"...proving that this is very Christ." _ Acts 9:22
"...proving that this is very Christ." _ Acts 9:22

FEBRUARY 11TH

FORGIVEN (Continued)

 

Scripture Reading:           

Luke 7:36-50 (KJV) "And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that [Jesus] sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at his feet behind [him] weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe [them] with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed [them] with the ointment.  Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw [it], he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman [this is] that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?  Simon answered and said, I suppose that [he], to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped [them] with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, [the same] loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."

 

     Next, let us continue the parable’s lesson of the debt.  We can see the significance of five hundred pence but what about the fifty pence?  Fifty is the number of Pentecost or the Holy Spirit as well as Divine order (ten) applied to grace (five).  Much of the religious system, as we know it today, is comfortable with Passover and Pentecost; however, those Feasts and what they represent are not all that God has for His Church.  The Holy Spirit is called the earnest of our inheritance, and we shall now read the applicable Scriptures. 

 

    II Corinthians 1:21-22 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, [is] God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. 

 

    II Corinthians 5:4-5 For we that are in [this] tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing [is] God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit."

 

    Ephesians 1:3-14 "Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ.  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: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; [even] in him in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: that we should be to the praise of his glory, who trusted in Christ. In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." 

(Underline added for emphasis by author).

 

     These passages show clearly the fulfillment of the Feasts of Passover (Jesus Sacrificed for us and as us) and Pentecost (The Gift of the Holy Spirit).  However, the Feast of Tabernacles requires an action on our part.  Unlike Simon, the Pharisee, who is satisfied to stop and this point and judge others, we must be like the woman in order to attain His fullness.  Continuous worship is the hallmark of the Feast of Tabernacles.  In the Old Testament, natural Israel moved out of their houses into booths to celebrate this Feast. 

In the spirit of the Word, read the following passage:  II Corinthians 6-8: "Therefore [we are] always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, [I say], and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."   The difference between Simon and the woman was that she "moved out of her house" and that is when (and only when) Jesus’ fullness had room to fill her temple, hence total worship!  Alleluia!

 

As stated, the Holy Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance.  Earnest means a foretaste or pledge of some further benefit.  It speaks to a gift of a new nature with future gifts of the same kind.  Like Jesus promised, He did send Another Comforter.  Another is like the Existing One.  That Comforter, takes of Christ’s and shows It unto us.  He is here to work with us until we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."(Ephesians 4:13, KJV) (Underline added for emphasis by author).                                                                                                            

Continued

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