FIRSTBORN SONSHIP OF CHRIST

THE NEW BIRTH IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
August 2004
Article 49

GARMENTS OF GLORY AND BEAUTY

      2 "And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty," Ex 28:2.
      Everything in the Bible has its place in God's wonderful and glorious plan of redemption from man's sinful condition into the inheritance of God's divine state of being, called the new birth. As has been demonstrated in all the preceding articles, this subject of the redemption cycle requires the new birth at Christ's return for all who have qualified for the firstborn sonship. We continue to demonstrate that this can be done only by overcoming the covenant or last will and testament disciplinary training, currently found only in true local churches.
      In this perspective, we now look at the symbolic application of the priestly garments of Aaron and his sons, which are called "garments of glory and beauty." This is said both of Aaron's garments (Ex 28:2) and of his son's garments, Ex 28:40. God has predestined from the beginning that all who qualify for the firstborn sonship will be conformed (born again) into God's own divine image and likeness, being filled with all the fullness of God: that is, of the full range of God's divine attributes, to the extent of our faithfulness within the last will and testaments, Eph 1:22-23; 3:19; 4:22-24; 5:31-32; Col 1:19; 2:9-10; 3:1-10; 2Pe 1:4; Jn 10:30-36; 14:8-11; 7:21-23.

THE INNER COAT OR TUNIC

      6 "Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water (whole body washing).
      7 "And he put the tunic on him, girded him with the sash," Lev 8:6-7.
      The "tunic" or "coat" was the innermost garment, apparently covering most of the upper part of the body down to mid-thigh length. All the garments were made of "fine linen," which throughout the Bible represents "the righteous deeds of the saints," which is actually the divine righteousness of God, Mt 6:33; Phi 3:9; Rev 19:7-8. God's righteousness (and all His divine nature with its attributes) begin to be credited to all the covenant people when they first enter the covenant standing in the body of Christ, Rom 6:2-14.
      We will not really be born again until Christ returns, but are only metaphorically credited as being born again at the time of water baptism. At that time we were credited as being baptized into the crucified, dead, buried, and raised (divinely born again) body of Christ. The body that Christ received from the virgin Mary was entirely a human body, which body was divinely born again in His resurrection. Christ therefore became the first person divinely born again from the dead, Col 1:19; Rev 1:5; Act 13:29-33; 1Co 15:44-50.
      In water baptism we were metaphorically joined to the born again body of Christ, and must daily grow together with Him and with each other in His body, Rom 6:5.
      The divine nature continues to be credited to us with each act of faith-obedience thereafter, Rom 6:1-23. Justification is progressive in view of the new birth in the resurrection. Conversely, if we live according to the flesh, we will die (Rom 8:13): the unfaithful will be cut off from the Vine (which is Christ Jn 15:1-6), and Christ will profit them nothing within the last will and testament inheritance, Gal 4:21 thru 5:5.
      The Holy Spirit must work out God's divine righteousness in us daily in order for us to receive that divine birth when Christ returns, Mt 6:33; 25:31-46; Gal 5:1-5; 2Ti 4:8. We limit the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit by not yielding to the Spirit's leading according to the written Word. This is according to God's predestination or predetermined will, Ps 78:41; Mt 23:37; 2Pe 1:3-10.

THE ROBE OF THE EPHOD

      31 "You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue.
      32 "There shall be an opening for his head in the middle of it; it shall have a woven binding all around its opening, like the opening in a coat of mail, so that it does not tear,"
Ex 28:31-32.
      The robe and the ephod were two separate garments. The ephod was a smaller garment attached to the shoulder areas of the robe, and flowed down past the waste line. The Hebrew word for robe is sometimes translated robe (1Sa 24:4; 1Ch 15:27; Job 29:14; Eze 29:16), sometimes as a mantle (1Sa 15:27; Esr 9:3,5; Job 1:20; 2:12; Ps 109:29; Isa 59:17), and also as a cloak, Isa 59:17.
      The robe was a single garment with a hole in the middle, well embroidered, where the robe was slipped over the head of the high priest and flowed down to his feet. That is the way that Christ, the true High Priest, is also clothed as He walks in the midst of the churches, Rev 1:13; 2:1. Aaron, and his sons who succeeded him as high priest, all represented Christ, the true high priest, as we see in Hebrews 7 and throughout the Bible.
      The robe was entirely of blue, representing the heavenly character of Christ, the true High Priest Who is Immanuel – God with us, Isa 7:14; 9:6-7; Mt 1:18-25. All Israel should have known and understood the divine origin of the Son of David. Many did, but the majority did not because of lack of honest and diligent searching, believing, and obeying the Holy Scriptures, Isa 6. That is unfortunately where we also are today, Rev 3:16-18.
      Nothing is said about the garments of the high priest and other priests being washed. But much is said about washing the garments and keeping them clean in the book of Revelation, Rev 3:4-5,16-18; 7:14; 16:15; 19:7-8; 22:14. In Revelation, the righteousness or righteous deeds of the bride are none other than the divine righteousness of God worked in and through us by the Holy Spirit, Mt 10:19-20; Phi 2:12-14; 1Co 15:10. The garments of the priests were of fine linen, the same as the garments of the bride in Rev 19.

GOLDEN BELLS AND POMEGRANATES

      24 "They made on the hem of the robe pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet, and of fine woven linen.
      25 "And they made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates on the hem of the robe all around between the pomegranates:
      26 "A bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, all around the hem of the robe to minister in, as the LORD had commanded Moses,"
Exo 39:24-26.
      The hem of the robe was fashioned with small bells and pomegranates arranged alternately. The bells were made of pure gold, and were able to be heard by the people as the high priest moved about within the tabernacle and without. The gold in the bells prophesied of the divine nature of the Seed of the woman Who would be born into the human race and fulfil all prophesies and redeem all that was lost in Adam's fall, Isa 7:14; 9:6-7; Col 2:9-10.
      The sound of the bells were an abiding testimony that the high priest was performing his appointed duties on behalf of the covenant people. This further prophesied that the divine Seed of the woman would be born into the human race and faithfully perform His predestined ministry on earth and also in heaven, as He is doing now, until His enemies are made His footstool, Ps 110:1-4.
      The pomegranates were made of blue, purple and scarlet threads. The "blue" speaks of the heavenly nature of the High Priest, the "purple" points to His royalty as King of kings, and Lord of Lords. As Melchizedek, Christ is both King and Priest (Heb 5; 7): as Priest He is currently seated at the right hand of the Father interceding for His people, Rom 8:34; Heb 7. And as King He will soon return and put down all enemies of righteousness and goodwill, and peace, Ps 110:1-4; 1Co 15:25. The "scarlet" color directs our attention to the full sweep of redemption from sin and death to the new birth into the divine nature when Christ returns, 1Co 15; 2Pe 1:4.
      The pomegranates steadfastly symbolize the abounding fruitfulness of the High Priest and of all the firstborn sons for whom He is forever ministering, who are also his companions ministering as priests under Him.
      6 "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
      7 "You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions.
      8 "All Your garments are scented with myrrh and aloes and cassia, Out of the ivory palaces, by which they have made You glad,"
Ps 45:6-8.

THE HOLY LINEN GARMENTS OF THE DAY OF ATONEMENT

      4 "He shall put the holy linen tunic and the linen trousers on his body; he shall be girded with a linen sash, and with the linen turban he shall be attired. These are holy garments. Therefore he shall wash his body in water, and put them on," Lev 16:4.
      On the day of atonement the high priest took off his "garments of glory and beauty," bathed his whole body, and put on the linen garments indicated above, called "holy linen garments." When He finished these unique atonement activities, he took off the "holy garments," bathed his whole body once more, and again put on the holy "garments of glory and beauty" (Lev 15:23-24), which he otherwise wore all year as he officially ministered before and in the tabernacle. These other "holy garments" were altogether "linen," representing singularly the righteousness of God in a born again human body.
      15 "Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who is watching, and is keeping his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame," Rev 16:15.

THE MITRE OR TURBAN

      39 "...You shall make the turban of fine linen..." Ex 28:39.
      The mitre or turban was a head-dress made of fine linen, worn by the high priest. The body has numerous vital parts, some of which appear more vital than others. The body without the spirit is dead (Ja 2:26), and the most important and governing part of the spirit is the mind, Lk 16:19-31. When the spirit is in the body, the mind resides in the brain and through the brain governs the functions of both the spirit and the body as a single entity. Therefore, we can expect the priestly garment for the head to be one of special emphasis. The mitre or turban of fine linen indeed testified of God's righteousness – His divine nature. And yet there was a gold plate with the words "HOLINESS TO THE LORD" engraved upon it, which gold plate was affixed to the front of turban over the forehead.

HOLINESS TO THE LORD

      36 "You shall also make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet: HOLINESS TO THE LORD.
      37 "And you shall put it on a blue cord, that it may be on the turban; it shall be on the front of the turban,"
Ex 28:36-37.
      The linen turban spoke of God's righteousness, as perfectly exemplified in a human body by the true High Priest. Here was and is perfect love for God's righteousness, and perfect hatred for iniquity, Ps 45:6-7. This prophesied of the perfect love and dedication to the holiness of Jehovah, in the human mind and affections of the Seed of the woman Redeemer, Gen 3:15.
      Paul said to put on the "helmet of salvation," Eph 6:17. Like the mitre or turban, the helmet is put on the head, and though the helmet is defensive armor, it protects the head which is the control room of both body and spirit. The functions of both body and spirit are controlled by the mind of the spirit through the brain of the body. By the consent and submission of the mind, the Holy Spirit works out the salvation of our lives and qualifies us for the firstborn sonship, Phi 2:12-13.
      The solid gold plate, engraved with the words "holiness to the Lord," spoke of Emanuel.
       6 "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace,
      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,"
Isa 9:6-7.
      The "blue lace" (Ex 28:37) testified of the divine and eternal character of the true High Priest, "Immanuel" – "God with us," Isa 7:14; Mt 1:18-25. The High Priest had His mind set first on heavenly things in contrast to earthly things (Co. 3:1-10) – ever laboring to bring the earthly into harmony with the heavenly, Col 3:1-11. God said "Let Us make man in Our image and in Our likeness" (Gen 1:26), and that is the chief working of God in these first seven millenniums of man's existence.

THE EPHOD

      5 "They shall take the gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine linen,
      6 "And they shall make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, artistically worked,"
Exo 28:5-6.
      Fine white linen, interwoven with blue, purple, and scarlet threads were often used throughout the tabernacle structure, as we will continue to see. Gold was here fashioned into thin sheets, cut into thin wires, and woven into the fine linen, along with the blue, purple, and scarlet threads. Both the ephod and the breastplate were made after this manner. They were artistically used to make these garments of the high priest into garments of glory and beauty – rich in beauty, in value, and in symbolic and prophetic meaning. The gold spoke of His deity, the blue of His heavenly character, the purple of His royal status, and the scarlet of His redemption ministry. Christ was ordained after the order of Melchizedek, who was both priest and king, Heb 5 and 7.

THE GIRDLE OF THE EPHOD

      7 "It shall have two shoulder straps joined at its two edges, and so it shall be joined together.
      8 "And the intricately woven band of the ephod, which is on it, shall be of the same workmanship, made of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen,"
Ex 28:7-8.
      The girdle was made of the same materials as the ephod and the breastplate, was tied around the waist, and secured the ephod and breastplate to the body of the high priest. Paul wrote "having girded your waist with truth," Eph 6:14. Truth is a stabilizing force for right-eousness, peace, and good will.
      31 "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
      32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free,'"
Jn 8:31-32.

ONYX-STONES, SETTINGS AND CHAINS

      9 "Then you shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel:
      10 "Six of their names on one stone, and six names on the other stone, in order of their birth.
      11 "With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, you shall engrave the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel. You shall set them in settings of gold.
      12 "And you shall put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. So Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders as a memorial.
      13" You shall also make settings of gold,
      14 "And you shall make two chains of pure gold like braided cords, and fasten the braided chains to the settings,"
Exo 28:9-14.
      The onyx stones and all the stones of the breastplate were stones of highest value and highest beauty, and added beauty and glory to the high priest's garments. These all prophesied of the immeasurable worth of the ministry of all the priests, especially the Seed of the woman as the true High Priest.
      These two onyx stones were evidently large ones with the names of all twelve tribes of Israel engraved on them – six names on each of the two stone. A solid gold setting was attached to the robe and the ephod on each shoulder of the high priest. Gold chains were attached to the settings and to the breastplate, holding the breastplate over the chest of the high priest.
      Aaron and the succeeding high priests for fifteen hundred years represented Christ, both as the Lamb of God and as the great High Priest. Now two thousand years later, Christ is still seated at the right hand of God interceding for His covenant people, and is ready to return and continue His ministry of taking away the sin of the world. We as Gentiles have been grafted into the twelve tribes of Israel, and Christ with infinite strength, love, and mercy, but also with grief and groanings (in consonance with the Holy Spirit, Rom 8:26-27; Ja 4:4-5) is constantly interceding on our behalf. Symbolically, He is always day and night bearing us on His shoulders, as we, by God's grace through the Holy Spirit, continue to yield to Him so that He can fashion and groom us into His own image and likeness, Gen 1:26; Rom 12:1-2; Eph 4:1-22. We are slaves to sin and our will is enslaved to sin, but God has predestined from the beginning that the Holy Spirit bring our will to the place where we can make decisions by His grace in obedience to God's Word, Zec 4:6; Jn 5:40; Heb 4:16; Ja 4:1-10.

TWO ONYX STONES, TWELVE NAMES

      9 "Then you shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel:
      10 "six of their names on one stone, and six names on the other stone, in order of their birth.

Ex 28:9-10.
      Israel is God's firstborn nation of firstborn sons. God's eternal purpose includes other nations of saved but servant sons, who are predestined to be servants of the Godhead and of the firstborn sons, Gen 27:27-37; Rev 21:23-26. The divine sons receive the new birth when Christ returns, while the servant sons do not qualify for the divine birth into the divine sonship. This emphasis begins in Genesis 3, and runs throughout the Bible.
      The allegory in Galatians 4:21 thru 5:5 can be properly explained only in this way, along with many similar passages. For one instance, there are no national distinctions "in Christ," (Gal 3:28; Eph 2:10-16-22), but there will be nations of saved people on the new earth.

THE ONYX STONES ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE HIGH PRIEST

      9 "Then you shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel:
      10 "Six of their names on one stone, and six names on the other stone, in order of their birth.
      11 "With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, you shall engrave the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel. You shall set them in settings of gold.
      12 "And you shall put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. So Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders as a memorial.
      13 "You shall also make settings of gold,
      14 "And you shall make two chains of pure gold like braided cords, and fasten the braided chains to the settings,"
Exo 28:9-14.
      It appears that the two onyx stones were perhaps larger than normal, with six names of the twelve tribes of Israel engraved on each stone. These twelve tribes of the elect nation of firstborn sons were the constant memorial the high priest bore on his shoulders before God throughout his ministry. Aaron and his descendants who succeeded him as high priest symbolized Christ as the Seed of the woman and Redeeming High Priest.
      Only the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the onyx stones. Israel is God's covenant people, and only believing Gentiles in true local churches are grafted into that holy nation. Christ is "the" Seed of Abraham, and all the faithful in the body of Christ are therefore grafted into the elect nation of firstborn sons, Rom 11:11-22. They must, by grace through faith (by the working of the Holy Spirit), faithfully qualify for the new birth into the firstborn sonship, 2Pe 1:3-10. Those who do not give the required diligence will be cut off out of the body of Christ and fail to make their calling and election sure, 2P1:3-10. They will thereby abort the new birth, and be saved in the nations so as by fire, 1Co 3:15; Rev 21:23-26. There are no national distinctions (no nations) "in Christ," Gal 3:28; Eph 2:10-16.
      28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus," Gal 3:28.
      25 "Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who are coming to God through Him, since He is always living to make intercession for them," Heb 7:25.
      The true local church is counted to be the body of Christ, and is thereby grafted into Israel's covenant position, Rom 11:11-22; Gal 3:27-30. The Scriptures do not provide for any higher organization than the local church, be it called convention, association, or what. The local church is the "embassy" of the kingdom of God, and the members of the church are "ambassadors" of the kingdom, 2Co 5:18-21. God's divine kingdom has come only in the Person of the Holy Spirit in a true local church.
      The kingdom will come when Christ returns with the spirits of the saints and deifies the bodies of the faith ful covenant people from Adam to the return of Christ, Mt 25:31-34; Act 1:6-8. More on the onyx and other precious stones below. The twelve names on the two onyx stones are the same twelve names on the breastplate. They are the chief joy and delight of His heart, and He always bears them on His shoulders.

THE BREASTPLATE OF JUDGMENT

      15 "You shall make the breastplate of judgment. Artistically woven according to the workmanship of the ephod you shall make it: of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, you shall make it.
     16 "It shall be doubled into a square: a span shall be its length, and a span shall be its width," Ex 28:15-16.

      The breastplate of judgment is the most decorated part of the high priest's garments, but is not the most important part. The head-dress with the plate of solid gold with "holiness to the Lord" or "holiness to Jehovah" written on it appears to be the most important part. This is true because it addresses the "mind," and the mind governs the whole person, of both body and spirit (Mt 15:18-19), and of both good and bad, Mt 15:18-19.
      Emotions are governed by the mind, but are felt primarily in the chest. "The publican standing afar off, would not so much as lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat upon his chest, saying ‘God be merciful to me the sinner,'" Lk 18:13. The chest is the appropriate place to put the breastplate with its glittering array of the most precious stones known to man.
      Indeed, what are the excelling emotions which God and man possess? Are they not love, faith, hope, kindness, goodness, truth, compassion, patience, humility, honesty, etc? These are the things represented by the precious stones in the breastplate. These determine our character and excelling worth, and are all attributes of God's divine nature.
      The breastplate was made of fine linen, with threads of blue, purple, and scarlet, and gold wires woven into the linen. Again, blue speaks of heavenly, purple of royalty, scarlet of redemption, and gold of God's divine nature. The breastplate was rectangular, but folded upward in half, making a one hand breath square. It was secured to the ephod at the shoulders by golden rings and chains, and at the bottom likewise.
      The high priest wore the breastplate at all times while ministering before and within the tabernacle except for a brief period of time once each year on the day of atonement. On the day of atonement he went into the holy of holies three times: 1) first to burn incense before the ark of the covenant, which represented the throne of God, 2) with the blood of the sacrifice for himself, and 3) with the blood of the sacrifice for the people, Lev 16.
      For this brief, but very special part of his ministry, he put off the garments of glory and beauty, washed his whole body, and put on the "holy linen garments," Lev 16:4. When these activities were finished, the high priest put off the holy linen garments, washed his whole body again, and again put on the garments of glory and beauty, Lev 16:23-24.

THE TWELVE PRECIOUS STONES OF THE BREASTPLATE

      17 "And you shall put settings of stones in it, four rows of stones: The first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and an emerald; this shall be the first row;
      18 "The second row shall be a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond;
      19 "The third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;
      20 "And the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be set in gold settings.
      21 "And the stones shall have the names of the sons of Israel, twelve according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, each one with its own name; they shall be according to the twelve tribes.
      22 "You shall make chains for the breastplate at the end, like braided cords of pure gold.
      23 "And you shall make two rings of gold for the breastplate, and put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate.
      24 "Then you shall put the two braided chains of gold in the two rings which are on the ends of the breastplate;
      25 "and the other two ends of the two braided chains you shall fasten to the two settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod in the front.
      26 "You shall make two rings of gold, and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on the edge of it, which is on the inner side of the ephod.
      27 "And two other rings of gold you shall make, and put them on the two shoulder straps, underneath the ephod toward its front, right at the seam above the intricately woven band of the ephod.
      28 "They shall bind the breastplate by means of its rings to the rings of the ephod, using a blue cord, so that it is above the intricately woven band of the ephod, and so that the breastplate does not come loose from the ephod.
      29 "So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastplate of judgment over his heart, when he goes into the holy place, as a memorial before the LORD continually," Ex 28:15-29.
      The list below gives the name of each son of Jacob, and the precious stone on which the name was engraved. The color of the stones may not all be correct. On the onyx stones on the shoulders, the names were engraved in the order of birth, but on the breastplate the names are not in the order of birth.
      There are twelve stones on the breastplate because there were twelve sons of Jacob, as with the twelve gates of the New Jerusalem with the names of the twelve tribes written on them. Likewise, the high wall of the city has twelve foundations with the names of the twelve apostles written on them, Rev 21:12-14. The number twelve may signify governmental perfection, since that city will be a divine city, with the thrones of the Father and the son in it, and will be the capital of the new earth and of the new world. Only those who qualify for the firstborn sonship will be able to enter and dwell in the city. From there they will rule all creation jointly under the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Rom 4:13; 8:17-32; 1Co 3:21-23.
      Everything associated with the high priest and his garments symbolically and prophetically represent Christ and all the firstborn sons as one with and in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Jn 17:21-23. "In Christ" there are no nations, no male and female distinctions, and no slave son and free son distinctions, Lk 20:34-36; Gal 3:28. Yet there will be nations on the new earth made up of slave sons who will be saved so as by fire, even though all their works are burned, and there will be no reward for this class of saved people 1Co 3:15; Gal 3:28; 4:21-31; Rev 21:23-26; et al. In God's over all household, there will be vessels who are not vessels of honor, 2Ti 2:19-21. These are the slave sons of Gal 4:21-31 and Heb 12:8.

TWELVE TRIBES, TWELVE PRECIOUS STONES

      The color of many of these precious stones will vary considerably, still together on the breastplate they presented quite a sight to see.

Judah - Sardius – reddish orange.
Isachar - Topaz – yellow.
Zebulan - Carbuncle – deep red.
Reuben - Emerald – yellowish green.
Simeon - Sapphire – blue.
Gad - Diamond – Clear.
Ephraim - Jacinth - reddish to bluish.
Manasseh - Agate – milky gray.
Benjamin - Amethyst – transparent purple or violet.
Dan - Beryl – transparent, white, green, blue, yellow, or pink.
Asher - Onyx – black.
Naphtali - Jasper – Red, yellow brown, or clear as crystal.

MEMORIAL BEFORE THE LORD

      12 "And you shall put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. So Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders as a memorial," Exo 28:12.       29 "So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastplate of judgment over his heart, when he goes into the holy place, as a memorial before the LORD continually," Exo 28:29.
      All year long, Aaron wore these garments of glory and beauty with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel on the onyx stones on his shoulders and on the twelve precious stones on the breastplate as a constant memorial before the Lord. He and his sons were ministering not just for himself or themselves, not just for his family, and not just for the tribe of Levi, but for all the faithful covenant or last will and testament people from Adam on. This includes all the faithful in the Lord's churches. All in the church are "in Christ" (in the body of Christ), and are therefore credited by the Scriptures as being covenant "seed of Abraham," Gal 3:27-29; Eph 2:10-16; Rom 11:11-22.
      Both baptism and the Lord's Supper are New Covenant or last will and testaments memorials which testify that the Son of God Seed of the woman has 1) been born of a virgin into the human family, 2) lived a perfect human life, 3) died for the sins of the world, 4) was buried and rose again out of the grave, 5) His human body was born again out of the grave into a divine body, 6) ascended back to heaven and is interceding for the last will and testament people, 7) will come back to earth with the spirits of the saints to deify both the spirit and the body of the saints, and 8) dispose of Satan and his angels for a thousand years. Both water baptism and the Lord's supper are memorials and bear testimonies of these events.

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