all authority is from god

Rom 13:1-5

1   Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 

2  Therefore whoever resists (opposes, rebels) the authority resists the ordinance (order) of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 

3   For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 

4  For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath (punishment) on him who practices evil. 

5  Therefore you must be subject (submissive, obedient), not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake. 

Conscience works from within our spirit with the important task of determining right and wrong … revealing sin and righteousness. 

Conscience is where God expresses His holiness in His people. Whatever conscience condemns is condemned by God.

There are two principles in the universe — God’s authority and Satan’s rebellion. 

We cannot serve God on the one hand, while practicing the spirit of rebellion on the other hand.

A person may obey without submitting from the heart.

WHEN LIBERTY IS NOT FREEDOM

Gal 5:13 

13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 

1 Pet 2:13-19 

13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, 

14   or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 

15   For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 

16   as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak (cover-up) for vice (evil), but as bondservants of God. 

17   Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. 

18  Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. 

19   For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.  

Eph 6:5-8 

5  Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; 

6   not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 

7   with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, 

8   knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

Rom 13:6-7

6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing. 

7   Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs (tariffs, tolls), fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

PRAYING FOR AUTHORITIES

1 Tim 2:1-4 

1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 

2   for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 

3   For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 

4   who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 

GREAT FAITH COMES FROM BEING UNDER GOD’S AUTHORITY

Matt 8:5-10

5   Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, 

6   saying, Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.

7   And Jesus said to him, I will come and heal him.

8  The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. 

9  For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, 'go,' and he goes; and to another, 'come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'do this,' and he does it. 

10  When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! 

RIGHTLY RESPECTING GOD’S AUTHORITY IN THE CHURCH

1 Thes 5:12-13

12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize (acknowledge, respect) those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 

13  and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves.

1 Thes 5:12 (New International Reader’s Version)

12 Brothers and sisters, we ask you to have respect for the godly leaders who work hard among you. They have authority over you. They correct you. 

Heb 13:7, 17 

7  Remember those who rule over you (lead), who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.

17  Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. 

ONLY THOSE IN CHRIST CAN FULLY PRACTICE SUBMISSION TO AUTHORITY 

Jn 8:29 

29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.

Eph 1:22-23

22 And He (Father God) put all things under His (Jesus) feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 

23   which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Gal 2:20 

20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 

1 Jn 4:17 

17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.  

Jesus perfectly submitted to His Father’s Authority.

He has all authority over all creation.

He has been given to His Church.

We are the extension of Jesus’ authority on the earth.

Only IN CHRIST can we truly submit to authority.

LIVING BY FAITH

“faith” – found 30 times in Hebrews 11)

Rom 1:16-17 

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes (pisteuō), for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 

17  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH (pistis)."

faith (pistis) – noun, a gift from God (Eph 2:8)

believe (pisteuō) – verb, using God’s gift (Jn 6:29)

Heb 10:38-39 

38 Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him. 

39  But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. 

Heb 11:1-40 

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 

2  For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 

3  By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. 

4  By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. 

5  By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 

6  But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 

7  By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. 

8  By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 

9  By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 

10  for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 

11  By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. 

12  Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. 

13  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 

14  For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 

15  And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 

16  But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. 

17  By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 

18  of whom it was said, "in Isaac your seed shall be called," 

19  concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. 

20  By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 

21  By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 

22  By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones. 

23  By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's command. 

24  By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 

25  choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 

26  esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. 

27  By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. 

28  By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. 

29  By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned. 

30  By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. 

31  By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. 

32  And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 

33  who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 

34  quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 

35  Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 

36  Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes and of chains and imprisonment. 

37  They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— 

38  of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. 

39  And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 

40  God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.  

Heb 12:1-4 

1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 

2  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

3  For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 

4  You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 

Lk 1:30-33

30  Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 

31  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 

32  He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 

33  And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."

Is 9:7 

7 Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.  

JESUS CHRIST THE KING OF KINGS – RESTORES MANKIND’S DOMINION

Mat 4:1, 8-11 

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 

8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 

9  And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me."

10  Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'you shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.' "

11  Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.   

Matt 4:17

17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." 

The term “kingdom of heaven” is synonymous in Scripture with “kingdom of God”.

Mat 4:23

23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.

Mat 12:28

28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. 

Jn 12:31

31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. (the god of this age - 2 Cor 4:4)

Jn 18:36-37

36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." 

37  Pilate (Roman Governor of Judaea) therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."

Heb 2:14 

14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil 

Rev 1:5

5 Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, firstborn from the dead, the ruler over the kings of the earth. 

Rev 1:18

18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. 

Rev 19:16 

16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS. 

YOUR KINGDOM COME – YOUR WILL BE DONE

Mat 6:9, 10, 13

9   In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 

10   Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 

13  For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Phil 2:8-11 

8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 

9  Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 

10  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 

11  and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

WE BECOME THE PEOPLE OF CHRIST’S KINGDOM

Lk 12:32 

32 Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.  

Col 1:13 

13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love

Eph 1:17-23 

17  that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 

18  the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 

19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 

20  which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 

21  far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 

22  And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,

23  which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. 

1 Cor 15:24-28 

24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 

25  For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 

26  The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 

27  For "He has put all things under his feet." But when He says "all things are put under Him," it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 

28  Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all. 

1 Cor 15:24-28 (The Passion Translation) 

24 Then the final stage of completion comes, when he will bring to an end every other rulership, authority, and power, and he will hand over his kingdom to Father God. 

25  Until then he is destined to reign as King until all hostility has been subdued and placed under his feet. 

26  And the last enemy to be subdued and eliminated is death itself. 

27  The Father has placed all things in subjection under the feet of Christ. Yet when it says, “all things,” it is understood that the Father does not include himself, for he is the one who placed all things in subjection to Christ. 

28  However, when everything is subdued and in submission to him, then the Son himself will be subject to the Father, who put all things under his feet. This is so that Father God will be everything in everyone! 

Lk 1:32-33

32  He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 

33  And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." 

Lk 1:38

38  Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

Lk 1:26-38

26  Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 

27  to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 

28  And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" 

29  But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 

30  Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 

31  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 

32  He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 

33  And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." 

34  Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" 

35  And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy

One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 

36  Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 

37  For with God nothing will be impossible." 

38  Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

be (ginomai) – to begin to be, to generate, to be born, to come into existence

Genesis is the Greek title of the first book of the Bible. It comes from the same stock as words such as gene, generation, genealogy, and was ultimately derived from the verb (ginomai).

Mary was calling the Word into being

Active Faith

Trust 

Obedience

Agreement

Submission rooted in Confidence in God’s Promise

Neh 8:6 (Ezra the scribe reads the Book of the Law to the people)

6  And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. Then all the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

2 Cor 1:20 

20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.   

GOD SPEAKS – WE HEAR

1 Sam 3:10 

10 Now the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel answered, "Speak, for Your servant hears."

Matt 11:15

15  He who has ears to hear, let him hear! 

Jn 10:27

27  My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

Heb 3:7-8

7  Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: Today, if you will hear His voice, 

8  Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness

Rev 2:7a 

7a  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Heb 4:12

12 the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a 

discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

Rom 10:17

17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 

BELIEF REQUIRES OBEDIENCE

Jn 6:29 

29 Jesus answered and said to them, this is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.

Lk 6:46 

46 But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say? 

Lk 8:15 

15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

Lk 8:21 

21 But He answered and said to them, "My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it." 

Lk 11:28 

28 But He said, "More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"

Mat 7:21, 24 

21 Not everyone who says to Me, ''Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 

24  Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock

Jn 14:15 

15 If you love Me, keep My commandments.

Jn 14:23-24 

23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 

24  He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.  

James 1:22 

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 

Lk 1:38

38  Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

Lk 1:35

35  And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 

Jn 1:14

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 

Jn 8:58

58 Jesus said to them, most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.

GOD IS THE GREAT “I AM”

Ex 3:14 (When God sent Moses to deliver His people from Egypt)

14   And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, thus you shall say to the children of Israel, I AM has sent me to you. 

I AM (hâyâh) This name is related to the Hebrew verb meaning “to be, or to exist”; it implies the absolute existence of God. In Theological terms God is “Self-Existent”. 

God depends on nothing outside Himself for His existence. Everything else in the universe is contingent — it exists because something else caused it, sustains it, or allows it to continue. God alone simply is.

The Hebrew (hâyâh) is also the source of the English words, “Yahweh,” “Jehovah,” or “LORD”. 

The importance of this Name is the sheer frequency of its use. It occurs 6,828 times in the Old Testament. That’s more than three times as often as the more general word for “God” (Elohim — 2,600). 

God wants to be known as a person, with a Name that carries His unique character and mission.

God Exists and Always Has

No Reality Exists Outside of God

God Does Not Change

God Is All Power and Authority

God is All Knowledge and Wisdom

God is Always Present and Everywhere Present

God says, I AM WHO I AM. Nobody has contributed anything to Who He Is. No power brought Him into existence or shaped His personality. He had no beginning. There is no reality outside of Himself, everything that exists came from Him. He is utterly absolute. 

God is absolute reality. There is no reality before Him. There is no reality outside of Him unless He wills it and makes it. He is all that has ever been. No space, no universe, no emptiness. Only God.

Is 44:6

6 Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: I am the First and I am the Last; besides Me there is no God. 

God is utterly independent. He depends on nothing to bring Him into being or support Him or counsel Him or make Him what He is.

The entire universe came into being by God and stays in being moment by moment on God’s decision to keep it in being. God does whatever He pleases and it is always right and always beautiful and always in accord with truth and always from love.

JESUS IS THE GREAT “I AM”

Several times in John’s Gospel Jesus declares that He Is The “I AM”, having come in the form of man.

Jn 6:35

35 And Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. 

Jn 8:12

12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.

Jn 10:9

9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

Jn 10:11

11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 

Jn 11:25

25 Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 

Jn 14:6

6 Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 

Jn 15:1

1 I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 

Years after He ascended to the Father’s Right Hand, Jesus revealed Himself again to the Apostle John. The Revelation settles once-and-for-all that Jesus is The Great “I AM”.

Rev 1:8 

8   ”I am” the Alpha, and the Omega,  the Beginning and the End, says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

At the Birth of Christ, The Great I AM came to us. 

God, The Great I AM, became a man. Apart from the Holy Spirit illuminating this Truth it would be inconceivable. 

IN CHRIST, I am one with THE GREAT “I AM”

Gal 2:20

20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 

Col 1:27

27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Col 3:4 

4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 

BECAUSE WE ARE ONE WITH CHRIST, THE GREAT ”I AM”

Therefore, I am one with "I AM"!

Gen 2:4-15 

4  This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, 

5 before any plant of the field was in the earth and before any herb of the field had grown. For the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground; 

6  but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground. 

7  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. 

8  The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. 

9  And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 

10  Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads. 

11  The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one which skirts the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. 

12  And the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and the onyx stone are there. 

13  The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one which goes around the whole land of Cush. 

14  The name of the third river is Hiddekel; it is the one which goes toward the east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates. 

15  Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. 

A SECURE PLACE TO BEAR MUCH FRUIT 

garden (gan) fenced, hedged around, protected, defended

Eden (Ēdhen) pleasurable, prosperous, delightful, fruitful

MANKIND BEGAN IN THE GARDEN AND ENDS IN THE GARDEN

Rev 22:1-2 

1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 

2  In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

GOD’S CHILDREN BECOME THE GARDEN

Is 5:1-7 

1  Now let me sing to my Well-beloved a song of my Beloved regarding His (God’s) vineyard: My Well-beloved has a vineyard on a very fruitful hill. 

2   He dug it up and cleared out its stones, and planted it with the choicest vine. He built a tower in its midst, and also made a winepress in it; so He expected it to bring forth good grapes, But it brought forth wild grapes. 

3  And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, Judge, please, between Me and My vineyard. 

4   What more could have been done to My vineyard that I have not done in it? Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes? 

5  And now, please let Me tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it shall be burned; and break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. 

6   I will lay it waste; It shall not be pruned or dug, but there shall come up briers and thorns. I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain on it." 

7  For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are His pleasant plant. He looked for justice, but behold, oppression; For righteousness, but behold, a cry for help.

Is_51:3  

3 For the LORD will comfort Zion, He will comfort all her waste places; He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her  desert like the garden of the LORD; Joy and gladness will be found in it, Thanksgiving and the voice of melody.

Is_58:11  

11 The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

Ez_34:29  

29 I will raise up for them a garden of renown, and they shall no longer be consumed with hunger in the land, nor bear the shame of the Gentiles anymore.

Ez_36:35  

35 So they will say, 'This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.'

Song_4:12-16  

12 A garden enclosed (protected) Is my sister, my spouse, a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.

13   Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates with pleasant fruits, Fragrant henna with spikenard, 

14  Spikenard and saffron, Calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense, Myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices— 

15  A fountain of gardens, A well of living waters, And streams from Lebanon. 

16   Awake, O north wind (Holy Spirit), and come, O south! Blow upon my garden, That its spices may flow out. Let my beloved come to his garden and eat its pleasant fruits.

Song 5:1  

1 I have come to my garden, my sister, my spouse; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, O friends! Drink, yes, drink deeply, O beloved ones!

Song_6:2  

2 My beloved has gone to his garden, To the beds of spices, To feed his flock in the gardens, And to gather lilies.

Jn 15:1-8

1 I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 

2  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 

3  You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 

4  Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 

5  I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 

6  If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 

7  If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 

8  By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. 

Gal 5:22-23

22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 

23  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 

Ez 47:12 

12  Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine.

Rev 22:1-2 

1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 

2   In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.