August 5, 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
PERSON: THE VERY INMOST NATURE
“Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person.”
Heb. 1:3, A.V.
“The Greek Word ‘hupostasis,’ translated to English ‘person’ is the same word rendered ‘substance’ in Heb. 11:1 [‘Faith is the substance of things hoped for’]; whereas in 1 Cor. 11:17 and Heb. 3:14 it is translated ‘confidence.’”
“Its root meaning is ‘that which stands under,’ as and underplacing, a substructure, support, a foundation, that which can built upon; and hence denotes firmness, steadfastness, assurance, confidence. It stands for reality, as contrasted with imagination and fancy, and is used for the essence of things, the inmost nature of a person, the REAL SELF. It’s meaning is well expressed by ‘standing’ in Psalms 69:2: ‘I sink in deep mire, where there is no STANDING.’ In Ezekiel 26:11 the same word is translated ‘ground.’
“When Christ, therefore, is said to be the ‘express image of God’s PERSON,’ we attribute to Him MORE than mere OUTWARD likeness. He is the exact expression of the very INMOST NATURE of God; that upon which men may confidently build; that in which they may, with full assurance, trust.”
“As is the Father so is the Son—one in character, one in mind and purpose.”
Andreasen, The Book of Hebrews, pp. 50, 51.
There are, sadly, at this late closing hours of probation, still far too many end-time Philips!: “Philip said to Him,Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you SO LONG, and yet YOU HAVE NOT KNOWN ME, Philip?’ He who has SEEN ME HAS SEEN THE FATHER; so HOW CAN YOU SAY, ‘SHOW US THE FATHER?’” John 14: 8, 9, NKJV.
It is my hope, prayer, and commitment to help all who are interested, to first know WHO Jesus of the Bible really is, not as the world thinks or even many churches say He is but as revealed in “It is written,” and “Thus saith the Lord.” Unless we KNOW who Jesus is, now, we will not recognize Him when He comes, much less know the invisible Father! We would be strangers to one another! He will sadly say, “I know you not.”
God forbid that any of us be numbered among them! NMF