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Life Insurance:
It's not just "fire As special and wonderfully glorious as the death, burial and resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ is, did you ever wonder why it is all we hear from our pulpits??? One would seem to quickly forget that without Our Lord’s suffering in His death, burial and resurrection for our sins, we would not be able to even talk about understanding the riches of His grace! The distinctive message that our risen Lord revealed to the apostle Paul goes basically un-noticed. Many would emphasize the words of Christ while He was veiled in flesh; yet place little or no emphasis on His words after His glorious resurrection! This thinking and teaching, in essence, attempts to minimize the very work of Christ as concerning justification of the believer. It is where the Body of Christ fails to “rightly divide the word of truth”. When we as good stewards or managers (1 Corinthians 4:1-7) of God’s grace understand this difference, this is where our salvation becomes more than just “fire insurance” which saves us from the penalty of death and hell (Philippians 2:12,13 and 3:7-21). That’s why our apostle Paul prays in Ephesians 1:15-23 (a prayer that goes basically unnoticed today...): “ Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all”. The apostle Paul goes on to say “we henceforth know we no man after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more”… Read his exhortation in 2 Corinthians 5 for yourself! Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is now a new creature, old things are passed away because it is the Father who chose to reconcile us with Christ Jesus and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation. Unfortunately, in many instances, the Body of Christ in its perversion of God’s dealing with mankind has chosen to uphold the ministry of division amongst the brethren instead! Too many well known preachers and teachers would rather confuse believers while keeping them chained to "The Big Four".... This is what I call the unofficial "silent requirement" that many leaderships yoke their congregations to in order to "prove their love" for God or even their pastor. These services include: · Sunday school · The Sunday A.M. service · The Sunday P.M. service · Wednesday prayer service (which has now replaced orthodoxy's weekly confessional!) Friends, I am not against going to church to fellowship with other believers of “the faith” as distinctly revealed to us by Jesus Christ. I am truly against the legalism that has infiltrated into our pulpits since the apostle Paul warned young Timothy nearly 2,000 years ago. Why is it that you will hardly hear a pastor preach “let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon or of the Sabbath days…Colossians 2:16,17 ”??? Why is it that we neglect our families for a higher calling and assume that this is what God would want?
Maybe sometimes and unfortunately your pastor may need to count on your "faithful attendance" so he can lead a lavish lifestyle at your expense or boast about numbers to pad his ego. However, if a man preaches the message of grace and “the faith” as revealed to us by the apostle Paul, he should be able to “live of the gospel”. I have supported and will continue to support such men. I am afraid that church has become a duty, a social event and something to do that gains favor from God when in fact, we have attained all the favor we will ever need because Christ IS our righteousness! It is my prayer that you faithfully check the scriptures in light of this article and support a ministry that “rightly divides the word of truth”. And I don’t mean LMM, but I will take your prayers! "I am afraid that church has become a duty, a social event and something to do that gains favor from God when in fact, we have attained all the favor we will ever need because Christ IS our righteousness!" I hope and pray that faithful men will spend more time preaching the meat of grace, more “life insurance” that is about the riches of the grace of God because of the faithful, completed, work of Christ and abundant, life in the Holy Spirit while teaching and preaching LESS about “Fire Insurance”! (ref. Hebrews 6:1-3, 1 Corinthians3)
Components of the Mystery: 1) The preaching of the cross as compared to prophetic scriptures concerning the crucifixion were not preached until Paul. (see I Corinthians 1:17-18.) 2) God's Gentile program (which is now in the forefront during Israel's blindness) was unknown prior to Paul's teachings. (see Romans 11:25 and compare the scripture with Mark 7:26,27.) 3) The catching away (also known as "the rapture") of the Body of Christ. (see 1 Corinthians 15:51 as well as "our blessed hope" in Titus 2:13).
4) The union of Christ and the Church
in one Body. This concept was never introduced in any
dispensing of God’s prior administrations. 5) The equality of Jew and Gentile alike in the Body of Christ. (Ephesians 2:11-16)
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Some things to consider.....by Peter Bruno
I
believe there are some things that are imperative to consider and
understand, when rightly dividing the word of God. There are three things necessary when reading, studying and meditating on the word of God. In starting a business, they are location, location and location. When studying the word “rightly divided” they are context, context and context. “Anticipated revelation”, is a term I first became familiar with, through Pastor Paul Sadler. I will attempt to explain this term briefly. Anticipated revelation occurs when we impose the understanding we have received by the revelation of the Holy Spirit within the Dispensation of Grace, into another age, or dispensation. This is like attempting to mix water with oil… it never mixes! It causes nothing but confusion, and the results of our understanding will always be incorrect in relation to rightly dividing the word. Paul talks about this in Romans 11 when he states: “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” Let’s consider the fact that God is perfect, pure, true, and complete within Himself. He states in the bible that He places His word above all things, even Himself. Remembering all this, we then could say in a sense, that God has restricted Himself to all of the previously mentioned! Let’s re-visit the concept of God’s Grace existing in all ages and dispensations and the Dispensation of Grace, which we live in today. God’s Grace did indeed exist in all ages and dispensations from the beginning of time, but only within the confines, limits, and restrictions of what He had dispensed in each age. As Creator, His grace could only be dispensed at His discretion while within the restrictions of His own Word, in all ages, and dispensations previous to the Dispensation of Grace. However, in this wonderful Dispensation of Grace, the Lord Jesus Christ revealed to our apostle Paul God’s ultimate, totally unconditional grace absent of any limits or restrictions in our salvation and walk. Most fundamental, bible-believing churches would agree with the “salvation” part. It’s the “walk” part or “discipleship” that becomes the line of demarcation! See Romans 4:4-6, Romans 5:8, Colossians 2:6. This is a result of the FINISHED WORK OF JESUS CHRIST! Lastly, let’s consider at a few examples of specific singular words with different meanings, which are dependent upon context: Apostle: sent one; use of this word in scripture does not always refer to the 12 Apostles. It simply means sent one (by God). The context will determine its correct meaning. Gospel: good news; gospel does not always denote salvation. It simply means good news such as the gospel preached in the book of John. Here the word “gospel” in its context is referring to the offering of the Kingdom to Israel, not a way of salvation for the Body of Christ as is taught in many a pulpit. Faith: Paul many times spoke of the “the faith” including when writing to young Pastor Timothy. However, Hebrews 11 clearly demonstrates the outward expression of “the faith” in each of the believers spoken of. Abel believed God and offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain. Enoch was translated to heaven because his testimony of “the faith” was pleasing to God. By faith, Noah believed God and built the ark. These dear saints demonstrated their faith as an outward testimony of an inward change. But today friend, THROUGH Christ we can say: “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness”! These are but a few things to consider while understanding and arriving at the correct conclusion of God’s Word Rightly Divided! Forgiveness: "Once is enough" 24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. - Hebrews 9:24-28 The fact that Paul mentioned that Jesus Christ did not enter into a sanctuary or holy place on our behalf but instead entered into heaven is for another discussion. But rather, I would like to talk about Christ's glorious accomplishment of the cross in regards to the forgiveness of sin. If Jesus Christ died, was buried and rose again 2,000 years ago to provide salvation upon all who believe upon this finished work, would not then all sins be future sins??? For then I could boldly claim, past present and future sins have been dealt with at the cross. Nowhere do we read about the details of this wonderful, distinct, good news until Christ instructed Paul of this "mystery" in order to provide comfort and rest upon those who would just simply believe. "If Jesus Christ died, was buried and rose again 2,000 years ago to provide salvation upon all who believe upon this finished work, would not then all sins be future sins???" The bible says that Christ died once for all sins inclusively yet there would be those who prefer to teach forgiveness by the installment plan. When we sin (it is taught) we MUST ask for forgiveness lest our "fellowship" not "relationship" be impacted in some way. If I am complete in Christ (Col. 2:10), then how could there EVER be a "fellowship" problem lest God the Father had a problem with Jesus Christ! The question we must ask ourselves is: "Did Jesus Christ complete the work or not?" If it was indeed completed and we accepted that fact through taking God the Father at His word concerning His Son, then ALL sins, at ONCE were dealt with. Nowhere in Paul's epistles did Christ instruct him to teach us about incremental forgiveness or that we are to go to the "forgiveness bank" and make a withdrawal each time we sin. Instead, we are to believe that we ARE forgiven and thank God for it! Friend, is the riches of God's grace magnified when we believe Him and say thank you for Christ's all inclusive forgiveness or when we ask God to forgive us again and again when He told us that we already have been forgiven??? Is our forgiveness conditional based upon how many times we ask or are we to believe it is a done deal? Let's not ask how we feel or what we have heard from mainstream Christianity to find the truth. God The Holy Spirit will guide us to the scriptures to find the correct answer! I know, you may be asking but what about the verse in 1 John 1: 9 that says: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I would then ask you: Are we under law or grace? I believe that you would say we are most certainly under grace! I would ask this then: "As concerning what you believe about God's forgiveness under grace, why are you referring to the law to get an answer??? Does the following scripture sound a bit like 1 John 1:9?
(Go to 3rd Column "Forgiveness")
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Today's World News
Damascus - Late yesterday afternoon, Saul of Tarsus who was vehemently angry with the disciples of the Lord, was on his way to Damascus in order to deliver letters to the synagogues. This man who was trained at the feet of Gamaliel, (Acts 22) was zealous for the law as well as extremely knowledgeable in the scriptures. Mr. Tarsus had already taken many kingdom saints (including fathers, mothers and families) to prison in an attempt to stop the proliferation of the good news of who Jesus Christ really was. Eyewitness's say that a light brighter than anyone has ever seen before filled the area outside of Damascus blinding everyone in Mr. Tarsus' party except Saul himself. Sounds were heard by the outsiders but they were unable to understand what was going on. Nobody was seriously injured although Mr. Tarsus was indeed blinded by the incident and his journey was interrupted a bit. (See article in Acts 9 & 22) Colosse – In a world full of division, strife and hatred, we are to remember to set our minds on heavenly things, not on earthly things since we are already raised with Christ! This very same Christ is currently seated with God the Father. Since we have trusted in this, we have put off the old man and put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of God. Friend, in a world full of medication and "self-esteem" reinforcements in order to help us out of our depression, we should realize we are all sinners falling and continuing to fall short of God's standards. (Romans 3:23). But beyond God's glorious eternal security that we have because of Christ's completed, all-sufficient work imputed to us on our behalf, lies rest and peace in Him in our day-to-day lives as well! Do you remember when our Dad and Mom said "act your age???" In like fashion, we are to conduct ourselves and act as heirs of Jesus Christ as we have been placed in Him! Ephesus – Have you heard of the phrase “The World’s Best Kept Secret”? Here’s a secret that has been hidden by God since the foundation of the world but is now revealed to His saints although it is uncertain who has “even heard of it”.....
(Forgiveness: cont'd) "Friend, is the riches of God's grace magnified when we believe Him and say thank you for Christ's all inclusive forgiveness or when we ask God to forgive us again and again when He told us that we already have been forgiven???"
"40 If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me; 41 And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: 42 Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land." - Leviticus 26:40-42 The preceding scripture is God's instruction to the Nation of Israel under the law. If this is our marching orders than don't stop here. Rather, grab the bag of briquettes and start firing up the altar while your at it! We know that the bible says that "all scripture is profitable to us". All scripture is for us, but not all of it is to us. In the Old Testament, Israel's acceptance to God was based upon a contract that they imposed upon themselves, rather than fall upon the grace and favor of God. Notice the "if you do, then I will do" condition that Israel yoked upon themselves. From Exodus chapters 15 through 24 we can read of Israel's failed attempts to trust God. Yet, the nation could only still arrive at the conclusion that "we will listen and obey you Lord!" They were not falling upon His mercy, grace and sufficiency but instead contracting the law to be their righteousness rather than God. Israel deceived themselves by not acknowledging their own inabilities and failure. I am afraid that the Body of Christ has done the same thing today! We are to read and study the Old Testament in light of the glorious, current, administration of the grace of God because we do not want to make the same mistakes Israel made. We are to: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." - 2 Timothy 2:15 Friend, we cannot pick and choose to obey portions of scripture in one context without obeying the next chapter in a similar fashion. If we "rightly divide the word of truth", we would understand that although 1 John is scripture that is for us, it is not to us. In similar fashion and as an example, books such as Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy are all God's Word, important and profitable for instruction, but not our doctrine or marching orders for day-to- living! There is also scripture that is applicable to future saints for doctrine when Israel is brought back into the picture after the rapture of the Body of Christ. These books of the bible for this time include: Hebrews, James (just read the first verse!), 1 & 2 Peter, 1,2,3 John, Jude, and the book of the Revelation. Here, back under the law and Israel back in the forefront, forgiveness is dependent upon an outward expression of faith, confession or an obvious testimony. During this future time, the special dispensing of grace will have already been closed and the Holy Spirit working under a different operation of faith very similar to Old Testament times as described above. Why this excruciating detail my friend??? Because how God dealt with mankind has changed from time to time due to man's rebellion and lack of faith! In God's mercy, love and grace, He chose to change His administrations or dispensings (commonly referred to dispensations) because He is longsuffering! Had God not done this, mankind would have perished in unbelief long ago. In summary, Israel contracted their own "deal" with God rather than fall upon His grace. One of the facets of this contract was forgiveness as described above. Let's put aside our teachers, friends, pastors or any other man and see what scripture says about forgiveness today under the administration of grace that the risen Christ revealed to Paul to tell us how to live today in Colossians chapter 1 verses 3 through 14! Here, Paul in prison is encouraging us about the forgiveness that is complete in Christ! Was there any forgiveness qualification needed on our behalf other than believing on Him??? There is not a shred of scriptural evidence in Paul's letters that tells us to ask God for forgiveness each time we sin. If that were required in order to get "right with God" we would need to spend all of our time on this earth doing so! Friend, let's study and examine what the bible has to say rather than trust our feelings for "we are complete in Him"!
I've seen the
wicked fruit of your vine - Creed |
Coffee Corner
This issues' topic: "Evangelism For Today" - Part I One of the many failures of the Body of Christ today include the lack of understanding of the work and ministry of God The Holy Spirit! Notice in John 16, Jesus Christ did not tell His disciples that they would be "short-changed" in any way because of His imminent departure but instead in verse 7 said: "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you." Confused and uncertain of what would happen, the kingdom saints would be abraded by Christ later in Mark 16 for their unbelief on reports of His resurrection! 11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. 12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. 13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them. 14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. - Mark 16: 11-14 31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. 32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: 33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. 34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken. - Luke 18:31-34 In other areas of scripture the bible said that they were dull or that they did not understand. What a blessing would eventually come to pass as , Christ would reveal to Paul, to believers today, about the "tabernacling" of the Holy Spirit within the believer at the moment of salvation! In the book of John while Christ preached "the kingdom at hand" the Holy Spirit did not indwell believers as He does today. Kingdom saints, received supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit or He came upon them. Today under God's dispensing of grace we have according to the mystery: 1) The sealing of the Holy Spirit - (EPH 1:13) 2) The prayers from the Holy Spirit - (ROM 8:26-28) 3) The peace of the Holy Spirit - (PHL 4:6,7) 4) The teaching of the Holy Spirit 5) The witness of the Holy Spirit - (ROM 1:18 -24)
It is point "5" where believers seem to feel that God has done an inadequate job in warning the lost. Creation, Conscience and Christ discussed in great detail in Romans 1,2 and 3 is apparently not good enough and God must be assisted by droves of believers going door to door to the unsaved or quitting their jobs to evangelize in the far reaches of the globe because God spoke to them! Friend, does He speak with scripture in its context by the teaching and leading of the Holy Spirit or are we lead by our own feelings? It is taught by many teachers and leaders that since Christ taught the 12 apostles to go to Jerusalem, Judea and the uttermost parts of the world that we are to go to "our" homes, communities and localities otherwise described as our own Jerusalem, Judea, etc... This interpretation of the bible is in error to say the least! If we are to interpret scripture in this fashion we are then "spiritualizing" something that was meant to be practical. What Christ instructed the 12 to do he meant literally. Therefore, if it is my desire to follow Christ's commands I should quit my job, and go to Jerusalem first, then Judea and to the uttermost parts of the world!
I heard from another grace teacher of a man who indeed began to "sell all" according to Christ's commands. As a matter of fact, his wife was about to leave him! We don't do this because secretly it causes a conflict and we don't want to tell anyone about it. Instead, we are forced to listen to the "spiritual gymnastics" that many leaders must perform in order to get around these verses found mostly in the four gospels in regards to evangelism. I know this well because I did the same thing. But friend, down inside I could not rest because it wasn't really settled. I knew it wasn't God's word that was wrong. Why didn't we sell all and go to Jerusalem??? A simple fundamental solution is context, context, context!! Brothers and sisters in Christ, I know that this will "ruffle many feathers", but I am more concerned about being approved before God than pleasing mankind.
The proverbial light went on in this hard, sinful head! Jesus Christ was talking to the 12 apostles, in Israel, under a different economy: The Law under the coming kingdom gospel. I had been taking someone else's instructions and tried to apply them to my life. I have found that this is a serious over-sight being taught in many ministries, some intentional for profit, some done in ignorance. Please understand that many a cult can be biblical and their teachings contextual. However, they fail in that they are not dispensational! As an example; we can be biblical by preaching about Noah and contextual when describing that he was instructed to build an ark to avoid judgment. However, I am not being dispensational if I teach that when it rains God may still judge us. Although this is an extreme example, this is a microcosm of the bigger problem in "rightly dividing" the word of truth!
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insurance" as has been previously reported....
Such things
include realizing the distinction between God’s grace existing in
dispensations of the past versus a dispensation filled with so much grace
it is called the Dispensation of Grace!
