Jesus has just appealed to the Father (and I paraphrase) that “if” this cup can pass, never the less “Thy will be done.” Judas has come upon them in the Garden, betraying Jesus. Peter, defending Jesus, cuts off the ear of the slave of the High Priest. Jesus tells Peter to put away the sword, that He does not need Peter’s help, 12 legions of angels are at His disposal. Then Jesus says,
“How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?” Matthew 26:54 (NASB) Let us remember Jesus saying to John the Baptist, “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness?” He and John were fulfilling prophecy. Matthew 3:15.
Now those Christ had ministered to in the temple have come out, to the Garden of Gethsemane, to get Him with swords and clubs. How can this be we might ask? Jesus NOT blaming them says, “But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets.” Matthew 26:56 (NASB) And finally, “Then all the disciples left Him and fled.”
Several prophecies have been fulfilled in this one scenario.
Betrayal: Matthew 17:22-23, spoken by Jesus in Galilee.
About Peter’s defending Jesus:
“Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53:12 (NKJV)
“So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with the transgressors.” Mark 15:28 (NKJV)
As Jesus spoke, “And He said to them, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?” So they said, “Nothing.”
36 Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.
37 For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For the things concerning Me have an end.”
38 So they said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.” Luke 22: 35-38
The Disciples fled: “Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, Against the Man who is My Companion,” Says the LORD of hosts. “Strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered; Then I will turn My hand against the little ones.” Zechariah 13:7
Jesus spoke of it in Matthew 26:31, “ Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
Within our relationship with the Father must be our awareness that all scripture will be fulfilled, at whatever cost to mankind. This shall be as much a priority and inevitability to us as it was to Jesus. Remember, “Jesus NOT blaming them says, ‘But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets.’ ” Matthew 26:56 (NASB)
He and we are the subjects of prophecy, caught up in the flow of a destiny God Himself has ordained. Its outcome is righteousness to all who do not resist the flow but hasten to our Holy destination!
Be willing to see as Jesus saw, what happens is prophecy being fulfilled (His Father’s plan) and to forgive them (who are fulfilling it) for surely they know not what they do. We however, can know how to respond; remaining holy and blameless, without spot or blemish, just like Jesus did.
If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!
Please … forward this post to a friend or a missionary in another country, or in this one for that matter.
From one heart to another we protect each other!
In the guardianship of Christ,
Michael
Exit Strategy
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End Times Exit Strategy Daniel 12 
October 21, 2015 at 5:09 pm
We’re saved by faith in Jesus, not by whether we’re not resisting the flow of God’s ordained happenings. Peter was saved by faith in Jesus but still in his ignorance did things to hinder Him. Be careful how you apply your understanding of this to people in churches. …The only way we can be without spot or wrinkle is to have God reckon to us His own righteousness because we believe in His Son (2 Cor. 5:21). Otherwise, we won’t be without spot or wrinkle (perfect) until we’re changed when we die or when He comes. Paul talks about how our fallen nature wars with the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:16). John talks about the remedy for sins we become aware of (1 Jn 1:9). To suggest we must die to Self enough to qualify for Heaven negates the necessity for the Blood Covering.
October 22, 2015 at 4:41 am
In response to Daniel’s comment to my last post:
“Our destiny cannot be denied.”
Daniel said, “We’re saved by faith in Jesus, not by whether we’re not resisting the flow of God’s ordained happenings. Peter was saved by faith in Jesus but still in his ignorance did things to hinder Him. Be careful how you apply your understanding of this to people in churches. …The only way we can be without spot or wrinkle is to have God reckon to us His own righteousness because we believe in His Son (2 Cor. 5:21). Otherwise, we won’t be without spot or wrinkle (perfect) until we’re changed when we die or when He comes. Paul talks about how our fallen nature wars with the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:16). John talks about the remedy for sins we become aware of (1 Jn 1:9). To suggest we must die to Self enough to qualify for Heaven negates the necessity for the Blood Covering.”
Daniel,
Thank you for caring enough to comment.
I know you have not read my book Exit Strategy. Maybe many have not. Some have. In the book I speak scripturally to most of the points you make demonstrating why our thinking must change. Many Christians would agree with your positions. I would have at one time.
Your first point. “We’re saved by faith in Jesus”
Ephesians 2:8-10 (KJV) says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” As my book points out, “Grace” is a two sided coin. Grace is received but more importantly grace must be granted. We run into trouble if we do not grant grace. It is a form of unforgiveness and we know if we do not forgive, we are not forgiven. (See the Lord’s prayer in Matthew and the two verses following.)
About grace and our management of it, Hebrews 12:14-15 (NASB) says,
14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;…”
Daniel we are to pursue peace with all men, if we ever expect to see the Lord. If we let anyone fall short, fail to grant them grace (grace God gave us to begin with) a root of bitterness springs up in us, causing trouble (for our selves) and defiling many. We become a stumbling block to others!
The Word says in Matthew 13:41-42 (NASB)
41 “The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, 42 and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Daniel, unforgiveness is lawlessness. Daniel we have responsibilities in this relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. These are not works. Responsibilities call for obedience.
John 3:36 (NASB)
36 “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
John 3:36 (NKJV)
36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
Your KJV uses the word “believe” twice in this verse when in fact it is two different words in the Greek. Check your Strong’s Concordance. The first “believe,” means to believe to the point of entrusting yourself, (to the Son’s Lordship). The second word “believe” is where we get our word apathetic. It means to disobey or be disobedient. Our obedience is paramount to our maintaining the everlasting life we were given freely when we were reconciled to God. This is a critical element we have missed.
The seed of grace was planted in our hearts at reconciliation. Will it grow and render us fruitful, a qualification for the kingdom. Grace saved us. Granting grace might save others! NOT granting grace, holding unforgiveness, is the opposite of reconciliation, a ministry we have (as followers) all been given. In fulfilling our responsibilities as we follow His instructions, we maintain or protect our future salvation. By the way, Peter did not become the Peter we know until Jesus walked through that door as his resurrected Lord. Peter nor anyone else is actually or finally saved until we shed this flesh and blood which Jesus said would not inherit eternal life! By faith we follow and implement the teachings of Christ. THIS scripturally assures us of preparation to finish the race, especially if we are challenged over our faith. It is Christ-likeness we pursue.
We are to become gracefruit trees. I am not saying you are wrong. I am saying Jesus taught us in the use of grace and we are expected to become masters in its use.
Remember the slave with one talent? He was cast out even though he had a legitimate chance to please the Master. Remember the guest at the wedding that did not have on wedding clothes? He was cast out, even though he had been given a right to be there initially. He did not take advantage of his opportunity by preparing. Remember the 5 virgins that did not bring enough oil? In our new reconciled life, we have a similar responsibility to prepare ourselves. We must bring a return, we must bare fruit, we must be ready, without spot or blemish, holy and blameless. Have you ever known of a bride that was not ready in advance of her groom arriving? We have been given everything pertaining to life and Godliness.
2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (NASB) The verse you spoke of.
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” “So that we might…”
Daniel Paul said this also. Romans 5:10 (NASB)
”10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”
This says the same basic thing as John 3:36. There is a two-fold aspect to our future salvation. There is reconciliation as Paul says, and by as John says, by “believing.” There is also salvation (being saved) as Paul says by the life of Jesus, meaning by everything the Father taught us through Him and by the life example Jesus showed us in life and on the cross. John agrees by saying by obedience to all that teaching.
Last point: “Otherwise, we won’t be without spot or wrinkle (perfect) until we’re changed when we die or when He comes “
Daniel this again needs examination. Your insertion of the word “perfect” is understandable and I believe it is clear what you are implying. And to support your point I quote:
Philippians 1:6 (NASB)
6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Yes it is a continuous task in us.
Colossians 1:28-29 (KJV)
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
Like the word problem with “believe”, the word perfect usually means mature or complete. We need to note that because of the extreme implication in our vernacular of the word “perfect.”
To suggest we must die to Self enough to qualify for Heaven negates the necessity for the Blood Covering.”
Matthew 16:24-25 (NASB)
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.
25 “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”
As to negating the necessity of the blood covering, we cannot even begin without the blood covering. It is however applied regarding our “previous sins.” In reconciliation we are made new, cleansed, washed, born again, like new people with a new chance.
Romans 3:23-26 (NKJV)
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
So we go on from reconciliation with the power of grace, compassion, mercy, love all of which help us walk in the Law of the Spirit of Life (Romans 8:2) and as we apply these facets of God to others, they are applied back to us from Him, “give and it shall be given unto you!” “If you forgive the sins of any man, your sins are forgiven.!” If I am forgiven, I am like I was initially at my reconciliation to our Father. I am “saved” by His life. I get new life by His death! I live as He lives in me. As I obediently prove He is living in me.
Take your pick.
Revelation 22:14 (KJV)
”14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”
Revelation 22:14 (NASB)
14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.
Please read some of my other postings. There is more. Read Exit Strategy $2.99.
Bless you Daniel.
Michael