GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

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PEACE WITH GOD, ACCESS TO GOD AND THE HOPE OF GLORY
by C. R. Stam


According to Rom. 4:25, Christ was delivered to death for our sins and then raised from the dead because He had fully settled our debt. The results of this mighty work of redemption are marvelous indeed to ponder over.

First, it means for every believer in Christ, that "being justified by faith we have peace with God" (Rom. 5:1). If Christ has paid for our sins and the barrier between God and us has been removed, why should we not enjoy peace with God? Why should we not rise in the morning, go about our work during the day and retire at night with complete confidence that all is well; that we are at peace with God and that He loves us as His very own?

But more: Verse 2 goes on to say that by Christ we also have "access by faith into this grace wherein we stand." If the barrier of sin has been removed and we are at peace with God, what is there to keep us out of His presence, especially when He Himself bids us to "come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need"? (Heb. 4:16). How wonderful to have a standing before God in grace! to be at peace with Him and to enjoy free access into His presence by faith!

But there is still more. Not only does the believer in Christ enjoy peace with God and access to God, but, as this same verse says: "We rejoice in hope of the glory of God." "Hope" in the Bible is, of course, more than a wish. It is an eager anticipation of wonderful things to come. Heb. 6:19 says: "Which hope we have as an anchor to the soul, both sure and stedfast." Man has always been afraid of the glory of God. When the glory of the Lord shone round about the Judean shepherds "they were sore afraid." This was because "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). But the simplest believer in Christ may rejoice in the anticipation of sharing God’s glory someday.

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UNDER LAW OR UNDER GRACE?
By Pastor Joel Finck

Scripture Reading: Romans 6:14

People are always looking for an excuse to sin. If they can somehow justify their sin with Scripture, so much the better --- or so they think. Paul knew that God's super-abounding grace would probably be misused by some to become lax about sin. Therefore, immediately after informing us that we "are not under the law, but under grace," he quickly added, "What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid" (Romans 6:14,15).

We should thank God we are not under the law! No longer are we required to bring animal sacrifices as an offering for sin. No more do we live in the bondage of the Mosaic code, which spelled out every detail of life and threatened death for those who slipped. What freedom we have in Christ!

Yet Christian liberty was never designed to give us freedom to sin; rather, it was meant to give us freedom to serve. "For brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another" (Galatians 5:13).

Indeed, when we exercise genuine Christian love, we actually fulfill in a practical way that which the Law could never produce; that is, experiential righteousness. "Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law" (Romans 13:10). While so many today are trying to live by law, let us who know the grace of God live by grace, and thereby demonstrate to a dying world what the power of God can do in the life of a yielded believer.

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God's Gifts to His Church
by Paul M. Sadler,


                    "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." -- Ephesians 4:11-13

                    Paul warns us about those who, whether wittingly or unwittingly, would spread unsound doctrine among us. We are living in a time when some of the brethren seem to deem it important to find something new. Of course, it is not our intent to discourage anyone in regard to exercising the "Berean spirit." However, care should be taken not to undermine the foundation upon which our faith rests. We do well to remember that the "Doctrinal Statement" our forefathers forged for us was a product of intense debate with the denominational leaders of their day. Each plank of the statement was carefully crafted as a defense and confirmation of the Fundamentals of the faith and Paul's gospel. Therefore, let us not be too quick to challenge those things which are "tried and true."

                    At this late hour, there are those who tell us that the "gifts" of evangelists, pastors and teachers or pastor-teachers are no longer in operation today. Some have even gone as far to say that the enabling "gifts" have also passed. This flies in the face of our "Doctrinal Statement," which has served us well for over fifty years. It states:             

                    "The gifts necessary for the ministry of the Body of Christ are those enumerated in Eph. 4:7-16. Of these, only the gifts of evangelists and pastor-teachers are in operation today. "

                    Here in Ephesians, one of Paul's later epistles, the apostle sets the tone for the course of this dispensation. Clearly, the context of this portion concerns itself with the gifts God has given to His Church. It is true that the gifts of "apostles" and "prophets" passed with the completion of the Word of God (I Cor. 13:8-13 cf. Col. 1:25). Once the Word of God was dispensed, these two offices and the gifted men who held them were nonessential. We now have something far better, the written revelation that they handed down to us, which is to be obeyed in matters of faith and practice.

                    There is no indication, whatsoever, that the gifts of evangelists, pastors and teachers have ever been withdrawn. In fact, Paul plainly states their purpose: "For the perfecting [maturing] of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying [building up] of the Body of Christ. "And how long shall this continue? "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge [Gr. epignosis -- full knowledge] of the Son of God" (Eph. 4:13).

                    Surely, it could not be said there has ever been a period in Church history, past or present, that the "unity of the faith" has been attained, much less a "full knowledge" of the Son of God. But this is exactly what we are being asked to believe; that is, the unity of the faith has been attained. Perhaps, we should put this to the Berean test.             

                    Creation: Some believe God created all things in six literal twenty-four hour days. Others teach the "ruin and reconstruction theory" that God created, destroyed and re-created. This is commonly called the "gap theory" which places millions or billions of years between the original creation and the re-creation.

                    Redemption: The battle has raged for centuries over whether Christ died for the sins of all mankind or merely for the sins of the elect. Which do you believe?

                    Things to Come: It is well known there are those who believe the events covered in the Book of Revelation are entirely futuristic. Many would challenge this assertion as absurd. They teach that the early chapters of the Apocalypse describe the various stages of Church history up to the present "Laodicean" age. If we agree that there are two camps of interpretation on any Biblical subject, then we have yet to come into the unity of the faith.

                    There is not one scintilla of evidence that the "unity of the faith" has ever been attained by all. Even in Paul's day, the saints were wielding the sword of the Spirit against one another (II Tim. 1:15 cf. 2:17-19). In addition, we must inquire: Has the Church come to a full knowledge of the Son of God? That is, of His person, work and present heavenly ministry. We shall answer this question with a question: Has the Church, which is His Body, acknowledged the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the Mystery?

                    The "unity of the faith" and a "full knowledge" of Christ is a goal set before us that will never be fully attained until the Rapture. Thus, the responsibility of Gods gifts to His Church is to proclaim the whole counsel of God in light of the Pauline epistles. Why? that the saints might be established in the faith!

                    There is also an experiential side to this truth as well. When God called me into the ministry nearly thirty years ago, it was definitive. Other pastors have testified of similar experiences, which confirms that the "gifts and callings of God are without repentance" (Rom. 11:29). Beware of those who would rob you of this precious truth!

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THE SPIRIT OF SONSHIP
by C. R. Stam



"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption [Lit., sonship], whereby we cry, Abba, Father" (Rom. 8:15).

The position of the believer in the family of God is amply illustrated for us in the Epistles of Paul. In Gal. 4:1-5 the Apostle alludes to the fact that in the life of every Hebrew boy there came a time, appointed by the father, when the lad was formally declared to be a full-grown son, with all the rights and privileges of sonship.

It was now assumed that the young man would no longer need overseers to keep him in check. There would be natural understanding and cooperation between father and son. And so the "adoption" [Gr., son-placing] proceedings took place, indicating that the child, now a full-grown son, was no longer under law, but under grace.

"And because ye are sons," says the Apostle, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a [full-grown] son" (Gal. 4:6,7).

This is the position of every believer in Christ. He may, like the Corinthians, still be a babe in his spiritual experience (I Cor. 3:1), but in Christ he occupies the position of a full-grown son, and to grow spiritually it will do him no good to go back under the Law; he must rather recognize his standing before God in grace. This is why the Apostle says in Rom. 8:15:

"Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption [sonship], whereby we cry, Abba, Father."

A recognition of this position will do far more to help us live godly lives than will the "dos and dont's" of the Law.

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ENEMIES OF GOD AND WORSHIPERS OF SATAN
by C. R. Stam



"...we were enemies..." (Rom. 5:10).

"...the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not..." (II Cor. 4:4).

Many religious but unsaved people will not accept the fact that they are enemies of God, and fail to understand why the Bible should insist that they are. But the God who says that they are sinners, worthy of everlasting judgment; that their only hope of salvation lies in the One who poured out His life’s blood to pay the penalty for their sins -- this God, the God of the Bible, they cannot abide. Let one of His servants tell them what He says about them and they are insulted. When this God, the true God, refuses to accept their "good" works or their "righteous" conduct they react like Cain, of whom we read: "And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell" (Gen. 4:5). They simply will not bow to this God, and their attitude betrays their enmity against Him.

But why will they not turn away from their self-righteousness and trust in Christ, who died for their sins?

Simply because they worship Satan, "the god of this age," who "hath blinded the minds of those who believe not." Worship Satan? This too is hard for the unregenerate man to believe about himself. As he has his own conception of God, he also has his own conception of Satan -- a wrong one.

Unbelievers do not know that the real Satan, the Satan of the Bible, has a vast wardrobe and, in this dispensation of grace, doubtless appears most often as "an angel of light" with "ministers of righteousness" (II Cor. 11:14,15). This Satan they do indeed worship. They adore him, and try to live by his precepts, convinced that the way to salvation is to do and be good.

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NO FADS AND FASHIONS HERE
By Pastor Paul Hume




Scripture Reading: Mal. 3:6; Rom. 11:29; Jas. 1:17


It's really amusing to review the changes in men's and women's apparel over the years!  Remember the longer fuller dresses which women wore just a few  years ago at the outbreak of World War II? Remember the wide flowery neckties men wore in the mid-40's? Behold! How the hemline on feminine clothing has risen! How narrow men's ties became just a few years ago, and how wide they have suddenly become now! What will develop next? You never really know!

But not so with the Person of the blessed Godhead! Our Triune God is ever "young" and perfectly changeless. This is what the theologians call "the immutability of God." God is unchangeable. He is "the same, yesterday, today, and unto the ages." Therefore the Scriptures liken Him and His beloved Son unto. "the Rock" (Deut. 32:4, I Cor. 10:4).

He is immutable in His essence. "I am the Lord, I change not." Why? Simply because He is the only One in all the universe who can ever state, "I am that I am" (Ex. 3:14). "He is altogether uninfluenced by the flight of time. There is no wrinkle upon the brow of eternity." (A. W. Pink)

He is immutable in His attributes. Semper idem __always the same - is written over every attribute of our blessed God and Savior: His righteousness, holiness, His truth, His mercy, and His love. There-fore His blessed written Word is "forever settled in heaven" (Psa. 119:89). Think of that: "forever SETTLED..."!!

His purpose is immutable. "The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying...as I have purposed, so shall it stand... For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall annul it?" (Isa.14:24,27). Praise the Lord! May we echo with Frederick Faber:

O Lord! my heart is sick
Sick of this everlasting change;
And life runs tediously quick
Through its unresting race and varied range;
Change finds no likeness to itself in Thee,
And wake's no echo in Thy mute Eternity.

Are you linked, by faith through the Holy Spirit, to this unchangeable One?

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DO-IT-YOURSELF SOUL WINNING
Part 1 of 3
BY EVANGELIST JOEL MCGARVEY



As our caravan continues its journey in ministry over the summer and fall, I continue to share in many of the churches I visit the two-fold challenge of soul winning and standing true and firm for the Word of God rightly divided. It is in the message of God's Grace that we find the Gospel of the Grace of God and the only message that can save today; therefore, I have been encouraging the saints to be soul winners. By using the term "soul winning" I do not mean to indicate some sort of sporting event or attempting to put notches in one's belt. The term "soul winning" is used exclusively to describe the work of evangelism, or the preaching of the Gospel of the Grace of God to individuals in a lost and dying world. The one thing that I, or any individual, must always keep in mind when sharing the Gospel is that he or she is merely the one who plants or waters - it is the Holy Spirit Who is the real soul winner (1 Cor. 3 :6-7).

Over the years, and now in my travels, I have seen, and continue to see, an alarming trend among believers toward a philosophy of "professionalism." When the roof needs to be repaired, a roofer is called; when a sink backs up, a call is placed to a plumber. The same is seen in the area of soul winning and much of the work of the Lord. Souls need to be saved soooo...call the preacher! In my years of ministry, I can't begin to count how many times I received a phone call on Saturday evening informing me that an unsaved friend or relative would be attending church in the morning and so I was asked to really preach the gospel hard. I didn't mind, and usually included a gospel presentation in all of my messages anyway, but it was the thought behind the request that often bothered me. The saints don't visit the sick and shut-ins (except close family)... "That's the preacher's job." People don't witness, as they should... "That's why we pay the preacher." The idea of "professionalism" is one of Satan's little lies he has successfully used to keep the saints of God content and quiet. If you silence the army, who is left to fight?

Time is short and there is no time to call the professional. What the Church of Christ needs today is some "do-it-yourselfers." The Acts of the Apostles written by Luke records the activities that took place following the stoning of Stephen. "Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word" (Acts 8:4). Some may read this verse and think that the work going on here was the work of the "professionals" - the Apostles; but that was not the case. According to the opening verse of the chapter, the "professionals" had remained in Jerusalem. "...And they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles" (Acts 8: I). The Apostle Paul writes how God had given the office of the pastor/teacher (Eph. 4: 11) and then proceeds to set forth its function, or purpose - "For the perfecting [equipping] of the saints" (Eph. 4:12a). The Biblical purpose of the pastor/teacher (the "professional") has little to do with what man has made it and everything to do with the proclamation and teaching of the Word of God to the saints of God. It is his responsibility to train the saints in the Scriptures. But for what reason is this training to be accomplished? The Apostle continues with the word "for" which introduces the next result clause, "...the work of the ministry. "

The ministry that God has given to His Church is two-fold in nature. The first is the "ministry of reconciliation" (2 Cor. 5: 18 ), and the second is "to make all men see what is the fellowship of the Mystery" (Eph. 3:9). Let me illustrate Ephesians 4:11-12 in the following manner in an attempt to give it clarity.

Eph. 4:11- "And He gave some, apostles; and some prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers. "

Eph. 4:12 - "For [introduces the result clause] (1) the perfecting of the saints ...
for [introduces another result clause] (2) the work of the ministry...
for (yet another result clause] (3) the edifying of the Body of Christ. "

You see, God gives the pastor/teacher for the purpose of perfecting (equipping, training) the saints. That is why the Apostle Paul instructed the pastor to "feed the Church of God" (Acts 20:28 ). The word translated "perfecting" is used many ways in Scripture. One of those ways is found in Hebrews 10:5, where it speaks of preparing. The farmer prepares the ground for planting. A meal is prepared for consumption. The child of God is to be prepared for service. This perfecting is then carried out to the end that the saints do the work of the ministry which is sharing the Gospel, making all men see the Mystery, and caring for one another. All of this is done for the purpose of edifying, or building up (strengthening and expanding) the Body of Christ.

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"DO-IT-YOURSELF SOUL WINNING"
Part 2 of 3
 BY EVANGELIST JOEl MCGARVEY




The word "edifying" has the idea of structure or building up. We use the same word today in relation to a building when we speak of its edifice. The edifying of the Church (the Body of Christ) is carried out in two distinct areas, each one important. First is the area of soul winning. As saints of God share the gospel, unbelievers are brought to a saving knowledge of  the Lord Jesus Christ and, thus, the Body of Christ is built up, or expanded. Some speak negatively about this and make the accusation that we're only interested in numbers. Well, friends, soul winning is never about increasing church membership or gaining a following; it is only about where a soul will spend eternity - Heaven or Hell! But in the scheme of things, souls are people and people are often counted (numbers). Hence, edifying the Body of Christ includes increasing its size or number of members. Second, edifying the Church has to do with the education, or the training of the flock. This is the primary role of the pastor/teacher. It is his function to train or equip the saints in the Word of God so that they may in turn take the gospel to a lost and dying world and also have an answer for the things that come their way each day. It is the responsibility of the pastor/teacher to equip the saints in the Word of God "rightly divided" - so that they can be rooted, grounded and established in the faith (Col. 2:6-8 ). The failure on the part of the pastor/teacher to do both of these is the failure to carry out his God-given responsibility.

This two-fold ministry is given to all of the saints and it is the function, or purpose of the pastor/teacher to equip or train the saints to carry it out. The preacher is not paid simply to alleviate the saints of their God-given responsibilities. The work of the ministry belongs to everyone. It was received that day you took Christ as your Savior. People will request prayer for an unsaved loved one but never stop and really share the gospel with them. They may mention to the individual how thankful they have been to know the Lord and how He has blessed their life. Now while all of that is true, that is not sharing the gospel. The saints of God must awake, arise and begin to do what God has called them to do. "For He saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Cor. 6:2).

As the days of our summer travels slow down, and the Grace Revival for Evangelism VI draws near (October 4-7 in Branson, MO at the Stonecroft Conference Center), I wanted to take this space to encourage you in your daily walk to be a soul winner. Don't leave it up to the so-called "professional." Do what God has called upon all of His children to do - share the gospel of Christ with others.

To do this, I want to quickly set forth what I believe to be the gospel (if we're to share the saving gospel of Christ, we need to know what that gospel is) and present a quick outline of some "do's" and "don'ts" of soul winning.

Soul winning is not:

1.  A system of human effort or good behavior carried out for the purpose of gaining the favor of God;

2.  Seeking people to add to a church membership drive or the following of religious ceremonies (Titus 3:5-6; Eph. 2:8-9); or

3.  Rehabilitation, redevelopment or reformation (Rom. 3:9-12; 10, 13).

Soul winning is:

1.  The engagement of unbelievers in conversation, and  communicating to them a clear presentation of the saving gospel  (Acts 17:2,17; 18:4,19; 19:8-9); and

2 . Presenting the truth in a clear and systematic fashion by use  of the Scriptures (Acts 17:3).

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"DO-IT-YOURSELF SOUL WINNING"
Part 3 of 3


Next, it is necessary to know what the gospel is:

We live in an age of deception. Satan is doing all he can to keep people from hearing the true gospel of Christ (2 Cor. 4:4). One of the methods he has employed is the use of false gospels (Paul warned the Corinthian believers of this very fact - 2 Cor. 11:2-4). Radio and television are full of preachers proclaiming a wide variety of gospels, many which are corrupted by Satan himself. A false gospel is proclaimed where church membership ceremonies and sacraments are imposed in order for one to gain any hope of Heaven upon their death. Still others speak of good works, benevolence, positive thinking and kindness as being the way. But these all fall short (Rom. 3:23; Isa. 64:6; Eph. 2:8-9) and will not provide a moment of time spent in Heaven. Great religious leaders die and immediately their goodness is proclaimed and the statement is made that they are surely now in the very presence of God. But this is decreed upon them for their goodness, religious service, and social positions, not because of any deep-held faith in the meritorious work of Christ alone. There are increasing numbers of people whose minds have been clouded into thinking that all religions are basically the same and that there is little, if any, difference. This philosophy has caused many a child of God to pull back from sharing the gospel with a loved one or a coworker because "they go to church" or "they're pretty religious - they must already be saved."

The gospel is simply the declaration of the work of Christ on behalf of condemned sinners (I Cor. 15:1-4; Rom. 10:9-10; Eph. 1:12-13). The following outline sets forth a simple approach to sharing the gospel with any individual:

The first hurdle in soul winning is getting the person lost. This may sound strange hearing this, but most people, especially the affluent, see no need of a Savior in a life filled with everything they could ever desire. Most people believe themselves to be basically good, honest citizens who never committed murder, robbed a bank or cheated on their spouse. Using the Ten Commandments as a basic outline of God's righteous standard, it is easy to show people how they have stolen (even a paper clip or pencil is stealing), lied (most will admit to a "white lie"), and used the Lord's name in vain. By this simple comparison, it is easy to show that the person has fallen short of God's standard of righteousness and is deserving of eternal punishment. From here you move into a presentation of what God the Father did through the person of His Son Jesus Christ on the behalf of sinful man. The following chart is given as a sample of the gospel and its various points:


             1. Man has a need (Rom. 3: 10-18,23; 5: 12).
             2. Sin has a penalty (Rom. 6:23).
             3. God made a provision (Rom. 5:8 ).
                    · Christ died for sinners (Rom. 5:6-10; 3:24-25).
                    · Christ was buried and rose again to save sinners (Rom. 4:25).
                    · Christ lives to save sinners (Heb. 7:25).
             4. Man must respond (Rom. 10:9-10).
             5. God is faithful to save (Rom. 10:13).

I would strongly urge you to become a soul winner: The writer of Proverbs wrote, "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he that winneth souls is wise. " I believe that the Rapture of the Church grows nearer with each passing day and, thus, the urgency of the hour grows stronger and stronger. The clock of opportunity is ticking and the door of invitation is open wide. But soon it will close and all those left behind who have heard and rejected the gospel of Christ will be doomed to a Christless eternity in the Lake of Fire. Do you believe in a literal Heaven? Do you believe in a literal Hell? Then be a soul winner for the Lord Jesus Christ and stand fast upon the Word of God - rightly divided. Don't leave it up to the professional - do it yourself - it's your responsibility!

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"And So Shall We Ever Be With The Lord"
Part 1 of 9
By Keith Blades


In I Thessalonians 4:13-18 God has the apostle Paul set before us some final details and pieces of information for our edification regarding the nature of the event that will conclude this present dispensation of His grace - the rapture of the church.

      But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (I Thessalonians 4:13-18 )

When we understand and appreciate what Paul sets forth here, these final details provide for us to have the full measure of comprehension that God wants us to have for our "blessed hope." These final pieces of information primarily pertain to the further knowledge that we need to have about the mechanics of the rapture, as well as what we need to understand about the effects of its all-inclusive nature as it encompasses both those who have already died and so "sleep in Jesus," and those "which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord."

     Now when we consider the complete doctrine of our "blessed hope," it is easy to understand why it is called our "blessed hope." For every detail is "blessed" indeed. Whether we are considering the simple fact of it, or the issue of our confident hope of it, or what it delivers us from, or the redemption of our body in connection with it, or the glory of the coming of the Lord, or of our being caught up to meet Him in the air, or whatever detail it might be, each is a thrill for us to consider and a joy to know.

     Moreover the very nature of the doctrine itself, along with how it works within us, is also "blessed." For not only is each and every detail "blessed" to think about, but each one also purposefully makes a particular kind of thrilling impact upon us. In other words, each one is designed by God to effectually work within us in a particular way.

     For instance, some details of the doctrine of the rapture are designed to fill us with the thrill of anticipation for it, while others are designed to produce comfort and consolation. Some specifically work to generate patience within us, while others are designed to help shape our godly perspective. Some of them even stretch the limits of our understanding, giving us further insight into our heavenly vocation in God's plan and purpose, while others specifically work together with this further insight and thereby help keep our hearts and minds focused upon what really matters in this present life.

     Collectively, therefore, all of the information that is contained in the doctrine of the rapture is "blessed" for what it does, as it ranges far and wide throughout the scope of our godly edifying. In fact the complete doctrine of the rapture has some of the most far-reaching and multifaceted capabilities of any of the forms of doctrine in the curriculum for our godly edification in this present dispensation. Its overall effectual working within us is designed by God to be very extensive, spanning as it does the entirety of our godly edification from beginning to end. As such 'roots' are located in "the gospel of Christ" itself, and then all of the various 'fruits' of its progressive effectual working within us are designed to benefit us at every stage, and every step of the way, in the progress of our edification. Even benefiting us right up to and including the time of our death, (if we die before God ends this dispensation), as well as at the very rapture itself.

     Wherefore the complete doctrine of our "blessed hope" is  "blessed" indeed, both in its details and in the way in which each one of them is designed to effectually work within us.

[nChrist]

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"And So Shall We Ever Be With The Lord"
Part  2 of 9
By Keith Blades



Blessed, Yet Some Times A Bit Puzzling



There are, however, some issues about the rapture that some times can seem a bit puzzling, especially when they make us wonder either why they will occur, or exactly what their full purpose might be. For example, the reason for "the voice of the archangel" some times  puzzles folks. Likewise some matters can even cause a bit of consternation, because at first they might not seem to naturally fit in with the event. Or they might not seem to be fully consistent with some other things that we are taught to understand and appreciate, either about ourselves as the church the body of Christ that we are, or about this present dispensation of God's grace in which we live.

However more times than not whenever such things puzzle us it is because we do not fully or clearly understand all that we should. This is especially so whenever we are puzzled by information that is given to us at the end of a doctrine. Or if it is information that completes a doctrine, rather than begins it; as is the case with the information in I Thessalonians 4.

One such issue in the doctrine of the rapture that some times puzzles folks is what Paul states at the end of I Thessalonians 4:17. As Paul concludes describing the mechanics of the rapture he says...

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (I Thessalonians 4:17)

Now when Paul ends this verse by saying "and so shall we ever be with the Lord," at first thought this might not seem to convey anything that could be construed as being the least bit puzzling. After all having believed "the gospel of Christ" we have received justification unto eternal life and personal, permanent reconciliation to God. This then makes it so that we are able to live together with God forever. And is not this simply what Paul is saying will be what we will experience from the rapture on?

However when you think about what Paul says in the light of the knowledge of who we are in God's plan and purpose, (i.e. not simply being justified unto eternal life, but also being the members of God's "new creature," the church the body of Christ), then the issue of us 'ever being with the Lord' from the time of the rapture on can seem to pose a problem. For in being God's "new creature" we are taught that we have a heavenly vocation in God's plan and purpose. We are taught that in accordance with the revelation of "the mystery of Christ" we are going to be used by God for His reconciliation of the heavenly places back to Himself. As such, therefore, we are going to be occupying the heavenly places, being God's "new creature."

Now add to this the fact that God will resume His program with Israel on this earth when the rapture of the church occurs, and you can begin to see where the puzzlement comes in. For when God resumes His program with Israel the Lord will return to the earth at the concluding portion of His day of wrath. At which time the Lord will then establish both His residence and His kingdom on this earth. In so doing He will dwell on the earth forever, just as He has purposed to do all along, and just as He has prophesied that He will do.

Wherefore the puzzlement is this: How is it that we can't ever be with the Lord' from the rapture on, when we will be occupying the heavenly places and He will be on the earth? How can we be said to be 'with Him' when we are not on the earth, and therefore are not physically in His presence on the earth?

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"And So Shall We Ever Be With The Lord"
Part 3 of 9
By Keith Blades



This seeming incongruity is also some-thing that is often latched on to by ones who either do not 'rightly divide the word of truth,' or who deny that we have a heavenly vocation. They use it to say that we cannot have a heavenly vocation, (or at least not a permanent one), and that therefore we will not be residing in, or occupying, the heavenly places. For as they say, 'Since Paul says that we will "ever be with the Lord"; and since the Lord will be coming back to establish His kingdom and to reside on the earth, just as the prophets teach; then obviously we will not be staying in the heavenly places. Rather we will have to come back with the Lord to the earth and we will be with Him on the earth in His kingdom. For this is the only way that we can "ever be with the Lord. "

Thus it is that this particular "blessed" truth -"and so shall we ever be with the Lord" - seems to pose a problem.

Not Really Puzzling At All

However what appears at first to be puzzling or incongruous, is really not so at all. It only seems so. In other words it only seems that our heavenly residence and vocation would be an impediment to, or would be inconsistent with, the issue of us 'ever being with the Lord.' But in truth this is not the case at all. For in view of who we are as God's "new creature," God has actually made it so that we can "ever be with the Lord" even though the Lord will be residing on the earth and we will be residing in the heavenly places.

In fact this amazing and remarkable capacity is actually part of the astounding glory that belongs to us as God's "new creature" and as the members of "the church, body of Christ" that we are.

Now doctrinally-speaking, as we progress through the curriculum for our sonship edification, the knowledge of this remarkable capacity is something that we are given to understand and appreciate long before we ever come to the final details about the rapture that are set forth to us in I Thessalonians. Hence we are expected to have learned about this remarkable capacity, and to be familiar with it, beforehand.

Wherefore in order to 'solve this puzzle' we at least need to have a basic appreciation for this remarkable capacity. And for this we must make sure that we understand some of the fundamental things that God teaches us about who we are in His plan and purpose as His "new creature."

[nChrist]

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"And So Shall We Ever Be With The Lord"
Part Four of Nine
By Keith Blades



The Remarkable Creation of The "New Creature"


In Romans 8, (and as part of our sonship establishment), God teaches us to understand and appreciate the basics regarding our heavenly vocation in His plan and purpose. He teaches us that in accordance with His now revealed plan for also delivering "the creature" from the bondage of corruption and not just the earth, He has purposed that we are to be His "new creature," and that thereby we will be the means by which "the creature" will get delivered and its realm will become reconciled unto God.

Then after having established us as His "sons," (and as we begin going through the curriculum for our sonship edification and for our vocational training), God also begins to teach us about something else that is directly connected to our capacity to function as His "new creature." Something that specifically provides for us to fulfill this unique vocation.

Beginning in Romans chapter 12 God begins to teach us about the new and different and special kind of living-union-relation-ship that we in this present dispensation have both with the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and also with each other, whereby He has made us fit to be able to actually function as His "new creature." As such, this new and different living-union-relationship has been specifically designed by God to perfectly suit the particular vocation that He has for us in His plan and purpose. It, therefore, has been tailor-made by God for us in this present dispensation, and also it has been tailor-made for our heavenly vocation. Hence it truly does provide us with the mechanical means and capacity to fulfill our heavenly vocation.

Now this new and different and special living-union-relationship that we have with the Lord Jesus Christ, and with one another, is the issue of us being "one body in Christ" and also being "members one of another." It is the result of God Himself legally identifying us with, and associating us with, the Lord Jesus Christ, who in connection with His now revealed inheritance as God the Father's "firstborn" has both received dominion over "the creature" and is the legal heir of its realm.

What's more, having legally identified us with Christ as such, God has also legally joined us to Christ as the 'head of the creature' that He now is. Whereby He has made it so that we can legally be incorporated into "the creature," with both the right to occupy its realm and to assume its function.

Now our legal identification with Christ, and our legal joining to Christ, have been accomplished by the Holy Ghost Himself. Who when He baptized us "into Christ" not only made us 'dead to sin and alive unto God,' but He also created the vitally necessary and living bond of genuine union between us and the Lord, as well as between each of us collectively, which enables us to mechanically function as "the new creature." Hence by the Holy Spirit God has organically joined us to the Lord Jesus Christ as the 'head of the creature' that He now is, and He has also organically joined us one to another.

Wherefore in this present dispensation of His grace God has indeed created, (and He has put us into), a new and different and special living-union-relationship with His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. For the sake of being able to make it so that we can function as His "new creature" God has both created this new living-union-relationship, and by it He has made it so that we are "one body in Christ," and we are also "members one of another."

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"And So Shall We Ever Be With The Lord"
Part Five of Nine
By Keith Blades


Now this is not just some theological concept. Nor is it some abstract, ethereal type relationship that only exists as virtual reality, or as imagery, but without real substance. Instead it is a genuine, real, living relationship, and an organic union, just as we are taught in Romans 12, and just as Paul describes to the Corinthian saints when he says...

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (I Corinthians 12:12-13)

So it is then that in creating "the body of Christ" - i.e. this new and different living-union-relationship -God has created a new living entity, or a new life form, so to speak. One that possesses all of the essential attributes and functions of the original "creature," with the result that it can be His "new creature."

Wherefore being God's "new creature" we indeed have both a heavenly residence and a heavenly vocation in God's plan and purpose. Hence when God concludes this present dispensation of His grace He not only will 'rapture' us "to meet the Lord in air" n accordance with His promise to deliver us from the wrath to come, but He will also 'rapture' us in accordance with providing for us to assume our heavenly vocation as His "new creature."

Moreover in full accordance with the issue of our inheritance, and with His own future plans, God has designed for us to stay in the heavenly places; to reside there. Even when He Himself and the Lord Jesus Christ are residing on the earth in fulfillment of His purpose for the earth, and in fulfillment of His program with Israel.

Now even though this will be so, once again it will not be any impediment whatsoever to us 'ever being with the Lord.' For since we have this new and special living-union-relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, and with one another; (that is, because we are the members of "the body of Christ" and "members one of another"); we will be able to both occupy the heavenly places and "ever be with the Lord" at the exact same time. For this very capacity is one of the remarkable features of a body.

The Remarkable Features of A Body

There are many unique features, characteristics, abilities, capacities, and the like, belonging to a body. And especially is this so regarding the individual members that make up a body. As the composite organism that it is, a body is an intricate union of a variety of different members with their different features and abilities, which being governed by a head mutually function for the good of the whole body, and for the purpose of accomplishing the desires of the head. A body, therefore, is a corporate entity and it functions as such.

For this reason when we are taught to understand and appreciate the workings of our special living-union-relationship with Christ and with one another in "the body of Christ," they are taught to us on the basis of the natural parallel that exists with our own physical bodies. For the individual members of our own bodies, being the collective members of a body that they are, possess the same type of living-union-relationship one with another as we have with the Lord Jesus Christ and each other. In accordance with this, we are naturally first of all taught to understand and appreciate such remarkable things as the ingenious and mutually profitable interactions that the individual members of a body are designed to have one with another, and how that the members are designed to function for the benefit of the whole body. Wherefore in Romans and I Corinthians we are taught such things as...

4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. (Romans 12:4-5)
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?'
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members everyone of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body. (I Corinthians 12:14-20)

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"And So Shall We Ever Be With The Lord"
Part Six of Nine
By Keith Blades



Now these basic, yet remarkable things that pertain to the issue of us being "members one of another," (along with others like them), are what we are taught to understand and appreciate first and foremost about "the body of Christ." And naturally so. For they are fundamental and integral to our proper functioning as the members of "the body of Christ" right now, and also they are integral to our vocational training for what is yet to come. Besides this they are also the easiest and most obvious of the body's features and capacities for us to understand, appreciate, and put into operation. Hence they come first.

However as remarkable as these elementary 'member-to-member' features and capacities are, they certainly are not the only remarkable capacities of a body. There are others, especially those we are taught about later on in our edification that pertain to the head of the body. And of those that pertain to the head, the ones that involve the head's unique relationship to, and interaction with, each member of the body are especially significant and fascinating.

One such capacity is how it is that each of the members of a body are equally 'in touch,' so to speak, with its head, and are also equally sensing the head's presence, regardless of where it is located in the body.

In fact this is one of the most remarkable capacities belonging to the head. And it is experienced and enjoyed by each one of the members of a body, and also by the head itself. What's more, it is a capacity that also exists with us in "the body of Christ." As such it has a direct bearing upon our ability to "ever be with the Lord" from the time of the rapture on, even though we will be residing in the heavenly places in accordance with our heavenly vocation.

A Head's Pervading Presence In A Body

Because of what the head of a body is, it possesses a capacity that is uniquely commensurate with its name and its position. Being the head, the force of its presence exists throughout the whole body, touching as it does every member, and also being sensed by every member. Wherefore a head pervades the entire body with its being. There is no member that does not know that it is there, and there is no member that does not know that it is the head.

Moreover each and every member of a body is equally 'in touch' with its head. For the head recognizes and knows the role and value of each member of its body, and it purposefully maintains direct, constant, and fully sensed contact with each and every member. As such each and every member of a body fully 'feels the presence,' so to speak, of its head, and it thereby knows that it is in constant, personal contact with the head.

Furthermore this is true in spite of where each member of a body is located in the body. As far as a head's pervading presence is concerned, the proximity of a member to the head is not an advantage, nor is its distance from the head a disadvantage. A head's pervading presence within its body transcends any physical factor. There are no barriers to its pervasive and permeating presence, nor any limitations on it.

Wherefore in essence a head's presence within its body is omnipresent, with each and every member equally aware of its presence, as well as being appreciative of it and responsive to it.