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This book of the bible is frequently and
erroneously
referred to as the start of "The Church, The Body of Christ".
99.44% of fundamental, bible-believing teachers and pastors
embrace this falsity as truth! The fact is, The Book of Acts is
primarily about the unbelief of Israel and God's postponement of
her program.
            
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For though
I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity
is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the
gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward:
but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is
committed unto me. What is my reward then? Verily that,
when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ
without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
1
Corinthians 9:16-18
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REMEMBER,
THE FOUR SYNOPTIC GOSPEL ACCOUNTS OF THE EARTHLY MINISTRY OF JESUS
CHRIST WERE WRITTEN
TO
ISRAEL UNDER THE LAW:
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SINCE
PROPHECY IS SUCH A HOT TOPIC THESE DAYS, DID YOU EVER WONDER WHAT THE
TRIBULATION SAINTS WILL STUDY AFTER THE BODY OF CHRIST IS RAPTURED?
Doctrine
for
The
Tribulation Saints after the rapture of the Body of Christ:
Here Israel is now back at the forefront under the law against the
imminent judgment and earthly return of The Messiah, Jesus Christ.
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1 For this cause I Paul, the
prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2 If ye have heard of
the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to
you-ward: 3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the
mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye
read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5
Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as
it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the
Spirit; 6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the
same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the
grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his
power. 8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is
this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the
unsearchable riches of Christ; 9 And to make all men see what is
the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the
world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus
Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and
powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the
manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose
which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12 In whom we have
boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. 13
Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my
tribulations for you, which is your glory -
Ephesians 3:1-13 |
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 The
"choke points" of
embracing Paul's doctrine of grace.
Part 1 of 3
Some primary reasons why
most bible-believing Christians reject the apostle Paul's distinctive
message..... (Part
2, Part 3)
As I
reflect on my understanding of the riches of God's grace, I am
thankful for the two men that came over my house one afternoon
in 1998 and indeed shared the gospel of Christ with me!
Interestingly, these men who I had befriended only a year
previously, were patient enough to point me to the scriptures
that would eventually give me the peace that I had been hoping
for! Please understand that this peace is available to all who would honestly search the
scriptures for themselves while examining if the things they had absorbed and
been taught
were to pass the test of sound
doctrine. Ironically and back during that summer, I was pastor
of a small assembly in my hometown and I shared that responsibility
and leadership with two other men....
During my
personal bible study, I had wrestled with scriptures that were
seemingly contradicting. I knew it was not God's word that was
contradicting; it was something that I did not understand. But
during my attempt to find sound explanations by pastors,
teachers and other main-line ministries there was still a void in
my mind when I came across these troubling scriptures as the
Holy Spirit tugged at my reason.
Through
practical study and exposure to Pau's
 distinctive message as he
received it from Jesus Christ, scripture had become
illuminating to me. The passages that troubled me, now made
more sense and I experienced the peace that God had intended
for any person who would simply put their pride aside and
embrace God's grace for today!
In an
attempt to be more clearer with the point of this article and to
discuss the scriptures that I
wrestled with (...and scriptures that many secretly
wrestle with...), I will break down the "choke
points" (in blue) as listed:
Eternal Security
-
The Question:
Please understand that I could not
write all of the scripture discrepancies in this article.
However, one of my first "troubling" scriptures, that you may
even see floating around today's email traffic, is from Matthew
chapter 10.
32
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I
confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But
whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before
my Father which is in heaven.
-
Matthew 10: 32,33
As a
believer, I was always convinced of my eternal security once I
trusted God in regards to the accomplishments of His Son on my
behalf. I knew that
Ephesians 1:13 said I was sealed by the Holy Spirit and that
in Romans 8, nothing could separate me from the love of
God that is In Christ Jesus.
But
friends, if you read the above verses in Matthew 10, there is
a problem. According to those verses, if I do not
confess Christ before God the Father OR if I deny Him in
any way, I will be denied by Christ before His
Father. I know of no other way to interpret that. How then do
you reconcile those verses that came from the very mouth of
Christ (even in red lettering) with the verses I mentioned
above? Either I am sealed by
 the
Holy Spirit or I am not.
38 For I
am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to
come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be
able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ
Jesus our Lord.
-
Romans
8:38,39
Either
none of the above conditions in Romans 8:38,39 separate me
from the love of God in Christ OR there is something not
on the list that does separate me....you would have to
agree after re-reading Matthew 10:32,33. Teachers trying to
wrangle the verses in Matthew to fit their doctrine tell you
that you could be denied by Christ and still be saved, but that
is not sound bible hermeneutics (bible interpretation) in
these passages. Either I am eternally secure in Christ or I
am not. Salvation is not a revolving door based on my conduct
since I had nothing to do with acquiring it in the first place:
4 But
God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved
us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together
with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up
together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ
Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding
riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ
Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved
through faith;
and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should
boast. - Ephesians
2:4-9
Which is
it then??? Can I be denied by Christ in one book of the
bible and eternally secure in another book? Is there a
difference?
THERE IS A SOLUTION TO THIS SO READ ON!!!
Forgiveness - The Question:
Some
other "troubling" scriptures
had to do with God's forgiveness towards man:
14 For
if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will
also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses,
neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. -
Matthew
6:14, 15
21 Then
came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin
against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith
unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until
seventy times seven. 23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven
likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his
servants. 24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought
unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But forasmuch
as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his
wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying,
Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27 Then
the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed
him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But the same servant went out,
and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred
pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat,
saying, Pay me that thou owest. 29 And his fellowservant fell
down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with
me, and I will pay thee all. 30 And he would not: but went and
cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31 So when
his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and
came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32 Then his
lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked
servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst
me: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy
fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34 And his lord was
wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay
all that was due unto him. 35 So likewise shall my heavenly
Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not
every one his brother their trespasses. -
Matthew
18:21-35
25 And
when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any:
that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your
trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive,
neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your
trespasses. - Mark
6:25,26
However, the
apostle Paul received another message form the risen, glorified
Christ which said something entirely different!
In
whom we have redemption through his blood, the
forgiveness of
sins, according to the riches of his grace; -
Ephesians
1:7
In whom
we have redemption through his blood, [even] the
forgiveness of
sins: - Colossians 1:14
13 And
you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your
flesh, hath he quickened together with him,
having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against
us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way,
nailing it to his cross; - Colossians
2:13,14
Further, the
apostle Paul tells us some wonderful news; that we are complete
in Jesus Christ!
Friends this
is much different then the verses listed in Matthew and Mark.
Either we have complete and total forgiveness or we do not!
Which is
it then??? Can I have total forgiveness by Christ in one
book of the bible and not have forgiveness in another
book? Is there a difference?
I have had
many dialogs with pastors who have said that you can still have
"relationship" with God but due to sin be out of "fellowship"
There are several problems with that. First, you are not going
to find that in any of Paul's letters. Second, and more
importantly, if God the Father has a "fellowship" problem
with me, then He has one with Jesus Christ! How absurd is that?
If I am complete in Christ (for that is what Jesus told Paul to
tell us in (Colossians 2 - especially v10) then God The Father
certainly has no issues with me....AMEN!
9 For in him
dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are
complete in him, which is the head of all principality and
power: 11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision
made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the
flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 Buried with him in
baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of
the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13 And
you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your
flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you
all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances
that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out
of the way, nailing it to his cross; -
Colossians 2:9-14
Unfortunately, nothing seems
to stir up more anger and strife with today's church leaders and
Christian circles
when you begin to proclaim complete and total forgiveness! Most
churches teach forgiveness on the "Installment Plan" where one
has to beg and plead for each sin while being led to believe
that fellowship with God has been broken. Rather than accept the
merits of Jesus Christ, this false doctrine is touted amidst
many bible-believing churches. The bible plainly tells us in many of Paul's
letters that we have (past tense) all-inclusive, upfront
forgiveness!
BUT THERE IS A
SOLUTION TO THIS CONTROVERSY SO READ ON!!!
Water baptism - The Question:
If you had time to think about this next topic and could give an
honest answer, I think that you would agree that one of the most
 divisive
rituals in churches today is water baptism. Each denomination believes their way of
water baptism is the way to be baptized which can include any of
the following methods:
Please go
to the next column entitled "Choke Points"
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Today's World News
Bethlehem-
Ephratah, Israel
-
The
words and lyrics of this old carol were written by
Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure in 1847. Cappeau was a
wine seller by trade but was asked by the parish priest
to write a poem for Christmas. He obliged and wrote the
beautiful words of the hymn. He then realised that it
should have music to accompany the words and he
approached his friend Adolphe Charles Adams(1803-1856).
He agreed and the music for the poem was therefore
composed by Adolphe Charles Adams. Adolphe had attended
the Paris conservatoire and forged a brilliant career as
a composer. It was translated into English by John
Sullivan Dwight (1812-1893).
O Holy Night!
O
Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
Led by the light
of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a
star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Truly He taught
us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
2 But thou, Bethlehem
Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of
Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that
is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been
from of old, from everlasting. 3 Therefore will he give
them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath
brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall
return unto the children of Israel. 4 And he shall stand
and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of
the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for
now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.
- Micah 5:2-4
The Seventh from Adam
by
Paul M. Sadler
"And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of
these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten
thousands of his saints."
- Jude 14
About
two weeks prior to teaching the Dispensation of
Conscience in my Dispensational Survey class at the
Berean Bible Institute, I raised the following question
to the student body. What is the significance of Enoch
being addressed as "the seventh from Adam"? The entire
class drew a blank -- they were stumped!! Although it
may seem rather insignificant at first glance, the Holy
Spirit has added this phrase for good reason. In fact,
this phraseology is only used in reference to Enoch.
A
number of the students gave some thought to the matter
and even ventured a couple of explanations, which were
true, but not the answer I was looking for. Finally, one
student eventually got two or three hints out of me and
came up with the answer. Upon arriving at the fourth and
fifth chapters of the Book of Genesis, I explained to
the class that there were two Enoch's before the days of
the great flood. Therefore, we must carefully
distinguish between the Enoch who descended from Cain,
and the Enoch who was the "seventh from Adam"
(Gen.
4:16-18 cf. 5:22-24).
The
first Enoch walked in the way of Cain -- his descendants
were morally bankrupt. God would have us follow
the example of Enoch, the seventh from Adam, who walked
in the way of faith. Thus
"Enoch
was translated that he should not see death; and was not
found [implying everyone searched for him],
because God had translated him: for before his
translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God"
- Hebrews 11:5
In
addition, the path of the coming Redeemer would pass
through Enoch, the seventh from Adam, not Cain's Enoch
(Gen. 3:15). So then, a seemingly insignificant phrase
suddenly helps us better appreciate that:
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness"
-
2 Timothy 3:16
(Choke Points of
Doctrine - con't)
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At birth (sprinkled
as an infant)
-
As a necessary
expression of one's new found faith in Jesus Christ
-
As part of a new
membership in a local
church or assembly
-
Immersion in a
baptismal, pool or ocean
-
Immersion three times forward or backward;
some denominations
mandate re-baptism for membership to a particular assembly.
I think I have
covered the majority of the various ways people can be baptized.
However, not mentioned in this list is the actual significance of water
baptism! Many denominations believe that a person is saved through the
act of water baptism. This is known as baptismal regeneration, for
without it, a person cannot have access to heaven. Most fundamentalists
will disagree with this line of thought and would argue that
we are saved by faith through Christ yet they still require water baptism
as
part of their statement of faith which only confuses the issue at hand.
 THEN
WHICH WAY IS THE CORRECT WAY TO BE WATER BAPTIZED? WHICH
DENOMINATION IS RIGHT? WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT WHETHER OR
NOT WE EVEN NEED TO BE BAPTIZED AT ALL?
To be continued
next edition.....
WHAT'S BEHIND OUR MORAL DECLINE?
by Cornelius R. Stam
One
does not have to be a prude to conclude that our country is
suffering a serious moral decline. Our rulers and law
enforcement agencies seem powerless to cope with it.
Campaigns to check it seem vain. J. Edgar Hoover of the FBI
warned us again and again that the alarming rate of this
downward trend would spell ruin for America if not checked
soon. But what most people fail to realize is that behind
this moral decline there is a spiritual decline. America has
departed from God and His Word.
Paul’s letter to the Romans tells us how the heathen got
that way.
Romans 1:21,22
says:
“When they
knew God they glorified Him not as God, neither were
thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their
foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise
they became fools,” and the verses that follow tell how God
finally had to “give them up” to “uncleanness” and “vile
affections”—all because “they did not like [wish] to
retain God in their knowledge” (Ver. 28).
St.
Paul further describes them in
Ephesians 4:17-19,
as walking
“in the vanity
of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being
alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is
in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who being
past feeling [conscience] have given themselves over to
lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.”
This, sad to say,
is an accurate description of increasing numbers in America
today. They are throwing off restraint and going after
uncleanness “with greediness.”
But
this is not liberty, it is enslavement. It is not a sign of
strength, but of weakness. It does not indicate superior
intelligence, but grossest ignorance, and is the result of
alienation from God. How much better off are those who have
come to know God through Christ! Of these the Apostle says:
“And you, who were once alienated and enemies in your mind
by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled, in the body of
His flesh, through death, to present you holy and
unblameable and unreprovable in His sight” (Col. 1:21,22).
"Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus
Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from
this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father."
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COFFEE
CORNER
Thanksgiving should be a world event celebrated daily.....
Thanksgiving is not about the food we gorge
ourselves with; although I do enjoy eating
turkey, ham, lasagna, and green beans quite a bit. And
not that I stop there because after feasting on pumpkin
pie I will need a gallon of coffee to avoid falling into
a turkey-induced, Tryptophan, coma.
Thanksgiving is not about the pro football games
that are on television although I do enjoy some
of the rivalries that have developed over the years. But
after watching some of the stinkeroo games
scheduled this year (other than Green Bay versus Detroit)
please refer back to the turkey-induced coma....
In fact, Thanksgiving is not necessarily about how
thankful we should be for the liberty we have in this
country, our families (uh...well maybe I shouldn't go
there either...) and the day-to day practical blessings
we have. Although the latter paragraph is on the right
track, its not what I had in mind for this article....
After God's Son Jesus Christ died on the cross as our
perfect, replacement agent for the sins of man, He was
buried (3 full, 72 hour days...) and He gloriously rose
again! But it gels better friends....Jesus Christ not
only took care of the debt and penalty of our sins for
the eternal assurance of heaven but He gave us His
very righteousness!!! In fact, all who would simply
believe the above good news is saved. The only problem
this seems to present to man is that it is too easy to
believe. Let me tell you something friends, it wasn't easy for God. I once heard
an old-time preacher say when God created the
universe, He simply spoke it into existence, but when He
provided salvation through his Son, He rolled up His
sleeves.
 Since
His chosen nation Israel had rejected its Messiah and
Gentiles were already lost in idolatry (....this
fact goes back to Genesis
11 when God judged them after their rebellion and
disobedience at the Tower of Babel....RICK),
there was no longer any hope for mankind. With only
judgment and the
events of the tribulation to look forward to, God
did something that caught Satan himself by surprise! He
changed His dealings with mankind in a way that he had
never done before. Through
God's
Riches
At
Christ's
Expense
he saved man's best representative of the law when He
saved the apostle Paul. Consequently, Paul was also
man's best representative of a murderous heart.
When Jesus Christ saved Paul (who was Saul of Tarsus), He gave him a new
set of marching orders that were different than
anything that had been previously revealed. In fact,
Paul called it a mystery that had been hidden in
God which was planned since the foundation of the world.
However, this secret is not meant to be a secret today
friends because all of Paul's letters discuss it
plainly! Satan has blinded the
minds of non-believers AND believers. Most believers
only think that The Adversary does his best in adult
films, bars or anything that doesn't have a Christian
label on it. The fact is he sits comfortably in the
church today doing his best work using preachers and
teachers as angels of light!
The fact that God
would again change his dispensed instructions for
mankind truly amazes me since we have been such terrible
stewards throughout mankind's' pitiful existence! But let these
verses sink in for a minute:
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time
Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a
righteous man will one die:
yet
peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood,
we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we
were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we
shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through
our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Now here is something
to be truly thankful for on a daily basis, all over the
world! While we were without strength, dead in our sins,
without hope and ungodly, Christ died for us; He died
for me and he died for you. While some
might die for a righteous man or perhaps maybe a good
man, God demonstrated His great love for us in that
while we were still sinners (in state and in deed)
Christ died for us. In addition, we shall be saved from
any wrath! That means that God will not judge
planet earth while His blood-bought children are on it;
despite what you may hear from televangelists! Terrorist
acts such as 9/11, World Wars and other horrors
responsible for the loss of human life are man's
doings on his own since he is a murderer in his heart of
hearts.
Jesus told Paul to
tell us that if we were reconciled to God as enemies,
MUCH MORE THEN being justified (taking on Christ's very
righteousness) we shall be saved from His wrath and
saved by His life! And not only that but we also joy in
God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we NOW have
received the AT-ONE-MENT (being one with Jesus) or
atonement! In times past and in other economies of God (in
his previous dealings with mankind as chronicled by
specific instructions) the sacrificial system of the
law "atoned" or covered up sin until Jesus Christ's
al-sufficient work at Calvary:
Hebrews 9:2-15 -
2 For there was a tabernacle made;
the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table,
and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. 3 And
after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called
the Holiest of all; 4 Which had the golden censer, and
the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold,
wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's
rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; 5 And
over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat;
of which we cannot now speak particularly. 6 Now when
these things were thus ordained, the priests went always
into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of
God. 7 But into the second went the high priest alone
once every year, not without blood, which he offered for
himself, and for the errors of the people: 8 The Holy
Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of
all was not yet made manifest, while as the first
tabernacle was yet standing: 9 Which was a figure for
the time then present, in which were offered both gifts
and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the
service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; 10
Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers
washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until
the time of reformation. 11 But
Christ being come an high priest of good things to come,
by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with
hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither
by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood
he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained
eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of
bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer
sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of
the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ,
who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without
spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to
serve the living God? 15 And for this cause he is the
mediator of the new testament, that by means of death,
for the redemption of the transgressions that were under
the first testament, they which are called might receive
the promise of eternal inheritance.
Friends, although
heart-warming, why the emphasis on the earthly ministry
of Jesus? Do we not have much, much more than what the
12 apostles had? Why is the message of Jesus Christ
according to the revelation of the mystery not taught,
read about or preached? What was true in Paul's
almost-sarcastic charge to the church at Ephesus
still holds true today:
For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for
you Gentiles, If ye have heard of
the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me
to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known
unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in
the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made
known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto
his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the
Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body,
and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of
the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working
of his power. - Ephesians
3:1-6
Why not the emphasis
in bible teaching on the oneness we have in Christ
Jesus! Why are there not more discussions of the Holy
Spirit living in us! Living in us!!! Why not more
discussions about being complete in Christ.
Complete friends! Imagine a sports example; Peyton
Manning throws a touchdown pass every time he throws the
ball.....55 for 55, no picks and 55
touchdowns.....complete means complete and that is what
we have in Christ!
...."Now here is something
to be truly thankful for on a daily basis, all over the
world! While we were without strength, dead in our sins,
without hope and ungodly, Christ died for us; He died
for me and he died for you".....
I hope that this
article stirs your heart and mind so that we could refer
back to His timeless words again and again to find
comfort and strength in the present evil world. My
prayer is that my extended family and friends would
embrace the grace of God as Jesus revealed it to Paul.
Friends, this is
simply the tip of the iceberg as to why Thanksgiving
should be celebrated on a daily basis and recognized
across the globe.
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been revoked".
Joe
knew that this could be a major problem in that he would not be able
to get his work completed without access to area XYZ! However, after
further review of the e-mail, the man quickly discovered that he was
not the intended recipient but instead "copied" or "cc'd" as a
reference only! As it turns out, a collogue of his was the man who lost
his access! Joe, as the superintendent of area XYZ, simply needed to
be aware of this. For a brief moment, Joe confused his TO
mail with his CC mail. Not understanding that distinction for
those brief seconds after reading the message caused severe anxiety for
Joe until he realized the message was indeed TO someone else!
In a much similar example, when
we
read the bible, identifying our TO
mail is very important lest
we make the same fundamental mistake as the person above. Without
understanding the distinction between our "to" mail and our
"cc" or our "reference only" mail, believers inadvertently
"read themselves" into areas of the bible that God did not intend.
The result when this happens: confusion!
(see
