A Short Simple Prayer for The Body of Christ - Pastor David

Our Dear Heavenly Father, Creator of all things, The LORD God, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, through the LORD Jesus, and in the power of thy Spirit we come before thee. Everything on earth is yours, LORD. We have nothing that can make you richer, for it all comes from you in the first place. We also acknowledge and are thankful that we LIVE thanks to you, and that without YOU we have nothing and can do nothing.

Father we ask that you will bless exceedingly our commission as Ambassadors for Christ, and that the Word of Reconciliation, our Ministry, will be broadcast around the world through this work that you have given us to do. And to make all men see what is the Dispensation of the Mystery, and the Knowledge of the Mystery, whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of the Grace of God. The Mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made known to his saints....members of the Body of Christ....to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is: CHRIST in you, the hope of glory. And it is Christ whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

***

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 The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Three Great Laws of the Bible - Pastor David

In Romans 8:1-4, we read of three great laws. "The law of sin and death, by Adam." "The law, the ministration of condemnation and death, by Moses," 2 Corinthians 3:5-9. "The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus."

Thus we learn that: By Adam is the entrance of Sin. Romans 5:12. By Moses is the knowledge of sin. Romans 3:20, Romans 5:20, and Galatians 3:19. And that by Jesus Christ, is the forgiveness of sins. Acts 13:39.

The Holy Spirit, through the Apostle Paul wrote, "When Christ who is our life shall appear." Colossians 3:1-4. Christ declared Himself to be The Life. John 14:6. Paul wrote, "Christ liveth in me." "For me to live is Christ." In 2 Timothy 1:10 we learn that Christ brings life and the guarantee of incorruptibility to light in the Gospel. In John 10:28 we Have the words of Christ, "I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish." In John 11:25 Christ is the resurrection and the life for believers who will never die. Christ, of course, had power to lay down His life and to take it up again. John 10:17-19.

So here is what we understand...that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus frees the believer from the law of sin and death; from the penalty and wages of sin; and from the wrath to come.

The sum total of man's spiritual responsibility and duty is with respect to "the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus."

Therefore, FIRST, appropriate that law and be Saved. SECOND, demonstrate that law by walking in the Spirit and fulfilling the righteousness of the law. THIRD, propagate that Law of Life by preaching and teaching it to others; that is, by proclaiming the message of Grace unmixed with religion or legalism.

***

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 The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Romans 12:1...YOUR Reasonable Service - Pastor David

Romans 12:1, "I BESEECH you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."

There was a profound change in God’s plan for acceptable worship. It once required all those complicated requirements for acceptable worship: a temple building, with furniture and relics and a priesthood and an altar and animal sacrifices according to the calendar, but now all that is changed. God no longer has a temple building of stone and wood, but in this new dispensation of the grace of God, the temple of God is the believer’s body! “Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you” (1 Cor. 6:19).

Today we worship God, not by going to a building (after all, we are God’s building), or making use of certain furniture, and the appropriate personnel, and observing a certain ritual; OUR worship today, for members of the Body of Christ, is to present our bodies a living sacrifice. When Paul writes, “which is your reasonable service,” we should underline the word “your.” Israel’s acceptable worship was there at the temple, doing the prescribed ritual, but Paul writes, “YOUR worship, the worship God had commanded from you Gentiles, you members of the Body of Christ, YOUR worship is to present your bodies as a living sacrifice."

Our worship today, again, is not to go to a certain building, on a certain day of the week or certain holy days of the year. It is not to practice a certain ritual. For God’s “earthly people” Israel that was appropriate, but God has set the people of His “Holy Calling” free from that kind of worship. We can worship God at any time and in any place. We can worship Him continually, not just once in a while. We don’t need a priesthood or a building or a special day. Our worship service is not just one hour on Sunday morning, but a life. 24 hours a day; 365 days a year!

"...which is your reasonable service." Romans 12:1

***

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 The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Thanksgiving Day Message: Holiday and Everyday Anxiety - Pastor David

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.

***

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 The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Why do Atheists Debate the Existence of God? - Pastor David

We, at the Lion and Lamb Ministry, receive numerous emails and comments from so-called atheists looking to debate the Bible and God's existence. And, I just do not understand their desire to do this.

Why would an atheist debate ANYONE about Atheism? I find no reason for a true atheist to care much about, or for that matter, want to use any of their lifetime, trying to disprove the existence of what they believe to be a non-existent God. If atheists truly believe there is no God, why waste what precious little time in the life they have, on trying to disprove the existence of something they believe does not exist.

What is the point for the atheist of freeing other folks from this illusion, (they say), of God. Instead they should as the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:32, "let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die."

And another thing, what in the Christian believer do they have the urge to fix? The believer is perfectly happy with their relationship with God. The Believer in Christ has left a life behind that they do not wish to return to. The atheist for the most part is in a life they never left. Personally I do not believe the atheist has ever accepted, (well obviously), the opportunity to know God, therefore, in any debate on this topic they are speaking from ignorance, not knowing both sides.

Now, If they claim to once have been a believer, this would imply that they once knew God. However, if they claim they only believed in God with a mental ascent but did not actually KNOW God, then they were not a TRUE Believer in the Christian sense.

So, having said all that, it seems to me, that the great majority of those that CALL themselves atheists are REALLY just rebellious agnostics that do not wish to live their lives for a God that they do not know. So, instead...they attempt to disprove that very God's existence.

Now, the Apostle Paul ran into very much the same crowd in Acts 17. At some point, I encourage you all to get your bibles and go to Acts 17 and read all about this....You see believers, on the other hand, HAVE a reason to pursue such debates as shown in the text of Acts 17. We WANT others to KNOW the Joy of God that WE know! And to have eternal life with God.

But for one to think that this is all there is, and to vehemently want others to come to know that realization, MAKES NO SENSE! They have no HOPE! I mean what do they want Believer's in Christ to do, turn from Christ and our Blessed Hope to their life with NO HOPE?? And if they have no hope WHAT DO THEY CARE!

God based Charities and hospitals FAR outnumber any atheistic ones. Far out number...are there even any atheistic hospitals or charities? So it is a point of ridiculousness for atheists to be out there debating the existence of God. And, keep in mind, if they were TRUE atheists they wouldn't be!

***

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 The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Enlightening Unifying MYSTERY, Part 3...The Spirit of Revelation - Pastor David

Christ, The Stumblingstone

“Unto the Jews a stumblingblock”, and, “Unto the wisdom of the world foolishness”. How true is the statement in l Peter 2:7-8, “Unto you therefore who believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the Stone which the builders rejected, the Same is made the Head of the corner, And a Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the Word, being disobedient; whereunto also they were appointed.”

This is stated also in Romans 9:32-33, “Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that Stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Zion a Stumblingstone and Rock of offense; and whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.”

Worldly wise men, and self‑righteous men have always stumbled at the virgin birth of the Son of God. The great mystery and miracle of the incarnation is too much for the wisdom of this world. Even religious leaders today repudiate it, because it cannot be explained within the realm of natural science. This is the spirit of antichrist that was in the world before the last of the Apostles died. The Christianized agnostics in the assemblies today do not care for the fellowship of the members of the Body of Christ whom they call Fundamentalists. We say to those who DO believe in this all important doctrine, that is the Deity of Christ, be warned against fellowshipping or supporting the pseudo Christians who deny the Deity of the Son of God. 2 John 10-11. Then 1 John 2:22 says, “Who is a liar, but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ. He is antichrist.”

Christ was in the world and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. This is the testimony of the Holy Spirit in John 1:10. And, because the rulers, spiritual and physical, of this world knew not the eternal purpose of God in Christ, they crucified the LORD of Glory. 1 Corinthians 2:8. “They killed the Prince of Life.” Acts 3:14-15.

To the religions self righteous Jews on earth, when Christ was in their midst...their Messiah said, “do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, Moses, in whom ye trust: For had Ye believed Moses, ye would have believed Me, for he wrote of Me. But if ye believe not his writings how shall ye believe My words?” John 5:45-47.

Note this terrible indictment against the Jewish leaders, “But though He had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on Him. That the saying of Isaiah, the prophet, might be fulfilled, which he spake, ‘Lord, who hath believed our report? And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?’” John 12:37-38. “The Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that He was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.” John 9:22. (The Jews, often mentioned in the Gospels are not to be taken for the everyday common man of Israel. In first century Palestine there was no separation between church and state. The priests at the temple in Jerusalem not only officiated over the religious life of the Jews, they were also rulers and judges. These along with the Sadducees, were what is referenced as The Jews)

The Jews would not believe their own Scriptures. They claimed to believe Moses, but they did not. Just as the Modernists claim to believe Christ; but they do not. The Jews saw Christ feed five thousand people with one scanty meal; they saw Him calm the stormy sea; they saw Him raise Lazarus from the dead; they acknowledged that He was a Teacher come from God; that He spoke as never men spake; that He might be John the Baptist raised front the dead or some old testament prophet reincarnated; but when Christ made Himself equal with God, they took up stones to kill Him John 10:28-35. Then Christ added, “they hated Me without a cause."

WHO HATH BELIEVED OUR REPORT?

That was a very important question, “Who hath believed our report?” And the other question asked with it, “To whom is the Arm of the Lord revealed?”

The answer to this last question is given in the language of Christ recorded in Matthew 11:25-27, “Thou hast hid these things from the wise and the prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes; Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Thy sight. And no man knoweth the Son, but the Father.”

What a wonderful truth this is! AND, this still seemeth good unto the Father. When Simon made the great confession to the Messiah “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living, God,” The Son of God said a most significant thing, “BLESSED ART THOU...FLESH AND BLOOD HATH NOT REVEALED THIS UNTO THEE. BUT MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.” Matthew 16:16-19. In line with this great truth, the Apostle Paul wrote years later, “no man can say that Jesus is LORD except by the Holy Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:3.

Later on in this message series we shall refer to another Mystery of Christ mentioned in Ephesians 3:4, and again we shall ask the question “who hath believed our report, and, to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?” In Ephesians 1:16-19, we learn that the same God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ gives the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to all members of the Body of Christ who really desire to know the deep things of God. “For the Spirit searcheth all things, yea the deep things of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:10.

But LOOK, millions of members of the Body of Christ, who believe the report concerning. the virgin birth and eternal Deity of the LORD Jesus Christ, do NOT believe the LORD’s report concerning “the Mystery of Christ” in Ephesians 3:1-11. Why? One reason is because the eyes of their understanding have not been enlightened in accordance with Ephesians 1:18. This Mystery is, to the great majority of redeemed saints, “The Mysterious Mystery.” Its enemies in the assemblies are many, and even some fundamentalists call it divisive teaching, because they have not received the Spirit of revelation. Like the Jews in the days of Christ, they have agreed that they will put out of the synagogue any who confess and teach that the risen LORD revealed a Mystery to the Apostle Paul different from the message and program which He gave to the twelve Apostles. This, right here, is THE cause of all of the schisms and divisions in the Body of Christ today, because the eyes of their understanding have not been enlightened in accordance with Ephesians 1:18.

***

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 The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

The Enlightening Unifying MYSTERY, Part 2...Test the spirits - Pastor David

 By the Word of God ONLY, members of the Body of Christ need to determine whether or not
their denominational creed,
Pastor, Preacher, or whoever and whatever, are truly of God. Again, the Word of God is the ONLY method by which to test. In our last message of this series I told you that we will have for you questions that you can ask. So now, here are the questions. These questions are thorough but not exhaustive. ALL of the following questions should be met with a resounding YES:

1. Do they believe that Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to Heaven? (John 14:6)

2. Do they believe in the Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ? (Isaiah 7:14)

3. Do they believe that Jesus is God Almighty? (Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-3, John 1:14; John 10:33, 1 Timothy 3:16; Colossians 2:9; Revelation 1:8)

4. Do they believe that Jesus is the Son of God? (John 3:16)

5. Do they believe that Jesus died upon the cross? (John 19:23; Hebrews 12:2)

6. Do they believe that Jesus was buried, and rose again physically after three days? (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

7. Do they believe that Jesus ascended bodily into Heaven after His resurrection? (Acts 1:9)

8. Do they believe that it is Jesus' blood which takes our sins away, and not just the death of Christ? (Colossians 1:14; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 7:14)

9. Do they believe in the Godhead (Trinity): God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit? (Romans 1:20; Matthew 28:19-20)

10. Do they believe that Jesus is a member of the Godhead, equal in every capacity? (Colossians 2:9)

11. Do they believe that Jesus is perfect, never having sinned even once? (2 Cor. 5:21; Hebrews 4:15)

12. Do they believe that Jesus existed in Preexistent form, before He came to the earth? (John 8:58; Revelation 1:8)

13. Do they believe in the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ upon the cross, Who died in our place? (1 Peter 2:21)

14. Do they believe that Hell is a literal place that burns with fire, to punish all Christ-rejecters for eternity? (2 Thessalonians 1:8; Revelation 20:8-15)

15. Do they believe in a literal Heaven, for the saved to go to? (John 14:1-2; 2 Cor. 5:8)

16. Do they believe that Jesus Christ is the Creator of the universe? (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16)

17. Do they believe that Jesus Christ always existed? (Revelation 1:8; John 5:58; Hebrews 7:3)

18. Is Christ's work of atonement completely finished? (Hebrews 9:26)

As I said, the answer to all of these questions should be a confident "YES!"

***

Now, the answer to all of the following questions should be a confident "NO!"

19. Does a person have to be baptized to go to Heaven? (1 Corinthians 1:17; Acts 16:31)

20. Do you have to do any good works to go to Heaven? (Romans 3:20; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5)

21. Do you have to join a “church” to go to Heaven? (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Psalm 118:8)

22. Do you have to confess your sins to a priest or a minister to go to Heaven? (1 Timothy 2:5)

23. Do you have to keep the sacraments to go to Heaven? (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Romans 4:5)

24. Do you have to endure or persevere to the end of life to be saved? (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Romans 5:15; Romans 6:23; Romans 4:5)

25. Do you have to earn your way to Heaven? (Romans 3:20; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5)

26. Do you have to pray the Rosary to go to Heaven? (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Matthew 6:7)

27. Do you have to recognize, pray to, and worship the Virgin Mary to be saved? (1 Timothy 2:5; Exodus 20:4-5)

28. Do you have to be religious to go to Heaven? (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Mark 7:6-13)

29. Do you have to forsake your sins to be saved? (Romans 4:5; Ephesians 2:8-9)

30. Do you have to "be willing" to turn from your sins to be saved? (Romans 4:5; Ephesians 2:8-9)”

Again, these should all be answered with a NO.

OK...Back on point...

Now, the Bible has much to say about apostasy, false prophets, and deceitful workers, who transform themselves into the apostles of Christ, AND concerning the people who will give heed to seducing spirits and follow the pernicious ways of those who deny the LORD that bought them and bring in the damnable heresy. The Holy Spirit thru the Apostle Paul says, “For this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12.

Note God’s warning against these unbelievers posing as Christians, “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. THIS is a deceiver AND an antichrist. Look to yourselves that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever trangresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” 2 John 7-9.

Now, get this, most of these spiritual criminals (because criminal is what they are doing), are moral, religious, sincere religious infidels. Satan is accused of the crime of deceiving the whole world, but how any man can be so deluded by the arch enemy as to call himself a Christian while he denies the Genesis record of creation, the virgin birth and eternal Deity of the self‑existent Christ, then deny salvation from the sorrows of the second death by the Faith in His shed blood and bodily resurrection, and further go on to deny the other Christian doctrines of the Bible, is almost beyond comprehension or explanation!

***

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 The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Enlightening Unifying MYSTERY, Part 1...Modernists and Liberals - Pastor David

While there are many evangelical and evangelistic Postmillenialists, the majority of Christians are Premillenialists. BOTH groups believe in the complete and absolute inspiration of the Bible and therefore in the virgin birth and eternal Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, and both believe that the Faith in the redemptive work of the LORD Jesus Christ will save sinners from the wrath of God, and that all who deny the Deity and virgin birth of Christ and do not accept by the Faith His vicarious expiation for sin are eternally and irrevocably lost.

Premillenialists believe that the Messianic kingdom, proclaimed by Christ and His apostles to the nation Israel, has been postponed, but that God has only temporarily abandoned His kingdom program. HOWEVER, these covenants WILL be fulfilled after this parenthetical Body of Christ period, this present Dispensation of Grace, has been brought to the climax of Ephesians 4:13, where it says, “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.”

Most Premillenialists believe that between the moment members of the Body of Christ experience the blessed hope of Titus 2:13 and the day that Christ shall come to earth as the Son of man to redeem Israel, there will be on the earth that time of trouble called in the Bible “The Great Tribulation,” out of which Israel shall be saved. Then will follow the restitution of all things spoken by God’s prophets. Acts 3:21. We’ll discuss this much more later on in this series of messages.

Let's talk about MODERNISTS or LIBERALS

Many of the seminaries and pulpits of the so called evangelical denominations have fallen into the hands of the Liberals or Modernists. In their pride, self righteousness, and spiritual blindness, they do not seem to understand that a “Christian infidel” is an impossible paradox. The Society of Atheists in New York City thank the Modernists in the churches for propagating their Christian agnosticism; for doing so much, from within organized Christianity, to increase the number of infidels, agnostics and atheists

“The only way to accurately identify a religious liberal or Modernist is to test their doctrine against the Word of God. This is the acid test. 1 John 4:1, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try (test) the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." MANY false prophets are gone out into the world. There are literally millions of false prophets today. 1 John 4:2 continues by stating, "Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God." Many people misunderstand this Scripture. It is not an all inclusive test; but rather, a starting point. Think about it, every Roman Catholic believes that Jesus Christ came in the flesh; but then they worship Mary, teach a works salvation, require the seven sacraments to be saved, trust men (priests) to forgive their sins, and follow a host of other manmade traditions not found in the Word of God, The Bible. So when we test a person, we should START by asking them what they believe concerning The LORD Jesus Christ.

There are many actual Christians are SO deceived by the liberals and modernists, (who are really unbelievers), that they quote and defend the jackals, supporting them in Christian schools, so that some truly born again Christians COMPROMISE until it is hard to tell the dirty child of God, from the wolf in sheep's clothing. For example, there is Dr. Nels F.S. Ferre, who says it is wrong to worship Jesus, and to follow the Bible. Well this heretic says that Jesus may have been the illegitimate son of a blond German soldier and Mary who was a harlot. But then get this...this man is advertised as "an evangelical," and has been welcomed at Southern Baptist Seminary and other "Christian" institutions, as was Dr. George Buttrick, who was the most outspoken opponent of the virgin birth, the blood atonement and inspiration of the Bible. There was also Dr. Elton Trueblood and many others who were actually unbelievers.

Remember this, Christian, 1 Peter 1:18-19 says, "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ". There is no way a man can be saved and DENY the very precious blood of Christ that saves. These men are deceptive, and will say that the blood of Jesus is very important; but, the truth is that they believe Christ's blood is only REPRESENTATIVE of His death. These are the type of modernists which we need to avoid and expose. And THESE are the liberals and modernists that have taken over this nation’s seminaries.

By the Word of God ONLY, members of the Body of Christ need to determine whether or not their denominational creed, Pastor, Preacher, or whoever and whatever, are truly of God. Again, the Word of God is the ONLY method by which to test these things. Therefore, in our next message of this series we will have for you some questions that you can ask.

***

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 The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

What is the State of the Dead? Part 3 of 3 - Pastor David

NOW, again, it is the BODY, without the spirit, that is dead.

At death the spirit goes to God who gave it. The dead body can neither feel, nor work, nor know. But this has NO reference to the spirit IN the body, that LEAVES the body when that body goes to dust and corruption. The spirit at death goes to the God of the living. Immediately. There is also NO hanging around in our world, for any reason, or any length of time.

In part two of this message series we read from the Old Testament on this subject...Now let's read from the NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES

Luke 23:46 . “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus: He gave up the ghost.”

Luke 8:49-56 . This twelve year old girl was dead. Christ came into the death chamber and said, “Maid, arise.” “And her spirit came again.” Luke 8:54 . Compare this with 1 Kings 17:22 .

Luke 23:42-43 . “LORD, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, TODAY shalt thou be with me in Paradise.”

Luke 15:10 . “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”

Ephesians 3:15 . “Of whom the whole FAMILY IN heaven and earth is named.”

Acts 7:55-59 . “Saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God” Stephen calling upon God, “and saying, LORD Jesus, receive my spirit.”

2 Corinthians 5:8 . “Absent from the body, and to be present with the LORD.”

Philippians 1:23 . “Having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.”

I am sure that after reading these Scriptures, all who are trusting in the LORD Jesus Christ will be convinced that those of the same precious faith who have fallen asleep have departed to be with Him, and although they are waiting to be clothed upon with their house which is from Heaven they are in a state of CONSCIOUS bliss. They have departed to be with the LORD. They are at home with the LORD. This is the meaning of 2 Corinthians 5:8 . We know our blessed LORD tasted death. We know that He has abolished death and brought life and incorruptibility to light in the gospel. 2 Timothy 1:9-10 . What a glorious truth this is!

Therefore, Life now is: incorruptibility at Christ’s coming. No cessation of life after we receive life, upon BELIEVING the Gospel unto Salvation.
And well may we join the Apostle John in his praise, “Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God; therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, NOW are we the sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him: for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:1-2 .

Our blessed LORD is in a glorified body in Heaven. Otherwise, He could not represent us as priest. By man came death and by man came the resurrection of the dead. Some day our blessed LORD shall descend from heaven and we shall be caught up to meet Him, at which time these bodies of humiliation shall be fashioned (transformed) like unto His glorious body. Philippians 3:20-21 . And we shall see Him as He is. “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:18 .

Many Christians say that because the apostles of Christ recognized Moses and Elijah on the mount of Transfiguration, and because the Apostle Paul said, “but then shall I know even as also I am known,” we have positive Scriptural proof that we shall surely recognize our loved ones in glory. Whether or not these particular Scriptures give us this assurance, we are sure that such recognition is only a reasonable expectation to make our eternal happiness in our heavenly home complete.

Of course, the question always arises as to our UNSAVED loved ones. “Will we be conscious of their absence from heaven and their punishment and suffering?” This thought has come to all who have studied the Word of God and wondered about the hereafter. So, my personal belief on this is surely God will permit no thought to disturb the blessedness of His redeemed ones.

But we SHOULD be disturbed, startled and driven to anxious concern for our unsaved loved ones while we are HERE WITH THEM in the land of the living in this Day of Grace.

Let us remember the solemn words of God, “It is appointed unto men once to die and after this the judgment.” There are many false prophets today telling that the dead will have another chance at salvation; but they are the representatives of Satan and not of the LORD. They corrupt the Scriptures to give this false hope to their deluded victims. God’s Word is judgment after death. The awful sorrows of that judgment are described in the closing verses of the twentieth chapter of Revelation. If you are currently standing in rejection of Christ, read God's Words carefully and BELIEVE God’s truth.

There are only two destinies, even as there are only two ways. There is NO purgatory or third place. For every individual, it is either eternal glory with Christ and the redeemed, or eternal darkness and despair with those listed in Revelation 21:8 , “the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whore mongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars.”

Here is God’s order of events, “The LORD Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the LORD in the air: and so shall we ever be with the LORD.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 . This scene may be enacted at any moment of any day RIGHT NOW. Then, once the Body of Christ is removed, the prophetic timeline resumes, and the Great Tribulation, Daniel's 70th Week, commences either immediately, or more likely, after a period of time, (say 33 years plus the final 7 making 40). Out of the Tribulation period some will be saved to have part in the first resurrection, “These are they which came out of Great Tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Revelation 7:14 . “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” Revelation 20:6 . The period of Great Tribulation will close with the coming of the LORD with His saints (Christ the Head and His Body), and the host of Heaven, to execute judgment, to dethrone the usurper, Satan, and to establish His earthly Kingdom. Revelation 1:7 , 2 Thessalonians 1:4-9 , Revelation 19:12-20:5 , Matthew 24:30 , and many others.

So, now, if you have watched and read all three of the messages in this series, you now have the answers to the two questions of Job, which were: “Man giveth up the ghost and where is he?” and “if a man die shall he live again?”

***

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 The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

The Body of Christ, the Bride of Christ, and Israel. Once and For All! - Pastor David

We at the Lion and Lamb Ministry firmly believe that The Bride of Christ and The Mystery, the Body of Christ, belong to different operations in the overall plan of God. Both are formed by Christ, and both are based on the redemptive work of Christ, but there are many differences, leading to the conclusion that they are in fact completely different.

They have different beginnings, different Apostles, different Gospels, there is numerous scripture that pertains to each separately, they each have different members, they each have different governing's, and they have different prophesies to them. What many fail to realize is this: because Israel, the first nation, nation #1, stubbornly rejected Christ the Messiah, God finally set her aside, (albeit temporarily never ever forget that), as a nation, as we read in Acts 28:28, and, in unmatched incomprehensible mercy and love, interrupted the prophetic program, to which it is written, “none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (1 Corinthians 2:8), ushering in the present parenthetical Dispensation of Grace, the Dispensation of the Mystery, through the Apostle Paul, who had been our LORD's enemy, but was now the appointed herald of His infinite Grace. Isn’t that AMAZING!

The Bride and the Bridegroom, though in a sense are one, are yet distinct. And it is clear from all the scriptures relating to the Mystery, that the members of the Body of Christ, the Church of the Dispensation of Grace, The Dispensation of the Mystery, are part of the Bridegroom Himself.

The Three Callings...The Body of Christ, the Bride of Christ, and National Israel

Number 1: The Earthly Calling of Israel or The National Calling

FIRST, We have the earthly calling of Israel, called out from all nations, for blessing in the Land. Israel was the "wife," and is so spoken of all through the Old Testament; and the marriage will be consummated when Revelation 19:8 will be fulfilled.

I am sure we can agree that the great subject of the Old Testament prophecies is a restored Israel and a regenerated earth (Matthew 19). It is surely unnecessary to quote the many prophecies which tell of the time when the earth shall be full of the knowledge and glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea (Numbers 14:21, Psalm 72:9, Isaiah 6:3, Isaiah11:9, Habakkuk 2:14).

That kingdom and sphere of blessing and glory will be on the EARTH; and the new Israel with a heart of stone changed to a heart of flesh and with a new spirit, will bring forth "the fruits of righteousness ". This will be the regeneration when the 12 Apostles will be seated "on twelve thrones judging the tribes of Israel" (Matthew 19:28).This will be the first and lowest sphere of blessing. It will be on EARTH, and under the whole heaven. These are "the people OF the saints of the Most High " (Daniel 7:27). All the nations of the earth will share in this blessing according to God's original promise to Abraham. This is the National Calling of Israel.

Number 2: The Heavenly Calling - The Bride of Christ

THEN, We have "the heavenly calling," distinctly spoken of as such in Hebrews 3:1, of which a certain class of believing Israelites were "partakers." Among these we may put all those whom we speak of as "the Old Testament Saints."

In spite of the earthly promises to Israel, and in the midst of all those who cherished those earthly promises, there was an ELECT "heavenly calling" of those whose hopes were not earthly, but heavenly. They looked for no earthly portion, but they looked forward with a heavenly hope to a heavenly blessing.

As it is written, "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims (Genesis 23:4, 1 Peter 2:11) on the earth”. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a COUNTRY, a better country, that is, an HEAVENLY, wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a CITY" (Hebrews 11:13-16).

And of Abraham it is said (Hebrews 11:10): "He looked for THE CITY which hath FOUNDATIONS, whose builder and maker is God."

When the angel, therefore, says to John (Revelation 21:9), "Come hither, I will show thee the Bride, the Lamb's wife, and he showed me that great CITY, the holy Jerusalem descending out of HEAVEN from God," what can we conclude that here, we have that "better country," and "the City" for which the Old Testament saints belonging to the "heavenly calling" looked?
It will also be noted that the names "on the GATES" of the city are "the names of the twelve TRIBES of the children of Israel" (Revelation 21:12), while the names "in the FOUNDATIONS" are "the names of the TWELVE APOSTLES of the Lamb" (Revelation 21:14).

NOW, if THIS is NOT "the CITY" for which they and the Elect Remnant looked, for what "City" DID they look?

Certainly not for an earthly city; but for this, of which we now see them, it’s blessed and happy inhabitants. No other city has these foundations; no other city has apostles and prophets to prophesy concerning God as its builder. God builds one City, His prophets and apostles are all concerned for the building of the City of the eternal ages. Their message concerning this city came from its builder and maker. The builder of it puts their names in the foundations of its walls; and the adornment of its foundations are the names of the twelve apostles. No other city could have such immortal, priceless foundations. Blessed foundations. This was the city; for this alone has foundations, all others will have vanished in smoke; this abides. This, then, is what Abraham, and his seed, by faith, looked for. This is the Holy City.

The Bride, (the HEAVENLY Calling), Abraham and his spiritual seed are "the saints of the Most High " as distinct from "the people" (OF these saints) on the earth (Daniel 7:18, Daniel 7:22, and Daniel 7:25), and occupying a distinct place in the HEAVENLY SPHERE of this SAME Kingdom. From the call of Abraham there have ever been these TWO seeds, the earthly and the heavenly. The one was likened by Jehovah to "the dust of the earth" or "the sand of the sea" (Genesis 13:16; Genesis 22:17); and the other was likened to "the stars of heaven" (Hebrews 11:12; Gen. 15:5). Both expressions suggest multitude, but the former is specially associated with EARTHLY blessing, while the latter points to "the partakers of a HEAVENLY calling (Hebrews 3:1), these are The Bride of Christ! 

The Bride is seen all through the Old Testament as being " the church or assembly of God," " partakers of a HEAVENLY calling, "possessing a heavenly hope, and looking for a heavenly sphere of blessing". Then in Romans 11:6 we have the “ELECTION” of Israelites by Grace; the rest of Israel blinded. “AS IT IS WRITTEN” in Isaiah 6:9-10. This blindness is still upon Israel.

ISRAEL WILL AGAIN BE ELECTED. As touching the “ELECTION”, when Israel shall be saved, in fulfillment of Romans 11:26, this will be, because they are beloved for the fathers’ sake, because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance, because this is God’s covenant when He shall take away Israel’s sins. (Romans 11:26-29).

Number Three: The HOLY Calling – The Body of Christ

And then, we have the other "calling," of which we read in Ephesians 1:18, Ephesians 4:1. It is a "HOLY calling" (2 Timothy 1:9). It is a Divine calling.

HOWEVER, if we identify the calling of the Church of the Mystery, the Body of Christ, with the other callings we cannot but have confusion.

NOW, pay attention, God’s ELECT in THIS CURRENT Age and Dispensation of GRACE, the Dispensation of the Mystery (Ephesians 3:9), those of the HOLY Calling, are members of the Body of Christ, and NOT “ELECT ISRAEL”! "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). 

Members of the Body of Christ are the Church of the Mystery. A secret that was hid in God. His Body, to be to be joined with its Head, called home at the Rapture, the GLORIOUS meeting in the air, before the "Day of the LORD" begins.

In Revelation 21 we have the New Heaven and the New Earth; we have the Twelve Tribes of Israel; and Twelve Apostles of the Lamb. So, we have to ask, What has all this to do with the Body of Christ, the Church of the Mystery? OBVIOUSLY this has to do only and solely with the Holy City and with the Bride of the Lamb.

Christians, in their selfishness, intrude themselves into the place of others as the Bride, and thus lose the blessed enjoyment of their own place which is theirs as part of the Bridegroom!

The Bride and the Bridegroom, though in a sense are one, are yet distinct. And it is clear from all the scriptures relating to the Mystery, that the members of Christ's Body are part of the Bridegroom Himself. Whereas the elect Old Testament saints will form the Bride. See Isaiah 12:6, "Cry out and shout, thou Inhabitress of Zion: For great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee." In Revelation 22:3, we read "The throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it." Of the glory of this Holy City other scriptures speak. Take a look at Isaiah 60:3, Isaiah 60:14, 1and Isaiah 60:9-20; Revelation 21:23-24, and Revelation 21:27; Isaiah 54:11-12.

A Chaste Virgin – Husbands and Wives

True, the Apostle Paul might address the saints concerning his desire to present them "as a chaste virgin to Christ" (2 Cor. 11:2). But this no more declares that the Church IS the Bride of Christ than that the Apostle himself was their father (1 Corinthians 4:15); or that he was their mother (Galatians 4:19). In the one case he spoke of the painful anxiety of a mother; in another of the loving care of a father; while, in 2 Cor. 11:2, he spoke of the jealousy of the friend of a bridegroom. The "Mystery" was a totally different thing.

Then in Ephesians 4:28-29, the argument is that husbands "ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself, for no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord, the Church, for we are members of His Body," That is, AS Christ loves HIS OWN BODY (Himself (the Head) and the Church (the Head’s Body)); so ought husbands to love their wives. Thus "the Mystery" is employed as an argument as to the reciprocal duties of husbands and wives. In NEITHER case is it said that the Church IS the wife, or that Christ IS the husband. But that AS Christ loves His Body (Himself and the Body of Christ), SO husbands ought to love their own bodies (that is, themselves and their wives).

What Have We Learned

The one thing that is clear, is that the Church of the Mystery is the Body of Christ; and that the members of that Body being "in Christ," are PART OF THE BRIDEGROOM. They cannot possibly, therefore, be the Bride herself as separate and distinct from the Bridegroom.

Another thing that is certain is that the mystery of the Church was not revealed in the Old Testament, but was "hid in God" (Ephesians 3:9) and "kept secret" (Romans 16:25); "hid from ages and from generations" (Colossians 1;26).

And Here is The Mystery

Before Israel was created for God’s glory, before all of the promises concerning Israel’s coming glory and the millennial reign of Christ on earth, even, before Adam had sinned, or was created, God PREDESTINATED that members of the Body of Christ should be conformed to the image of His Son. (Romans 8:28-29). They would be SEATED in the Heavenlies in Christ.

God’s eternal purpose is to have a company of redeemed sinners SEPERATE and DISTINCT from ALL OTHER companies. Dwell on this.
These predestinated and justified believers are to be JOINED to Christ as ONE flesh, to make ONE New Man, the Perfect Man, with HEAVENLY citizenship, to appear with Christ in glory. (Ephesians 2:6; Ephesians 5:31-32; Ephesians 2:5; Ephesians 4:13; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 3:1-4).

THIS the Father wants every Christian to make known (Ephesians 3:9). And, of course, Satan hates this message with a vicious hatred.

It is one thing to see an illustration of the Church in the Old Testament; but it is quite another thing to say that this is there revealed, which God distinctly declares was not revealed!

At the First Resurrection, following Christ's return to the earth in power and great glory, those of the Heavenly Calling will be resurrected, made ready as a Bride, to be married to Christ, both Head and Body, (the Body which was Raptured, and united in glory with the Head prior to the going forth of the Antichrist). THIS will be the time of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

***

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 The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

What is the State of the Dead? Part 2 of 3 - Pastor David

Some particular cases of physical death are pronounced by physicians to be mysteries; and either for the benefit of medical science or because of suspicion of foul play autopsies are held by scientific men to determine just what caused the death. Other people are said to die natural deaths. There are thousands of different diseases that produce death, and the toll is increasing each year. Death is no respecter of persons as to nationality, financial or social standing, age or any other thing. Whether your loved one’s death was pronounced natural or unnatural, death is a mystery.

Death at times seems so cruel. Family circles are broken by death. A loving companion is taken out of the home leaving hearts filled with sorrow and wonder; leaving many in utter despair. In such cases, who has not repeated that old question, “if a man die, shall he live again?” When one who has been near and dear to us has been taken by death, who has not imagined or hoped or believed that there would be a reunion, another meeting in a place where death could not enter to disturb the happy relationships? How many have said with David concerning some precious baby, “Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me?” 2 Samuel 12:23.

What pagan religion or what modern religion, what human philosophy, what ancient or modern science can answer this cry of the heart, “But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?” Job 14:10. The answer to man’s speculation is found in the last verse of Job 13: “They grope in the dark without light.”

However, here is the best and most satisfactory answer to this universal question, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life, he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” John 11:25. And Jesus added a question: “Believest thou this?” The poor bereaved sister didn’t fully understand what her Savior and LORD was talking about, but she believed Him, nevertheless, and said, “I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.” John 11:27.

“Though he were dead, yet shall he live.” Remember these words. Herein is a Gracious promise, a comforting and blessed hope; the dead shall live, IF...Yes, there is a condition. This Savior is more than the way-shower; He IS the Way. He is more than the giver of life; He IS the Life. He is more than the teacher of resurrection; He, Himself IS the Resurrection. So it behooves us to hear Him, and to believe all that God’s Divine record has to say concerning Him.

After the disciples of Christ had been under His teaching for many months, they questioned “one with another, what the rising from the dead should mean.” Mark 9:10. Peter and John, some months later, knew not the Scripture that Christ must rise again from the dead. John 20:9. This should convince us that our appeal should be to the New Testament Scriptures for the clear teaching concerning death, resurrection, rewards and retribution.

To be sure it is written in the law and the prophets that there shall be a resurrection, both of the just and unjust. Acts 24:15. And certainly the Old Testament Scriptures are as much inspired as are the New, and most assuredly there is no conflict or contradiction, but as we find the incarnation and sacrifice of Christ so much more clearly set forth after He came to earth from heaven, so do we find the truth concerning the present and future state of the dead more clearly presented after the incarnation, sacrifice and resurrection of the Son of God.

So that you may receive the rich blessing in your own soul and the truth from God Himself, we are going to present for your prayerful and careful study the following Scriptures, from both the Old and New Testament. The Old Testament first:

OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES

1 Kings 17:21-22. “O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child’s soul come into him again.” “And the soul of the child came into him again and he revived.”

Genesis 37:33-35. “And Jacob said concerning his son Joseph, in Genesis 37:33, “an evil beast hath devoured him. Genesis 37:35, “I will go down into sheol, unto my son, mourn­ing.”

Deuteronomy 32:48-50. Concerning Moses’ death the LORD said, “And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people.” In what sense was Moses gathered unto his people? Was his body gathered with them? Read Deuteronomy 34:5-6. “No man knoweth of his sepulcher.” The devil contended for his body. Jude 9. See Moses transfigured on the mount. Matthew 17:3.

Genesis 35:29. “Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people.” Years after Isaac had died, the LORD appeared to Moses as the God of Abraham and Isaac; and referring to this Christ said, “For He is not a God of the dead, but of the living.” Luke 20:38.

In 2 Samuel 12:24, concerning his little baby that had died, David said, “Can I bring him back?” There was the lifeless body of the baby. So David was not speaking concerning the body. Here is a great truth, recorded in James 2:26, “THE BODY WITHOUT THE SPIRIT IS DEAD”

Ecclesiastes 12:7. “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” This would be a contradiction of Ecclesiastes 3:19-20, if these verses did not refer to man’s body instead of his spirit, “so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast; for all is vanity.” “All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.”

This is the complaint of the man under the sun, as is also Ecclesiastes 9:5. “The dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward.” This is a plain contradiction of the many promises of God that the rewards of the faithful shall follow their death, unless we rightly divide the word of truth. This is true also concerning the tenth verse: “There is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave whither thou goest.”

NOW, let’s get this straight! It is the body without the spirit that is dead.

At death the spirit goes to God who gave it. The dead body can neither feel, nor work, nor know. But this has NO reference to the spirit IN the body, that LEAVES the body when that body goes to dust and corruption. Realize that Ecclesiastes is not the book for the clear teaching of the present state of the dead, but even that book by no means supports the awful heresy of soul sleeping. The spirit at death goes to the God of the living. Immediately. There is also NO hanging around in our world, for any reason, or any length of time.

***

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 The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20 )