God's redemptive nature, in Man

*The Redemptive Nature of God in Man
2-23-07

The Jewish nation was called a nation of priests. We also, as Christians, are called a nation of priests. The Jews were to be a light to the Gentiles, and we are to be a light to the unsaved. I wondered why God selected one group of people to be a nation of priests. He could have selected a father of faith from many people, eventually having many nations of priests. On the 21st of Feb. I asked the Lord about this, and he answered me today. He said;

It is My redemptive nature in Man which I develop through your witness and your testimony. As a father develops the good qualities in his son, so I develop My qualities which I have placed in Mankind. I develop love and redemptive qualities in Man by putting him in an imperfect soul, and by having him live amongst imperfect fellow humans.

The flesh-nature of Man tends to get offended when his brother errs. This nature wants Man to develop systems to handle the offence rather than getting personally involved and redeeming his brother from error and sin. If a man follows the flesh-nature he will be all about giving his crown to other men to handle those who offend him and to solve the problems in his life.

Not so the overcomer. He has let the redemptive nature of God work a nurturing spirit in him towards his brother. He pulls the one in sin out of the fire, hating the stained garment. Why does he do this? He loves his brother. He exhorts and rebukes that those in error might learn sound doctrine, for the same reason.

Now there are other brethren who do not nurture the redemptive nature in them, for they would rather not get their hands dirty. They do not correct, instruct, or rebuke. And in their silence they think themselves humble, and yet superior. If they speak at all it is only to exalt themselves by putting their brother down.

Now I, God, gave Man the authority to forgive sins. If then a man would rather be offended and construct mechanisms to pass the offending brother through for cleansing, he will think he has done his job. For he has judged, and he has passed his brother along towards his embetterment. But how is the brother that is offended like Me, his God? Did I not become acquainted with Man’s grief and sorrow? I am a priest able to petition on your behalf, a priest who got his hands dirty helping others learn about the kingdom of God. And so are those who are formed into my image.