ON TIME
by
Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid (September 22, 2015)
“To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus (Romans 3:26, King James Version, [Jesus might be just and the justifier of believers]).
Greetings In The Holy Name Of Christ Jesus, Our Lord And Savior,
My brothers and sisters, in The Epistle Of Paul The Apostle To The Romans we learned that Christ Jesus might be just---and the justifier of believers (Romans 3:36, King James Version). We also learned that without the law, the righteousness of God is manifested and the books of the law and the books of the prophets bear witness to that truth (3:21, KJV). Not only is righteousness manifested---but righteousness is manifested by faith of Christ Jesus unto all and upon all believers (3:22, KJV). Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (3:28, KJV). Howbeit, Apostle John did not proclaim the worthiness of the blood of the lamb---Christ Jesus as just and righteous for redemption---to redeem the great multitude, as revealed to him---written in The Revelation Of St. John The Divine, before Rome beheaded Apostle Paul.
Apostle Paul spoke to us about “the nature of God's saving act in Christ, and its appropriation by faith” (Holy Bible, n.d.). However, we learned more through Apostle John, exiled to the Greek island of Patmos---after Rome unsuccessfully tried to poison him, for Jesus said to Peter what was it to him if John tarried until he returned, perhaps those words blessed John to remain even though Rome tried to poison him, at least the people believed Apostle John should not die (St. John 21:22-23, KJV). In Apostle John's vision of God's throne, he saw that because God was worthy, not only was Christ Jesus deemed worthy to redeem---by his blood---the sins of man, he also was worthy to open the book that was written within and sealed on the back with seven seals that God held in his right hand (4:11; 5: 4-5, 9; 12, KJV):
“...Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and
power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they
are and were created...And I wept much, because no man was
found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look
thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold,
the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed
to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof...And they
sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and
to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain and hast redeemed
us to God by the blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and
people, and nation;...Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the
lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom,
and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.”
Now, with the knowledge that Christ Jesus, indeed, was worthy---just---a justifier, and righteous from the vision of Apostle John, we no longer think of ourselves as waiting to find out more---whether the forbearance of God would be accepted, for the saving of the great multitude---those not in the 12 tribes of Jacob (Israel), now Israel and Judah, Christ Jesus was ON TIME. Of which, Apostle John saw an angel ascending from the east, who stopped the four angels given to hurt the earth and the sea, to wait, for he held the seal of the living God,--- until the servants---the 12 tribes of Israel---of God were sealed in their foreheads (7:1-3, KJV). However, :
2
“...And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are
these which are arrayed in white robes? And whence came they?
And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These
are they which came out of the great tribulation, and have
washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the
Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve
him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne
shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither
thirst anymore; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed
them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and
God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes” (7:13-17, KJV).
Most importantly, we all want to be in the number, saved by Christ Jesus. Apostle John revealed to us that in his vision, he saw the great multitude standing before the throne of God and the Lamb crying out for salvation,:
“...After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which
no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and
people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before
the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their
hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to
our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
And the angels stood round about the throne, and about
the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne
on their faces, and worshiped God, Saying Amen:
Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and
honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever
and ever. Amen.
Moreover, just the fact that God had four beasts present, near the great multitude and the elders as they fell before his throne on their faces, crying for salvation that the sinful nature of man was still bearing them down---even though the blood of the Lamb was worthy---even though Christ Jesus justified, was just---even though Christ Jesus received the righteousness of God---even though the righteousness of God was poured on all and upon all believers---even though they were in God's forbearance. We recall the King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, was so powerful with all people and nations that dwell on the earth, was turned into a beast---like the story of the werewolf---when man changed into a beast, however, King Nebuchadnezzar did not believe God would make him a beast and continued to force Israel to worship him---God's family (Daniel 4:1, 32-33, KJV):
“Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and
languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied
unto you...And they shall drive thee from men, and thy
dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall
make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass
over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in
the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar:
and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and
3
his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs
were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like
birds' claws.”
Moreover, God's throne where the face of man was a beast---did not let the great multitude feel they were without sin---but saved, not by works but by the law of faith (Romans 3:27, KJV; Revelation 4:6-7, KJV [“Four beasts were in the midst of God's throne and round about it: one beast, was like a lion, the second beast like a calf, the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.”]). In our example of a home forbearance, in the Sermon, Do You Love Me---the home mortgage note did not deny that the law existed, it provided a way to pay, without death. In the example of the home mortgage---the forbearance gave an opportunity to pay and still remain in the home. Therefore, by faith, the forbearance of God, blessed the great multitude to remain in Christ Jesus to receive eternal life and not receive the wages of sin, which was---is death.
Hence, give God the praise! Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord be with you.
Amen.
