What Is Man?
2007-06-16 21:59
Through their wisdom, men think that they are great, but in the wisdom of God, we can know that men are filthy above all things. It is written, "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9). And also, "But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people." (Psalms 22:6).
Therefore, Christ Jesus foretold by the mouth of a prophet, "LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?" (Psalms 144:3).
And he also said by the mouth of an apostle, "What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written: 'So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.'" (Romans 3:3-4).
If man establishes himself without putting his trust in God, all is vanity. The man Christ said, "He says, 'I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises.' And again, 'I will put my trust in him.' And again he says, 'Here am I, and the children God has given me.'" (Hebrews 2:12-13). He said again, "I will put my trust in him."
No man has ever given to God, that God should repay him. Anything man tries to do for God just leads to revealing their own shame in the end. It is because no one can boast before Him. The boasting of man leads to his destruction. So the Bible said, "So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours." (1 Corinthians 3:21). And also, "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." (Galatians 6:14).
There are only a humble spirit and a contrite heart in a man who knows the love of God and seeks to love Him. God wants to find such a man and to remain with him.
Surprisingly, the Bible said, "For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones. For I will not contend forever, Nor will I always be angry; For the spirit would fail before Me, And the souls which I have made. For the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry and struck him; I hid and was angry, And he went on backsliding in the way of his heart. I have seen his ways, and will heal him; I will also lead him, And restore comforts to him And to his mourners. 'I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near,' Says the LORD, 'And I will heal him.'" (Isaiah 57:15-19).
This testimony shows the relationship between God and men. It is written, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men--the testimony given in its proper time." (1 Timothy 2:5-6).
The man Christ Jesus accomplished all things in regard to the relationship between God and men, and his spirit returned to God who had sent him. That is the eternal sacrifice, and the worship in spirit and truth.
It is written, "who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear." (Hebrews 5:7).
Therefore, "For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." (Matthew 6:13). "What is the son of man...?" Thank you, Lord.
Therefore, Christ Jesus foretold by the mouth of a prophet, "LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?" (Psalms 144:3).
And he also said by the mouth of an apostle, "What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written: 'So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.'" (Romans 3:3-4).
If man establishes himself without putting his trust in God, all is vanity. The man Christ said, "He says, 'I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises.' And again, 'I will put my trust in him.' And again he says, 'Here am I, and the children God has given me.'" (Hebrews 2:12-13). He said again, "I will put my trust in him."
No man has ever given to God, that God should repay him. Anything man tries to do for God just leads to revealing their own shame in the end. It is because no one can boast before Him. The boasting of man leads to his destruction. So the Bible said, "So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours." (1 Corinthians 3:21). And also, "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." (Galatians 6:14).
There are only a humble spirit and a contrite heart in a man who knows the love of God and seeks to love Him. God wants to find such a man and to remain with him.
Surprisingly, the Bible said, "For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones. For I will not contend forever, Nor will I always be angry; For the spirit would fail before Me, And the souls which I have made. For the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry and struck him; I hid and was angry, And he went on backsliding in the way of his heart. I have seen his ways, and will heal him; I will also lead him, And restore comforts to him And to his mourners. 'I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near,' Says the LORD, 'And I will heal him.'" (Isaiah 57:15-19).
This testimony shows the relationship between God and men. It is written, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men--the testimony given in its proper time." (1 Timothy 2:5-6).
The man Christ Jesus accomplished all things in regard to the relationship between God and men, and his spirit returned to God who had sent him. That is the eternal sacrifice, and the worship in spirit and truth.
It is written, "who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear." (Hebrews 5:7).
Therefore, "For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." (Matthew 6:13). "What is the son of man...?" Thank you, Lord.