"We see, in many a land, the proudest dynasties and tyrannies still crushing, with their mountain weight, every free motion of the Consciences and hearts of men. We see, on the other hand, the truest heroism for the right and the greatest devotion to the Truth in hearts that God has touched. We have a work to do, as great as our forefathers and, perhaps, far greater. The enemies of Truth are more numerous and subtle than ever and the needs of the Church are greater than at any preceding time. If we are not debtors to the present, then men were never debtors to their age and their time. Brethren, we are debtors to the hour in which we live. Oh, that we might stamp it with Truth and that God might help us to impress upon its wings some proof that it has not flown by neglected and unheeded." -- C.H. Spurgeon . . . "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:31, 32 . . . . .

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Sunday, July 30, 2017

The BIBLICAL MODEL of MAN - ULTIMATELY in The SON of MAN!


By James Fire

Let us consider the “first Adam” (1 COR 15:45) = Ah-dawm “Man”. The creation of God as the ideal and the model of man prior to the fall. The following list begins with the letter “I” and addresses Adam’s condition and qualities prior to the fall:

The I'S HAVE IT!

Inspired: The Spirit of God gave him life. The vitality of God indwelt the man so that he became a living soul (GEN 2:7) – self-aware, and integrated with awareness of God. He had fellowship with God. 

Intimate: Yet God said, “It is not good that man should be alone” (GEN 2:18). God determined that Adam needed someone of his own kind for interaction, and develop intimate relationship with Him as well as his significant other, Eve.

Innocence: Both were entirely innocent, not knowing iniquity, corruption and sin (GEN 2:25). They were corruptible, but while innocent, not corrupted We see this innocence dimly mirrored in a baby or very young child. They are unaware of the sin nature within them, or the curse of sin upon this world.

Intelligence: Adam and Eve’s intelligence were unstained by the devastating effects of sin that wreaks deterioration, destruction and death on our own minds. We have no idea of the level of intelligence they possessed, but this “paragon of God’s creatures” would no doubt be superior to any other man in their fallen state. God left it up to Adam to name all the creatures that the LORD created, both land-dwelling and air. Consider how formidable a task this would be, and yet God left this for Adam to do, knowing he was competent for the job!

Having the innocence of a child and the brains of a mega-Einstein we can only imagine how awesome Adam really was – someone that Lucifer deemed as a competitor.

Integrity: Being innocent and untouched by sin, he was without a sin nature at all. While in this state, he had an integrity like no other human being who ever lived. While walking with God, he would be impervious to any assault by the adversary.

Influential: As the steward of the world, this God-given authority would enable Adam to have the most profound influence and governorship over the LORD’s creation.

THEN: Infested: Sin entered the hearts of Adam and Eve and they fell from the position that God had ordained for them and they inherited a sinful nature. Since we don’t really know the God-ordained heights of their position, we can’t really say for sure how far their fall was – but we know it was terrible, devastating, ruinous and tragic.

And now let’s consider the one Who is called “the last Adam” (1 COR 15:45): 

Jesus = Yeho-shuah: “Our God is Salvation”
In Christ we have the hypostatic union: very God from very God, One with the Father, the only Begotten of the Father as well as the quintessential model of man – 100% God and 100% man.

In Him, there was more than mere inspiration of life by God’s Spirit, He was/is God made flesh (JOHN 1:14)!

In Him was pure and unadulterated intimacy with God the Father (JOHN 10:30) and the Holy Spirit (1 JOHN 5:7), and He has an unequaled intimacy with His bride – the church, as well (JOHN 17:21; EPH 5:31-32).

In Him was more than mere innocence, but holiness (ROM 1:4) – the Divine nature, not inherited but possessed by Him (2 PET 1:2-3), being the Second Person of the Trinity.

His intelligence is the highest there is: omniscience (REV 2:23) – all knowing!

His integrity, unlike Adam’s is incorruptible – unable to be infested by sin (HEB 7:26)!

His influence is that of omnipotence – all powerful (COL 1:17; JOHN 1:3)!

We were all children of Adam, and part of the corporation that is the old man (EPH 4:22), fallen human race; but those who place faith in Christ have become members of the corporation that is the new man (EPH 4:24), the recreated human race!

In Christ we inherit more, far more than what Adam lost (ROM 8:17)! Even more than what Lucifer the anointed (and most likely the most powerful) cherub has lost (ROM 8:29)!

QUALITIES of a BIBLICAL MAN after CHRIST

LOVE

JOHN 13:34 
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.


Some think love is unmanly, that it makes a man soft or feminine or weak. Consider how much Christ loved us, that He willingly died for us (JOHN 15:12-14). Such love inspires bravery, courage, determination as well as compassion and sacrifice; all such virtues possessed and supremely exemplified in the Person of JESUS CHRIST!

It is impossible for us to love one another in the same way that Christ loves us, by our own human effort – it must be Christ Who indwells us and empowers us to do so (JOHN 13:34-35). Christ’s love led Him to Calvary, straight into the destructive power of sin in order to save us (GAL 2:20)! The greatest virtue according to God is not faith or hope – these are however among the top three: the greatest is love (1 COR 13:13)! 

RETREAT:

2 TIMOTHY 2:22
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.


Some think that running away is cowardly – but in fact, it can be the wisest thing a man can do, especially if you consider what it is he is running away from or to:
Consider Joseph – he ran away from Potiphar’s wife when she was trying to seduce him into committing adultery with her (GEN 39:12).
Think about King David, probably the mightiest warrior Israel had ever known since the days of Joshua:

PSALM 143:9 
Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.

(See also 1 TIM 6:9-11).

HUMBLENESS:

Is humbleness and humility for wimps? Or warriors?
Some people think that being humble means being a door mat for people to walk all over. Humbleness is actually truthfulness about yourself in the light of God’s truth.
I can say with absolute humbleness that I am, in and of myself, a wretched sinner that deserves God’s wrath and judgment (1 TIM 1:15). That I am worthless and no good (ROM 7:18). I can also say with equal humbleness that I am a saint in Christ and because of Christ, I am holy (HEB 12:14), righteous (ROM 3:22) and destined to become a ruler of the world (the world to come; REV 2:26-27).

Humbleness will allow me to overlook others when they insult me (1 PET 2:18-19), or love those that persecute me (LUKE 6:35), but will stand up in righteous indignation if they mock and ridicule the LORD – just as the LORD Jesus looked the other way when He was insulted, but was full of anger when He saw what the religious leaders allowed in His Father’s Temple (making it a den of thieves; MATT 21:13).
It is the humble man that God will exalt in due time, and live to see the pride and power of Satan cast down into ruin!

JAMES 4:6,10
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.


FAIRNESS and FORGIVENESS:

MICAH 6:8
8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?


Men in the world think it’s perfectly fine to do whatever it takes to get ahead; lie, cheat, steal, back-stab, etc. The ends justify the means.
However, the godly man will always seek fairness, never seeking promotion by unethical methods, but by acknowledging the LORD and following Him in all ways (PSALM 75:6-7; PROV 3:5-6). He will always endeavor to be just and fair, and to stand for justice, especially on behalf of those who are victimized by oppressors and predators.

Men in the world will harden their hearts against those who wrong them, and even more: seek vengeance.
The godly man however, will follow the LORD’s example, and forgive any offenses done to him (MATT 6:15); more over He will look to the LORD to judge those who wrong him, but until that Day (HEB 10:30), he will extend mercy always, especially to the undeserving who are worthy of wrath.

DISCIPLINED in WORD and DEED:

Self explanatory:

JAMES 3:2-13
2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 

7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. 13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

THOUGH NONE GO WITH HIM:

PSALM 12:1
Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.


The godly man will not fear to stand alone, if he is standing with God in truth. He will remain faithful even when others have failed. He will always seek the help of the LORD in meekness, and not try to ‘man up’ and go in his own strength (MATT 7:7; ISAIAH 40:31). In seeking God’s help, the LORD will never fail him:

PSALM 12:5
 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him
.


Consider Noah!

GENESIS 6:9 
These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.


Consider JESUS! The ONLY Sinless man Who followed God perfectly amidst an entire global population of sinners!

WISDOM in the WORD:

The godly man will dismiss the wisdom of this world (COL 2:8; 1 COR 20-21; 2:6), rejecting it outright, and instead cleave to the wisdom from above, that comes from GOD alone, revealed by the Word, which he abides by:

2 TIMOTHY 3:15 
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation [justification as well as sanctification] through faith which is in Christ Jesus.


This wisdom will enable good fruit to grow in the godly man: 

JAMES 3:17
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.


There are many other verses that speak on being a godly man (or woman for that matter) that may be considered at this following link.

And for more on this subject of a godly man, that is, a saint of God, consider the following TTUF article:

SHOW ME

And bearing the fruit of the Spirit unto godliness:
AFTER HIS KIND

Now to address this issue of what's been called "Toxic Masculinity" which essentially speaks of the ruinous aspects of men whose characteristics can wreak havoc and mayhem in any relationship they may have. This is a reality due to sin nature. Toxic Femininity is also a reality - and any denial of this is a denial of sin nature, and a ploy used by Feminist movements.

There is a difference between biblical masculinity and toxic, and where there are those that see these as one and the same, are simple rebels against the will and Word of GOD.
"In the masculinity embodied by Jesus, there is room for every man except for the toxic ones. The stereotypical definition of masculinity has run its course. Some men are assertive, while others are collaborative. Some are “the strong silent type,” but others are loud and expressive. All are welcome in God's eyes, as long as they continue to stand strong in their level of integrity."
~ this quote from Megan Bailey
Check out this article by Megan Bailey on the subject:

 
RISE UP O MEN of GOD

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