The Glorious Appearing of Christ
Blessed be the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ for their enduring mercy given to the church called by His name. Peace and grace to the brethren, and may these words encourage all to grow in the grace and knowledge of God.
The coming of Jesus Christ with the Promise precedes and is distinct from the appearing of Jesus Christ in our walk. The second coming of the Lord for salvation initiates a new day, the third day, also called the day of the Lord, that we endure to finish our race and be perfected. There is great wisdom in understanding this, as nobody has arrived until we take our last breath in these clay vessels. We follow the example of Paul, who had the Living Christ working mightily in him, and he pressed toward the high calling of perfection.
Php 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
One cannot hear the call to perfection and warnings against sloth and lasciviousness enough, given the weight of Scripture on those who fell away. Being called and chosen is a tremendous blessing, but now, if we are the elect of God, we press onward to be found faithful in our day of the Lord after receiving the Promise. A recent study on the Essential Doctrines of Christ revealed that the Hebrews in whom Christ had come were languishing and did not move on towards perfection and maturity. They should have already been teachers but were acting as babes in Christ, unable to partake of the strong meat that is the fiery trials and persecution that come from being holy and set apart in obedience from the world. It was a warning against apostasy for them and for us today, who have received Christ.
Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
The Lord gives us parables to teach us the ways of the Kingdom of God, which is the same as the Kingdom of Heaven. Two of these parables are particularly applicable to the time and process needed to grow into the fullness and maturity of Jesus Christ. The ways, wisdom, and mysteries of God are revealed in these parables to those given spiritual eyes and ears.
Mat 13:31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
Mat 13:32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
Mat 13:33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
The Holy Seed, the Living Spirit of Christ, THE COMMANDMENTS, once planted in the good soil prepared by the Baptism of John, grows into a mighty tree that represents the Kingdom of Heaven within us. The growing of the Living Christ in us is the growing of this tree and the spreading of the yeast throughout the whole lump. The growth of Christ in us is the growth of the Living Commandments and their manifestation or appearing in all our thoughts and behaviours. Bringing all to maturity in the faith is the role of those the Lord appoints as the elders in the congregation who serve the flock. Their labor is to get this Mustard Seed planted and bring everyone along unto the perfect man, no longer being deceived by the multitudes of false doctrines.
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Whether or not we move on to maturity is up to the Lord. However, we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, pressing into what the Lord has given us. Once we taste the heavenly gift, there is no coming back in this age if we fall away and do not enter the promised land
Heb 6:3 And this will we do, if God permit.
Heb 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Heb 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Heb 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
The Scriptures liken us to trees, and time is needed to grow a tree to maturity in the natural and the spiritual. Likewise, the parable of the leaven and flour meal speaks of the time and process required for the dough to rise. The Spirit of Christ takes time to germinate, sprout, and mature. The Living Word shall accomplish the purposes for which it was sent to those prepared to hear the Gospel. The trees of the field will clap their hands and sing praises unto the Lord in due time. No longer will the promised land bear thorns and briers, but trees that bear witness to the Lord.
Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Isa 55:12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Isa 55:13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
Our baptism of Christ, the receiving of the Holy Spirit of Grace, is not the end of the race; it is only the beginning of the true trials and tribulations, as those so blessed have entered their day of the Lord. The Holy seed, the Living Christ, the Commandments, now live in us, and henceforth the Kingdom of God is continually expanding as our carnal minds and thoughts [the fowls of the air] come to rest in obedience to the King who now sits in heaven. The Prince of Peace, who is the Living Christ, brings all carnal reasonings to rest, being in subjection to the commandments of the Father. Here is Luke’s version of the parable.
Luk 13:18 Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?
Luk 13:19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.
Mustard plants are famous for growing very quickly, and so it is with the Spirit of Christ when He comes to save us from our enemies. The Lord, being a jealous God, makes quick work upon the earth, as the Holy Spirit is greater in power than the carnal thoughts and habits [the fowls of heaven] that have kept us in bondage our entire lives. When Christ comes, our earth is being judged in righteousness, and the end of all things is at hand.
Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Rev 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
Properly planted seed germinates and grows unto maturity in the natural, and so it is with the Spiritual regarding the Holy seed of the Living Christ. The coming of the Promise that rebirths us is just the beginning of the race that ends with us becoming mature in Christ, having His mind, and receiving the fullness of our crown before we depart these clay vessels. We preach the Gospel, the mystery now being revealed, which takes root and brings forth newness of life in the Spirit of the commandments. The elders labour to grow all the flock unto maturity and present them perfect in Christ Jesus.
Col 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Col 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Col 1:29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
This parable of the Mustard Seed appears in all the Gospels except John and teaches us the vital lessons of growing into maturity. Here is Mark’s version, which offers a few more details.
Mar 4:30 And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
Mar 4:31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:
Mar 4:32 But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.
Mar 4:33 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.
As Christ, the Living Commandments in us increase, the fowls, representing our carnal thoughts, come to rest in the branches of the Tree of Life, which is the Living Commandments now growing in us. This is the peace of God that transcends all understanding coming into our heavens. The tiny mustard seed, representing the seed of Christ, grows to become greater than all herbs, as there is nothing more valuable to our spiritual health and sustenance than eating the Gospel, the commandments that are the Living Christ. By eating the Gospel and given time, we grow in His knowledge and grace, and are weaned off the milk as we mature and learn to eat the strong meat of the Living Word.
Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Strong meat is the suffering, reproach, and persecution we endure for standing for Christ and obeying the commandments, being set apart from the world and its ways.
The tests of our faith and our proving faithful are what grow the tree and its branches unto the fullness of Jesus Christ. The great ones in the Kingdom of Heaven have humbled themselves by the hand of the Lord and have put the fowls to rest, ceasing from their carnal works.
Mat 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Mat 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
The Lord finishes the work He started and remakes us into His Holy Temple until all things are made new. The living Christ works in us until all enemies are subdued and become a footstool under His feet. This is the process by which we are being perfected by the Spirit of Christ now dwelling in us. The Living Christ works in the Father’s Kingdom, molding, shaping, increasing our faith, building the Temple, where He and the Father shall dwell forever.
1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
We grow in the spirit of grace as the Lord expands His occupancy within us. God’s grace, which is the living commandments now making their abode with us, uncovers all our hidden sins and secrets and burns them up. Nothing shall remain hidden; it all comes to the light in due time. As Christ increases, our old ways decrease, and we become holy in all of our behavior. Our remaking into the image of the Son is being accomplished. We are being made holy in all manner of our conduct, forgetting what was past.
1Pe 1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
1Pe 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Peter’s call to holiness was quoted from Leviticus and a chapter regarding the laws about our spiritual food, specifically the law of beasts. Many habits and ingrained behaviours are being changed as the seed of Christ germinates and grows into a Tree of Life. We need to stop eating, meaning taking into our minds unclean thoughts and inputs that defile us. In modern parlance, these are things such as news, politics, music, sports, hobbies, and anything the world esteems that occupies our minds, taking our focus off obeying the commandments. All these fowls of heaven need to come to rest, and we no longer spiritually eat them.
Lev 11:44 For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Lev 11:45 For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
Lev 11:46 This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth:
Lev 11:47 To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.
Coming out and being separated from the carnal world requires us to stand and rest in the commandments. As we grow in Christ, we grow in understanding and knowledge of Him and the narrowness of the way of life.
All Wait, Learning Patience
Everyone who calls on the Lord is learning patience and waiting for Him in some capacity. No matter where one is regarding the two baptisms and our maturity in each, all wait and hope in what is yet to come or be revealed.
Psa 130:5 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.
Some wait for the Promise, which is the Lord coming to make His abode in them. Others, born again by the Spirit, wait for Christ to appear in all their behavior. We all share in the wait and learning of patience. The waiting is part of the trials that prove our faith, whether we wait for Christ to come or for Christ to be revealed. Every one of the flock abides in the hope of what they do not yet see to come and be revealed to them.
Rom 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
Rom 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
We cannot be reminded too often of the need to wait and endure because growing weary led many to depart from the faith and fall away into disobedient pursuits of spiritual lusts, fornication, and murmuring. Take heed, stand, and wait. [See all 1 Cor 10].
1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the age are come.
1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
Those waiting on the Promise are espoused to be married to Christ when the Bridegroom comes. Most of the epistles were written to churches where the flock was waiting for Christ to come, and thus their focus was on making themselves ready for the wedding feast. The church at Thessalonica is growing in faith and learning patience as they wait for the Son’s appearance from heaven.
1Th 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
1Th 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
This letter spoke in detail about the waiting: Quietly Waiting for the Promise
Our faith establishes the hope of the Lord’s coming glory into our heavens. The Hebrews waiting for the Promise were reminded to finish their preparations, being washed by the commandments, and be patient as they tarried in Jerusalem.
Heb 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Heb 10:37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
Waiting for His Appearing, growing in Christ
Once the Promise comes, we are born again into the living hope of Jesus Christ, now dwelling within. We now need to grow into the mature man of Christ, being holy and blameless in all our behaviour. We do this by increasing in the peace and grace that lives in us. The prince of peace and glory of the Lord’s grace is to be multiplied within us, Lord willing. We are warned about not remaining steadfast but rather to grow onwards to maturity.
1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
We get to know the Lord intimately in the whirlwind of judgment when the Living Commandments abide in our hearts and the manifest trials perfect us. Those who have received the Promise, even the Apostles, wait for the fullness of Christ’s appearing in them as the race needs to be run to the end. The seed of Christ must grow to maturity, and the Spirit that represents the yeast must expand throughout the whole lump. The Apostles and elders wait for the Lord Jesus Christ to appear as they grow in the grace and knowledge taught by the anointing, the Holy Spirit that now lives in them.
Heb 6:11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
Heb 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
The salvation of our souls is the end of the race, the completion of the Lord’s work in remaking the marred vessel into a vessel of honour in which He dwells. For Christ to be revealed to us, we have lots of growing and many tribulations to endure. Yet our incorruptible inheritance, salvation, is reserved for us in heaven, a promise of God who cannot lie. Remain steadfast on the Gospel, the Living Commandments, and we cannot fail.
1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Proving ourselves faithful to the commandments reveals Christ in our lives. Thus, the Lord brings us trials to prove our faith in the fire of many trials. When Jesus Christ appears, we receive God’s praise and manifest His glory.
1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing [revelation] of Jesus Christ:
1Pe 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
Peter exhorted the elders who fed the flock through the preaching of the Gospel, telling them to faithfully execute their duties so they would become partakers of Jesus Christ’s appearing in glory. Glory is the appearance of the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ, who appears when we are obedient to the commandments.
1Pe 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
1Pe 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
1Pe 5:3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
1Pe 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
The Apostle Paul always spoke of the hope of the fullness of the Promises yet to be revealed. We are to hold these beliefs close and rejoice not only in what we have already been given but also in the promises and hope yet to be revealed. We are never to become slothful but continue to abide and work in the kingdom of God.
1Ti 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
Heb 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
The revelation of the Lord’s glory follows seasons of our growing and maturing, which are marked by manifest trials and temptations. Our suffering for Christ precedes the revealing of His glory, which represents our obedience to the Father’s commandments.
1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
We learn by trials to be aware and steadfast to the wiles of the devil, who roams our earth looking for opportunities to have us fall. If we endure to the end, the tree of life grows mighty and strong in our hearts, and then the Lord gives us overcoming, strengthens, and settles us in the faith.
1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1Pe 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
1Pe 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
The grace of God, the living commandments, are what bring salvation. God’s grace is the chastening that teaches us to do righteousness and be holy and blameless in all our behavior. As we learn through our chastening, our hope is realized more and more as Christ appears in us as we overcome all sin in our day of perfection.
Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
The appearing of Christ is our being clothed in the garments of righteousness. This signifies the mature man of Christ who has overcome their sin by the power of God, the living commandments by way of many trials and sufferings.
Rev 7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
Rev 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Rebuilding a holy temple, wherein the Lord dwells forever, takes more than a 30-second prayer to accomplish. It takes many trials, tribulations, tests of faith, sufferings, and chastenings of our heavenly Father to bring about. Yet the Lord fails not to accomplish what He sets out to do. We were created to manifest the Lord’s glory and that is precisely what He will bring about in the appointed times.
Psa 102:16 When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.
We are commanded to examine ourselves and measure the temple versus the commandments [the plumbline] to see how we are doing and if we remain on track, walking in faith. Knowing the Lord is being a doer of His commandments. The Spirit that dwells in us cannot lie, and we shall know where we stand and what work remains to finish the work of making us righteous and holy. Do we know Him? Are we in the Truth?
1Jn 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
1Jn 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1Jn 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
The mustard seed should grow rapidly into a fruitful tree as the Lord works quickly. Our carnal thoughts and behaviour need to change. We need to rest in the peace of the Holy Commandments, the true Sabbath rest of God. If we focus on the things of the Lord, the commandments, we find the peace that transcends all understanding and come to know the Lord in Spirit and Truth.
Isa 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Hallowed be His name that we pray daily means we hallow His commandments and come to rest in them and do them. The mature in Christ is a man or woman of peace who has ceased from their own works and has grown in the knowledge and grace of the living Christ.
Eze 20:19 I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;
Eze 20:20 And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God.
Being justified by our faith, we rest in the peace of Christ living in us, standing in the grace [commandments] of God, and rejoice in the hope of His glory yet to be revealed.
