Adam and Eve chose the knowledge of good and evil, when they could have chosen life. Their self-awareness, through the knowledge of good and evil, brought independence from God and from His life. He had become their life when He breathed into them the breath [spirit] of life. Rather than partake of the fruit of the Tree of Life, and continue their existence IN HIM, they chose to exalt themselves to become "like God." Man’s "sin" was his "independence from God." Man no longer acknowledged God as "God" because he had become his own "god." Man chose a "flesh and blood" existence, when he could have chosen "Life."

The Old Testament is full of the accounts of Israel’s unwillingness to acknowledge God. They suffered many things, while at the same time God’s love was unfailing, as He was always there to provide, and to heal, and to free them.

Israel was in bondage, in Egypt, until God brought them out. Although Moses repeatedly asked Pharaoh to let his people go his pleading went unheeded. God was at work, even through Pharaoh, to reveal Himself as "the LORD God."

When the time came for His people Israel to come out of Egyptian bondage, the first words God spoke to Moses were, "I am the LORD." He continued with, speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say unto thee. Moses’ reply was, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me? Exodus 6:29-30. Moses’ concern was that he was a mere mortal, with lips of flesh, and that Pharaoh would have no cause to pay attention to anything he might say. And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land. And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh will not hearken unto you, and I will lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth my hosts, my people the children Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them. Exodus 7:1-5. (Orig. KJV)

God’s "signs and wonders" came in the form of multiple afflictions upon the Egyptians, yet God hardened the hearts of Pharaoh and his servants again, and again. God explained it to Moses: …that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son’s son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the LORD. Exodus 10:2.

God instructed Moses to declare to Pharaoh, And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth. Exodus 9:16.

Ten chapters later, the message is still the same with this introduction to the first of the Ten Commandments: And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me…for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God... Exodus 20:1,3 & 5. The pleading was continuous for self-centered man to turn from self, and to acknowledge the LORD God.

When Israel could not drink water because it was bitter, God made a way for it be made sweet: there He made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, and said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee. Exodus 15:25-26. God wanted Israel to know Him as the LORD God, their Healer, rather than to suffer because of disobedience.

And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day. And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us. Deuteronomy 6:24-25. God required Israel to keep His statutes so that they might live, and not be destroyed. He desired that they not forget Him. If they feared the LORD, trusting Him as Healer, and Provider, not becoming puffed up, they would escape the destruction that came upon the Egyptians. God said that if they forgot Him, to walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, they would surely perish. Deuteronomy 8:19.

God’s patience with rebellious man of flesh indicated the great love He had for His people Israel. But as long as flesh prevailed, with its knowledge of good and evil, there would be failure after failure. Only if they were successful at keeping the Law could they measure up to God’s requirement that they acknowledge Him. He reminded them, repeatedly, with the words, I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD. The phrases "I am the LORD," and "I am the LORD your God," appear repeatedly throughout the books of the Law, as well as the prophetic book of Ezekiel. Each of the next three verses contains God’s words of pleading. Therefore shall ye keep my commandments, and do them: I am the LORD. And ye shall not profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the LORD which hallow you, that brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD. Leviticus 22:31-33. (Orig. KJV)

God’s Plan:

It is God that gave breath [spirit] to man, and it is God that takes away their breath [spirit]. It is God that ordained the length of life to be threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Psalm 90:10.

It is God that had a plan to bring Eternal Life to "flesh and blood" [mortal] man. But first He had to effect reconciliation by doing away with that which separated Himself from man. To destroy all flesh would leave Him without man. He could have started over, and created a new human race, but He chose, rather, to redeem fallen man. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him. John 3:16-17. (Orig. KJV) He did not come to judge the creatures of flesh: He came to save all that would come to trust in Him.

The first "Adam" [man] exalted himself, to become as God, and brought separation from God. The second "Adam" [Son of man] humbled Himself, to become as man [flesh], and brought reconciliation to God. It was exaltation of man that brought separation from God. And it was His humbling Himself that brought reconciliation.

All of mankind is mortal [liable to die]. Whether a person is born a Jew or a Gentile, he is flesh, and condemned to death. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. I Corinthians 15:22. The Law of Moses, given to Israel, was fulfilled in Jesus so that all flesh could be reconciled to God. For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of partition; having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; that He might create in himself of the twain one new man, so making peace; and might reconcile them both in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: and he came and preached peace to you that were far off, and peace to them that were nigh. For through him we both have our access in one Spirit unto the Father. Ephesians 2:14-18. (Orig. KJV) Jesus abolished in His flesh the law of commandments contained in ordinances so that He could reconcile to God all flesh in one body: both Jews and Gentiles.

God’s ultimate plan was to come in the likeness of sinful flesh, in order that He might destroy that which had come between Himself and man. And in so doing He would fulfill the Law’s requirement of shedding blood to make atonement for the sin of Israel. Another way that Jesus fulfilled the Law was through His own acknowledgment of the Father. He most often referred to God as "the Father," rather than "my Father," for God was not only Jesus’ Father, but the One who "fathered" all that would be born again [from above]. Paul referred to Jesus as "the firstborn from the dead" in Colossians 2:18.

There was nothing about the Law that could make man pure. For there is a disannulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness. For the law made nothing perfect, and a bringing in thereupon of a better hope, through which we draw nigh unto God. Hebrews 7:18-19. (Orig. KJV) The very detailed, intricate, laws were so easily transgressed. And man’s incapability to perfectly obey was exposed by the Law. It served only to reveal the sinfulness of flesh, and their unwillingness to acknowledge God as the LORD God.

As long as there was the Law, there was transgression. Paul the Apostle said, …because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. Romans 4:15. At the same time that Jesus made a way for man to receive a new heredity, He removed the strength of sin [which] is the law. I Corinthians 15:56. Sin is the transgression of the Law, but Jesus nailed the Law to His Cross, Having blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and he hath taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:14. (Orig. KJV)

This next passage from the original KJV makes so much more sense than the revised version of the late 1800s. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and as an offering for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For the mind of the flesh is death; but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace. The mind of the flesh is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be. And they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:2-8. (ORIG. KJV) Laws could be obeyed solely through the strength of man’s own flesh. The mind of the man of flesh leads only to death, because it is full of the knowledge of good and evil: it is enmity against God.

Jesus came to free man from the flesh. He does not make rules for man to obey. If He had expected man to adhere to rules and regulations, He would not have had to die. He would have stayed on this earth to monitor compliance to His rules. All of the teachings of Jesus are truths that can be interpreted only by the new heredity that is of Him. The Holy Spirit within man produces the fruit of righteousness, in response to the Father’s expectation.

And without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing unto him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is [God,] and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after [crave] him. Hebrews 11:6. (Orig. KJV) To "have faith" means to rely on Christ for salvation. If man relies on his flesh, through obedience to rules and regulations, he cannot be pleasing to God. It makes no difference whether it is man’s religious laws, or Moses’ Law, the man of flesh cannot please God. It is only Christ, in man, that is pleasing to God.

For by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, that no man should glory. Ephesians 2:8-9. (Orig. KJV) Paraphrase: "For by the Divine influence on the heart have you been saved through relying upon Christ for salvation: not through deeds of the flesh, that no man should glory." All fruit produced by the flesh of man is sinful whether it is considered "good," or whether it is perceived to be "evil."

Israel’s Tutor:

These next verses are some of the best at explaining the true purpose of the Law. Paul asks the question, What then is the law? And he answers his own question with; it was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise hath been made. Jesus was the "seed" of Abraham to whom the promise had been given. …Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could make alive, verily righteousness would have been of the law. The Law could not change man: he was still a creature of flesh, and "doing" could not change his "being." Paul continued, saying, Howbeit the scripture hath shut up all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept in ward [protected] under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. So that the law hath been our tutor to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith is come, we are no longer under a tutor. For ye are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:19, 21-26. (Orig. KJV)

The men that revised the King James Version of the Bible, between 1870 and 1885, changed the word "tutor" to "schoolmaster." This change did not show the love of the Father but, rather, left the impression that God was standing over man with a whip, forcing obedience to His rules. When we read the Old Testament, and see the waywardness of Israel, we cannot help but begin to understand the depth of God’s love, and His endless mercy toward them. They were God’s chosen people, His "children." And He provided a "tutor" to bring them unto Christ and to teach them that they must acknowledge Him. He kept them "in ward under the law" for their own protection. But when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, that he might redeem them which were under the law…Galatians 4:4-5. (Orig. KJV)

Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, [Jesus] also himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death he might bring to nought him that had the power of death, that is, the devil: and might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Hebrews 2:14-15. (Orig. KJV) Death reigned in man’s flesh, and he was subject to the devil that had deceived him. Through His own death, Jesus brought to naught the devil that had the power of death. And now, in Christ, man need no longer be subject to the Devil. "Sin" was flesh, and "flesh" meant "death" to man. Paul the Apostle referred to Moses’ Law as "the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:2)

Life of the Flesh:

Blood is the life of all flesh. With the Hebrew word for "blood" meaning, "that which when shed causes death," it is evident that the life of the flesh is in the blood. God had an express purpose in mind when He created man, and animals, with blood as the life of their flesh. His plan was that His people should be "tutored" in the shedding of blood in order that flesh would be put to death. Blood ran in the veins for no reason other than for the purpose of God in revealing His plan to bring real life by the shedding of Jesus’ blood.

The purposes of God are so intricately interwoven into our lives, on this earth, yet we are so taken up with "flesh" that we cannot see Him. Symbolism goes far beyond what is commonly understood. God created man for Himself. His plan was that man should live out, in this life, a parallel of all that is spiritual, or eternal. God’s design in the way He created the human body, and how He ordained that man and woman be "one flesh," is of greatest significance. Within every aspect of life there are elements of eternal reality that should keep us mindful of God. But wayward, flesh-obsessed, man has denied both the Father and the Son.

Here is one example that reveals "life" according to God’s scheme, and relates to the "life of the flesh." In the human body, when the blood flow is cut off from part of a limb, there is numbness, and at times much pain. If the blood flow is not allowed to return to the area, it will "die" and become gangrenous. Diabetics are known to lose limbs through amputation, due to the fact that poor circulation brought "death" to the limb, usually a leg. This should be a reminder to us that Jesus shed His blood to bring death to flesh. But does it remind us of Him? Or, are we so self-centered that we deny Him? Death to "flesh" can be a very painful process, just as it is in the human body when the blood flow is cut off. But to look at it from God’s perspective, how many are truly willing to submit to the painful process necessary to crucify the "flesh-life?"

The importance of this next part of the "law of the sin offering" is extremely significant to this whole message. As Leviticus 16:27-28 says, And the bullock of the sin offering, and the goat of the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, shall be carried forth without the camp; and they shall burn in the fire their skins and their flesh, and their dung. And he that burneth them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp. (Orig. KJV) With the life of the flesh having been poured out to make atonement, all that remained was dead flesh that would decay. It was necessary for the skins and the "dung [excrement]" that flesh produces, to be completely destroyed by fire. The dead body of the sin offering was to be burned outside the camp. After handling the filthy flesh, the person required cleansing before he could return to the camp where the people were.

According to the Law, if a man were to eat blood, he was partaking of the life of the flesh, and would be "cut off" from among his people. It was symbolic. And it was a vital aspect of the tutoring of the people Israel. And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among them, that eateth any manner of blood; I will set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people. 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 maketh atonement by reason of the life….For as to the life of all flesh; the blood thereof is all one with the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of the flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off. Leviticus 17:10-11,14. (Orig. KJV) There was no atonement available for those that ate the "life of the flesh." The eating of blood, as such, was not the problem. It was set out as an example to reveal to mankind that remaining a creature of flesh, partaking of the life of the flesh, would end in eternal separation from God.

Throughout the centuries, Israel should have learned the importance of bloodshed meaning "death" to flesh. They had constant reminders, with the annual sin offerings made through the putting to death of the flesh of specified animals. It became ritualistic instead, so that when Jesus came as their Messiah to free them from the flesh, they rejected Him. Paul gave a clear explanation, in Romans 9:31-33. But Israel, following after a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by works. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone [cause of displeasure]; even as it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stone of stumbling and rock of offence: and he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame. (Orig. KJV) The "Stumblingstone" was to the Jews a "cause of displeasure." It pleased them more to be taken up with the works of the law than to be watching for their Messiah, of Whom the Law had prophesied. They did acknowledge the sacrifice of the Lamb of God.

Jesus’ flesh:

"Taking communion" is very much a ritual in churches today. It ought not to be so. Jesus instructed us to partake of the sacraments "in remembrance" of Him. It is to be symbolic of partaking of His life. The wine is a symbol of His blood, the life of His flesh, which He poured out so that man could have eternal life. In drinking the wine, we are symbolically "partaking" of His life. Rather than having mere rituals that are followed religiously, there ought to be teaching on the REAL meaning of partaking of Jesus’ body.

The reason Jesus came was to shed His blood, and to become the Life of every believer. Remembering the Lord’s death should be a celebration of "death to flesh," as opposed to the religious rhetoric it has become.

The "communion" Scripture passage is one of the most familiar ones, so I will quote only the later portion. Wherefore whosoever shall eat the bread, or drink the cup of the Lord, unworthily [irreverently], shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup. For he that eateth and drinketh, eateth and drinketh judgment unto himself, if he discern not the body. For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep [die]. I Corinthians 11:27-30. (Orig. KJV) If a creature of flesh persists in partaking of a "life in the flesh," but goes through the motions of "partaking of Jesus’ life," as one "born again," he is not discerning the body. If any one eats and drinks "irreverently," it is as though he was guilty of shedding the Savior’s blood. It is only those that are truly born again, and living in a relationship of trust in Jesus, who have a right to participate in the sacraments. It is a lie to do otherwise, and there are consequences, like those of whom Paul spoke that are "weak and sickly, and die."

Jesus referred to Himself as the "Bread of life." I am the living bread which came down out of heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever. Yea, and the bread which I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world. The Jews therefore strove one with another, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Jesus therefore said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have not life in yourselves. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, abideth in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father: so he that eateth me, he also shall live because of me. This is the bread which came down out of heaven: not as the fathers did eat, and died: he that eateth this bread shall live for ever. John 6:51-58. (Orig. KJV) When Jesus is our Life, we abide in Him and He in us. But if we do not partake of Him, we are yet flesh, and there is no life in us.

Stella Paterson | Box 22003  BDPO | Brandon, MB  R7A 6Y9 | Canada