Tuesday, December 15, 2009
On my way home from work tonight I turned to Moody radio. First mistake. There was a guy on Prime Time America that was telling the listening audience which Bible translation to use. He started out talking about the KJV. I figured this might be interesting. Second mistake. I figured he would say "they are all good and it didn't matter". WRONG! He proceeded to tell how bad the KJV was and it was full of mistakes. What is so sad, is that anyone that was listening and didn't study will believe him. The devil and his ministers are hard at work and have a large following of followers who don't know who they are following.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Do we go to Heaven when we die? (part 1)
By Pastor Barry Hampton
I was told as a young child that if I was good I would go to Heaven where God is. This concept was comforting to me even though it was vague as well. It just sounded like the way it was. As I continued to grow up this concept never left me and the pictures they painted are still etched in my mind, of pearly gates, streets of Gold, and Mansions. It seemed so fantastic. John 14:1-3 comes to mind, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am there ye may be also.” Heaven was a vague but comforting place, a final place for us to live after our works had been tried. On the other side of that was the terrifying place of Torment, HELL!
Most of this was told us in Churches that only taught Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. I didn’t even know of an apostle Paul, Different Gospels, Rightly Dividing and the likes. It was only Jesus and the 12 Disciples.
How does one get into the pearly gates? During this time of my life, I thought God was going to put my good on one side and my bad on the other. Later I found out the Bible states there is None Good, no not one. YIKES! As I grew, my bad started heavily out weighing my good. The 24th of August 1983, I trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior. My sins have been paid for by the shed blood of my Lord and Savior. Thank God for his Grace. So I found out how to get into heaven was not like I had thought. But I was still looking forward to when I die entering into the pearly gates. This concept was comforting to me as a child, but right after trusting the Lord for my Salvation, it was even more exciting.
As I grew in the Lord, I thought about Heaven a lot more. I was reading and hearing preaching and considering what scripture said more and more. When Bro. E.C. Moore taught about Soul sleep I thought to myself, “What planet did he come from?” All the concepts I believed were being challenged. He stated that when we die we fall asleep until a day called the “Rapture” comes. Many people resist this thought because of their up bringing. That is, they have brought their vague and brief description of Heaven with them as they learn to rightly divide the scriptures. It is like we have to hang on to the past some how. By this point I realized that most of what I had heard as a child was a lie or vain belief. But more than that, I wanted to be a Bible believer, PERIOD! What did the Bible say about heaven?
First, let me start with pearly gates and streets of gold and mansions. This is what is described as Heaven for the most part, but what is it? Look at this city in Rev. 21:1-2 “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2. And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold the tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they [Israel check out Heb. 8:10] shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them and be their God.” It is a city and tabernacle of God, but it is not heaven! It comes down from heaven Rev 21:11. Rev. 21:21
“And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl:…” Thus we get the gates into heaven are “pearly gates.” This is not into heaven it is into the new city.
Heaven has streets of gold. Look in Rev. 21:21b “…and the street of the city was pure gold, as transparent glass.” Note the description is of the new city Jerusalem and not heaven.
This is where the Mansions in John 14 are being prepared for Israel. There are some other important facts as well that need to be considered. It comes to Earth. Israel’s hope was never to leave the planet….Israel’s hope has always been a kingdom set up here on earth.
1. the promise of a kingdom of priest Ex 19:5,6
2. This city has a very strong connection to Israel. Rev 21:11-14 “Having the glory of God; and her light was like unto stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates and at the gates twelve angels and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel; 13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the lamb.” All connect to Israel. I can promise you that the Apostle to the Gentiles was not named among them.
3. Israel will be this priesthood ministering to the Gentiles in the Kingdom as in Zech 8:22.
4. Peter talks about the priesthood in 1 Peter 2:9.
By Pastor Barry Hampton
I was told as a young child that if I was good I would go to Heaven where God is. This concept was comforting to me even though it was vague as well. It just sounded like the way it was. As I continued to grow up this concept never left me and the pictures they painted are still etched in my mind, of pearly gates, streets of Gold, and Mansions. It seemed so fantastic. John 14:1-3 comes to mind, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am there ye may be also.” Heaven was a vague but comforting place, a final place for us to live after our works had been tried. On the other side of that was the terrifying place of Torment, HELL!
Most of this was told us in Churches that only taught Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. I didn’t even know of an apostle Paul, Different Gospels, Rightly Dividing and the likes. It was only Jesus and the 12 Disciples.
How does one get into the pearly gates? During this time of my life, I thought God was going to put my good on one side and my bad on the other. Later I found out the Bible states there is None Good, no not one. YIKES! As I grew, my bad started heavily out weighing my good. The 24th of August 1983, I trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior. My sins have been paid for by the shed blood of my Lord and Savior. Thank God for his Grace. So I found out how to get into heaven was not like I had thought. But I was still looking forward to when I die entering into the pearly gates. This concept was comforting to me as a child, but right after trusting the Lord for my Salvation, it was even more exciting.
As I grew in the Lord, I thought about Heaven a lot more. I was reading and hearing preaching and considering what scripture said more and more. When Bro. E.C. Moore taught about Soul sleep I thought to myself, “What planet did he come from?” All the concepts I believed were being challenged. He stated that when we die we fall asleep until a day called the “Rapture” comes. Many people resist this thought because of their up bringing. That is, they have brought their vague and brief description of Heaven with them as they learn to rightly divide the scriptures. It is like we have to hang on to the past some how. By this point I realized that most of what I had heard as a child was a lie or vain belief. But more than that, I wanted to be a Bible believer, PERIOD! What did the Bible say about heaven?
First, let me start with pearly gates and streets of gold and mansions. This is what is described as Heaven for the most part, but what is it? Look at this city in Rev. 21:1-2 “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2. And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold the tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they [Israel check out Heb. 8:10] shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them and be their God.” It is a city and tabernacle of God, but it is not heaven! It comes down from heaven Rev 21:11. Rev. 21:21
“And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl:…” Thus we get the gates into heaven are “pearly gates.” This is not into heaven it is into the new city.
Heaven has streets of gold. Look in Rev. 21:21b “…and the street of the city was pure gold, as transparent glass.” Note the description is of the new city Jerusalem and not heaven.
This is where the Mansions in John 14 are being prepared for Israel. There are some other important facts as well that need to be considered. It comes to Earth. Israel’s hope was never to leave the planet….Israel’s hope has always been a kingdom set up here on earth.
1. the promise of a kingdom of priest Ex 19:5,6
2. This city has a very strong connection to Israel. Rev 21:11-14 “Having the glory of God; and her light was like unto stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates and at the gates twelve angels and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel; 13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the lamb.” All connect to Israel. I can promise you that the Apostle to the Gentiles was not named among them.
3. Israel will be this priesthood ministering to the Gentiles in the Kingdom as in Zech 8:22.
4. Peter talks about the priesthood in 1 Peter 2:9.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
We have made the move to our new location. We are on Hwy 151 just north of wood station. You will see a sign that says "Bible Study Sunday 6pm" at the turn in.
We will be starting in Romans 3 next Sunday night at 6pm.
There will be another study starting on Wednesday evenings at 7pm. We will be studying "After the Rapture".
All are welcome.
We will be starting in Romans 3 next Sunday night at 6pm.
There will be another study starting on Wednesday evenings at 7pm. We will be studying "After the Rapture".
All are welcome.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Things Paul Could Not Do
(Phil. 4:13)
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Paul, in writing to the Philippians, makes this statement which must be accepted within its context. Many people get all out of shape trying to appropriate the passage unto themselves IN EVERY THING in everyday life, but the truth in the verse can only be seen through obedience to I Cor. 2:13, "...comparing spiritual spiritual things with spiritual". For example, in Romans 7:14-19, Paul confesses that he is "...carnal, sold under sin," and says "...how to perform that which is good I find not." He tells the Galatians that the flesh and the Spirit "...are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would" (Gal. 5:17). By comparing spiritual things with spiritual things, I know that Paul cannot be saying that he can do all things WITHOUT EXCEPTION. Therefore, we must accept Phil. 4:13 within its context. Obviously there are things that, according to the scriptures, cannot be done.
In this evil day (Eph. 6:13) where every thing shown on television from sports, news, movies, and sitcoms is filled with nakedness, pornography, and open discussions about sex, it seems that most television evangelists are competing for an audience. Instead of preaching the Word of God rightly divided (2 Tim. 2:15), these preachers (male and female) seem to have the motive of competing for points in some form of ratings -- best acting, best production, best oration, best grammar, best hair pieces, best costumes, best panoramic view of the congregation, and last but by no means least, best NEW, NEW, NEW translation of the Bible.
There seems to be some concerted effort to stay away from Paul's doctrine (I Tim. 1:3, 2 Tim. 3:10). The power of the cross (I Cor. 1:18) and of the gospel (Rom. 1:16) is being supplanted by some supernatural, imaginary power received by the touch of the minister's hand, or by the suggestion that if one's faith is strong enough, this power can be obtained. Faith, however, no matter how strong, never brings anything into existence -- faith that pleases God (Heb. 11:6) simply says "Amen" to what God has already done.
If you can convince the public that you have the handle on some secret formula for great power, you can make a fortune selling it in mass. The public will break down your door to get to you, for in this day, power is what people are seeking. They stay up nights reading and thinking about it. They educate themselves to get it (think about that). They think it comes with wealth, so they buy lottery tickets to get it. (In fact, a large number of the influential men and women of this world get their power through the printing press! It's called money, but it is really paper colored with ink, and if they lose it they lose their power!) So, if you can convince people of some imaginary god (Gen. 6:5, Gen. 8:21, Rom. 1:23, 2 Cor. 4:4) who by faith and confession in him will give them power, they will "fall for it." Men would sell their souls ( Matt. 16:26) for a fleeting moment of power -- so they will try anything to get it, such as kneeling down and allowing some con-artist to lay hands on them.
Just about any and everything is being taught by religious leader to show that they have power over others:
-- power to heal
-- power to keep the law
-- power to live about sin, etc.
Question: How did Paul, the greatest Christian that ever lived since Jesus Christ, miss all this great power that is promised through television ministries and in thousands of churches in the United States?
Phil. 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." We have already seen that the verse must be accepted in the light of the context. If one is to follow Paul (see vs. 9, "Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do..."; and I Cor. 11:1, "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ), then if you do what he said, you must learn to be content in any circumstance ("...I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content", Phil 4:11). Can your TV evangelist do those things of verse 12 ("...to be abased...to be hungry...to suffer need")? How about you, can you suffer affliction graciously (vs. 14)? Paul is obviously not speaking of mighty and heroic deeds done in the sight of men whereby he gains applause and wealth.
Some things Paul could not do:
I. KEEP THE LAW --
Rom. 3:12: "...there is none that doeth good, not not one."
Rom. 3:19: "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God."
Rom. 3:23: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
Rom. 7:14: "...I am carnal, sold under sin."
Rom. 7:15-16: "...for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I."
This brings up the question then, if Paul could not keep the law, why was the law given, and what is the answer the problem of his failure and inability to keep it? The answer is, the law taught Paul that he needed a Savior (Gal. 3:22-24, "...the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ...").
After Paul was saved, he saw that he was dead to the law and that the law was taken out of the way --
Rom. 7:4: "...ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ..."
Col 2:14: "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"
Gal. 3:25: "But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster."
Think about Gal. 3:19, "Wherefore then serveth the law?" -- why would God ask such a question if he commanded them to keep the law?
II. LIVE VICTORIOUSLY OVER SIN --
Rom. 7:19-20, "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me."
After salvation he saw that he was dead to sin --
Rom. 6:3: "...so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death..."
Rom. 6:7: "For he that is dead is freed from sin."
Rom. 6:11: "...reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin..."
Gal. 2:20: "I am crucified with Christ..."
So, he claimed the truth of passages such as --
Col. 2:13: "And you...hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses"
Rom. 4:7-8: "...Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin."
III. PAUL COULD NOT SAVE HIMSELF --
Rom. 5:6: "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly."
He was not given that overcoming power" given to tribulation saints --
Matt. 24:13: "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."
John 1:12: "...to them gave he power to become the sons of God..."
Acts 1:8: "...ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses (martyrs) unto me..."
Rev. 2:26: "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end..."
Rev. 2:10-11: "be thou faithful unto death..."
Rev. 12:11: "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."
Rev. 3:5: "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment..."
Rev. 3:21: "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame..."
Since Paul was not given this overcoming power (nor could he be, compare Matt. 12:31-32 and I Tim. 1:12-14), he had to put his faith in and trust the one who overcame by dying the death of the cross in his place --
Phil. 2:8: "...he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross"
Rom. 4:25: "Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification"
Rom. 5:19: "...so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous
IV. PAUL COULD NOT "BIND SATAN" (a favorite of many religious con-artists)--
Eph. 6:10-12: "...be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the whiles of the devil."
2 Cor. 12:8-10: "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not..."
V. PAUL COULD NOT HEAL THE SICK IN HIS LATER MINISTRY --
I Tim. 5:23: "Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for they stomach's sake and thin often infirmities."
II Tim. 4:20: "...Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick."
Paul himself could not be healed --
II Cor. 12:8-10: "For this thing I besought the Lord thrice...he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee...Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities..."
In fact, from the time of Acts 16:10, God provided Luke, a physician, to travel with him wherever he went (Col. 4:14, 2 Tim. 4:11).
Doesn't it seem strange that none of Paul's followers could lay hands on him and heal him? Think of the numerous men of God in all those churches that he established, and yet there is no record of any of them having "a healing ministry"! It seems that all of the "great power of God" to perform miracles just leaped clear over the saved of several centuries and landed on the Oral Robertses and Benny Hinns of this world. Paul had a doctor with him for several years, but instead of complaining he said, "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me," and again he said, "...I take pleasure in infirmities...for when I am weak, then am I strong" (2 Cor. 12:9-10).
We can easily see that Paul's attitude was quite different from that of the modern day "miracle-working healers" who deceive the sick and crippled instead of teaching them to give glory to God, that in their circumstance is when the power of Christ will rest upon them, and that it is when they are weak and take pleasure in infirmities that they are strong -- but who is sufficient for these things? So God said, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all they ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct they paths."
E.C. Moore
(Phil. 4:13)
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Paul, in writing to the Philippians, makes this statement which must be accepted within its context. Many people get all out of shape trying to appropriate the passage unto themselves IN EVERY THING in everyday life, but the truth in the verse can only be seen through obedience to I Cor. 2:13, "...comparing spiritual spiritual things with spiritual". For example, in Romans 7:14-19, Paul confesses that he is "...carnal, sold under sin," and says "...how to perform that which is good I find not." He tells the Galatians that the flesh and the Spirit "...are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would" (Gal. 5:17). By comparing spiritual things with spiritual things, I know that Paul cannot be saying that he can do all things WITHOUT EXCEPTION. Therefore, we must accept Phil. 4:13 within its context. Obviously there are things that, according to the scriptures, cannot be done.
In this evil day (Eph. 6:13) where every thing shown on television from sports, news, movies, and sitcoms is filled with nakedness, pornography, and open discussions about sex, it seems that most television evangelists are competing for an audience. Instead of preaching the Word of God rightly divided (2 Tim. 2:15), these preachers (male and female) seem to have the motive of competing for points in some form of ratings -- best acting, best production, best oration, best grammar, best hair pieces, best costumes, best panoramic view of the congregation, and last but by no means least, best NEW, NEW, NEW translation of the Bible.
There seems to be some concerted effort to stay away from Paul's doctrine (I Tim. 1:3, 2 Tim. 3:10). The power of the cross (I Cor. 1:18) and of the gospel (Rom. 1:16) is being supplanted by some supernatural, imaginary power received by the touch of the minister's hand, or by the suggestion that if one's faith is strong enough, this power can be obtained. Faith, however, no matter how strong, never brings anything into existence -- faith that pleases God (Heb. 11:6) simply says "Amen" to what God has already done.
If you can convince the public that you have the handle on some secret formula for great power, you can make a fortune selling it in mass. The public will break down your door to get to you, for in this day, power is what people are seeking. They stay up nights reading and thinking about it. They educate themselves to get it (think about that). They think it comes with wealth, so they buy lottery tickets to get it. (In fact, a large number of the influential men and women of this world get their power through the printing press! It's called money, but it is really paper colored with ink, and if they lose it they lose their power!) So, if you can convince people of some imaginary god (Gen. 6:5, Gen. 8:21, Rom. 1:23, 2 Cor. 4:4) who by faith and confession in him will give them power, they will "fall for it." Men would sell their souls ( Matt. 16:26) for a fleeting moment of power -- so they will try anything to get it, such as kneeling down and allowing some con-artist to lay hands on them.
Just about any and everything is being taught by religious leader to show that they have power over others:
-- power to heal
-- power to keep the law
-- power to live about sin, etc.
Question: How did Paul, the greatest Christian that ever lived since Jesus Christ, miss all this great power that is promised through television ministries and in thousands of churches in the United States?
Phil. 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." We have already seen that the verse must be accepted in the light of the context. If one is to follow Paul (see vs. 9, "Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do..."; and I Cor. 11:1, "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ), then if you do what he said, you must learn to be content in any circumstance ("...I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content", Phil 4:11). Can your TV evangelist do those things of verse 12 ("...to be abased...to be hungry...to suffer need")? How about you, can you suffer affliction graciously (vs. 14)? Paul is obviously not speaking of mighty and heroic deeds done in the sight of men whereby he gains applause and wealth.
Some things Paul could not do:
I. KEEP THE LAW --
Rom. 3:12: "...there is none that doeth good, not not one."
Rom. 3:19: "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God."
Rom. 3:23: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
Rom. 7:14: "...I am carnal, sold under sin."
Rom. 7:15-16: "...for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I."
This brings up the question then, if Paul could not keep the law, why was the law given, and what is the answer the problem of his failure and inability to keep it? The answer is, the law taught Paul that he needed a Savior (Gal. 3:22-24, "...the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ...").
After Paul was saved, he saw that he was dead to the law and that the law was taken out of the way --
Rom. 7:4: "...ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ..."
Col 2:14: "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"
Gal. 3:25: "But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster."
Think about Gal. 3:19, "Wherefore then serveth the law?" -- why would God ask such a question if he commanded them to keep the law?
II. LIVE VICTORIOUSLY OVER SIN --
Rom. 7:19-20, "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me."
After salvation he saw that he was dead to sin --
Rom. 6:3: "...so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death..."
Rom. 6:7: "For he that is dead is freed from sin."
Rom. 6:11: "...reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin..."
Gal. 2:20: "I am crucified with Christ..."
So, he claimed the truth of passages such as --
Col. 2:13: "And you...hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses"
Rom. 4:7-8: "...Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin."
III. PAUL COULD NOT SAVE HIMSELF --
Rom. 5:6: "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly."
He was not given that overcoming power" given to tribulation saints --
Matt. 24:13: "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."
John 1:12: "...to them gave he power to become the sons of God..."
Acts 1:8: "...ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses (martyrs) unto me..."
Rev. 2:26: "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end..."
Rev. 2:10-11: "be thou faithful unto death..."
Rev. 12:11: "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."
Rev. 3:5: "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment..."
Rev. 3:21: "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame..."
Since Paul was not given this overcoming power (nor could he be, compare Matt. 12:31-32 and I Tim. 1:12-14), he had to put his faith in and trust the one who overcame by dying the death of the cross in his place --
Phil. 2:8: "...he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross"
Rom. 4:25: "Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification"
Rom. 5:19: "...so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous
IV. PAUL COULD NOT "BIND SATAN" (a favorite of many religious con-artists)--
Eph. 6:10-12: "...be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the whiles of the devil."
2 Cor. 12:8-10: "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not..."
V. PAUL COULD NOT HEAL THE SICK IN HIS LATER MINISTRY --
I Tim. 5:23: "Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for they stomach's sake and thin often infirmities."
II Tim. 4:20: "...Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick."
Paul himself could not be healed --
II Cor. 12:8-10: "For this thing I besought the Lord thrice...he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee...Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities..."
In fact, from the time of Acts 16:10, God provided Luke, a physician, to travel with him wherever he went (Col. 4:14, 2 Tim. 4:11).
Doesn't it seem strange that none of Paul's followers could lay hands on him and heal him? Think of the numerous men of God in all those churches that he established, and yet there is no record of any of them having "a healing ministry"! It seems that all of the "great power of God" to perform miracles just leaped clear over the saved of several centuries and landed on the Oral Robertses and Benny Hinns of this world. Paul had a doctor with him for several years, but instead of complaining he said, "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me," and again he said, "...I take pleasure in infirmities...for when I am weak, then am I strong" (2 Cor. 12:9-10).
We can easily see that Paul's attitude was quite different from that of the modern day "miracle-working healers" who deceive the sick and crippled instead of teaching them to give glory to God, that in their circumstance is when the power of Christ will rest upon them, and that it is when they are weak and take pleasure in infirmities that they are strong -- but who is sufficient for these things? So God said, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all they ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct they paths."
E.C. Moore
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
THINGS TO CONSIDER
By Steve Atwood
As you consider the following FACTS please keep in mind that the words of Paul in Romans through Philemon are the Words of CHRIST. However, many times they differ drastically from the words of Christ during his earthly ministry.
I. SALVATION:
FACT 1
UNDER THE KINGDOM MESSAGE AS UNDER THE LAW WORKS WERE ALWAYS A PART OF SALVATION, BUT UNDER GRACE SALVATION IS A FREE GIFT WITHOUT WORKS.
PETER: Act 10:34-35 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
PAUL: Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Eph 2:8 -9 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.
FACT 2
CHRIST SPECIFICALLY TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES AND OTHERS TO KEEP THE LAW. PAUL SAID WE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW.
CHRIST: Mt 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God:but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Matt 23:1-3 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
JEWS: Acts 21:20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:
PAUL: Romans 7:6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
FACT 3
THE TWELVE TAUGHT THAT WORKS WERE NECESSARY FOR SALVATION WHILE PAUL TAUGHT THEY WERE NOT.
JAMES: James 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
PAUL: Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
FACT 4
BAPTISM IS A WORK AND WAS NECESSARY FOR ISRAEL'S SALVATION BUT HAS NO PLACE IN GOD'S PROGRAM FOR TODAY. WE ARE LIVING IN THE DISPENSATION OF THE GRACE OF GOD. (EPHESIANS 3:1-6)
PETER: Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
1 Pet 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filthiness of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,)by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
PAUL: Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Rom 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
FACT 5
JESUS TAUGHT THAT FORGIVENESS WAS CONDITIONAL ON MAN FORGIVING OTHERS WHILE PAUL TAUGHT THAT WE ARE FORGIVEN BASED SOLELY ON WHAT CHRIST DID.
JESUS: Matt 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
PAUL: Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
FACT 6
JESUS TAUGHT THAT THERE WAS AN UNPARDONABLE SIN AND YET PAUL SAID THAT THERE WAS FORGIVENESS FOR ALL SINS.
JESUS: Matt 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
PAUL: Acts 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
II. THE GOSPEL
FACT 7
JESUS TOLD THE TWELVE TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM WHILE PAUL WAS GIVEN THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD.
JESUS: Matt 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
PAUL: Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God.
FACT 8
PETER PREACHED THAT SINS WOULD BE BLOTTED OUT AT THE SECOND COMING WHILE PAUL PREACHED THAT CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS, THUS WE NOW HAVE FORGIVENESS. PETER NEVER PREACHES CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS IN THE BOOK OF ACTS.
PETER: Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
PAUL: 1Cor 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how 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:
FACT 9
PETER PREACHED THAT CHRIST WAS RAISED TO SIT ON THE THRONE OF DAVID WHILE PAUL PREACHED THAT HE WAS RAISED FOR OUR JUSTIFICATION ACCORDING TO "HIS" GOSPEL.
PETER: Act 2:29-30 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn wit an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
PAUL: 2 Tim 2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
Rom 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
III. MINISTRY
FACT 10
PETER WAS SENT TO BAPTIZE WHILE PAUL WAS SENT NOT TO BAPTIZE:
PETER: Matt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
PAUL: 1Cor 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
FACT 11
JESUS WAS A MINISTER OF THE CIRCUMCISION (JEWS), AS WERE THE TWELVE, WHILE PAUL WAS THE MINISTER TO THE GENTILES
JESUS: Rom 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirming the promises made unto the fathers:
TWELVE: Matt 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
PAUL: Romans 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
V. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
FACT 12
JESUS TAUGHT THAT THERE WAS NO NEED TO WORK FOR A LIVING SINCE THE KINGDOM WAS AT HAND WHILE PAUL SAID IF WE DIDN'T WORK THAT WE SHOULDN'T EAT.
JESUS: Matt 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
TWELVE: Acts 2:44-45 And all that believed were together, and had all things common and sold their Possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
PAUL: 2Thes 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
1 Tim 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
FACT 13
JESUS TAUGHT CONCERNING PRAYER, ASK AND YE SHALL RECEIVE, AND YET PAUL WAS DENIED THIS PRIVILEGE AND WAS TOLD THAT GOD'S GRACE WAS SUFFICIENT.
JESUS: Matt 7:7-8 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
PAUL: 2 Cor 12:8-9 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
FACT 14
JESUS TOLD THE DISCIPLES THAT THEY WOULD HAVE A SUPERNATURAL ENDOWMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, PAUL SAID THAT WE HAVE TO STUDY.
JESUS: Mark 13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
PAUL: 2 Tim 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
By Steve Atwood
As you consider the following FACTS please keep in mind that the words of Paul in Romans through Philemon are the Words of CHRIST. However, many times they differ drastically from the words of Christ during his earthly ministry.
I. SALVATION:
FACT 1
UNDER THE KINGDOM MESSAGE AS UNDER THE LAW WORKS WERE ALWAYS A PART OF SALVATION, BUT UNDER GRACE SALVATION IS A FREE GIFT WITHOUT WORKS.
PETER: Act 10:34-35 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
PAUL: Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Eph 2:8 -9 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.
FACT 2
CHRIST SPECIFICALLY TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES AND OTHERS TO KEEP THE LAW. PAUL SAID WE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW.
CHRIST: Mt 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God:but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Matt 23:1-3 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
JEWS: Acts 21:20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:
PAUL: Romans 7:6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
FACT 3
THE TWELVE TAUGHT THAT WORKS WERE NECESSARY FOR SALVATION WHILE PAUL TAUGHT THEY WERE NOT.
JAMES: James 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
PAUL: Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
FACT 4
BAPTISM IS A WORK AND WAS NECESSARY FOR ISRAEL'S SALVATION BUT HAS NO PLACE IN GOD'S PROGRAM FOR TODAY. WE ARE LIVING IN THE DISPENSATION OF THE GRACE OF GOD. (EPHESIANS 3:1-6)
PETER: Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
1 Pet 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filthiness of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,)by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
PAUL: Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Rom 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
FACT 5
JESUS TAUGHT THAT FORGIVENESS WAS CONDITIONAL ON MAN FORGIVING OTHERS WHILE PAUL TAUGHT THAT WE ARE FORGIVEN BASED SOLELY ON WHAT CHRIST DID.
JESUS: Matt 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
PAUL: Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
FACT 6
JESUS TAUGHT THAT THERE WAS AN UNPARDONABLE SIN AND YET PAUL SAID THAT THERE WAS FORGIVENESS FOR ALL SINS.
JESUS: Matt 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
PAUL: Acts 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
II. THE GOSPEL
FACT 7
JESUS TOLD THE TWELVE TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM WHILE PAUL WAS GIVEN THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD.
JESUS: Matt 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
PAUL: Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God.
FACT 8
PETER PREACHED THAT SINS WOULD BE BLOTTED OUT AT THE SECOND COMING WHILE PAUL PREACHED THAT CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS, THUS WE NOW HAVE FORGIVENESS. PETER NEVER PREACHES CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS IN THE BOOK OF ACTS.
PETER: Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
PAUL: 1Cor 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how 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:
FACT 9
PETER PREACHED THAT CHRIST WAS RAISED TO SIT ON THE THRONE OF DAVID WHILE PAUL PREACHED THAT HE WAS RAISED FOR OUR JUSTIFICATION ACCORDING TO "HIS" GOSPEL.
PETER: Act 2:29-30 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn wit an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
PAUL: 2 Tim 2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
Rom 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
III. MINISTRY
FACT 10
PETER WAS SENT TO BAPTIZE WHILE PAUL WAS SENT NOT TO BAPTIZE:
PETER: Matt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
PAUL: 1Cor 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
FACT 11
JESUS WAS A MINISTER OF THE CIRCUMCISION (JEWS), AS WERE THE TWELVE, WHILE PAUL WAS THE MINISTER TO THE GENTILES
JESUS: Rom 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirming the promises made unto the fathers:
TWELVE: Matt 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
PAUL: Romans 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
V. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
FACT 12
JESUS TAUGHT THAT THERE WAS NO NEED TO WORK FOR A LIVING SINCE THE KINGDOM WAS AT HAND WHILE PAUL SAID IF WE DIDN'T WORK THAT WE SHOULDN'T EAT.
JESUS: Matt 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
TWELVE: Acts 2:44-45 And all that believed were together, and had all things common and sold their Possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
PAUL: 2Thes 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
1 Tim 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
FACT 13
JESUS TAUGHT CONCERNING PRAYER, ASK AND YE SHALL RECEIVE, AND YET PAUL WAS DENIED THIS PRIVILEGE AND WAS TOLD THAT GOD'S GRACE WAS SUFFICIENT.
JESUS: Matt 7:7-8 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
PAUL: 2 Cor 12:8-9 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
FACT 14
JESUS TOLD THE DISCIPLES THAT THEY WOULD HAVE A SUPERNATURAL ENDOWMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, PAUL SAID THAT WE HAVE TO STUDY.
JESUS: Mark 13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
PAUL: 2 Tim 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Friday, August 14, 2009
TENJOOBERRYMUDS
You gotta' read all this......... and remember, it is ENGLISH! ( I think)
This is a hoot .... sad, because it is TRUE ..... but a hoot !!!!
By the time you read through this YOU WILL UNDERSTAND "TENJOOBERRYMUDS"...
In order to continue getting-by in our home land, we all need to learn the NEW English language! Practice by reading the following conversation until you are able to understand the term "TENJOOBERRYMUDS".
With a little patience, you'll be able to fit right in.
Now, here goes...
The following is a telephone exchange between maybe you as a hotel guest and call room-service somewhere in the good old U S A today......
Room Service : "Morrin. Roon sirbees."
Guest : "Sorry, I thought I dialed room-service."
Room Service: " Rye. Roon sirbees...morrin! Joowish to oddor sunteen???"
Guest: "Uh..... Yes, I'd l ike to order bacon and eggs."
Room Service: "Ow July den?"
Guest: ".....What??"
Room Service: "Ow July den?!?.... pryed, boyud, poochd?"
Guest: "Oh, the eggs! How do I like them? Sorry.. scrambled, please."
Room Service: "Ow July dee baykem? Crease?"
Guest: "Crisp will be fine."
Room Service: "Hokay. An Sahn toes?"
Guest: "What?"
Room Service: "An toes. July Sahn toes?"
Guest: "I... don't think so."
RoomService: "No? Judo wan sahn toes???"
Guest: "I feel really bad about this, but I don't know what 'judo wan sahn toes' means."
RoomService: "Toes! Toes!...Why Joo don Juan toes? Ow bow Anglish moppin we bodder?"
Guest: "Oh, English muffin! !! I've got it! You were saying 'toast'...
Fine...Yes, an English muffin will be fine."
RoomService: "We bodder?"
Guest: "No, just put the bodder on the side."
RoomService: "Wad?!?"
Guest: "I mean butter... just put the butter on the side."
RoomService: "Copy?"
Guest: "Excuse me?"
RoomService: "Copy...tea..meel?"
Guest: "Yes. Coffee, please... and that's everything."
RoomService: "One Minnie. Scramah egg, crease baykem, Anglish moppin, we bodder on sigh and copy ... rye??"
Guest: "Whatever you say."
RoomService: "Tenjooberrymuds."
Guest: "You're welcome"
Remember I said "By the time you read through this YOU WILL UNDERSTAND 'TENJOOBERRYMUDS'......and you do, don't you!
IF PEOPLE CAN FIGURE THIS OUT WHY CAN'T THEY SEE HOW TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE THEIR BIBLE?
This is a hoot .... sad, because it is TRUE ..... but a hoot !!!!
By the time you read through this YOU WILL UNDERSTAND "TENJOOBERRYMUDS"...
In order to continue getting-by in our home land, we all need to learn the NEW English language! Practice by reading the following conversation until you are able to understand the term "TENJOOBERRYMUDS".
With a little patience, you'll be able to fit right in.
Now, here goes...
The following is a telephone exchange between maybe you as a hotel guest and call room-service somewhere in the good old U S A today......
Room Service : "Morrin. Roon sirbees."
Guest : "Sorry, I thought I dialed room-service."
Room Service: " Rye. Roon sirbees...morrin! Joowish to oddor sunteen???"
Guest: "Uh..... Yes, I'd l ike to order bacon and eggs."
Room Service: "Ow July den?"
Guest: ".....What??"
Room Service: "Ow July den?!?.... pryed, boyud, poochd?"
Guest: "Oh, the eggs! How do I like them? Sorry.. scrambled, please."
Room Service: "Ow July dee baykem? Crease?"
Guest: "Crisp will be fine."
Room Service: "Hokay. An Sahn toes?"
Guest: "What?"
Room Service: "An toes. July Sahn toes?"
Guest: "I... don't think so."
RoomService: "No? Judo wan sahn toes???"
Guest: "I feel really bad about this, but I don't know what 'judo wan sahn toes' means."
RoomService: "Toes! Toes!...Why Joo don Juan toes? Ow bow Anglish moppin we bodder?"
Guest: "Oh, English muffin! !! I've got it! You were saying 'toast'...
Fine...Yes, an English muffin will be fine."
RoomService: "We bodder?"
Guest: "No, just put the bodder on the side."
RoomService: "Wad?!?"
Guest: "I mean butter... just put the butter on the side."
RoomService: "Copy?"
Guest: "Excuse me?"
RoomService: "Copy...tea..meel?"
Guest: "Yes. Coffee, please... and that's everything."
RoomService: "One Minnie. Scramah egg, crease baykem, Anglish moppin, we bodder on sigh and copy ... rye??"
Guest: "Whatever you say."
RoomService: "Tenjooberrymuds."
Guest: "You're welcome"
Remember I said "By the time you read through this YOU WILL UNDERSTAND 'TENJOOBERRYMUDS'......and you do, don't you!
IF PEOPLE CAN FIGURE THIS OUT WHY CAN'T THEY SEE HOW TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE THEIR BIBLE?
Monday, August 3, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Test Your Reading Skills
TEST ONE: Carefully read and compare the following two verses:
(Mat 19:17 KJV) And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
(Gal 5:4 KJV) Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
Are the two statements the same or different?
If you said different You are correct!
The bible says, in Romans 3:30 that no flesh can be justified by keeping the commandments. The law gives us the knowledge of sin (what sin is) and served as a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. Today we are not under the law, but under grace. Our teacher today is grace. Grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and to live soberly, righteously and Godly in this present evil world.
TEST TWO: Carefully read and compare these next two verses:
(Acts 10:35 KJV) But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
(Titus 3:5 KJV) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Are the two statements the same or different?
If you said different You are correct!
It is simply not humanly possible to do both at the same time. You cannot work righteousness with the expectation of being accepted by God based on your good works, while at the same time not depend on your own goodness or your own good works, but simply trust in the work of Christ on the Cross and that alone for salvation. Working and not working is something you cannot do at the same time. Today salvation is without any works but by grace alone thru faith alone.
TEST THREE: Now, carefully read and compare these last two verses:
(Acts 3:21 KJV) Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
(Rom 16:25 KJV) Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
Are the two statements the same or different?
If you said different You are correct!
When Paul says "according to my gospel," he is not saying "the gospel," or "our gospel," or even that which Peter preached on a Jewish Holy Day called Pentecost in Acts chapter two and three. When Paul says "my gospel," he is referring to the revelations which the Lord from Heaven gave to him. Peter did not have this information during Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, nor in the book of Acts. It was only in Acts 16 that Peter learned that Christ had died for his sins. Not before.
HERE IS YOUR SCORE:
If your answer on all three tests was "DIFFERENT" then you are "rightly dividing the word of truth.". All of the bible was written FOR US, but not all was written UNTO US. The greatest division in your bible is between PROPHECY (that which was spoken since the world began) and MYSTERY (that which was kept secret since the world began) until the ascended Lord Jesus Christ revealed it to the Apostle of the Gentiles, THE APOSTLE PAUL. Knowing which is FOR YOU and which is UNTO YOU is most important for two essential reasons:
I Timothy 2:4 Who (God) would have all men to be saved......
1. So that you can have a crystal clear NO DOUBT about it understanding of the gospel of YOUR salvation, which will be different than, say Abel's, Noah's, or Peter's, as you could clearly see in the three "tests" above. You can only be SEALED with the ETERNAL Holy Spirit after that you have "heard the word of truth, the gospel of YOUR salvation" and place your trust in the FINISHED WORK of Christ alone for salvation (as in Ephesians 1:13)
....and come unto the knowledge of the truth.
2. Once you are saved, then you are able to perceive the things of God. The bible says, "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, for they are spiritually discerned." (I Corinthians 2:14) As a saved, bible believer you are established in your faith through the sound doctrine committed to Paul for the church today. Consider the following:
(Gal 1:11 KJV) But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
(Gal 1:12 KJV) For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Paul's Gospel was KEPT SECRET:
Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
Paul's Gospel was HIDDEN:
1 Corinthians 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Paul's Gospel for today was NOT MADE KNOWN:
Ephesians 3:5 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;
Paul's Gospel for today was HID IN GOD:
Ephesians 3:9 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:
Paul's Gospel for today was A MYSTERY:
Colossians 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Paul's Gospel for today was UNSEARCHABLE:
Ephesians 3:8 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;
Yes, the Apostle Paul has both a unique ministry from all the other Apostles....and most certainly a unique message...different from that of the others. It was not until Jesus Christ appeared to Paul and gave him this special and unique ministry and message that we were ever told to "rightly divide the word of truth." BUT NOW it is an absolute necessity in order to avoid the religious trap of compromise and confusion which is the lot of most of religion today.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
(Mat 19:17 KJV) And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
(Gal 5:4 KJV) Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
Are the two statements the same or different?
If you said different You are correct!
The bible says, in Romans 3:30 that no flesh can be justified by keeping the commandments. The law gives us the knowledge of sin (what sin is) and served as a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. Today we are not under the law, but under grace. Our teacher today is grace. Grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and to live soberly, righteously and Godly in this present evil world.
TEST TWO: Carefully read and compare these next two verses:
(Acts 10:35 KJV) But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
(Titus 3:5 KJV) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Are the two statements the same or different?
If you said different You are correct!
It is simply not humanly possible to do both at the same time. You cannot work righteousness with the expectation of being accepted by God based on your good works, while at the same time not depend on your own goodness or your own good works, but simply trust in the work of Christ on the Cross and that alone for salvation. Working and not working is something you cannot do at the same time. Today salvation is without any works but by grace alone thru faith alone.
TEST THREE: Now, carefully read and compare these last two verses:
(Acts 3:21 KJV) Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
(Rom 16:25 KJV) Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
Are the two statements the same or different?
If you said different You are correct!
When Paul says "according to my gospel," he is not saying "the gospel," or "our gospel," or even that which Peter preached on a Jewish Holy Day called Pentecost in Acts chapter two and three. When Paul says "my gospel," he is referring to the revelations which the Lord from Heaven gave to him. Peter did not have this information during Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, nor in the book of Acts. It was only in Acts 16 that Peter learned that Christ had died for his sins. Not before.
HERE IS YOUR SCORE:
If your answer on all three tests was "DIFFERENT" then you are "rightly dividing the word of truth.". All of the bible was written FOR US, but not all was written UNTO US. The greatest division in your bible is between PROPHECY (that which was spoken since the world began) and MYSTERY (that which was kept secret since the world began) until the ascended Lord Jesus Christ revealed it to the Apostle of the Gentiles, THE APOSTLE PAUL. Knowing which is FOR YOU and which is UNTO YOU is most important for two essential reasons:
I Timothy 2:4 Who (God) would have all men to be saved......
1. So that you can have a crystal clear NO DOUBT about it understanding of the gospel of YOUR salvation, which will be different than, say Abel's, Noah's, or Peter's, as you could clearly see in the three "tests" above. You can only be SEALED with the ETERNAL Holy Spirit after that you have "heard the word of truth, the gospel of YOUR salvation" and place your trust in the FINISHED WORK of Christ alone for salvation (as in Ephesians 1:13)
....and come unto the knowledge of the truth.
2. Once you are saved, then you are able to perceive the things of God. The bible says, "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, for they are spiritually discerned." (I Corinthians 2:14) As a saved, bible believer you are established in your faith through the sound doctrine committed to Paul for the church today. Consider the following:
(Gal 1:11 KJV) But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
(Gal 1:12 KJV) For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Paul's Gospel was KEPT SECRET:
Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
Paul's Gospel was HIDDEN:
1 Corinthians 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Paul's Gospel for today was NOT MADE KNOWN:
Ephesians 3:5 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;
Paul's Gospel for today was HID IN GOD:
Ephesians 3:9 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:
Paul's Gospel for today was A MYSTERY:
Colossians 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Paul's Gospel for today was UNSEARCHABLE:
Ephesians 3:8 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;
Yes, the Apostle Paul has both a unique ministry from all the other Apostles....and most certainly a unique message...different from that of the others. It was not until Jesus Christ appeared to Paul and gave him this special and unique ministry and message that we were ever told to "rightly divide the word of truth." BUT NOW it is an absolute necessity in order to avoid the religious trap of compromise and confusion which is the lot of most of religion today.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
12 REASONS WHY PEOPLE REJECT RIGHT DIVISION
1. They love traditions.
2. They love religion.
3. They love the physical blessings they believe are theirs because
they think they're "spiritual
4, They love Calvinistic teaching, because they love to believe that God is controlling every little aspect of their lives. This relieves them of the responsibility to obey the word of God!
5. They love the "works salvation" message. They want to believe THEY did something to help God save them.
6. They love the success and growth of religion, with its numbers and huge church buildings.
7. They love that "kingdom doctrine" - some of it anyway - they don't particularly like the part where it says, "Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on." (They get up and go to work every day!)
8. They love the entertainment.
9. They love that "you're okay and they're okay;" we just need something to generate a spark to bring forth that "goodness."
10. They love emotions and feelings, and like speaking in tongues, signs and wonders, and all the trappings that go with the religious system.
11, They DON'T like suffering and persecution or people calling them a heretic. ("What you're teaching couldn't be right; if it was, there'd be more of you!") They "go with the flow" downstream, never resisting the traditions, the religion, and the doctrinal teaching they've embraced for so long.
12. But what they really HATE is the idea that those who came before them and believed what they believe could possibly have been wrong!
Should we let this formidable list of reasons why most people won't accept the fact that Paul is the Apostle of the Gentiles - and was given a new gospel message of our complete reconciliation with God if we will only believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished it on our behalf at
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Religion VS Grace
The grace of God is dealing with what Christ did.
Under religion man always says, "Look what I'm doing for you, God."
And under grace Christ says, "look what I did for you, man."
Under religion mans says, "look how I went to church"
Under the grace of God Jesus says, "look how I went to Calvary"
Under religion man says, "look how I was raised in my denomination"
And under grace Christ says, "look at how I was raised from the dead"
Under religion man says, "look at how I gave my money"
And under grace Jesus says, "look at how I gave my life"
Under religion man says, "look God, at how I confessed my sins"
And under grace Jesus says, "look man, at how I took away your sins"
Under religion man says, "look God at how I stood up against sin"
And under the grace of God Jesus says, "look man at how I died for your sin"
Under religion man says, "Look God, at how I judged the Lost world"
And under grace Jesus says, "look man, at how I saved the lost world"
Under religion man says, "look God, at how I got up and marched against these evildoers"
And under grace, Jesus says, "look man at how I suffered and died for evildoers"
Under religion man says, "look God, at how I bowed down to you"
And under grace Jesus says, "look man, at how I became one of you"
Under religion man says, "look God at how I healed the sick"
And under grace Jesus says, "look man at how I raised the dead"
Under religion man says, "look God, at how I spoke in tongues"
And under grace Jesus says, "look man, at how I spoke in love".
Under religion man says, "look God, at how successful my life was"
And under grace Jesus says, "look man, at how successful my death was"
Religion is always man trying to reach up to God with self effort to be accepted by God.
Through Jesus Christ, was God reaching down to man, with love and acceptance.
And that's why Paul said we preach Christ and Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews, foolishness to the Gentiles, but to those whom god has called, both Jew and Gentiles:
Christ- the power of God and the wisdom of God
Friday, March 20, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Hello everyone,
Just a short note of encouragement from the Word of God.....
Phil 2:14-18
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
18For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.
Just a short note of encouragement from the Word of God.....
Phil 2:14-18
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
18For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.
I posted this blog about 30 min. ago. I went back and reread all of chapter 2 to make sure I was not getting any of God's Word out of context. What an amazing chapter. Please go and read chapter 2 for yourself. Look closely at verses 5-8. Maybe read them 4 or 5 times and let it sink in. Is this saying that Jesus Christ was fully God and fully man? I think it is. If I am misunderstanding this please leave a comment and explain how it is not saying this.
See everyone Thursday night.
Jack
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
TRUE OR FALSE
The following is a list of statements made by people about what's going on with the church, the body of Christ, of today. Are you able to pinpoint any that are true?
- Abraham believed the gospel of grace.
- All apostles, including Paul, received the same gospel.
- Paul should have been Judas' replacement.
- Christ taught the gospel of grace on earth.
- Christianity developed out of Judaism.
- Christianity is a Judaic-Christian ethical religion.
- The commission to the 12 apostles is also to us today.
- Those who have been saved can be lost.
- Christ's death was that of a martyr.
- There is a covenant of grace.
- Baptismal regeneration is taught in the Bible.
- Water baptism is for the church of today.
- God will accept anyone if he will do his best.
- Obey the commandments and the golden rule and God will be
obliged to accept you.
- Christ obeyed the law for us, as our substitute.
- Christ died only for the "elect."
- Law-keeping is required for salvation.
- God saves, but we must keep ourselves saved.
- The church is the authority on earth.
- Christ made the "new covenant" with the church.
- The church today is the bride of Christ.
- Water baptism is for a witness to the world.
- There is no eternal punishment for the lost, only annhilation.
- There will be universal reconciliation of all mankind.
Did you find any statements that are true for today in this dispensation of the grace of God?
Surprise!! C. O. Griggs writes that ALL of the above arefalse statements!
Did you get hung up on any of them? I'll admit that I did. I stumbled over, "Christ obeyed the law for us, as our substitute." I had to think this one over for awhile, but finally realized that God made his covenants with Israel, not with us. The law covenant was given to Israel (Ex. 24:7), not the Gentiles, although that doesn't excuse Gentiles without the law from sin, for the moral law is written in our hearts. "For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these having not the law, are a law unto themselves; Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another:)" (Romans 2:14, 15). So, Christ fulfilled the law for Israel's sake, not ours; although he is our Saviour from sin, dying our sin death for us.
If any of you disagree with the above paragraph, or with any of the statements Griggs labels as false, please write and share your thoughts with us! We're all on the journey here; and as far as knowledge is concerned, none of us has yet arrived! Amen?
Friday, February 27, 2009
Get your Bibles out.......
According to Ephesians 3 we live in what Paul calls the "dispensation of the grace of God". In this "dispensation" God has given us a pattern to follow, this pattern is Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles. The purpose of this Bible study is to help you to distinguish the difference between the 12 Apostles sent to
Fill in the blank with the Bible answer.
1. To whom were the 12 apostles sent? (Matt. 10:5-6)
2. To whom were the 12 NOT sent? (Matt. 10:5-6)
3. To whom were the 12 apostles sent after the resurrection? (Matt. 28:19)
4. How far did the 12 get in their commission? (Acts 8:1 & 11:19)
5. After the final rejection of Christ by the Jews, to whom was Paul sent? (Acts 22:21)
6. In the following verses, to whom does Paul, guided by the Holy Spirit, say he was sent?
- Romans 11:13
- Galatians 2:7-8
- Ephesians 3:1,2,8
- Colossians 1:25-27
- 1Timothy 2:7
- 2Timothy 1:11
7. Who does Paul say we (Gentiles) are to follow?
- 1Corinthians 4:15-16
- 1Corinthians 11:1
- 1Thessalonians 4:1
- 1Timothy 1:16
- 2 Timothy 1:13, 2:2
Clearly the Word of God teaches that the 12 were sent to the 12 tribes of
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Robbing Peter to pay Paul
Recently I read a book titled "Why you say it".
It tells where a lot of the phrases that we use daily come from.
The phrase "Robbing Peter to pay Paul" wasn't in the book but is one that I am hearing more and more lately along with phrases like "Paul the renegade" and "Paul the trouble maker".
As we head into the next millenium we can expect to hear more of these kinds of phrases as "grace churches" continue to press the issue of Pauline authority.
C. I. Scofield was right when he said, "... it is in the Pauline epistles alone that you find the doctrine, duty and destiny of the church the body of Christ."
For to long has the body of Christ languished in the shadow of the dark ages.
Those ages denied the truth of the "one body, the pre tribulational catching away of the church and salvation by grace through faith" to the masses.
For to long the works of the law have dominated through the preaching of denominations.
It is time for grace believers to become grace soldiers.
It is time to make some waves it is time to rock the boat.
Are we robbing Peter to pay Paul ?
Not if you ask Peter.
Peter understood that the nation of Israel was being set aside.
He understood that the Body of Christ was not spiritual Israel but God's agency through which he would work during the present "dispensation of grace" (Eph. 3).
He understood that Paul was writing inspired scripture. (2 Pet 3:15,16)
Peter knew the difference between the "gospel of the circumcision" committed to him and the "gospel of the Uncircumcision" committed to Paul (Gal. 2).
Are we robbing Peter to pay Paul ?
Not if you ask the Lord Jesus Christ.
For it was the risen Lord Jesus Christ that gave Paul the revelation of the mystery (Gal 1, Eph. 3, Rom. 16 etcetera, etcetera, etcetera).
It was the risen Lord Jesus Christ that gave Paul his authority. 1 Cor 14:37
If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
Do we rob Peter to pay Paul ?
Not if you ask Paul for he is the chief of sinners, the least of all saints and our pattern. (1 Tim 1:15, Eph 3:8 & 1 Tim 1:16).
No, it has been the other way around for a long time.
Paul and thereby the body of Christ, and thereby the lost of this world, have been robbed by religion, tradition and denominational teaching.
It is time to get things back in order.
If you are going to be a part of what God is doing today you will have to follow the pattern.
The pattern that God has given us to follow is Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, in the dispensation of the grace of God.
by Doug Dodd
Sunday, February 15, 2009
What is the only way to be saved during this present age of grace ?
Now let’s look at the Gospel as outlined in I Corinthians Chapter 15, and beginning with verse 1. I never tire of repeating it, and I hope you never get tired of hearing it.
I Corinthians 15:1
"MOREOVER, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;"
"...wherein ye stand" is a positional term. That’s why he writes in another place that we are not to be blown about with every wind of doctrine. Some people are so shallow in their understanding of Scriptures, that they see someone on television or someone can come to their door and they have a good line, and a nice approach, and they fall for it. We are supposed to be so well versed in the Scriptures that something like that won’t happen. We are to be like an anchor, steadfast, immovable. Now verse 2.
I Corinthians 15:2,3
"By which also ye are saved (it’s only by this Gospel that you are saved. It’s not by something else), if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain." And now here comes Paul’s Gospel in verse 3:
"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received (here he’s talking about what we saw in Galatians in our last lesson, how that by revelation, "He made known unto me," Paul says. This is what the Lord revealed to him. We will find that Paul’s Gospel is not based on the Judaistic Law, or just on the fact that Christ was the Messiah of Israel, but it’s that The Messiah of Israel, The Son of God, died on that Roman Cross, shed His Blood, was buried and rose again, and here it is), how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;" This was in the Old Testament. It was all in the pre-eternal mind of God, that all of this would fall into place.
I Corinthians 15:4-6a
"And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." That’s the Gospel! And to prove that Christ rose from the dead we see in verse 5 and 6 the following.
"And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once;..."
Paul tells us that he also saw Him in person. Paul knew that He was alive. Now back to Romans 1:16. That’s The Gospel – that Christ died for the sins of the world. And that’s what Paul expressly desires to get across to people. It’s so hard for people to comprehend that this is all they have to do. Just believe the Gospel for Salvation. If you really believe He will save you. Now you know that I’m not an easy believer. You know that. I’m not just talking about making a mental acknowledgment and you’re all right. No, what I’m talking about is a Holy Spirit driven belief, that my eternal destiny is based on what He did for me on that Cross. And we will be seeing more and more of that, especially when we get into Romans Chapter 6, where Paul just begins to draw that simple analogy of a little seed that’s planted in the ground, but before that plant can come forth, and bring forth fruit it must die first. So the whole analogy is that, "When Christ died, we died. When He was buried, we were buried. When He arose from the dead, we also arose out of deadness in the old Adamic sin nature to a new life." Verse 16 again:
Romans 1:16
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it (The Gospel, not our works, or denomination, not anything that we can do, but rather The Gospel) is the power of God unto salvation..."
One of the newer translations waters this down by using the word ‘salvation’ as a better way to heaven. Salvation is much more than a better way to heaven. Salvation is that all inclusive work of God on our behalf, whereby we are forgiven: He justifies us, He sanctifies us, He glorifies us, He baptizes us into the Body, He seals us with the Holy Spirit, He fills us with the Holy Spirit, and on and on you can go in all that was accomplished on your behalf by an act of God instantly the moment you believe. And you’re not going to necessarily feel any of those things, but they have happened to you if you were genuine in your belief. But how do I know that these things have happened to me? The Book says so. And that’s where faith comes in. That’s what The Book means when it says we are saved by faith and are to live and walk by faith. Taking God at His Word. So, you just simply have to know what The Book says. When you come to Salvation, and say, "I don’t understand this or feel any different," remember The Book says that it has happened. And that is what God is pleased by. Remember Hebrews 11:6:
Hebrews 11:6a
"But without faith it is impossible to please him:..."
You should be able to say, "Yes, I know that I’m forgiven," not because I’m so perfect, or any better than anybody else, but simply because I believe what this Book says! I can’t make it any plainer than that. So when an individual realizes that he’s in the cesspool of sin, in that old slave market, and there is no hope of getting out, unless the power of God takes him out; God pulls him out of that deadness in sin, and gives him new life, sets his feet as the Scriptures say, "On a Rock," and does all these things for him. That’s what believing does! After that, you become a totally new person in your outlook on life, in your desires, and you don’t work for that. Remember, you won’t become a mature Christian overnight. It’s going to take time. The Christian life is like coming into physical life. We come into the Christian life as a babe in Christ, just an infant that needs tender loving care. An infant that needs nourishment, and protection. That’s what a new believer is.
But God doesn’t expect a new believer to stay a babe in Christ. He expects them to begin to grow in Grace, and knowledge and wisdom. To grow in a new lifestyle. Over the years I’ve told my classes the basic fundamental aspect of a Christian life, the part that will immediately become visible to our friends and relatives, and yes, the whole community; a true born again child of God is going to be a good citizen. Have you ever thought of that? When we are a practicing believer, we will be a good citizen. In other words, you won’t find a true child of God giving the police department fits. Now there may be isolated instances, that’s always a possibility. But the basic believer will be a good citizen, and a good parent. He will be a good grandparent. He will be a good child. He will be a good teenager. Now that doesn’t mean we are perfect. Nevertheless, we will be the kind of person that will enhance society. If you could have a community of 100% born again believers, then you would have a pretty decent place to live.
I’m not saying that it would be perfect. It’s just like the local church, no church is perfect. I said on this program once, if it was perfect I’d like to find it, but I wouldn’t dare join it because it would be no longer perfect. But, for the most part, God’s power unto salvation has imparted all these things on our behalf and they will make us different. That doesn’t give us the right to walk around like we are perfect, or better than everybody else. But what we have is an imputed position that God has accomplished on our behalf. We will look at that more in depth later in Chapter 3.
Romans 1:16b
"...for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first and also to the Greek."
I said at the close of the last lesson that there were many things in there that normally people would think should be. Over the years, I have taught to be aware of what is notin Scripture that many of us think should be. Well, here is a good one. Let me read this verse the way a lot of people think it should have been written. This is just an example: "For it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that repents, and is baptized, joins the church, gives ten percent of his income, does good works, and believes." But it doesn’t say that does it? There are a lot of these things that people just automatically think are requirements for Salvation, and they’re not! They are all right in their rightful place after Salvation. But so far as our salvation is concerned it’s based totally upon our faith in the Gospel, and what God has said concerning the finished work of the Cross.
Auther Les Feldick
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Thursday Bible Study
6 Chapters verse by verse, we should be done by Christmas. LOL
Friday, February 6, 2009
Download of Thursday's Bible Study
1. Times Past, But Now, Ages To Come
There are also 49 other sermons on this page. Have fun. See you this weekend.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
6 THINGS HID IN GOD SINCE BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN....
Preaching of Jesus Christ according to the Mystery.
Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
1.
Eph 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Romans 11:11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
Romans 11:25 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.
2. God’s dealing with man. We are under grace alone (no law)
Ephesians 3:1-10 (GO GET YOUR BIBLE AND READ IT NOW!!!!!!!!!)
Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
3. Man’s dealings with God change because of
Colossians 1:26 “the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:”
which entails a new relationship with Christ because God now has made
Colossians 1:27 “known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”
4. Body of Christ instead of
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
5. God has us on earth as ambassadors. We are to see souls saved and edify the saints.
2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
1 Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
6. We will meet Jesus in Heavenly Places instead of ruling on earth with the 12 tribes of
1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Salvation as easy as 1-2-Free!!!
Why don’t people understand the message of grace? Is it ignorance? Misunderstanding? Or is it because it won’t figure into a religious system of some form of human effort? There is nothing hard about it folks, Jesus Christ died for our sins and there isn’t a great deal you or I can do to change that fact. Our salvation is based upon what Christ did and not (as some would have you believe) on what we have done or can do.
So then what is required for salvation in the dispensation of the grace of God? Well there are only two things required for our salvation. One would be the Grace OF God and two would be the Faith OF Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Did you notice that it is Grace through Faith and NOT of works? Now if we add up the requirements as shown in Ephesians what do we find? Grace plus Faith! Two requirements for salvation, not three or more. Notice that it’s also free? Grace through faith and that NOT OF YOURSELVES.
If you still aren’t convinced, lets have a look at what else God’s word has to say about salvation in the dispensation of the grace of God. First let’s take a look at our first requirement for salvation, that being GRACE:
Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
1 Corinthians 1:4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
2 Thessalonians 2:16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
2 Thessalonians 2:17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
1 Timothy 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
2 Timothy 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
2 Timothy 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Titus 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
Titus 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
It should be obvious to anybody that can read what the bible actually says (rather than putting their own opinion or feelings in charge of ‘translating’ it for us) that it is the Grace of God that saves us. Not you, nor me or Jimmy Whatsisname’s grace, nor our own efforts and works.
But that was only half of what’s needed for our salvation, we also need Faith. The biggest problem today is people seem to be confused as to exactly whose faith it is. So once again let us allow the Word of God to speak to us:
Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Galatians 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Ephesians 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
Ephesians 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Colossians 2:11 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:
Colossians 2:12 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.
Is it not made very clear in those passages of scripture as to whose faith it is that saves us? If you missed it let me spell it out for you. It is the Faith OF Jesus Christ!! We can doubt and lose faith etc, but Jesus Christ will always abide faithful! When we trust in the grace of God and trust in his faith, we are set free from the wages of sin (that being eternal separation from God). Because in that moment, when we accept the grace of God through the faith of Jesus Christ, all of our sin (past, present and future) is reckoned to Christ’s account. Try to realise the simple truth: Jesus Christ was Judged and Condemned to Death on the cross for all the sins of all people for all time! You cannot earn favor with God through your own works. Nor can you lose your salvation after you receive it. This is the wonderful truth of the Gospel of Grace. Don’t miss it now, let go of any religious ideals that have been drummed into your mind!
When you realize this wonderful truth, the verse I quoted in the beginning of this article sure does make you feel secure and certain of your salvation:
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Whose grace? God’s grace.
Whose faith? The faith of Jesus Christ.
Whose works? Not yours.
Like the title says, salvation really is as easy as 1, 2, free!
By David Rudge
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