Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
We know that the Father created His Son, and then turned over to His Son the creation of everything else. But there are some things that the Son did not create. Can you think of what they are? Brother Mark told us.
God's Son didn't create love, for "God is love." He didn't create peace because peace is also a part of His Father. Nothing that is of the Father was created by the Son. Holiness, truth, joy, patience, power, wisdom, faithfulness-all the wonderful qualities of the Spirit of God-existed in the Father before the Son was ever brought forth. These things were all given in their fulness to the Son when the Father created him.
Thinking on this good thought, I was reminded of the apostle John's words (Jn. 1:3): "All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made." Everything that was made (except himself, of course) was made by the Son, but there are many things that were not made; they existed in God before the Son did.
Life itself existed before the Son of God did. Jesus said that the Father had given him life (Jn. 5:26) and that he lived by the Father (Jn. 6:57). Not only did the Father give life to the Son, He also gave Jesus joy above everyone else (Heb. 1:9), and power above everyone else (Mt. 28:18), and wisdom above everyone else (Col: 2:3).
This is the simple truth of the gospel, and it can be understood and simply explained. Beware lest the serpent tempt you and draw you "away from the simplicity that is in Christ" (2Cor. 11:3) with eloquent theologies that sound good but are not good. The Father is greater than the Son (Jn. 10:29; 14:28) because He created him, and the Son is greater than everyone else because he created them.
Rejoice in this truth and stay humble before God. Many a soul on this earth has lived and died without ever being given the opportunity to hear and rejoice in it, and many others have been puffed up by receiving into their hearts a knowledge that was not knowledge. "Buy the truth and sell it not"; take in the truth and love it; it is your life, and it will strengthen you and make you free.