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:1-2

The new creation does not seek the things of earth, or the things that belong to Adam. Rather, we are instructed to seek those things that are above, those things that are eternal in the heavens. The songwriter wrote the truth, “This world is not my home, I'm just a passing through.” Jesus said that His people are not of this world. New creation dominion is over sin, Satan, principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6: 12)

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15

The Greek word that was translated “tempted” means “to be tested, scrutinized, examined, etc.” Therefore, the temptation of Jesus does not in any way indicate any personal desire to sin, or to do any of the things He was tempted with. Instead, Jesus was tested in the same manner that a manufacturer might test a new product. A man might invent a product, but before he mass produces it, he will test it in every conceivable way. The product must be proven before it is placed into production. This is exactly what God did with Jesus. Jesus Christ was God's new creation. Before His resurrection, Jesus was called “(he only begotten son of God.” It was during the 3-1/2 year period before His resurrection that He was being tested in every conceivable way. After His resurrection, Jesus is called the “first-begotten” Son of God (Hebrews 1:6), and the “firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8:29)

When Jesus was thirty years old, He was baptized in the River Jordan. The Holy Ghost came upon Him in a bodily form as a dove and sat upon Him. And a voice spoke from heaven saying” 'This is my beloved Son in whom lam well pleased.” He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted (tested) of the Devil. God was saying” 'Devil, here is my Son, do your best.” He was tempted of the devil forty days and forty nights. The scripture records three specific temptations and how Jesus the Son of God continually overcame them saying, “It is written…” Every temptation that was recorded and every temptation that was not recorded, He answered, “It is written...”

The first temptation was, “If thou be the Son of God, command these stones to be made bread.” Jesus said, “It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the -mouth of the Father.” He was saying, “Devil, I have nothing to prove to you. I know from whence I came.” “If thou be the son of God, cast thyself down from the pinnacle of the temple, for it is written, 'He shall give the angels charge over thee to bear thee up in their hands lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.”' Jesus answered saying, “It is said, thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” He was saying, “Devil, who do you think you are talking to? I have nothing to prove to you. I know where I came from.” Then the devil took Him upon a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the power, and the glory thereof. He said, “ All this will I give unto you if you will fall down and worship me.” Jesus answered” 'Devil, it is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.”

“Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him.” I John 3:6

“He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.” I John 3:8

“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot $in, because he is born of God.” I John 3:9

“We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” I John 5:18

Several years ago, Hollywood released a move called “The Last Temptation of Christ.” I remember the uproar in the religious community because of this movie. Many Christians carried picket signs, protesting against the movie theaters that screened the movie. Although I agree that this movie was a blasphemous attack on the church, and the gospel of Jesus Christ, this event affected me in a very different way. Sometimes God will allow events to come that will cause us to examine what we believe about certain important issues. Otherwise, we will overlook them. We will be willingly ignorant concerning those issues until something happens to bring us to consider what God's word really teaches. This was such an event for me.

Now, not having seen the movie, I cannot comment a great deal about it, but the contradictions I saw surrounding the movie caused me to consider some things. In brief, the movie portrayed that Jesus, being a man, (though the Son of God) had every desire that we have. It portrayed that He could have rejected the cross, and lived a natural life, and was in fact tempted to do so. In His daydreaming, He was tempted to reject the cross, and get married and raise a family. I have heard that it portrayed the death of his wife (Mary Magdalene), fol­lowed by various sexual affairs, and even a homosexual affair. It portrayed many vulgar scenes, including a conversation between Jesus and an angel concerning sex. Later, the movie portrays that Jesus rejected the temptation, and went to the cross instead. I began to wonder, where did Hollywood get this concept? I was stunned when I realized, they had gotten the idea from the church. They used the concept, believed by multitudes of Christians, that Jesus could have sinned, but that He overcame sin to show us that we can overcome sin. This concept states that Jesus was 100% man, as well as 100% God. I had to examine the concept. I had to know the truth. I personally had always believed that Jesus could have sinned. What good would it have been for Him to be tempted if He could not have sinned? I had used all the usual arguments. One day while I was praying and meditating upon these things, the truth came to me clearly from the scripture. “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” I had sought for years to apply this scripture to God's people, but never to Jesus Himself. I decided to believe it. If this scripture is to be fulfilled in perfection, it must be in Jesus Christ. He that is born of God cannot sin, because he is born of God. The impossibility of Jesus committing sin was revealed in the scripture all along. Jesus Christ could not have failed. He was tested, yes, but the possibility of failure was nonexistent because He was the Son of God.

When the temptations were ended, Jesus came out of the wilderness in the power of the Holy Ghost. He went back to Nazareth where He had been reared with Mary and Joseph. The people thought they knew Him well, but they knew Him only as the son of Joseph the carpenter. He took up the scriptures in the synagogue on the Sabbath, and as was His custom, He began to read. But something had happened to this Son of God. The Holy Ghost was upon Him. He turned to the book of Isaiah and began to read. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” Closing the book, He sat down and said, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” This scripture was a prophecy of the Jewish Messiah. They well knew the prophesies of Messiah. But Jesus had said to them, this day is this scripture fulfilled. The people wondered about His words and questioned among themselves, “Is not this Joseph's son?” They drove Him out of town to a bluff and would have cast Him over the edge to destroy His life, but He departed out of their midst. (Luke 4:1-30) Jesus went to Capernaum and there He began to teach in the synagogue. I can imagine, here is a young minister that comes to the synagogue. He is not well known, because Capernaum is about twenty miles from Nazareth. They had probably heard about the disruption of the service in Nazareth, and the confusion that followed. But the priest in the synagogue in Caper­naum was long-suffering and understanding and probably said some­thing like this, “We have Jesus of Nazareth with us today. He is the son of Joseph the carpenter. You remember Joseph, he built cabinets in some of your houses and Jesus has helped him. He is a good carpenter; but He has become a teacher and wants to teach. Let us be patient with Him. He is just getting started. He's probably made some mistakes, but after all, He' s young, so we are going to be patient with Him.” And so Jesus stands up and begins to teach the people, and they don't know who He really is. But there is one there who knows very well who Jesus is, because Jesus had already overcome him. Who am I talking about? The bible says that one possessed of the devil began to cry aloud 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.” (Luke 4:31-34) The demons from the pit of hell recognized Him, they knew that this was the Son of the Living God. This same Jesus walked upon this earth and ministered for 3-1/2 years.

“And the angel answered and said unto her (Mary), the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore, aim that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the SON OF GOD.”  Luke 1:35

Jesus is called the only begotten Son of God. In Mary's womb, He was the Son of God. Lying in the manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes, He was the Son of God. Jesus Christ is the only Son of God ever born of woman. He had no need to be “born again.”

Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born again. Nicodemus answered, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?” Jesus answered, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” (John 3:3-7) Obviously, Jesus was not telling Nicodemus that his body, or his soul should be born again. According to Strong’s Concordance of the Bible, the Greek word that was translated “again “ literally means “from above.” Jesus was saying, “Ye must be born from above.”

Being born of the Spirit of God, we are the sons of God, but my body is not the son of God. Romans 8:23 tells me that I am waiting for the adoption, that is, the redemption of my body. At the return of Jesus, my body is going to be changed, and be made like unto His glorious body. (Philippians 3:21) Until that day, Paul tells us “That every one of you should know how to (have control of) his vessel (body) in sanctification and honour.” (1 Thessalonians 4: 4) In I Peter I: 7 -9, the scripture speaks of” Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your soul” at the appearing of Jesus Christ. Again, until that day Jesus tells us, “in your patience possess (have control of) your soul.” Some people mistakenly believe Peter is saying that you won't know if you are saved until the end. That is simply not so. From the moment that I was born of the spirit of God, I became a spiritual son of God, a new creation in Jesus Christ Old things passed away and all things became new.

Everything about Jesus Christ was the Son of God. His human body was the Son of God. His soul was the Son of God. His spirit was the Son of God. Some have believed that Jesus was divided in nature; humanity and divinity. They say He received His body from Mary and His spirit from God. You can't separate Jesus Christ from God or from man, because Jesus Christ is a new creation. He is the result of a union between God and man. The product is the new creation, something that has never existed before. In His earthly walk His body was just as much the Son of God as His spirit was. His soul and everything about Him was the Son of God. But I’ll tell you something else, everything about Him was also the son of Mary.

“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent Forth His Son, MADE OF A WOMAN, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the Jaw, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”  Galatians 4:4-5

I have a number of children, and every one of them is 100% mine. They are not 50% my child, and 50% their mother's child. They are 100% mine and they are 100% their mother's. Jesus was 100% the Son of God, and 100% the son of Mary. Some, not understanding the new creation, believe that Jesus was 100% God and 100% man. No! He was a new creation, the union between God and man. The eternal word that was in the beginning with God was God, was made flesh and dwelt among men; that was the new creation.

Many believe that Jesus Christ was what Adam was before the transgression. But that is also not true. He was the first man of the new creation.

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 'Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, whim being interpreted is GOD WITH US.” Matthew 1:21-23

“In whom (Jesus) we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD, the firstborn of every creature.” Colossians 1:14-15

He ministered upon this earth, telling His disciples, “If you have seen me you have seen the Father.” (John 14:9) Jesus was the express image of God, healing the sick, casting out devils, doing the work of God, setting captives free upon this earth. He was just passing through, but look at the mighty works that He did, delivering and forgiving them, saving and healing them, cleansing the lepers, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk and the blind to see. Officers were sent by the religious court of the day to take Him, but they returned empty-handed. They were cross-examined, “ Are you also deceived?” They answered, “Never a man spake like this man.”

One day, Jesus was on a ship crossing the Sea of Galilee with His disciples. He was asleep in the hold of the ship when a terrible storm came up and the ship began to sink. The disciples cried out for fear, “Master, we perish.” They woke Jesus and He stood on the bow of the ship and spoke to the storm, “Peace be still,” and suddenly there was a great calm. The disciples cried, “What a man is this, for even the wind and the waves obey Him.” I'm talking about a new creation. Devils could do nothing with Him.

“And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not.” John 1:5

The phrase “comprehended it not” means the darkness “seized it not.” He kept shining. Praise God, doing the works of His Father, He kept shining. He knew who His Father was. He knew what His job was. He knew what His commission was. And they marveled repeatedly, “What a Word is this, for with authority He commandeth even the unclean spirits and they obey Him.” This was the Son of God. This was that new species. But later, Paul was able to record Him as the firstborn among many brethren. Hallelujah.

“This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord.” Psalms 102:18

Possibly one of the most remarkable prophetic glimpses of the new creation is this given by David; “--the generation to come:--the people that shall be created-

“He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? For He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was He stricken.” Isaiah 53:8

Isaiah saw this new creation rejected by His own, though multitudes once followed Him, and tens of thousands had eaten of the loaves and fishes He multiplied. At one time they had sought to take Him by force and make Him their king. They lined the streets when He came into Jerusalem that last week throwing palm leaves in His path crying, “HOSANNA TO THE KING OF THE JEWS.” But now, He was arrested and put on trial. The scripture says they all forsook Him. Here He is on trial, false witnesses brought before Him, condemned to die, beaten with thirty-nine stripes, a crown of thorns placed on His head, the cross laid upon His back, carrying it up to Calvary, crucified in shame, despised and rejected of men. Isaiah, seeing by the Spirit of prophecy cries, “Who shall declare His generation.”

Even today, when someone dies, we observe the custom of declar­ing the generation of the deceased. “Mister John Doe is survived by six sons and three daughters.” And they name that generation. “He is survived by fourteen grandsons and sixteen granddaughters.” And they name that generation. “And he is survived by twenty-two great grandchildren.” And they name that generation. But Jesus Christ had no generation. Here is the new creation, but He never married, never begat children to pass it on through. They hung Him on the cross and He died, and “Who shall declare His generation? For He was cut off out of the land of the living.” Verse 10 says, “When thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see HIS seed.” Receive the impact of this prophecy. He died without a generation, but He was resurrected with a generation. He died without seed, but He rose again with seed. A new creation was raised with Him. He died without it but He was resurrected with it, for “Even when we were dead in sins, (God) hath quickened us together with Christ...” (Ephesians 2:5)

He was called the seed of David according to the flesh, but He was declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead. When He rose again, the nature of the new creation was proven, that it could not fail. Death could not stop it. Sin could not overcome it. The devil could not defeat it. The new creation conquered everything. He conquered death and the grave and He came forth victorious.

Jesus speaks in John 16:33 to His followers, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Hallelujah. The new creation could not sin, He was born of God. He could not fail, He was born of God.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I but CHRIST LIVETH IN ME; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

As Jesus Christ lives in us, He cannot fail. We have the potential for absolute victory over sin, Satan, the flesh, temptation, and every other enemy. If we walk in the Spirit, Paul said, we shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

“But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, IS THEREFORE CHRIST THE MINISTER OF SIN? God forbid.”  Galatians 2:17

The word “minister” in this text comes from the same Greek word that is translated “deacon” or “servant.” If a “Christian” is committing sin, is Jesus Christ living in him? Paul said, “God forbid.” Jesus is not a servant to sin, and He will not live sin through you. Jesus said, “Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” (John 8:34)

I had completed an extended time of fasting and prayer in 1985. Some time after the fast, the supernatural anointing of the Holy Ghost began to fall upon me to preach by revelation. Souls were saved in virtually every service during that period of time. But one day the Holy Ghost came upon me in one of the most powerful ways that I had ever experienced. Although I had yielded totally to the Holy Ghost to preach, something the Spirit was saying troubled me at first. The Spirit was saying that Jesus Christ, the Son of God did not overcome sin on this earth as a natural man. You see, I had always believed that He did. This scared me as it came out of my lips under the anointing: “ Jesus Christ did not raise the dead and heal the sick as a natural man upon this earth. Jesus Christ did not overcome the devil in the wilderness and do His mighty works on earth as a natural man. Jesus was not an example to us of what a natural man could do through faith, fasting, and prayer. Jesus did nothing as a natural man, because JESUS CHRIST WAS MORE THAN A MAN, He WAS THE SON OF GOD.” When the Holy Ghost spoke these next words, the great light of heaven burst through upon my soul. “ And you, IF YOU ARE BORN OF GOD, you are MORE than just a natural man, YOU ARE A SON OF GOD. “ And, Oh the glorious light of truth burst upon me. How long I had struggled as a natural man to please God. How long I had struggled through fasting and prayer and all of these things, trying to please God and could not do it. I had the example. They told me”, Jesus overcame as a natural man so therefore you, as a natural man can overcome.” Let me tell you something, you cannot do it as a natural man. Jesus did not overcome as a natural man, but as the Son of God.

Someone says, “Yes, but He didn't live as the Son of God, He lived as a natural man.” How could the Son of God do anything as a natural man? He wasn't a natural man. He was a new creation. There had never been another like Him. Adam knew nothing about this. Adam was a soul creation, Jesus was a Spirit creation: the Son of the Living God from the mother's womb. Everything He did was as the Son of the Living God, as an example of what a Son of God is, and what the new creation is. He did not overcome sin as a natural man, but as the son of God.

But thank God, He put a new spirit, a new creation on the inside of us. He said we would be the sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. We shall shine forth as the sons of God, without rebuke, a glorious church, a holy church, a spotless church, without blemish. This is what He presents to Himself upon His return. We are not comfortless, we are not without strength, and we are not without power, because we are born of God. We are new creations. If you are just religious, you cannot hear this message. But if you have been washed in the blood, born of the spirit of God, this is good news. You are free from sin, have power over sin, power over the devil, power to overcome, power to be victorious, With the Spirit of holiness dwelling within us, it produces a glorious church, a spotless people, the seed of God upon this earth.

“AND WHEN THE DAY OF PENTECOST WAS FULLY COME, THEY WERE ALL WITH ONE ACCORD IN ONE PLACE. AND SUDDENLY THERE CAME A SOUND FROM HEAVEN AS OF A RUSHING MIGHTY WIND, AND IT FILLED ALL THE HOUSE WHERE THEY WERE SITTING.”  ACTS 2:1-2

“Suddenly there came a sound from heaven.” Many times as I study, I will take the Strong's Concordance and look up the meaning of every word in a scripture. I was surprised when I researched the words found in Acts 2:2. The word “sound” comes from the Greek word “echos” meaning an echo. The scripture is literally saying, “Suddenly there came an echo from heaven.”

Do you want to see what heaven is like? Look at Jesus Christ. Do you want to see what heavenly things are like? Just look at Jesus Christ. He is an echo from heaven, the nature of heaven is echoed in Jesus Christ. He said, “The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what thingsoever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.” (John 5:19) The Father spoke in heaven, and the Son spoke on earth. The Father worked in heaven, and the Son worked on earth. Praise God. The possibility of failure does not exist, for this is the Son of God. He walked with His Father and He talked with His Father. And He heard from His Father and He did the will of His Father.

For the past 3 1/2 years, there had been an echo of heaven, walking on this earth, living without sin, doing the works of God, and overcoming the devil at every turn. He was absolutely victorious, not just struggling, trying to be. HE WAS, HE IS AND IS FOREVERMORE. And because He is, WE ARE. Glory to God.

On the day of Pentecost, there came a sound from heaven, but it was more than just a sound. It was an echo of things that are in heaven. That is why Jesus was on this earth. He said, “If I go, I will send another. “ Suddenly there came an “ echo” from heaven, just like what is in heaven.

We are not of this world. Though we are in this world, we are not of this world. We are a new creation. In John 17, Jesus prayed to the Father, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.”

Our names are written in heaven. The disciples came back rejoicing that even the devils were subject to them through His name. He said, “Rejoice not in this, but rather rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Why do you think devils are subject to us? Because our names are written in heaven.

A few days after the day of Pentecost, Peter took up the name of Jesus, saying to a man lying lame at the gate beautiful, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And immediately the man's feet and ankle bones were strengthened and he went leaping and rejoicing and praising God into the temple. When the multitude saw it, they ran to Peter and John in amazement, wondering about the great miracle. Peter answered, “Why do you look on us as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? His name (Jesus) through faith in His name hath made this man strong.” (Acts 3:12,16) When the religious council heard these things, it jailed them over night, and questioned them the next day. “By what power or by what name have you done this?” And they answered, “If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.” (Acts 4:9-10) Peter indicts them for the murder of Jesus and continues, “Neither is their salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) The council conferred with itself, and brought forth this conclusion,” But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.” (Acts 4: 17 -18)

Notice the wisdom of their council. “That it spread no further, don't ever teach or preach Jesus Christ again.” The devil knows where our victory is. The devil knows what the new creation is. He knows that in the heart and mouth of a new creation, the name of Jesus Christ causes hell to shake on its foundations. He will try to infiltrate the church with every other name in the world to pray in or to pray to. But they went out and they taught and they preached Jesus. Some of them laid their lives down for their testimony of Jesus, for they knew, “there is no other name given among men whereby we must be saved.” That is an echo of things in heaven. The council took them and beat them with whips and commanded them to never speak in Jesus' name again. But we are talking about an echo of heaven. The apostles called the believers together and had a prayer meeting. They prayed,” Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, by stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place was shaken with the Holy Ghost and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and spoke the word of God with boldness. Great grace was upon them, and with great power the apostles gave witness of the resurrection of Jesus.

Two people dropped dead when they lied to the Holy Ghost, and great fear came upon the church. Mighty signs and wonders and miracles were wrought by the hands of the apostles, and the number of believers were greatly added to the church. They brought the sick from all the regions round about and they laid them in the streets of Jerusalem so that the shadow of Peter passing might overshadow them. Multitudes that were sick and vexed with unclean spirits were brought from all the cities around Jerusalem, and the Bible says” '-­they were healed everyone.” We are talking about an echo of things that are in heaven. They were brought before the council again for preaching and teaching Jesus Christ. They were beaten, and their lives were threatened. Gamaliel, a teacher of the law (a wise man of the Jews) stood up and said, “Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this council or this work be of men, it will come to naught: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest ye be found even to tight against God.” (Acts 5:35,38-39) The church, if it is not of God, will come to naught. But he said, “If it is of God, take heed lest ye be found to tight against God.” They agreed with Gamaliel, and after they had beaten them and commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, they let them go. The scripture records that they left rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name, and daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. (Acts 5:41-42)

“These things are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing, you might have life through His name.”  John 20:31

“These things have I written unto you that believe upon the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life,--that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: And if we know that he heareth us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”  I John 5:13-15

John concludes his gospel with the phrase “that ye might believe. “ His first epistle concludes with “that ye might know.” How do we “know” that we have eternal life? Because we are new creatures, God's new creation. “That ye might know.” Thank GOO, you can know that ye know . You can know where you come from :Being born of the Spirit of God, we are washed in the blood, redeemed from among men; born of God, sons of God, victorious through Jesus Christ. “Be of good cheer,” He said, “for I have overcome the world.”

“Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” I John 5:5

The potential for us to be absolutely free from sin is ours. Or you have the potential to continue in sin if that is what you choose, but you win be lost. Why? Because He didn't leave us comfortless. He didn't leave us withoutp9wer. We are sons of God. And he that is born of God does not commit sin, for His seed remains in him, and he cannot sin. Do you understand that the new man cannot sin? If you walk in the Spirit, you cannot sin. He did not say you should not. He said you cannot. Oh, there is a victory that has been wrought in Jesus Christ for God's people. We cannot sin. We cannot fail; new creations cannot, Sons of God do not, flesh does, but we don't have to. The potential for absolute victory is ours because we are new creations. If you walk after the flesh, you will die. But if you, through the spirit do mortify the deed of the body, then shall ye live. I long for the day the people of God will hunger after the reality of the new creation, so hungry for Jesus Christ, that they turn to God with “ALL” their heart, and worship Him, love and serve Him with all their hearts; surrendering themselves to Him until suddenly the sound from heaven returns upon the church; just as it was at Pentecost; just as it is in heaven.