Chapter 4
Christ – The New Creation in the Man Jesus
'Man'!
Uh? … What is that?
How and where did God get the idea, the shape and form to create out of dirt this creature called ‘man’ to be His image bearer?
Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Gen 1:26-27)
Perhaps the only clue is the Seraphim, the four living creatures always found in the Throne of God since eternity past. They have the appearance of the likeness of a man, each have four faces and each face is that of a man, a lion, an ox and an eagle (Ezek 1:5-10, Rev 4:6-9, Isaiah 6:1-7). As stated earlier in this book, could it be that the Seraphim passionate on the holiness of God serve the function of the judicial branch of the government? And the idea of man was chosen by God in the Genesis creation acts for Adam because of the four living creatures, man appears the weakest of them all. But God did choose a Man called Jesus to vindicate for Himself as Satan and his wicked cohorts accuse God of His character and righteousness (c.f. Job 1:6-12).
If indeed this is correct, even before God created man on earth, the image and the likeness of man in the Seraphim is already highly esteemed in the eyes of God. The Seraphim which has the appearance of the likeness of a man has the capacity of royalty, servanthood, personhood and holiness in the Throne of God.
Man must see himself in that self-worth that is also in the eyes of God and not see himself in the pathetic eyes of fallen mankind. Satan has robbed us of that worthiness and deceived us through sin and has held us captives to condemnation of human depravity (Eph 2:1-3). As quoted earlier in the book ‘God meant man to live in a Garden; sin has sent him to the slums. One teacher taught the reverse of the letter ‘God’ is ‘dog’…man was robbed and deceived and held captive to the lowest of dignity.
But we are meant for regal things! The Gospel is the power of God for the restoration and recovering of our redemptive value. We are destined for regal things in God’s Throne Room. Therefore we must conscientiously build regal things in the Temple within us, in magnanimous, honourable, meekness, in speech and in thought. A person like the late Nelson Mandela is regal in his ways.
The Four Gospels
There are four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, which are the four portraits and not biographies of Christ, giving a full, four dimensional view of the Person of Christ. Matthew portrays Christ as King (lion), Mark pictures Christ as the Servant (ox), Luke pictures Christ as Man (man) and John presents Christ as God (eagle). These four dimensions of Christ are images projected in the seraphim that minister to God in His Throne.
Can Christians be perfected in their earthly life?
I have observed over the years that many believers and even leaders have this notion that they can never be perfected in Christ in their life on earth. They can only be 'perfected' when they die and go to heaven. This negativism is counterproductive to the Kingdom. The Epistle to Romans tells us about salvation, that we are saved from:
- Penalty of Sin - there is no condemnation by the Blood of Christ
- Power of Sin - the Law of the Spirit and Life counter the Law of Sin and Death, the Christ in us the hope of glory
- Presence of Sin - we are given a new glorious body in Heaven.
Apostle Paul assures us:
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 5 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Cor. 4:16-5:11)
We can draw further assurance in the Seraphim that even before eternity past, that ‘man’ element in them was already present in the Throne of God! And the Man Jesus is the fullness expression of God's vindication.
A. The Creation of Man for the New Creation
What is man? Why did God created man? Have you ever ask why we are on this earth for? Why are all the sufferings, pains, deaths and tears? Why do the righteous suffer? What is God telling us through the life of Job? Why is God so mindful of him?
Ps 8:3-5
3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, 4 What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? 5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honour.
1. The heart of son, servant, and subject of the Kingdom
In Luke 15 Jesus tells the parable of the prodigal son. In this story that Jesus told, there are actually three sons. It is the story of a father with three sons. The elder son was in the father’s house and has everything of the father but yet he does not have the heart of a son, instead he has a heart of a servant expecting his ‘wages’ earned. The elder son was referring to the Pharisees in context but in particular to 'the anointed cherub who covers' in Ezek 28:14 who was in the high priestly office of 'The Light Bearer' or Lucifer 'The Shining One' who later became the Satan. The Pharisees and scribes complained because they have their self interest at heart, though they are in the Temple of God and like the elder son, involved in the affair of the household of God.
The prodigal son is referring to us sinners who are ‘saved’ but care about the blessings only; who took God for granted and later repented and eventually came to appreciate the goodness the Father. The subjects of a kingdom are only concerned about their own welfare and the blessings and benefits they can get. They have no concerns for the king and have only a subordinate attitude to the king.
But there is one more son in the story, the true Son who is the one telling the parable…he is the son who love the Father and his brothers and quietly went to the cross to show Satan and sinners, servants and subjects, what it means to be a true son! A true son of the Kingdom loves until it hurts, without a position, prestige or power but he always has the interest of the Father and his other brothers. Greater love has no one then one who lay down his life for his friend.
2. Why man?
Man was selected and created for the New Creation but not angels for several reasons:
a. Firstly, man has blood which spirit beings do not have.
Blood carries the oxygen that sustains life. Blood is life! Once the blood is drained, life ceases.
Lev 17:11-12
1 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.'
Heb 9:22
And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.
b. Secondly, man die whereas angels cannot die, can never die and cannot know about the pain, agony and suffering of physical death.
We will and have to die and experience the suffering, pains and agony associated with death. The cause of the cosmic chaos is Self – the ‘I, Me, Myself’. ‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ (Rom 3:23) and ‘the wages of sin is death’ (Rom 6:23). So when blood flows out, life flows out, ‘self’ flows out. No self… no sin! No sin, the glory of God can come forth. The reason God requires blood sacrifices of animal is to teach Adam and Eve and their descendants of greater love. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends (John 15:13). Sanctification is forming the ‘Christ in you’...perfecting in God’s kind of love by the denying of self. God is revealing that the way back to Him is to carry the cross, deny one’s self and follow Jesus Christ as he ‘SHOT’ himself in total surrender, total humility, and total obedience and in total trust in God.
21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps. (1 Peter 2:21)
I once shared with my disciples about the ‘privilege of dying’ that only man can have and angels can never have. They were astonished by my words but if you think about it, how true that only mankind can have this privilege that angels can never have! To love is easy but to love till it hurts is not so easy and to continue to love even when it is hurting is not easy at all. Needless to say, loving those undeserving ones even to death is impossible. But Jesus did it!
Rom 5:7-9
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 but God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
c. Thirdly, the intent of God why He created man and not angel is for His New Creation in Ephesians 3:10.
We need to see the vast contrast between the magnificent and splendour 'anointed cherub who covers' high priestly position before his fall and the lowly miserable looking sinner like us before we were saved. Please refer to the table and diagram.
Satan before his fall (Ezekiel 28:12-19)
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Sinners before saved by grace (Mark 14:3-9)
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· Seal of perfection
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· Seal of imperfection
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· Full of wisdom
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· Full of foolishness
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· Perfect in beauty
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· Perfect in ugliness
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· In the Presence of God
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· Alien to God
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· Has position, power and prestige
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· Has emptiness and nothingness
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· In a perfect environment
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· In a fallen environment of suffering, hopelessness and ugliness
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The table and diagram shows us the contrast of Satan when he was in the office of Lucifer and us, sinner saved by grace. Discontented without a grateful and thankful heart, the high and lofty Satan did not appreciate all that God has created him with and for. His path is of descent, decline, decay, destruction and death and our path is from glory to glory in Christ.
Sinners like us who are saved by grace understand the mercy and love of God; that in the midst of pains and suffering in a chaotic world that despise and reject, the great God would come in the form of a humble suffering servant to save a ‘nobody’! The sinful woman who came to anoint the feet of Jesus with costly oil of spikenard was able to love much because she was forgiven much. The love of God is able to open our heart to love the way God love us. (Mk 14:9, Lk 747). It is this incomprehensible love that surpasses knowledge that touches us deeply to respond to God. We are able to love much because we were forgiven much. We understood grace and mercy.
1 John 3:16-17
16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
B. The Context, the Church, the Cross, the Culture, the Colony, the Crown, the New Creation
1. The Context - as mentioned earlier, God created man and placed him in the colony on earth which serves as a platform with a process and the reward of the victory crown. We learn that the Church is God’ people undergoing the spiritual process of the cross in preparation for the victory crown in a vast platform of cultural diversity of differences and difficulties, wearing ‘the crown of thorns for the crown of glory’. God has given us the Picture with the Pattern for us to Practice in our Place and Period through the Process in the Preparation for His Priesthood, following the Pathway of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ our Lord
2. The Church is God's people called out by God to be brought into God's place for God's purpose. There is the Melchizedek priesthood of God for ‘he who overcomes’ (seven times this phrase occur in Revelation chapters 2 to 3). Therefore our life is not one of wandering aimlessly in the land of Nod but it is meaningful, purposeful and fulfilling.
3. The Cross (the wilderness journey) is the formation of God's people for the Melchizedek priesthood of God. God not only make His people a little lower than angels but they are given the privilege of suffering and dying in Christ, to show the principalities and powers in the heavenly places (Eph 3:10). Angels do not have this privilege. They do not have the opportunity to suffer and to die. We suffer and we die. All the temporal things in life on earth make us understand how to cherish and to love what is eternal. We love until it hurts and still continue to love. We are tested and proven in love for God and for others. “Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” (Luke 24:26)
3. The Cross (the wilderness journey) is the formation of God's people for the Melchizedek priesthood of God. God not only make His people a little lower than angels but they are given the privilege of suffering and dying in Christ, to show the principalities and powers in the heavenly places (Eph 3:10). Angels do not have this privilege. They do not have the opportunity to suffer and to die. We suffer and we die. All the temporal things in life on earth make us understand how to cherish and to love what is eternal. We love until it hurts and still continue to love. We are tested and proven in love for God and for others. “Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” (Luke 24:26)
1 Peter 2:20-24
20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 "Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth"; 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.
Jesus took the form of a man, not perfect in appearance but foolish looking to the rich and powerful, with no position, prestige and worldly power but yet he was able to love God and others even at the cost of his life to the point of death, and worst still, even the death at the cross! It demonstrates the kind and the extent of his obedience to God and of his love for us.
Phil 2:5-11
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 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. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 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, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
4. The Culture of ethnicity, race, religion, society, ideology, theology, diversity, differences and difficulties requires wisdom to incarnate and bridge the dividing walls of separation (Eph 2:14-18). The Holiness of God requires separation of His people from the world but the Rulership of God requires His people to penetrate the world and to bring His Kingdom down on it. It is sacred inside the Temple but secular in His Kingdom, ‘out of this world but yet sent in the world’ (John 17: 6-19) and it is profoundly describes by the saying, “The sea is salty but the fishes are not!”
For us who are redeemed and progressively been restored and transformed, we must break free from our egocentric and ethnocentric perspective but yet sanctified by truth in God’s words. The rulership and love of God is not hindered or limited by these cultural barriers and mindsets and the Spirit of God has liberty in expression beyond these limitations (2 Cor.3:17). We must through the cross overcome our self and our cultural norms to be sensitive to others and to bridge the walls of separation in order to reconcile in the universal Christ, the one new man. Churches that cannot break free from their ethnocentricity will always have Christ in particular cultural clothing and build dividing walls of separation with others. That cultural self must be removed too.
5. The Colony must find a workable expression of its entity on a geographical locality. There are several local churches in a geographical locality. The local churches are independent and self autonomous but they must cultivate sodality as His Colony for Kingdom impact and influence for the community in their area. The non-Christians know that Christians are good people but they cannot understand why there are so many different kinds of churches. This can be the next ecclesiological improvement where the local churches share and have a common hub in their geographical area for Kingdom impact, influence and activities for and to the community. His Colony is bigger than a local congregation, which we presently call the ‘local church’. It cannot manifest through a denomination or a network of churches in a country as pocket of churches but must be through His Body in a geographical locality for the community at large so that His Kingdom can come over the locality. The key question to answer is “What is the Body like thirty years from now in this city or locality? Is it each doing what is right in their own way or there is a tangible, recognisable Body expression that the local government and local community love, respect and keen to work with?”
6. The Crown – The Kingdom Colony is not of this world but sent into the world…is 'a country within a country…a system within a system' which operates under the Crown of Righteousness of the King Jesus in all aspects of the society - education, economics, politics, cultures, communities, families, works, institutions etc. The systems of the world in every country operate on the basis of self interest. This is inevitable in a complex world and it is in this context that the Colony moves in its own Kingdom values, principles and practices, like ‘a wheel within wheels’. Keeping the Kingdom Colony and upholding its Kingdom culture requires the training of the New Creation priesthood in kingly function to serve and guard it.
The Cross is for the formation of the priesthood and the Crown is for the maturation of the priesthood of Melchizedek.
The Kingdom of God prevails and shallows up the rest of the kingdoms of the world. The outworking and outcome of it is the conducive atmosphere for godly families to flourish where all ‘gates of hell’ - the influences of internal and external ‘mind moulder’ are neutralised. We are commanded to ‘occupy till He come’ (Luke 19:13). It requires wisdom, knowledge and skills. The wall of Nehemiah is about the wisdom required to uphold the Kingdom from being influenced by outside pressures and forces.
7. The New Creation - the process that the people of God have to undergo is constantly ‘bombarded’ with multiple hurdles and harassments both internally and externally, concurrently or simultaneously or continuously. The New Creation is forged out of the furnace of adversity to be pure gold (divine nature). It produces wisdom and understanding and the skills (Ex. 35: 30-36:1, Duet 4:6-8, 1 Kings 3:9, and 7:14).
God the Eternal Son incarnated in Jesus descended on earth to reveal God to men, and Jesus incarnates as Man and ascended to the heaven to reveal Man to angels!
As Bruce A. Ware mentions in his book ‘The Man Christ Jesus – Theological Reflections on the Humanity of Christ’, the Eternal Son became the Incarnate Son in Jesus, who is forever human from the moment of his conception in the womb of Mary, is the same man Jesus who ascended to heaven and continues as the Incarnate Son in the man Jesus in heaven forever to eternity.
The Ascension of Jesus Christ marks the very first time Man in substance is manifested in heaven. It marks the inauguration of the final product of the New Creation in heaven. The Ascension is the continued incarnation of Jesus as Man into eternity future. For the very first time in Heaven, Man is inaugurated into the Throne Room of God. A new angelic being called Man is ‘birthed’ into the Throne Room of God in heaven. Not all the called-out ones in Christ attain the Light that is in Jesus Christ and they do not belongs to those in the first resurrection but they will enjoy the goodness in the Kingdom of God which Jesus called ‘Paradise’ (Luke 23:43).
1. The doctrine of Ascension is apostolic
The Ascension is described in the Apostle’s Creed. It is apostolic and the Church cannot be apostolic when the Doctrine of Ascension is neglected. The Ascension of Jesus Christ, followed by his exaltation and his present governing reign, marks the completeness of the Gospel of the Kingdom and our destiny in Him. The Church is well versed in the birth, the ministry, the crucifixion, the death, the resurrection of Jesus but not in the ascension, exaltation, and the present priestly king function of Jesus the Man. It is not the complete understanding of the Gospel of the Kingdom. This has caused the Church to be anaemic, consuming on the blessings of salvation but not being prepared for the purpose of salvation. The Body cannot afford to keep ignorant, and there must be a restoration of apostolic fidelity in doctrines in the Church.
The Man Jesus excelled and exceeded the dimensions of the ‘man’ of the highest ranking loyal Seraphim, and now eternally seated at the right hand of God's Throne is the Man[2], tested, proven and approved. Jesus the firstborn of many ‘Man’, the Christ, is eternally incarnated in heaven. And it blew my mind that the same incarnation in heaven is given to us human beings to enter in through Christ Jesus. What an awesome privilege and honour!
1 Tim 2:5
5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus
Acts 2:22
22 "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know .
Acts 13:38-39
38 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Acts 17:30-31
30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now command all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.
30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now command all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.
2. What a Man!
We are taught in church that we are created to glorify God. ‘What is man?’ was the first question asked in the beginning of this chapter. “What a Man!”…was the first statement all the angels in heaven exclaimed! For the very first time they can truly witness a Man before their own eyes, the first prototype, the first end product, of the New Creation which their eyes can see, their ears can hear and their hands can touch – a Man who gives up his rights and his reputation, subjects himself willingly to the limitations and suffers humbly in misery of the lowest class and state of man, and continues in obedience to the point of death, even the death that was unjustly pronounced upon him. What a Man! And which principalities and powers in the heavenly places can understand this extent of love in obedience! God was vindicated by the Man Jesus the Christ.
8 Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, Jesus that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?" (Job 1:8)
Eph 3:10-12
10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the Ecclesia (in the Man) to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
When Jesus died at the cross, the centurion was astonished by the manner Jesus exit from this world and exclaimed “Certainly this was a righteous Man!”(Luke 23:47). Even the manner and the way Jesus died made a statement! Likewise when you and I finish our journey on earth and return back to God, would the angels be astonished by our entrance into Heaven and exclaimed with awe like the centurion did, “Look, what a man!” See what amazing confidence Apostle Paul has about his own presentation before the angels and the Lord!
2 Tim 4:6-8
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
3. The Man has become ‘so much better’ than angels, even the highest ranking Seraphim!
The reason why God created man for the New Creation is because not any man but the Man Jesus has shown that he is so much ‘better’ and that is the crux of the Epistle to the Hebrews, the Man Jesus is better than the angels, he is better than Moses, and is better than Joshua, his priesthood is better that the Aaronic Levitical Priesthood.
The Man Jesus in his journey of earth, empowered by the Holy Spirit, had in his life, crucifixion; death perfected the priestliness of God’s requirement for the new priesthood. Everything within him is Light! “And having been perfected, He (Jesus) became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him. God resurrected him from the dead with power according to the Spirit of Holiness (Rom 1:4)
3. The Man has become ‘so much better’ than angels, even the highest ranking Seraphim!
The reason why God created man for the New Creation is because not any man but the Man Jesus has shown that he is so much ‘better’ and that is the crux of the Epistle to the Hebrews, the Man Jesus is better than the angels, he is better than Moses, and is better than Joshua, his priesthood is better that the Aaronic Levitical Priesthood.
The Man Jesus in his journey of earth, empowered by the Holy Spirit, had in his life, crucifixion; death perfected the priestliness of God’s requirement for the new priesthood. Everything within him is Light! “And having been perfected, He (Jesus) became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him. God resurrected him from the dead with power according to the Spirit of Holiness (Rom 1:4)
Heb 5:7-11
Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 10 called by God as High Priest "according to the order of Melchizedek,"
4. The Ascension – the first Man in heaven
On his resurrection, the Man Jesus was ready to present himself before God and the angelic host of his candidacy for the New Creation.
John 20:17
17 Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'"
In his first ascension into heaven after his resurrection, the Man Jesus entered into the Most Holy Place of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected and not man (Hebrews 8:2). The significance of it is like the words of the first astronaut Neil Armstrong stepping onto the Moon, “That’s one small step for a man, one major leap for mankind.”
Heb 9:11-15
But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 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. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
5. Sonship (Huious)
And because the Man Jesus was so much better than the angels, He has obtained a more excellent name than them by inheritance (Heb 1:4). Dr. D.A. Carson in his lectures on the Book of Hebrews in Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, made mention about this name that is linked to Jesus’ identity as the unique Son, which was already His as the Eternal Son with God. He already has the name, the title, the rank, the role and therefore He did not have to become superior to angels, He already was! Yet, after his death and being exalted to the Father’s right hand, He thus became much better than angels than He already was in His Name, because as Dr. Bruce A. Ware mentions, the Eternal Son in obedience to the will of His Father, became the Incarnate Son in the man Jesus for in order to obey to the point of death requires the ability to die, and for this, Jesus had to be human. He was made a little lower than angels but now He had become so much better than angels.
Phil 2:5-8
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 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.
The Man Jesus in obeying God, emptied Himself of all rights, took the form of a human slave suffered ridicule, rejection and agony and continued in obedience to the point of death, the most miserable and degrading kind, death at the cross! And because of this …‘having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they’ (Heb 1:4)
Phil 2:9-11
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 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, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
6. Seek a name or given a name
Men are always seeking for significance in their lives. Chasing status that seemingly make them look and feel ‘bigger’ than others, they think status will give them a name but stature is developed by God’s dealings in our life. The difference between status and stature is shadow and substance, having a form but without the essence but the truth is how much Light is in you determine the substance. While man seek a name for himself, rather let God give you a name instead, the Jesus’ way!
All the angels acknowledged the Man Jesus is far better than all of them and that every knee in heaven, on earth and under earth, would gladly bow their knee in contend acknowledgment “What a Man!”
Heb 1:4-5
4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5 For to which of the angels did He ever say:
"You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You"?
In the Ascension the first of many glorified man (Rom 8:29-30), the Man Jesus, was exalted before all the angels as the Son! The Son is to be worshipped by all the angels of God (Heb 1:6) and be served by them (v7). The Son is to be God’s new vice regent to reign (v8-9) and it is established eternally (v.10-12) and God will ensure all angels will subject to His Son’s rule (v.13-14).
The notion of sonship which Dr. D.A. Carson in his lectures on Hebrews explained has nothing to do with genes and DNA than it has to do with function. The text “You are My Son, today I have begotten You” in Hebrews 1:5 is taken from 2 Samuel 7:14 and Psalms 2:7. 2 Samuel 7:14 was given to Solomon, David’s son. As an Israelite, he is already God’s son in one fashion but he is now God’s son in this particular function of reigning. The Man Jesus was exalted as Son over all the angels because He is perfected and qualified to fully represent God in His Image and in His Likeness (dominion). He is able to fully function as God’s Priest King! He is called Son because He is like the Father in His Image and Likeness; He is functioning just like His Father.
7. The Inauguration of the True Tabernacle in Heaven
For the very first time the true tabernacle in heaven which God erected, is now inaugurated with the Man Jesus as the new High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Everything that God was trying to reveal since Abraham was coming into fulfilment and now the new governing body for the Kingdom in Heaven can now begin ‘full scale’ minting after the master die or pattern of the new High Priest in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit is sent for the product of this ‘minting process’! God has a new vice regent for the government of His Kingdom and now He awaits the new governing body of priesthood in us, models after the Man Jesus Christ. The Inauguration of the Tabernacle in heaven marks the starting point of ‘already and not-yet’ phase of the full reformation of the priesthood. The rulership of God is being reclaimed by His ecclesia on earth as well as in the heavenlies.
Heb 9:6-10
6 Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. 7 But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance; 8 the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience — 10 concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.
In the Old Testament, the tabernacle is a temporary structure of God’s dwelling among the Israelites in their journey. It was to serve as type and shadow, signs pointing the way into God’s Heart and Mind. Its intent was finally expressed in the Tabernacle of David with King David as the king and priest of God Most High in the order of Melchizedek. David fully understood it and was called a man after what is in the intent of God’s Heart and Mind (Acts 13:22, 1 Sam 13:14). It was only until Solomon reigned as king and there was peace over the whole of Israel that a permanent structure of the Temple of Solomon was built. The original Tabernacle which God erected in heaven is also a temporary structure as God is reforming the priesthood for a new governing body. It began to function with Jesus Christ entering in as the new High Priest and the tabernacle in heaven will be fully functional as more and more saints who were perfected on their life journey on earth ascend into heaven to be qualified and approved for the priestly governmental function in the heavenly Tabernacle. As the increase of His government and peace is (Isa 9:7) restored back in heaven when simultaneously the same increase of His government and peace are established on Earth (first the natural, then the spiritual) when more and more of the saints are equipped, empowered and perfected in priestly governmental function of priest/king role in reigning and extending the Kingdom colonisation and displacing the forces of darkness on earth, heaven will have more and more lights shining like stars and eventually the original Temple in heaven is reopened (Rev 11:19) when the full function of the new governing priesthood is restored.
8. The Apostolic Mandate
The entire Acts chapter 3, in the context of Acts chapter 1 and 2, is a powerful apostolic mandate of empowering God’s people to enter into the Temple for the obedience to the faith; ‘the Christ in you the hope of glory’. The lame man was lying daily at the entrance of the temple and those who religiously entered the temple were not able to enable him to enter the temple. But now ‘at the gate of temple which is called Beautiful’, this man was able to enter into the temple with the apostles. The Greek word for ‘beautiful’ is horalos (5611), it is the ‘but now’ time! It means ‘the right time when all the circumstances come together and everything fall into place at the right time, God make it beautiful!’
Acts 3
A Lame Man Healed
3 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us." 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them — walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Preaching in Solomon's Portico
11 Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon's, greatly amazed. 12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. 14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. 16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
17 "Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. 22 For Moses truly said to the fathers, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.' 24 Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. 25 You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.' 26 To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities."
9. ‘Holaros – the right time’
The verses above was in the context of a lame man healed or restored back in his ability to enter into the temple (rulership) of God and achieved the perfect soundness in the presence of all. ‘Beautiful’ denotes ‘halaros – the right time when all circumstance, people, things come back to its original function in its original divine order, it creates perfect soundness and enable everything to flourish beautifully’. We must understand divine providence and human responsibility. Certain activities (Karios 2540) at certain time (chronos 5550 ) for the lame man to be at the gate called ‘Beautiful’ must be completed before God does something beautiful at the right time and at the pleroo (4137), the fullness of time, it is consummation. The Church must not be dull of hearing and must know the chronos, kiaros, harolos and pleroo of their journey with God in the big picture, pattern, process, principle and prophetic practicum and be well positioned because He is not static but moving according to a purpose and toward His goal. There cannot be wishful thinking but thoughtful wishes. We live in levels and arrive in stages and we must be developed to a certain level and at certain stage before we can move up the next step. We cannot expect magic where we can leap all the way to the highest stage. There are no short cuts but there is a process with progressive incremented steps.
There is a clarion call as prophetic sounding of the trumpets and apostolic grace is released into the Church and the light of progressive revelation of God’s mystery is made clearer and brighter. The righteousness of His Kingdom will swallow up all the kingdoms of the world (Rev. 10:4-7, Rev 11:1-6, 115-19). From Adam to Abraham is 2000 years, from Abraham to Jesus is 2000 years and from Jesus to us today is 2000 years. We just cross over to the 21st Century. This millennium will be the 7000 years or the 7th Day of God the Father or the 3000 years since Jesus Christ or the 3rd Day of the Jesus. ‘But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day’ (2 Peter 3:8). It is not literal but I believe we can see clearer in the Scriptures and understand the Spirit and the timing at hand, having foresight with insights based on hindsight and be alert and vigilant in doing God’s will.
And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made (Gen 2:2)
And He said to them, "Go, tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.' (Luke 13:32)
The temple of God reopens in heaven (Rev 11:19) when the mystery of God (Rev 10:7) is fully revealed, understood, received and obeyed by the Body. The measuring of the temple in Rev. 11:1 is the QC or ‘quality-check’ according to the strict requirement in Jesus, the Pattern Son (Rev 11:1) as the saints of the New Creation are being forged and purified in the refining fires of sufferings that they may offer to the LORD an offering in righteousness. (Rev 11:2- 14 c.f. Malachi 3:2).
This new priesthood who saw ‘the joy that was set before them, endured the cross, despised the shame, and press on to the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Heb 12:1-11, Phil 3:14-15).
Rev 12:10-12
10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12 Therefore rejoice O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time."
As they stand firm in fortitude and in resilience, they are overcomers in light and as more lights appeared, darkness is displaced. The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever. We won by righteousness.
Rev 11:15-19
15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying:
"We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty,
The One who is and who was and who is to come,
Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.
18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come,
And the time of the dead, that they should be judged,
And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,
And those who fear Your name, small and great,
And should destroy those who destroy the earth."
19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.
The fullness of the new governing body for the Kingdom of God in heaven is achieved by this newly designated priesthood who is able to exercise the government of God in the Colony on earth and extending the colonization, by shinning forth as light in the world, overcoming darkness by light as children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, by ways of blameless and harmless in non-militant manner, permeating like leaven which was hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened (Phil 2:15-16, Matt 13:33). The fullness of Christ filled all in all things (Eph 1:23).
10. “As you are lighted up here, heaven is lighted up too!”
It was in one of my usual morning walk in the woods when a sudden voice spoke clearly to me “As you are lighted up here, heaven is lighted up too”. Immediately within me I understood the message. This was the revelation that Abraham understood in Genesis 14:18-15:21). It was God speaking to Abraham, “This is My plan…as you are lighted up here on earth, heaven is lighted up too. See and count the stars in heaven if you are able to number them…so shall your descendants, one who will come from your own body shall be the heirs, the people of the Light” (Gen. 15:5) and God counted him righteous because he earnestly wanted to be God’s partner to perpetuate this plan of God. Abraham understood what all the signs eventually point to and even though he and his descendants enter into the Canaan as promised by God, he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Heb 11:8-16
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude — innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
11. Colonization, Church and Consummation
The Colony of the Kingdom of God on earth is a training ground for the New Creation to be first formed and then placed to train for the reign with Christ Jesus in righteousness and wisdom. The life, death, resurrection, ascension and exaltation and glorification of the Man Jesus are the pattern and destiny for us. First the physical, then the spiritual, the Man Jesus was fully accepted by God in his physical life, empowered by the Holy Spirit and that was the reason he was resurrected by God, by the spirit of holiness. The Man Jesus entered into the Tabernacle in heaven and was received and approved for priesthood. Likewise it would be for all of us who are the true followers of Jesus.
Phil 2:12-18 - Light Bearers
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or laboured in vain.
17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.
12. Jesus’ Inheritance for his brethren
The entire Hebrew chapter 2 is about the inheritance of the Man Jesus for us on the same journey. He was the forerunner. He showed us the whole pathway of the journey with its pattern, process and principle. He now encourages us to put it into practice. He has shown us the Way, the Truth and the Life and though we do not see all things put under him yet but we do know the Man Jesus has achieved it! How do we know Man Jesus has made it? How do we know our loved one has safely reach their destination when they flew off in the airport? They give us a phone call! Likewise the Man Jesus informed us of his arrival into his rest at the right hand of God the Father by sending us the Holy Spirit!
Acts 2:32-36
32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. 34 "For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself:
'The Lord said to my Lord,
'Sit at My right hand,
35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool."'
36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
13. Our inheritance in Christ – the High Calling
We are not called into ‘priesthood of all believers’. That was the phrase by the Reformer that we don’t need another person to stand in for us in coming to God. We are called into Christ, for the high priestly governing role and function in the order of Melchizedek. It is not a mere call of everyone. It is a high calling to everyone for the priestly governmental function in the standard of Melchizedek. We are called for the new governing body of the new Kingdom. We are destined for it but when we short change the grace of God into ‘cheap grace’ we conveniently short change our destiny for something sub standard, man-centred and cheap. The grace of God is not demanding by ‘pushing’ the people in legalism and ungodly expectations but a divine influence on our heart with an outward reflection of our life.
For the first time there are 24 elders in the Throne room of God (Rev. 4:10), the fulfilment of Rev. 3:21 but the Body has yet to handle this dimension of spiritual life. There is a need for matured saints to enter into the Most Holy Place and download the spiritual dimensions as an inheritance for the Body and open a spiritual pathway to bring many sons to glory. The Body is still short of reaching the spiritual dimension of the Bride, who is far more glorious in substance and wisdom of the Light; reigning with all the enemies under her foot.
14. Press in to bring down that they may enter in
True servants of God are those fully taken by destiny and are fully pursuing it instead of just doing ministry. They are passionately pursuing God, fervently pressing in into the Most Holy Place, conscientiously allowing the Holy Spirit to break them so that the veil of self is torn that they may enter in to wait upon Him, that they may received a deposit of His wisdom, revelation and dimension. They are the ones who gave themselves no rest and give God no rest until He had finished His works in their lives. They are the ones who had entered in and came back with deposits and dimensions from the Throne. Their joy is to obtain an inheritance for the saints in their generation. There is a pursuit and passion within them to download from Heaven spiritual revelation and dimension that will bring the Body to the next higher level in Christ...’that which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handed, concerning the Word of life, that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you may enter it together with us’ (1 John 1:3) They are resilient runners in the long marathon relay. The mystery of God is not keep from them but kept for them.
A true prophet is like the best man of the Bridegroom. He presents the right image of the Bridegroom to the Bride and always encourages her of his love and goodness. The fruit of his ministry is that the Bride longs for the Bridegroom. False prophets are like those best men of the Bridegroom that became covetous and take advantages of the Bride; even molesting her. A true apostle is like a loving father of the Bride. His life is to love and sacrifice for and to groom her. The most proud moment of any godly father is to walk his daughter down the aisle and present his beautiful virgin daughter to the bridegroom. It is the most satisfying moment of his life (2 Cor.11:1-4). False apostles are those who felt entitled and profit and gain from the Bride. True servants are fully devoted for the cause of the Bridegroom and the Bride and the grand finale of their marriage.
15. Caution – Deification or Humanization
A donkey went among his fellow donkeys after the day works and brag how special he was …”You guys should be there to see how special I was…a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road for me; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road for me to step over, and those following were crying out Hosanna to me!” This of course is the popular ‘Donkey Story’ preachers use so often to teach about pride.
It is so easy for the heart to be lifted up at the peak of our walk or ministry with God, the very same error ‘that anointed cherub who covers’ committed!
We must constantly be mindful that we are mere ‘donkeys’ whom the Lord has needed as carriers of Him. “He is God and you are not!” Apart from Him, we could do nothing…just mere donkeys apart from His grace! The moments we are basked in His glory, fame, success and popularity and got our hearts lifted up and we begin to see ourselves as ‘thorough breeds’ we have stepped into errors.
A phrase we hear in church ‘Too much of the Spirit we blew up, too much of the Word we dried up but the Spirit and Word we grow up!’ Heresy occurs when we don’t focus on the Word and Spirit together. They cannot be separated especially when we are touching supernatural things. Together they produce light, emphasized one over the other, half truths and heresy occurs. I have encountered charismatic pastors who believe they are gods or ‘little Jesus’. The ‘Manifested Sons of God’ heresy is an example. In Luke chapter ten, when the seventy returned with exuberance that even the spirits are subjected to them, Jesus reminded them not to be lifted up but rather rejoice because their names are written in heaven. Apostle Paul was thankful for ‘a thorn in the flesh’ lest he should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations (2 Cor. 12:7). Jesus himself always left the crowd for obscurity after a spectacular miracle was performed.
In this chapter I am trying to restore a balance on ‘the humanity of Christ’ and ‘the continued incarnation of Man Jesus in heaven’ and to inform followers of Jesus in our pilgrim nature on earth and in our servant mission to the world of the much needed perspective of our glorious inheritance in Christ and a deep sense of destiny, particularly for developed affluent society where hardship is lacking and those living in a ghetto where hardship is a norm. In these two extremes of two worlds, it is easy for us to fantasize deification.
[1] Gerrit Scott Dawson, Jesus Ascended – the Meaning of Christ’s Continuing Incarnation, P & R Publishing Co, 2004.
[2] I use capital Man to indicate a person who is the matured man of the Word and Spirit of God, the partaker of the divine nature and the image bearer of God. It denotes the qualitative substance, stature and dimension of Light intrinsically in a person. Only you yourself know how much Light is in you!
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