Dearest of all is He

THE REQUIREMENTS OF GOD’S GLORY, GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND GOD’S HOLINESS FULFILLED BY THE DEATH OF CHRIST

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Genesis 3:22-24 says, “Jehovah God said, Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat and live forever—Then Jehovah God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to work the ground from which he was taken. So He drove the man out, and at the east of the garden of Eden He placed the cherubim and a flaming sword which turned in every direction to guard the way to the tree of life. ” Cherubim signify the glory of God (Heb. 9:5). The requirement of the glory of God closed the way to the tree of life from fallen man. The sword signifies judgment by God’s righteousness. We have to fulfill God’s righteousness; otherwise, we are under the judgment of God. Fire signifies God’s holiness. The requirements of God’s glory, God’s righteousness, and God’s holiness kept fallen man from the tree of life. Until these requirements could be fully met, the way to the tree of life could never be open to fallen man.

Hebrews 4:14-16 says, “Having therefore a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast the confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all respects like us, yet without sin. Let us therefore come forward with boldness to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace for timely help. ” In these three verses there is Christ as the High Priest ascended to the heavens. Second, this ascended Christ can be touched with the feeling of our weaknesses. Although He is in the heavens and we are on this earth, He can be touched by the feeling of our weaknesses. Third, in verse 16 we are charged to come forward to the throne of grace. Verse 14 tells us that Christ, who is on the throne of grace, is in the heavens. How then can we come forward to the throne of grace in the heavens? Before we solve this problem, let us read verses 12 and 13 of chapter 4 : “The word of God is living and operative and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow, and able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature that is not manifest before Him, but all things are naked and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we are to give our account. ” Hebrews 10:19-20 says, “Having therefore, brothers, boldness for entering the Holy of Holies in the blood of Jesus, which entrance He initiated for us as a new and living way through the veil, that is, His flesh. ” In these verses we are told that we have the boldness to enter the Holy of Holies. The throne of grace is equivalent to the expiation cover in the Holy of Holies (Exo. 25:17 , 21). Thus, to come forward to the throne of grace means to come into the Holy of Holies. We enter into the Holy of Holies in the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way.

We have seen that the tree of life is nothing less than God Himself in His Trinity presented to us. But due to the fall of the human race, man became sinful, and the way to the tree of life was closed. Man had fallen short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). Man was also under the condemnation of God’s righteousness, and man was against God’s holiness. God’s desire was still that man would enjoy Him as the tree of life, but His glory, His righteousness, and His holiness kept fallen man away from the tree of life. No fallen man can get through these three items—the cherubim, the slaying sword, and the flaming fire. If man is going to eat the tree of life, he has to fulfill the requirements of God’s glory, God’s righteousness, and God’s holiness.

The Tree of Life
Chapter 9 CWWL, 1965, vol. 2
(LSM)

Dearest of all is He!

Simple as this song seems, the more I sing the more I taste His sweetness. Thank You Lord You are so dear to us and You are everything we need!

This entire song came up in my heart this morning before rising. As the living One, He truly is worthy of our all our heart's love. Lets turn to Him and sing!

Amen!

Sit down somewhere alone with the words of this song and love the Lord.