GRACE GAZETTE
Volume XIXIssue35
/Published occasionally for mourners in Zion/
/Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;And
make straight pathsfor your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out
of the way; but let it rather be healed.Hebrews 12::12-13/
THE CONEY AND THE PYGARG//
//
/And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God/
/hath cleansed, that call not thou common.Acts 10:15/
//
From the very beginning the LORD has been pleased to differentiate
between those who are HIS people and those who are not. We see this most
clearly demonstrated in the regard which the LORD had to the “offerings”
of Cain and Abel.“/And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain
brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel,
he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof.
And the _LORD had respect unto Abel_ and to his offering: But _unto Cain
and to his offering he had not respect_. And Cain was very wroth, and
his countenance fell.” (Gen 4:3-5/)
Cain manifested the natural enmity which exists in men towards the LORD,
as he slew his own brother in a fit of jealousy.This “enmity” which was
manifested in Cain is of the same sort as that which the LORD said that
HE put between the seed of Satan and the SEED of the woman.That SEED of
the woman is, of course, JESUS CHRIST the RIGHTEOUS.HE has a people
which are HIS from the beginning /(“According as he hath chosen us _in
him_ before the foundation of the world.” (Eph 1:4/)) and the vitriol of
Satan is unleashed towards them through those who are appointed unto
wrath as Cain was.Just like Judas many years later, he could blame no
one for his actions and desire but himself, (see Gen. 4:7) yet he could
not escape the judgement of GOD upon those same actions which
demonstrated his affinity unto his father, the devil.His hatred of the
“SEED of the woman” caused him to slay him who was accepted by GOD. (see
I John 3:12)
Then the LORD gave to Eve a son whom she called, Seth.We hear no more of
Cain even as the scripture says, “/The memory of the just is blessed:
but the name of the wicked shall rot.” (Pro 10:7/)The same ONE who made
the memory of Seth to be blessed is HE who caused the name of Cain to
perish from the Earth.Seth had a son whom he called Enos and it was in
his day that men began to call upon JEHOVAH. (see Gen.4:26)Through him
we trace the lineage of Noah who found grace in the eyes of the LORD.The
LORD spared him and his wife with their three sons and their wives as HE
destroyed all the living in the Earth.
We can be sure that all things occur in the earth directly according to
the will of HIM who says that HE alone is “/Declaring the end from the
beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done,
saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.” (Isa
46:10/)Is it not, then, quite clear that HE calls HIS own sheep by name
and they hear HIS voice and follow HIM?How then did they become HIS
sheep apart from HIS divine appointment?If GOD be for us who can be
against us?/“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good
pleasure to give _you_ the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)/Thus, we know that HE
will differentiate between those to whom the Kingdom is given and those
to whom it is not.
In order to illustrate this truth to those generations to come, the LORD
chose a nation (Israel) in the earth to demonstrate HIS everlasting love
to that Remnant which HE has made HIS own from every kindred, tribe, and
tongue.This truth was hidden in a mystery which was not revealed until
the LORD JESUS came into the world and was manifested as the REDEEMER of
the true house of Israel. “/Now to him that is of power to stablish you
according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to
the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world
began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets,
according to the commandment of the everlasting God, _made known to all
nations for the obedience of faith:_ To God only wise, be glory through
Jesus Christ for ever.” (Rom 16:25-27/)
HE gave to the Jews many laws which were specifically for them, and
which, to the carnal mind seem quite arbitrary in many cases.Yet the
reason for these laws and restrictions was to demonstrate that HE had
set them apart from the rest of the world. /“For _thou art an holy
people_ unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a
peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the
earth. Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing.” (Deut 14:2-3/)Thus, HE
gave them many dietary laws which they were commanded to follow.They did
not _become_ “holy” by adhering to these laws but rather they were to
adhere to these laws _because_ the LORD had made them a “holy people” or
a people who were set apart.It is very important that we have a clear
understanding of this truth, for a lack of understanding of that causes
men to go about to establish their own righteousness by the keeping of
HIS law.
The LORD calls HIS sheep from the world, _because _they are HIS sheep
and HE has sanctified them, making them holy in HIS sight.This is that
“holiness” without which no man shall see the LORD.Peter speaks of it
when he says, /“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an
holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of
him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which
in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had
not obtained mercy, _but now have obtained mercy_. Dearly beloved, I
beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which
war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the
Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by
your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of
visitation.” (1Pet 2:9-12/)
The LORD gave Peter a vision wherein he saw a sheet come down from
heaven with all manner of “abominable” (as the Jews would consider)
animals in it, and was commanded to eat them.Peter being a “good Jew”
recoiled at the idea and expressed his disdain for that which he
considered “unclean”.The LORD told him that whatever HE makes clean is
clean every whit and should not be called common (or unfit).Of course,
the LORD was not instructing Peter about what foods to eat, but rather
the fact that those whom the LORD makes holy are forever and completely
holy.Thus, his objections to declaring the Gospel to the Gentiles was
overcome since the LORD has a people from every kindred and tribe whom
HE has made holy in CHRIST.
Those who believe do not become holy by their act of believing nor by
any pursuit of obedience nor abstinence of any substance or activity on
their part. Rather they are called and given faith to believe because
they are made holy in CHRIST and completely accepted in the courts of
heaven, by the blood and righteousness of HIM.That which GOD has
cleansed should not be called common (i.e.; unholy) or unclean, for it
is HE who sets HIS people apart.
For this reason, HE sent Peter to Cornelius’ house to declare the
unsearchable riches of CHRIST to him whose heart the LORD had prepared
to receive it.The LORD demonstrated HIS acceptance of Cornelius and
those in his house by giving them ears to hear the gospel which Peter
proclaimed, pouring out HIS SPIRIT upon them.They demonstrated the
efficacy of HIS work in them by believing the word which Peter preached,
being baptized and having a desire to hear more of CHRIST. /“And he
commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they
him to tarry certain days.” (Act 10:48)“Nevertheless the foundation of
God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his.
And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
(2Tim 2:19/)
The man who walks in “holiness” is not observed in eating the “pygarg”
nor in abstaining from the “coney”.Rather that man is given a desire to
be found in obedience to HIM who has called him out of darkness and into
the LIGHT.He will hear the exhortations of the scriptures and seek to be
found walking in a fashion which brings no reproach upon the NAME of
CHRIST.“/Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old
things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2Cor 5:17/)
Though he finds that in his flesh dwells no good thing, yet he is given
the EARNEST of the SPIRIT, crying ABBA FATHER as the SPIRIT wrestles
against that flesh bringing him into conformity with CHRIST.Are you set
apart in CHRIST by HIS SPIRIT?mam