GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

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


Now this is the way it is with our own body. Disregarding the issue of any corruptive effects from "the bondage of corruption," our own head has this pervading and permeating presence throughout our body. And each and every member of our body 'feels its presence' equally, and knows that it is 'in the head's presence.'

Mechanically-speaking the pervading and permeating presence of our head throughout our body is a function of our inner self; that is, of our spirit/soul complex; the immaterial part of our being; our inner man. In being what it is, our inner man possesses the God-designed capacity to be in real, functional, and equal contact with each and every member of our body. Our inner man is functionally and equally joined to each and every member of our body, and thereby is able to functionally and equally live in, (and express itself in and through), each and every member.

Simply put, therefore, our spirit/soul within us provides for the pervasive and permeating presence of our head throughout our entire body. This in turn makes it so that each and every member of our body is not only in the immediate presence of its head, regardless of where it is located in the body, but each and every member also senses that it is in the head's presence.

The Parallel

This remarkable capacity for the head to pervade the body with its presence also exists in "the body of Christ." And as the spirit of a man provides the mechanical means for the head's presence to pervade and permeate throughout a person's body, so also does the Spirit of God provide for this to be so in "the church, the body of Christ."

Wherefore as "the head of the body, the church" that He is, the Lord Jesus Christ's presence pervades His body, and it is brought to bear upon each and every member of the body through the function and ministry of the Holy Spirit. For having been "baptized into one body" by the Spirit, the Holy Spirit is not only the former of "the body of Christ," but He is also its 'adjoining spirit.' He is responsible for uniting each and every member to the head, and each and every member to each other, as well as being responsible for producing the effects of our living-union-relationship, both during this present dispensation and in the future.

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



The Perfection and Fullness of Christ's Pervading Presence




At this present time we possess only a measure of the fulness of Christ's pervading presence as the head of His body. Wherefore we can only experience, respond to, and appreciate the measure that we presently have. And the fact that we presently possess only a measure of this fulness is only natural. For this is perfectly in accord not only with the conditions that are presently imposed upon our sonship status, edification, and life; but it is also perfectly in accord with the fact that we do not yet have 'the redemption of our bodies. '

Now it will not be until our bodies are redeemed, and we are manifested as God's "sons," that we will actually possess the fulness of Christ's pervading presence as the head of His body, and will be in the position to experience it and appreciate it. This, therefore, means that it will not be until God concludes this present dispensation of His grace with the rapture of the church that we will possess the fulness of Christ's pervading presence, and will begin to experience the effects of its fulness.

However when our bodies are re deemed and we do possess the fulness of Christ's pervading presence as the head of His body, this is what will provide for us to "ever be with the Lord" even though we will be in the heavenly places.

The Redemption of Our Bodies

There are numerous changes that will take place when our bodies are redeemed. In fact as Paul deals with the issue of the resurrection of the dead in I Corinthians 15, he sets forth 5 general categories of changes that will occur, with a number of changes belonging to each category. Hence he says...

42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. (I Corinthians 15:42-49)

Each of these categories of change is glorious to consider. Yet the one that is most germane to our subject is the fifth one - i.e. the change in our bodies that will have us 'bearing the image of the heavenly,' and that thereby will make us physically fit to both reside in, and function in, the heavenly places.

Within this final category of change, the particular change that we need to take note of is the one that provides for us to possess and enjoy the fulness of Christ's pervading presence as the head of His body. And Paul has reason to cite this particular change later on in II Corinthians 5. He cites it as part of his description of how the doctrine of the redemption of our body effectually works within us to enable 'the eyes of our understanding' to 'look at the things which are not seen,' and thereby enable us to confidently face and endure the threat of death in a godly manner. Wherefore Paul says...

1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5 Now he that hath wrought us for this selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (II Corinthians 5:1-8 )

As Paul says, our present bodies are "our earthly house of this  tabernacle." Yet when they are redeemed we will have "a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." Then our bodies will be fit to reside "in the heavens" in accordance with our vocation in the heavenly places as God's "new creature."

However since our present bodies are "our earthly house of this tabernacle," this not only means that right now they are unfit to exist "in the heavens," but it also means that they are not capable of fully possessing, sensing, or responding to the issue of the Lord's pervading presence as the head of His body. And this is one of the reasons why Paul says that "whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord."

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"And So Shall We Ever Be With The Lord"
CONCLUSION
By Keith Blades


We are not only "absent from the Lord" location-wise, but we also sense this issue of being "absent from" Him in our present relationship with Him. Even though by the Holy Spirit we are "one body in Christ" and we have been placed into living-union-relationship with Him as the head of His body, we do not fully sense this right now. For our present "earthly house of this tabernacle" does not allow for us to sense the Lord's full pervading presence as the head of His body. It does not have that capacity. Hence we do not sense that we are 'with the Lord' in our present bodies. Rather our sensed situation, and our real situation, is that "whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord."

But neither our sensed nor our real situation will be that of being "absent from the Lord" when our bodies are redeemed and we are clothed with our "building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." In that day our redeemed bodies will provide for the Lord's full pervading presence as the head of His body to be fully sensed and enjoyed by us. No more, and never more, will we think of ourselves as being "absent from the Lord." Instead we will fully and constantly know that we are "with the Lord" regardless of location.

The Ingenuity of The Body of Christ

So then it is the combination of our new and special living-union-relationship with the Lord as the head of His body, together with our redeemed/changed bodies, that will provide us with the capacity to "ever be with the Lord" from the time of the rapture on, even though we will be residing "in the heavens." From the rapture on the perfection and fullness of Christ's pervading presence will be fully known by us, fully sensed by us, fully experienced by us, and fully enjoyed by us in our glorified bodies. With the result that our location in the heavenly places will not be an obstacle or an hindrance whatsoever to the reality of us "ever being with the Lord." In fact we will be "with the Lord" to the exact same degree, and with the exact same sensing of His presence, as if we were residing on the earth with Him.

Wherefore God's genius in designing and creating "the body of Christ" is indeed marvelous, to say the least. For it not only provides for Him to have a "new creature" for the reconciliation of the heavenly places, but it also provides for Him to have it so that the members of His "new creature" possess a living-union-relationship with Him that is equivalent to the very nature of the relationship that exists between the members of the Godhead themselves. A relationship in which the physical location of the members relative to one another, or their distance one from another at any time, makes no difference whatsoever. Instead by nature they are always 'with one another. '

Therefore with us possessing this same nature of relationship with the Lord in "the body of Christ," and with us possessing its perfection and fullness at the time of the rapture, Paul logically concludes our edification on the details of the rapture by saying, "and so shall we ever be with the Lord." For indeed this will be true of us, even though we will be residing in the heavenly places. - K.R. Blades

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Superiority of Christ
By Gregg Bing

Paul's letter to the Colossians was written to correct false teaching which was prevalent in his day and which continues to lead people away from the truth even today. The Colossians were being exposed to a combination of ideas from gnosticism, legalism, and asceticism. These false teachers denied basic truths about Jesus Christ which are critical to our salvation. For instance, they denied the superiority of Jesus Christ, refusing to acknowledge His deity and relegating Him to the position of a created being. Paul addresses this issue in the opening chapter of Colossians.

Image of the Invisible God

Jesus Christ is declared to be "the image of the invisible God" (Col. 1:15a). The word "image" is translated from the Greek word "eikon" from which we get our English word "icon." It is used of an image, a figure, or a likeness. Jesus Christ, however, is not just "like" God or "similar" to God, He is an exact representation or manifestation of God. John refers to Him as the eternal "Word" (Greek "logos") who, in the beginning, existed "with God" and who existed "God" (John 1:1-2). This Word then became flesh and dwelt among us, allowing us to behold the glory of God (John 1:14). Jesus Christ, in His incarnation, "declared God" to men enabling them to see the invisible God (John 1:18 ). This is what Jesus meant when He said to His disciples, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9). The writer of the book of Hebrews described Jesus as "the express image of His (God's) person" (Heb. 1:3), an exact reproduction of the person, substance, essence, and being of God.

Firstborn Over All Creation

Jesus Christ is described as "the firstborn over all creation" (Col. 1:15b). Cults such as the Jehovah's Witnesses use this statement to try and prove the inferiority of Jesus Christ to God the Father. They claim this statement implies that Christ was the first creation of God. A careful analysis of this passage, in its context, shows that these assumptions are absolutely false.

The word "firstborn" is not the same as the idea of "first created." What does "firstborn" mean? The underlying Greek word is "prototokos" which literally means "first born," and is found eight times in the New Testament. It is used three times for a firstborn son in a family: two times of Jesus as the firstborn of Mary and once of the firstborn sons killed in Egypt at the first Passover. The other five times "firstborn" is used, they speak of Christ, but with a different emphasis.

In Hebrew culture, the firstborn son was in a position of prominence over the children who were born after him and was given special privileges as his birthright. These privileges included a double portion of the inheritance, spiritual headship over the family, and the father's blessing which officially recognized the firstborn's position and authority over the rest of the children. However, firstborn privileges were not always given to the physically firstborn son. Jacob was chosen of God over his older brother, Esau, to have both the birthright and the blessing of his father, Isaac. God would later say of Jacob (whose name was changed to Israel), "Israel is My son, My firstborn" (Exo. 4:22). Similarly, Ephraim was blessed above his brother, Manasseh. Though Manasseh was Joseph's oldest son, God referred to Ephraim as "My firstborn" (Jer. 31:9). In the 89th Psalm, God speaks of anointing "My servant David" (verse 20) and making him "My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth" (verse 27). Though David was the youngest of Jesse's sons, God made David the firstborn giving him the authority and privileges of this position. While this passage does refer to David, the son of Jesse, it also seems to point beyond him to the greater Son of David, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, as God's Firstborn, will one day reign as King over all the earth (Psalm 89:27-29).

When Christ is called "the firstborn over all creation" it does not have anything to do with Him being born of or created by God the Father. It simply means that He holds the position of authority and blessing over all created things. Why does He hold this prominence over all creation?

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Superiority of Christ
By Gregg Bing


In Him All Things Created

Jesus Christ is the One by (in) whom "all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him" (Col. 1:16-17a). The word "all" means exactly that. Because He is God, everything that was created was created by (in) Christ. Who else but God has the wisdom and power to do so? John said of Him, "All things were made through Him, and without (apart from) Him nothing was made that was made" (John 1:3). These verses are devastating to the blasphemous idea that Christ Himself was a created being. That is why the Jehovah's Witnesses, in their perversion of the Scriptures, add an extra word to Colossians 1:16 so that it reads: "For by him all [other] things were created." The word "other" is not found in any Greek text. Christ is "the Firstborn over all creation" because all things were created in Him (sphere), through Him (agency) and for Him (purpose).

He is Before All Things

Jesus Christ is "before all things" (Col. 1:17b). Being the eternal Word, Christ is before all things as to time. In the beginning, when the universe came into being, Christ already existed (John 1:1-2). Being Almighty God, the Creator of all things, and thus the "Firstborn," Christ is before all things as to position and authority.

In Him All Things Consist

Not only did Jesus Christ create all things, bringing them into existence out of nothing, He is also the One by (in) whom "all things consist (hold together)" (Col. 1:17c). Hebrews 1:3 says that Christ, "being the brightness of God's glory and the express image of His person" upholds "all things by the word of His power."

Head of the Body, the Church

Just as Jesus Christ is over all the created universe, He is over the new creation as well, being "the Head of the Body, the Church (Col. 1:18a). After His death on Calvary, God raised Christ from the dead, exalted Him to His own right hand, "far above" all authority and rule and every name that is named, and gave Him to be "the Head over all things to the Church" (Eph. 1:21-23).

He is the Beginning

Jesus Christ is Head over the Church, because "He is the beginning" (Col. 1:18b). The word "beginning" is from the Greek word "arche" which speaks of that which holds the highest position. For example, Michael is called the archangel. "Beginning" carries the ideas of both originator and ruler. Christ says of Himself: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End" (Rev. 1:8 ). He is the beginning of life, not just physical life, but spiritual life as well, for "in Him was life" (John 1:4).

Firstborn From the Dead

Jesus Christ is not only the "firstborn over all creation," "He is the firstborn from the dead" (Col. 1:18c). Jesus was not the first man to be raised from the dead, but He is the first to be raised unto eternal life, never to die again. Christ's resurrection ensures resurrection and eternal life to all who will trust in Him as Savior. Paul assures us of this truth from the negative standpoint in 1 Corinthians 15:17-18: "And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished;" Then from a positive standpoint in 1 Corinthians 15:20-23: "But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming." Christ is, therefore, both "the Author and Finisher of our faith," having endured the cross for our sins and being raised from the dead (Heb. 12:2). He is our risen and glorious Savior and Head.

That He May Be Preeminent

Jesus Christ, simply because of who He is, is to "have the preeminence (first place)" in all things (Col. 1:18d), for He truly is superior to all things. He is the eternal God; He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things; He is the Firstborn from the dead; He is the Alpha and Omega; He is the Head over all things to the Church, His Body. "In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" and, because of this fact, those who trust in Christ as Savior are "complete in Him" (Col. 2:9-10). How important it is to acknowledge the superiority of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and to give Him the preeminence in our hearts and lives.

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In our last issue we examined the superiority of the person of Jesus Christ, looking at Paul's warning to the Colossians about false teachers who denied the deity of Christ. These false teachers also denied the sufficiency of Christ's finished work of redemption, insisting that righteousness must be attained by keeping the Law, a teaching commonly referred to as legalism.

Sufficiency of Christ
Part 1 of 3
By Gregg Bing

Legalism is not related specifically to the Mosaic Law; legalism is simply man trying to deal with his sins and obtain the favor of God through the works of his own hands, something that began, not with the Mosaic Law, but in the Garden of Eden. After Adam and Eve disobeyed God, "the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings" (Gen. 3:7). They became conscious of their sin and were filled with shame and guilt, so Adam and Eve, working with their own hands, sewed fig leaves together to cover their nakedness and shame. However, when they "heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day," their guilt remained, so they "hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden" (Gen. 3:8 ). God Himself provided a proper covering for their nakedness and sin, using tunics of skin to clothe them (Gen. 3:21), demonstrating that sins can only be dealt with through the shedding of blood (Heb. 9:22).

Later, Adam and Eve's children, Cain and Abel, brought offerings to the Lord for their sins. Abel, a shepherd, brought of the firstborn of his flock; Cain, a farmer, brought of the fruit of the ground. God respected Abel's offering because he offered it by faith, hearing God's command to offer a blood sacrifice and obeying. Cain heard the same command, but he chose, instead, to offer the work of his own hands which he took from the ground (both of which were cursed because of sin), an offering which could never please God (Rom. 8:8 ).

God, who is holy and righteous, required that mankind's sins must be paid for through the blood of an innocent, sinless sacrifice, a sacrifice that God would supply through His own Son. God chose to bring His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world through the nation of Israel. In order to preserve His purpose through Israel, God placed them under the Mosaic Law. The Law was to serve as a tutor, a strict schoolmaster to discipline and correct Israel, to keep them holy until Christ was born (Gal. 3:24-25).

The Law was not given to save Israel from their sins. It is evident that "no one is justified by the law in the sight of God," for "the just shall live by faith," and "the law is not of faith" but of works (Gal. 3:11-12). The Law was given "that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God," for "by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Rom. 3:19-20). This is why God made provision in the Law to atone for (cover) the people's sins through the tabernacle, the priesthood, and the various sacrifices.

The Law declared the holy and righteous standard of God, a standard which all fall short of (Rom. 3:23). The problem is not with the Law; the Law is "holy and just and good" (Rom. 7:12). The Law could not make anyone righteous because of the weakness of the flesh (Rom. 8:2), "for as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them" (Gal. 3:10). No one could keep all the Law perfectly, thus, all were concluded to be "under sin" (Gal. 3:21-22). Even the Law's provision for sin was insufficient. The animal sacrifices, which were offered continually year after year, could never "make those who approach perfect" (Heb. 10:1). It was simply "not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins" (Heb. 10:4). All these sacrifices could do was atone for, or cover, the people's sins each year.

The Jews of that first century never understood the real purpose of the Law. They assumed the Law was a means of making them righteous in God's eyes. Paul described their futile efforts in Romans 10:1-4.

"Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they, being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." (Rom. 10:1-4)

These verses give us a good definition of legalism: "Seeking to establish their own righteousness," or, literally, "Seeking to establish a righteousness of themselves." The Pharisees believed they were "blameless" concerning "the righteousness which is in the law" (Phil. 3:6), and this is what they taught the people. The majority of these Jews were depending on their own religious works to save them, just like Cain.

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Sufficiency of Christ
Part 2 of 3
By Gregg Bing



When the Lord Jesus Christ came into the world, the majority of the Jews were offended at Him and His teaching. He exposed their sin (John 15:22), and in response, they rejected and crucified the One who came to be their Savior; the One who came "to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). Thus, Jesus Christ, God's only Son, shed His own precious blood as a sacrifice and payment for the sins of the whole world. Through the "offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all," the sins of all men could not just be covered, but taken away completely (Heb. 10:5-14). The Lord Jesus Christ, thus, became "the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes" (Rom. 10:4).

Nevertheless, many today are just like the Jews of Paul's day, seeking to become righteous and pleasing in God's sight through their own good works. This is exactly what Satan wants men to think; it is "the lie" that blinds men to the truth of the gospel (2 Cor. 4:4) and keeps them from trusting in Christ as Savior.

Paul warns of this false teaching of legalism in Colossians, chapter 2. He begins by warning of those whom Satan uses to deceive men using "persuasive words" (Col. 2:4). There are many eloquent speakers who present themselves as servants of God, but who are actually ministers of Satan (2 Cor. 11:13-15). Though they have a "form of godliness," they "deny the power thereof" (2 Tim. 3:5). Paul admonishes believers not to be carried away with "philosophy and empty deceit," with the "tradition of men," and with the "rudiments (basic principles) of the world;" things which are not "according to (in accordance with) Christ" (Col. 2:8 ). The ideas, traditions, and teachings of men must always be tested against the truth of Christ, truth which is found in God's Word. This wonderful truth is summarized in these two central verses:

"For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power." (Col. 2:9-10)

Because He is very God who was "made flesh and dwelt among us," Christ's finished work on Calvary is sufficient to make us "complete in Him." When we trust in Christ as Savior, believing He died for our sins and rose again (1 Cor. 15:3-4), we have complete salvation, complete forgiveness of our sins. The word "complete" literally means "filled full" so that nothing needs to be added.

In Paul's letter to the Colossians, he responded to the false teachers who contended there were things that must be added to Christ before a person could be saved.

"In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses." (Col. 2:11-13)

The Judaizers insisted that men must be physically circumcised to be saved; Paul declares that in Christ we are circumcised with "the circumcision made without hands." This spiritual circumcision is more than just cutting off the flesh; it results in "putting of the body of the sins of the flesh," freeing us from slavery to the flesh, our old sin nature.

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Sufficiency of Christ
Part 3 of 3
By Gregg Bing




There are many today who believe that while circumcision was necessary for salvation back in Paul's time, that today this has been replaced by the rite of water baptism. Paul refutes this idea in verse 12, as he describes how we are "buried with Him (Christ) in baptism" and "raised with Him through faith in the working of God." Just as the circumcision of verse 11 was spiritual, so the baptism of verse 12 is spiritual as well. It is not accomplished by men's hands, but by "the working of God," specifically the baptism of the Holy Spirit that places us in Christ when we believe in Him as Savior (1 Cor. 12:13).

Having been identified "with Christ" in His death, burial and resurrection, we are "made alive together with Him," and forgiven of all our sins and trespasses, something the law could not do (Rom. 8:2a).

This is why, when Christ came and paid the penalty for our sins, He freed us "from the law of sin and death" (Rom. 8:2b). He "wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross" (Col. 2:14). The requirements of the Law were "wiped out" or obliterated completely; they were "taken out of the way," permanently; they were "nailed to the cross," in finality. Christ was triumphant, not only over the Law, but over all principalities and powers, including those of Satan (Heb. 2:14).

The conclusion of all this, as Paul says, is: "Let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths" (Col. 2:16). All of these things are parts of the Mosaic Law, and while they served a purpose when Israel was under the Law, they are not imposed by God upon men today. The Law, with all its commandments, judgments, and ordinances, was only "a shadow of things to come;" the "substance," the "body", the "reality" of what the Law only pictured, is provided in Christ. The writer to the Hebrews put it this way:

"For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect." (Heb. 10:1)

Perfection and completeness of what the Law merely pictured is found in Christ and His once for all offering for our sins (Heb. 10:14). Now that Christ has come and completed the work of redemption, there is no longer a need for the Law. Now that we have the substance, why would we continue to cling to the shadow? But that is exactly what we still hear being preached and taught today—that men must "do" something; that they must adhere to some type of legal or religious system in order to please God and be saved. Beware of such false teaching, teaching which is not found in God's Word, but in the philosophies and traditions of men.

Let us, instead, rest and rejoice in the fact that salvation is by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9); that Christ and His finished work of redemption is sufficient to "save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him" (Heb. 7:25).

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ON TO PERFECTION OR BACK TO PENTECOST
Part 1 of 2
BY RUSSELL S. MILLER

Paul, in all his epistles, always exhorts the saints to "edification". In Romans, the Corinthian epistles especially, even in the Acts of the Apostles "the churches [had] rest ... and were edified" (9:31); at Thessalonica, in his prison epistles, and his letters to Timothy, he affirms that believers should "exercise [themselves] rather unto godliness" (I Tim. 4:7). His insistence that saints are to be built up in the faith, edified, and established in sound doctrine and practice is profound.

"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" (Eph. 4:14).

He insists that his gospel, message, and ministry, is to be made known far and wide, and was made known throughout the whole world:

"For I would not, brethren, THAT YE SHOULD BE IGNORANT OF THIS MYSTERY, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits ... " (Rom. 11:25).

"... we speak wisdom among them that are perfect ... ", are the words of his first epistle to the Corinthians, "yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

"But we speak the wisdom of God in a Mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory" (I Cor. 2:6,7,8 ) .

Here the exhortation is not merely doctrinal, but an exhortation to practical Christian living also, and to "perfection" or maturity in the most holy faith. He reminded the Corinthians that "the Lord of glory" was "crucified" on their behalf, "that CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS according to the Scriptures", even as "Christ our passover is sacrificed for us" (5:7). This behooves me, it behooves us all, to walk worthy of Him "the Lord from heaven", who loved us so.

"That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God" (Col. 1:10).

"For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day" (II Cor. 4:16).

"Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, YET NOW HENCEFORTH KNOW WE HIM NO MORE" (II Cor. 5:16).

This is why we follow the heavenly ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ as revealed in the epistles of Saint Paul. As the Apostle said so often, "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (I Cor. 4:16; 11:1; Phil. 3:17; I Thes. 1:6). There is much indeed that was "written aforetime ... for our learning" yet the Apostle of grace "beseeches" us to follow the heavenly ministry of Christ as revealed through him. We are not exhorted to follow the Commission of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John, as Great as it was, because God has something far greater today. Paul was " ... called by His grace, To reveal His Son in me ... " are the Apostle's exact words in Galatians 1:15,16. As great and glorious as His Millennial Kingdom shall be, yet The Lord Jesus Christ, in the "exceeding glory" of His grace (II Cor. 3:10), is revealed in Paul's epistles.

"But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man."

"For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ" (Gal. 1:11).

"And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the Mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ" (Eph. 3:9).

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ON TO PERFECTION OR BACK TO PENTECOST
Part 2 of 2
BY RUSSELL S. MILLER

God wants us to know His Son. And He has given us a great deal of evidence, proving that His Son can perform that which He has said He will do, if we would only trust Him:

"That I may know him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death" (Phil. 3:10).

And, in Hebrews, as in all his epistles, his exhortation is rather "on to perfection" (Heb. 6:1), and not back to the Pentecostal "powers of the world to come" (Heb. 6:2) and the so-called great commission. This was the problem at Corinth with those who were "speaking in an unknown tongue" (I Cor. 14:2, 4, 13, 14, 19, 27). Paul exhorts us to maturity in Christ through the revelation given to him by the glorified Lord Jesus Christ! "And this will we do, if God permit" (Heb. 6:3). In Colossians he exhorts believers to "mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth", and he names them - the lusts of the flesh. And to "put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication ... " and to "put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him" (Col. 3:5-14). "Put off the old man with his deeds" and "put on" the Lord Jesus Christ.

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one Body; and be ye thankful.

"Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom".
"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him" (Col. 3:15-17).

A failure to heed these exhortations only causes many not to see the transitional element in the Acts of the Apostles. Tongues, signs and visions have all passed away with their water baptisms, laying on of hands, miraculous healings and resurrection campaigns. Even the offices of apostles and prophets have ceased (I Cor. 13:8 ) leaving "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 fullness of Christ" (Eph. 4:11-13) .

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REVEALED BY THE SPIRIT
By RALPH BALOG

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3:5

For nearly 2,000 years members of the Body of Christ have received spiritual insight and blessings by reading the Word of God. The Word of God was written by the Spirit of God (II Tim. 3:16). So it is the Holy Spirit, since the time of the apostle Paul, Who reveals truths from His Word for the Body of Christ. The key word in Eph. 3:5 is NOW.

Paul, however, was confronted "face to face" with the risen and ascended Lord Jesus Christ in the heavenlies (II Cor. 12: 1-4). From Him, Paul received the many revelations which became his "epistles" to the churches of that day and also our direct instructions for today.

Question? If all members of the Body of Christ are indwelt by the same Holy Spirit of Christ, how is it we have numerous denominations all claiming to teach the truth? Answer! The Holy Spirit never reveals anything apart from His holy Word, RIGHTLY DIVIDED, so all denominations are wrong!

God in II Tim. 2:15 is telling us how we may be approved workmen, through whom the Spirit can reveal truths to bless us and cause us to walk worthy of our vocation as ambassadors for Christ.

Let no man deceive you with vain words. The Holy Spirit gives no special revelations to mankind today. Nor does the Lord Jesus Christ "walk with you and TALK with you." Sorry, but hymnology is not proper theology. God speaks only through His Word as we read it and the Spirit applies it to our heart.

We must read the Word and allow it to saturate our thinking. Then the Spirit of God has something upon which to act to cause us to become more and more into the likeness, spiritually, of our blessed Head, the Lord Jesus Christ.

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REJOICING IN GOD'S WORD
By ROBERT E. HANNA, Pastor


Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 15: 16

The true believer receives God's Word with joy and thanksgiving, knowing full well that his faithful dedication to the ministry will bring pain and suffering, ridicule and persecution, Separation from our tormentors is part and parcel of our walk of faith as we rely upon God to avenge, Recognition, reception and retention of God's Holy Word brings us comfort, confidence and conformation, enabling us to constantly function according to His declared will and purpose.

The Psalmist declared, "Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee" (Psalm 119: II). Rejoicing in God's Word is an experience that knows no dispensational boundaries. However, the circumstances under which Jeremiah expressed his delight were unlike those in which we find ourselves today. Our apostle enjoins us to "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom ... " (Colossians 3:15,16a). Our rejoicing is even more full than that of Jeremiah for we have knowledge of greater truths from God than had the prophets. Our spiritual blessings transcend those of any prior saints. To us have been revealed secrets never before made known.

The Apostle Paul has revealed to us "even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints: 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" (Colossians 1:26,27). We have the knowledge of God's holy decrees in our hearts, as well as "Christ in us"!

Glory be to God for fulfilling His promises in raising Jesus Christ from the dead. Nevertheless, does His resurrection have any meaning to you? Has it had any impact in your life? Have you experienced the work of salvation that Jesus Christ perfected in His resurrection?

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GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY AND PRAYER
By Pastor Paul Hume

Scripture Reading: Rom. 8:26-27; Phil. 4:6-7; I Jn. 5:14-15

"Prayer changes things." You have heard this motto all your life perhaps. Does it? You reply, "Why, of course, I've seen prayer change things." Indeed, prayer does change things, but it doesn't always -----even when asked according to the Word of God and in much earnest sincerity. Why? Because God is sovereign, and He answers prayer "according to His will".

"The possibilities and necessity of prayer, its power and results, are manifested in arresting and changing the purposes of God and in relieving the stroke of His power." This statement was made years ago in a periodical called "The Christian Worker." Do you think that your prayers and mine, or even all the prayers of all the true saints the world over together can change the purposes of God? Nay! Nay! What God has purposed, that He will perform! Yet God has purposed that His saints pray not to change His purposes but to bring His purposes about! In other words, God moves on His people to pray to the end that certain things may take place: e.g., the out-break of genuine spiritual revival. History records several such. Saints prayed and prayed. Finally God sent the long-awaited "showers of blessing." Saints were refreshed and sinners were added to Christ by the hundreds. How did it come about? Through prayer. Yes, but behind that was the sovereign pleasure of God to send such reviving at that time.

Why pray? We should do so regularly and constantly ("Pray without ceasing"  I Thes. 5:17) in order to be totally dependent upon the Lord instead of upon ourselves and our maneuverings. We should pray so that we might be brought to the position of worship (an almost unheard of thing except for our so-called Sunday morning "Worship Services" which are really preaching services) and honoring Him who is "God over all, blessed forever." Again, we should pray because it has been ordained as one of the means of our growth in God's grace. Prayer is also a means for the exercising of our faith. Furthermore, prayer has been given so that we may share with our Father in Heaven those things we have need of as well as the needs of others. Therefore, pray, pray, and pray!

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DIRECTED PRAYER
By M. Stanford


"Be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is" (Eph. 5:17).

Prayer to God must come from God. There can, be no prayer in the full assurance of faith apart from the known will of God in the matter. "The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know His will" (Acts 2 2:14).

"I do not think that a petition that misses the mind of God will ever be answered (1 John 5:14). Personally, I feel the need of trusting Him to lead me in prayer as well as in other matters. I find it well to preface prayer not only by meditation but by the definite request that I may be directed into the channels of prayer to which the Holy Spirit is beckoning me (Rom. 8:26, 27)." - J.O.F.

"When we once have the deep, calm assurance of His will in the matter, we put in our claim, just as a child before his father. A simple request and nothing more. No crying, no beseeching, no wrestling. No second asking, either." - J.O.F.

"The Lord may see it needful, for the trial (development) of faith, to seem for a season not to regard out supplications; yet, if we patiently and believingly continue to wait upon Him, it will be manifest in His own time, and way, that we did not call upon Him in vain." - G.M.

"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him" (Ps. 62:5).

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Distressing Times
by Steve McVey

I remember a few years ago standing on the border at the DMZ between South and North Korea. At the time, it was said that the most tense environment on the planet was that very spot. Signs warned us to stay in our car because landmines were sprinkled all along the side of the road driving toward the border. Soldiers stood there on the borderline at rapt attention, staring each other down with hatred in their eyes.

In some ways, I feel like the whole globe senses that kind of tension these days. The antagonism that exists between nations of the world and the growing ability for global destruction through nuclear power looms over us. The worldwide economic crisis has already impacted almost every one of us. Chances are very likely that if you aren't losing your job or your house, you know somebody who is. I don't remember a period in my lifetime when the world seemed more volatile. If you are confident about what the world will look like in five years, you're way out ahead of me because I can't begin to imagine.

What is the answer during these distressing times? It all comes back down to the foundational truth in the first four words of the Bible. "In the beginning God" says Genesis 1:1. The word "God" in the verse is the Hebrew name Elohiym. The word is plural and means, "rulers, judges, divine ones." The word points to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

During these difficult days, remember that there is an Eternal Godhead who has joined Himself to us to guide us through the challenging affairs of this world. All of my life I've heard preachers tell how things would get worse before the end and now that things are getting much worse, many of these same Christians act horrified by world events, as if they can't understand what is happening or why it is happening.

The answer is clear: It is happening because our Sovereign God is working out all things to complete His unfolding plan for the ages. There is a God who oversees every detail of this world. Things don't randomly happen. The same God who was "in the beginning" is the Ever-Present Ruler of all things even now. He is the Alpha (the beginning) and the Omega (the end) and everything in between.

It's normal to feel pain and express grief in distressing times, but in the midst of our feelings we can hold onto our God by faith. Not only does He have global events under control, but He also has the details of your life under control. Your job; your mortgage; your retirement account; your health; your future is all in His control. So trust Him even though you can't see what's ahead.

In the beginning, God. In the end, God. In the meantime, God. If our God is loving as we have always professed Him to be (and He is) and if He is all-powerful as we have always professed Him to be (and He is), then we can cling to Him now, knowing that whatever might happen in our world, our country, our family, or our individual life is okay. Not a sparrow falls to the ground without His supervision. So you can be sure that you have nothing to fear.

Feelings rise and fall, based on external stimuli. Faith remains steadfast, based on the eternal goodness of power of the One who holds us in His hand. So, when you're scared, look to Him. When you're confused, look to Him. When life makes no sense and you don't know what to do, look to Him. He will see us through.