The
Doctrine of Christ no 47
“He that believeth in Me” no 1
The genetics of the believer
Brian Kocourek
This morning I would like to speak on the subject of
He that believeth in Me because when we look at this phrase that is used 19
times by Jesus in the Scriptures, we find here are many benefits and blessings
that are promised to the believer by Jesus Himself. And if we do believe that
we are believers, then these benefits concern us.
Now, we know the New testament is the will of God,
and as recipients of the inheritance I would think that we would all be
interested in knowing what benefits or blessings we are to receive concerning
our inheritance. Well the New testament is the Will and in it we can read for
ourselves just what we shall receive for believing.
First of all we will deal read these 19 promises
that are found in the Scriptural phrase
“He that
believeth on Me”. As I said,
there are 19 New Testament Scriptures where Jesus uses this phrase in speaking
of the believer. Sometimes the word “he” was translated and other times the
word “whoever” or “whosoever” was translated, however in the Greek the same
word is used in every case. Therefore, whatever is translated “he” “whoever” or “whosoever”
it matters not, because in each of these verses concerning the believer, God
has given us a promise. Now, if the Greek word used for “whosover believeth” is the same in
every instance, then why does the King James version translate it as “he” in
some places and “whosoever”
in other places while every other language on earth remains consistent? We will find out this morning just what the
reasoning was for the translators to use “he” instead of whoever. But for us to
use the word “he”
instead of “whosoever”
is not consistent grammar and destroys the literal intent of the Scriptural
promise to all believers as we will see further in this study.
Now, we will underline the Scriptural promise to
those who believe as we review the verses concerning the believer. So let’s
open our Bibles this morning and we will read for ourselves. We will read all
19 promises chronologically as they appear in order in our Bibles. So the first
time this phrase is used we find it in the book of Mark.
But before we read these 19 verses, I want to point out one thing. You will find in reading these verses that Jesus in speaking to the believer promises them life, and not only Life, but abundant Life, a Living Life, a life that springs up and is so full that it overflows out from the believer to others because believer can not contain all that God-Life that has channeled itself in and through his vessel. The Believer now becomes a conduit of the Holy Ghost by the Word of God.
As we examine the phrase “whosoever believeth in me” in the original Greek, we will see that is brings forth Divine promises from God to God’s own Seed. Yes, these 19 verse of scripture do not speak of the believer as though they are being addressed to someone who makes a conscientious effort to believe as thought there is no relationship between the one speaking and the one believing. In other words, the believer Jesus is addressing can be none other than seed, and thus sons of God. For only like seed can manifest the same life, same works, same nature and same character.
Now, there are many times we speak of “the individual” but we do not necessarily
mean that we are speaking of only one individual. We know Christ has come for
the individual but we do not mean by that Christ has come for only one
individual.
Therefore, in examining the Greek words “ὁ πιστεύων” we can not apply the term singular just because the English translation of Scripture speaks of ‘he” when it is in fact speaking of “whosoever”. In fact there are two words which make up this Greek phrase “ὁ πιστεύων”, and the symbol “ὁ” literally means “son” when doing a literal translation of just that one symbol by itself, but used in a sentence it is translated the article “the” for what ever reason I do not understand. In John 1:1 it is used 4 times, as “In “ὁ” (THE) beginning was “ὁ” (THE) Word, and “ὁ” (THE) Word was with God, and “ὁ” (THE) word was God. The other Greek word “πιστεύων” literally means “believe”. Thus the literal word for word translation according to translate.google.com is “the son who believes”. And of course the “son who believes” will also by the law of nature must do the same things as the first born son, because he has the same life of the first born son which is the Life that originated in the Father.
We do know this word Jesus used was addressing the individual and not a group, but the Greek never was put forth this word “ὁ” as being “singular” or only “one man” as the term “son” can refer to one or many. And we must also go to the Omega interpretation in which William Branham prophet of God never said it was singular either.
And if the word “he” used in the English Translation of the
phrase “he that believeth on me” speaks of
only one person whom some believe was William Branham, then if we are to be
consistent with our laws of Language,
each time we see that phrase “he that believeth on me” is used, then we would
have to conclude that it also refers to only one person in these other six
verses, or the 11 of the 19 verses where the King James rendered the Greek symbol
“ὁ” as “he” and not “whosoever”.
Then by the rules of language this word “he” would have to refer to only one person.
Now, let’s turn in our Bibles to begin our study of
this Greek phrase Jesus used 19 times to show us many promises God has for us
who believe.
1. Mark 16:16 “He that believeth” (ὁ
πιστεύσας) and is baptized shall be saved; but he that
believeth not shall be damned.
Notice
the first promise we see that is given to those sons who believe is that they
shall be saved. Now, I think this is quite significant since what Father would
wish his own son not to be saved. And so God arranged it all before the
foundations of the world when he ordained his first born son to be the lamb
slain for you and I even before there was one atom to make the first molecule.
From his sermon, Door to
the heart 58-0316E P:82 brother Branham said, “I
want to ask you people something. How many believes in election? You mean to
tell me you don't believe in election? I know I got to come, teach just a
little bit. Election: "No man can come to Me, except My Father draws
him." In the Book of Ephesians the 1st chapter, the Bible said that God
predestinated us to be the adoption of the children of God through Jesus
Christ, predestined by foreknowledge. God knew everybody would be saved before
even the world was created. Jesus never come to the earth to die, and be
pitiful, and say, "Somebody will take mercy on me, and say, 'Well, He
died, I guess I'll come.'" I wouldn't run my office like that, and you
wouldn't either. How about God?”
And again we read from his sermon, Questions and answers COD 59-0628E P:98 86.
If we were saved before the... (Oh, oh. We don't want to stop here do we?) If
we were saved before the foundation of the world--were we? Yes, sir. Revelations 13:8
said that you were saved and your name was put in the Lamb's Book of Life
before the world was ever created. And Ephesians 1:4 and 5... Let me just read that; it won't take but just a minute
and just so you see that I'm not just--just quoting it; I'm... All right, here
we are; let's read this. Blessed be the God and
Father... (Ephesians
the 1st chapter the 3rd verse.)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
According... (Listen.)... According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of
the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him... (As Christ died for us, of course.) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by
Jesus Christ to Himself, according to His own good will. Now, in the Book of Revelations... I got that here; let me
get it right quick, so you see that I just never just coated it. I want to
quote it. Revelations the 13:8, listen at this
just quickly. And all that dwelt upon the earth
whose names--upon the earth shall worship him, whose names were not written in
the book of life of the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. (That's when it was. All right.)
And from his sermon, Baptism
of the holy spirit 58-0928M P:36 he said, "Well,
I better walk carefully today; I might backslide and be lost tomorrow."
You wasn't saved at the beginning. You might be worked up under the emotions.
You might just think you're saved. You might feel like you're saved. You might
believe that you're saved. You might join the church. You might be a good
Baptist, Methodist, or Pentecostal; that don't have one thing to do with it. If
your name's ever--if you are ever saved, you were saved before the world ever
began, when God sent Jesus in His mind to save
that one who He saw was savable... Now, He's not willing that any should
perish. He's not willing, but if He's God, He knew who would and who would not.
The Scripture says so. So there you are.
And from God who is rich
in mercy 65-0119 P:17 brother
Branham said, Now, if you've got Eternal Life tonight, if we have Eternal Life, then we always
were, because there's only one form of Eternal Life. We always were. And the
reason we were, because we are a part of God. And God is the only thing that's eternal. And like Melchisedec received
tithes from Abraham, and it was 'lotted to his great-grandson, Levi, who was
yet in the loins of Abraham; paid tithes, for he was yet in the loins of
Abraham when he met Melchisedec. I want to speak on that over at the other
place, one morning: Who Is This Melchisedec? Now, notice that. Way back, God knew
this boy coming down. He knew all things. Now, we are a part of God. You always
was. You don't remember it, because you were only an attribute in God. You were
only in His thinking. Your very name, if it ever was on the Book of Life, it
was put there before the foundation of the world. He knew what you were. P:18 I'm only saying this, not to
mix up doctrine, but to straighten it out, that we might get away from this
fear and scare: you don't know who you are. You are not going to be, but now
you are the sons of God. See, you always were the sons of God. See? For when
God had you in His thinking at the beginning, you have to be, some part of you,
your Life that's in you now, had to be with God before there... Well, when
you--before you even become material here on earth, before there was anything,
but God, you were one of His attributes. He knew what your name would be. He
knew the color of hair you'd have. He knew all about you.
And one last quote from his sermon, Identified Christ of all ages 64-0401 P:15 brother
Branham said, And therefore if you got Eternal Life...
The word "Eternal" is something never did begin or never can end. So
whoever you were... See, you were, and you
always were; you were God's attribute did being displayed. A word, "In
the beginning was the word..." And the Word is a thought made manifest.
You think it, then speak it: like I'd say, "The light..." I had to
think "light" before I said, "light."
"Microphone..." have to think "microphone" to say, "a
microphone." And we are God's attributes displayed.
Now, let me read this first scripture to you so that
you can read it with the eyes of God.
1.
Mark
16:16 “He that believeth” (ὁ
πιστεύσας) My son who was in my thoughts before the
foundations of the world and who believes, because he is the only one who is
ordained to believe, this son that is baptized shall be saved; but he that
believeth not shall be damned.
Notice then the first half which speaks of the
believer is speaks of God Seed because they are the only ones ordained to be
able to hear and understand and thus believe.
Matthew
13:10 And
the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? Now, we must ask ourselves who are these “them” that
the disciples are talking about? We get our answer in Mark 4:10 And when he was alone, they that were about him
with the twelve asked of him the parable. 11 And he
said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery
of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: 12 That
seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not
understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven
them.
So we see that the “them” they spoke of in Matthew 13
are the ones called “those without, or those on the outside” The
outsiders.
Let’s go back to Matthew 13 and continue…11 He
answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you
to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12 For
whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but
whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see
not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And
in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall
hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not
perceive: 15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing,
and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand
with their heart, and
should be converted, and I should heal them. 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and
your ears, for they hear. 17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and
have not seen them;
and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
So we see that only certain ones are ordained to
hear and perceive, to see and understand. And only those who are sons can
understand. And if your genetics are that from the serpent, then you will fight
this revelation, because first of all you have no clue what it is, and secondly
it is in your nature to fight the Word as it is revealed.
Matthew
23: 13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye
shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves,
neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. 14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye
devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall
receive the greater damnation. 15 Woe
unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to
make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of
hell than yourselves.
Matthew
23: 31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that
ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. 32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets,
and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in
your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: 35 That
upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood
of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew
between the temple and the altar. 36 Verily
I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. 37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets,
and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy
children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
38 Behold, your house is left unto you
desolate.
In John chapter 8 Jesus makes it very clear that the
only ones who are capable of believing Him are those who are sons of God as he
is the Son of God. Listen carefully to his argument and the logic he uses here
as we hear his debate with the Pharisees in John chapter 8..
John 8:37 I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me,
because my word hath no place in you. 38 I
speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen
with your father. 39 They
answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. 40 But
now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard
of God: this did not Abraham. 41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We
be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even
God. 42 Jesus said unto them, If
God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from
God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot
hear my word. 44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He
was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is
no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a
liar, and the father of it. 45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. (notice right here he
is showing you they are not capable of believing.)
46 Which
of you convinceth me of sin? And if I
say the truth, why do ye not believe me? (there you are again
and the next verse he tells us why they can no t believe.) 47 He that is of God heareth
God's words: ye therefore hear them
not, because ye are not of God.
Paul tells us the same thing in 1 Corinthians 2. he
tells us that it is impossible for anyone to understand the things of God
unless they are born of God. Unless they have the same spirit that God has
meaning they have to be born again which makes you sons.
1
Corinthians 2:1 And
I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of
wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. (Notice Paul is telling
them, look guy, I didn’t come to give you some intellectual understanding, and
I didn’t come to put on a show to let you know how smart I am and how little
you are. No, that is not what the Gospel is all about.)
2 For
I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. Now, wouldn’t it be a wonderful world is we had that
same attitude? To want to know nothing about you except that you are sons and
daughters of God born by His Spirit crucified to your flesh and made alive by
the power of Revelation?
3. And I was with you in
weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. Notice, Paul didn’t
come around those people acting like a hotshot. He didn’t come lording over
God’s heritage. He came in humility. He said,
in
weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. Doesn’t sound like a
hot shot preacher to me. I think the ministers in this Message could take a
good lesson from Paul.
Notice he said, 4 And my speech and my preaching
was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but
in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: Notice, he didn’t come
to impress the people by teaching so deep they couldn’t understand what he was
talking about. The same with William Branham. There hasn’t been anybody come
near the ability to teach in the past 2,000 years like William Branham because
he made it so simple the least among us could understand it.
I never will forget some words I heard br. Pearry Green say one time years
ago that had a deep impact on me. And if there is at least one thing I can
appreciate about that brother it was those words. And you know, while we are at
it, let me just say this, The Apostle Paul said in his Epistle to the Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are
pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if
there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
And brother Branham said, “if you can’t say something nice about someone,
then don’t say anything at all.”
So instead of looking for fault, let’s try to find something we like
about the person and then focus on that thing. Even if there is only one thing
you like, focus on that one thing, and you will find life will become to you a
whole lot better.
Anyway, he said, “the real gift to teach is not in
your ability to be so deep that what you
say goes over the heads of the people, but the real ability to teach is that
you make it so simple that everyone, even the least among us can understand
what it is you are trying to teach.” And there is a lot of merit in that what
he said. And it gave me great comfort, because I don’t like to go over people
heads, I want them to understand me.
What if I sat up here and spoke in such a way that you
walked out of here not knowing a thing I wanted to tell you. I would have
wasted both my time and yours. And yet our Universities are full of classrooms
where people are paying good money to be taught and they walk out learning
absolutely nothing because of some professor’s ego. Then who looses? You who
pay that fool to teach you.
And I have to admit, I have heard some people in this
message who think they are teachers try to impress so hard that I just walked
away confused as all get out. I just could not understand what in the world
they were trying to say. But o how deep they were, at least that is the
impression you got from them, and some who listened to them. But I walked out
scratching my head, and felt kid of dumb because I just could make heads nor
tails out of what they were driving at.
Now, listen brother and sisters. I saw that same
spirit at the University. You get some professors who try to teach things in
such a mysterious manner that the kids walk away and they think, man that
professor is so deep, it just goes over my head, and they don’t learn anything.
I chose to go the other route and make it so simple that even the basest among
my student s could understand, and I had kids coming to me who had failed the
class before with other professors and they said, when I took this class before
I tried real hard but I just couldn’t get it. But you make it so simple that I
can’t help but to get it and you know, it is simple once you see it. And these
kids who failed under other professors were getting “As” in my classes and
mastering the material.
Then I had some of the full time faculty come into my
class room to observe what I was doing that was having such good results. And
they said, “How is it that you get such interaction with the students, I can’t
even get them to raise their hands, and you have them conversing and
interacting so well. We need to have you come and teach the full time faculty
how to teach. Now, listen that is the truth, and I am on tape and I will stand
at the white throne for what I say here and have to give an account.
I would love to have told them, the reason that I get
such good interaction is because I don’t Lord it over them. I am open to them
and I answer their questions without making them feel like their question was
dumb. It’s all a matter of our approach. Isn’t that why Paul was so effective
in starting so many churches?
He said, And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
And my speech and my preaching was not with
enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
In other words, like William Branham, they said “aw,
you sure don’t know your Bible! An he replied, “But I
know the author real well.”
And if you know the author real well, then you have the inside track as
to what he means by what he says. And Paul had a motive to coming to the people
the way he did. He said, …
5 That
your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Paul said, I can back up what I tell you, because I
have God’s presence with me, and he backs up what I am telling you, so you
don’t need that I try to swamp you with a mighty intellect, and brow beat you
into submission like so many professors try to do. Rather I have a God who is
right with me and backs up what I say so you can have confidence in what I am
telling you is the truth.
6 Howbeit
we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: (so he is saying, it is not as though I have to speak very simple all
the time, because those who are more mature, I can speak the wisdom of God and
they will understand what I am talking about.) yet the wisdom that I speak is not the wisdom
of this world, nor of the princes of this world, because that kind of wisdom comes
to nothing: it means
absolutely nothing to God.
7 But
we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the
hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the
world unto our glory: We speak the Wisdom of God which had remained hidden
for ages, but is now made known to us for our Glory, to shape our opinions and
our values.
8 Which
none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor
ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God
hath prepared for them that love him.
Now, watch how Paul begins to turn the subject to how
it is that we are able to understand the things of God,
10 But
God hath revealed these hidden thing unto us by his Spirit: for The Spirit (God’s Spirit) searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the
spirit of man which is in him? even so the
things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God knows.
Now, notice how he is letting us in on a secret here.
He is telling us that no man can know the things of God, because it takes God’s
spirit to know the things of God. And unless you have the spirit of God, which
means unless you are a son or daughter of God by the new birth, you could never
know the things of God.
12 Now
we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God;(why?
) in order that we might know the things that
are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Notice, not words of intellectual accomplishment, but
words which God seed know and understand. Teaching spiritual things and
comparing spiritual things with spiritual. Comparing Word upon Word and Line
upon Line. Taking the things a vindicated prophet said an droning them from
genesis to revelations. Isn’t that what the apostle Paul did? Did he not take
the Words of Jesus and show you where they were in the Old Testament
Scriptures? Who would have done it if he hadn’t have done it?
14 But
the natural man (that’s the man that
is not born again. That is the man that is not seed of God, he) receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: (Isn’t
that exactly what Jesus said to those Pharisees? Did he not say why do you not
hear and receive my word? Even because you are not of my Father.) Paul
continues, But
the natural man receiveth not the things
of the Spirit of God: (why?) because they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them,(he says they can not know them,
that means it is impossible for them to know the things of God. Why? He tells
us) because they are
spiritually discerned. (Because
it takes a person who has the same spirit of God to examine properly and
discern what God’s intent is in what he wants for us to know.)
Now, here is the key…15 But
he that is spirit-ual (he that is spirit full) judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of
no man. 16 For
who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
And why can he say we have the mind of Christ? Because
we have the same spirit of Christ, making us sons of God and brothers of the
Lord Jesus Christ, and able to understand the things of God because only sons
who came out of the mind of God, who were in the thoughts of God can understand
what God is thinking because after all, we were in his thinking so we know what
goes on in his mind. Oh, this is rich!
Now, let’s read Mark 16:16
again, and see if we have a better
understanding of that Scripture than we had coming into service this morning. “He
that believeth” (ὁ
πιστεύσας) My son who was in my thoughts before the
foundations of the world and who believes, because he is the only one who is
ordained to believe, because he has my Genes my spirit and only those who have
my spirit can understand the things of God and thus believe the things of God,
because he began in my mind, and thus he alone can understand what goes on in
my mind, and thus he alone can be termed a believer. And this son that believes
and is baptized showing
the world by his baptism that he has died to self, and is filled with my
spirit, he alone shall
be saved; because he always was saved, because he was that
way back in my mind even before he came into this world to be tried and tested
as a son; but he
that believeth not shall be damned.
In closing let’s
turn to John
3:17 an dread, He
that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned
already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of
God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world,
and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither
cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth
truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they had
their source in God.
Let us pray…