The Unpardonable Sin, part 1 of 3

First the Question: There is NO unpardonable sin in this Dispensation of Grace. True or False?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now let’s take an in depth look at:

The Unpardonable Sin, part 1 of 3

Many sermons have been preached on “the unpardonable sin,” using as the text Matthew 12:31-32. Before quoting these verses, let us note three other messages to Jews or Hebrews.

Note Stephen’s words to the Jews in Jerusalem, some months after the death of Jesus Christ, “YE STIFFNECKED AND UNCIRCUMCISED IN HEART AND EARS, YE DO ALWAYS RESIST THE HOLY SPIRIT: AS YOUR FATHERS DID, SO DO YE. WHICH OF THE PROPHETS HAVE NOT YOUR FATHERS PERSECUTED? AND THEY HAVE SLAIN THEM WHICH SHEWED BEFORE OF THE COMING OF THE JUST ONE; OF WHOM YE HAVE BEEN NOW THE BETRAYERS AND MURDERERS.” “THEN THEY CRIED OUT WITH A LOUD VOICE, AND STOPPED THEIR EARS, AND RAN UPON HIM WITH ONE ACCORD.” Acts 7:51-52 and Acts 7:57.

Now, note the Apostle Paul’s words to the Jews, in Acts 18:5-6, “PAUL WAS PRESSED IN THE SPIRIT, AND TESTIFIED TO THE JEWS THAT JESUS WAS CHRIST. AND WHEN THEY OPPOSED THEMSELVES, AND BLASPHEMED, HE SHOOK HIS RAIMENT, AND SAID UNTO THEM, YOUR BLOOD BE UPON YOUR OWN HEADS; I AM CLEAN: FROM HENCEFORTH I WILL GO UNTO THE GENTILES.”

Note Hebrews 10:26 and Hebrews 10:29-31, “FOR IF WE SIN WILFULLY AFTER THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH, THERE REMAINETH NO MORE SACRIFICE FOR SINS.” “OF HOW MUCH SORER PUNISHMENT, SUPPOSE YE, SHALL HE BE THOUGHT WORTHY, WHO HATH TRODDEN UNDER FOOT THE SON OF GOD, AND HATH COUNTED THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT, WHEREWITH HE WAS SANCTIFIED, AN UNHOLY THING, AND HATH DONE DESPITE UNTO THE SPIRIT OF GRACE? FOR WE KNOW HIM THAT HATH SAID, VENGEANCE BELONGETH UNTO ME, I WILL RECOMPENSE, SAITH THE LORD. AND AGAIN, THE LORD SHALL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE. IT IS A FEARFUL THING TO FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE LIVING GOD.”

If any man so despises the Grace of God that he refuses to trust Jesus Christ and accept His once-for-all sacrifice for sins, the vengeance of God will be his portion. But note the salvation condition, “BELIEVE on the LORD Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31.

Now let’s tackle this: “THERE REMAINETH NO MORE SACRIFICE FOR SINS.”

Do NOT misinterpret Hebrews 10:26 and teach, as some Christians have believed and taught, that the Holy Spirit said, “if a Christian sins willfully after he or she has been saved, “there remaineth no more FORGIVENESS of sins.” No such statement is made in the Bible. On the contrary, God’s message to Christians is, “If we confess our sins, He is Faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.” 1 John 1:9-10. “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And IF any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John 2:1.

The Epistle to the Hebrews was written to HEBREW Christians and to unsaved religious Hebrews, (and will also be used extensively by those Jewish assemblies that will be on earth after the Body of Christ is called home at the Rapture). Some of them wanted to supplement, or add to, the redemptive work of Christ with a religious program, adding something of Judaism to the finished work of Christ. The priests and religious Jewish leaders were still carrying on in the temple, at Jerusalem, teaching the religious Jews to continue their Faith in the blood of animals, offered on their altar, according to the Law of Moses. It was to these Jews that the writer of Hebrews wrote, “there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin.”

As we study the message of Stephen to the Jews, in Acts 7:46-56, and the Apostle Paul’s message to the Jews, in Acts 18:5-6, we see that the Jews were very definitely committing the unpardonable sin mentioned in Matthew 12:31-32. To this we shall presently refer. But first let us note, in Romans 11:8, Romans 11:11, Romans 11:30 and Romans 11:15, that when and because Israel committed the unpardonable sin, God sent the Apostle Paul to the Gentiles with the Ministry of Reconciliation and the Gospel of Grace.

THE GENTILES AND THE GRACE OF GOD

Just a few words about the Gentiles and the Gospel of the Grace of God, “And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus; That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His Grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by Grace are ye saved through Faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:6-10.

In the above portion of Scripture we learn that Gentiles who had been aliens from Israel were saved. How? By Grace! What does this mean? Read Ephesians 2:4, “But God, Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us.” God’s work...God’s workmanship. What was man’s part? Not of yourselves. Not of works. What was man’s condition? DEAD in trespasses and sins. In the world without God and without hope. Ephesians 2:12. Alienated from the life of God. Ephesians 4:18. What could such a dead man do for himself? NOTHING! What did such a dead man have to do to be saved? Some say, “repent.” Yes, “repent” means “change your mind.” But God had to work on them. God, Who is rich in mercy, for the great love wherewith He loved us when we were dead hath made us alive!!

Think of all the sins charged to those ungodly wicked Gentiles. They learned the truth of Romans 5:20, “where sin abounded, Grace did much more abound” How many of their sins were forgiven? Read the answer in Colossians 2:13 and Acts 13:39

“AND YOU, BEING DEAD IN YOUR SINS, AND THE UNCIRCUMCISION OF YOUR FLESH, HATH HE QUICKENED TOGETHER WITH HIM, HAVING FORGIVEN YOU ALL TRESPASSES.” “And by Him all that believe are justified from ALL things, from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Moses.”

Yes, every sin, thought, word, and deed, including the sin of unbelief was forgiven when those ungodly Gentiles believed the Gospel of Grace and received Christ. Note what happened, “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13. Their sins were forever put Away; ALL of their sins. Moreover, they stood in the presence of God as though they had never committed one sin.

All of their sins were pardoned. So then, which one of their sins was unpardonable? Some say, the sin of unbelief. Well, they were all guilty of that sin, but when all of their sins were pardoned, that sin was included. When they believed, then there was no sin of unbelief. Keep in mind, all of their sins were UN-pardoned UNTIL they were saved by Grace. Then ALL of their sins were pardoned. If they had resisted the Holy Spirit, blasphemed against Him, and not believed on the LORD Jesus Christ, all of their sins would have remained unpardoned; but none of them would have been unpardonable.

***

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)

LLM Question for 9-2-2012, and, The Body of Christ

First the Question: There is no unpardonable sin in this Dispensation of Grace. True or False?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 8-31-2012

Question: The Body of Christ is not served by the angels but serves the angels, whether good or evil, WITH the manifold wisdom of God. Ephesians 3:10. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! One of the callings of the Body of Christ is expressed in Ephesians 3:10, “To the intent that now unto principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church, the manifold wisdom of God.” The Body is not served by the angels but serves the angels, whether good or evil, with the manifold wisdom of God. Now, out of the 703 responses we received to this question, only 44.4% of those that responded got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look in depth at…

The Body of Christ

The Greek word EKKLESIA, is found one hundred and eighteen times in the New Testament. In the Septuagint it is often found to describe the assembly of Israel. In Acts 7:38 Stephen uses it for the hosts of Israel, which had been led out of Egypt. The name EKKLESIA comes from the verb EKKALEO “I call out of”. The noun means, therefore, a group of called out ones. The turbulent mob of Acts 19:32-39 is also called an EKKLESIA, because it. was a gathering out of the citizens of Ephesus. This word then, does not define the very essence of the Church for this Dispensation of Grace. It is too broad, since it includes Israel and the Gentiles. The definition found in Ephesians 1:23, presupposes that there IS an EKKLESIA which is NOT His Body.

In the word SOMA, (found in Ephesians 1:23), meaning BODY, we have the essence of the Church for this Dispensation, the Body of Christ.

The crucified, raised, and glorified Lord was given to be the Head over all things to the Church, which is His Body. Before this the (Body) Church could not be in existence. In the term HEAD, we have not a figure or a simile, but a living, bright reality. He is not the King of this Body, but the HEAD. Kingship is always connected with Israel. He was presented, proclaimed, and professed, as King of Israel and in His PAROUSIA He shall restore the Kingdom to Israel.

The head is organically joined to the body and there is the most intimate union and communion, representation and even identification. The head is above all the members and this is true of our glorious Head in heaven. As the head is the seat of the senses, so Christ is the seat of all our spiritual senses, and as the head of the body is the common property of all the individual members, so all the members of the Church own Him as their Head.

Our Head bore our guilt and filth away on the cross, as our sin-bearer, and since then He is our burden bearer. Suffering saints, put your burdens on your Head and leave them there! The Head of the High Priest received the anointing with the oil and in the Baptism of the Spirit and our Head has transmitted that to us.

Again, the Head rules in love the body, and this is true of our Lord and Savior. He loved and loosed us from our sins, and since then He sways us, not with an iron or golden scepter, not with law, but with LOVE. Not merely judicially or potentially, but really the Head and the Body are one, because we have been crucified, buried, baptized, quickened, raised and made to sit together with Him in super-celestial places. As soon as a soul is united to Christ by faith, all His past and present work is imputed to that soul. He shares at once the present blessings of his rep­resentative in glory as ACCEPTANCE with God, ACCESS to God, ADVOCACY, and for the future the ADVENT with Him in glory, Colossians 3:4.

According to Colossians 2:19, our Head renders to His Body the threefold service of nourishment, unity and growth.

We have now briefly seen what the Head does for the Body, relative to the past, present, and future. We now ask what the Body should do for the Head, in other words, what is the calling and business of the Church for the Dispensation of Grace, the Body of Christ?

The Epistle to the Ephesians gives us the answer to this question. The calling of the Body, as a whole, and of every member individually, is first of all that we should be living “TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY”. Three times this phrase is repeated, Ephesians 1:6, Ephesians 1:12, and Ephesians 1:14.

The body should reflect, manifest, and serve the Head. The feet carry whither the head directs, the hands toil, the eyes see, the nose smells and the tongue speaks, all as the head directs, and thus it is with Christ and His Body. The Body should do His will and run His errands in the world.

In the second place we find, in Ephesians 2:7 that God wants to make of the Church a great display, a great fair and exhibition, in the ages to come. In that celestial show He will show forth the “EXCEEDING RICHES OF HIS GRACE IN HIS KINDNESS TOWARD US IN CHRIST JESUS”. The word exceeding is hyperbole. This word is used seven times by the Apostle Paul only. It means literally, something tossed beyond the mark, and in this case it means that His grace transcended all normal limits and boundaries and is immeasurable, unrestricted, incalculable, inimitable, and incomparable. God has been preparing for nearly two millenniums to make this show a wonderment for earth and heaven and hell. This text shows then that our real mission still lives in the future.

The third calling of the Body of Christ is expressed in Ephesians 3:10, “To the intent that now unto principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church, the manifold wisdom of God.” The Body is not served by the angels but serves the angels, whether good or evil, with the manifold wisdom of God.

Ephesians 4:16 gives us another business of the Body. It has to edify itself in love. This task of the Body is most forgotten and neglected. All talk of Pauline truth shall be worse than worthless, if it is not accompanied with Pauline love.

Finally, the members of the Body have to be bold warriors, armed with the whole armor of God. We are not called to fight against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12. Let us not forget, it is a mark of good Generalship to know the character of the enemy.

The perfect identification of our glorious Head and His Body form the mystery which has been hid in God from all ages and generations. Not one of the ancient worthies could know it as God had not revealed it. Even during the generation of the Gospel period, no one knew it, and also during the generation of the Acts, no one could know it, except Paul, for to him it has been re­vealed. The mystery was not a new development of some known thing, but something altogether new and distinct.

Here is a new PERSON to present this truth, Paul, the prisoner of the Lord, “less than the least of all saints.”

Here is a new PEOPLE, a heavenly body, one with the Head.

Here is a new prearrangement: chosen in Him BEFORE the foundation of the world. Concerning Israel it is FROM; concerning the mystery body the choice is BEFORE the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:4.

Here is a new panegyric and praise, for no one had ever praised God for hav­ing been blessed with all spiritual blessings.

Here is a new possession, since Israel had had many blessings, but never all the Spirit blessings in Christ as here.

Here is a new place; for no Jew or Gentile had been set in the epourama, or super-celestial places.

Here is a new period; the Dispensation of the Grace of God, Ephesians 2:9.

Here is a new power; the exceeding greatness of His power. Ephesians 1:19.

Here is a new position; In Him is the precious monogram of Paul, used in one form, or another, thirty times in Ephesians.

Here is a new purpose; to re-head all things in Christ. Ephesians 1:10

Here is a new prayer life; read only the prison prayers of Paul.

Here is a new parity; perfect equality of the Head and the Body.

Here is a new partnership; a sharing of all His coming glories.

Here is a new Pleroma or filling up of the mystical Christ.

Here is a new pattern; not the one shown to Moses, but the one shown to the Apostle Paul, by the Risen Exhalted Christ.

Here is a new peculiar people. Titus 2:14.

Here is a new peace; for He Himself is our peace. Ephesians 2:14.

Here is a new poem; for we are His poem. Titus 2:10.

Here is a new principality; mentioned as our foe. Ephesians 6:10-18.

Here is a new perfection, for we are complete in Him. Colossians 2:10.

Here is a new piety; away from all legalism and formalism.

Here is a new plenitude; Filled with all the fullness of God. Colossians 3:19.

Here is a new perseverence; for in Him we are safe and secure.

Here is a new Blessed Hope: Titus 2:13

Here is a new prediction; that we shall appear with Him in glory. Colossians 3:4, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-19

Here is a new prevailing in prayer, Ephesians 3:20.

Here is a new perfecting of the saints. Ephesians 4:11-12.

Here is a new perfect man. Ephesians 4:13.

Here is a new practicable seven-fold unity with a petition to keep. Ephesians 4:3-6.

Here is a new predestination, Ephesians 1:5.

Here is a new panoply against the invisible plotters, Ephesians 6:11.

Here is a new persecution, for all Fundamentalists in Asia. Galatia, and Rome, left Paul when he presented this mystery.

***

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)

LLM Question for 8-31-2012, and, Are You Spiritually Ignorant?

First the Question: The Body of Christ is not served by the angels but serves the angels, whether good or evil, WITH the manifold wisdom of God. Ephesians 3:10. True or False?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 8-29-2012

Question: Because of the prayer of Christ on the cross (Luke 23:34), God was willing to forgive the murder of Christ by Israel (Acts 7:51-54) on the ground of ignorance. (Acts 3:12-17). True or False?

Answer: TRUE! And, we look at this further in the message below, so please continue reading. Now, out of the 769 responses we received to this question, AMAZINGLY 100% of everyone that responded got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look in depth at…

Are You Spiritually Ignorant?

Please read Romans 10:1-4; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 2:6-16; Romans 11:25-26

Because of the prayer of Christ on the cross (Luke 23:34), and because Christ’s death had to be AS it was, and WHEN it was, by God’s eternal decree and purpose, (Acts 3:18; Acts 4:25-28; Acts 2:22; 1 Peter 1:18-20), God was willing to forgive Israel’s murder of Christ (Acts 7:51-54) on the ground of ignorance. (Acts 3:12-17). Some of the Israelites did repent. But the rulers and the nation as a whole would not.

Later, from the Nation Israel, God had a remnant according to the election of grace, and “The rest were blinded.” (Romans 11:5-12). Israel stumbled over the Stumbling stone. (Romans 9:32-33). “For they, being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the END OF THE LAW for righteousness to everyone that believeth.” (Romans 10:3-4).

Israelites, with the exception of a few Hebrew Christians, are still blind and still ignorant of God’s righteousness. But a very large percentage of the Gentiles, including millions who are church-members, are just as ignorant as were, and are, the blind Jews. They prefer to endeavor to establish their own righteousness with God, which is impossible, rather than have the righteousness of God established by Christ. (2 Cor. 5:21). This righteousness by the Faith is available for any Gentile or Jew.

Because the rulers of this world were ignorant, they crucified Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:7-8). The natural man, even though cultured and exceedingly religious, is ignorant of spiritual things. They are foolishness unto him. (1 Corinthians 2:12-14; John 3:1-13).

Spiritual things are not revealed to the wordly wise, “the wise and the prudent”; but “unto babes and sucklings.” This is God’s way, (Luke 10:21, 1 Corinthians 1:27-31).

The Divine truth of Romans 11:25-33 is so important for Christians to believe. Read very carefully Romans 11:25-26, “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this Mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in, And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.”

When religious Christians are wise in their own conceits, the Holy Spirit cannot teach them this wonderful truth, which must be understood, if we are to know what God is now doing and what He will do in another age.

Why does the Holy Spirit say in 1 Thessalonians 4:13, “I would not have you ignorant”? Because He knew that religious sectarians would have their own creeds and programs, and that the truth of God concerning the Glorious Rapture of the Church would or could have no place in them.

Just ask yourself, Why do the majority of the most spiritual Christians NOT obey Ephesians 3:9, “And to make all men see what is the Dispensation of the Mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God”? Because they have more or less of Judaism in their programs, which they cherish more than an obedience to Ephesians 3:9, most Christians will not obey Ephesians 3:9 and Ephesians 1:16-18. Now you know!

Only as we understand the first mystery of Romans 11:25-33 can we begin to understand the Mystery of Christ in Ephesians and Colossians. We must know the truth of Romans 11:30, that Gentiles received God’s mercy because of Israel’s unbelief. Salvation was sent to Gentiles, when and because of the fall of Israel. (Romans 11:11). Israel had not fallen, or been set-aside at the time Peter preached to Cornelius.

If they are not ignorant of the prayers of Ephesians 1:16-18; Ephesians 3:14-19; Ephesians 6:19-20 and Colossians 4:3-4, then they are willfully shutting out the light which comes with receiving the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation for this special Glorious Truth!

***

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)

        

LLM Question for 8-29-2012, and, The Church, the Body of Christ, and YOUR Denomination

First the Question: Because of the prayer of Christ on the cross (Luke 23:34), God was willing to forgive the murder of Christ by Israel (Acts 7:51-54) on the ground of ignorance. (Acts 3:12-17). True or False?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 8-26-2012

Question: No man can baptize his fellow man into the Body of Christ. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 says, “For as the body is ONE and hath many members, and all the members of that ONE body, being many, are one body; SO ALSO IS CHRIST: For by ONE Spirit are we all baptized into ONE BODY.” No man can baptize his fellow man into the Body of Christ. This can be done only by almighty God. Now, out of the 741 responses we received to this question, 66.7% of you got it right! Again, we have work to do I see! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look in depth at…

The Church, the Body of Christ, and YOUR Denomination

There are many church buildings and church organizations on this earth. Many of the people, who are members of the different church organizations, are also members of God’s Church. About 2000 years ago the Apostle Paul instructed the spiritual leaders of Ephesus, “Feed the CHURCH OF GOD, WHICH HE HATH PURCHASED WITH HIS OWN BLOOD.” (Acts 20:28). Very interesting is this statement concerning God’s Church. Since the day that Paul spoke to those elders many members of God’s Church have departed to be with Christ. (Philippians 1:23).

Concerning the Apostles Peter and John, we read in Acts 4:23, “And being let go they went to their own company.” This word “company” suggests their own private group. In 1 Corinthians 14:23 we read of the church coming together. In Hebrews 10:25 we read, “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together.” So every member of God’s Church should be identified with other such members of like precious faith and should have a regular meeting-place or assembly. But every member of God’s Church, in the matter of “church membership” should faithfully obey 2 Cor. 6:14, “be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” And every member of God’s Church should faithfully obey Ephesians 6:18, and pray with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

Church officers may receive from the members of some particular local assembly the right to induct others into that membership. But only God Himself can receive a person into His Church, that is, cause a believer to be joined to the Body of Christ by being joined to Christ. “So we, being many, are One Body in Christ, and everyone members, one of another.” (Romans 12:5). This means, of course, that ALL SAVED Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Lutherans, Methodists, Baptists and Congregationalists are members one of another. But it certainly does NOT mean that all of the members of these DENOMINATIONS are members one of another.

No intelligent student of the Bible believes that a person is a member of God’s Church because that person has joined some denominational organization. But every such student knows that God’s way of joining God’s Church is told in 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, “For as the body is one and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; SO ALSO IS CHRIST: For by one Spirit are we all baptized into ONE BODY.”

No man can baptize his fellow man into the Body of Christ. This can be done only by almighty God. However, it is true that the Faith cometh by hearing the Word of God and sinners cannot believe unless they hear and they cannot hear unless God’s saints go to them with the saving Gospel, to plant and water, so that God will give the increase, and add such as are being saved. (Romans 10:12-15, Acts 2:47). “And believers were the more added to the LORD.” (Acts 5:14).

In Hebrews 10:10 and Hebrews 13:12 we are told how sinners became saints, “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ.” AND, “Wherefore Jesus also, that He might SANCTIFY the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate.” Then note 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, how God makes living saints out of dead sinners, how God justifies and sanctifies believing murderers, drunkards, thieves, adulterers, which is the very same in the case of the believing self-righteous, moral, religious person. “Such were some of you; but ye are washed; but ye are SANCTIFIED; but ye are justified in the Name of the LORD Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” In Titus 3:5-8 this is called “by the washing of regeneration,” which God bestows.

The moment God saves the believing sinner, at that very moment, that one, becomes a saint and a member of the Church, Which is the Body of Christ. (Ephesians 1:23, Ephesians 4:4-5, Colossians 1:25-26). In 2 Cor. 1:21-22 we read that God establishes the believer and anoints the believer, “God, Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” In Ephesians 4:9-13 we learn how God is building up the Body of Christ, “For the building up of the Body of Christ, Till we all come in the unity (oneness) of The Faith, unto a perfect man.”

Now, PAY ATTENTION, God is VERY jealous concerning His Son and His Son’s Body; so be very careful that YOU are not trying to build up something, such as YOUR denomination IN COMPETITION with God, instead of being laborers together with God in building the ONE BODY of Ephesians 4:4.

The word CHURCH is found more than 100 times from Acts to Revelation; twice in Matthew 18:17. The Greek word is EKKLESIA. In the Greek translation of the Old Testament Scriptures this word EKKLESIA is used quite frequently and is generally translated “congregation,” as it is in Acts 19:32, Acts 19:39-41, where the Greek word is used to describe an angry, lawless mob of heathen.

Where the Greek word EKKLESIA refers to God’s Church, it does not refer to an assembly room or meeting place, but to a company of people; for the word EKKLESIA means CALLED OUT. Therefore, God’s Church, God’s Ekklesia, during this Dispensation of Grace, or the Dispensation of the Mystery, is composed of believers, or saints, whom God by the Holy Spirit and the Gospel of Christ has called out of this condemned world to be joined to Christ, as one flesh, to make up the one new man of Ephesians 2:15 and Ephesians 5:31-32.

In Ephesians 5:25-27 we learn that Christ is going to present THE CHURCH unto Himself, a glorious, spotless, blameless, Holy Church. How sad it is to know that many members of church organizations on this earth will not be there. Will you?

***

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)

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LLM Question for 8-26-2012, and, The Son of Man STANDING at the Right Hand of God

First the Question: No man can baptize his fellow man into the Body of Christ. True or False?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 8-24-2012

Question: Stephen saw Christ standing in Heaven, Acts 7:55-56. Was Christ STANDING because He was ready to come back as The King then, at that moment. Yes or No?

Answer: YES! The Son of man standing in heaven, according to Acts 7, was there in fulfillment of Scriptures. The LORD Jesus Christ, Head of the Church which is His Body, (according to Ephesians 1) is NOT STANDING there in Acts 7 as Head of the Body, as spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets SINCE the world began. No! No! But He IS seated in Ephesians as Head of that Body which was chosen in Christ BEFORE the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:4; Ephesians 3:9. If Israel HAD repented, Jesus would have come back to Israel on earth to fulfill the prophecies concerning the King and the Kingdom. If Israel would not repent, God would set that Nation aside and make His Son to be the Head of the Church which is His Body. Now, out of the 703 responses we received to this question, ONLY 36.4% of you got it right! We have work to do I see! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look in depth at…

The Son of Man STANDING at the Right Hand of God

In the year 34 A.D., Stephen, who was stoned by his Nation Israel because he rebuked them in the Name of the LORD for their rejection of the Son of Man, their Messiah; said, just before he died, “I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man STANDING at the right hand of God.” Acts 7:51-56. They resisted the Holy Spirit.

No doubt Stephen had in mind, and the Nation had in mind, the words of the LORD Jesus recorded in Matthew 12:31-32, “Whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Spirit. it shall not be forgiven him.” They had sinned against the Son of man; delivered Him to Pilate to be put to death. They had committed an awful sin against Him. But on the cross the Son of man said, “Father forgive them”; and the Father did forgive their sin against the Son of man; or rather, He was willing to forgive that great sin against the Son of man, if they would yield to the Holy Spirit’s witness as to the resurrection and Messiahship of that Son of man.

They did NOT yield; they resisted. Stephen was declaring that they were committing that unpardonable sin, to which the LORD had referred in Matthew 12:31-32.

Now, let us note the contrast between Stephen’s message concerning the Son of man, in the year 34 A.D., and the Apostle Paul’s message concerning the RISEN Christ, in the year 64 A. D.

In the year 64 A.D., Paul addressed an Epistle to the saints in Ephesus, declaring therein that God had raised the LORD Jesus and had SEATED Him at His own right hand in the upper heavenlies, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion; and gave Him to be head over all things unto that Church which is His Body. Ephesians 1:19-22.

At the time Stephen addressed Israel, in the year 34 A.D. and for several years thereafter, the Gentiles were aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel. Ephesians 2:11. In the year 64 A.D., when the Apostle Paul addressed his Epistle to the saints at Ephesus, he declared that it was God’s purpose to make of believing Gentiles and believing Jews, in Christ and WITH Christ, One New Man. Ephesians 2:15. He said that was God’s ETERNAL purpose in Christ. Ephesians 3:11, “For this cause”, Paul declared that he, “was the prisoner of the LORD Jesus Christ for Gentiles.” Ephesians 3:1.

Stephen was the martyr for the LORD Jesus Christ for Israel. Stephen spoke to Israel of the LORD Jesus Christ as the Son of man, STANDING in Heaven. The Apostle Paul wrote of the LORD Jesus Christ as the Head of the Body SITTING in the upper-heavenlies. Stephen rehearsed the history of Israel from the call of Abraham to the death and resurrection of the LORD Jesus Christ, Israel’s Messiah, the Son of man. But Paul declared that the “upper heavenly” position of the LORD Jesus Christ, His headship unto the Church, and the membership of redeemed heathen in that Body, had no place in the history of Israel, never having been mentioned nor intimated even once by any one of Israel’s prophets. The Father chose to keep as a secret, hid in Himself, not made known to the sons of men in other ages, FACTS concerning the Headship and membership of Christ’s Body. Ephesians 3:8-9 and Ephesians 3:3.

It was the will of God to keep this a MYSTERY until after He was through with His dealings with Israel, as a nation. He declared the temporary abandonment of His purpose concerning that nation about 60 A.D., in Romans 11:7 and Romans 11:17 and Romans 11:25. God is to again deal with His Nation when He has brought to an end His purpose in this Dispensation of Grace; to make the One New Man; to complete the Body of Christ.

A great majority of Bible students, are agreed on this program of God, but it is difficult, if not altogether impossible, for them to agree as to when God set aside His Nation and when He began historically the making of the ONE New Man.

Perhaps the difference of opinion as to when the Body began can be expressed in the “yes” and “no” to this question, “When Stephen saw Jesus as the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God in heaven, some months after the death and resurrection of the Son of man, was the LORD Jesus then the Head of the Church which is His Body?”

This is by no means an easy question to answer. BUT let our answer NOT be, “I have always been taught that the Body of Christ began historically before Stephen’s death.” But rather, let us search the Scriptures in giving our answer.

Perhaps the best way to answer this question is to study some of the statements made by the LORD Jesus concerning Himself, when He spoke of Himself as the Son of man while He was Jesus of Nazareth a man approved of God in Israel’s midst. Acts 2:22. The LORD Jesus is mentioned in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, about 80 times as the Son of man.

Aside from the question of the bewildered Israelites, “who is this Son of man,” the title was always used by the LORD Himself. Any student of the Word of God who will carefully read and study the eighty references will be convinced that the title “Son of man”, was the LORD’s title in His relations and dealings with His own Nation Israel. The Apostle Paul never used the title in the LORD’s relationships and ministries to the Body of Christ.

What the Son of man did while He was on earth was in fulfillment of Scriptures; and what He promised to do when He shall come back to earth will be in fulfillment of Scriptures.

All of Israel’s prophets foretold the coming of the LORD Jesus Christ, for two purposes; one purpose was to offer Himself, in suffering, on the tree, and the other was to place Himself, in glory, on the throne of David. The two lines of prophecy were concerning the Sacrifice and Kingdom of Israel’s Messiah. But not one of Israel’s prophets had one word to say about the heavenly position and ministry of the LORD Jesus Christ during this parenthesis. Jesus of Nazareth, in the midst of Israel, referred to His Sacrifice and Kingship over Israel; but NOT to His Headship over His Body and His relationship to the One New Man of Ephesians 2:15.

In Matthew 26:24 we read this statement of the LORD, “The Son of man goeth as it is written of Him.” In Matthew 25:31 we read, “When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him: then shall He sit on the throne of His glory.” Matthew 25:34 says, “The King says Come, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you FROM the foundation of the world.” Yes, the Son of man goeth and the Son of man cometh. This is the message of the Messiah in the Four Gospels.

When the Son of man went to the cross He was fulfilling Scriptures. On the cross the LORD did that which God spoke by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. When the Son of man shall come back to Israel, in power and great glory, and sit as the King on the Throne of His glory, He will be fulfilling Scriptures. He will be the King of that Kingdom, reigning over the house of Israel, as was spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began. Luke 1:70; Acts 3:21; Matthew 25:34.

But the Son of man standing in heaven, according to the seventh chapter of Acts, was there in fulfillment of Scriptures. The LORD Jesus Christ, Head of the Church which is His Body, (according to the first chapter of Ephesians) is NOT STANDING there in Acts 7 as Head of the Body, as spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets SINCE the world began. No! No! But He IS seated in Ephesians as Head of that Body which was chosen in Christ BEFORE the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:4; Ephesians 3:9. The prophets said nothing about the Body of Christ

The message of the King and the Kingdom was the subject of prophecy. The message of the Head and the Body was not the subject of prophecy; but was given by revelation FIRST to the Apostle Paul. Ephesians 3:3; Colossians 1:24-28.

The LORD was the Son of man to Israel in Acts 7:51-56. If Israel HAD repented, Jesus would have come back to Israel on earth to fulfill the prophecies concerning the King and the Kingdom. If Israel would not repent, God would set that Nation aside and make His Son to be the Head of the Church which is His Body.

Now, how long was the opportunity to repent and the Kingdom offered to the Nation? Until some time after Stephen was stoned to death. Several thousand Israelites had repented and were saved before Stephen’s death. Were they in the Body of Christ at the time they were saved or did they become members of that Body later on?

So the question to be asked is, Was God putting saved Israelites in the Body of Christ while He was speaking in mercy to Israel concerning their King and Kingdom? Acts 3:19-26. The Israelites saved during the days of Stephen’s ministry were in the Church of God; that is, in the “called out” of God. Galatians 1:13. Acts 8:1. But, were they in the Body of Christ?

When God spoke by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began, concerning the sufferings and glory of Christ, concerning His Sacrifice and Kingdom, He NEVER revealed the fact that there would be months or years or centuries between the Lamb on the cross and the King on the throne. He never spoke of the time between, except to say that He would not leave His soul in Sheol.

Therefore, we cannot learn from any of Israel’s prophets when the Body of Christ began historically. Neither can we learn it from the oral or written messages of the Twelve. Neither is there any prophecy, stating that God would give to Israel another opportunity to receive the Kingdom during the years between the sacrifice of Christ and the revelation of the Body Mystery. But He did.

So, we ask, when was the secret of Ephesians 3:6 made known to and through the Apostle Paul? The “unsearchable” (untraceable) riches of Christ, revealed in Ephesians, DIFFERED from the “traceable” riches of Christ preached by Peter and the Eleven Apostles. Compare Ephesians 3:8-9 with Acts 2:16; Acts 2:25-30; Acts 3:19-26; Acts 10:47, and Acts 15:14-17.

Therefore, the “traceable” riches of Christ refer to the King and the Kingdom and the “untraceable” riches refer to the Head and the Body of Ephesians 1:19-22.

***

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)

Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook

LLM Question for 8-24-2012, and, What Think YE of Christ?

First the Question: Stephen saw Christ standing in Heaven, Acts 7:55-56. Was Christ STANDING because He was ready to come back as The King then, at that moment. Yes or No?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 8-22-2012

Question: What think YE of Christ? Matthew 22:42. Is the LORD Jesus Christ THE Great God and Saviour proclaimed in Titus 2:13. Yes or no?

Answer: YES! Of Course, YES!! And we look at this in DEPTH in the message below. Now, out of the 801 responses we received to this question, 94.1% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at an in depth look at…

What Think YE of Christ?

Since the day The LORD Jesus Christ asked the question of His own nation, “What think ye of Christ?”, Matthew 22:42, countless millions of many nations in every generation have put the same question to their own hearts and consciences and to their fellow men.

In order to answer such a question intelligently concerning any man, it is necessary to get acquainted with him. There is a certain acquaintance with Christ which can be experienced ONLY by those who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. But there is available for any man a written record of the character and achievements of the One who asked the question. Had the question, “What think ye of Christ?”, Matthew 22:42, been asked by any other man concerning himself, it would have suggested the spirit of self‑importance or egotism on the part of the man. But to any one who has made even a hasty superficial study of the written record, the question asked by Christ seems most proper and in order. And really it behooves every individual to give to the question an answer which will be well pleasing to the One Who asked it.

The most sensible decision that any sensible person can reach so far as this Man’s relation to the record is concerned is, that the historical Jesus is the Bible Christ. The record has existed for two thousand years. It has been discussed, criticized, hated and condemned by millions. It has been honored, cherished, and defended, even unto martyrdom by other millions, just as intelligent, courageous, and true as those who have been its bitterest enemies. Never since this history was written has this record been the object of such vicious and insidious assaults as at this present time, when all the forces of Satan are turned loose against it. But multitudes are still submitting the record to the test, “if any man willeth to do His will he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of Myself.” John 7:17.

No man has ever been wise enough to produce evidence to invalidate the Bible record of Jesus Christ. Some have persuaded themselves that the record is too unique to be true; and their verdict is, that the narratives were either written by enthusiastic religious men who were deceived, or they discount the record as a willful forgery. No one is more ignorant than the one who declares that the Scriptures are the imaginations or inventions of ignorant men. Moreover it must be admitted, that if the records concerning Christ be forgeries, they are the forgeries of very clever men. If the writers were deceived, were they deceived by Christ? The Pharisees accused Him of deceiving the people. “Are ye also deceived?” John 7:47. Concerning Christ, “some said, He is a good man; others said, Nay; but He deceiveth the people.” 7:12. Christ did not prove His goodness by deception.

If the narratives be forgeries, then what is our conclusion concerning Christ? Was He a fictitious character? Is the Christ of orthodox Christianity unreal? Did such a man as Jesus Christ ever live on earth? If so, was He a good man or a deceiver? Without a trustworthy history to study, who knows? If the Bible narratives of Jesus Christ be the untrustworthy or untrue writings of deluded or dishonest men, to whom shall we turn for reliable information that will enable us to answer intelligently the question, “What think ye of Christ?” Matthew 22:42. Some say, “we do not know what to think.” Why not forget Him altogether and decide that the question was never asked and that the Christ who was supposed to have asked the question never existed? It is impossible for any intelligent person to do this. The LORD Jesus Christ has so found His way into every avenue of human experience that any thinking person must acknowledge that He is an up to date living reality. If unreal, truly He has more influenced human life and thought than all the REAL men of all ages combined. The Jews in His day said. “And destroy Jesus”. It was impossible then. It is impossible today. No one can blot Him out of human history.

However, without the Bible I cannot answer the question, “What think ye of Christ?”, Matthew 22:42

Surely the Jews did their very best to get rid of Jesus Christ. They have tried to forget Him. They have tried to ignore Him. They have tried to explain Him away by every argument. And in spite of their determined efforts, every thinking rabbi, whether associated with an orthodox or a liberal congregation, is now declaring that Jesus of Nazareth was the best man who ever lived on this earth and that He has exercised more influence for good upon the human race than all other men combined. Are they deciding that He was good, because of His good influence, or because they have carefully examined His written biography? Why can they not see their inconsistency in acknowledging the superiority of the most extraordinary Man who ever lived on this earth, while at the same time they are discrediting and condemning the only record that can truly establish His right to their respect and admiration?

There is only one other group of men more inconsistent than the inconsistent Jews, the so called Modernist Christians. They believe virtually what the Jews believe but they go a step further and bear the name of Christ and claim to be His disciples.

These Modernist “christians” bow in His name to worship the true Deity; call Jesus Christ the fairest flower of humanity; exalt and praise Him as the highest expression of the ONE and ONLY God; even claim that they believe in the Son’s revelation of the Father; AND at the same time they declare that the record containing that revelation is either the work of frauds or ignorant men, writings which no intelligent man of this enlightened age can accept to be worth more than fiction.

IF these modernist “christians” have learned that Jesus Christ is the noblest, truest, purest expression of the mind and heart of the true and living God, they have learned that great fact BY reading narratives that they say are false, if not fraudulent, and if their learning and thinking have been based upon that which is false, their opinions are worthless and they know not what they think they know! They are insane!!

Any intelligent and satisfactory answer to the question, “What think ye of Christ?”, Matthew 22:42, must be based upon the Scriptural record of Christ. If on that basis, the LORD Jesus Christ is worthy of admiration, He is likewise worthy of adoration. He should be both respected and worshipped OR neither respected nor worshiped.

He is mentioned by noun and pronoun about 7000 times in the New Testament. The same supernatural story is woven into every part of those Scriptures. After studying these 27 records, we should decide that the Jews of the first century who took up stones to stone Him, “because Thou being a man makest Thyself God”, were far more consistent than are the Modernist Jews and so called Modernist Christians of the twentieth century who join with Judas to betray Christ with a kiss. John 10:30-38.

“What think ye of Christ?”, Matthew 22:42. Without the Scriptures I know not what I think. However, BY the Scrip­tures I think that Christ is, “Wonderful”, “Counsellor”, “Mighty God”, “Everlasting Father”, “Prince of Peace”, “Man of Sor­rows”, “Plant of Renown”, “The Lily of the Valley”, “The Rose of Sharon”, “A Righteous Branch”, “The Sun of Righteousness”, “The Bright and Morning Star”, “The King of Israel”, “The King of the Jews”, “Messiah”, “The Lion of the Tribe of Juda”, “The Root and Offspring of David”, “King of Kings and Lord of Lords”, “Captain of our Salvation”, “Apostle and High Priest of our Profession”, “The Lord of Glory”, “The Prince of Life”, “The Just One”, “The Holy One of God”, “The Lamb of God”, “The Light of the World”, “The Good Shepherd”, “The True Vine”, “A Prince and a Saviour”, “Son of Man”, “The King of Glory”, “The Christ the Son of the Living God”, “The Bread of Life”, “The Lord’s Christ”, “A Great Prophet”, “The Christ of God”, “Immanuel”, “One Altogether Lovely”, “Chiefest Among Ten Thousand”, “The Lord Our Righteousness”, “The Lord Whom Ye Seek”, “Jesus Who is called Christ”, “The Son of God”, “A Friend of Publicans and Sinners”, “Christ our Passover”, “Our Peace”, “The Son of His Love”, “The King Eternal”, “Merciful and Faithful High Priest”, “Our Forerunner”, “Author of Eternal Salvation”, “Author and Finisher of our Faith”, “The Great Shepherd of the Sheep”, “The Lord that Bought Us”, “An Advocate”, “The Holy One”, “The Word of God”, “The First Begotten of the Dead”, “The Seed of the Woman”, “Shiloh”, “A Root out of Dry Ground”, “Jesus Christ the Son of David”, “The Bride­groom”, “The Stone Which the Builders Rejected”, “The Head of the Corner”, “Son of the Highest”, “The Only Begotten of the Father”, “The Word”, “A Man Approved of God”, “The I AM”, “The Resurrection”, “The Way”, “The Truth”, “The Life”, “He That Cometh from Heaven”, “Abraham’s Seed”, “Melchisedec”.

“BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD WHICH BEARETH AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD.”

“I AM ALPHA AND OMEGA, THE BEGINNING AND THE ENDING, SAITH THE LORD, WHICH IS AND WHICH WAS AND WHICH IS TO COME, THE ALMIGHTY.”

Back to the question, and now we put it to YOU, "What think YE of Christ?" Matthew 22:42.

***

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)

Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook

LLM Question for 8-22-2012, and, God Chooses to Forget, and God Forgets Not

First the Question: What think YE of Christ? Matthew 22:42. Is the LORD Jesus Christ THE Great God and Saviour proclaimed in Titus 2:13. Yes or no?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 8-19-2012

Question: God Chooses to Forget, AND, God Forgets Not. Is this statement True or False?

Answer: TRUE! As God will not remember the sins of the justified sinner, He will not remember the good deeds of the unbelieving sinner. But God will NOT forget the good deeds of the believer, “Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the LORD.” 1 Corinthians 15:58. Now, out of the 751 responses we received to this question, 78.9% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at an in depth look at…

God Chooses to Forget, and God Forgets Not!

SINS REMEMBERED NO MORE!! Did you READ that? SINS REMEMBERED NO MORE!! The unbeliever’s good deeds are NOT remembered. The believer’s sins are NOT remembered. God Chooses to Forget, and God Forgets Not!

The God of the Bible is omnipotent. Man looks on the outward appearance; God looks into the heart. According to the estimate of some men, God has looked into the hearts of more than twenty billion individuals. God has an infallible record of all of the thoughts, words and deeds of all who have ever inhabited the earth. These thoughts, words and deeds have either been righteous or unrighteous. There are two kinds of righteousness; “self-righteousness” and God-righteousness”, or “human righteousness” and “Divine righteousness.” In God’s Divine ledger, the righteous acts of the, self-righteous are posted on the debit side; the righteous acts of the “God-righteous” are posted on the credit side. But what about the unrighteous acts? What is it that God forgets not? Let us turn to God’s Word for our answer:

“WHEN I SAY TO THE RIGHTEOUS THAT HE SHALL SURELY LIVE: IF HE TRUST TO HIS OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND COMMIT INIQUITY, ALL HIS RIGHTEOUSNESSES SHALL NOT BE REMEMBERED; BUT FOR HIS INIQUITY THAT HE HATH COMMITTED, HE SHALL DIE FOR IT.” EZEKIEL 33:13.

“AND THEIR SINS AND INIQUITIES WILL I REMEMBER NO MORE . . . HAVING THEREFORE BOLDNESS TO ENTER INTO THE HOLIEST BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS. . . LET US DRAW NEAR WITH A TRUE HEART, IN FULL ASSURANCE OF FAITH.” HEBREWS 10:17-19.

“FOR GOD IS NOT UNRIGHTEOUS TO FORGET YOUR WORK AND LABOR OF LOVE, WHICH YE HAVE SHOWED TOWARD HIS NAME, IN THAT YE HAVE MINISTERED TO THE SAINTS, AND DO MINISTER. AND WE DESIRE THAT EVERY ONE OF YOU DO SHOW THE SAME DILIGENCE TO THE FULL ASSURANCE OF HOPE UNTO THE END.” HEBREWS 6:10-11.

No Divine truth is more clearly taught in the Bible than the fact that “they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8:8. “To him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace but of debt.” Romans 4:3-4. The righteous, or religious, acts of a self-righteous man are not acceptable unto God; such acts are dead works. Christ died to save religious men from dead works. Hebrews 9:14. Humanity is willing to ascribe praise and honor to the philanthropist who endows the hospital for the relief and cure of the sick and helpless, who provides food for the hungry and clothing for the naked, who finances the asylum for the orphans; for all who minister to the physical needs of the unfortunate. Such benevolences are truly praiseworthy. But God says, “if he trust in his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousness’s shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.” Thus we see that some benefactions that are remembered by men are forgotten by God.

“Man’s ways are not God’s ways.” “There is a way that seemeth right unto man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death.” Whether or not we may be dogmatic in the statement that the good deeds of an unsaved man displease God, we may be sure that the unrighteous or self-righteous man never receives credit or reward from God for his acts of righteousness.

How about Cornelius, the just and religious man? To him Peter preached “in every nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted of Him.” Acts 10:34-37. While it is true that Cornelius had to hear from Peter’s mouth “words whereby he and all his house should be saved”, yet Cornelius was by no means a self-righteous man. Cornelius prayed to God always: he was a just and devout, God-fearing man, who gave much alms to God’s people. Cornelius was not trusting to his own righteousness. From the record, we can say that Cornelius believed the gospel the first time he heard it. He was apparently eager to be saved. He was conscious of his unworthiness and his need of grace.

The “sin” controversy between God and man is of a very serious nature, and must be entirely settled before God can give credit for deeds. Only righteous deeds will be rewarded by God. The doer must be righteous before his deeds are righteous in God’s sight. “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Because all have sinned, death has passed upon all men. All men by nature are dead in trespasses and sins. Some dead men are more religious than others. Some dead men do not sink as deep into immoral habits and lustful practices as do others. Some dead men do not possess and manifest the same traits of gentleness, kindness, patience and charity as do others. But with respect to life and salvation, all dead men, religious and irreligious, have the same need.

Regardless of the language used, the theological terms employed or the doctrine presented, the sinner’s need is Christ. “In Him was life and the life was the light of men.” He said, “I am the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.” Christ died to abolish death and bring life to humanity in the Gospel. 2 Timothy 1:9. It was Christ who said that believers “have passed out of death into life.” John 5:24. He gave to His servant the Apostle Paul this message, “The free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23. “You hath He made alive who were dead in trespasses and sins.” Ephesians 2:1-5.

The sinner’s first need is life and righteousness. The LORD Jesus Christ is the believer’s life and righteousness. He is available for all. On the cross of Calvary, with the shedding of His Blood, this sinless Christ was made sin that sinners might be made the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21. He had power to lay down His life and take it up again. John 10:17-18. Christ received the sinner’s wages: death. Christ on the cross received the penalty for sin, when He by the Grace of God tasted death for every man. Hebrews 2:9. Then by His inherent Divine omnipotence He was able to abolish death. Christ put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. Hebrews 9:26.

The believing sinner is redeemed by the precious blood of Christ: “in whose Blood (NOT just His death, but His BLOOD!) we have redemption even the forgiveness of sins.” “The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.” When God forgives the sinner, it is because his sins have been dealt with, have been put away. When the worshipper came to the Lord, under the Old Covenant, his sins were covered by the BLOOD of the sacrifice, (NOT simply the death of the animal), which spoke of the once-for-all sacrifice of the coming Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Our sins are not covered; they are put away. We are pardoned, exonerated, freed, forgiven and justified, by the BLOOD of the sinless Son of God. And our God, who has the perfect Divine RIGHT to forgive the sinner who receives Christ as his worthy Substitute, says: “their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” Hebrews 10:17.

SINS REMEMBERED NO MORE!! Did you READ that? SINS REMEMBERED NO MORE!! The unbeliever’s good deeds are NOT remembered. The believer’s sins are NOT remembered.

This is the way God does things. He is just and the justifier of every one that accepts the redemptive work of His well-beloved Son. Romans 3:24-26. God’s Grace is marvelous. God’s Grace is beyond what language can express it to be! We are saved from sin because God is rich in Mercy and great in Love. Ephesians 2:4-5. The believer, the member of the Body of Christ, is IN Christ. God cannot find fault with the helpless sinner who has taken refuge IN Christ. “There is no condemnation to them that are IN Christ.” “He hath made us accepted IN the Beloved.” It is ALL by and of Grace. Believing sinners are the recipients of God’s grace. “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that NOT of yourselves.”

One of our difficulties is that we have no way of measuring the Grace of God, or of putting the true value on the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. God is sovereign. God is Just and Holy. Christ received the just penalty for sin. He is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world. By His vicarious work of redemption God can and does forgive and forget and justify the penitent, believing sinner.

Another difficulty with us is that like fools, we inventory our blunders, weaknesses and faults, that we consider our unworthiness, and try to measure God by human standards. Because we cannot forget our own history of sin, our miserable past record, because of our present shortcomings, because we find it so difficult to forgive others, and especially to forget their offenses against us, our minds and hearts are filled with doubts as to the obliteration and obviousness of our sins in God’s sight. But we should believe God; take His Word at full face value, “their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” Gone forever. Forever put away, by the Grace of God and the work of Christ.

God looked, and still looks, upon His Son, obedient unto death and exalted to His own right hand, where He now appears in Heaven for us; and we should do the same thing; “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our Faith.” When we look at ourselves, or at others, we will be disappointed, dissatisfied and doubtful. But not when we look unto Him who loved us and gave himself for us; unto Him who is our redemption, holiness, righteousness, peace, hope and life. Such a look will make us confident of this very thing; that He that hath begun a good work in us will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ. As Christians we should obey Ephesians 4:32, “And be ye kind one to another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” We should do this, not to influence or cause God to forgive us our sins, but because, for Christ’s sake, He has already done that.

How blessed it should be to know that God is not dealing with us, under grace, on the terms of the “Our Father” prayer; “if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:15. But today, “Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” Hebrews 10:17

Because of the value of the Blood of Christ, because of the super-abounding, all sufficient Grace of God, the believer is exhorted to draw nigh in full assurance of Faith. If we are trusting in the redemptive work of Christ, if we are depending upon the Grace of God, surely we should be delivered from doubts and fears, from any feeling of insecurity. God WANTS US to have assurance, full assurance.

Now, AGAIN, as God will not remember the sins of the justified sinner, He will not remember the good deeds of the unbelieving sinner. But God will NOT forget the good deeds of the believer. “Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58. “Not in vain in the Lord.” Does Job serve God for naught? No. No Christian serves God for naught. “Every man shall be rewarded according to his works.” Matthew 16:26. As there will be rewards for the saved, undoubtedly there will be different degrees of punishment for the unsaved, although, ALL unbelievers are lost.

God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love. “If any man’s work abide, which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.” 1 Corinthians 3:14. “Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” No sinner can lay his foundation. No sinner needs to lay a foundation; the foundation has been laid.

The only works that are “good works” in God’s sight are the works that are built on the foundation. Faith in the good work of the Lord Jesus Christ is the believing sinner’s passport to heaven. No other works are necessary to get the believer into heaven. But every good work done by the believer, who is in Christ, will be rewarded by God, if that good work is done in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. God will not forget a single deed done by the redeemed sinner, the member of the Body of Christ, in the Name of His Son. Now this is not to say that there are many out there who PROFESS to be believers, saying they are doing works in Christ’s name. Here is what The LORD Jesus Christ has to say about them, “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matthew 7:21-23

Therefore believers are urged, “That ye be not slothful.” “Show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end.” Hebrews 6:12-13. As the believer should have no doubt that all of his sins have been put away by the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, he should have no doubt as to receiving a full reward for every service of love, for every sacrifice, for all suffering in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. “In the world ye shall have tribulation”, “all who will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution.” Let us not weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. “If when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.” I Peter 2:20. If we suffer with Christ we shall reign with Him.

We should work for Him, walk for Him, witness for Him, wait for Him. We should constantly be occupied with Christ and for Christ, and we shall not regret when God proves in that day that He shall not forget.

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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In 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)

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