Tag: God

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

December 24, 2025

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

THE PURPOSE OF EDUCATION FOR THE CHRISTLIKE LIFE (Part C) 

All professed Christians in these last days of earth’s history, should be keenly aware that there is no more time to waste. The highest interests of our soul’s eternal salvation are at stake. Thus, whatever education we are pursuing in our brief temporal lives here, should be soundly established and carefully guided by the highest form and source of true education—that which prepares the student-learner for the higher school of eternal education! Now these: 

      “Every Word of God is PURE; He is a SHIELD unto them that put their trust in Him. ADD NOT unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a LIAR.” Prov. 30: 5, 6, A. V. 

    “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, NOR KNOWLEDGE, NOR WISDOM, IN THE GRAVE WHITHER THOU GOEST. I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither bread to the WISE, nor yet riches to the men of UNDERSTANDING, nor yet favor to the men of SKILL; but time and chance happened to them all. FOR MAN ALSO KNOWETH NOT HIS TIME; as the FISHES that are taken in an evil net, and as the BIRDS are caught in a snare; SO ARE MEN SNARED in an evil time, when it faileth suddenly upon them.” Eccl. 9: 10-12, KJV (all emphasis   mine). 

God’s last-day messenger wrote under inspiration: 

    “We must turn away from a thousand topics that invite attention. [Note: numberless by now in this digital age of information explosion; and now AI]. There are matters that consume our time and arouse inquiry, but end in nothing. The highest interest demand the close attention and energy that are too often given to comparatively insignificant things.”—E. G. White, Counsels on Education, Pacific Press Publishing Asso. 1968, pp. 316, 317. 

    “We have no time to lose. We know now how soon OUR [individual] PROBATION may close [at death]. Eternity stretches before us. The curtain is about to be lifted. Christ is soon to come. 

     “The angels of God are seeking to ATTRACT US FROM OURSELVES AND FROM EARTHLY THINGS. Let them not labor in vain. When Jesus rises up in the most holy place [in the heavenly sanctuary] and lays off His MEDIATORIAL ROBES and CLOTHES HIMSELF WITH THE GARMENTS OF [divine, righteous]VENGEANCE [against sin sinners stubbornly and incorrigibly hardened by and in it], the mandate will go forth, ‘He that is unjust, let him be unjust still. . . and he that is righteous, and let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly: and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.’ Rev. 22: 11, 12, KJV. 

     “A storm is coming, relentless in its fury. ARE WE PREPARED TO MEET IT? [What we have been and are ‘educating’ ourselves with, will determine the answer]. 

     “We need not say: The perils of the last days are soon to come upon us. ALREADY THEY HAVE COME. We need now the SWORD OF THE WORD to cut to the very soul and marrow of fleshly lusts, appetites, and passions. [Eph. 6: 17, 10-18; Heb. 4: 13, 13; 1 Pet. 2:11].  

     “Minds that have been given up to LOOSE THOUGHT need to  change. [1 Pet. 1: 13-16, A.R.V. quoted. Read]. THE THOUGHTS  SHOULD BE CENTERED UPON GOD. Now is the time to put forth earnest effort to OVERCOME the natural tendencies of the carnal heart. 

    “Our efforts, our self-denial, our perseverance, must be PROPORTIONATE TO THE INFINITE VALUE of the object in which we are in pursuit [of the education we are engaged in and receiving]. ONLY BY OVERCOMING AS CHRIST [‘the Teacher sent from God’] OVERCAME [as our Example, 1 Pet. 2: 21-26] SHALL WE WIN THE CROWN [that is eternal] LIFE.” Ibid, 314, 315.

To be continued next MWM, God willing.  Bless all, NMF.

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

December 17, 2025

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

THE PURPOSE OF EDUCATION FOR THE CHRISTLIKE LIFE (Part B) 

Hereunder are more Scripture foundations for this topic (all emphasis and bracketed words provided): 

After David’s death, his famous son, Solomon took the throne. After offering literally a thousand burnt offerings of the prescribed animal sacrifices on the brass altar “before the Lord which was at the tabernacle of the congregation,” that night, God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask what I shall give thee.”. . Solomon replied:

    “Give me now WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE, that I may go out and come in before this people [ancient Israel]: for who can judge [rule over] this Thy people, that it so great?”

     “And God said to Solomon, Because this was IN THINE HEART, and thou hast NOT ASKED riches, wealth, honor, nor life of thine enemies, neither yet has asked long life, BUT HAST ASKED WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE for thyself, that thou mayest judge My people, over whom I HAVE MADE thee king: 

    “WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE is granted unto thee, and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honor, SUCH AS NONE OF THE KINGS HAVE HAD that have been before thee, neither shall there ANY AFTER thee HAVE THE LIKE.” 1 Chron. 1: 6-8, KJV. 

Solomon asked that which was in his heart; it was his heart’s desire, not mere intellectual superiority. It is of and for this particular wisdom and knowledge that God endowed upon Solomon the abilities, capacities, and powers to acquire in order to fulfill God’s purposes and plans, and magnify His glory.  

God’s glory is His character (the ‘image’ in which Adam and Eve were made), the transcript of which is His immutable law, His everlasting covenant of Ten Commandments, the foundation of His eternal throne and everlasting kingdom of love, mercy, righteousness, and justice. 

Read and contemplate the 33 chapters of the book of Proverbs that so clearly delineates on this wisdom and knowledge that Christ’s true followers should seek to be educated on. We quote the first seven verses here: 

    “The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David [Jesus was also called ‘the Son of David’], king of Israel [Pilate wrote, ‘Jesus, King of the Jews’ in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek and placed it at the top of Christ’s head as He was dying on the cross]. 

    “To KNOW WISDOM AND INSTRUCTION; to receive the WORDS OF UNDERSTANDING; to receive the instruction of WISDOM, JUSTICE, and JUDGMENT, and EQUITY. To give SUBTILITY to the simple [humble], to the young man KNOWLEDGE AND DISCRETION. 

    “A wise man will HEAR, and INCREASE LEARNING; and a MAN OF UNDERSTANDING shall ATTAIN unto wise counsels: to understand a proverb [as well as parables and prophecies of the Bible] and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark [deep] sayings. 

     “THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEDGE: but the FOOLS DESPISE wisdom and instruction.” verses 1-7.

   And in the last book of the Bible, this “fear of the Lord that is the beginning of knowledge” of God becomes the most solemn judgment-hour message of the everlasting gospel proclaimed by the first angel to the churches and the world: 

    “And I saw another angel fly in  the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice [increasing in intensity, urgency, scope, and reach worldwide], FEAR GOD, AND GIVE GLORY TO HIM; FOR THE HOUR [the time] OF HIS JUDGMENT IS COME: AND WORSHIP HIM that made heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” Rev. 14: 6, 7, KJV. 

   NOTE: The highest form of worship is…..Obedience, coming from the heart. It is willing, voluntary, and uncompromising, compelled alone by unconditional love! That’s just as simple, as accurate, and as pure a Bible truth can be.

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

December 10, 2025

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

THE PURPOSE OF  EDUCATION FOR THE CHRISTLIKE LIFE (Part A) 

 Let us first wisely lay down the solid rock of sola scriptura, the only firm and sound foundation upon which true Christian Bible  students base their practical, working faith, decisions, and life choices upon. Here are just a few samples out of dozens (all emphases and Notes provided.  All scriptures are from the KJV):

     “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good conversation [manner of living] his works with meekness of wisdom. . . . 

     “The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality [bias, favoritism; prejudice; tribalism, etc.], and without hypocrisy” James 3: 13, 17, KJV.

     Apostle Paul declares in 1 Cor. 1: 17-31:

     “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with the wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ be made of none effect. 

     “For the preaching of the cross to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 

     “For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent [cf. Isa. 29: 14, KJV]. 

NOTE: The “cross of Christ” comprehends the ultimate act of condescension of the “great mystery of godliness” in the incarnation; His life of self-denial and self-sacrifice; His sacrificial atonement as the sinless Lamb of God, offered as the Substitute and surety for and in behalf of the fallen, sinful and guilty human race. 

    “Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputed [scholarly debaters] of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 

     “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by [their] wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching [the true gospel and its plan of redemption] to save them that believe.

    “For the Jews require a sign [physical miracles], and the Greeks seek after wisdom [of this world]: 

    “But we preach [thusly, teach; instruct; educate] Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks, foolishness.

    “But unto them which are called [‘eklessia’], both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 

      “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

     “But ye see your calling [those who are ‘called’], brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 

      “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise [of worldly wisdom]; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world [the wisdom that is spiritually Simple, Accurate, and Pure] to confound the things which are mighty [by fallen man’s estimation and standards]; and base things of the world and things which are despised [by the worldly-wise], hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought the things that are: that no flesh glory in His presence. 

    “But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, Who of God is made unto us WISDOM, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that according as It is Written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the [wisdom of the] Lord.” (End quote from 1 Cor. 1: 17-31). 

Prayerfully ponder and studiously study these Scriptures, seeking the education from above unto eternal life by the divine wisdom imparted through the “Holy Sprit of truth”, who teaches, enlightens, and guides into all “truth as it is in Jesus.”’

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF. 

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

December 3, 2025

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

THE PURPOSE OF CHRIST’S MISSION ON EARTH

    “Wherefore when He cometh into the world, He saith, sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not, but a body Thou hast prepared for Me: . . . Then said I, Lo, here I come in the volume of the book it is written of Me, to do Thy will, O God.” Heb. 10: 5, 7. 

Signifying its vital nature by way of an almost verbatim repetition by Paul of a Christ-specific prophecy by David in the Old Testament, this glorious truth is thusly magnified for us: 

    “Then said I, Lo, here I come in the volume of the book it is written of Me, I delight to do Thy will, O My God, yea, Thy law is within My heart.” Ps. 40: 7, 8, Authorized Version (KJV). 

Writing by the Holy Spirit ‘s inspiration, God’s last-day messenger, Ellen G. White, wrote (all emphasis and bracketed words supplied): 

     “It was (Christ’s) mission to bring [fallen, sinful] men to COMPLETE RESTORATION: He came to give them health [physical and spiritual] health, and peace [the one ‘that passeth understanding’], and PERFECTION OF CHARACTER.” Ministry of Healing, p. 17.

    “Christ came to this world TO SHOW [by precept and example; word and deed] by receiving power from on high [enabling divine grace imparted by the Holy Spirit] man can live an UNSULLIED LIFE.” Ibid, p. 25. 

    “Christ came to this world and LIVED THE LAW OF GOD, that man might have perfect mastery  over the NATURAL inclinations which corrupt the soul [the whole, living person].” Ibid, pp. 130, 131. 

     “Satan was exulting that he had succeeded in debasing the image of God in humanity. Then Jesus came [‘in the fulness of time.’ Gal. 4: 4; cf. Gen. 3:15] to RESTORE IN MAN THE IMAGE OF HIS MAKER. None but Christ can fashion ANEW the character that has been ruined by sin. He came to EXPEL THE DEMONS that had controlled the will. He came to LIFT US up from the dust, to RESHAPE the marred character [image] after His divine character, and to make it BEAUTIFUL with His own [perfect holy and righteous character] glory.” Desire of Ages, pp. 37, 38. 

All the purposes of God Almighty, from eternity past to eternity future, have, are, and will be all fulfilled “and made beautiful in His appointed time,” manner, and way. In Him alone can be found peace, joy, wisdom, and life everlasting, now and forever. 

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

November 26, 2025

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

The Purpose of the God Creator’s Incarnation: SO THAT FALLEN HUMANITY MIGHT BE RAISED FROM ITS DEGRADATION OF SIN

    “Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift.” 2 Cor. 9: 15, KJV. 

Christ, “the Word from the beginning,” “thenonly-begotten Son the Father,” did not cease to be God, when, in the divine condescension, He partook of “the likeness of sinful flesh” and thus became “the Son of man,” the very “promised Seed of a woman, born under the law,” in fulfillment of the first promise and prophecy of the Bible. Rom. 8: 3, 4; Gal. 4:4; 3: 16; Gen. 3: 15, A. V. This is part of “the great mystery of godliness—God manifest in the flesh.” 1 Tim. 3: 16.

God’s end-time messenger wrote (all emphasis mine):

    “Laying aside His royal robe and kingly crown, Christ clothed His divinity with humanity, THAT HUMAN BEINGS MIGHT BE RAISED FROM THEIR DEGRADATION, and placed on vantage ground. Christ could not have come to this earth with the GLORY that He had in the heavenly courts. SINFUL BEINGS COULD NOT HAVE BORNE THE SIGHT. He veiled His divinity with the GARB of humanity, BUT HE DID NOT PART WITH HIS DIVINITY. 

    “A divine-human Savior, He came to stand at the HEAD OF THE FALLEN RACE, to share in their experience FROM CHILDHOOD TO MANHOOD. 

    “That human beings might be PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE, He came to thjs [fallen, sin-cursed] earth, and lived a life of perfect obedience.” – E. G. White, Review and Herald, June 15, 1905, p. 8. 

Clearly then, in order that the Creator could become the Redeemer of man, who alone was “made in the image and after the likeness of God,” but became fallen sinners by disobedience to His eternal, immutable law of righteousness, He, the Lawgiver, partook of the likeness of the sinful flesh nature four thousand years after the fall in Eden. In this eternally- adopted human nature He, “Jesus of Nazareth,” perfected obedience to His law through sufferings of the fallen human nature, and thereby became the Savior-by-Example for all man, from childhood to manhood.    

Let us all praise and thank God for “this unspeakable gift” this Thanksgiving! 

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

November 19, 2025

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

The Purpose of God Creator’s Incarnation – Part 3 

REVEALS ‘THE GREAT MYSTERY OF GODLINESS’ IN GOD’S AMAZING CONDESCENSION 

    “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh.” 1 Tim. 3:16. 

     “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. . . . And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1: 1-3, 14. 

From the inspired pen of God’s last-day messenger, Ellen G. White, we read (all emphases and bracketed words provided: 

     “It will be profitable to contemplate the divine condescension, the sacrifice, the self-denial, the humiliation, the resistance the Son of God encountered in doing His work for fallen man. Well may we come forth from contemplation of His great suffering exclaiming, Amazing Condescension! 

     “ANGELS marvel, as with intense interest they watch the Son of God DESCENDING step by step the path of humiliation. IT IS THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS. It is the GLORY OF GOD to conceal Himself and His ways, NOT BY KEEPING MEN IN IGNORANCE of heavenly light and knowledge, but by SURPASSING THE UTMOST CAPACITY OF MEN TO KNOW. 

     “Humanity can comprehend in part, but that is all that men can bear. The love of Christ passes knowledge. [see Eph. 3: 14-21]. THE MYSTERY OF REDEMPTION [preceded by the mystery of Creation] WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE MYSTERY—the unexhausted science and everlasting song of eternity. Well may [fallen, and eternally-redeemed] humanity exclaim, ‘Who can know God?’ We may, as Elijah, wrap our mantles about us, and listen to “hear the still small voice’ [of the Holy Spirit] of God.” – Bible 

Echo, Apr. 30, 1894, p. 133. 

Ah! The everlasting science and song of eternity! All who would be eternally-saved in these closing hours of earth’s probation, would have found unbounded joy in delving into and continually-unfolding, ever-fresh revealed factual truths of the science of redemption while singing its heavenly melodies to cheer them as they meet, head-on, the rapidly-approaching final, most perilous, faith-testing “hour of temptation  which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth” (Rev. 3:10). 

Remind yourselves. “If God in Christ through the Holy Spirit be with and in us, Who can be against us?”

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

November 12, 2025

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

THE PURPOSE OF THE CREATOR’S INCARNATION IN THE ‘GREAT MYSTERY OF GODLINESS’ – Part 2

THAT FALLEN MEN MIGHT KNOW HOW DEEP GOD’S LOVE IS FOR SUFFERING HUMANITY 

      “For unto the angels hath He [the Father] not put into subjection the world to come [the earth made new] whereof we speak. But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that Thou visitest him? Thou madest Him a little lower than angels; Thou crownest Him with glory and honor.” Heb. 2: 5-7, A. V. 

M. L. Andreasen, in his scholarly work, The Book of Hebrews, Review & Herald Publishing Asso. 1948, wrote, and I quote (all emphasis mine):

    “Christ is here presented as being lower than the angels, though crowned with glory and honor. He is shown to be VERY MAN, as truly as in the first chapter [Heb. 1: 1-14] He was shown to be VERY GOD. His HUMANITY ENABLES HIM TO BE THE HIGH PRIEST [thus, Advocate, Intercessor, and Mediator] men need. 

     “It is an ever-present source of comfort to the Christian to know that Christ understands our sorrows and perplexities, and sympathizes with us. IF CHRIST HAD NOT BECOME A MAN [by His incarnation—‘the great mystery of godliness”], the question might have easily arisen, HOW CAN WE KNOW THAT GOD LOVES AND CARES FOR US when He never experienced the trials we encounter, has never been poor or forsaken, and has never known what it is to be alone and face an unknown future? He asks us to ‘be faithful unto death, but He has never faced the [life-and-death] issues we face. IF He were one OF us and one WITH us, He would know HOW HARD it is to meet certain trials [and ‘the sins that so easily beset us.’ Heb. 12:1]. BUT IF HE HAS NEVER BEEN A MAN, does He really know all our sorrows, and can sympathize with us when we stray? 

     “To this we unhesitatingly answer that God, AS GOD, DOES KNOW, and that it was not for His sake, but for OUR sake that He suffered and died [in His adopted human nature]. WE NEEDED THE DEMONSTRATION that Christ came to give, OR WE WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOWN THE DEEP LOVE OF GOD FOR SUFFERING HUMANITY; nor would we have known the SUFFERING WHICH SIN has brought to the heart of God! 

[Quoting E. G. White]:

“All heaven suffered in Christ’s agony; but that SUFFERING DID NOT BEGIN OR END WITH HIS MANIFESTATION IN HUMANITY. The cross is a revelation of our DULL SENSES OF THE PAIN that from its very inception, SIN has brought to the heart of God.’ (Education, p. 263).” pp. 88-90. 

I encourage all to prayerfully read and contemplate Isaiah chapter 53, and compare it with Acts 8: 26-40. 

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

November 5, 2025

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

THE MIND OF GOD MANIFESTED IN THE FLESH 

    “Let this MIND be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God (cf. Heb. 1:3): but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him(self) the form of a servant, and was MADE IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN: and being found in fashion AS A MAN, He HUMBLED HIMSELF, and became OBEDIENT UNTO DEATH, even the death of the cross.” Phil. 2: 5-8, A. V. 

     “Jesus became a man. . . .that He might RESTORE  to man the ORIGINAL MIND which he lost in Eden. . . . DISOBEDIENCE is not accordance with the NATURE which God gave to man in Eden.” E. G. White, Letter 121, 1897. 

     “And this HUMILIATION (of the incarnation) on His part was that He might restore to man the original mind, THE IMAGE OF GOD which he [man, beginning with the first Adam] lost in Eden.” Ibid, Signs of the Times, Oct. 14, 1897. 

Both the original mind and the image or character of God Creator in original man—Adam and Eve—were lost in their Eden home—an instant result from their disobedience to God’s command. 

Note this fellow Bible students: Disobedience in any form or degree was “not in accordance” with man’s original nature, it being totally free of any defects, weaknesses, inherent sinful propensities for the “knowledge of evil.” Disobedience was unnatural, strange, aberrant, incongruous, antithetical. 

Thusly sin, “the transgression of the law” (1 John 3: 4) is the core substance of “the mystery of iniquity.” (2 Thess. 2:7). But it is self-evident that God’s antidote to it is “the mystery of godliness” (1 Tim. 3: 16), the great precious truth we are presently focusing on! 

Hereunder is a fuller, more comprehensive definition, thus, meaning of MIND, aside from being “the image of God,” even as the GLORY of God in Christ Jesus” is His CHARACTER of righteousness which He perfected “through sufferings” (Heb. 5: 8, 9). 

Sourced from the Hebrew and Greek Lexicons of Strong’s Comprehensive Concordance based on the Authorized Version (KJV). The English “mind,” was translated from one Hebrew word in the Old Testament and three Greek words in the New, as follows (emphasis mine): 

     Heb. “Metalepsis,” meaning, “participate, accept, PARTAKE, RECEIVE.” 

    Gr. “Phroneo,” meaning, “entertain, sentiment, opinion, SET AFFECTION, BE THE SAME.”   Gr. “Nous,” meaning, “INTELLECT (divine,human), THOUGHTS, FEELING, WILL, UNDERSTANDING.  Gr. “Dianoia,” meaning, “DEEP THOUGHT, faculty, DISPOSITION, its exercise through IMAGINATION/UNDERSTANDING.” 

    Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, Fifth Edition, 1942,  defines mind as “That which one thinks; opinion. . intention or wish; PURPOSE; DESIRE. . . sentiment; disposition; CHOICE; liking; INTENT; the subject of consciousness; that which feels, perceives, wills, thinks, etc. THE PERCEPTIVE AND THINKING PART OF CONSCIOUSNESS. . . Divine Mind:—a synonym for God. Philosophical: the conscious element or factor in the universe; spirit; intelligence—contrasted with ‘matter.’ Psychology: the total of the conscious states of the individual. One’s capacity for mental activity, etc.” (end quote) 

With just these initial basic truth-filled facts alone, it exposes the gross error of sinful ignorance and presumptuous arrogance to assert and assure ourselves and others that, “Regardless, we all are made in the image of God, period.” As Jesus taught Nicodemus, “Unless you are baptized by water and the Holy Spirit, you cannot enter the kingdom of God.” Without true conversion and transformation of moral character by the purifying work of sanctification, all are lost in sin, captive slaves of the master deceiver and “father of lies,” are spiritually”wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.”

Here is the most fundamental

plain truth regarding man: God Creator originally made man a separate and distinct order of creature as the crowning act and work of His six-day creation week. Man alone, not angels, was exclusively “made in the image and likeness of God,” formed by the fingers of his Maker from the dust of the ground and made of flesh and blood, not spirit, like the angels before him. Adam and Eve, the first man, or mankind, had the sinless mind, image, and yet-undeveloped character of God. But by disobedience they instantly lost all these. Right there in Eden paradise! And what they no longer possessed they could not pass on to their offsprings. All mankind thereafter is fallen, sinful, devoid of the mind, image, and character of God. 

The very purpose of the plan of redemption of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is to completely restore all these that was lost through disobedience and sin, which could only be enabled,

FIRST, by the Creator’s supreme condescension in “the great mystery of godliness”—the incarnation! Without His Incarnation, Calvary was not possible and had no meaning at all! Hallelujah, Amen! 

To be continued, God willing. Bless all, NMF.