Online home for members of the Body of Christ for the training and promotion of the Children of God as Ambassadors for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20).
Welcome to the first in our four part series on The Bible being the Final and Complete Revelation from God. Upcoming messages include: The Bible IS the INERRANT Word of God; The Bible IS the Inspired Word of God; and, The Bible...Which Version?
We want to answer the question...IS THE BIBLE THE FINAL AND COMPLETE REVELATION FROM GOD IN WRITTEN FORM?
Now of course, if that statement is true, then the Quran is NOT a revelation from God and neither is the Book of Mormon, nor any other writing claiming to be inspired of God as The Bible is! You got that! Then next
BUT LET'S LOOK AT THIS FIRST...HOW DO WE KNOW IF A PERSON IS SPEAKING FROM GOD'S REVELATION OR NOT?
That is an excellent question since so many religious leaders claim that God speaks directly to them as He did in the Bible. The following issues need to be addressed whenever you run into such a claim:
1. If what is predicted does NOT happen, then God did not tell them it would, no matter what they say! Read carefully Deuteronomy 18:21-22.
2. If the gospel that is preached is NOT the gospel of Jesus Christ found in the Bible, then God did NOT speak to them! Read Galatians 1:6-10.
3. If what they say does NOT agree with the Bible, then God did NOT speak to them! Read Isaiah 8:19-20; II Peter 3:2.
4. If they ADD any additional "truth" to what the Bible already says, then God did NOT speak to them! Read Revelation 22:18-19.
OK NOW...WHY DO WE BELIEVE THAT THE BIBLE IS A COMPLETE AND FINAL REVELAATION FROM GOD?
1. A THEOLOGICAL reason - nothing is omitted that BELIEVERS need to know!
2. A LOGICAL reason - early church leaders were closer to the issue. They consistently rejected claims by other writings.
3. A FACTUAL reason - no attempt was made to change this completed Bible to the Council of Trent (1540-1546 AD). That council was a reaction to objections by the reformers regarding church tradition being more important than the Bible itself, and the failure of many church teachings to be supported by Biblical authority.
4. AN EXPERIENTIAL reason - it has the proven power to save and change lives who believe its message and obey its teachings.
5. A BIBLICAL reason - THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ARGUMENT OF ALL! God indicates that His written Word would be a complete and final revelation!
FOR YOUR DILIGENT STUDY, CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING PASSAGES. These passages will also be in the description: Exodus 20:1; Deuteronomy 4:2; Deuteronomy 8:3; Psalm 19:7; Psalm 119:89, Psalm 152, Psalm 160; Proverbs 30:5-6; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 5:18; Matthew 24:35; Luke 16:31; John 10:35; John 16:13; Romans 10:17; 1 Corinthians 14:37; 1 Corinthians 15:1; Galatians 1:9; Hebrews 1:1-2; Hebrews 2:2-4; Jude 3; Revelation 1:1; Revelation 22:18-19
Hebrews 1:1-2 makes the clear argument that in the "last of these days" (which is the correct Greek grammar) in which God spoke directly, there would be a final revelation concerning His Son, our LORD Jesus Christ. That final revelation is the last book of the New Testament which calls itself, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ". It is an uncovering or unveiling of His Person and majesty like no other portion of God's Word. It is in that book (especially in its last chapter...22:18-19) that deals with the future...clear into eternity...that we have the warning against adding to its words or taking away any of its words. God's revelation ENDED with the Book of Revelation! We are no longer hearing God's direct and audible revelation. He is finished, and now holds us accountable for all that He HAS revealed to us about the past, the present, and the future!
MAY GOD RESTORE IN OUR HEARTS THE ABSOLUTE SUFFICIENCY AND ACCURACY OF THE BIBLE! IT IS THE INSPIRED AND INERRANT WORD OF THE ONE AND ONLY GOD, AND IT IS A COMPLETE AND FINAL REVELATION FROM GOD HIMSELF!
Next up, is our message, "The Bible IS the INERRANT Word of God".
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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.
So There You Have it!
Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.
Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.
Note these references to the Gospel of the Kingdom:
Matthew 4:17, “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 4:23, “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.”
Mark 1:14-15, “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent ye, and believe the Gospel.”
Luke 9:2 and Luke 9:6, “And He sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.” “And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the Gospel, and healing everywhere.”
Matthew 10:6-8, “But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils; freely ye have received, freely give.”
Luke 18:31-34, “Then He took unto Him the Twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For He shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: And they shall scourge Him, and put Him to death; and the third day He shall rise again. And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.”
Matthew 23:39, “For I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the LORD.”
Luke 21:27 and Luke 21:31, “And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” “So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.”
Matthew 25:31, “When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory.”
Luke 1:32-33, “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the LORD God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David; And He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end.”
The word translated “Gospel” MEANS “good news.” When the LORD Jesus and His apostles were preaching “the Gospel of the kingdom” they were healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, cleansing the lepers, giving limbs to the limbless, raising the dead. This is what Christ told His apostles to do, and what they did while He was on earth. “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with Power; Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him. And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; Whom they slew and hanged on a tree.” Acts 10:38-39. They healed in the name of Jesus of Nazareth. (Acts 3:6). Now, note Acts 2:22, and Hebrews 2:4, “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know.”...AND...“God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will.”
Certainly it was good news when a blind man heard that he could receive his sight in the name of Jesus of Nazareth. It was good news when a brokenhearted mother or father learned that their dead child could be brought back to life in the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And here is the record of the ministry of the twelve apostles, “they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the Gospel, and healing everywhere.” Luke 9:6.
This is what Christ, in Matthew 10:6-8, told the Twelve to do. He did NOT command them to go to Gentiles and preach that they could be saved through faith in the crucified and resurrected Christ. However, this IS “OUR Gospel” in this present Dispensation of Grace. 2 Corinthians 4:3-6.
We have only to compare Luke 9:6 with Luke 18:31-34 to learn that the twelve apostles, during the many months they were preaching “the Gospel of the kingdom,” had not the slightest knowledge of the Gospel of 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; that Christ died for our sins. Read very carefully Luke 18:31-34.
The kingdom of God, or the kingdom of heaven, that was at hand FOR Israel, when Jesus of Nazareth and His twelve apostles were preaching “the Gospel of the kingdom” in the land of the Jews, will be at hand AGAIN when the King shall come back. AFTER this Dispensation of Grace “ comes to a close, the Gospel of the Kingdom” shall be preached again as a witness among all nations.
Note what the King said, in Matthew 15:24, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
This is quite different from Romans 15:16 and Romans 11:30, “That I (Paul) should be the minister of Jesus Christ TO the Gentiles, ministering the Gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”...AND...“For as ye (Gentiles) in times past have not believed God, yet have NOW obtained mercy through their (Israel's) unbelief.”
Here we have Grace for Gentiles, because of Israel's unbelief. Now compare these statements with Acts 15:16-17, “After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up; That the residue of men might seek after the LORD, and all the Gentiles, upon whom My name is called...saith the LORD, Who doeth all these things.”
Ok, so here is God's order in “the Gospel of the kingdom.”
First...
Christ's return to build again the tabernacle of David.
Then...
The Jews receive Christ.
And THEN after THAT...
The Gentiles receive Christ.
This kingdom program is prophesied many many times in Israel's Old Testament Scriptures. This means that the kingdom WILL BE restored to the NATION Israel. Acts 1:6. Romans 11:25-29. Then because of Israel's belief and salvation, the Gentiles will come to Israel's Messiah and LORD. The Gentiles will have a place in SUBJECTION TO Israel. So, in “the Gospel of the kingdom,” Israel is in favor with God, and Israel's King and David's throne are in the program, and the Gentiles follow Israel into the kingdom. This is the prophesied Gospel of the Kingdom. Wonderful earthly blessings and physical health accompany this Gospel; whereas in this present Dispensation of Grace, believers are to be partakers of the afflictions of the Gospel. 2 Timothy 1:7-9. The Gospel of the kingdom will be given to the nations when and because Israel believes that the LORD Jesus Christ, Ya-Hweh Yahuwshua, is their Messiah.
Ok, now pay attention, THIS present, un-prophesied period began when God set His kingdom nation aside, and sent salvation DIRECTLY to the Gentiles to PROVOKE Israel to jealousy. (Romans 11:11; Acts 13:46; Acts 18:5-6; Acts 28:25-28; Romans 11:15; Romans 11:25-26). When the Gentiles obtained mercy, because of Israel's unbelief, God called His salvation message for the “far‑off” Gentiles “the Gospel of the Grace of God.” (Romans 11:30; Ephesians 2:8-13). So “the Gospel of the Grace of God” was and is preached to Gentiles when Israel is in disfavor with God and when the tabernacle of David is fallen down.
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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.
So There You Have it!
Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.
Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.
Now let us compare Paul's statement in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 with Peter's statement in 1 Peter 3:18. Ok, here’s the Holy Spirit through Paul, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all, that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”
And now the Holy Spirit speaking through the Apostle Peter, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.”
Believers are saved by the Gospel set forth by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. But, in my judgment, there is no more definite, true statement of the Gospel, in any of Paul's messages, than we have in 1 Peter 3:18. This is one of my favorite verses in preaching to the unsaved. Then think of 1 Peter 2:24 and 1 Peter 1:18-20. In these verses we learn that we are redeemed by the precious shed blood of the LORD Jesus Christ, because the LORD Jesus bare our sins in His own body on the tree. Then in 1 Peter 5:10 we learn that it is Peter who calls God, “the God of all Grace.”
With that said, it is true that there seems to be quite a difference between Peter's message to the Gentiles in Acts 10:34-35, and Paul's message to the Gentiles, in Romans 4:4-5. Note the difference:
Here is Peter in Acts 10, “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him.” Acts 10:34-35
Now here is Paul from Romans 4, “Now to him that worketh is the reward NOT reckoned of Grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but BELIEVETH on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Romans 4:4-5
Then look, we have Peter continuing in his message to Gentiles to say that Christ died and was raised from the dead and whosoever BELIEVETH on Him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:39-43)
Every Spirit‑taught Christian knows that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins; and that Christ's blood was ONCE shed for the remission of sins and that there is no remission of sins, or redemption, for one single person apart from the Faith in the shed blood of the LORD Jesus Christ. Period! (Romans 5:10; Matthew 26:28; Colossians 1:14; Colossians 1:20-21; Ephesians 1:6-7.)
But because we know that the Faith in the shed blood of the LORD Jesus Christ is the ONE and ONLY way for the sinner to be saved, are we to say there is only one Gospel in the Bible, and that the meaning of Galatians 2:7 is that Paul and Peter preached the same Gospel to different groups? Those, who DO say this, think they have proved their assertion by Galatians 1:9, ”If any man preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”
In the verses immediately preceding this ninth verse the Holy Spirit led Paul to write that the PERVERTED Gospel, a mixture of law and Grace, was NOT another Gospel. So from these verses there are sincere faithful servants of the LORD who teach that there is no Gospel in the Bible other than 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, the fact that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and raised again; all in fulfillment of prophecy. (Acts 13:29-30) (Luke 18:31-35).
These sincere brethren seem to think they must dogmatically and uncompromisingly contend for one and only one Gospel in contending earnestly for the Faith once‑for‑all delivered unto the saints. There is such a thing as being sincerely wrong...having zeal without knowledge. If these brethren are wrong, it is because they have very much limited the word “Gospel.”
Let us note the “Gospel” in several verses of Scripture:
Matthew 24:14, “And this GOSPEL of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
Now, Acts 20:24, Colossians 1:5, and Colossians 1:23, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the LORD Jesus, to testify the GOSPEL of the Grace of God.”...“For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the GOSPEL; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the GRACE of God in truth.”...“If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the GOSPEL, which ye have heard, and WHICH WAS PREACHED to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.”
In these Scriptures we read of “the Gospel of the Kingdom” and “the Gospel of the Grace of God.” Are these two Gospels identical? The LORD Jesus, about 33 A.D., declared that the end would come when "the Gospel of the Kingdom" had been preached as a witness among all nations. About 25 years later the Aposlte Paul left Ephesus to end his course in preaching “the Gospel of the Grace of God.” About 67 A.D. Paul declared that he had FINISHED his course. (2 Timothy 4:7.) A little later his earthly career ENDED. About the time Paul declared that he had ENDED his course he wrote that the Gospel HAD come into all the world and was preached to every creature which is under heaven.
But now, understand this, when Christ said, in Matthew 24:14, the end would come, He was OBVIOUSLY NOT referring to the end of PAUL's earthly ministry. The end to which Christ referred in Matthew 24:14, did NOT come when Paul's Gospel had been preached in all the world. You see, Israel's tribulation is the chief subject of Matthew 24. And the end of the Age, in THAT chapter, must be the end of an Age different from this present Age of Grace.
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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.
So There You Have it!
Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.
Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.
In 1 Corinthians 4:1-3 we learn that the servants of Christ are instructed to be faithful stewards of the Mysteries of God. In 1 Corinthians 1:10 these servants are told to speak the same thing, to be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment; not to be divided.
Hi everyone and welcome to part one of what looks like it will be a nine or ten-part message series on the difference between the Gospel committed to Paul and the Gospel committed to Peter and the Eleven, and that they are NOT the same. Ok, let's get going...
The LORD's stewards are NOT perfectly joined together in the same mind concerning the meaning of the Apostle Paul's statement in Galatians 2:7; and they certainly do NOT speak the same thing in explaining the meaning of this verse. On the contrary, some of the LORD's servants not only differ with other stewards of the Mysteries of God concerning the meaning of Paul's statement in Galatians 2:7, but they are very ungracious in their attitude toward those who disagree with them. They permit themselves to be stirred to indignation and disgust, if not contempt and hatred, against those who do not accept their exegesis. I just finished reading an article put out by the Reformation Theology people, that expressed what I have just written.
If any intelligent Christian should read Galatians 2:7, and some “theologian” should not interfere with his thinking, what would that Christian decide after reading, “but contrariwise, when they saw that the Gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me (Paul), as the Gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter?” That Christian would surely decide the Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians that the LORD had committed unto him (Paul) “the Gospel of the uncircumcision,” and unto Peter, “the Gospel of the circumcision.” If there is any purpose to language, that Christian would decide that “the Gospel of the uncircumcision” and “the Gospel of the circumcision” are NOT one and the same Gospel. In the Greek the genitive is used. The word is “of” and not “to”. The Gospel “of” the uncircumcision. The Gospel “of” the circumcision. You follow?
The servants of the LORD, who happen to be Pastors, Preachers, and Teachers, who insist that the Apostle Paul meant to say that the same Gospel that the risen Christ authorized him to preach to the Gentiles He gave to Peter for the Jews, are the very same men who insist that Peter and his associates, who were Christ's apostles before Paul was converted, went all over Asia and Europe preaching to Gentiles, after Paul was converted. In Galatians 2:9 they agreed to go to the Jews. If they agreed to go to the Jews and then went to the Gentiles, they did not do what they agreed to do. These Preachers and Teachers acknowledge that they get their ideas as to the evangelization of Gentiles by the twelve apostles from “church history”, and NOT from the Bible.
Moreover, this is important, it is a fact that the same Bible teachers, who teach that the Apostle Paul and the twelve apostles preached the same Gospel, (Paul to the Gentiles and the other apostles to the Jews), teach that Peter and James set forth God's program for this age when they uttered the truth of Acts 15:14, “Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for His name.” But, is this God's program for this age? NO! This program was publicly stated by Peter and James in the city of Jerusalem about the very same time these two men and Paul agreed on their DIFFERENT ministries, as recorded in Galatians 2:9, ”And when James, Peter and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the Grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.”
Now let God's people permit the Holy Spirit to lead them and to help them use a little common sense in answering this question, “If God's program, as described by Peter and James, was to visit the Gentiles and take out of them a people for His name, did Peter and James have a part in God's program when they agreed to go to the Jews?”
Remember, it was Peter and James who agreed to go to the Jews at the time they declared that God's program was to visit the Gentiles and take out of them a people for His name. Peter and James, by going to Jews, could not help God to take out from the Gentiles a people for His name. Compare Acts 15:14 and Galatians 2:9. Also Acts 15:14 with Ephesians 2:15-18.
Now keep in mind that the very same Bible preachers, and teachers, who teach that there are not two Gospels in Galatians 2:7, but the same Gospel to be taken by different apostles to different groups, also teach that God's program for this age was declared by Peter and James, in Acts 15:14. They ALSO agree that the decision of Galatians 2:9 had the sanction of the LORD. Surely we must all be agreed that the LORD could not use Peter and James to visit the Gentiles, if He sent them to preach to the Jews. Did they go to the Jews, as they agreed in Galatians 2:9, or did they go to the Gentiles? In answering this question read Galatians 2:11-14. In these verses we learn that because of James and other Israelites, the Apostle Peter would not have fellowship with saved Gentiles. Do you believe that the LORD would send to the unsaved Gentiles James and Peter, when James would not permit Peter to eat with saved Gentiles? Ha, I don’t think so!
Now strange as it may seem, the very same Bible preachers, and teachers, who teach that God's program is Acts 15:14 and that Peter and Paul preached the same Gospel, teach that at the time James and Peter declared that God was visiting the Gentiles to take out a people for His name, God's order was, “to the Jews first and also to the Gentiles,” in harmony with Romans 1:16. They say that this explains why the Apostle Paul, before and after the declaration of Acts 15:14, went to the Jews before he went to the Gentiles. BUT! This explanation certainly clashes with their explanation of Galatians 2:7, and Galatians 2:9. If God's program was to visit the Gentiles and the Apostle Paul was to go to the Gentiles, why did Paul go to the Jews first? Why did Paul go to the Jews at all, if Galatians 2:7 means that Peter was to go to the Jews with the same Gospel that Paul was to preach to the Gentiles? Why do Bible preachers and teachers, who are bitterly opposed to other servants of the LORD who insist that Paul was given a distinctive ministry and message for the Gentiles, (like I do), diligently search church history to prove that Peter and his fellow apostles went to many different countries to preach to the Gentiles when they explain Galatians 2:7-9 to mean that the Apostle Peter was to go to the circumcision and the Apostle Paul to the uncircumcision?
There is something radically wrong with such thinking that these preachers and teachers are putting forward, if it can be called “thinking” at all!
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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.
So There You Have it!
Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.
Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.
Philippians 4:5-7, “Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your reqyuests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Worrying is as definitely forbidden as theft, according to our verse...and the whole of Scripture. This needs to be carefully considered and realized by Children of God, so that we do not excuse it as an innocent "weakness". The more we are convicted of the sinfulness of anxiety and worry, the sooner are we likely to perceive that it is most dishonouring to God, and "strive against" it (Hebrews 12:4). But how are we to "strive against" it?
We strive against worry by watching its beginning, and as soon as we are conscious of the harassment of our mind, as soon as we detect the unbelieving thought, lift up our heart to God and ask Him for deliverance from it. The best antidote for anxiety and worry is frequent meditation upon God’s goodness, power, and sufficiency. When the saint, the member of the Body of Christ, can confidently realize "The Lord is My Shepherd," he must then conclude, "I shall not want!"
The next part of our Bible verse is, "but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known unto God."The "with thanksgiving" is super important, yet it is the point at which we most fail. It means that before we receive God’s answer, we thank Him for the same: it is the confidence of the child expecting his Father to be gracious.
Now hear the LORD's words from Matthew 6:25-33, "Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought (anxious concern) for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?" "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:25-33).
Nothing is too big and nothing is too little to spread before and cast upon our great God and our Saviour, the LORD Jesus Christ.
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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.
So There You Have it!
Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.
Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.
Quite frequently we hear a Child of God quote Romans 8:28, especially when some sorrow or disappointment has been experienced. But it is interesting to note the “FOR” that CONNECTS this verse with the three verses that follow. Note Romans 8:28 and the three verses that follow, Romans 8:29-32:
“AND WE KNOW THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THEM THAT LOVE GOD, TO THEM WHO ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE. FOR, (there it is), WHOM HE DID FOREKNOW, HE ALSO DID PREDESTINATE, TO BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON, THAT HE MIGHT BE THE FIRSTBORN AMONG MANY BRETHREN. MOREOVER WHOM HE DID PREDESTINATE, THEM HE ALSO CALLED: AND WHOM HE CALLED, THEM HE ALSO JUSTIFIED: AND WHOM HE JUSTIFIED, THEM HE ALSO GLORIFIED. WHAT SHALL WE THEN SAY TO THESE THINGS? IF GOD BE FOR US WHO CAN BE AGAINST US” ROMANS 8:28-32.
Here we note that God had, and has, a purpose. Note the words of Acts 15:18: “Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world.” Surely if God is omniscient, He knows all things. God not only knew the end from the beginning, but God had a secret, or hidden, purpose from BEFORE the foundation of the world.
Note Ephesians 3:9, Ephesians 3:11, and Ephesians 1:12. “And to make all men see what is the dispensation (fellowship) of the Mystery which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God. According to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. In Whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.”
Then note 2 Timothy 1:9 and Ephesians 1:4-5. “God Who hath saved us and called us with an Holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and Grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, according as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.”
So, God’s Word tells us very definitely that God purposed in Christ BEFORE the world began that which He has revealed in the Epistle to the Ephesians. Look at Ephesians 1:9: “Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself.”
God has made known the secret of His will. Then all Children of God should diligently search the Scriptures and learn that now REVEALED Divine secret. The sons of men in other ages and generations did NOT have this wonderful privilege; for God did NOT choose to disclose His eternal purpose to them, “Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but NOW is made manifest to His saints.” Colossians 1:25-26.
Now go to Ephesians 3:5 and Ephesians 3:8, “Which in other ages was NOT made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; UNTO ME, who am less than the least of all saints, is this Grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles, the unsearchable riches, or rather un-traceable riches, of Christ"
God wants all members of The Body of Christ to see this glorious truth...NOW, and to know the hope of His calling and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. Ephesians 1:17-18.
Again in Ephesians 1:11, “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will. An inheritance, being predestinated according to God’s purpose."
We should know, and be well studied in, God’s revealed secret, the Mystery of His will, His eternal predestinated purpose. And if we honestly endeavor to walk worthy of our calling, as members of the Body of Christ, and constantly endeavor to make others see the Dispensation of the Mystery, we can know and say positively, that all things work together for good for such Children of God who love God and are the called according to God’s purpose. For....for what? “For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:29.
Now, look at the questions in Romans 8:31: “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” What blessed truth to know. BUT, what appalling ignorance among Children of God concerning God’s purpose and grace given us in Christ before the world began. Most of the Children of God in this age and generation, are as ignorant of this glorious Divine Truth as were the sons of men in other ages and generations to whom it was never revealed.
Perhaps you have observed that the Children of God who are opposed to the Doctrine of Eternal Security actually HATE the Doctrine of Predestination, for the two truths are inseparably connected. No Child of God should ever hate the Word of God. And every Child of God who really knows and believes the truth concerning God’s predestinated purpose believes in the eternal security of the believer.
“All things work together for good.” Note it, “for good.” To whom? To those who are the CALLED according to God’s purpose. And note the good things that God has on deposit for those who are called according to His purpose, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Christ: According as He hath CHOSEN us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” Ephesians 1:3-4
We can never appreciate either of these facts until we know both of them, namely, that those who are blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Christ, were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.” Ephesians 1:5.
When we learn these facts then we will begin to comprehend “with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with ALL the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:18-19.
How many Children of God are filled with all the fullness of God? How many Children of God even know what is MEANT by the fullness of Christ in Ephesians 1:23: “Which is His Body, the fullness ofHim that filleth all in all?”
Note the climax of the wonderful Mystery of God’s will. The magnificent purpose and grace given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. Ephesians 4:12-13 says: “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ. Till we all come in the unity of The Faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a Perfect Man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”
We shall come to the fullness of Christ in the unity of faith. There is ONE Faith. Ephesians 4:5. God will permit no Child of God to see this glorious profound truth until that Child of God will receive the truth from the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures, that there is but ONE Body, even as there is but one Head of the Body, that there is ONE baptism (and it is NOT water), for this dispensation, even as there is but ONE Spirit. Children of God have been blinded by sectarianism, denominations, and traditions of men, and have made very little earnest effort to keep the unity of the Spirit on the basis of the seven-fold unity of Ephesians 4:3-7. Therefore, they could not obey Ephesians 3:9 even if they wanted to!
The present Divine program concerning the Body of Christ the hope and calling of its members was not prophesied by the men of old. Therefore the Apostle Paul speaks of this distinctive ministry as “the unsearchable riches of Christ.” Ephesians 3:8. “Unsearchable” means “untraceable” and has the meaning of “un-prophesied,” NOT made known to other ages and generations.
So the Body of Christ, and the heavenly position and possession of members of this Body, were NOT prophesied; but they were PREDESTINATED, “According as He hath CHOSEN US in Him BEFORE the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. Having PREDESTINATED us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.” Ephesians 1:4-5.
“Moreover whom He did PREDESTINATE, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified.” Romans 8:30.
So, we see that all the way from foreknowledge to glorification, Salvation is of God, and is by His Grace from beginning to end, “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” 2 Timothy 1:9
However, there is also the human responsibility!
Note Romans 10:13-14, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” “How then shall they call on Him in Whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of Whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?”
And 1 Corinthians 3:8, “Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.”
WHO GAVE HIMSELF FOR US, THAT HE MIGHT REDEEM US FROM ALL INIQUITY, AND PURIFY UNTO HIMSELF A PECULIAR PEOPLE, ZEALOUS OF GOOD WORKS.” Titus 2:11 and Titus 2:14.
How often have we heard, “How are we to reconcile the ‘predestination’ message, with the ‘whosoever’ message?”Look, they are BOTH the TRUTH of GOD! They are both Bible doctrines. JUST preach them, and teach them, and let the Holy Spirit do the reconciling!
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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.
So There You Have it!
Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.
Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.
Tonight I want to focus on the one common denominator that runs trough all of the world's religions. And that the Ambassador for Christ needs to, through prayer, hone in on. That common denominator is that: YOU are a god. That each and every human is a god unto themselves.
But there's more...Then there is a different type of religion, with the same common denominator, but this religion actually renounces all religion and tells you that you need to seek the truth or rather the "Christ" truth within yourself. How Christ came to be within them they cannot say, but will tell you that he has always been there as far back as they can remember. There is never stated a testimony of Salvation. However, these will tell you they believe in Christ, but WHAT they believe seems to be the issue, because those involved in this religion can be found amongst those preoccupied with the discovery of symbols and colors of Satanism, the Saturn/Black Cube worship cult, and freemasonry, thru out society and this world system. And preaching at you how they discovered this or that and you must learn from them, how to look within in order to "wake up". Once again self-empowerment. Ultimately all of their info and "research" so-called is useless. "Vanity of vanities; all is vanity". ECCLESIASTES 1:2.
And something else...Think about it, with info SO READILY, and EASILY available about this "New World Order" we hear so much about…and as more people "wake up" and start seeking the truth behind the shenanigans we are seeing played out on the world stage, it appears that Satan has actually set up this decoy "New World Order" as what they are to wake up to. As a matter of fact, the Saturn Symbol Hunters, along with the Satanic, Luciferian, Masonic elitists LOVE it when the news of a "New World Order" is spread all over the place because they created the paradigm, or storyline.
Having said all that...Here is a newsflash, YOU are NOT a god! This is truly what religion is really about. Let me point out immediately that it is ONLY by the Gospel of the Grace of God through the Faith in the LORD Jesus Christ that we can obtain Salvation; and it is THIS that is the opposite of all the worlds religions.
While it is not a bad thing to know these symbol things, what I want you all to see is that these symbol discovery videos or messages only serves to preoccupy us with the Satanic realm. So, instead of being preoccupied with Almighty God, we’re constantly looking at what the Satanic gang is up to....with their symbols.
However, Child of God, silly symbol hunting is NOT our commission. Hear this, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God” 2 Cor. 5:20. THIS is The Body of Christ’s Commission!
There is no doubt that the member of the Body of Christ needs much training along Bible lines in order to work successfully with sinners in an effort to bring them to Christ; but the all-important thing is to BELIEVE in the terrible consequences of sin, the awful penalty awaiting the sinner at the Great White Throne judgment, and to know from personal experience that The LORD Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is an almighty Savior from sin and its consequences. Both here and hereafter. ONLY members of the Body of Christ can say this: God is in me, 2 Cor. 6:16, Christ is in me, Colossians 1:27, The Holy Spirit is in me. 1 Corinthians 6:19
Such knowledge should create within the heart of every Child of God a passion for lost sinners, an earnest and sincere desire to see them brought to The LORD Jesus Christ, and washed in His blood.
But, you know what, the sinner knows that the Child of God is not in earnest about these eternal issues. Many Children of God never seriously take the message of salvation to sinners. It is UNBELIEVABLE, the wasted moments, hours, and days of God’s people, while millions on this earth are perishing without the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
And, regardless of what you might think, even many of your neighbors have never heard the Gospel of Grace before. They might be aware of other sentiments CALLED “The Gospel”, but it would AMAZE you to know the number of people who have sincerely never heard the True Gospel.
Some day we are going to look into the face of The LORD Jesus Christ, our Savior, and give an account of what we did with the Life He gave us. “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men” 2 Cor. 5:11. May the LORD from this moment on have your life and mine fully dedicated to Him.
***
In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.
So There You Have it!
Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.
Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.
We continue from where we left off here in Part 3 of this 3 part series...
9) IN EPHESIANS AND COLOSSIANS WE LEARN THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT SPEAKS OF THE MYSTERY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BODY OF CHRIST. THE WORD “MYSTERY” MEANS “SECRET”. IT IS APPARENT and CLEAR THEN, THAT UP TO THE TIME THAT PAUL WROTE EPHESIANS AND COLOSSIANS, GOD HAD KEPT THE TRUTH CONCERNING THE BODY OF CHRIST A SECRET. IT WAS GOD’S SECRET “HID IN GOD FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD”. Ephesians 3:9 . IT WAS THE SECRET WHICH “HATH BEEN HID FROM AGES AND FROM GENERATIONS. Colossians 1:26 . THE TWELVE APOSTLES DID NOT USE THE WORD “BODY”, AND MADE NO ATTEMPT TO REVEAL TO SAINTS THE SECRET WHICH PAUL MADE KNOWN IN HIS PRISON EPISTLES.
10) When Paul was speaking in Berea about 53 A.D., the Bereans searched the Scriptures to see if Paul’s statements were Scriptural. Acts 17:11 . When Paul wrote, about ten years later, to the Ephesians they could not search the Scriptures which the Bereans searched, because Paul was writing concerning the “unsearchable” (not to be tracked) riches of Christ. Ephesians 3:8 . This should give to every Bible student a very simple principle of Bible study and convince any person that Paul first taught what Israel’s prophets had foretold and he later taught truths about which they were wholly ignorant as well as silent. Ephesians 3:1-11 , Colossians 1:24-28 . Christ Himself began with Moses, who wrote the first five Books of the Bible, and went all through the Prophets to Malachi, and expounded unto His disciples all the Scriptures concerning Himself. Luke 24:21-36 . But He did not speak to them concerning the Unsearchable Riches which Paul preached to the Gentiles, because Moses and Malachi, and all of the inbetween prophets had nothing to say about these Riches. They were hid in God, until they were made known by the RISEN Christ to Paul. When we preach Christ we should obey Philippians 1:10
11) JESUS OF NAZARETH ON EARTH WAS FULFILLING (FILLING OUT) THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS. Matthew 15:8 . HIS MINISTRY WAS CONFIRMING WHAT THE PROPHETS HAD FORETOLD. Romans 15:8 . WHILE ON EARTH THE LORD JESUS WAS PROCLAIMING THE PROPHESIED KINGDOM OF HEAVEN; BUT HAD NOT ONE WORD TO SAY ABOUT THE BODY OF EPHESIANS 1:18-22 , OF WHICH HE WAS TO BE THE HEAD. THE TWELVE APOSTLES CONTINUED WITH THIS “CONFIRMATION” MINISTRY ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST AND THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS. Hebrews 2:3-4 . WHAT THEY PREACHED ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST WAS IN FULFILLMENT OF THE PROPHECIES MADE TO ISRAEL CENTURIES BEFORE. Acts 2:16 and Acts 2:30-33 . THE KINGDOM OFFERED TO ISRAEL, IN ACTS 2:19-26 WAS A KINGDOM ABOUT WHICH ALL THE PROPHETS, FROM MOSES AND SAMUEL HAD WRITTEN. Acts 3:24-25 . THEREFORE THE TWELVE APOSTLES WERE NOT OFFERING, IN ACTS 3 , THE SAME KINGDOM CONCERNING WHICH PAUL WROTE IN EPHESIANS, COLOSSIANS AND II TIMOTHY. THE DISPENSATION OF THE KINGDOM OF THE HEAVENS” COULD NOT BE THE “DISPENSATION OF THE MYSTERY”, MENTIONED IN EPHESIANS 3:9 . THE LORD ON EARTH GAVE THE “KINGDOM” KEYS TO THE TWELVE; BUT THE RISEN CHRIST IN HEAVEN GAVE PAUL THE “DISPENSATION OF THE GRACE OF GOD”. Ephesians 3:1-2 . THE TWELVE WERE MINISTERS TO ISRAEL, AND ARE TO YET SIT ON TWELVE THRONES AND JUDGE THE TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL. Matthew 19:28 . Galatians 2:9 . PAUL WAS THE LORD’S MESSENGER TO THE GENTILES, WITH THE “UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF CHRIST” AND THE “MYSTERY”. GOD, NOW, WANTS ALL MEN TO SEE WHAT IS THE “DISPENSATION OF THE MYSTERY”, HID IN GOD UNTIL PAUL REACHED ROME AND WROTE EPHESIANS, ABOUT 64 A.D.
12) Thus we see that prophecy spoke of the death and resurrection of Christ; that the prophets and covenants foretold the Kingdom blessings of Israel, the hope and calling of Israel, and the Gentiles who were to be blessed with them. Romans 15:10 . And we see that Jesus of Nazareth and the Twelve Apostles carried on this ministry promised by prophets and covenants. And that in Paul’s “Prison Epistles” God is speaking of a different kingdom, hope, and calling purposed in Christ before there were any prophets.
***
In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.
So There You Have it!
Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.
Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.
