What Kind of God is this?

UntoHim · 12-23-2019, 07:34 AM

What kind of God is this
who from dust his image made
When the enemy came to steal
yet in flesh his image save

What kind of God is this
when creation proved so weak
Still called the fallen back to Him
when Redemption came to seek

What kind of God is this
whose hand stretches forth the sky
Yet chose to sacrifice his Son
leaving angels to wonder why

One of the most amazing things I have learned about God is his boundless creative power. He is constantly creating and recreating. He created the heavens and the earth and everything within them - Every atom, every particle - the eventual building blocks of his physical creation. He created the angels, who presumably were made in his spiritual image, to populate the heavens. Then came the Earth - "the dust of the ground". Then every living and breathing creature. Then his masterpiece - A being, a creature, in his own image and after his likeness. The angels were created to praise, glorify, worship and even represent God in the heavenly realms. Yet it seems they could not bare his image or his likeness in the most complete or fullest sense. God desired, or ordained as it were, to use something of his physical creation - the seemingly benign dirt of one of billions upon billions of spinning celestial spheres - "the dust of the ground". And this creation, this being, this masterpiece would not only praise, glorify, worship and represent him as the angels beforehand, but he would actually be "in his image, after his likeness". What kind of God is this!?

By the time of the completion of his masterpiece creation, God had an enemy. First and foremost, this enemy was a liar. This enemy was a liar because he misrepresented God. This was the ultimate betrayal by a creature who was created to actually represent God. Some have postulated that Man actually lost the spiritual image and likeness of God at the Fall. In any event, Man certainly lost his privilege to represent God before the rest of his creation, and to this very day "the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God". (Romans 8:20,21)

What seemed to be the end was actually just the beginning of the long history of the redemption of God's prized masterpiece. The history of God's interaction with Man, and indeed the main theme of the entire Bible, is the story of God's redemption of Man, and even of the whole of creation. So marvelous, so mysterious, so wonderful is this story of redemption that even the angels are looking on with jealous desire!

to be continued....

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JJ · 12-23-2019, 02:26 PM

Thanks for sharing, Unto Him. I enjoy your prose posted here from time to time.

Keep it up!

To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

JJ

byHismercy · 12-23-2019, 03:54 PM

The most awesome, the Almighty God!
The King of kings!
The Lord of lords!
The God who searches men's hearts!
The Great Physician!
The name above all other names, Jesus Christ!
The Lord who possesses all authority in heaven and earth!
Let Jesus be glorified forever, brothers and sisters!

And thanks brother UntoHim, this praise of Him is edifying the body

UntoHim · 12-24-2019, 06:12 AM

What kind of name is this
bestowed upon just a child
Could this be the Mighty God
through whom sinners reconciled

What kind of name is this
which Joseph and Mary gave
No other name under heaven
whereby all men must be saved

What kind of name is this
man of sorrows grief and pain
Despised forsaken afflicted
so willing to bare our shame

"Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” God had been silent and seemingly inactive for over 400 years. Then, the long silence is broken with the monumental, thunderous declaration: "She will bear a son!" God's people were looking for their Messiah to appear as a victorious warrior on the battlefield, and restore the nation of Israel to her former glory, not as a babe born to an unwed teenage virgin in the manger of a lowly country inn.

"Long lay the world in sin and error pining" The great need, the desperate need for the Jewish people, and in fact the entire world, was not another king, but a savior to save them from their sins. Religion, even a religion seemingly established and based upon the Holy Scriptures, could not save the people from their sins. Certainly the philosophies of man could save no one. Time had shown that the only way man was going to be reconciled to God is by the actions of God himself.

Another shocker to the powers that be, both religious and secular - "A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief". The prophets of old had preached, begged and lamented before and for the people of God, but only temporary revival would take place. This time true and full redemption had arrived. But first there was to be much sorrow and grief, and finally " he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed".

to be continued....

-

UntoHim · 12-24-2019, 08:26 PM

What kind of man is this
whose voice calms the raging sea
Whose hand is so quick to heal
and from sin the captives freed

What kind of man is this
who loves in deed and not just word
Though Master of heaven and earth
came not to be served but to serve

What kind of life He lived
to seek and save which was so lost
Humble obedient unto death
yes even the death of a cross

Though he was the eternal Son of God, the Lord Jesus much preferred the appellation "The Son of Man". ( Gk υἱός huios ἄνθρωπος anthrōpos) Even when he was inquiring of his disciples concerning his true/full identity, he used this term: "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” (Matt 16:13) As the Son of Man, he showed us what it was to be a humble, obedient servant of God. Though he was perfectly sinless and wholly righteous, he still submitted to being baptized, proclaiming: “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” (Matt 3:15) The inauguration of Jesus' earthly ministry was sealed by the Father's proclamation of divine approval from heaven: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matt 3:17)

"Though Master of heaven and earth, came to serve and not be served". The ultimate act of obedience and of service is to sacrifice one's own life. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." Though us latter day disciples of Christ are rarely called to sacrifice our physical lives (at least in the West we are not), we would all do well to remember our Lord's stern words: "A servant is not greater than his master" (John 15:20) In any event, we are all called to assist our Master in the divine mandate of seeking and saving of the lost.

to be continued......

-

UntoHim · 12-25-2019, 07:34 AM

What kind of King is this
who love and mercy has shown
Who chooses to rule in our hearts
not just from his lofty throne

What kind of Lord is this
in whose weakness we are strong
In whose foolishness we are wise
in whose sadness is our song

What kind of praise shall we give
unto him the worthy Lamb
The Image returned to glory
glory back to the Great I AM

Though the man Jesus was indeed the Messiah of Israel, the King of the Jews, "the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One", and thus had every right to harshly judge the people - all the people. Instead he showed love, compassion, mercy and grace, especially to the lowly, the downtrodden, the poor, the shunned, the mistreated and abused, the disabled, the terminally ill. One of his last words was that of kindness and acceptance to a criminal being crucified next to him.

The life and times of our Savior here on earth were marked largely by suffering evil and bearing attacks and insults from the very people he came to save. Finally, and courageously, he gave himself up to be executed by a ruthless, godless, unjust and unrighteous mob of savages. In the ultimate demonstration of mercy and grace: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do".

"Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.(1 Cor 1:24,25) So we have a King that shows nothing but mercy and grace, and a Lord, who instead of demanding he be served, becomes a lowly humble servant, even washing the feet of his disciples. To the world and the religion of man, we have a foolish king and a weak Lord. But the world is blind to, and the religion of man is decidedly ignorant of, the Christ who is the power of God and the wisdom of God. And so today, God is telling us to take the way of our Master, to become a humble servant to each other and even our fellow man. "Love your neighbor as yourself" was not a suggestion, it was a commandment.

"The image returned to glory". There is no better evidence that Man was created in the likeness and image of God then "sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh".(Rom 8:3) Yes, the image was damaged, it was marred and badly disfigured. But it was not beyond the redemption of God himself. Praise Him! "For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh.." Yes, "The last Adam", "The second Man", has redeemed, he has stolen back, the image and returned it back to God - "to the glory of God the Father", the Great I AM.

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12-23-2019, 07:34 AM	#1
UntoHim Οὕτως γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν κόσμον For God So Loved The World Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 3,804	What Kind of God is this? What kind of God is this who from dust his image made When the enemy came to steal yet in flesh his image save What kind of God is this when creation proved so weak Still called the fallen back to Him when Redemption came to seek What kind of God is this whose hand stretches forth the sky Yet chose to sacrifice his Son leaving angels to wonder why One of the most amazing things I have learned about God is his boundless creative power. He is constantly creating and recreating. He created the heavens and the earth and everything within them - Every atom, every particle - the eventual building blocks of his physical creation. He created the angels, who presumably were made in his spiritual image, to populate the heavens. Then came the Earth - "the dust of the ground". Then every living and breathing creature. Then his masterpiece - A being, a creature, in his own image and after his likeness. The angels were created to praise, glorify, worship and even represent God in the heavenly realms. Yet it seems they could not bare his image or his likeness in the most complete or fullest sense. God desired, or ordained as it were, to use something of his physical creation - the seemingly benign dirt of one of billions upon billions of spinning celestial spheres - "the dust of the ground". And this creation, this being, this masterpiece would not only praise, glorify, worship and represent him as the angels beforehand, but he would actually be "in his image, after his likeness". What kind of God is this!? By the time of the completion of his masterpiece creation, God had an enemy. First and foremost, this enemy was a liar. This enemy was a liar because he misrepresented God. This was the ultimate betrayal by a creature who was created to actually represent God. Some have postulated that Man actually lost the spiritual image and likeness of God at the Fall. In any event, Man certainly lost his privilege to represent God before the rest of his creation, and to this very day "the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God". (Romans 8:20,21) What seemed to be the end was actually just the beginning of the long history of the redemption of God's prized masterpiece. The history of God's interaction with Man, and indeed the main theme of the entire Bible, is the story of God's redemption of Man, and even of the whole of creation. So marvelous, so mysterious, so wonderful is this story of redemption that even the angels are looking on with jealous desire! to be continued.... - __________________ αὐτῷ ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων ἀμήν - 1 Peter 5:11

12-23-2019, 02:26 PM	#2
JJ Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 1,006	Re: What Kind of God is this? Thanks for sharing, Unto Him. I enjoy your prose posted here from time to time. Keep it up! To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen. JJ __________________ And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 NASB)

12-23-2019, 03:54 PM	#3
byHismercy Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 439	Re: What Kind of God is this? The most awesome, the Almighty God! The King of kings! The Lord of lords! The God who searches men's hearts! The Great Physician! The name above all other names, Jesus Christ! The Lord who possesses all authority in heaven and earth! Let Jesus be glorified forever, brothers and sisters! And thanks brother UntoHim, this praise of Him is edifying the body

12-24-2019, 06:12 AM	#4
UntoHim Οὕτως γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν κόσμον For God So Loved The World Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 3,804	What Kind of Name is this? What kind of name is this bestowed upon just a child Could this be the Mighty God through whom sinners reconciled What kind of name is this which Joseph and Mary gave No other name under heaven whereby all men must be saved What kind of name is this man of sorrows grief and pain Despised forsaken afflicted so willing to bare our shame "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” God had been silent and seemingly inactive for over 400 years. Then, the long silence is broken with the monumental, thunderous declaration: "*She will bear a son!"* God's people were looking for their Messiah to appear as a victorious warrior on the battlefield, and restore the nation of Israel to her former glory, not as a babe born to an unwed teenage virgin in the manger of a lowly country inn. *"Long lay the world in sin and error pining"* The great need, the desperate need for the Jewish people, and in fact the entire world, was not another king, but a savior to save them from their sins. Religion, even a religion seemingly established and based upon the Holy Scriptures, could not save the people from their sins. Certainly the philosophies of man could save no one. Time had shown that the only way man was going to be reconciled to God is by the actions of God himself. Another shocker to the powers that be, both religious and secular - "*A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief". The prophets of old had preached, begged and lamented before and for the people of God, but only temporary revival would take place. This time true and full redemption had arrived. But first there was to be much sorrow and grief, and finally " he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed". to be continued....* - __________________ αὐτῷ ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων ἀμήν - 1 Peter 5:11

12-24-2019, 08:26 PM	#5
UntoHim Οὕτως γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν κόσμον For God So Loved The World Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 3,804	Re: What Kind of Man is this? What kind of man is this whose voice calms the raging sea Whose hand is so quick to heal and from sin the captives freed What kind of man is this who loves in deed and not just word Though Master of heaven and earth came not to be served but to serve What kind of life He lived to seek and save which was so lost Humble obedient unto death yes even the death of a cross Though he was the eternal Son of God, the Lord Jesus much preferred the appellation "*The Son of Man". ( Gk υἱός huios ἄνθρωπος anthrōpos) Even when he was inquiring of his disciples concerning his true/full identity, he used this term: "*Who do people say that the Son of Man* is?*” (Matt 16:13) As the Son of Man, he showed us what it was to be a humble, obedient servant of God. Though he was perfectly sinless and wholly righteous, he still submitted to being baptized, proclaiming: “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” (Matt 3:15) The inauguration of Jesus' earthly ministry was sealed by the Father's proclamation of divine approval from heaven: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”** (Matt 3:17) "Though Master of heaven and earth, came to serve and not be served". The ultimate act of obedience and of service is to sacrifice one's own life. *"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."* Though us latter day disciples of Christ are rarely called to sacrifice our physical lives (at least in the West we are not), we would all do well to remember our Lord's stern words: *"A servant is not greater than his master"* (John 15:20) In any event, we are all called to assist our Master in the divine mandate of seeking and saving of the lost. to be continued...... - __________________ αὐτῷ ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων ἀμήν - 1 Peter 5:11

12-25-2019, 07:34 AM	#6
UntoHim Οὕτως γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν κόσμον For God So Loved The World Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 3,804	Glory Back To The Great I AM What kind of King is this who love and mercy has shown Who chooses to rule in our hearts not just from his lofty throne What kind of Lord is this in whose weakness we are strong In whose foolishness we are wise in whose sadness is our song What kind of praise shall we give unto him the worthy Lamb The Image returned to glory glory back to the Great I AM Though the man Jesus was indeed the Messiah of Israel, the King of the Jews, "the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One", and thus had every right to harshly judge the people - all the people. Instead he showed love, compassion, mercy and grace, especially to the lowly, the downtrodden, the poor, the shunned, the mistreated and abused, the disabled, the terminally ill. One of his last words was that of kindness and acceptance to a criminal being crucified next to him. The life and times of our Savior here on earth were marked largely by suffering evil and bearing attacks and insults from the very people he came to save. Finally, and courageously, he gave himself up to be executed by a ruthless, godless, unjust and unrighteous mob of savages. In the ultimate demonstration of mercy and grace: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do". *"Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.(1 Cor 1:24,25) So we have a King that shows nothing but mercy and grace, and a Lord, who instead of demanding he be served, becomes a lowly humble servant, even washing the feet of his disciples. To the world and the religion of man, we have a foolish king and a weak Lord. But the world is blind to, and the religion of man is decidedly ignorant of, the Christ who is the power of God and the wisdom of God. And so today, God is telling us to take the way of our Master, to become a humble servant to each other and even our fellow man. "Love your neighbor as yourself" was not a suggestion, it was a commandment. "The image returned to glory". There is no better evidence that Man was created in the likeness and image of God then "sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh".(Rom 8:3) Yes, the image was damaged, it was marred and badly disfigured. But it was not beyond the redemption of God himself. Praise Him! "For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh.." Yes, "The last Adam", "The second Man",* has redeemed, he has stolen back, the image and returned it back to God - "to the glory of God the Father", the Great I AM. - __________________ αὐτῷ ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων ἀμήν - 1 Peter 5:11