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| Are you in support of God's Apostle? |
Showing posts with label Back On Track. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Back On Track. Show all posts
Monday, October 3, 2016
Sunday, October 2, 2016
The TRUE TEACHING versus the Counterfeit
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| Which is Which? |
Saturday, October 1, 2016
Through Much Tribulation That We Must Enter the Kingdom of God
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| "...that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22) |
The Plain Truth
Personal from the Editor
July, 1963
SOME of the teachings in the Bible are a little hard for the average thinking mind to understand.
James tells us to count it all joy when trials, ordeals, reverses, beset us. TROUBLES a JOY? That's pretty hard to accept, isn't it? And, for the average person, a lot harder to put into practice.
PRAYER Can Help Solve Your Problems!
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| Prayer Can Help Solve Your Problems! |
PRAYER Can Help Solve Your Problems!
Good News - June 1961
Many spend hours in prayer with no apparent results. Troubles seem to continue to mount. Why? Here is the surprising answer from one of our local elders from Headquarters.
by Selmer. L. Hegvold
THIS has been a critical season for most of the world — and for many of us!
Serious and strange viruses and respiratory ailments have undermined the stamina and health of some!
Unemployment has sapped the ability to provide for our own families in certain cases!
Persecution has threatened the peace and security of some of our loved ones!
Those who HAVE escaped these troubles are wondering why the others HAVE NOT! What is wrong? Why do problems seem to stalk continually, not only the world, but the people of God as well — the VERY PEOPLE God has CALLED OUT of a very sick and confused world?
Prayer — A Key?
God has promised to bless, to prosper, to make life full, abundant and a joy to every one of us here and now! In some cases that promise has not materialized. Why?
In one way or another it has affected the entire Church of God, the Body of Christ. When one member suffers, the whole Body suffers (I Cor. 12:24-27).
In visiting and counseling with many members, we have found a common condition that reveals a vital key to most of these unpleasant circumstances!
That key? — OUR PRAYER HABITS!
Yes! FAULTY prayer habits are a primary cause of these serious problems in God's Church!
One man, after becoming embittered against the Church, insisted he was praying more at that time than at any time before. Yet he left the Church! Others, too, have claimed they had never been closer to God in their prayer habits than at that particular time! COULD THIS BE TRUE? Lack of understanding this subject could be fatal to our own spiritual development!
We need to examine ourselves!
Respect Authority
Many of us accept teachings of Christ's Church readily — UNTIL one of those decisions strikes at the core of some aspect of our own lives. Then we begin to doubt the wisdom of Christ, of God's ministers! It becomes easy for us to forget that they are ordained, and placed in office BY GOD for the express purpose of perfecting the saints — the work of the ministry — till we all come to the UNITY of the faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to the PERFECT man (Eph. 4:12-13).
Something is radically wrong when some, who claimed to be "close to God in prayer," suddenly are found to be on the way into the lake of fire! Of these He said, "Not every one that saith unto me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 7:22, 21).
It is possible to claim to worship God diligently, and to do so in vain! Christ could not have said so, otherwise!
Your Attitude Important
An example of a wrong attitude was innocently expressed by a little three-year-old girl at a buffet dinner recently. She stood obediently and politely with bowed head along with her elders as God's blessing was asked on the food. At the word "Amen!" she gave a sigh clearly audible throughout the room. To her mind the prayer was a necessary, BUT IRKSOME, prelude to partaking of that delicious food! Is prayer merely a superstitious smattering of words that are quoted piously before commencing on certain phases of daily duties?
Prayer must be made with a proper attitude of mind, with diligent application, with real fervency, and a proper knowledge of what to pray for! Where do some fall short, that they continue to be plagued with very real misfortunes? Some ARE falling short somewhere, and in most every case it is in prayer!
How many of you, when prayer is being offered up to God by others, can summarize that prayer at its close? Do we really focus our attention fully on the prayer? or is our attention distracted by other interests?
To some, prayer seems to be an irksome and a boring duty — a required ritual we conform to, but are secretly happy to have done with. Prayer has not become the real and living blessing to us God intended it to be!
It is vital that we examine our prayers as God sees them!
Here is a typical problem that ministers are often called upon to help with.
A Real Problem
One couple had been working together providing for their fair-sized family. Everything seemed to move along fairly well for a time. Suddenly, without warning, the man lost his job! His wife fell seriously ill and recuperated slowly over a period of weeks. Week after week passed. Their appeal for help from the ministers of the Church brought to us a sorry picture. Not only unemployment, but mounting bills, prospect of eviction from a decent home, utterly rebellious children, and a husband and a wife on the verge of going their separate ways!
When asked if each had fervently prayed one hour a day over these terrible problems that had developed, the answer in each case was a sheepish "No!" Pursuing this further, the ministers found that even before he had lost his job this man had devoted no more than one or two hours to prayer EACH WEEK! A vital taproot of their problem had been found.
Brethren, it is vital that we go to our heavenly Father in prayer every day! This could be the taproot of our problems!
Why is prayer so very important?
Converse With God
Prayer is conversation. Not something given by rote — repeated over and over monotonously! It is conversation with our Maker — our Father in Heaven.
Conversation, in this world, helps one person to understand, and to come to love another better. How often have we formed bad first-impressions of certain people, and then, as a result of conversation with them, found them to really be desirable friends!
The "Christian" world we have lived in has given most of us a false first-impression of God. It has instilled in our minds a picture of a harsh, stern God — a God that seemingly loves to see us suffer under the battering of storms, weather disasters, war, famine, disease, unemployment. And a God who is inaccessible to us — who has gone afar off from our appeals!
Through conversational prayer we come into direct contact daily with the true God. We come to KNOW Him as He is. Prayer dispels that first-impression foisted off on us by the world. A real, comforting love develops, and a new and intimate knowledge of the very mind of God results.
The Right Approach
We need to learn to talk over our problems with Him as we would desire to do with our own earthly father of the flesh! But how to develop such a proper, intimate, and acceptable pattern of prayer seems to perplex many. We should YEARN to establish such a contact — to know God better!
SCHEDULE YOUR TIME for the activities of the day, including a time for prayer — a regular time. An hour, or at least a half-hour to begin with, is almost an essential consideration!
The period of time set aside for prayer should be the hour of the day we are most mentally alert — BEFORE the problems of the day develop! "But seek ye FIRST the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things [our needs] shall be added unto you" (Matt. 6:33).
Some have claimed they could pray just as effectively as they go about performing their daily work. THIS IS NOT TRUE, unless they FIRST have had a period of prayer ON THEIR KNEES! The fruits of such people have proven this fact.
How should we pray? Is there a recommended position of prayer?
"That at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW ..." (Phil. 2:10). Every knee should bow before God. The world pays homage to an earthly king by kneeling before him on ONE knee. We pay homage to the King of all the universe by kneeling before Him on BOTH knees. Read II Chronicles 6:13; Daniel 6:10; Luke 22:41; Acts 9:40; 20:36 and others. These are our examples!
A Pattern Prayer
What should we pray about?
Again, it should not be a memorized prayer! Many turn to Christ's instruction to His disciples in Matthew 6:8-13 and quote the words in their prayer day after day. Note, however, that He said, "After this MANNER [pattern] therefore pray ye ..." This was given only as the skeletal framework around which to build our own prayer. Jesus did not mean "pray THIS" — He meant "pray THUS"!
Jesus' pattern of prayer is very important! Note that Christ began by glorifying God. One fourth of our prayer should be given over to glorifying God — to magnifying His majesty, power, glory and love!
We can do this only by studying His Word — studying David's examples in the Psalms — asking God, at times, to accept some of these Psalms as our own words of praise and thanksgiving.
Realize how completely dependent we are on Him for our food, shelter, clothing and the very breath of air we breathe! Let our minds drink in of His greatness, His mercy, His sustaining power.
We are a thank-LESS generation of people. We need to change our ways! We need to guard against the "gimmes" in our prayers! Study of all the examples of prayer given in our Bibles will help us immensely.
Be Interested in God's Work
We should learn who God's ministers are, where they are working, and the problems they are facing in their particular areas of the world. We should certainly realize that the great and primary commission of this Church is to preach the Word of God faithfully to all the world (Matt. 24:14; 28:19-20). We should pray that new radio and then television facilities will be opened up to "The WORLD TOMORROW" program, at better times, and in areas not yet reached. And that this gospel will pierce the hearts and the minds of every listener.
Study the Bible and the literature that is sent out. If you don't understand something, jot it down in a notepad, or as part of a special prayer list as a reminder when you go to your place of prayer. Ask God to answer it through the broadcast or the magazines or Correspondence Course and through the Bible. Some think that any thought that pops into their minds is God's answer when it is only their own impulse. God answers through His Word and His ministry.
Pray for more consecrated laborers to be led into the work of God. There is a tremendous need for the right calibre men and women to do the work that is piling up (John 4:35, and Matt. 9:37-38).
Prayer is a private matter, not a public matter for your unconverted relatives to notice! "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly" (Matt. 6:5-6).
Important Points
We can help unconverted members of our families by leading them in family worship IF THEY PERSONALLY SO DESIRE, but AFTER we have ALREADY had our own!
We need to remain in an attitude of prayer throughout the day. David, a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22) said, "Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice" (Ps. 55:17). We, too, should follow this example of David, who has his guarantee of being in the Kingdom of God!
WE SHOULD ASK GOD'S HELP TO GUIDE US IN PRAYER. He will lead us to have real concern and love for all the brethren, for the ministers, and His work. We may even forget our own needs in losing ourselves in these other interests — but God will not forget OUR needs!
IF WE EACH PRAY ONLY FOR OURSELVES, ONLY ONE PERSON PRAYS FOR EACH OF US. BUT IF WE ALL PRAY FOR EACH OTHER THEN, THOUSANDS PRAY FOR EACH OF US.
Our prayer life will truly come ALIVE as we learn to improve our attitudes.
It's UP to YOU
If we are continuing to have troubles, sickness, discouragement, unemployment and persecutions, we need to examine ourselves. God is not at fault! "But YOUR INIQUITIES have separated between you and your God, and YOUR SINS have hid his face from you, that he will not hear" (Isa. 59:2). LISTEN TO GOD'S CORRECTION! THOSE WHO PRAY AND REFUSE TO OBEY WHAT GOD SAYS THROUGH HIS WORD AND HIS MINISTERS, cut themselves off from their Creator and worship God in vain. Don't let this happen to you!
This, then, is the key to overcoming our problems. God WILL hear and answer our pleas as he did David's. The answers will begin to come as never before, and real happiness, and a fruitful life of service to God will open before us. We shall find that we really know God as our Father in Heaven. Each moment spent in prayer with Him will be a moment of real joy to us! We should all read, if we haven't done so, Mr. Roderick Meredith's reprint article "The Answer to Unanswered Prayer."
"Great peace have they which love thy law: and NOTHING SHALL OFFEND THEM [cause them to stumble]!" (Ps. 119:165).
Why The Church?
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WHY The CHURCH?
The real purpose and function of the Church has not been understood.
This article brings the eye-opening TRUTH.
This article brings the eye-opening TRUTH.
by Herbert W. Armstrong
page 1 Good News August 14, 1978
page 1 Good News August 14, 1978
When Jesus Christ returns to earth in supernatural splendor, power and glory, He is coming to His TEMPLE. But where is that temple - when will it be built?
Many students of the Bible have wondered - speculated. Will the Israelis after all destroy the Dome of the Rock - the Moslem temple standing today on the site of both Solomon's temple and the temple to which Jesus came at His first appearing?
Malachi's prophecy says:
"Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek [Christ], shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant..." (Malachi 3:1).
It was John the Baptist who prepared the way - but that was before Jesus' FIRST coming. When we read on through verses 2 to 6 it becomes altogether evident this prophecy in Malachi is talking about Christ's second coming, in power and glory, to RULE.
WHO, then, as a human messenger (one bearing a message) was to prepare the way before His SECOND coming? And what of the temple to which He is to come?
Zerubbabel a type
Look briefly at the prophecy of Haggai. It concerns the contingent of Jews who returned to Jerusalem 70 years after the destruction of Solomon's temple to build the second temple on the same site.
The prophecy concerns Zerubbabel, governor of the contingent and builder of this second temple. This was the same temple to which Jesus did come - except the Roman King Herod had somewhat enlarged, restored and embellished it.
But Zerubbabel was merely a TYPE. The prophecy, as we see plainly beginning verse 6,chapter2,ismillenial.
"For thus saith the Eternal of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire [RSV has, 'so that the treasures of all nations shall come'] of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts... The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former."
It is speaking of the end-time - at the second coming of Christ.
Now what does it mean, the glory of this latter house (or latter-day house) shall be greater than that of the former - that is, greater in splendor than Solomon's temple, which had the most glorious splendor of any building on earth? Certainly the second temple, built by Zerubbabel, even though larger, could not compare in splendor to Solomon's.
But God was speaking of the temple to which Christ shall come, at His glorious second coming as King of kings and Lord of lords!
Jesus Christ came the first time still in the days of old-covenant Israel - a carnal-minded and rebellious people. It was a material temple, even as He came to a physical, carnal people.
But He is coming the second time in supreme power and glory. He will come this time to a GLORIOUS TEMPLE - a SPIRITUAL, not a material temple!
A glorified temple
Of God's Church He says in the second chapter of Ephesians, "Now therefore ye are... of the household [family] of God [the CHURCH]; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:" (emphasis mine, Ephesians 2:19-22).
The glorified Christ is coming to the glorified temple - with a glory far greater than Solomon's temple!
Note it. Christ is not coming to a material building, but to His Church, then to be GLORIFIED with Him.
Notice further, in Ephesians, chapter 4: "From whom the whole body [body of Christ - the Church] fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth..." (verse 16).
Now let's UNDERSTAND.
Old Testament Israel, both church and state, lived in the days of the first Adam. They had the one human spirit - they were carnal minded, hostile against God, not subject to the law of God. But God gave them His laws (spiritual, as well as sacrificial, ceremonial and statutory). It proved that without the second Spirit - the Holy Spirit of God - people would not turn to the right way of life, even though God revealed to them the knowledge, not only of Himself, but of His GOVERNMENT!
But the New Testament Church of God started out with God's Holy Spirit added to the human spirit, even from its inception.
The Old Testament sacrificial laws and ceremonial rituals were a mere temporary substitute for Christ and the Holy Spirit. When the reality came the substitute was ended, but the basic SPIRITUAL LAW - the law of LOVE codified in the Ten Commandments - continued. But the CHURCH was required, having the Holy Spirit, to obey them not merely according to the strictness of the letter, but according to the spirit - or principal or obvious intent of the law (II Corinthians 3:6).
Purpose and function of Church
Now we come to the purpose and function of the Church of God.
Immediately after the foundation of the Church, the apostles Peter and John performed a sensational healing of a well known cripple - after which Peter preached to the crowd attracted (Acts 3:1-26). But immediately the priests, captains of the temple and Sadducees threw the apostles into prison overnight (Acts 4:1-3). And the next morning the apostles were brought before the high priest and his family, besides other rulers and dignitaries. They were severely THREATENED and sternly commanded to cease preaching in the name of Christ.
These apostles were human. This experience was unnerving! They went immediately to a company of CHURCH MEMBERS for encouragement, prayer and morale strengthening (Acts 4:23).
These loyal Church brethren "lifted up their voice to God..." (Acts 4:24) in united prayer, petitioning God for inspiration and divine power that the apostles might continue boldly proclaiming the message.
Notice here an important function of the Church. The Church lay members did not go forth with the message - they backed up, unitedly, the apostles who were charged with THE GREAT COMMISSION. Notice:
"And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together..." (Acts 4:31).
But these Church brethren were able to stand solidly and loyally back of the apostle, because they "were of one heart and of one soul [mind]" (verse 32).
Later, when the savage persecution had set in, the apostle James was martyred. King Herod also had Peter cast into prison, with the intent probably of killing him also (Acts 12:1-4).
"But" (verse 5) "prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him."
The result? God sent an angel to loose the chains that bound Peter, and to lead him secretly out of the prison. Peter fled on to Caesarea.
The prevailing error
At this point it is well to clarify further the most common and universal erroneous belief. It is the assumption that 1) God is desperately waging a contest against Satan, attempting to get every living human "saved" NOW! This assumption must concede that Satan is winning that contest overwhelmingly! But there is NO SUCH CONTEST. Satan has power to do ONLY what God ALLOWS!
2) The corollary to this assumption is an even more tragic belief that has acquired universal acceptance. And that is the fallacy that everyone not now saved is lost - condemned to an eternal hell fire, which, incidentally, is also a myth. The vast majority are neither saved nor lost. Just not yet JUDGED!
It was our first human progenitor that made the CHOICE. God accepted his decision and pronounced sentence on Adam's world for 6,000 years - except for those God called for some special performance. The 6,000-year sentence is about to expire, and a happy, joyful world of PEACE, with eternal life available to all, is now just around the corner.
Jesus Christ emphatically verified this sentence God pronounced on the world. He said plainly, "NO MAN CAN come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him..." (John 6:44). And none can come to God, except through Him!
So let us clarify once for all time that the purpose of the Church is definitely NOT to preach or persuade the whole world into a spiritual salvation, Now - before Christ's second coming!
Some have construed the GREAT COMMISSION as being to the Church as a whole - to evangelize and "save" the world - NOW. A large system of missionaries from traditional Christianity has resulted.
Examine now, the three places where THE GREAT COMMISSION is explained.
Examine the report of THE GREAT COMMISSION recorded in Matthew 28:
"Now the eleven disciples [Judas already had left them] went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them..." To WHOM? Not the Church as a whole. Only to the disciples who were to become the original APOSTLES! "... All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. GO therefore and make disciples [learners - those taught] of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age" (Matthew 28:16-20, RSV).
'One sent forth'
Notice carefully. This GREAT COMMISSION to be SENT FORTH with Christ's Gospel message was given only to those who were apostles, and the word apostle means "one sent forth" with the message.
The King James translation of the above has been misinterpreted by some to imply that ALL the people in every nation were to be converted then. The RSV translation, above quoted, makes it clear. Make disciples, students, learners to HEAR the message - within all nations.
The AV (King James version) has: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them ..." The sense is, teach within all nations, NOT teaching every individual. And "baptizing them" can refer ONLY to those God specially called, since Christ said plainly, "NO MAN CAN come to me, except the Father which sent me draw him."
Now examine Mark's account of THE GREAT COMMISSION. Most translations from the original Greek text into English OMIT verses 9 to 20, saying these verses were NOT INSPIRED, and were added at a later date by uninspired editors. Even so, the RSV does quote these verses in finer type, as follows:
"And he said to them [the 11 apostles], Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation." That is, announce the GOOD NEWS of the coming Kingdom of God. Continue: "He who believes and is baptized will be saved..." But Jesus plainly said NO MAN could come to Christ - believe - except those specially called by the Father!
Notice now the King James translation: "Afterward he [Jesus] appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat... And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved... " (Mark 16:14-16). Of course NONE could believe and be baptized EXCEPT those God the Father specially called. So there is NOWHERE ANY CONTRADICTION. The GREAT COMMISSION was given to the APOSTLES - those "sent forth" with the message - NOT the lay members of the Church.
Called to a special service
What then? Did not the lay members have any part in proclaiming the Gospel? Definitely they did, as we have seen. Their part was to back up the apostles - stand behind them with their prayers, encouragement, tithes and offerings. They are PART OF A WELL-ORGANIZED TEAM, as we shall show in more detail.
And there is NO EVIDENCE in either Matthew's account or Mark's, that any were to be baptized except those God the Father had called to a special service. NOTHING contradicts the fact that God had withdrawn His Holy Spirit from ALL, except those specially called.
Now notice the account in Matthew 24. This is in the form of a prophecy, for our present living generation:
The AV has, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end [of this age] come" (Matthew 24:14).
The RSV is the same in meaning: "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."
Church an organized body
Is the Church of God merely a scattered, isolated number of professing Christians, each going his own way to get out the Gospel or, as many believe, to GET his personal salvation and eternal life?
Jesus Christ specially called His disciples, trained them to become His apostles. To THEM - the apostles, the ones "sent forth" with His Gospel message - He gave THE GREAT COMMISSION - not to the laity of the Church as a whole.
But WHAT OF GOD'S CHURCH? HOW ORGANIZED? It is a spiritual organism - but also it is WELL ORGANIZED, as we shall now see.
The Church is the begotten family or household of God (Ephesians 2:19). "And are built upon the FOUNDATION of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone" (Ephesians 2:20).
It is, continues verse 21, like a "building fitly framed together [which] groweth unto an holy TEMPLE in the Lord."
It is the TEMPLE to which Christ shall come at His second coming in GLORY! It is that body of Christ that is the affianced BRIDE of Christ, to be married to Him (as the old covenant was a marriage) when He returns.
In Ephesians, "... Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it... That he might present it to himself a GLORIOUS CHURCH..." (Ephesians 5:25-27) in the resurrection!
Of that same marriage, "... Alleluia! for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the MARRIAGE of the Lamb [Christ] is come, and his wife [the resurrected glorified Church] hath made herself ready" (Revelation 19:6-7).
It is not only a SPIRITUAL ORGANISM - it is a well-organized ORGANIZATION. Notice I Corinthians 12:
"... Brethren, I would not have you ignorant" (I Corinthians 12:1. "But now are they many members, YET BUT ONE BODY" (verse 20).
But it is a well-ORGANIZED body. "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all... But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is ONE... " (united, organized into cooperative teamwork - not scattered individuals, each claiming to serve God in his own way).
Repeating, "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. For by ONE SPIRIT are we all baptized into one body..." (verses 4 to 13).
Continuing in verse 25, "That there should be no schism [division] in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another" (that is, outgoing concern and love).
Continuing in verse 28, "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, diversities of tongues."
Now back to Ephesians. What about the member who GOES OUT OF THE CHURCH to have his own relationship with Christ, to GET his own salvation? He is OUTSIDE the body of Christ!
Notice, again, the "household of God" - the CHURCH - is built upon a FOUNDATION. Would one build a BUILDING on a foundation of shifting sand? God's Church is "built upon the FOUNDATION of the apostles [New Testament], and prophets [Old Testament, whose prophecies are for US TODAY - I Corinthians 10:11], Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone" (Ephesians 2:19-20).
HOW WELL ORGANIZED?
"In whom all the building [the Church] fitly framed together groweth unto an holy TEMPLE in the Lord" (verse 21).
Again, "From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love" (Ephesians 4:16).
Yes, Christ ORGANIZED His Church.
"And his gifts were, that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers" (Ephesians 4:11, RSV). "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12-13).
What about a single member - a "joint" or "part" - going off by himself or following a MAN instead of the CHURCH OF GOD that is in direct continuous succession from the apostolic Church founded by Christ A.D. 31? He is like a joint or piece of wood or stone, entirely outside of, and therefore NO PART OF the BODY OF CHRIST that shall MARRY Christ!
We have seen that Christ gave the lay body of the Church the SPECIAL MISSION to back up his apostles in their GOING FORTH with the Gospel to the world - with their prayers, encouragement, tithes and offerings.
But this GIVING of their prayers, encouragement and financial support was GOD'S ASSIGNMENT - as the very means of developing in them God's holy, righteous character - that they, with the apostles and evangelists, may qualify to RULE with and under Christ in God's Kingdom. This very means of character development within the laity is THE WAY OF GIVING - not Satan's way of GETTING.
God's WAY - the WAY of His law - is GIVING of out flowing Love. It is the LIVING way. The person who tries to be an individual separate Christian, to GET his own salvation, is going at it the GETTING way - Satan's way. And I would not want to try to GET myself into God's Kingdom by Satan's way.
Notice again WHY God set apostles, evangelists, pastors and other elders in His Church NOT ONLY for the Work of the ministry, being SENT FORTH into all the world announcing Christ's message of HOPE. Read it again: It was "For the perfecting of the saints... for the edifying [enlightening, instructing] 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... "
But cannot a single separate individual EDIFY HIMSELF, outside of the Church? Not likely - and THAT IS NOT GOD'S WAY.
HOW does God infuse HIS TRUTH into the Church? NOT through each individual separately - but through the apostles and other ministers under them.
In the time of the first apostles - first century - the Bible was not yet completely written. God used a very few prophets, through whom he communicated. The prophets gave the message to an apostle. Today the Bible is complete. God has used no prophets in the Church in our time.
However, the laity of the Church received their teaching and instruction from the apostles. The original 12 had been taught by Christ in person - and so also had Paul. Jesus Christ was the personal Word of God. The Bible is the written Word of God. It's all the precise same TRUTH and TEACHING, whether from Jesus in person, when on earth or from the written Word of God. God's apostle for our day was taught by the written Word of God - the SAME IDENTICAL TEACHING!
But what of the separated individual believer, who tries to GET his salvation all by himself or by following some MAN or any of hundreds of professing Christian denominations of our day? He is CUT OFF from that TRUE teaching, which Christ reveals to and through His apostle!
What if one in the Church disagrees on some point of doctrine? Then he is out of harmony with God's Church. And GOD HAS ONLY THE ONE CHURCH.
And all in the Church are commanded to speak the same thing - and it must be what CHRIST, either in person or by written Word, has taught His apostle.
To the church at Corinth, the apostle Paul wrote: "Now I beseech you brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing". (I Corinthians 1:10) Some of them wanted to follow Peter, some wanted to follow Apollos, some Paul. But PAUL was their apostle and Christ taught them by PAUL.
The separated individual believer will follow his own idea of God's truth. THAT IS NOT GOD'S WAY.
God in His almighty wisdom, has raised up the CHURCH, as HIS MEANS of teaching all the SAME TRUTH - all speaking the SAME THING! Not each individual his own thing!
God raised up the CHURCH, not only that its apostles and evangelists go into all the world announcing the GOOD NEWS of the coming Kingdom of God, but also as the very means for the general body of lay members to develop God's own holy righteous CHARACTER - by means of GIVING - giving their continuous prayers for the apostle, giving their encouragement, tithes and offerings.
WHAT then, of the person who follows after a man outside the Church or tries to GET his salvation simply by GETTING and not GIVING that which members are to give to the Church's Work? Consider Jesus' parable of the pounds in Luke 19. The pound is the British unit of money. Jesus illustrated Himself giving each member, on conversion, one pound - representing the Holy Spirit given at conversion. But the Christian MUST GROW in grace and Christ's knowledge. As he does, by GIVING in the Church, he receives an increasing amount of God's Spirit. The isolated, separated member will probably LOSE OUT (see Luke 19:20-24).
Why the Church?
Finally, WHY the Church? WHY did not Christ just "save" separated individuals? What is the REAL PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH?
Like most everything in the Bible, the purpose and function of the Church has been grossly misunderstood. The entire world has been deceived by Satan (Revelation 12:9).
Jesus had not come on a soul-saving crusade. The most wide-spread false assumption of all is that Christ is contesting against Satan to "get everybody saved Now!" And with it, the supposition that all not saved are "LOST" - condemned! They are neither. They are not yet JUDGED!
But in Adam, by his decision, all humanity has been sentenced to 6,000 years of being completely cut off from God! That is, all except the comparative very few specifically called for a special mission.
Jesus Christ, I repeat, emphatically verified this 6,000-year sentence (John 6:44). No scripture can or does contradict that plain statement of Jesus.
Jesus called, chose, and for 3½ years trained His apostles to become, with Him and the prophets, the FOUNDATION on which the Church was built. Also He set the example, those 3½ years, for His apostles, in proclaiming (announcing) the coming KINGDOM OF GOD. Then Christ died for the sins of humanity and was resurrected and ascended to God's throne in heaven.
On the day of Pentecost A.D. 31 He sent the Holy Spirit in a great manifestation, both visible and audible, to found His Church.
On that day of Pentecost, it was Peter, chief apostle, who proclaimed the Gospel message - and God ADDED 3,000 baptized that same day.
A day or so later - very possibly the very next day - Peter and John healed the cripple and Peter preached the Gospel. God ADDED another 2,000 to the Church.
It is significant, and generally unrealized, that neither Jesus nor the apostles embarked on any soul-saving crusade, which is a modern Protestant practice. The apostles, as Jesus had done, proclaimed the Gospel - the GOOD NEWS of a coming BETTER WORLD. It was not an emotional pleading, "Won't you give your heart to the Lord?"
True, because unbelieving Jews did not accept Jesus as their promised Messiah, the apostles, at first, put special emphasis on the fact they were eyewitnesses to Jesus' Messiahship and resurrection. They had been with Him 3½ years before He was crucified; and 40 days after He rose from the dead.
But they did proclaim the same message Jesus had taught them - the coming Kingdom of God. It was not a begging for souls. "... The Lord added to the Church such as should be saved" (Acts 2:47).
When the apostles met with fierce persecution, imprisonment and threat, the laity of the Church ENCOURAGED them, prayed heartrendingly for them, supported then financially.
So, let the truth be clarified once and for all, the PURPOSE of the Church was NOT to "get the world saved Now!"
God's PURPOSE in raising up His Church, in a world otherwise cut OFF from God, was dual:
1) To provide a united body of Spirit-led believers to 'back up' the apostles (and evangelists) who had been specially trained to GO FORTH into all the world with Christ's Gospel message. ALL this, was their part in THE GREAT COMMISSION. Theirs was a WORK OF GIVING, giving of their prayers, their encouragement and financial support of the ORGANIZED Gospel WORK. And this is GOD'S means of, and the training ground for:
2) The overcoming of Satan, and the constant development of that holy, righteous CHARACTER - thus qualifying them to sit with Christ on the throne of earth wide GOVERNMENT.
GOD'S WAY of developing His holy character was THE GIVING WAY. GOD's way of life is the GIVING way of outgoing LOVE. Satan's way is INcoming self-advantage - hostility to God's way and to His Church.
Those who allow an attitude of hostility and rebellion against God's Church - and God's GOVERNMENT within His Church - to cause them to leave, and go it alone or follow a MAN, are seeking merely TO GET salvation FOR THE SELF! That is NOT God's WAY!
The GLORY on beyond
Happily, the 6,000-year sentence on Adam's world - being cut off from God, is due to END in our present living generation. This world now - still Satan's world except for God's CHURCH - is fast plunging into the supreme CRISIS of world tribulation. But it is said to be "darkest just before dawn!"
Then, SUDDENLY, when least expected by the cut-off world, Jesus Christ will come in supreme supernatural POWER AND GLORY! Yes, "at such an hour as ye think not," said Jesus.
His CHURCH will have been made ready!
"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 [precede] them that are asleep [dead]. 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" (I Thessalonians 4:15-17). He is coming to RULE ALL THE EARTH!
Then shall be fulfilled Revelation 19:6-7, the mighty voice of the arch-angel shouting, "ALLELUIA! for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice." The Church, resurrected IN GLORY, shall reign with Christ a thousand years!
Satan will be banished. God will call ALL LIVING to His salvation. After the millennium shall come the GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT (Revelation 20:11-12) when all who had been cut off from God for 6,000 years shall be resurrected MORTAL - and all called to God's salvation and eternal life!
Then, the glorious eternity beyond - all saints then immortal, inheriting the transcendent human potential - RENEWING THE FACE OF ALL DECAYED PLANETS, FINISHING THE GLORIOUS BEAUTIFUL CREATION THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE ENDLESS UNIVERSE - in happiness, joy and GLORY!
Saturday, September 24, 2016
Source of Church Beliefs...Binding and Loosing
Excerpt from "How Christ Gives the Church its beliefs" By Herbert W Armstrong
[Quote] Source of Church beliefs
Let’s SET THIS STRAIGHT, once and for all! The SOURCE of the beliefs, teaching, customs and practices in the Church of God is GOD HIMSELF! Not any man. Jesus said “I have spoken nothing of myself” – the FATHER had instructed Him! Jesus, in turn, taught His apostles in Person!
THERE WAS NO DOCTRINAL BOARD! The teachings of the Church did not come from a COUNCIL of ministers and/or lay members, who voted on what to believe.
Right here, SOME are going to ask “WHAT ABOUT ACTS 15? Wasn’t that the first Church Council in Jerusalem, to settle points of doctrine?" THE ANSWER IS NO! And I intend to devote enough space in this article to clear up this point!
So far, I have shown you from Galatians 1 and 2 that Peter was the chief apostle to the house of Israel and Paul to the gentiles. Now I will show you that Peter actually had PRIMACY OVER ALL.
At the very founding of the New Testament Church of God, it was Peter who stood up and explained what had occurred – preaching the first sermon in the Church that led to 3,000 converts. (Acts 2:14-39)
A day or two later, the number became 5,000. It was Peter who said to the cripple “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” (Acts 3:6) It was PETER who preached the sermon to the crowd thus attracted that converted 2,000 more.
Next came the incident of Annanias and Sapphira stealing and lying. It was Peter who spoke and caused them to drop dead.
Next, when signs and wonders were performed by the apostles, it was PETER’S SHADOW, as he passed by, that healed the sick.
Next the apostles were brought before the high priest and the council, and the spokesman for the apostles was PETER, who said “…We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29)
Coming to Acts 8 where Phillip, then a deacon, went to Samaria, and when the people believed Phillip preaching the things concerning the Kingdom of God, they were baptized. It was Peter and John who went down to Samaria, laid hands on the newly baptized (gentiles) and prayed for the Holy Spirit to be given to them. This is the best example of the Church of God’s custom of laying hands on the baptized for receiving the Holy Spirit – and PETER was the leader, for when Simon the sorcerer tried to buy an apostleship with money it was PETER who said to him (the first pope) “…Thy money perish with thee…for I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.” (Acts 8:20-23) He was the pater or peter - papa - pope of the Babylonian Mystery religion. Paul writes (II Thessalonians 2:7) “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work…” That religion, having without authority, appropriated the name “Christianity”, is named in Revelation 17:5 “MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT.”
Is it not ironic that the one who rebuked and condemned the first pope was Cephas, whom Christ had called PETER.
But continue on.
We come to Acts 10. Although Paul was later to be made apostle to the gentiles, the time had come to first open salvation to the gentiles officially. And this was done by PETER, not Paul. It was PETER whom God sent to the house of the gentile Cornelius, to teach him. It was PETER who convinced the others at Jerusalem that God had opened salvation to the gentiles (Acts 11).
Peter not a pope
UNDERSTAND this about Peter. HE WAS NOT A PROUD RULING POPE. He was a humble man, strong in Christ’s gospel and faith, but he did not try to lord it over others or always take the top seat, unless his position required. He was HUMAN, still, though since the Day of Pentecost he had the Holy Spirit. When Peter came to Antioch, more than 14 years after the founding of the Church, his human nature showed when he withdrew from the gentiles after some Jewish converts arrived from Jerusalem. Paul rebuked Peter publicly for this. But then, we might well remember that Paul was also human. This event occurred in the chief gentile church, and Paul was a little nettled at seeing Peter withdraw from eating with gentiles because some had arrived from Jerusalem. This incident reflects the humanity of both Peter and Paul – and demonstrates also that Peter was not a pope, else Paul would never have dared rebuke him.
Now we come to that crucial 15th chapter of Acts.
Few in God’s Church have fully understood this chapter. I shall go into sufficient detail to MAKE IT CLEAR.
Unauthorized teachers
Notice verse 1 “…certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.” Who were these men? NOT apostles, or they would have been named.
Right here, MARK WELL THIS POINT, GOD PUT HIS TRUTH INTO HIS CHURCH THROUGH CHRIST AND THROUGH THE APOSTLES! These men were not apostles. What they taught was NOT FROM JESUS!
The apostle Paul KNEW WELL that God gave His Church its teachings only through Christ and the apostles. Immediately Paul withstood these unauthorized teachers.
Verse 2 “When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.”
The men from Judea were undoubtedly Jewish Christians who had not received authentic teaching through the apostles, nor did they recognize Paul’s authority as an apostle, or they would not have entered in such a disputation with him.
Undoubtedly being Jewish converts, without full apostolic teaching, they looked on the Church as merely an extension of Judaism. Incidentally, the Judaism of that time was NOT Mosaic teaching. But after the days of Ezra and Nehemiah, the only organized Jewish religion was among the descendants of the contingent of Jews sent back to Jerusalem from Persian Capitivity (see Ezra l:1-3) 70 years after the destruction of Solomon’s temple, to build the second temple – to which Jesus later came. After Ezra and Nehemiah, the rabbis gradually made a considerable change in the old covenant religion given Israel by Moses.
World cut off from God
Their Israelite ancestors had always wanted to be more like the world around them. In 1 Samuel 8, you will read of how they wanted a king and government more like the other nations of the world. Now the WORLD, except for Israel, which was specially called by God, was CUT OFF from God. Remember, all those centuries and millenniums, the Chinese, Japanese, people of India, South East Asia, Africa, the Roman Empire knew little or nothing about GOD. They all had their own religions, and most were derived, with some changes, from that established by Semiramis the mother-wife of Nimrod. (Genesis 10)
Now these pagan religions of Egypt, Greece, Babylon, Rome, had known nothing of God’s GRACE – unmerited, undeserved PARDON, forgiveness of past sins on repentance. Instead, their religions had adopted a system of self-inflicted punishment, ordeal or torture to justify past sins.
Israel given laws through Moses
Moses had been used of God to give Israel certain laws. First, there was the overall spiritual law of LOVE, or the Ten Commandments – although Israel without the Holy Spirit could keep that law only in the strictness of the letter (in the New Testament it must be according to the Spirit – or the obvious intent). This is called in the Bible the Law of God.
Then, through Moses, God gave them the “law of Moses” – a sacrificial law of animal sacrifices, which could not justify sin, but was a reminder of sin, and was a physical substitute for the sacrifice of Christ. When Christ died on the cross, animal sacrifices ceased.
There was also a ceremonial law – of physical rituals, carnal ordinances, meat and drink offerings, etc – to teach them the HABIT of obedience – things to do repeatedly morning, noon and night. The law of rituals, including circumcision, was PHYSICAL, and a substitute until the Holy Spirit should be given, to teach them the HABIT of obedience.
In Galatians 3:19, this law was ADDED, because of transgressions. That is, transgressions of the spiritual law. In Galatians 3:24, this ritual law is called a “schoolmaster” to bring them to Christ. In Romans and Galatians, the terms “works of the law” always refers to these PHYSICAL laws, which were TEMPORARY until Christ. Sometimes the single word works means “good works” in accord with the spiritual law, and sometimes the “works of the law” when mentioned in the context will for brevity speak of just “the law”, but the context will make it plain the subject is the RITUALS. The Greek for works of the law is ergon, which means physical effort.
Besides these temporary physical rituals and sacrifices, God gave them, through Moses, statutes and judgements – the CIVIL LAWS of their nation. They were not necessarily temporary or substitutional, but were to last as long as the NATIONAL GOVERNMENT was administered over the nation Israel.
Dos and don’ts added
Now the rabbis, after Ezra and Nehemiah, added some 65 dos and don’ts even to the keeping of the Sabbath. They adopted the PAGAN PENANCE – self-inflicted punishment – and construed the physical rituals as a means of justification of past sins. THIS WAS PAGAN, something really quite different from the religion of Moses.
Now back to Acts 15.
These Jews who had come down to Antioch thought this system of PENANCE was still in effect. In Galatians 5:3, Paul shows that if a man was circumcised as a legal ritual, he became a debtor to the WHOLE RITUAL LAW – and the context is speaking of the RITUAL law, though this verse does not use “works of the law”.
Paul was quite willing to take this to Jerusalem, BECAUSE PETER WAS THERE AT THE TIME.
This visit of Paul to Jerusalem is undoubtedly the one mentioned in Galatians 2. Apparently, according to Galatians 2:9, the only apostles at Jerusalem at that time were Peter, James and John.
But in Acts 15:4, it is stated: “And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the Church, and of the apostles and elders…”
Then, verse 6 “And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.” All ordained ministers are called elders in the Bible. This means the lay members were excluded, but the apostles and ordained ministers ranked lower than apostles came together in this council.
Peter settles the question
Now we see that even these elders were not clear on this matter of circumcision. For, verse 7 “And when there had been much disputing, PETER rose up…” and settled the matter!
Continue, verses 7-11 “…PETER rose up, and said unto the, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made the choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as he did unto us. And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke on the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe through the GRACE [not ritual penance] of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.”
Verse 12, “Then all the multitude kept silence…” PETER had settled the question!
Right here, NOTE CAREFULLY! Peter was an apostle - ONE SENT FORTH proclaiming the Gospel, not a resident pastor of a church. James was pastor of the Jerusalem church at the time, though also an apostle. Therefore, James acted as chairman of the meeting – even though PETER gave the DECISION. As a matter of protocol, as chairman (as we would call it today) we come now to verse 13.
James speaks as chairman
“And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me. Simeon has declared…” in other words, acting as chairman of the meeting, James in effect started by saying , “PETER has declared” – Peter had settled it – “…how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.” Again affirming Peter’s primacy – for when God decided to open salvation to the gentiles – to CALL some of them to salvation, whereas heretofore God had called only Israelites (and even them NOT to salvation except the prophets) – when God opened salvation to the gentiles, He used Peter to do it! Now continue James speech:
“And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.”
This was quoted from Amos 9:11-12.
NOTE THIS! The Church of God is built upon the FOUNDATION of the apostles and prophets – Old Testament prophets as well as the VERY FEW prophets of the New Testament. And James was here quoting from the prophet Amos, to add his own approval to Peter’s DECISION. James is not making the decision – he is making official Peter’s decision!
Continue “Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions from idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.” (verses 19-20) Pollutions of idols was related to idolatry, and idolatry and fornication were violations of the SPIRITUAL law, eternally binding. Eating blood or things strangled was NO PART of the ceremonial law, but a law of health that was not substitutionary.
OBSERVE SPECIALLY. This was not a matter, as did happen at Pasadena, of one of lower rank appointed by an apostle, while the apostle was in another part of the world, calling together a conference of ministers of various ranks – all under that apostle – and determining or changing doctrine – watering down God’s TRUTH – and sending it out, as the Systematic Theology Project (STP) was, claiming falsely and without authority that it was an authoritative doctrinal pronouncement!
In this case, it was PETER, chief apostle, who set the decision. The letter they then sent to the church at Antioch specified that this decision was inspired by the HOLY SPIRIT. PETER set it, James, local pastor acting as chairman of the meeting, confirmed Peter’s decision, making it OFFICIAL, inspired by the HOLY SPIRIT.
Jesus gave Peter primacy
In all these successive instances, I have shown you, step by step, that Peter was LEADER of the apostles – and that the Church received it teachings and doctrines FROM THE APOSTLES!
But God has always worked primarily through ONE MAN at a time – as Abraham, then Isaac, then Jacob, then Joseph – later Moses, then Joshua, later Samuel, then David – and, in the New Testament Church, PETER. But Peter was an apostle – one sent forth proclaiming the message – not a resident pope over a religious hierarchy.
Now notice how JESUS gave Peter primacy over the apostles.
Jesus had asked His apostles to be whom they said Jesus really was, “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.. And Jesus said unto him [UNTO PETER] Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee [UNTO PETER] That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell [the grave] shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto THEE [PETER not the Church] the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou [PETER] shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:16-19)
There has been much discussion at Pasadena between certain ministers of lower than apostle rank, as to the CHURCH binding and loosing.
So now let it be MADE OFFICIAL – by Christ’s present day apostle – that this binding and loosing PLAINLY, CLEARLY was given to Christ’s chief APOSTLE – not to lower rank ministers ordained by his authority – not by the CHURCH as a body – but by the APOSTLE!
When men who held office under the apostle, and by his appointment or approval, took it in their own hands, in his absence – stealthily KEEPING IT FROM HIM – to water down God’s TRUTH, alter his doctrines, assume unauthorized authority, then the living CHRIST moves His apostle to ACT SWIFTLY, to PUT OUT the prime mover in this conspiracy, and, under Christ, set God’s Church and Work BACK ON GOD’S TRACK!
PRAISE THE ETERNAL GOD! HE has NOT left nor forsaken HIS CHURCH. Jesus Christ still REIGNS SUPREME in God’s Church, as He shall, very soon, reign over all the earth!
Many harmful errors in the STP still remain to be PUT STRAIGHT – and it shall be done by JESUS CHRIST, through His apostle, as rapidly as is humanly possible!
JESUS CHRIST is the living HEAD of this Church! HE built it through His apostle. And He, Christ, still rules SUPREME in the one and only area on earth where the GOVERNMENT OF GOD is being administered today! [End Quote]
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God's WORD STANDS, all else FAILS. Where do you stand? A Question each one of us MUST ask to ourselves!
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God's WORD STANDS, all else FAILS. Where do you stand? A Question each one of us MUST ask to ourselves!
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