Fulfilling all righteousness simply means to do all that God requires in His word. No one can fulfill all righteousness by his strength. But with God all things are possible.
Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased – Matt.3:13-17
There are three very significant things that happened when Jesus was baptized by John.
- Heavens were opened unto Him:
Heavens do not just open to everybody. There is a condition that has to be met. All heavens were opened unto Jesus. We are aware of the benefits of obedience. Jesus obeyed the Father’s every word. It is very important to obey the word so that our prayers will not be hindered. The blessings of the Lord are more than the stars in the sky. We just have to trust and obey. There is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey. When heaven is open to you, you have direct access to heaven. I don’t have to do the fatiguing pilgrimage to visit the many Prophets around the world to pray for me. Nothing against reaching out for prayers but when heaven opens for you, what is the need of going far when you can have what you need where you are? All heavens were opened unto Jesus, He could ask anything he wanted and the Father will grant it. There was no demon, which could stand before him either in the color of black or white. The anointing He had, the miracles He performed are unparalleled to none. Even at Gethsemane when they came to arrest him bringing all kinds of weapons, he told the soldiers, “don’t you know even know I can call for angels in heaven?” We can always experience open heaven when we fulfill righteousness:
“if ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” (John.15:7)
I am reminded of a story: A woman was granted open heavens when she said the right words at the right time. God told His Prophet William Branham to ask the woman whatever thing she wanted and she will receive it by the spoken word. The woman was poor, she could have asked for money. She had a cripple daughter, she would have asked for her healing. She didn’t because her crippled daughter was a Christian and saved. She asked for the salvation of her two sons who were not saved. The woman’s name was sister Hattie Wright. What a captivating story. Late Sister Hattie Wright two sons also went to be with the Lord a few years ago. Heaven will be full of surprises but no not for sister Hattie’s sons. Their mother had an open heaven to asked whatever she wanted. She asked for the salvation of her two sons. The Holy Spirit went and arrested her two sons and sealed them until the day of Redemption. They also came to the promised word for the age. “When he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you in to all truth.” (cf. John. 16:13)
- Spirit Descending like a Dove:
Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit. What was this Spirit again like a dove that John saw descending and rested on Jesus? This was not just a portion of God’s Spirit like the one John the Baptist received in his mother’s womb. This was the Fullness of God’s Spirit. (cf. Col.2:9) The Word who was in the beginning came and dwelt in Jesus. (cf. John.1:1) Here this scripture is fulfilled, “And the Word became flesh.” (cf. John 1:14) It is true in Christendom today that many have grabbed other blessings and gifts and not asked for the most important one. God promised He will pour His Spirit upon all flesh in the last days. But the Spirit of God is not as important as money for many Christians. Act.2:38 has been turn down by many believers. Many seek other gifts and blessings in the ministry than the Holy Spirit. What do people often ask for first when they send prayer request? You may be surprise to find out that seeking the Holy Spirit is not in the list of many prayer requests.
Many seek the hand of God for material and physical blessings, and not His Face for spiritual blessings in worship. But they fail to understand that if we seek His Face he will give His hand of blessings also.
- A voice from Heaven:
There are too many voices today but Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and life. (Cf. John.14:6) The sheep will hear His voice and follow Him. The material blessings are not as important as having the spirit of God working in our lives and ministries; likewise to experience signs and wonders in our lives and ministries is not as important as receiving God’s approval at the end of our lives on earth. Yes, Sir! The Lord Jesus received God’s approval before He could even begin His ministry, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased”. There are ministers who think their approval comes from obtaining a degree in a bible school and others believe you need a letter of confirmation from a church. It is possible to receive showers of blessings from open heavens, it possible to have the anointing of God’s spirit and signs and wonders following but at the end gain no entrance into heaven. Have you not heard? “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name cast out devils? And in thy name many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matt. 7:22-23) Let us listen to the voice of God and do His will. Obedience is better than sacrifice.
What does to fulfill all righteousness mean?
To fulfill all righteousness simple means to do all that God requires. This means to follow the scriptures accordingly from A to Z even when it seems not necessary or difficult. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Timothy. 3:16) Therefore, we cannot just obey some parts of the scripture and see other parts as not important for we can’t get away with half righteousness. We are living in the world today where the devil is deceiving many in to thinking that they can get away with white lies, careless jokes, a little worldliness, bribes, gossips, envy, anger and still profess righteousness; or it is okay to cheat, steal, lie and testify. We find insincerity in marriages and many secrets in the closets of husbands and wives. Where there are secrets between couples the devil thrives and how will he not torment such a home. The righteousness of God has been turn down. Many denominations have their church doctrines and the apostolic teachings have been compromised. They interpret the scriptures to suit their belief systems but if we repent, God is willing to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Yes, to fulfill all righteousness is to do all that God requires. But how many people can do that by their own efforts? Christians backslid in their thoughts every day and if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us (cf. 1 John. 1:8). You see, Jesus is the only man who could keep the word in its entirety. Yes, He said if you love me keep my words because He knew He will send the Holy Spirit to make this possible. To fulfill all righteousness is not something we can do by our strength but through Christ Jesus. But how was the baptism of Jesus to fulfill all righteousness? It must have puzzled John himself. Jesus had kept every word and had stumbled on none. Was it on the part of John or on the part of Jesus to fulfill all righteousness? Puzzling? But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized by thee and comest thou to me? (cf. Matt. 3:16)
Law and Grace
The young rich ruler came to asked Jesus, What should I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus told him to keep the commandments and he said, which ones? Jesus named some of them to him: You should not murder, you should not commit adultery, you should not steal, you should not bear false witness, Honor your father and your mother, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself. The young man said, he has kept all these things from his youth and asked Jesus, what did he still lack? Jesus told him, if he wants to be perfect, he should sell all that he has and give to the poor and come follow Him. When the young man heard what Jesus has said, he went away sorrowful for he had great possessions. Despite all that the young man claimed to have done from his youth, he was not perfect. Jesus wanted him and all of us to be perfect.
He says, Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. (Matt. 5:48).
This young ruler knew that he could not keep all the commandments but did he know that he who stumbles in one has stumbled in all? There were other commandments like “Thou shalt have no other gods before me”, Jesus didn’t mention to him. The man’s god were his possessions. Jesus would have opened his heart and feed him with His word if he followed Him. He thought he has been a fairly good man. Why was he asking Jesus which of the Ten Commandments? Can half righteousness grant any one eternal life? He thought He has been living a good life and had something to boast about but not before God. He became sad when he was told to sell what he had and give the proceeds to the poor. Don’t some people think they have been living a fairly good life today and have something to boast about? Yes, they are the called, chosen and the faithful. You will hear things like, I have never done this, I have always done this from my youth like the rich young ruler? He may have tried to obey the law but fall short of it and could not fulfill all righteousness. The only way he could have succeeded was to follow Christ but instead he went away sorrowfully. Remember that our righteousness is like filthy rags before God. The disciples asked Jesus the question, “who then can enter the kingdom of heaven”? And His reply was, “what is impossible with man is possible with God”. Amen!
God declared Abraham righteous, not because of his perfect behavior but because of his faith within the covenant relationship.
“Then Abraham believed in the Lord and he reckoned it to Abraham as righteousness.” (Romans. 3:21-22) It is clear that God declares as righteous those who have faith in Jesus.
The Law of Moses made it very clear that no man could be perfectly faithful to his covenant with God. But God had a plan that was to extend his grace and mercy to all mankind through Jesus and make a new covenant of grace that would make it possible for people to fulfill the righteousness of God.
Jacob and the Birth Right.
The Bible tells us Jacob deceived his Brother Esau to get the birth right. Esau was Isaac’s favorite son and wanted to give him the blessing before dying. It wasn’t just an ordinary blessing but the blessing of the first born. This blessing had a more spiritual benefit than even physical and material. As a result of negligence and shortsightedness, Esau came to lose an opportunity that he will regret for life. He was privilege to be one of the patriarchs of Israel with his name included in genealogy of Jesus but sold it for a bowl of porridge and after sort for repentance which was impossible. But from every indication about the two men, Esau appeared to be a better person by nature. He was there to do whatever things his father wanted him to. He was a hairy man and probably a fairly better looking too than Jacob. Why should Esau miss such a great blessing? It is not that he will not be blessed with great possessions but again that blinded him too. He thought he had what Jacob had comparing the number of cattle, wives and children. He saw all the things that Jacob had materially and he refused his gift for he himself had great possessions. But Jacob had what he could not see – the spiritual inheritance.
Esau had work so hard to deserve his father’s blessings. He tried to do everything right to please the father but what can his righteousness do for him when he had rejected his birthright? When the time of the blessings came, it was given to his Brother Jacob. Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob. Jacob was a pious man. However, some may praise Esau for his rigor and independence and ridicule Jacob for his mild character and apparent addiction to domestic leisure. But it doesn’t matter what man says but what God’s says.
There is one thing that makes the story though intrigue in substance captivating: There is just no way Jacob would have had the blessing without presenting himself as Esau. Rebekah the mother had to put on him Esau’s clothes, and even an animal fur on Jacob to convince Isaac, it was the hairy Esau. Are Christians mindful of their birthright – the Holy Spirit? Many just come to the borderline without asking for the Holy Spirit and others think the Holy Spirit is not for our day, while some too are just neglecting their birthright like Esau. But look at these words of Peter, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out Spirit upon all flesh.” (cf. Acts. 2:17)
We can only fulfill righteousness, if we have the Spirit of Christ Jesus who did fulfill all righteousness. The Father does not see you but Jesus when we are in Christ and Christ in us. The children of God can only receive the blessings of eternal life if they put on Christ. God is only pleased when He looks at us and sees His son Jesus. Abraham was never called the father of righteousness but the father of faith. He didn’t do all the right things in his walk with God. However, he believed God, and was imputed unto him for righteousness.
The Baptism of John.
The baptism of John was for repentance. It was to get the people to believe on Him who should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When Jesus came for John to baptize him, we can understand John’s concerns. Jesus had no sin and didn’t need any repentance – Why should he be asking for baptism? This is the man John testified he is not even worthy to loose His shoes. There are many reasons Bible teachers believe, Jesus came to John to be baptized by Him.
There are several suggestions bible teachers give as to why Jesus came for John to baptize Him. Some say it was for identification? Jesus had to humble himself and become like a sinner to die for sinners. It is also said that John baptizing Jesus was to confirm John’s ministry as the forerunner of Christ. cleansing too is another reason for the baptism as some try to explain. Although Jesus Himself didn’t need cleansing, He was showing a good example for humanity to go through the ritual to cleanse sins. Could it have also been to anoint Him as the great High priest before the start of His ministry according to the tradition in Leviticus chapter 8? Or to transfer the sins of the world to Jesus as typed in Leviticus chapter 4 & 16? But how did these all fulfill all righteousness.
Below is an extract from the book “The Secret of Forgiveness of Sin and Being Born Again” written by Rev Soo Park Lee. This is his revelation how all righteousness was fulfilled in the Baptism of Jesus. I happen to meet him during his visit to Cambodia in January 2016.
“Jesus came to this earth for our sins as the Lamb of God. If that is the case, should our sins not transfer onto Jesus? How could we have our sins move onto Jesus? Most People do not know about this. So they say that they do not know whether their sins go over to Jesus or not. The devil is so good at deceiving us. We can’t see sin, even with our very eyes. When the devil says, Hey, you have sin. You sinned. You lied.”
“Now, our sins must move over to Jesus. What can we do to move them over? When they killed lambs in the Old Testament as offering, they had to do laying on of hands, to move sin over. Then, how can the millions and billions of people who have been born on this earth all come to Jesus and do the laying on of hands on Him?”
“In the Old Testament, when one person sins, he lays his hands on the lamb. But if a whole nation or congregation sins, they do not all do the laying on of hands. Rather, they have a representative do it. If you read in the Old Testament, in Leviticus chapter 4 & 16 tells us about this. Read when you go home. Thus, we need a representative to do the laying on of hands to move our sins onto Jesus. Let’s look into that process. Open your Bible to Matthew chapter 3, verse 13.”
Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
“How can righteousness be fulfilled by Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist? Because righteousness is the opposite of sin, thus fulfilling all righteousness means that our sins are forgiven. Then John goes down to the River Jordan and baptizes Jesus. Folks, when baptisms are performed, do they lay their hands on the person? Yes, they do. This laying on of hands by John the Baptist, who is the representative of all mankind, is the process of transferring the sin of mankind onto Jesus. Do you understand? When he was baptized and came up out of the water, the heaven opened and there was a sound from the heavens…. This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matthew.3:17)
“That’s what God was pleased of. Why? It was because God had sent Jesus to this earth and told Jesus to bear all the sins of the world and die.”
Loving Folks, please answer me clearly. When did your sin transfer onto Jesus? Did it transfer when you believe? Suppose your sins transfer when you believe, and you believe now, but Jesus died two thousand years ago. Doesn’t that mean that Jesus did not die for your sins being passed over to Him? When Jesus died two thousand years ago, Jesus had to die, after having our sins transferred to Him. Only then could the death of Jesus have an effect on us. If Jesus had died when our sins had not been transferred, no matter how He died, it would have had nothing to do with sins. We could not say that He died for our sins. Isn’t that so? Do you understand?
And that is why, it is not important when we believe that our sins transfer. Long before we were born into this world, all of our sins had already moved on over onto Jesus. That’s right. Jesus bore and carried the sins of, not only you people, but of your children, and of your grandchildren, and all mankind, forever, before God. You did not see that with your own eyes, but it is a fact that your sins passed over. This is the Word of God. Let’s open the Scriptures, and read John Chapter 1, verse 29. We will read it together.
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. We could not see with our eyes that our sins had moved over onto Jesus, but the eyes of God could see it. John the Baptist saw it, as well.
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
The Arthur has provided some scriptures to back his revelation that the sin of the world was transferred to Jesus when John laid hands on Him during water baptism. The main one is in the Book of Leviticus Chapter 4 & 16. He beliefs that mankind doesn’t have sin because, the sin of the world was transferred to Jesus when John laid hands on Him during water baptism. He says believers should accept this by faith that they have no sin. He says fulfilling all righteousness means that our sins are forgiven.[food for thought?]
Conscience.
A helpful pattern for examination of conscience is to review the Commandments of God. There are Christians whose consciences are dead. They can keep grudge for eternity. I was just thinking of the security at the airports. When you want to board in, you will pass through a screening that will indicate and expose anything that is not allowed to cross to the other side. This screening device will give an alarm if something strange is detected and a search will be made. There will be a witness or witnesses of what has been found. If the article is lawful then the bearer will be excused. However, if it is unlawful then the bearer will be accused.
Criminals break laws and try to traffic illegal things hidden in bags, shoes or even planted in the body to board in but the devices still detect these things. These machines help to guard the laws and maintain security for travelers. Just imagine if these devices were dead what will be the consequences in a world all eaten up with evil. They serve as crime stoppers. The lives of people travelling can be in great danger if the devices were dead because people want to carry all kinds of harmful things and for destruction. But despite the death penalty given by some countries for drugs some people still don’t learn a lesson and still traffic these things despite the detectors. Why? Their consciences are certainly dead to the laws. However, these people are redeemable if they turn to Christ in this time of grace. But for a Christian whose conscience is dead to God’s word, it is very serious. Maybe his has believed a fake Theology.
Unfortunately, it is not only unbelievers whose consciences could be dead but also Christians. “They speak lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” (1 Tim. 4:2). What will make a Christian to be in this kind of condition? Backsliding is not even the answer because a backsliding Christian can still have feelings or conscience. It must be something more serious than that. Conscience can be defined as the part of the mind that makes you aware of your actions as being morally right or wrong; a feeling that something you have done is morally wrong. If the law of God is written in your heart, then your conscience will bear witness of whatever you do, good or bad. You will experience a spontaneous feeling of guilt if it is bad and the desire to make it right. Jesus Christ, the High Priest of our confession will be on your defense not to condone the sin but to make supplications on your behalf to the father.
The offender who pleads guilty will be pardon, while the one who claims to be innocent will be condemned. Some are ashamed to confess even though their consciences accuse them because they feel others will look down on them when their bad deeds are made known. If your conscience is telling you to make things right do so because you cannot get into the Rapture flight with sin. First, understand that whatever thing that is hidden will be exposed. Secondly, when we do what is right God will always stand for us even in the humiliation. I have confessed shameful things and even openly. However, it didn’t take long for me to experience God’s sovereign grace and mercy. Even those who made fun of the situation at the time became quiet as the Lord granted me favor. You may even put your testimony on the website and the ignorant people will laugh and say “why is he exposing himself like that, and he is not even ashamed.” If you want to present your life as perfect as most people look on Facebook, it is your choice. However, remember it is better for our names to appear in the Lambs Book of life.
If you are a shame of the Lord now, He will be a shame of you on that day. If you are proud you will be humbled. Many times people have itchy ears to hear others short comings but keep their secrets in a closet. We shouldn’t make grace a disgrace. We are not under the law but under grace. However, grace does not mean lawlessness. I remember one time talking to a denominational pastor to try to tell his Church members that Christians shouldn’t dress like the world. He told me that he is preaching grace. When the conscience cannot identify with the word, it is dead. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews.4:12). When sin entered the world, conscience started to operate bearing witness when they partook of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If your conscience is not working, ask God to do something about it. If you don’t have a conscience, fulfilling all righteousness will mean nothing to you.
“For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another; In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” (Rom. 2:14-16).
Your conscience is working if you are conscious of sin, and want to always abide to God’s word. And when you sin make sincere confessions. Sin is the opposite of righteousness. A man who continues to sin willfully can never receive the righteousness of God.
Sin and Confession
The Bible tells us that the wages of sin is death. Yet sin has been one of the most difficult things to overcome. Yes, it is a great battle. All have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God. Where and how did sin get its origin? I read that if a man is free from sin, he is healed of over 1245 diseases. Sin brought diseases and death into the human race. It is something we should get rid of as God has provided us the way. A man to whom God does not impute sin is the healthiest and happiest man on earth. Therefore, the first thing to do even before going to the hospital if you are sick is to check your life with God. Sin started in the Garden of Eden through Eve’s unbelief of God’s word and manifested in the flesh in fornication with the Serpent. (cf. Ge. 3:1-6) The root of all sins is unbelief. If you think physical death is bad, spiritual death is even worse. “The soul that sinneth shall die.”
There are basically two types of sin: The Sin of Unbelief and the sins of the flesh. The whole of Epistle of John is certainly a good loaf to eat. However, some new students who read or listened to him may be confused in some things like this one:
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John. 1:8-10)
Now read what it says in this other scripture. It seems to be in contradiction:
“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
It says in one scripture that if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and says in the other, whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin. How do we reconcile the two? One is talking about the sins of the flesh and the other is talking about the sin of unbelief.
Confessions are good to make. But if a Christian find himself confessing back and forth all the time should he be happy that the confessions are cleansing him from all unrighteousness or be worried that he is not born again or have the seed of God?
We know that where there is confession of sins, there is sin to be confessed and no sin can enter heaven. Therefore, shouldn’t a Christian’s confessions reduce as he grows in the faith and become dead to sin when he goes unto perfection? The Apostle Paul said,
“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit.” (Heb. 6:1-3)
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (Rom. 6:2)
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus. (Rom. 6:11)
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (! Peter. 2:24)
We read in Rev. 22:11 that “let he that is righteous be righteous still and let he that is holy be holy still.” Can a Christian who confesses back and forth regularly be righteous and holy still? However, a Christian cannot just avoid confession when his conscience is accusing him of sin just because going to confess will make him unholy. The sin makes you unholy not the confession. You cannot be holy when the conscience is accusing you of sin. It has to be confessed. It is very important to examine and judge ourselves, so that we will not be judged. Don’t spend your precious time judging others but we should pray for each other and make straight the feeble knee. If we find ourselves guilty in anything then it is better to make it right before it is too late. Everyone has a time to live and a time to die. Even if we tarry till the Lord comes, we will have to give an account how we have lived our lives. Confess your fault to one another. The heavenly father will forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
I was just thinking about the number of times a baby falls before he can start to walk perfectly. The bible likens young believers to babes who feed on milk. When they become mature they will have to eat solid food. A mother will definitely be worried if her child at the age of ten still wants breast milk. Is our heavenly father not worried about Christians who don’t want to grow spiritually to eat solid food and still drink milk? There are many things that make believers to fall but they will rise again if they keep the faith.
“For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.” [Proverbs. 24:16]
While young believer may fall as often as mentioned in the scripture, the ability to resist the devil should grow as the righteousness of God is reveled from faith to faith. (cf. Rom.1:7) But is there a point in a Christian life where he should be dead to sin? Yes, read Rom.6:2. When the believer is quickened to the revelation of what happened at the cross, impregnated with the Word and filled with the Spirit of Christ Jesus. It has to be if we have to enter heaven because no sin can enter heaven.
“Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” (Rom.4:7-8)
We know that to be born of God means to be born again. This is when we receive the Spirit of Christ or the seed of God and adopted into the family of God. Let us look into this other verse. “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (1 John. 3:9). This scripture is not pertaining to the sins of the flesh which includes, stealing, lying, fornication, etc. It is in reference to the Faith Seed as oppose to the sin of unbelief which is to disbelieve the word of God. Therefore, each time anyone rejects the word he or she is rejecting the spirit as well and approaching the sin of unbelief. Those who go on saying, I don’t believe this, when it is the truth or that doesn’t matter when it is scripture be careful!
It doesn’t mean also that the born again person cannot sin in the Flesh? If there is a possibility of a born again believer to grieve the Holy Spirit, it means he can do something God will not be pleased. The nature of sin that will grieve God may be less severe to the one that will make Him angry and to hide His Face. It is obvious because he who truly has the Spirit of Christ will want to behave like Him. The word grieve has to do more of sorrow, sadness than anger. But the Lord will chastise the son or daughter who grieves His spirit. Look at the man Paul, an Apostle of God talking of the two natures in him. He wants to do good things but feels the pull to do evil. We have these two natures in us warring against each other in our bodies. It was a helpless situation as the Apostle exclaimed “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of death?” Alleluia. He found victory looking unto Jesus. We have the two natures as we read in Romans 7. There is always sin at the door but for you as a Christian, there is a sin offering of the blood of Jesus that always help us overcome and dead to sin. Sin cannot survive to bring forth death where there is the blood of Jesus. It must die. Yes, it doesn’t mean you the born again Christian will not be tempted. What it means is that you will always overcome it because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. (Cf.1 John. 1:4) There are different two main types of confessions:
- Confession of sins.
- Confession of faith.
The following scriptures will help us understand the two: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Rom. 10:9) This is dealing with confession of Faith. You can read again (John. 1:9). It is dealing with confession of sins. We can only be righteous through Christ Jesus.
Holiness And Righteousness:
Please read Leviticus 16: 14-16. It is mentioned here how the old sacrifice was done and it is a contrast from the new. The law was a shadow of good things to come and not the very image of things.
“For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
For then would they not have ceased to be offered?
Because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sin every year.
For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.
Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared for me.”(Heb.0:1-5)
Aaron was the high priest when the law was given to Moses. But when the old covenant was replaced by the new, Jesus Christ became the High priest of our confession. He is the Apostle and High priest of our confession. In the Old Testament times the word of God came to the Prophets and in the New Testament times to the Apostles. They are absolutely devoted to deliver and guide the people in the word of God. “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear that shall he speak: and he shall shew you things to come.” (John. 16:13)
The Priesthood of Jesus is a Heavenly priesthood. We know not Christ anymore in the flesh but in the Spirit as he performs His Apostolic and High Priestly duties. “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, father.” (Gal.4:6) One of the most important duties of the high priest was to conduct the service on the Day of Atonement, the tenth day of the seventh month of every year. The Jewish Law is not a full and faithful model of the real things; it is only a faint outline of the good things to come. Read Heb. 10:1-19.
There were preparations Aaron had to perform before he could enter the Most Holy ones a year. Likewise, the word prepares us scripturally and spiritually to meet Christ personally and be baptized into one body. If we enter into the Most Holy Place, we will remain holy and Righteous. This is not a literal location but a spiritual atmosphere in heavenly places. When the believer is sealed with the Holy Spirit, the High Priest, Jesus Christ dwells in His temple of the human body performing His duties. It is a spiritual presence and not a physical one and not localize to a church building. If the believer stays in His presence, and is filled with His Spirit, he will find himself fulfilling the scripture, “he that is holy, let him be holy still and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still” (Rev.22:11) It will not be his righteousness but the righteousness of Christ.
It is only when we are in Christ Jesus and walking after the Spirit we have no condemnation. Make no mistake we have to be dead to sin and not still live in sin. The focus will not be about confession of sins but rejoicing in the holiest for the forgiveness of sins. If you are dead to sin, you yourself will know as the Holy Spirit will bear witness when you are born of God. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Rom. 8:1) We walk in the Spirit when Christ is living in us and doing the works.
Can one confess sins back and forth and be righteous and holy still? If not when does a believer stop confessing sins? It is good to confess sins to make things right with God. But is even better to avoid sin. God has given us His spirt and we should be dead to sin because He who is in you is more than he who is in the world. As for the mistakes and errors you commit God does not see them as He looks at you through the blood of His son Jesus as the Spirit of Christ indwells you. If you have the seed of God, your body should react automatically for any wrong no matter how small with Godly sorrow and the High Priest will make intercession on your behalf to the Father. It is only through Christ alone one can remain Holy and righteous. The one true confession of Faith should cleanse us from all unrighteousness and lead us into the process of fulfilling the righteousness of Jesus Christ in us!
The Perfect Sacrifice.
The question is if one perfect sacrifice was made to take away sins, can one true confession of sins suffice? It is the Spirit of God who can give us the proper guide for a true Confession. We do not know how we ought to pray; the Spirit himself pleads with God for us in groans that words cannot express. And God, who sees into our hearts, knows what the thought of the Spirit is; because the Spirit pleads with God on behalf of his people and in accordance with his will. (cf. Rom. 8:26-27) When a born again Christian does something wrong it will definitely trouble him and the Spirit will plead with God who sees into the hearts and knows the thought of the Spirit.
The basic requirement for a good confession is to have the intention of returning to God like the “prodigal son” and to acknowledge our sins with true sorrow before Him. The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. Lives of saints prove that the person who grows in holiness has a stronger sense of sin, sorrow for sins, and a need for perfection.
“He opened for us a new way, a living way, through the curtain – that is, through his own body. So let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, with hearts that have been purified from a guilty conscience and with bodies washed with clean water. Let us hold on firmly to the hope we profess, because we can trust God to keep his promise.” (Heb. 7: 20-23)
The Lord who says be ye perfect as I am perfect cannot give a load we cannot carry. He has provided the way for us to be perfect. Do not struggle, is by faith.
The Apostle Paul wrote a great deal about faith in his epistles. He did not even write much about confession of sins. It is obvious that when we enter the holiest of God our life must change. “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.” (Heb. 10:19) The abundance of revelations the Apostle Paul had helped established his faith in Jesus. When they summon a council in Jerusalem to let him explain to the Jews about his teachings they still did not understand it and had to hold on to some portion of the Law like to abstain from food offered to idols. However, that did not stop him to continue his message of faith to the church at Corinth and to the gentile evangelist – Timothy. (cf. 1 Cor. 8:1-4)
When God cleanse you from all unrighteousness, it is not just from some unrighteousness but all. “He that is righteous let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” (Rev. 21:11b) Have you ever wonder how believers can fulfill this scripture, if they have to be confessing sins back and forth regularly? It doesn’t say to be Holy today, unholy tomorrow and Holy the next day. It says righteous and holy still and that means continuously. Make a true confession of faith, enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus to remain Righteous and Holy.
And that’s the way with a real Christian. Did you know a real Christian doesn’t have even any sin at all imputed to him? David said, “Blessed is the man who God will not impute sin to.” When you’re washed in the Blood of the Lamb (not by make-belief, but really the—the Blood of the Lamb), God does not impute to you anything that’s done, because you’re under the Blood and He doesn’t see it. There’s a Blood sacrifice; the only thing He can see you in, is the way He saw you before the foundation of the world when He put your name in the Lamb’s Book of Life. That’s all He can look at, because you are redeemed from everything that was ever done, you’re washed in the Blood of the Lamb. [Rev. William Branham.]
Are You the Temple of God?
The bible makes mentioned of the literal temple of God and the spiritual temple. The Ark of the Covenant was physically brought in to the literal temple of God as Moses was given the description of the Tabernacle, and the pattern was also followed in the building of Solomon’s temple. (cf. Exodus 36:8-39;43) This was later destroyed by the Babylonians around 586 BC. The Lord sent Nehemiah and Ezra to lead and rebuild it physically and spiritually. During the time of Jesus, the temple was known as Herod’s temple. It was destroyed again around 70 AD by Romans. However, before the Millennium sets in, it will be rebuilt again. The man of sin who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped is prophesied to come and sit as God in the temple of God in Jerusalem, and showing himself as God during seventieth week of Daniel.(cf.2 Thess. 2:4)
The Tabernacle of Moses as well as Solomon’s temple was divided into three sections: The Outer Court, The Holy Place and the Most Holy place. This is where the covenant box was kept and to be God’s dwelling place among His people. The veil that separated the Holy place and the most Holy place was rent in twain when Christ died on the cross. (cf. Matt. 27:51) The most High through His work of grace has prepared a place to dwell in. He does not live in houses built by human hands; as the prophet says, “Heaven is my throne, says the Lord, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house would you build for me? Where is the place for me to rest?” (Act. 7:48-49)
The Spiritual temple is different from the one made from hands of men. It is prepared through the work of Justification, sanctification and Baptism of the Holy Ghost. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Cor. 3:16) The following scriptures also emphasizes we are the temple of God. The body is not our own. We should have no agreement with idols. “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own.” (1 Cor. 6:19)
“And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (2 Cor. 6:16) The Holy Spirit comes and dwells in the body He has prepared and be the High Priest of our confession and makes intercession for us to God. Now you are beginning to see the righteousness of God.
The King of Righteousness
Do you remember the King of Righteousness in the Old Testament? We will get to him later. The baptism of Jesus was centered on fulfilling not just righteousness but all righteousness. The person who can fulfill all righteous can be called the King of Righteousness. There is just one king of righteousness in the Bible. “To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of Righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace.” (Heb. 7:2) We read in Luke 1:15 that John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit even before his birth. We also read in Matt. 1:20 that Jesus Christ was conceived of the Holy Ghost. He also had the Holy Spirit like John but the Spirit descending like a dove and rested upon Him after His water baptism was the WORD that was in the beginning. (cf. John 1:1). It was when the dove descending from heaven rested on Him, the WORD became flesh. (John 1:14) Jesus became God-Man. “In Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” (Col 2:9). Although John was filled with the Holy Ghost, he did not have the fullness of the Godhead and the word of God only came to the prophets in part but came to Jesus in full.
It was this Word or the Spirit Body of God that was in the beginning that pressed into flesh and physically appeared to Abraham for Abraham called Him Lord. (Gen. 18:1-3) The Greek word of this appearance is call theophany. It means the appearance of God in the visible form of a man. God created a body of flesh for the Word or the Spirit Body to dwell in. The man is known in the Old Testament as Melchizedek. (Gen. 14:18) Read what this scripture says about Him: “Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the son of God; abideth a priest continually.” (Heb. 7:3) Melchizedek was the prefiguration of Christ Jesus. The Old Testament is the shadow of the New. The Lord Jesus told the traditional Jews that “before Abraham was, I AM” (John 4:48). Yes, that same Spirit Body or word body in the man Melchizedek, the king of Righteousness whom Abraham gave a tenth of his tithes came to dwell in Jesus after His Water Baptism. The Lord of Heaven came to dwell in the man Jesus after His water baptism fulfilling All Righteousness and as the king of Righteousness.
How Water Baptism Helps Fulfills Righteousness.
Jesus had told His disciples before His ascension to heaven to wait in Jerusalem for 10 days. And when the day of Pentecost came, they were all in one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and filled all the house where they were sitting and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. (cf. Acts. 2:1-4) The Apostle Peter gave a sermon. The man who was given the keys of the Kingdom of heaven was given the revelation of the word by the Spirit.
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. (Acts. 2:38-39)
The other Apostles of Jesus Christ also performed water baptism in the same way as Peter (cf. Acts 8:12,16;10:48;19:5). Many cannot even understand that Peter was given the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven and was filled with the Holy Spirit when making this declaration. Jesus Christ also spoke in parables and the disciples asked Him about it. He said the mysteries of the Kingdom of God have been given to them. I pray even today the Lord will reveal the mystery of water baptism to all His disciples.
Why did God call David the man according to God’s own heart? You will consider some of the things he did pretty absurd to warrant that kind of recognition. However, David loved God and spent much of his time with him in prayer or writing psalms. You and I may be quick to judge somebody’s shortcomings but God looks at the heart you and I cannot see. And it is that heart He is looking for. But the heart that truly seeks God will be after the treasures of His word. The Bible is a field of treasure but many people cannot see it even though gospel miners have dug it and it is just for believers to take home. He stands at that door, knocking for it to be opened to come in. King David celebrates the same truth talked about in Romans 4: Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. It is taken from the book of Psalms.
“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and whose spirit there is no guile.” (Psalms 32:1-2)
Who is the man the scripture is referring to? It is the man who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly; his faith is accounted for righteousness. Every believer’s birthright is to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we should never resist the spirit of truth. Do not sell your birthright but repent and be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, water baptism helps us fulfill righteousness because through the ordinance of water baptism, we are promised the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The Lord Jesus is the only one who has fulfilled all righteousness and in Him dwelleth the fullness of the Godhead bodily. (cf. Col. 2:9) When the Holy Spirit indwells a person, he is a new creature. The righteous Spirit will help the person fulfill righteousness. It is not by might; it is not by power but by my Spirit says the Lord. What is impossible with man is possible with God. We cannot fulfill righteousness by our will power. Fulfilling all righteousness simple means to do all that God requires in His word and water baptism is just one of them. But going through the ordinance by faith in the name of Jesu Christ is promised the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a person of righteousness and through Him we can fulfill all righteousness.
