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).
We are HUMAN and not Human Being (we are not Human "acting").
and...
There is ONLY ONE race in the eyes of God. And that is Human. ALL other "name tags" were devised by those seeking to divide and conquer Humans, and to separate Humans from coming to know the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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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.
If we are going to base our knowledge of God's salvation upon God's Book, the Bible, if we are going to act for time and eternity in this most important of all transactions and receive from God His salvation, THEN let us BELIEVE the fact...that is, "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. Therefore, the redemptive work of Christ is a finished work so far as the salvation of man's soul is concerned; and we must KNOW that He will return for the redemption of the body; to save man, soul and spirit. Now...by BELIEVING, we are going to receive this last statement AND this next statement at full face value, without discount, without even the shadow of a doubt, without question or criticism..."By His own blood He entered in ONCE into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us."
The fact is, that by the work of God, (the Father, Son and Holy Spirit), there has been accomplished and there is available: for any and every sinner who BELIEVES the record that God gave of His Son, an accomplished redemption, a perfect salvation. And we shall see by the same Divine authority the further fact that this perfect salvation can be had by the believing sinner without any additional work, religious endeavor or church ceremony.
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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.
Perhaps the definition that we have heard of religion and Biblical Christianity are too general. The student of the Word of God desires something more specific, more comprehensive, more satisfactory. For a clearer definition of the terms we should appeal to the Bible rather than to the dictionary. In searching the Scriptures for these definitions, it will perhaps be less difficult to find religion clearly defined; than Christianity.
In fact, unless we diligently and prayerfully search the Scriptures, starting from the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus thru to the farewell of the Apostle Paul from earth in 2 Timothy 4:5-8, we may say that pure Christianity and pure religion are identical. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. James 1:26-27.
The Greek word translated religious is THRESKOS; religion is THRESKEIA, (this Greek word suggests the use of speech and the senses in worship). James was a RELIGIOUS man and wrote to a RELIGIOUS nation. James 1:1-2. Acts 21:18-25.
In Acts 26:5 Paul speaks of the particular sect of religion to which, as the devout Saul, he had belonged. He used the same Greek word, but qualified the religion, as our religion, meaning the religion of Israel.
The religion of Israel to which the devout Saul referred was IOUDAISMOS; that is, Judaism. This Greek word is used in Galatians 1:13-14, "For have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews RELIGION, how beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, wasted it: And profited in the Jews RELIGION above many my equals in mine own Nation, being more zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
In the verses quoted we have all the scriptures using the word religion. And, the RELIGIOUS proselytes of Acts 13:43 were devout worshippers.
The Apostle Paul found some very religious Gentiles at Athens. He said to them, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are too superstitious. Acts 17:22. This word superstitious in the Greek is DEISDAIMONESTEROS, and means literally fearful of demons. The heathen rulers used the same Greek word in referring to the religion of Israel and Paul. Acts 25:19. That particular superstition. was that one Jesus, which was dead, Paul affirmed to be alive. The heathen in Paul's day were very religious. There are many religious sects in this country who use the Bible in propagating their religious doctrines and practices, but yet they are actually anti-Christian.
The ONLY people to whom the true and living God ever gave religion was Israel. Meats and drinks, carnal ordinances and divers baptisms were imposed upon them UNTIL the time of reformation. Hebrews 9:10. For more than fifteen centuries Israel was under Divine orders to carry on that God-given religion, It was given to Moses at Mount Sinai about 1492 B.C. Israel was God's religious nation. The Jews religion.
Jesus Christ was born under that reign of religion. He was made under the law; circumcised when eight days old; attended the synagogue on the Jewish Sabbath and worshipped as a religious Jew. He observed the feasts and taught Israel to obey the Levitical law of rites and ceremonies, He respected the seat of Moses. Galatians 4:4. Luke 4:16. Matthew 8:4. While on earth the Son of God Was Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God by signs...to Israel. Acts 2:22. He was God's servant to Israel to CONFIRM promises made centuries before. Romans 15:8. Matthew 15:24.
Now, here it comes, and I want you to really understand...Pure Christianity was NOT promised by Israel's prophets and confirmed by Jesus of Nazareth. Pure Christianity was given by the RISEN Christ to the Apostle Paul some years AFTER Christ's earthly ministry had come to an end. While on earth Christ did NOT preach the unmixed message of Grace to Gentiles, although He taught Divine truth that was carried over into the Dispensation of Grace, which he afterwards committed to the Apostle Paul. Ephesians 3:1-11. There was Grace in the Old Testament message and the kingdom message, but religion was MIXED with grace.
Also, Christ did NOT instruct the Twelve Apostles to indoctrinate Gentiles in the pure Grace gospel, nor propagate pure Christianity, as He gave it to Paul to proclaim. Some of the teachings of Christ on earth could apply only before His death or to His Kingdom reign over the house of Jacob on the throne of David.
Even during the Acts period there was a carrying over of a mixed program and message of grace, law, and religion. Acts 10:28. Acts 21:18-20. Acts 16:3. During that period Paul became a Jew to the Jews, as one under the law to those under the law. 1 Corinthians 9:20.
But with the close of that Acts period Paul declared himself through with religion and clearly stated that Israel's religion had been nailed to the cross of Christ and completely taken out of the way, took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross. Colossians 2:14. Believers were no longer to be judged by religion. Colossians 2:15-18. Believers were complete in Christ. Colossians 2:10. A new law, the death and resurrection of Christ, the putting away of sin, the abolition of death, had supplanted the old law that worked wrath. Romans 8:1. 2 Timothy 1:9-10. Romans 4:15. Paul was the minister of this new message of Divine grace and special Divine favor upon the Gentiles, justified without the law; without religion or without a cause. In his last epistles there is nothing of religion, no signs, no ceremonies. Now abideth faith, hope and love. 1 Corinthians 13:13.
Paul was crucified with Christ to the law; Christ lived in him. Galatians 2:20. For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21. Paul rehearses his religious past in Philippians 3:4-6. But then adds, what things were gain to me those I counted loss for Christ. He counted his past religion as dung. HE HAD CHRIST! Christ is the believer's life, the believer's hope, the believer's peace, the believer's righteousness, the believer's redemption, and the believer's all. True Biblical Christianity is Christ and eternal life. The believer is accepted in Christ, complete in Christ, blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ, identified with Christ in death, burial and, resurrection, seated with Him in the heavenlies and waiting to appear with Him in glory. He is not under the law. He is saved by faith in the redemption work of the Lord Jesus Christ, by grace, and grace alone.
Pure, unmixed true Biblical Christianity is founded in Paul's epistles, perhaps more clearly set forth in Romans, Galatians and those epistles written after Israel was judged with the close of Acts. True Biblical Christianity is Christ, Christianity is life, love and glory. Christ is the believer's all sufficient One. It is ALL 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.
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.
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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.
We continue from where we left off in Part 2 of this 3 part series...
5) THERE IS ONLY ONE BIBLE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN THIS AGE OF GRACE. THAT CHURCH IS SCRIPTURALLY DESIGNATED “THE BODY OF CHRIST”. Ephesians 1:22-23 . Colossians 1:24 . CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF THIS ONE CHURCH. THE HEAD IS SEATED FAR ABOVE PRINCIPALITY AND POWER IN THE HEAVENLIES. Ephesians 1:19-22 . THE MEMBERS OF THAT ONE BODY ARE LIKEWISE SEATED IN THE HEAVENLIES. Ephesians 2:6 . EVERY SINNER SAVED BY GRACE IS A MEMBER OF THAT ONE BODY, WHETHER OR NOT HE BELONGS TO ANY DENOMINATIONAL OR UNDENOMINATIONAL CHURCH ORGANIZATION. AND...“JOINING THE CHURCH” IS NOT A SCRIPTURAL EXPRESSION.
6) It is a Scriptural fact, acknowledged by all true Bible-believing Christian preachers, that nothing is required for membership in the One true Bible Church, (which is the Body of Christ), but saving Faith in the crucified, buried, resurrected, and glorified Christ. They are all agreed that God, by a Divine baptism NOT made with hands, adds members to the Body of Christ; and, that if water baptism were required by God for membership in the Body of Christ, salvation would not be by Grace and Faith alone, but by God’s work, PLUS man’s work. No religious ceremony of any kind is required, either to save a believing sinner, or to give him membership in the Body of Christ. Therefore, it should be apparent to any student of the Scriptures that if a group of men require for membership in their congregation a religious ordinance not required for membership in the Bible Church, then BEWARE for the churches are not one and the same.
7) MEMBERS OF THE BODY OF CHRIST ARE NOT SAVED ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS, BUT ACCORDING TO GOD’S PURPOSE AND GRACE WHICH WAS GIVEN THEM IN CHRIST JESUS BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD. 2 Timothy 1:9 . THIS IS CALLED "GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE IN CHRIST". THIS PURPOSE WAS IN GOD’S MIND AND GOD’S PLAN AGES BEFORE HE MADE HIS COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM. BUT ONE GREAT QUESTION, WHICH PERHAPS REMAINS UNANSWERED IN THE MINDS OF MOST CHURCH MEMBERS IS: “WHEN DID THE BODY OF CHRIST BEGIN HISTORICALLY?" THE POST-MILLENARIAN TEACHES THAT THE BODY OF CHRIST, THE CHURCH OF GOD, AND ISRAEL ARE ALL THE SAME CHURCH IN DIFFERENT STAGES. SOME PRE-MILLENARIANS ARE SURE THE BODY BEGAN WHEN CHRIST BREATHED UPON HIS APOSTLES. John 20:22 . OTHER PRE-MILLENARIANS TEACH THAT THE CHURCH BEGAN ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST. OTHER PRE-MILLENARIANS SAY, AFTER THE NINTH OR THIRTEENTH CHAPTER OF ACTS. AND STILL OTHERS SAY, AFTER THE WORDS OF PAUL RECORDED IN THE CLOSE OF ACTS, IN ACTS 28:25-28 . I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL ON THIS...WHAT DO YOU SAY? AND WHAT IS YOUR SCRIPTURAL PROOF? LEAVE YOUR RESPONSES IN THE COMMENT SECTION BELOW.
8) The word “CHURCH” is a very indefinite term; and before applied to any specific company of people, the student of the Scriptures should find in the Scriptures the particular company of people to whom the term applies. The Greek word, used more than 100 times, is “EKKLESIA”. In the last few verses of Acts 19 , it is “assembly”; and there it is referring to an unlawful assembly, or mob, of anti-Christian heathen. So you see, a company of unsaved and idolatrous Gentiles, assembled centuries before Christ came to earth, would have been called a “church”. Therefore, we see that the word “Ekklesia” is so indefinite in its meaning, that we must find the Scriptural qualifications before we can prove any doctrinal points by the use of the word “church”. In Acts 7:38 we learn that the Israelites marching to Canaan nearly 1500 years before Christ was born, was called the “Church in the Wilderness”. We might say with Scriptural authority, that in the coming kingdom age, Israel, redeemed and restored under the promise of the New Covenant, will be a New Covenant Church. The Church of this current dispensation is the Church, which is His Body, the Body of Christ.
To Be Continued in part 3...
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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.
We have had requests from a number of our friends to present some very simple lessons concerning the Church of this Dispensation of Grace, which is called the “Body of Christ”, and the relation of other Dispensations to the “Dispensation of the Mystery”. Ephesians 3:9 .
We appreciate that this is not an easy task, for the reason that the great majority of Christians do not seem to have the interest or desire to diligently study the Word of God with open hearts and unprejudiced minds. It is almost impossible for loyal denominationalist, (whether they be Baptist, Pentecostal, Lutheran, Roman Catholic, etc.), to be as the Bereans, and accept as truth that which is contrary to their denominational creeds and the traditions of church fathers. But we are sure going to try in this 3 part message to present very simply some plain facts clearly taught in the Bible.
1) IN THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURES WE ARE TAUGHT THAT THE APOSTLE PAUL WAS CHOSEN BY CHRIST TO BE THE APOSTLE, THE PREACHER, THE TEACHER, THE WITNESS, AND THE PRISONER OF THE LORD JESUS TO THE GENTILES. Galatians 1:16, Galatians 2:7, Acts 9:15, Romans 15:16, Romans 11:13, 1 Timothy 2:7, 2 Timothy 1:11, Ephesians 3:1, Ephesians 3:8, Colossians 1:24-28.
2) The Apostle Paul was NOT one of the twelve apostles who companied with Jesus during the years of His ministry on earth, and therefore was NOT present with Christ on earth when Christ committed to Peter the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 16:16-18. Neither was he present with the twelve apostles, after the resurrection of Christ, when the Eleven received from the resurrected Christ, the Great Commission. The Apostle Paul received his “Grace of Christ” message, the Ministry of Reconciliation, the Uncircumcision Gospel, the truth concerning the Mystery and the Body of Christ, in fact all of his commissions, by visions and revelations, AFTER Christ had gone back to heaven. Acts 9:15, Galatians 1:12, Galatians 1:17, Acts 22:17-21, Ephesians 3:3, and 2 Cor. 12:17.
3) IN EPHESIANS 1:22-23 WE READ OF THE CHURCH WHICH IS HIS BODY. IN COLOSSIANS 1:24 WE READ “FOR HIS BODY’S SAKE, WHICH IS THE CHURCH”. THE EPISTLES TO THE EPHESIANS AND COLOSSIANS WERE WRITTEN AFTER THE CLOSE OF THE BOOK OF ACTS, WHEN PAUL WAS A PRISONER OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. Ephesians 3:1. NO OLD TESTAMENT PROPHET EVER FORETOLD ANYTHING CONCERNING THE BODY OF CHRIST. IT WAS PURPOSED IN CHRIST BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.
4) When the twelve apostles were sent by Christ on earth they were specifically instructed to, “go not unto the Gentiles”, but ONLY unto Israel. Matthew 10:5. Some years after the death and resurrection of Christ it was decided in the conference of Apostles that the Twelve would preach the Israelitish Gospel to ISRAEL. Galatians 2:9. Peter preached to the household of Cornelius, a God-fearing, Israel-loving, devout, respectable, religious Gentile, who lived in Israel’s land. But there is NO record in Acts that he preached to any other Gentiles. There is NO record in Acts that any of the Twelve preached outside of the land of the Jews, or to any Gentiles, except the one message to Cornelius. The Apostle Paul was given the responsibility of preaching Grace to the Gentiles. Galatians 2:9.
To Be Continued in part 2.
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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.
What Does...Jesus Christ the Same Yesterday, Today, and Forever...Mean?
We might well wonder if the Holy Spirit did not have in mind the foolish healing theories that were to be propagated by the use of the statement, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever," when He added, in the next verse, (Hebrews 13:9), "Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines: For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace."
Your attention is called to those two verses, because it is a fact that those who teach that the healing miracles and other signs of the Lord Jesus and His apostles should be perpetuated, or restored, as a part of the program of the Body of Christ during this dispensation, never seem to understand God's pure message of grace. Is it because their hearts are not established with grace? At any rate, they are not established in THIS "grace" message; and therefore, they are carried about with divers and strange "healing" doctrines. They teach that, because "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever", He longs to carry on with members of the Church, which is His Body, the healings and other signs that were included in His Kingdom message and the commission which He gave to the Twelve, in Matthew 10:5-8 and Mark 16:16-18.
These healing preachers claim that the low spiritual state of the members of the Church, and their sin of unbelief, account for the absence of these miraculous healings and sign gifts. They say that God is not permitted to work all things today after the counsel of His own will, because Body-members will not work out with fear and trembling the salvation which God desires to work in them to do His own will. If there was first-century apostolic faith, there would be first century apostolic miracles, is their claim.
Some of these messengers of divers and strange doctrines are bold to teach that the once for all sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross was for the healing of the believer's body, just as much as for the salvation of his soul; that is, the believer can and should look to Calvary and claim salvation for the body here and now. They teach that as it would be unscriptural and foolish to ask God to save a soul, "if it be Thy will", it is just as absurd and unscriptural to include "if it be Thy will", when asking God to heal the body of the believer. Truly, this is a strange doctrine: contrary to the plain teaching of the Word of God. As some teacher has said, thus commanding of God, is not the prayer of humility but the presumptuous orders of a dictator.
The greatest of all of the Lord's saints gloried in his afflictions, but found the Grace of God sufficient. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul said, "though the outward man perish (decay thoroughly) the inward man is renewed from day to day." 2 Corinthians 4:16. Timothy, the beloved companion of Paul, who had as great faith as any man living today has, and who was as uncompromising a soldier of the cross as has lived since his days, was instructed to take wine for his oft sicknesses. 1 Timothy 5:23. Why? And why was Trophimus left at Miletus sick? 2 Timothy 4:20. Like all other saints of their time, and like all saints of today, Paul and Timothy had the Spirit, but were in bondage waiting for the redemption of the body. Romans 8:23. Like our bodies, their bodies were bodies of humiliation. Philippians 3:20-21. Some of God's most faithful and spiritual saints of today suffer much physical pain, while many self-appointed preachers of a perverted gospel are all over the land setting forth their strange unscriptural "healing" theories; demonstrating with hit-or-miss success, mostly miss.
As members of the Body of Christ, we have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in the Heavenlies, BUT we are NOT Israel with the kingdom gospel and Israel's kingdom signs. Jesus of Nazareth was here on earth presenting Himself as Israel's Messiah and King, and was approved by God by miracles and signs and wonders in their midst. Acts 2:22 He sent out the Twelve to the SAME Nation to proclaim that Kingdom gospel, saying to them: heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons, and cleanse the lepers. Matthew 10:5-8. What God hath joined together let no man put asunder. So, why only heal the sick and not raise the dead?
When Christ was in the midst of Israel both the messenger and message were here, in fulfillment of Scripture. Christ's ministry was to the circumcision. It was a ministry of CONFIRMATION and fulfillment. Romans 15:8 and Matthew 5:17. Israel's Messiah was to come with healing of the body, sight for the blind, hearing for the deaf, and speech for the dumb. Isaiah 35:3-6.
Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision. As such, He was "Jesus of Nazareth". Before the Word became flesh He was in the form of God. The Eternal Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ is unchangeable. He is now far above principalities and powers, in the highest Heavenlies.
Now understand this...He is NOT now a minister of the circumcision, but Head of the Church which is His Body. His BODY...not his Bride. BODY not Bride. Ephesians 1:19-21. You got that? The Church of this Dispensation of Grace, the Church of the Dispensation of the Mystery is Christ's BODY, and NOT His Bride. Next, when we say that Jesus Christ while on earth was Israel's King, BUT IS NOW Head of the Church (His BODY), we acknowledge that, notwithstanding His UNCHANGEABLE Deity, the LORD is NOT the same yesterday, today and forever, AS to His Form and Ministry.
In the Gospel of John the statement is made, that the Record is given to prove that Jesus was Messiah, the Son of God. His unchangeable Deity is certainly declared in the Record. If, by perpetuating or duplicating the miracles of Christ, we are to prove that He is the same yesterday, today and forever, let us duplicate the seven miracles of John which witnessed to Israel the unique claim of the Lord Jesus. Seven is the perfect number. Christ was the perfect God-man. If we are to prove it by signs, let us include all seven in our religious program, AND here are those miracles: "turn the water into wine", "walk on the water", "heal the nobleman's son", "feed 5000 people with one half pound of fish and bread", "heal the impotent man 38 years afflicted", "give sight to the man born blind", "raise from the dead a man four days in the grave".
What a spectacle we behold in the "healing" meetings today! FIRST, the healing is limited to only certain afflictions; and then, nine-tenths of those who respond in great sincerity and faith go away "unhealed". Most of the preachers who use, or misuse, the Scriptures to support their Divine healing theories, slip away to the physician or the medicine-cabinet now and then. Some of these who carry on their traffic with human souls apparently make no attempt to explain their inconsistency in an occasional visit to the dentist for a little repair work, or the use of glasses for impaired eyesight.
In Matthew 8:16, in Mark 16:17 and in Acts 5:14-16, we learn concerning the sign healings of Christ and His Apostles, "healed all manner of disease" and "healed every one of them". The LORD Jesus Christ did no hit-or-miss quack healing, or tricking the poor unfortunate victims, or a cure within a week or a month. Such quackery and cluckery cannot convince any thinking person that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Our heavenly Father does hear and answer prayer for His children who are sick or in other trouble; but always according to His will. He raised up Epaphroditus. Philippians 2:20-24. All of us have some real blessed experiences in the matter of answered prayer. I am alive and well today by the grace and mercy of God. Many far more worthy than I are alive but in miserable health. And regardless of our various healing theories, the death rate of saint and sinner is one apiece. We look back to Calvary for soul redemption. 1 Peter 1:10-12. We look forward to our meeting in glory with our Lord for our body redemption. Philippians 3:20-22. In the meantime we accept Romans 8:28 as applying to both health and sickness.
No child of God would, for a moment, question the omnipotent power of God and His ability to restore to health any child of faith, but yet, every sane student of the Word of God knows, by the experiences of the saints, that so long as God extends this Dispensation of Grace there is no permanent cure for physical diseases, and no matter how sincerely and religiously the most faithful or spiritual Christian may look to Calvary for the healing of the Body, day by day that body is headed for utter corruption. Among the members of the Body of Christ there is no trace to be found of the sign-gifts of 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, except in the counterfeit. These sign gifts served their place in that "Acts" program of God, which was "in part".
Has the prayer of faith saved the sick? Thousands say, "Yes, I have had the experience". However, thousands of others, just as faithful and spiritual, are in their graves. Many other thousands, still in their sickness, testify that it has not worked for them. The statement, "the prayer of faith", like all other Bible statements must be studied in the light of other Scriptures. If healing is the proof that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever, then it must be that there is more abundant proof in the testimonies of the "unhealed" that Jesus Christ, notwithstanding His UNCHANGEABLE Deity, is NOT the same yesterday, today and forever, AS to His Form and Ministry.
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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.
