Lesson for November 10, 2019
The Compound Names of Jehovah – Lesson 2
Jehovah-Qadash means the Lord Who sanctifies. Sanctification is the Greek word “hagiasmos” and literally means separation unto God or to be set apart to God. It is the same word used for saint and holy. Therefore, all believers are saints and all believers are holy. However, sanctification is in three stages and these stages must always be distinguished in order to accurately interpret the Word of God. The first stage is positional, the second stage is experiential, and the third stage is ultimate. Each is a separate and a distinct stage in the life of the believer. (Leviticus 20:1-8,26; Hebrews 10:10)
Positional sanctification is when God the Holy Spirit places a believer into union with Jesus Christ at salvation. This is accomplished by the baptism of the Holy Spirit. (I Corinthians 12:13) The baptism of the Holy Spirit is neither seen nor felt. It is a fact stated in the Word of God for us to believe. We must always distinguish between the indwelling, the baptism and the fillingof the Holy Spirit. These are all separate and distinct ministries of the Holy Spirit. Once again, none of these ministries is seen nor felt. The indwelling is God the Holy Spirit permanently residing in the believer. The baptism of God the Holy Spirit, as stated, is placing the believer into permanent union with Christ. And the filling of God the Holy Spirit is His control and guidance of the believer, which is temporary, depending on the volition (free-will) of the believer.
God’s own righteousness is imputed (credited) to the believer at salvation according to II Corinthians 5:21. This is the only way we can be set apart to God. We have been separated unto God by our faith in Jesus Christ. We have been given at least 40 spiritual assets, which include being made the righteousness of God. This position in Christ sets up the potential for each believer to execute the Christian Way of Life. Our position in Christ and our walk with Christ are different and must always be distinguished in order to avoid confusion and inaccurate interpretation. When the Bible says that we are dead to sin, this is positional truth. When the Bible says to walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lust (desire) of the flesh (sin nature), it is not referring to positional truth, but to experiential truth.
Experiential sanctification means that even though we possess the righteousness of God, we will not realize the full aspect of it until we receive a glorified body at the Rapture. (I Corinthians 15:50-53) In the meantime, we still possess a sin nature, which tempts us to commit personal sins. It is our responsibility as Christians to learn and apply the Word of God and to control our sin nature. We can do this only through the power of the Holy Spirit. There is a war being waged within every believer. It is a battle to see who will control your soul. Each of us holds the key – it is called volition or free will. God did not make us robots. He gave us the freedom of choice.
Galatians 5:16-26 talks about the walk of the believer, which is a reference to experiential sanctification. The Greek word for walkis “stoicheo,” which means to walk in a straight line or row. If we are “walking in the Spirit,” our steps will align with His. In other words, we will allow the Holy Spirit to guide “our steps.” Please remember that God is not an ogre waiting for us to fail so He can “zap us.” God loves us and wants only the best for us. Therefore, we should learn to love ourselves, which entails self-worth and self-respect. God in His grace is always there for us, even in times of our failure. Since God has compassion on us, we should have compassion on ourselves. Evaluate yourself, make the necessary corrections and move forward, one step at a time. But don’t spend time beating yourself up or condemning yourself because of some failure. (I John 1:6-10)
Ultimate sanctification takes place when Christ returns at the Rapture of the Church in the future. We still reside in this body while here on earth, but our true home is Heaven. We are just passing though this life, but our real citizenship is in Heaven. All the truth of our position in Christ and all the potential of experiential sanctification that the believer fulfilled (divine production) will be a reality when Christ returns for His church (believers of this age).
For every believer there is going to be a change. Each of us is going to receive a glorified body fashioned after Christ’s body. This will be an instantaneous change as we are being caught up to meet Christ in the air. Ultimate sanctification will be a reality for all believers regardless of their spiritual status. Spiritually mature and immature believers will receive a glorified body and will spend all of eternity in perfect happiness. There will, however, be a loss of magnificent rewards and blessings for those who fail to execute the Christian Way of Life.
Jehovah-Raah means the Lord is Our Shepherd. Jesus Christ is our Shepherd because He gave His life for “the sheep” (Positional Sanctification). (John 10:9-11) Jesus Christ is called the Great Shepherd, the Good Shepherd and the Chief Shepherd. (Hebrews 13:20-21; I Peter 5:4) Christ is our Shepherd and we are His sheep. As sheep we have certain needs that must be provided for us by the Shepherd. For example, sheep cannot guide themselves (John. 16:13), sheep cannot clean themselves (I John. 1:9), sheep are helpless when injured (Psalms 9:9; 46:1), sheep are defenseless (John. 14:27), sheep cannot find food or water (John 14:26), sheep are easily frightened (John 14:16), and sheep produce wool that belongs to the shepherd. (John 15:4-5) Our Shepherd provides guidance, cleansing, help, protection, spiritual food and drink, freedom from fear, and all that we have belongs to Him. (Psalm 2:1-4)
The Greek word for shepherd is “poimen,” which is used for a pastor of a local church in the New Testament. Since Jesus is the Chief Shepherd, pastors are “under-shepherds” and given the responsibility to tend to God’s “flock.” A pastor is to teach the mystery doctrine of the Church Age. This is the means by which the Royal Family of God learns, grows spiritually and reaches spiritual maturity. The pastor must understand dispensations and how they relate to the plan of God for mankind and the resolution of the Angelic Conflict. A pastor must also teach the Word of God systematically, accurately and consistently to allow those believers with positive volition the opportunity to expose themselves to Bible doctrine. A Bible story with a point, a poem and prayer will not produce spiritual growth.
A pastor, under the filling of the Holy Spirit causes spiritual growth in one way only, and that is by communication of accurate Bible doctrine, not by being an example. Every pastor has a sin nature and will fail. No one grows by seeing the example of the wonderful life of a pastor; there must be communication of accurate Bible doctrine. That’s the key to using his spiritual gift. No believer, including a pastor advances in the Christian life through any form of human works, by following the example of anyone but Jesus Christ, by personal sacrifice, Christian service or fellowship with other believers.
(Matthew 9:36, 18:12; John 10:4-5, 11-15, 21:15-17; Acts 20:28-29; I Peter 2:25, 5:2-4)
Jehovah-Rapha means the Lord is Our Healer. Physical healing was used to verify and establish the fact that the Messiah had come to Israel. Healing was not used primarily to alleviate suffering, but to present the Messiah Jesus Christ. Jesus performed acts of healing while He was on earth to focus attention on Himself as the Messiah (Savior). There is no physical healing in the atonement of Christ only spiritual healing. (Isaiah 53:6) Good health is not a sign of spirituality or salvation. During the Church Age before the completion of the Canon of Scriptures, God the Holy Spirit sovereignly gave the temporary gift of healing to certain men to establish their credentials as apostles and other communicators of doctrine. Healing established that the man was from God. (Exodus 15:1-26; I Corinthians 12:11)
All temporary spiritual gifts were designed to take up the slack in the Church Age until the Canon of Scriptures were completed and circulated. However, once the Bible was completed (96 AD), all temporary gifts were withdrawn to be replaced by Bible doctrine. Certain gifts, such as miracles and healing, were no longer necessary to establish the authority of Bible teachers and doctrinal communication. Temporary gifts include prophecy, miracles, apostleship, healing, tongues, and interpretation of tongues. Since healing was designed as an authorization from God rather than to alleviate suffering, it was always removed once the authority of the communicator was established. (Hebrews 2:1-1-4) For example, Paul, who had the gift of healing initially, could no longer heal his close friends as seen in in Acts 19:11-12; Philippians 2:27; II Timothy 4:20.
God can always heal anyone, but healing is not the order of the day in this final stage of the Angelic Conflict. God never heals through an individual (like a so-called faith-healer), but only through prayer. Those who allege they can heal someone are totally evil. No human being has any spiritual gift related to healing now that the Canon of Scriptures has been completed.