The higher being concept
All over the world in all religions people have different concepts of who their God is.
Some of these ideas were formed by religious thinking, while others believe they received it by revelation.
Still others believe that a God is just a state of being.
This might surprise you. Who we are, is not determined by ourselves. That would entail a serious degree of self-righteousness and your own works.
No, our identity is found in Christ. He called us. He took our infirmities and sins and sickness upon Himself and made us righteous, without blame, sanctified ... holy!
We are the called ones.
So, the ekklēsia of Christ rests in who He is. As He is, so are we in this world.
One of a kind
Think about it. We are the only people with a clear concept of who God is - Jesus.
God became fully man. He walked this earth and was in all respects tempted and subjected just like us.
Jesus is the only God that mankind can fully identify with. Jesus, Who being fully God became fully human; being fully human, fully and exactly revealed the Father because He and the Father is One.
Being fully human, Jesus could die a human death. And being fully God, He could raise again from the dead.
Being fully human He could intercede and take up every human sin, ailment, setback, problem, deficiency ... upon Himself and fully discard and take care of it once and for all.
Being fully God, He could rise from the dead and abide and live in each one of our hearts!
We are called ...
Do we receive?
People were even told beforehand Who He Is
Years before Jesus came to earth in the likeness of human flesh, God declared Himself to man.
The prophet David says in Psalm 86:15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
In this passage David echoes the words of God when He responded to the request of Moses to reveal Himself. Remember what God said in Exodus 34:6? The same Hebrew words are used in all other scriptures where God declares Who He is. (example: Num 14:18 Neh 9:17 Psa 103:8 Psa 145:8 Joe 2:13 Exo 34:7 Neh 1:5 Jer 3:12)
It is exactly what David is crying out here. And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.
But, you guessed it right. There are more to this declaration than meets the eye ...
Time for some linguistic gymnastics
Full of compassion (mercy) - the Hebrew word here is rachûm or רחוּם meaning to be fully compassionate (love).
Amazingly, the ancient Hebrew word-picture for רחוּם depicts the following: The Highest reveals lifted up blood.
Well, you do not even need any imagination to see exactly Who is referred to.
Gracious - the Hebrew word here is channûn or חנּוּן meaning to move with favour, to beseech, to bend or stoop in kindness.
The ancient Hebrew word-picture depicts the following: Revealed lifted up secure life.
Again. You don't need help to identify the Person here.
Longsuffering - the Hebrew word here is compilation of two words, long 'ârêk
or ארך and 'aphx or אף with first meaning a lengthy time or long duration and the second meaning displeasure (a flared nostril which denotes anger). Put them together and you get longsuffering or patient.
Look at the ancient Hebrew word-picture that depicts the following: The power of the Highest is revealed by the power of the Word.
You know Who revealed Himself as the Word of God ...
Mercy (goodness) - the Hebrew word here is chêsêd or חסד meaning beauty, kindheartedness.
The ancient Hebrew word-picture depicts the following: Revealed propped (or sustained) pathway.
You know Who revealed Himself as The Way!
Truth - the Hebrew word here is 'emeth or אמת meaning absolute truth, stability, surety, verity.
Astonishingly, the ancient Hebrew word-picture depicts the following: The power of the blood is in the cross.
Need I say more?
Truely, a picture is worth a thousand words. And we do have a true reliable Picture!
HalleluYah!
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