GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

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THE CHURCH AND THE TRIBULATION
By Pastor Bob Hanna


A prominently held view among Christian believers states that the church, the Body of Christ, will be included in the tribulation - the time of Jacob's trouble. Our apostle says otherwise. Writing to members of the body, he declares, "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day [the day of the Lord] shall not come except there come a falling away [literally, a departure] first, and that man of Sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God" (ll Thessalonians 2:3,4).

Verse seven states, "He who now letteth [hindereth] will let [hinder] until he be taken out of the way." That which hinders is the church, the Body of Christ. The rapture will take us out of the way. "And then shall that Wicked [one] be revealed." This is the great deceiver whose being revealed begins the tribulation period. Hence the rapture precedes the tribulation, which means that the church will not go through the tribulation. Verses nine through twelve graphically describe the activities of the man of sin during the first half of the tribulation. By this time we, members of Christ's body, will be in heaven with our Lord and Savior "Wherefore comfort one another with these words" (I Thessalonians 4:18 ).

Some of those who put the church in the tribulation say that we are present in the first 3.5 years. Others say that we will not be raptured until after the full seven years. Either way, there is no substantiation to be found in Scripture. One verification of the fact of the rapture preceding the tribulation: our apostle nowhere instructs or advises us how we would cope with the conditions or how to survive accordingly.

Our apostle repeatedly assures us in this regard. "God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him"- (Romans 5:8,9). "For God hath not appointed us to wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Thessalonians 5:9).

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TRUTH WITH CONSEQUENCES
By Jim Roberts
Assistant Pastor of Peace Church Indiahoma, Oklahoma

Jonah is a great example of a man who was caught between his religion and the truth of Gods word. When God told Jonah to preach to the people of Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire, he had to decide whether to follow the call of God or follow the corrupt Jewish culture in which he lived. Jonah must have heard that the King of Assyria was extending his borders toward Israel, and being a prophet, he may have known that the Assyrian Empire would in a couple of hundred years destroy the nation of Israel. In Jonahs eyes and the eyes of his fellow countrymen, preaching to Nineveh could have been seen as an act of treason. Jonah thought he would rather die.

He bought a ticket to board a ship headed for the end of the known world. Along the way, Jonah was thrown overboard and ended up in the belly of a fish. After God miraculously saved Jonah from the belly of the fish, Jonah finally agreed to preach to Nineveh. After the city repented, Jonah went to the east side of the city even though Israel was to the west. Maybe Jonah did not want to go home. What if his fellow citizens heard about his ministry to Nineveh? Maybe he thought he would not be the most popular prophet in Israel.

The first lesson for us is that we must be careful about putting our patriotism above the Word of God. Jonahs fellow countrymen would have considered him a hero if he had been willing to die rather than save Nineveh. But Jonah was willing, after some not-so-gentle persuasion from God, to be a hero for the cause of Christ. Not only did he bring the entire city of Nineveh to its knees before God, but his experience in the belly of the fish became the greatest picture in all of the Bible of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. The Lord Jesus said to the Pharisees of His day:

An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. (Matt. 12:39-41)

The second lesson for us is that we must be careful about valuing our religion above the word of God. The religion of the Old Covenant Jews taught hatred for all Gentiles, but God not only saved the Gentiles of Nineveh from physical destruction, He saved them for all of eternity. Jesus said that those Ninevites will one day rise up in judgment against the Jews who rejected the Lord Jesus, and we can safely conclude that they will rise up in judgment against the Jews of Jonahs day as well. The Jews of Jonah's day and the Jews of Jesus' day were victims of their own religion. Their religion made the false assumption that God hated certain people as much as they did. If they had known Gods Word, they would have known about Gods love for the Gentile nations. They would have known that God intended for the nation of Israel to be a testimony to the nations concerning God's love and grace.

The Jews of Jonah's day were destroyed by the Assyrians, and the Jews of Jesus' day were destroyed by the Romans, but there is a greater judgment that is yet to come. It is a judgment which will bring eternal separation from God to those who refuse to believe what God has said in His word. If you do not know the Lord Jesus as your personal Savior, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.

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TRUE FELLOWSHIP
PART 1 of 2
By Gregg Bing


The fellowship we enjoy with other believers is a wonderful blessing of the Lord, but often we take a rather shallow view regarding what fellowship is. To many, fellowship is basically viewed as friendship and having fun with other believers. In many churches, fellowship is almost always associated with the idea of food. Many churches have a fellowship hall in their building; and what is almost always connected to this fellowship hall? A kitchen! We speak of fellowship breakfasts or fellowship dinners as if the two ideas naturally go together. There is certainly nothing wrong with believers enjoying a meal together, but fellowship is much more than friendship, fun and food. In this lesson, we will examine the Scriptural concept of true, spiritual fellowship.

In the opening verses of his letter to the Philippian saints, Paul writes:

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now. (Phil. 1:3-5)

What a love Paul had for these saints at Philippi. Every remembrance of them and every reminder he had of them caused him to give thanks to God. They were constantly in his prayers, making request for them all with joy. It is interesting that, even though Paul wrote this letter from a prison house in Rome (Acts 28, Phil. 1:7,13), the tone of the entire letter is one of joy and rejoicing. One of the key reasons is found in Philippians 1:5.
 
His joy was for their fellowship in the gospel from the first day unto now. The Greek word translated for is a word that literally means upon or based upon. Thus, the basis for Paul's joy regarding these saints was their fellowship in the gospel.

The word fellowship is translated from the Greek word koinonia. Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words gives the meaning of this word as communion, fellowship, sharing in common. To have fellowship means to have a common bond, to have something in common with someone else, to share together with another. What did Paul have in common with these saints at Philippi? The gospel! Their fellowship was in the gospel.

The word gospel means good news. It was clearly an important bond he had with the Philippians for he mentioned the gospel 5 times in the first chapter alone (vs. 5, 7, 12, 17, 27). What was the gospel that Paul referred to? It was the gospel of Christ (Gal. 1:7): that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures. (1 Cor. 15:1-4). It was the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24): For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast (Eph. 2:8-9). It was this glorious gospel message that Paul had in common with the brethren at Philippi.

How did they share in this gospel? First, they had a common salvation. They believed the same gospel message. They trusted in the same wonderful person, the Lord Jesus Christ, as their Savior (Acts 16:31). They enjoyed the same glorious position, spiritual blessings, and hope in Christ (Eph. 1:3-14, Phil. 3:20-21). What a wonderful fellowship we have, as believers in Christ, rejoicing together in a common salvation. These are joys that cant be understood by those outside of Christ. As we read further in Philippians 1, we find that Paul's idea of their fellowship in the gospel went beyond just their common salvation.

Just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ. (Phil. 1:7-8 )

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TRUE FELLOWSHIP
PART 2 of 2
By Gregg Bing



Paul also enjoyed fellowship with these believers in the ministry of the gospel. They were in his heart, for these saints shared with Paul in his preaching and teaching of the gospel, from the first day until now (Phil. 1:5). How did they share with Paul in this work?

To begin with, they shared with Paul by helping supply his needs. When Paul departed from Macedonia after visiting Philippi the first time, theirs was the only church who consistently shared with Paul and supported his ministry, sending aid once and again for his necessities (Phil. 4:15-16). Even in his chains, as he wrote this letter from prison in Rome, the Philippians were still supporting Paul, having sent a gift by the hands of Epaphroditus (Phil. 4:10,18 ). Paul spoke of the Philippians sacrificial giving when he wrote to the Corinthians.

For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. (2 Cor. 8:3-5)

These saints also shared with Paul in being willing to suffer and endure the same type of conflict he experienced, all for the sake of the gospel of Christ (Phil. 1:28-30). Sharing a common suffering often brings people closer together, even unbelievers. For instance, people who have a serious illness, such as cancer, often feel close to someone who has shared the same experience. The bond is even closer when the sufferings are for the cause of Jesus Christ. In a very real sense, as we suffer in the ministry of the gospel, we are sharing in the sufferings of Christ Himself (Phil. 3:10).

Finally, the Philippians also stood with Paul in the defense and confirmation of the gospel (Phil. 1:7). The ministry of the gospel involves preaching or proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ and Him crucified so that people may believe and be saved, but it also involves much more. In preaching the gospel, there is often much opposition, fueled by Satan himself. The apostle Paul was set or appointed by God, not only to preach the gospel (1 Cor. 1:17), but also to defend it (Phil. 1:17). As he stood firmly for the truth of Gods Word against the adversaries of the gospel, the Philippian brethren stood with him, striving together for the faith of the gospel (Phil. 1:27).

The church at Philippi also shared with Paul in the confirmation of the gospel. The word confirmation, according to Strong's Lexicon, means to make firm, to establish, or to make sure. After people hear the gospel and believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior, they need to be established in the truth of the gospel and Gods Word. Though often neglected, this is an important part of the gospel ministry. After Paul preached the gospel in a city, he would often return, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith (Acts 14:22). This is one of the key functions of a local church, and a wonderful work to share together in; seeing believers grow and mature, and become rooted and built up in Him (Christ) and established in the faith, as they have been taught (Col. 2:7).

Paul's relationship with the church at Philippi is a wonderful example to us of true, spiritual fellowship. What was the secret of their continuing and consistent fellowship in the gospel? They were all partakers together of grace (Phil. 1:7). Gods grace not only saves us from our sins, it also sustains us and supplies our every need. It is sufficient for us (2 Cor. 12:9). As we yield to the Lord and the strength of His grace (2 Tim. 2:1), He will work in and through us to accomplish His will (Phil. 2:13). We can be confident, as Paul was, being fully persuaded, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:6).

When we recognize that true, spiritual fellowship with other believers is centered in the gospel of Jesus Christ, it causes us to have a genuine longing and affection for one another (Phil. 1:8 ). As we share together in the blessings of our salvation in Christ, stand and suffer together for the cause of Christ, and spread the gospel of Christ to others, we experience a unity and closeness that brings real joy to our hearts and great pleasure to our Lord.

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HIGH-BORN
By Miles Stanford


"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith" (Heb. 10:22).

The darkness of this place will in time turn us to the light of His face - "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Cor. 4:6).

"When the believer has a real understanding that he belongs to that new place in glory, the Holy Spirit delights his heart with the things of that place. 'Set your affection on things above.' I used to pity those who are alone in the world. I pity no one now who has a room where he can find himself isolated from everyone, to be with the Lord Jesus where He is; where he can have his feathers oiled, to come out and face all the roughness here." -J.B.S.

"May the Lord lead us into the shelter of His holy presence, that we may daily grow in the elevation to which He has raised us, and consequently into moral distance from the old man which is so entirely estranged from the light and perfection of the Father's presence."

"If I am risen with the Lord Jesus, I must occupy myself with Him where He is, or I shall fall back to the things out of which He has risen; and the very fact that I am in the scene where He is not makes it the more necessary that I should be fellowshipping with Him where He is."

"We are conversant with man in death and sin and distance from the Father, for that is our state by nature; but to know the Man in glory, One in acceptance with the Father according to all His moral greatness, is new to us and magnificent. And according as we know Him there we become not only superior to, but distanced from, our own state with which we are associated.-J.B.S.

"For ... your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Col. 3:3).

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THAT I MAY KNOW HIM
By Charles W. Wages

The most important person in all the universe to know is the Lord Jesus Christ!

We, as human beings, like to know important persons. We like to obtain their autographs, watch them perform, and to say, I know that person. We are impressed and often time overwhelmed by the presence and person of an individual.

Shouldn't we desire to personally know the God of glory? The One who created this planet, earth? Shouldn't we desire to know the One who loves us more than anyone else? The One who loved us enough to die for us? This person is the Lord Jesus the God who came down from glory to save us from our sin and give us a new life. Yes, we all need to know Him as our personal Saviour and Lord. The Apostle Paul said in 2 Timothy 1:12:

For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.

We like to let others know that we know important persons. When this is done just for a show it is called name-dropping. But, oh, how we need to know Him and to make Him known to a lost and perishing world. What the whole world needs is love. Who the whole world needs to know is the Lord Jesus Christ!

We can make Him known by worshipping Him, following Him, obeying Him, and living daily for Him. A real Christian should know a whole lot about the Lord and His Word, the Bible. In this manner, we can make Him known to others. The Apostle Paul tells us in Colossians 4:6:

Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Then in Ephesians 6:19 Paul wrote:

And (pray) for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel.

How wonderful to know Him and make Him known!

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LOVINGLY LAYING UP AND LAYING HOLD
PART 1 of  2
By Charles W. Wages

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. (1 Timothy 6:17-19)

There is a great interest and emphasis today in investing for the future. This, of course, in the main, refers to money or goods for this life on earth. This is not necessarily evil in itself. For instance, Joseph of old was led of God to store up food for a future day of famine. The apostle Paul instructed the saints in Corinth to lay by him in store, as God has prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. All of these examples are earthly and temporary. However, when we look and consider eternal values, a different perspective must be considered.

In our lead Scripture a contrast is made between uncertain riches that we accumulate for ourselves on earth and what God gives us to richly enjoy. There was nothing wrong with Joseph laying up food for his brethren to alleviate the suffering in times of famine. Neither was it wrong for the Corinthian saints to have means to help in the work of the Lord. However, the directing purpose, and what is being laid up is all important.

The purpose of laying up and laying hold is not to earn salvation. Salvation is by God's grace by believing in the finished work of Christ on Calvary (Eph. 2:8-9). Timothy had been told in 1 Timothy 6:12, Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. Eternal life is a present possession of every person who has accepted Jesus Christ as personal Saviour. It is not something we earn by good works. It is not something in the far-off future, but a present possession of every believer! Also, Timothy had been called a man of God in verses 11 & 12, and had been exhorted and encouraged to flee, follow, and fight the good fight of faith. In doing this, he could lay hold on eternal life. Even though eternal life is a present reality to every believer, not every believer has a present realization of this great spiritual blessing!

Laying hold of eternal life does include our work and sacrifice for Him who loved us and gave Himself for us. This involves our giving in every way giving of self, service, and substance. Someone has aptly said, He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.

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LOVINGLY LAYING UP AND LAYING HOLD
PART 2 of  2
By Charles W. Wages


Laying Up in Store

The way to lay up in store is defined in 1 Timothy 6:18: That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate. There are four things delineated in this verse:

Do good
Be rich in good works
Ready to distribute

Willing to communicate Again, we must be reminded that we are not saved by good works (Eph. 2:8-9). However, Ephesians 2:10 should be read in conjunction with verses 8 and 9. What does it teach? We are saved unto good works.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto (UPON A FOUNDATION OF) good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them. (Eph. 2:10)

This instructive verse not only teaches us that we are saved to do good works, but that we are to walk in them also. We are to walk the work! What are a few laid up spiritual blessings that are already assured to those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus? One, of many, is found in Colossians 1:3-5,

We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you. Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints. For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel.

This spiritual blessing is further explained in Colossians 1:27,

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you the hope of glory.

That hope is in the person of Jesus Christ, who is now in the glory. He is our hope! Another of these spiritual blessings that is laid up in heaven is the inheritance of the saints in light. This is found in Colossians 1:12.

Giving thanks unto the Father which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.

According to Ephesians 1:14, the sealing of the Holy Spirit is the earnest or assurance of the believer's inheritance awaiting the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of His glory. What blessings are laid up for those who by God's grace have been redeemed from self and sin! But the question comes to all believers have we laid hold of these wonderful spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ?

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. (Eph. 1:3)

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Do YOU demonstrate the power that works in YOU every day?

Ephesians 4:11-13:
And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets;
and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and
teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for
the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the
body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the
faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the
stature of the fulness of Christ:

Thus the perfecting, the finishing, the completing includes the building up of the body, not the tearing down; not the things that separate us and cause us to be diverse, but the things that unite us, bring us together, and what is that? Christ! How do you measure the fullness of Christ? It is not going to be done with a container, and I am not a vessel that can handle His fullness.
 
Verse 14-16:
 
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to
and fro, and carried about with every wind of
doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning
craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But
speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him
in all things, Which is the Head, even Christ:
From Whom the whole body fitly joined together
and compacted by that which every joint supplieth,
according to the effectual working in the measure
of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the
edifying of itself in love.
 
Going to Strong's Concordance:
 
(G4883-sunarmologe6-From G4862 and a derivative of a compound of G719 and G3004 (in its original sense of laying); to render close jointed together, that is, organize compactly: be fitly framed [joined] together).
 
We have been given the truth! Do you believe it? Or are we:

 ... children tossed to and fro, and carried about by
every wind of doctrine.
 
Paul goes on in Ephesians to say, Grow up into Him." He is talking about children maturing in the Word based upon what they know to be true. He then adds to beware of:
 
... the sleight of men in cunning craftiness,
whereby they lie in wait to deceive.
 
Why is it every time Paul gives us something inspiring, he comes right back and says, "beware." Beware because there are vain philosophers. Beware because there are deceivers, sleight-of-hand cunning men. Do you think Satan is an ugly, grotesque, being who looks like he came out of a horror film? He doesn't look like that. He is an attractive, shining creature. The world looks to the pleasing of the eye, and Satan knows our weaknesses. That's how he "deceived" Adam and Eve -- the fruit looked pleasing (Gen. 3:6).
 
Let's look at that verse again in Ephesians 4:15-16:

... speaking the truth in love, may grow up into
Him in all things, Which is the Head, even Christ:
from Whom the whole body fitly joined together
and compacted by that which every joint supplieth,
according to the effectual working in the measure
of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the
edifying of itself in love.
 
Consider what Paul is thinking about. He is talking about "complementing." This body, if we are all members of it, has to complement. We have to work together. We have to fit together. Even I, with my limitations, still have a God-given place in His order. And I am mandated to work together with you for the unity for it to increase. And what does it increase in? Love, charity, brotherly kindness. However you want to describe it, it goes without saying that I/we should have output with every input. That is what people see, and that is what people measure. I might be a small input, but I am still a part, and I have a function. My body is a vessel, a container.
 
This "body" has all kinds of parts --- they all fit together. And if they didn't, it and I wouldn't be full. That's the point Paul is making. "Fitly joined together" is a great Greek word --- to render closely joined together, or fitly joined together. Have you ever seen tongue and groove flooring? This picture shows how we are just all "tongue and grooved" together, and, therefore, fitly joined together to be complete.
 
No more children ...
 
... the verse continues. So we have to grow up! Are we making an increase in the body here? Is this all there is supposed to be? Are we all the parts? Are there more parts out there? Who in our lives can we touch with this truth that might help the body grow?

.... unto the edifying of itself in love.
 
Lack of love for everyone shows we are not filled up. So now given the knowledge that I have shared with you intellectually, are you more complete? Maybe feelings have emotionally grabbed you which say, "I'm not quite filled yet, and I need to do something different." Do you believe that you are "Complete in Christ"? That is where it starts. Are you filled up? Are you still trying to add to what Christ has already done? If so, then you are saying that Christ was insufficient for you and YOU are greater because it takes your effort. That effort we contribute is waste!
 
We are full! ! We have been filled!! Believe it!! This is where it starts, and then we demonstrate it by showing this fullness in our lives. Showing others the life that is within us, the hope that is within. Instead of strife, let's focus on what we agree upon and show others the Love of Christ! So, in summary, there are at least 32 things that Christ did to "fill up" the believer.

CONTINUED  SEPT. 29, 2010

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Do YOU demonstrate the power that works in YOU every day?
Part 2

 
We are full! ! We have been filled!! Believe it!! This is where it starts, and then we demonstrate it by showing this fullness in our lives. Showing others the life that is within us, the hope that is within. Instead of strife, let's focus on what we agree upon and show others the Love of Christ! So, in summary, there are at least 32 things that Christ did to "fill up" the believer.

 
32 THINGS CHRIST DID TO FILL UP THE BELIEVER
 

1.   Peace through the blood of His cross,
2.   By Him to reconcile all things,
3.   Present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in His sight,
4.   Having obtained eternal redemption for us,
5.   Purge your conscience,
6.   He is the Mediator,
7.   And ye are complete in Him,
8.   Circumcised with the circumcision made without hands,
9.   Buried with Him in baptism,
10.  Quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
11.  Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances.
12.  Having spoiled principalities and powers, triumphing over them
13.  Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
14.  Why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances (touch not; taste not; handle not); after
          the commandments and doctrines of men?
15.  Gather together in one all things in Christ,
16.  Obtained an inheritance,
17.  First trusted in Christ (as our Head).
18.  Ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
19.  And hath put all things under His feet,
20.  Gave Him to be the Head over all things to the church,
21.  To know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge,
22.  Unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.
23.  And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints.
24.  For the edifying of the body of Christ.
25.  Come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
26.  Unto a perfect man,
27.  No more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine,
28.  May grow up into Him in all things,
29.  The whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies,
30.  The effectual working in the measure of every part,
31.  Makes increase of the body
32.  Unto the edifying of itself in love.


The above are quoted from the Scriptures a challenge for you, find each one and write by the thought above, a great way to remember each verse.

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The Church or the Rock?
By Pastor Ivan L. Burgener

   "And I also, I say unto thee that thou are Peter and upon this rock will I build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18 revised)

   The Lord spoke to Peter about a rock and a church and said the "gates of hell" would not prevail. But what does that mean?

   To many this is the foundation passage upon which to base the teaching that Peter is the head of the church and that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church. But that interpretation is based upon assumptions.

   First, is Peter the rock? Peter's Greek name is PETROS, a masculine name meaning a "stone," such as a pebble one might toss or throw. The Greek word for "rock" is PETRA, a feminine noun meaning a massive rock or boulder-something that cannot be lifted or that will not budge. The Lord said one could build a house on a "rock" and even carve a tomb therein. See Matthew 7:24 & 27:60. Peter was not the rock and able commentators who read the Greek Language have known better.

   But what about the church? Did the Lord really say "the gates of hell would not prevail against the church"? His words were, "the gates of hell shall not prevail against IT." We all know "it" is a pronoun, but we do not all know that "it" refers to the church. Many have assumed so just like they assumed the Peter or his confession was the rock. But are we reading into or out of the verse?

   One cannot tell by any English translation but the Greek pronoun here translated "it" is not neuter, but feminine and singular. Our word "her" would be the equivalent, but that would not be good English.

   Since every pronoun must have its antecedant, our question is. Which noun in the sentence is both feminine and singular? There are two candidates: rock and church! Since both appear to be equally qualified, we must consider which fits the text and the context.

   What would it mean to say, "the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church"? Or, what would it mean to say, "the gates of hell shall not prevail against the rock"? And to what does the term "rock" refer? Surely Christ was the Rock that followed Israel in the wilderness and the Messiah was to be the Rock of their salvation. People want to make Peter's confession to be the rock, but which is greater, his confession or the Rock Himself?

   What are "the gates of hell"? In either case, what would it mean for them to "prevail"? Would you know the gates of hell if you saw them? What do they look like? Are they double-wide doors with hinges and latches? These questions are posed to help us consider what the Lord was talking about.

   Pursuing the word "gates," from Genesis 19:1 we learn that "Lot sat in the gate" of the city of Sodom and in verse 9, they said he was a judge indicating a position of authority. In Proverbs 31:23 the virtuous woman's husband was "known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land." Further tracing of figurative uses of "gates" will confirm that this word indicates authority or power, such as one might have in government.

   Our word "hell" comes from the Greek "hades" and its Hebrew equivalent "sheol." But both these words are often translated death or grave. For example in I Cor. 15:55 this same word, HADES, is alternatively translated "death" and "grave." But when one combines these two words, "gates" and "hell," the phrase "gates of hell" becomes the "power of death" or "authority of the grave."

   The idea of the "power of death" failing to prevail against the church is vague and uncertain. But to say that "the power of death" will not prevail against the Rock (Christ) clearly announces His resurrection! For the "power of death (or grave)" to prevail against Christ, would mean that the grave would hold Him and not let Him rise! That could not be!

   This explanation is offered as the only one for Matthew 16:18 and the Lord confirms it in verse 21, "From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto His disciples, how that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day." While Peter was praised for his earlier confession of Who Christ was, here he is sharply rebuked for resisting the Lord's own words that He would go to the cross! But that the "gates of hell" could not prevail should have been Peter's great eternal consolation! Hallelujah!

[nChrist]

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THE CHURCH WHICH IS HIS BODY
By Pastor Joel  Finck

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1 :22, 23

Many Christians believe that every time the word "church" appears in Scripture, it refers to the same thing. This is unfortunate, for this thinking has led to much error and confusion. The fact is, at least three churches can be distinguished in Scripture.

The first church we find in the Bible is "the church in the wilderness" (Acts 7:38 ). This was the Old Testament congregation of Israel. Some would object to calling Israel a church, but this is exactly what the Holy Spirit calls her. In fact the Hebrew word for "congregation," found numerous times in the Old Testament, is equivalent to the Greek word for "church" (see Psalm 22:22 & Hebrews 2:12). Yet, the Old Testament Israelite church is not the church of today.

The next church we read of in Scripture is yet future. Christ spoke of it in Matthew 16:18 where Christ told Peter, "I will build my church; and the gates of hell (Gk. 'hades') shall not prevail against it." This church is still future, for it is begun with a resurrected people. The "gates of hades" is not a reference to Satan's forces, an many teach, but a reference to the entrance (and exit) of the place of the dead (cf. Isaiah 38:10 where "gates of the grave" is literally "the gates of sheol" ---sheol being the Heb. equivalent to the Gk. hades).

The third church is the church of today. Paul calls it "the church which is his body" (Ephesians 1:22, 23). All true believers today are members of the Body of Christ, the one true church in this dispensation of grace. Are you a member of this church?

[nChrist]

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THAT BLESSED HOPE
By HAROLD STEINBRON, Bible Teacher, Oklahoma



Scripture Reading: Titus 2:13

Hope is what keeps mankind going. Were it not for the hope of a better tomorrow, or at least next week - or maybe next month, or perhaps next year, we would give up and be ready to die. Many different people have many different hopes but that blessed hope spoken of here, is the one hope that keeps every true believer buying up the time; being not weary in well doing; accepting the persecution that goes with those who live Godly in Christ Jesus. This one hope above all other hopes, keeps us rejoicing at the thought of being in His presence, and sharing in His Glory!

Paul lets us know that faith, hope, and love, are the enduring spiritual marks in this age. Faith and Hope will be lost, when at the Rapture we no longer need faith or hope, for sight will behold Him for whom so long our hearts had sought. Then only love will be the life force.

We can get so busy making a living, and worrying over details that should be turned over to Him, that we can lose sight of that day when we actually stand in His presence! Fearful and wonderful thought! That meeting in the air with Him, will leave many saved as through fire. Many will be rewarded for faithfulness to His leading. He needed somebody like us right where we are, so that's why He put each of us where we are. When we learn faithfulness to responsibility there, He is well able to move us elsewhere. The more faithful we are, the brighter shines that blessed hope. To fail responsibility, may bring apprehension!

[nChrist]

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Part 1 of 2
By Charles Mays
Associate Pastor


Free From Righteousness

     For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. (Rom. 6:20)

We don't anticipate free being used in the negative, but here it is. In our natural condition, we are void of righteousness. In Romans 7:18, the Apostle Paul wrote that no good thing dwells in the flesh. Also, consider the fact that God never calls the unbeliever to change his way of life. For the unbeliever, his daily conduct is not the issue. His need is salvation. The unbeliever is free from subjection to the will of God. In his commentary on the book of Romans, Ernest Campbell stated it this way:

The truth revealed for the members of the Body of Christ is never superimposed upon (lost) sinners. God never tells (the lost) sinners how they are to live. They have no obligation to live righteously and holy. Gods sole interest in (them) is their salvation and not their lifestyle.

The lost are free from any responsibility to be conformed to the image of Christ. This is the condition in which we are born. This gives a whole new meaning to free born and not in a good way. Matthew Henry wrote: Freedom from righteousness is the worst kind of slavery. When you are free from righteousness, you are a slave to sin. There is no middle ground.

We live in a culture of self-improvement. In fact, its big business. All types of physical and mental fitness products are peddled to us on a daily basis through every type of advertising possible. Self-improvement is not bad. Its good for us to keep an eye on our physical and mental health, but there is no self-help remedy for sin. Romans 3:9-19 paints a dismal picture of mankind, ending with all the world being guilty before God. This is reinforced by Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. The end result is that we are all condemned to death (physical and spiritual); For the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23a).

The Free Gift

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Rom. 6:23)

Death is the sentence. Death is what we deserve. Death is our just reward; Not only physical death but spiritual death, which is eternal separation from God. But God offers us a gift. A gift is something that is free; it cannot be earned by merit. Sinners merit hell, but saints do not merit heaven. Eternal life, therefore, is a gift that cannot be earned. Romans 4:1-5 is just one passage that makes it clear that grace is how we are accepted by God, not by works. Clearly, as Christians, our conduct should demonstrate to others that the Holy Spirit is working in our lives, but God does not save our soul based on our conduct. He does so based on our faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. Notice this eternal life is through Jesus Christ our Lord. For contemporary Christian music fans, Stephen Curtis Chapman summed it up well when he penned the song Jesus is Life.

Salvation through the cross of Christ is not a popular message in our society today. In fact, it never has been. But that's exactly what the Word of God teaches. Consider the following passages:

     For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power    of God. (1 Cor. 1:18)

     But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness. (1 Cor. 1:23)

     For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. (I Cor. 2:2)

These passages, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, and others make it clear that Paul taught salvation through faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Paul was not ashamed of this gospel message (Rom. 1:16). And he made it abundantly clear that Gods provision for salvation through the cross of Christ is offered as a gift, meaning FREE. Romans 3:24 says we are justified freely by (Gods) grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. How could it be stated any clearer than Ephesians 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.

When we are born, we are identified with Adam. We inherit death. But when we accept salvation by believing that Jesus Christ died for our sins (faith), we are no longer identified with Adam but with Jesus Christ. These two conditions are contrasted in Romans 5:12-21. In describing our new position in Christ, the word gift is used six times in four verses (15-18, KJV). It is hammered home that God wants nothing, nay, will accept nothing as payment for our salvation. Its all or nothing. Take it or leave it. Its a free gift.

Many have the image in their heads of a repentant sinner reaching toward heaven while God reaches down. Its a beautiful picture, but its poor doctrine. It presents the idea that we somehow meet God halfway in changing our destiny. Romans 5:6 says, For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Without strength means we are totally powerless to change our situation. Picture an athlete as he lifts weights from the floor. The weights do nothing to aid him. They have no power to do so. The athlete does the lifting of this dead weight on his own. In our natural condition, we are dead weight dead in our trespasses and sins. God reaches down, doing all the work, and lifts us to a new position in glory through Jesus Christ our Lord (Eph. 2:1-7). Next time you sing such hymns as He Lifted Me or Love Lifted Me, I hope you remember this illustration and sing it with a new zeal and understanding.

[nChrist]

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Part 2 of 2
By Charles Mays
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Free From Sin

Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. (Rom. 6:18 )

When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, we do not become immediately sinless. The old sin nature is part of our flesh and can only be eradicated by the death of this body that is corrupted by it. For he that is dead is freed from sin (Rom. 6:7). Even a casual reading of Romans, chapter seven, demonstrates the struggle the saved Apostle Paul had with the sin nature that dwelled in his body of flesh (7:22-23). The struggle with the flesh is something we all endure. Paul states it directly, or alludes to it, no less than seventy times in his epistles. The conclusion is that in this earthly existence of ours, we will never be totally free from sin. That is, in our daily experience.

Positionally, we are free from sin. In Colossians 3:3, our flesh is viewed as dead, and our life is hid with Christ in God. We are in Christ, and in Him is no sin. Ephesians 1:3 says we are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Paul continues to elaborate on some of those blessings, including our complete forgiveness of sins (1:7). Colossians 2:13 states: And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses. The effect is that we are given a new position. Ephesians 2:6 says that God has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. This is known as Positional Truth. The struggle that we face is making it a reality in our daily walk; this is Practical Truth. But this has no effect on our position in Christ.

Free From the Law

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (Rom. 6:14)

Most people think of the Ten Commandments when they think of the law. But it was much more than that. In fact, there were over 600 individual laws contained in the Mosaic Law. These laws governed every aspect of daily life for the Hebrew. It was Gods holy, righteous standard. This might initially be thought of as a blessing, but instead it was a curse. Not that the law was wrong. It was holy, just and good (Rom. 7:12). The problem came in the weakness of the flesh. Read again Paul's struggle in Romans 7:7-25. Man is simply not able to keep Gods righteous standard under the power of his flesh. So we read:

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. (Rom. 3:20)

The law could not save. It could only condemn. It pointed out the weakness of mans flesh and magnified his need for a Savior. What we could not do by the power of our flesh under the law, Christ did for us (Rom. 8:1-4). We also read, in Colossians 2:14, that Christ blotted out the law, took it away and nailed it to His cross. Yet many, even in our present day, fail to recognize this fact. I can only echo the words of Galatians 5:1:

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
 
Consider the words of Philip Bliss in the well-known hymn Once For All:

Free from the law, O happy condition.
Jesus hath bled, and there is remission.
Cursed by the law and bruised by the fall,
Grace hath redeemed us, once for all.

Free To Choose

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christs stead, be ye reconciled to God. (2 Cor. 5:20)

The word beseech is not one we use in our vocabulary on a regular basis. It means to beg or plead with someone. If we are begged and/or pleaded with to be reconciled to God, then there is more than mere implication that man has a choice in the matter. Man is free to choose whether or not to accept Gods offer of eternal life.

The same holds true of our Christian walk. We do not save ourselves. It is God who saves us through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary; by faith in His death for our sins (1 Cor. 15:1-4). Again, our conduct has no bearing on the matter. The only issue in salvation is faith. But true faith should stir a desire in us to live a life that is consistent with our profession of faith. That is the thrust of Romans 12:1-2:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

(See also Romans 6:12-13.)

God desires all men to accept His free gift of salvation and to live a life that is free from the slavery of sin and free from the bondage of the law. But clearly, we are free to choose.