It is Finished!

 

It is Finished!

Temple Veil rent in twain.....

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost; Jn. 19: 30.

What does those word, “It is finished “ mean? Why was the veil of the Temple rent in twain from the Top to the bottom?

The events that occur: The Resurrection of Jesus, the Empty tomb; the appearance to the Disciples and the Easter are the most defining moment of our  Christian faith.

And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; Matt. 27: 51.     

Strong's Greek: 2396. ἴδε (ide) -- Behold, see, look - Bible Hub

Word Origin: Derived from the verb εἶδον (eidon), which is the aorist form of ὁράω (horao), meaning "to see" or "to behold." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Hebrew …[i]

Strong's Greek: 2571. κάλυμα (kalumma) -- Veil, covering - Bible …

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb καλύπτω (kalyptō), meaning "to cover" or "to conceal." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Greek word κάλυμμα corresponds to several …[ii]

             Behold, is an expression to say something, to look with astonishment, wonder and awe! This massive, heavy, veil renting, from top to bottom is not possible by mere earthquake: BUT, for the Hand of God, opening up for all we sinners, the direct access to God, through Jesus Christ.

             There are 2 veils at the Temple: One stood at the Holy Place; 2^nd veil was at the entrance of the Holy of Holies. Only the High Preist was allowed to pass through the Holy of Holies, during the festival of atonement. This second veil was massive; and heavy and looks like the barrier. This barrier was  because of the sinfulness of man, and the Holiness of God, inside the Holy of Holies.

Weight and thickness and height of Temple veil

The Temple veil, also known as the Temple Curtain, was a massive curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place within the Temple in Jerusalem. It was traditionally believed to be about 60 feet high, 30 feet wide, and several inches thick. The veil was made of fine linen and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, with..[iii]        

       This massive, heavy, veil renting, from top to bottom is not possible by mere earthquake. But, for the Hand of God, opening up for we all sinners, the direct access to God. 

Strong's Greek: 5055. τελέω (teleó) -- To complete, to finish, to ...

Original Word: τελέω Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: teleó Pronunciation: te-leh'-o Phonetic Spelling: (tel-eh'-o) Definition: To complete, to finish, to fulfill, to accomplish. Meaning: (a) I …[iv]

        This Temple curtain was very thick, heavy, long and wide. This divided the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Temple, and is the innermost sanctum. It was believed that God’s presence was dwelling there from the rest of the Temple.

For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount; Heb. 8:4-5.

“As if shocked at the sacrilegious murder of her Lord, the temple rent her garments, like one stricken with horror at some stupendous crime.” (Spurgeon)

          The tearing of the Temple curtain symbolizes the Divine breaking down of the barriers between God and humanity. It signifies, the opening of the pathway to God directly for human beings. This path way was made very clear because of Christ’s crucifixion on the cross: through the blood of the Lamb that as slain!      

“It is not a slight rent through which we may see a little; but it is rent from the top to the bottom. There is an entrance made for the greatest sinners. If there had only been a small hole cut through it, the lesser offenders might have crept through; but what an act of abounding mercy is this, that the veil is rent in the midst, and rent from top to bottom, so that the chief of sinners may find ample passage!” (Spurgeon)[v]  

         The renting of the Temple veil, the wonder, the connection with the death of Christ, marks the beginning of spiritual wonders yet to come. These spiritual wonders includes the renting of hard hearts; the deep sin locked in deep graves of the hearts  can open. Many who are dead in the trespasses of sin, lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, the pride of life, can be quickened through the Spirit of God; the Holy Spirit. Nature itself is shaken by the death of Christ.

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life; Jn. 6: 63.

Those who have been dead in trespasses and sins, and buried in sepulchers of lust and evil, are quickened, and come out from among the dead, and go unto the holy city, the New Jerusalem.” (Spurgeon)

 

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[i] Bible Hub https://biblehub.com › greek

[ii] Bible Hub https://biblehub.com › greek

[iii]http://www.libertygospeltracts.com/question/prequest/veiloftemple.htm

[iv] Bible Hub https://biblehub.com › greek

[v] https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/matthew-27/

Reality of the Invisible

 

Reality of the Invisible

Strong's Greek: 517. ἀόρατος (aoratos) -- Invisible - Bible Hub

Context: The Greek word ἀόρατος appears in the New Testament to convey the concept of invisibility, particularly in relation to spiritual or divine entities. It is used to describe the nature …[i]

Strong's Greek: 3707. ὁρατός (horatos) -- Visible, seen - Bible Hub

Here, ὁρατός is used to refer to the temporary, visible world, encouraging believers to focus on the eternal, invisible realities of God's kingdom. The use of ὁρατός serves as a reminder of the …[ii]

           For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Rom. 1: 20.         

       The human race is guilty before God in our deed of ungodliness and unrighteousness. God created both the heavenly bodies and the earthly bodies. We begin to understand the heavenly things by seeing the earthly things. Earthly things are image of heavenly things.

The universal character of this revelation and the clarity of it leave man without excuse for rejecting it. “Men cannot charge God with hiding himself from them and thus excuse their irreligion and their immorality.” (Lenski)

And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Acts 1:10.

           These 2 men are the angels; and also many have reported they had seen angels in their lives and reported that they look like men. Here the point is, the invisible and the visible are very close and separated only by a thin layer. In fact, one can move from one to the other through a very thin corridor. God created the visible and the invisible world at the same time and the separation is only a very thin border!

         The cloud that received Him is suggestive of the cloud of glory (called the Shekinah) that is associated with the presence of God in the Old and New Testaments; (Ref. Lk. 24: 50-51).

And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven; Lk. 24: 51.

If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven; Jn. 3: 12-13.

“The ascension differs radically from Jesus’ vanishing from the sight of the disciples at Emmaus and similar happenings. There is an air of finality about it. It is the decisive close of one chapter and the beginning of another.” (Morris) 

         That is the reason, when people pass off, it is a quick transition from this world to the other world. That is the reason, the Lord can appear and disappear, and angels too. So, the humanity cannot deny the invisible, because both are very close to each other. We try to understand the heavenlies by looking at the visible, earthly things.

There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another; 1 Cori. 15: 40.    

        There are different kinds of bodies in God’s creation, including celestial bodies. Humans created in the image of God, at resurrection will have heavenly body. While our present bodies are adapted for the environment of time and earth, our resurrection bodies will be celestial for the environment of eternity and heaven. So our life does not end in this planet earth.  

There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory: Some take this to mean there will be different degrees of glory for believers in heaven. “Whether there are degrees of glory, as it seems probable, so we shall certainly know, when we come to heaven.” (Trapp)

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[i] Bible Hub https://biblehub.com › greek

[ii]I.Bid.; Bible Hub

Look Beyond! .... Steps for a Healthy Mind….

 

Look Beyond!

Steps for a Healthy Mind….

            God is a gentleman and He knocks….and if we open the door He will come in! He wants us to have a relationship with Him, to know Him more!

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me; Rev. 3: 20.

Tongue of the Learned!

The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned; Isa. 50: 4-5. 

       To speak a word in season to him who is weary; is a beautiful ministry of the Holy Spirit. This is a glorious use of our tongue; and God’s word says, it is the tongue of the learned. So, when a person speaks, we know if they are learned or not. The words of our mouth, reveals our heart.

      Jesus Christ from very young could speak with the tongue of the learned ...

The Messiah, speaking prophetically, looks back to a custom described in Exodus 21:5-6, where a servant became a willing bondslave to his master. The sign of this willing servant was the ear opened by the piercing of an awl, done against the entry doorway of the master. This speaks of the total submission of the Messiah to the Lord GOD.[i]

Cleansing process….

But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people; Jer. 31: 33.

The new covenant does not do away with or renounce the law. It makes the law closer and more important by setting it in the mind and heart, instead of on a stone tablet or page. “It would no longer be like the external one made with the fathers, but spiritual and internal, and based on an intimate knowledge of Jehovah.” (Morgan)

        Ever since the Fall, we humans are not able to discern between the right from the wrong, and God has given us the Ten commandments for us to follow and this sis fulfilled in Christ. The New covenant given by Jesus Christ, through His shed blood, and the Word of God, brings to humanity internal transformation. This means the law given to Moses by God is not only external, because all the laws were fulfilled in the New covenant.

Grow up....

Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men;1 Cori. 14: 20.

        Often, we are selfish; and our desire is to  edify ourselves at the expense of others, as it was in the days of Paul in Corinth in the churches. That means we are like children, selfish and immature. We have to learn to become mature because God has called us all, to equip ourselves and grow in Him. We have to learn and apply in our lives showing our maturity. This is a higher call!

Prepare your mind for action...

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;1 Pet. 1:13. 

 “It denotes a condition free from every form of mental and spiritual loss of self-control; it is an attitude of self-discipline that avoids the extremes.” (Hiebert)

           Impure thoughts, earth bound thoughts, fear, worry and anxiety need to leave slowly. We get renewed and cleansed, by the Holy Spirit. We get strengthened and be strong in this troubled life. Do not allow evil schemes to pull us down. This is a process and this happens slowly…from faith to faith and from glory to glory. We have to work with Christ and stay in His word.  Be in the word every day. We all need daily cleansing. Great peace that passeth all understanding will  begin to fill our hearts.

Look Beyond!

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things; Phil. 4: 8.

           Essentially Paul is saying that, the fruit and the food of the mind needed to be guarded. This is done by God’s peace which is supernaturally provided for us. These good things when it occupies our mind,  and stay in our mind (heart and the brain) then it begins to sprout and comes forth from within us!

Fill your minds....

And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; Ephes. 4:23.

        Fundamentally, for a Christian, there must be a complete break from the past. The work of Jesus on the cross is far beyond what we can imagine and argue about. The old life dies and He becomes our new life. I pray God will fill us with a deep hunger for us, so we grow in Him and are deeply satisfied.

“So, if you want to know the Lord Jesus Christ, you must live with him. First he must himself speak to you, and afterwards you must abide in him. He must be the choice Companion of your morning hours, he must be with you throughout the day, and with him you must also close the night; and as often as you may wake during the night, you must say, ‘When I awake, I am still with thee.’ ” (Spurgeon)

Finally we can live as in…  

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God; Rom. 12: 2. 

Strong's Greek: 3339. μεταμορφόω (metamorphoó) -- To transform, to ...

Strong’s Greek 3339 charts a movement from sight of divine glory to sharing in that glory. It anchors sanctification in Christ’s own …[ii] The same word is used to describe Jesus in His transfiguration;  

And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them; Mk. 9: 2-3.

“Whereas the heathen are prone to sacrifice in order to obtain mercy, biblical faith teaches that the divine mercy provides the basis of sacrifice as the fitting response.” (Harrison)

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[i] Isaiah 50 Commentary: The Messiah’s Steadfast Obedience

[ii] Greek word metamorphosis - Search

The Word Church

 

The Word Church 

Throughout New Testament the word church was used. What does it mean?

  Etymologically speaking, the word church means “house of the Lord.” The modern word church is a direct descendant of the Old English word cirice or circe. The first recorded use of the Old English word is from the thirteenth century, and it could refer to either a body of Christian believers or to the place where they gathered.[i]

      Ekklésia: Ek means out; Kelesia means  called. This means called out. This word is used for those who are called out. In Grecian times this word is used for specific assembly, or political assembly or people who are called out, re-elected, selected , and chosen to be part of the assembly.

      They had great power in local assembly. That is how God has called  us. He called, selected, put us in church in  every community where we are. We have as The Body of Christ, has great authority in spiritual realm and also in natural realm. This is what the word church means.

Usage: The word ἐκκλησία appears frequently in the New Testament, where it is used to describe both local gatherings of Christians and the universal body of believers. It is employed in various contexts, including the assembly of Israelites, the Christian church as a whole, and specific …[ii]

Word Origin: Derived from the root verb קהל (qāhal), meaning "to assemble" or "to gather." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G1577 (ἐκκλησία, ekklēsia): Often translated as …[iii]

        The price of our salvation: The Church was birthed; and this costs God everything; His Only Son! It does not cost humanity anything; but The Church only had to follow what Jesus said!

       When God created the heavens, the earth, the beauty around us, the rivers, the lakes, the sun, the moon, the stars, then angelic beings it costs Him nothing. But, when He created the human being it cost Him everything to save our soul. Most importantly of all, God gave His breath to man in the Garden of Eden. The most precious thing to God is the human life.

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul; Gen. 2: 7.

“The implication, readily seen by any Hebrew reader, [is] that man was specially created by God’s breathing some of His own breath into him.” (Boice)

      Then after the Fall because of God’s great love, He gave His precious Son, for each one of us, to save us from the bondage of sin and death.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life; Jn. 3: 16. 

 It is a distinctively Christian idea that God’s love is wide enough to embrace all mankind.” (Morris)

       God patiently comes to the sinful man, to the random heart, working with us patiently, daily in-fact.  When we receive this beautiful thing of salvation, we have to renounce SELF! We have to say no to sin, and repent. Then we become the part of Church! Church is the Bride of Christ.

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[i]https://www.gotquestions.org › meaning-of-church.html What is the meaning and origin of the word church

[ii] Bible Hub https://biblehub.com › greek

Strong's Greek: 1577. ἐκκλησία (ekklésia) -- Church, assembly, …

[iii] Bible Hub https://biblehub.com › hebrew

Strong's Hebrew: 6951. קָהָל (qahal) - Bible Hub

 

Authenticity Part 2

 

Authenticity

Part 2

        An example of authenticity to reminisce is the story of King Saul and David who simply walked with God. When integrity and authenticity, with humility stands before pride and deception,   something breaks;  and the atmosphere shifts. It was very obvious that Saul wasn’t willing to wait for Samuel; and he did not trust and waited for God.

And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.” “And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering;1 Sam. 13: 8-9.

       Whereas, David waited on God throughout his time in the wilderness; (Ref. Psa. 42). This  demonstrates David’s trust in God and Saul’s lack of trust in God.

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God; Psa. 42: 1-2.

        Authenticity is God’s way of stripping those illusions apart; one’s insecurity, and brokenness forces the person to see themselves, which they had avoided too long. The peace the authentic personalities carry is a threat to chaos for someone who does not live in truth. The character, the emptiness inside, and the counterfeit identity person projected will be stripped away.

        Authentic person’s clarity, humility, honesty, emotional sincerity, and spiritual alignment parts fear around those who want to manipulate to twist their script differently against the truth.

Neuroscience on authenticity

Authentic conversations activate the brain’s reward system. When we engage in genuine dialogue, the ventral striatum, responsible for feelings of pleasure, lights up. Think of the warm rush you feel when someone truly understands you. That’s dopamine flooding your brain. This natural “high” is why authentic interactions are so satisfying. Now consider the opposite. You’re in a meeting where the dialogue feels forced, like everyone is just ticking boxes. Your amygdala, the brain’s fear center, senses the disconnect. It triggers a stress response, releasing cortisol, the stress hormone. Over time, these inauthentic interactions can leave you drained, anxious, and even distrustful.[i]  

        There is real battle between authenticity and the one who lives in deception, pride, and hide behind various masks. The battle between The Truth of God and Deception is scriptural.

Remember this: Satan tried to manipulate and control Jesus, but Jesus went by what is written in God’s word. Pharisees and their deeds of darkness evaporated before Jesus Christ, who is the Truth Himself. 

Understanding the neural basis of human honesty and deception has enormous potential scientific and practical value. In particular, by separating and capturing distinct adaptive problems facing signal senders and receivers, signaling games provide a framework to organize the complex set of cognitive processes associated with honest and deceptive behavior. Recent meta-analyses have further shown that lying was associated with greater activation in regions including dorsolateral and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, anterior insula and superior frontal lobule.[ii]      

Jesus: Honors the Father; Jn. 8: 49; seeks God’s glory, not His own; Jn. 8: 50; offers freedom through the truth.

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free; Jn. 8: 32.

Pharisees: Dishonor Jesus with slander; Jn. 8: 48; Seek to protect position and prestige; Jn. 11: 48; Remain enslaved to sin despite heritage claims.

      Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin; Jn. 8: 34.

       In this world where Pharisees lived in varied masks, Jesus The Authentic Son of God, who became man becomes their mirror, and makes it very clear that hiding is very impossible. Christ’s Authenticity strips the ability to guilt trip, gas light, and twist the reality and The Truth.

       Clinging to traditions and rituals without truth, and not willing to learn can breed hostility toward God’s revelation. False accusations, without proper checking the truth and gas lighting often masks deeper resistance to divine authority. Jesus’ unwavering commitment to truth, and his obedience to God, His Father in heaven invites believers to stand firm, even when misrepresented.

        Authentic people in Christ live from inside out. To worship in truth means, one should worship according to the whole counsel of God’s word. This is keeping ourselves in the light of the New Testament revelation; based on what is written and given to us.

        It also means that we should come to God in truth, not in pretense or a mere display of spirituality. To worship in spirit means we should concern ourselves with spiritual realities. This does not concern so much with places, outward sacrifices, proclaiming charity to everyone, cleansings, and trappings.

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth;1 Jn. 3:18. 

“Here is a test of this love; if we do not divide our bread with the hungry, we certainly would not lay down our life for him. Whatever love we may pretend to mankind, if we are not charitable and benevolent, we give the lie to our profession.”(Clarke)

          The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy; Prov.  12:22. 

       Our God is Truth Himself. He loves humans to speak the truth and regards the lips that spread lies as offensive, an abomination.

Strong's Hebrew: 7563. רָשָׁע (rasha) -- Wicked, evil, guilty

The Hebrew noun רָשָׁע (Strong’s 7563) designates a person who is morally wrong, hostile to God’s standards, and liable to divine …[iii]

The sense of the Hebrew for desperately wicked seems to have sickness more than depravity in mind. “Unregenerate human nature is in a desperate condition without divine grace, described by the term gravely ill in verse 9 (RSV desperately corrupt, NEB desperately sick).” (Harrison)

           Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind; 1 Pet. 2: 1.

       Peter has just demonstrated the glory and eternal character of God’s word; which is full of The Truth. In the light of what is written and given to us, we should receive the word and receive it with a humble hearts. This is because the matter of the heart is heart itself! Dying to self is not a quick process: standing alone without dependence on man, without praise; obeying without applauding; and depending only on God brings freedom, and this terrifies darkness.

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Jer. 17: 9.

“The pravity and perversity of the man’s heart, full of harlotry and creature confidence, deceiving and being deceived, is here plainly and plentifully described; and oh that it were duly and deeply considered.” (Trapp)

      Humility is the fertile ground on which the tree of righteousness grows and yield the fruit of the Spirit. Many problems in both individual Christian lives and in congregations is mainly they failed, to desire or to receive this pure milk; The Ultimate Truth.

“The sickly condition of so many Christians sets forth a lamentable complaint of the food with which they are supplied. To say nothing of strong meat, they do not even get milk. Hence the Church of God too much resembles the wards of a children’s hospital.” (Meyer)

 

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[i] Brainz Magazinehttps://www.brainzmagazine.com › post › the-neuroscienc…

The Neuroscience of Authentic Communication and its …

Jan 28, 2025 · Neuroscience confirms that authentic interactions activate the prefrontal cortex, the area of …

[ii] ScienceDirect

https://www.sciencedirect.com › science › article › pii

Cognitive neuroscience of honesty and deception: a signaling framework

Oct 1, 2016 · Figure 1. Neural correlates of honesty and deception. (a, b) Previous meta-analysis results of neural correlates of truth … 

[iii] hebrew word for wicked - Search