Places to see….. things to do.
Retirement is wonderful, and so is being off the internet ☺
Maybe one day….. soon I will find a hacienda and settle down with an organic veg garden, fruit trees, geese, a few dogs, a cat, but for now…. we shall travel…..
In every dispensation, unbelief has sent men to hell in their sins.
Israel under Christ’s earthly ministry had to believe He is the Messiah, the Son of God.
“I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” ~ John 8:24
The world during the dispensation of Grace has to believe in his death for their sins, his burial and resurrection. Has one noticed how denominationalists have a tendency to emphasis the blood of Christ and ignore his resurrection as if it is of no consequence?
“Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how SAY some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.” ~ 1 Corinthians 15:12-14
“And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” ~ 1 Corinthians 15:17
Under the dispensation of the law, the sin of blasphemy amounts to nothing but apostasy which is as a direct result of unbelief.
“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” ~ Hebrews 6:4-6
I have learnt from experience that when apostates maul scripture, particularly the gospel, it’s obvious they are not walking by faith. The end result is inevitable and will be revealed in time. It always is. It might take years for the end result of their folly to manifest itself, but it eventually will because of the law of sowing and reaping.
Some will give up on the faith of Christ altogether, others will turn back to the weak and beggarly elements of the law, others will become full-blown hyperdispensationalists, while others will turn to Universalism… as can already be noted of some. This is where Bible mauling, man following-man pleasing, scripture twisting and leaning on one’s own understanding leads one…
Since I no longer wish to be privy to their scripture mauling, not to mention their ignorance and pride, I shall leave them to their own devices, praying they will be blameless on the day of Christ… and a warning to people that there are two groups of Right Dividers in particular on Facebook that one should beware of:
1. Those who fall under Richard Jordan’s Shorewood Bible Church and Grace School of the Bible who promote Kenosis.
2. Then there are those who are followers of Bullinger, in essence, Acts 28 theology, of who Atwood is basically the head honcho and who also has shares in Truth Time Radio.
If one wants to know who all is associated with these people, all one has to do is take note of who preaches at their conferences, which apparently has become rather secretive of late.
Furthermore there are disagreements and splits happening among the two groups, in line with some who have uncovered yet another “long lost Pauline truth”. “Cor blimey” in layman’s terms and what Paul called ” a new thing” in Acts 17:21.
If one thinks the devil isn’t active amongst Right Dividers, be assured he is, especially amongst unstable RDers, after all, it is his job to hide or twist the Truth…
Out of the two groups, the Acts 28 hybrids seem to be the most ignorant, what with women warriors, “truth seekers”, flat earthers, infantile attitudes (“I will show you!”), blah, blah, blah….. it’s one huge snooze…. “fake it until you make it”? They also use big words such as “cognitive dissonance” and don’t know themselves what it means, steeped to the hilt in conspiracy theories….
The other group seem to be the “scholars”. “What we gonna do tonight, Brain?” “Take over the world!” and in the interim….there is Jan Edward Wilbourn… still trying to make sense of it all, leaning on his own understanding, telling people to post in love while he flips out every 2 seconds…. seriously dude, you shouldn’t even be teaching…. I don’t hate you, I just think you’re a “tad” confused and should leave the Bullingerite Party and learn some sound doctrine.
“But there will be no-one to fellowship with if I mark and avoid all these people”.
Welcome to the fellowship of his suffering… Philippians 3:10.
Form a new church with likeminded believers sans the dung of Kenosis and Bullinger.
Christ was crucified under the dispensation of the law.
What was made known at the time was that he died for his friends.
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” ~ John 15:13
The mystery had not been revealed yet.
Who were considered to be God’s friends under the dispensation of the law during Christ’s earthly ministry?
“ Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” ~ John 15:14
Only once the mystery had been revealed to the Apostle Paul, did the true meaning of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection become a realisation.
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” ~ Romans 5:8
It was revealed that Christ had died for his enemies too once the ascended Christ revealed the mystery to Paul.
You may have heard it said that love is the answer, but is it true?
It surely sounds good, and with all the hate, war, and contention couldn’t we all use a little more love? What could possibly be wrong with love?
Actually, a lot can go wrong with love without Christ. Love can be perverted, distorted, and used for evil.
Who does not know “the love of money is the root of all evil” in 1 Timothy 6:10?
The Corinthians were living in love of fleshly indulgence (1 Cor 6:13-16). What’s wrong with love and happiness, if it does not harm anyone? Paul called it sin that did not glorify God (1 Cor 6:18).
Sinners can love each other without God, live darkened lives in love, and love pleasure more than God (Luke 6:32; John 3:19; 2 Tim 3:14).
Love is a message preached by every religion and secularist without Christ from Bahai to Buddha.
The pagan-Catholic Valentine’s day of love is celebrated across the world without Christ.
Loving people perish if they do not love the truth (2 Thess 2:10).
God is love, but Love is not God. Love without God is ungodly.
Love must be tempered by truth. Without the truth all our loving words and deeds become worldly. You cannot have the truth without Christ (Col 2:3).
Love is not the answer. Christ alone is as God commended his love toward us in Him (Rom 5:8).
If you want to show someone godly love, give them more than love. Speak the truth to them in love (Eph 4:15; 1 Cor 13:6; Eph 5:25-27).
“We declare unto you the forgiveness of sins which we preach unto you, which also ye have automatically received, By which also ye are not saved, if ye keep in memory what we preached unto you, unless ye have believed this in vain. For we delivered unto you first of all that which we received from Curt Crist, Steve Atwood, Jerry Lockhart, Kevin Wooten, Mark Gabert, Trey Searcy, Jan Edward Wilbourn and Zane Newitt, among others, who in turn received it from EC Moore, who in turn received it from EW Bullinger, how that Christ died for everyone’s sins 2000 years ago at the cross for everyone to be forgiven by default, confirmed personally by Mary Deanovic to be true. He then burnt in hell, and rose again the third day for your salvation, this you must believe, otherwise you will land up in hell with all your sins forgiven.”
Ridiculous.
Why can’t people just believe what’s written in the Bible without proof-texting and wresting scripture out of context? The gospel of peace in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 is so simple and easy…
“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” ~ Galatians 1:8
When one ignores certain scripture, one remains in one’s ignorance at one’s own peril.
Made free from sin or having one’s sins forgiven = righteous, righteousness:
“Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” ~ Romans 6:18
And what brings about the forgiveness of sins?
“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.” ~ Romans 6:17
“that form of doctrine” is the doctrine revealed to Paul by the ascended Christ, that one needs to obey/believe in order to be freed from sin and in so doing becomes a “servant of righteousness”. Believers are dead in Christ, having been crucified with Him, and those that are dead, have been freed from sin….
The context of Romans 6:
“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him , that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.” ~ Romans 6:6-10.
When one has been freed from sin, one should realise one cannot live one’s life as one pleases…
“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” ~ 1 Corinthians 6:20
“…. they do not believe that the forgiveness of sins was 2000 years ago when Christ died for our sins, was buried and was raised again the third day for our justification.” ~ Mary Deanovic
First they accuse us of receiving the forgiveness of sins through faith, saying it’s wrong… then they accuse us of not believing (having faith) that Christ died for our sins almost 2000 years ago…
Do these people even know what they believe?
“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” ~ 1 Corinthians 14:33
We as Saints can learn from this.
The Slide to Moral Apostasy
G. Williams makes this the 5 step path to apostasy:
i. Lust after evil things like they did – Numbers 11:4-6
ii. Idolize: replacing God with something else – Exodus 32:6
iii. Adultery, fornication: fellowship with the world – Numbers 25:1-9
iv. Faithlessness, infidelity, tempting God – Numbers 21:5-6
v. Murmuring against God, opposing him – Numbers 14:2-4
Flee these things and pursue purity – 2 Timothy 2:22, 1 Timothy 6:11
Taken from http://www.graceambassadors.com
“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” ~ Romans 15:4
I am shocked, mortified and simultaneously horrified (but then again, not) that some who teach Right Division are ignorant to the fact that the twelve apostles and their followers were also IN CHRIST, and that before Paul because of their belief in the Kingdom Gospel. If they weren’t in Christ before Paul, what existed prior to Acts 9, a vacuum?
“Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.” ~ Romans 16:7
Sadly, “those who were in Christ before Paul” has now become the new proof-text of the slippery downhill slide into never-never land that unbelievers too are in Christ because they all received the forgiveness of their sins 2000 years ago at the Cross, even though they weren’t present at the time to receive it…
This from a familial offshoot of the doctrinal mess that so happens to be the “Chattanooga choo choo”.
Is that the Chattanooga choo choo?
Track twenty-nine
Boy, you can gimme a shine
I can afford
To board a Chattanooga choo choo
I’ve got my fare
And just a trifle to spare”
“Pardon me” for thinking logically through your liberty because it just doesn’t make any sense to me… especially as it concerns the gospel…. and for those who say I do not have a life…. my life is hid with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3). Christ is my life, scripture is my life…. I couldn’t think of anything more interesting and exciting.
When some men (and women) fail miserably at exegesis…. and faith is considered a work or agent for the forgiveness of one’s sins… what comes to mind is this:
Faith:
“… which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved,…” 1 Corinthians 15:1-2
One of the objects of one’s faith according to the gospel:
1. “…. how that Christ died for our sins..” 1 Corinthians 15:3
The reason Christ died for one’s sins was in order for them to be forgiven, and the gospel tells one to have faith in “how that Christ died for our sins”.
If faith was not necessary to receive the forgiveness of one’s sins, it would be pointless incorporating it into the good news dispensed to the Apostle Paul.
The gospel would then read as follows:
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how he rose from the dead for your justification”.
[Past] ~ “And the times of this ignorance God winked at;
[Present] ~ but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
[Future] ~ Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men , in that he hath raised him from the dead.” ~ Acts 17:30-31
~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Past] ~ “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
[Present] ~ But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;” ~ Romans 3:20-21
~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Present] ~ “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, [Past] ~ which was kept secret since the world began,
[Present] ~ But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:” ~ Romans 16:25-26
~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Present] ~ “But now in Christ Jesus
[Past] ~ ye who sometimes were far off
[Present] ~ are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” ~ Ephesians 2:13
~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Present] ~ “Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
[Past]~ Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations,
[Present] ~ but now is made manifest to his saints:” ~ Colossians 1:25-26
[Present] ~ “Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway:
[Future] ~ for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.” ~ 1 Thessalonians 2:16
“[1] Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;…..
[3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;”
~ 1 Corinthians 15:1&3
When we believe the gospel of Christ we receive atonement for our sins.
“And not only so , but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have NOW received the atonement.” ~ Romans 5:11
“Much more then, being NOW justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” ~ Romans 5:9
Interesting how one realises why a certain group of people who perceive themselves as sound fundamental Mid-Acts 9 Dispensationalists, believe what what they do, and who has influenced their beliefs.
Some info relating to Bullinger:
*The modern flat earth society has its roots in the Zetetic society which holds to pseudo-science.
**”Common Grace” is the Wesleyan-Reformed term otherwise known as “Universal Forgiveness” amongst Bullingerites, which is not the same as “Universalism”, which is also known as ” Universal Forgiveness”, where all are universally saved. Bullingerism subtracts reconciliation from justification with one verse taken out of context: 2 Corinthians 5:19.
***Bullingerites are not very willing to discuss eternal damnation and hell, judgment, God’s wrath nor sin for that matter…
At this time, God is longsuffering, making known the riches of his glory to all men.
“What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, ENDURED with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?” ~ Romans 9:22-24
Dealing with denominationalists and cults is actually dealing with people who have put themselves under the law like the Jews who sought righteousness by the law, that is to say, they sought salvation by their good works, their own righteousness… therefore today, Paul’s gospel and Pauline doctrine is a stumbling block or foolishness to them. Denominationalists perceive themselves to be the “new Jews” and adhere to the law.
Today, salvation by faith alone without works is a stumbling stone to most followers of mainline denominational Christianity, cults and all religions.. instead of being obedient to God and obtaining righteousness through faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ’s finished work on the Cross for their sins and his resurrection on the third day… they ignorantly choose to rely on themselves, needing to be in control of their own salvation.
“Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;” ~ Romans 9:32
“What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.” ~ Romans 9:30
The Gentiles did not follow after righteousness, they were mostly rank heathens who worshipped idols.
“But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;” ~ 1 Corinthians 1:23
If one wants to know how bad Man really is, all one has to do is read the Bible.
The guys who profess to be saved by God’s grace, yet add their filthy rags to the salvation transaction….
“But we are all as an unclean thing , and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” ~ Isaiah 64:6
So what do Lordship Salvationists do with the Saints at Corinth? Ignore them? “But, but, but…..” Does Paul ever tell the Corinthians that they lost their salvation because of their behaviour?
“Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:” ~ 1 Corinthians 1:2
Problems, problems, problems… personally, I think that if the epistle to the Corinthians was written today, it would aptly be called “The Epistle to the Facebookians”.
“For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.” ~ 1 Corinthians 1:11
“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.” ~ 1 Corinthians 3:1
Yet, Paul refers to them as babes – carnal, being fed milk, which today would in all likelihood be Facebook memes.
Most Facebookians cannot discern this ~
“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” ~ Ephesians 4:31-32
In tandem with this ~
“To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” ~ 1 Corinthians 5:5
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” ~ Romans 16:17
Probably because they all have their very own ” Big Teddy Bear in the sky who doesn’t block anyone on Facebroke, but then gets really mean because he sends people to hell with all their sins forgiven…. except one, that is ~ unbelief.
Think on it:
Their Big Teddy in the sky sends unbelievers to hell because of one sin, and they call the universal forgiveness of 99% of their sins, “love” or “grace”….
One word: Gullible.
Neither do they understand the following verse:
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” ~ 2 Timothy 4:2
Facebookians as a whole do not understand what the word “longsuffering” means, they refer to it as “going on and on and on and I just cannot stand it anymore!”…
These folk are not faithful to the faith of Christ dispensed to the Apostle Paul by the ascended Christ…
“From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;” ~ 1 Timothy 1:6
Most post personal opinion without any scripture whatsoever, or if and when they do, they wrest it.
If one does not believe Christ rose from the dead on the third day, one is still in one’s sins, is wrested to read, “but Christ did resurrect on the third day, so everyone’s sins are forgiven…”
Oi. vey. Makes one wonder, doesn’t it?
He did, but not everyone believes it, so they are still in their sin…. hence the reason Paul said, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;” (1 Corinthians 15:1)
The Corinthians stood in the gospel Paul preached to them, however, at some point they swerved, “Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?” (1 Corinthians 15:12)
“For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” ~ Romans 16:18
Their Big Teddy of Farcebook Land, isn’t the God of the Bible.
“For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” ~ 2 Corinthians 11:4
“I cooked for you that you may eat”
Whether you eat or not has no baring on whether or not I cooked..
The “may” is not conditional.
Acts 26:18 KJB
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they [MAY] receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
*The “may” is not conditional.” ~ Zane Newitt
versus:
“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” ~ Romans 6:17-18
So who do you believe? Zane’s words….. or Paul’s words?
If one cooks, another still has a choice to eat it or not. Just as Christ provided the forgiveness of their sins, men choose either to believe it or not.
————-
“For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ,but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience is come abroad unto all men . I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.” ~ Romans 16:18-19
As Grace believers, we believe Christ provided the forgiveness for our sins almost 2000 years ago and one receives it today through faith by the cross – by Jesus Christ – by the gospel as confirmed by scripture (Ephesians 2:16; Ephesians 3:6; Ephesians 1:5)
Making the following statement a blatant false accusation:
“They are so close to the preaching of the gospel of our salvation and even call themselves grace believers, but they do not believe that the forgiveness of sins was 2000 years ago when Christ died for our sins, was buried and was raised again the third day for our justification. That’s how Satan works, folks. Don’t be fooled by it.” ~ Mary Deanovic
————————–
“If one is not forgiven unless and until he believed the gospel of Christ as some wrongly preach, Paul would have worded Romans 1:16 to convey that. It would have said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God UNTO FORGIVENESS to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” but that’s not what it says! It says the gospel of Christ is the power of God UNTO SALVATION to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek”.
FORGIVENESS WAS A DONE DEAL BY THE CROSSWORK OF CHRIST IN OUR STEAD AND GOD RAISING HIM FROM THE DEAD VICTORIOUS!” ~ Mary Deanovic
versus:
“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being THEN made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” ~ Romans 6:17-18
So whose words do you believe? Paul’s words…. or Mary’s words?
“Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)” ~ Galatians 1:1
The Outeniqua mountains are black, instead of blue. The south-easter is stoking the fire. 
We are moving on….
“The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.” ~ Psalm 136:9
(These pics have not been photo shopped).
The Milky Way:
Footnote: I did not take these photos.
“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” ~ Galatians 3:13-14
(I did not take this photo)
From the Khoikhoi word meaning desert, the karoo is a semi-arid region of South Africa.
(I did not take these photos)
The late Charles Baker and his followers.
Acts 28 doctrine can be subtle and sometimes poses as Mid-Acts Dispensationalism.
Believing Paul had two sendings is Acts 28 theology. If it croaks like a frog…… guess what? It’s a frog….
Believing Paul preached more than one gospel also croaks like a frog…. croak, croak, croak, croak…..
Strange thing about this theology is that the gospel they profess to believe is found in first Corinthians, which so happens to be a pre-prison epistle…. “written to the Jews”… oi vey…. the very people who were nigh and obviously not far off…. meaning, they were close to God because they were proselytes…. so, if they were nigh, why preach the gospel to them in the first place?
Crazy stuff.
“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” ~ 2 Corinthians 11:3
“Not a NOVICE, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.” ~ 1 Timothy 3:6
Pride has been the downfall of many a neophyte or fledgling… who tries to teach others… thinking he has finally arrived… with a Baptist seminary degree under the belt, a video recorder and a whiteboard to boot… ready, steady….. go….?
Personally, nothing reeks more of ego than a self-proclaimed teacher with a whiteboard…. and if it’s a woman it looks even more ridiculous.
Are Baptists the new Right Dividers because they preach OSAS, but what most fail to understand, Baptists believe Israel’s kingdom gospel for their salvation (they also believe there’s only one gospel in the entire Bible).
Paul’s blueprint for the leaders of the church, which is mostly ignored today…
“This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be
blameless,
the husband of one wife,
vigilant,
sober,
of good behaviour,
given to hospitality,
apt to teach;
Not given to wine,
no striker,
not greedy of filthy lucre; but
patient,
not a brawler,
not covetous;
One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Likewise must the deacons be
grave,
not doubletongued,
not given to much wine,
not greedy of filthy lucre;
Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.” ~ 1 Timothy 3:1-10
Blameless. Morally upright, irreproachable…. not to blame.
When Paul says a Bishop must be the husband of one wife, he means he must be married to one woman at a time, in other words, he must not be a bigamist or a polygamist.
Any guess why Paul stated why bishops and deacons must not be greedy for filthy lucre….. he could have used the word “mammon” instead, but “lucre” means it’s money obtained through dishonorable means… and the use of the word “filthy” to describe it (adverb), shows how it is perceived…… slimy and disgusting. Ill gotten gains.
There is nothing more dishonourable than standing behind a pulpit and fleecing people out of money, money for which they have more than likely worked hard for, to buy oneself a mansion, designer clothing, luxury cars, fancy trips overseas and gourmet food, then tell the very ones who one has fleeced, “God has blessed me”, when they in turn are struggling to survive….
Why don’t they (modern day denominational Pastors) practise what they preach and give tenfold, or even a hundred fold of their salaries to charity in order to reap the benefits of God’s grace when “sowing a seed”?
Because they know it doesn’t work? Otherwise they would be doing it? Where is the faith they accuse everyone else of not having?
The reason why my late father wanted nothing to do with the church was because they were always asking for money…. the devil’s ministers of righteousness, among others, give Christianity a bad name.
Giving money to ministries today is based purely on the heart of the giver, and should be given exclusively to those who teach sound Pauline truth.
“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give ; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” ~ 2 Corinthians 9:7
“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. To imitate someone is to pay the person a genuine compliment — often an unintended compliment.”
When one writes… they write…
When one travels…. they travel…
When one discerns…. they also try to…. discern?
When a person is jealous of another, they imitate them…. they so want to be like them…. but do not ever accomplish it….. some people do not like who they are…
“Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.” ~ Song of Solomon 8:6
Is when mainline, institutionalised, denominationalism is noted as being Christian or even called the Church, the yardstick whereby everyone is measured.
Good works = being a Christian today, in other words, doing something like confessing one’s sins, tithing, repenting of one’s sins, et al apparently makes one a Christian…. not.
The gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) is about belief- faith- trust. It’s not about “do and believe”, nor is it about “do”.
Charlatans without consciences, who profess to follow Christ according to his earthly ministry (2 Corinthians 5:16), who hold the big stick of the levitical law over their flock and rule them with a rod of iron. Who appear to be so self-righteous, they make ordinary folk look like the scum of the earth, even the saved ones.
Charlatans who so happen to lend their favour to whomever tithes and fills their coffers. Lost charlatans who do not know the gospel because it is hid from them (2 Corinthians 4:3), who preach works-based gospels in order to exercise complete control over the sheep who populate the pews of their Assemblies every Sunday.
“Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” ~ Romans 1:25
The late EW Bullinger and his followers.
The late Robert C Anderson and his followers.
The late Charles Welch and his followers.
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;” ~ 1 Timothy 4:1-2
“Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” ~ 2 Timothy 3:3-5
Sometimes, one has to turn around and walk away from those who are false accusers of the truth…. let the law of sowing and reaping take its natural course.
There are a group of Saints who are under the impression that they do not have to take responsibility for their actions, who also think they are free from the consequences thereof… they are under the impression that they will not be answerable one day for their words and deeds…. because they are saved by “the great big teddy bear in the sky”…. the same who believe Jesus burnt in hell for their sins….
“Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.” ~ 2 Timothy 4:14-16
People say there are weather patterns they have never seen here before…. a heatwave for a week, then gale force winds, then what seems to be arctic cold, then rain…. the wind doesn’t affect me as much as it used to, perhaps I need to check how I’m walking or standing, as I might already be leaning forward already, like the trees….. from the wind….. as the locals do (hahaha).
This isn’t Yorkie weather, Yorkies hate cold and rainy weather just as much as they hate being bathed….. did one know Yorkies have a good braking system? They refuse point blank to go walkies in cold and wet weather…. so…… now we have two “Piddle Cats” on our hands as opposed to two “Cool Cats”. Oi vey….
On a different note:
Paul uses the word “infidel” twice. Infidel is the archaic or old fashioned word for unbeliever and is used for impact.
“And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?” ~ 2 Corinthians 6:15
The other time he uses it is in reference to a those who do not support their wives or families, or families who do not support widowed parents or fatherless children.
I am considering studying to become a lawyer as there are so many injustices in this world, particularly injustices with regard to money….. or more specifically…. the love of money… I am unable to fix the world, I’m old and wise enough to realise this…. but if I can help just a few people overcome the injustices of this world and give them the gospel to boot, the world would be a better place.
Ever encountered pathological liars, who lie so much, that they are unable to see their own (obvious) contradictions? Liars do not have good memories…. ever encountered a person who says they do not lie? They so happen to be the biggest liars of all….. when their lips are moving, they are lying. $ad part of it all is that they start believing their own lies….. ever dug a hole so deep with lies that it’s difficult to get out of?
Some people, or shall I say, most people do not realise life is based on the law of sowing and reaping. What one does has consequences, good or bad. That’s life. Sow unbelief in the gospel of Christ, reap God’s everlasting wrath. Consequences aren’t always immediate, some are based over the long term… because of God’s longsuffering and mercy.
I will also add that sowing money into a denominational church today under the ruse of Israel’s levitical law is pure tom foolery as it just makes one poorer and the false ministries of these religious institutions richer, and that there is no tenfold, hundred fold or thousand fold return… one of the biggest lies in existence today is Christian denominationalism. It is headed and run by religious charlatans of the first order.
“The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.” ~ Proverbs 19:22
The fire is out of hand and is spreading fast, especially with the high winds…
I’m not one for herbal teas, as personally they taste like medicine to me. I prefer tea which is made from fruit, I also enjoy lemon tea….
Honeybush tea – good for you, but I’m not crazy over it… Rooibos tea (Red bush tea) – yuk, unless it’s made very strong, and with a lot of milk.
https://www.livestrong.com/article/257007-health-benefits-of-honeybush-tea/
Otherwise known as “Bird of Paradise”, also indigenous to the Garden Route. (By the way, we pronounce ” route”, root).
Is it any wonder the stretch of coastline between Port Elizabeth to Cape Town is officially known as “The Garden Route” or “Eden”.
The wild plants and flowers indigenous to this area, called fynbos (pronounced feignbos) is literally translated as “fine bush”, which does not grow anywhere else in the world. Rooibos tea, a herbal tea (Red bush tea) (the yellow flower), is part of the fynbos family, so is honeybush tea, which only grows in a very small area, that being a 7km radius just outside of Port Elizabeth.
Interesting fact concerning fynbos, is that it needs fire in order to grow and survive. The seeds need fire to be activated. Fire occurs naturally in this region, but man seeks to curb it because it obviously threatens humans and domestic animals. It’s called progress. It reminds me that adversity strengthens one spiritually, and that Christianity thrives in adversity.
The reason why heresies abound ~ the soft, sugar-coated, cushy and over-indulged, western lifestyles enjoyed by the “I am blessed club” (materialistically and otherwise, in the flesh that is)…. one only needs to look around one to confirm this….
What doesn’t kill one, makes one stronger.
Strength through adversity, strength in adversity….
“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” ~ 2 Corinthians 12:10
This is due to the recent high temperatures, now high winds blowing in at 54km…. devastation 😭 People have been told to evacuate their houses….. luckily heavy rain has been forecast for today and it has already started…. hopefully also raining in George…
(The Outeniqua, named after the Khoikhoi, the indigenous people who once inhabited the area).
The Bible refers to God’s word as a light and lamp. When properly used by faith, it enlightens our understanding and guides us into righteousness.
“The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” – Psa 119:130
Yet, the Bible remains a dark book for many who find it hard to understand. It is not uncommon to find one passage instructing one thing and another instructing a contrary thing. With so many different “lights” the Bible can be confusing.
The answer to identifying the right light is to know that God’s word is revealed progressively, and so must be rightly divided.
It is Satan’s strategy to shine all the lights at once so as to confuse the light of prophecy with the light of the mystery of Christ (2 Cor 11:13-15).
Light Given to Israel
When God raised up Israel to be his chosen people he gave them his law as light from the Lord. As David wrote in the Psalms the law was a lamp to his feet and a light unto his path (Psa 119:105).
It was Israel’s responsibility and covenant to be light to the other nations who would go to Zion to learn God’s law (Rom 2:19).
“And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” – Isa 60:3
“And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” – Isa 2:3
Jesus confirmed Israel’s position as a light to the nations in Matthew:
“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” – Matthew 5:14
Walking in Israel’s Light
Walking in Israel’s light meant obeying God’s law and commandments.
“For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light;” – Prov 6:23
The way to be in this light of the law and prophets was to do good works.
“But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” – John 3:21
If anyone transgressed the law they were not in the light, but rather in darkness.
“He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.” – 1 John 2:9-10
The Glorious Light of the Gospel
However, God’s revealed light does not end with Israel and prophecy. There was still a mystery that God had kept secret until revealed to the apostle Paul (1 Cor 2:7-10).
Paul’s mystery gospel of the glory of the cross is also called light from God:
“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” – 2 Cor 4:6
It was a further revelation of God’s will (Eph 1:9-10), that all men could be saved freely by faith alone in the finished work of Christ on the cross.
It was to the church that God entrusted this manifold wisdom to enlighten all men to see the fellowship of this mystery (Eph 1:18).
“…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
Walking in the Light of Grace
Since God has revealed his light in the gospel of the mystery of Christ, obedience to the law is no longer walking in the light.
Now, walking in the light is walking in the understanding of God’s gracious provision of salvation by the cross. We must reckon ourselves dead unto sin, and that we are not under the law (Rom 6:11-14).
When we live by faith in Christ according to the mystery, we are living in God’s light without the law (Rom 3:21, Rom 8:3-4). The difference is that we are living in light of the glorious gospel of Christ according to a mystery, not the light of prophecy given to Israel (2 Cor 4:4, Rom 16:25).
“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” – 2 Cor 4:4
There are many lights in the Bible. Following the wrong one may lead someone away from the gospel of Christ that saves today. Don’t think Satan is ignorant of this.
It is Satan’s strategy to confuse God’s word rightly divided by presenting as many contrary lights as possible (2 Cor 11:13-15).
When we rightly divide the light of prophecy from the light of the mystery, we are able to discern God’s will and word for us today.
~Justin Johnson – http://www.grace ambassadors.com
Postmodern Liberal logic:
Apparently there are no sins to be forgiven, as all were already forgiven. So in effect, what sin sends people to hell, as most land up in hell with their sins forgiven?
Try the sin of unbelief which keeps one in one’s sins….
All sins have been forgiven (according to their logic), bar one… and probably they will soon call it the unpardonable sin (those “in the know”).
“Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.” ~ Titus 1:15
When liberal postmodernists state God forgave all men’s sins at the cross 2000 years ago, and everyone automatically has a debt of $ 0.00, they lie. According to their theory, that debt should amount to $1.00, which is unbelief.
After all, all means all, not all, bar one.
“That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” ~ 1 Corinthians 2:5
It gets said of marriage, “first comes the engagement ring, then the suffe ring”.
I say, the only suffering most Saints participate in, is this:
“For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.” ~ 2 Corinthians 11:19
And not this:
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” ~Philippiand 3:19
I once had a brother in law who was into Eastern religion, some Swami fellow was his guru who taught him how to levitate 1 metre off the floor…. he always said that he rejected Christianity because Christians were meant to suffer…. big joke.
I, at the time was a clueless Pentecostal, lost and religious… and I laughed back at him because I believed I had God’s promises to stand on…. who was meant to suffer? Not I. Of course, he was right, and I in my ignorance was wrong, those promises were given to Israel, not the Body of Christ.
We currently suffer on this earth in order for our innermen to be strengthened to rule in heavenly places.
Israel will suffer in times to come for her flesh to be strengthened in order to rule over a physical, earthly realm.
There seems to be competition among Saints, between those who walk the streets, preaching the gospel and those that are keyboard warriors… as those who walk the streets tend to boast and see only themselves as having the unique title of soldier…
Some should stop making themselves out to look grand when they themselves are on social media writing about politics… if one is out there, walking the streets, ya wouldn’t be on Facebook bragging, right? And if one does not study to be a WORKMAN, how would one know how to approach people with differing beliefs?
How does one preach the gospel to someone who is hungry? A common problem in Africa. When a person is hungry, all they can think of is food, what does one think the chances are of such a person heeding the gospel one is preaching, and that with a full stomach? Does one preach to them, that when they die of starvation they will go to heaven if they believe the gospel?
For that matter, why don’t these big mouth street soldiers come to South Africa with their lily white skins and walk the streets of the second most dangerous country in the world and see how far they get, chances are, they won’t survive to boast of their unique super human powers the following day…
Try Gugulethu, Alexandra and Hillbrow for an entree and see how that goes… if one, by some miracle survived the ordeal, then try any inner city of South Africa for that matter… chances are, one will land up as another statistic on a crooked and corrupt bureaucrat’s desk and no-one will give a damn, except one’s family and friends.
People who boast in themselves are void of any consideration. In South Africa, when walking one’s friendly neighbourhood, one has to try and get past 1.8m high walls with electric fencing on top, an electric gate, closed circuit cameras, an intercom and a salivating pit bull or rottweiler on the other end, or both…. good luck with that… talk on social media is cheap, either way…. “Mam, I just shot your dog, climbed the perimeter wall, deactivated the electric fence with jumper leads as no-one answered when I buzzed the intercom, as I really need to preach the gospel to you”, won’t work…… ever. ” Hello, Armed Response? we have a burglar here who looks like a Jehovah’s Witness ” said no South African homeowner ever….
Most out there hate it when I name names and heresies, because more often than not, they subscribe to the rabbit trails, the topsy turvy doctrine and bloated ministries I mention. They see it as something that does not matter, and as “arguing and bickering amongst Right Dividers”. Personally, I think that’s a rather limited point of view to have…
“Not boasting of things without our measure, that is , of other men’s labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s line of things made ready to our hand. But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” ~ 2 Corinthians 10:15-17
How to circumvent the rottweiler, security guard, high walls, crime, mayhem and electric fencing: with the internet.
After all, God gave us a brain, and in 21st century lala land we need to use it… if one does not like the tools and logistics I employ to preach the gospel, tough! It’s between me and God, and I will be judged for it one day, not anyone else.
To name a few which must be marked and avoided:
Those who follow the teachings of the late EC Moore and Jim Brackin.
The Berean Bible Society
More to follow…
The “Skin Deep Ministry” of congregating around tea, coffee, cake, cookies, BBQ, wine and the like, tells one, one cannot possibly be renewed in one’s mind without Christian fellowship.
Yet, there is absolutely no renewal of one’s mind to be had with Saints who go off on rabbit trails, follow another Jesus, and believe and teach unsound doctrine…. impossabru…
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” ~ Philippians 3:10
Persecution, a hypothetical situation: A Saint is thrown in jail with just a KJB Bible, all the other Saints have either been murdered or are too afraid to visit. Will this saint, who studies the Bible rightly divided and who is a workman not be renewed in his/her mind?
Unsound doctrine and pastors, a hypothetical situation: A Saint does not believe kenotic theology, nor universal forgiveness (unconditional election), so there is absolutely no foundation for fellowship. Will this Saint not be renewed in his/her mind who possesses a KJB Bible and rightly divides the word of truth?
Is the power of fellowshipping with Saints who are in error more powerful than the study and application of God’s word?
Things are so bad out there lately that sound Pauline teachers and doctrine are now being seen as error…. even faith in Christ’s forgiveness of one’s sins is seen as religion…
“Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.” ~ Philippians 3:17
One must find the few good men out there and mark them and follow them. It’s the 21st century, there’s the internet, KJB Bibles rightly divided, sound ministries…. why bother with shallow fellowship which has its roots in heretical doctrine, decorated with food and beverages to look attractive and welcoming, not to mention stilted Facebook groups which are filled with heretics where Kenosis and/or Universal forgiveness is the order of the day?
Christians use the word ‘fellowship’ loosely.
When Christians invite church friends over to watch the game, have a backyard picnic party, or go on a relaxing vacation they call it fellowship.
Many churches contain a banquet hall and kitchen that would match most restaurants. They call them fellowship halls.
When Christians want to just hang out or shoot the breeze under the guise of ministry, it is sanctified by calling it fellowship.
They keep using the word fellowship to describe fun, friendships, and food, but I don’t think it means what they think it means.
Fellowship in the Gospel
“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, … For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now…” – Philippians 4:3-5
Paul was grateful for their fellowship in the gospel.
Paul was tasked with “making all men see the fellowship of the mystery” (Eph 3:9). The Philippians saw it and were partakers of the gospel of grace given to Paul (Phil 1:7).
There is a comfort that comes when two people have in common a mutual faith (Rom 1:12). More than simply sharing the same hobbies or preferences, having a mutual faith means that you are both standing on the same foundation and have a unity of Spirit (Eph 4:3).
As more brothers and sisters are established on God’s word without error rightly divided it is a joy to see their confidence increase, their assurance of salvation, and their growth in spiritual understanding.
It is hard to change what someone else likes or dislikes, but we can establish one another in true fellowship of the gospel when we work to make all men see the fellowship of the mystery.
Fellowship in Ministry
All those who are saved by the gospel have fellowship in Christ, but the Philippians were also fellow laborers with Paul in the Lord’s ministry (Phil 4:3; Phil 4:15).
They understood the gospel, the importance of the ministry the Lord gave the church, and were participating in doing the work.
Ministry requires a change of mind and heart, and when others in mutual faith work with you in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, they become extremely desirable.
“For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.” – Phil 1:8
There are some bonds that are only forged by fire, and ministry produces the fellowship of suffering that fellow soldiers face as they strive together (Phil 1:27).
There are fewer folks who can claim this fellowship, but for everyone that is involved in the work I am extremely grateful to God for working in them to do His pleasure.
Faithful Fellowship
This fellowship is rare and goes beyond hanging out or sharing a coffee. Fellowship that is thankworthy is the kind that endures from the “first day until now” in the truth (Phil 1:4).
Frequently, fellowship starts on the right foot, but then many start to partake of other ministries that are not God’s, preach another Jesus, receive other spirits, or preach other gospels (2 Cor 11:3-4). Fellowship is broken.
Fellowship requires having something in common. Fellowship in the gospel requires the same gospel message. Fellowship in Christ requires the same Christ. Fellowship in ministry requires faithfulness to perform the right ministry with the right heart.
What Paul had in common with the faithful Philippians was a common faith, partnership in ministry, unity of the Spirit, and communion with the Lord Jesus Christ. That they continued from the “first day until now” was cause for thanksgiving.
Thank God
Bible fellowship is more than fun, food, and friends. You do not need God for that kind of physical enjoyment.
Fellowship is what God provides when His word works effectually in those that believe the gospel and grow up in the Lord Jesus Christ.
“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing…” – 1 Thess 2:13
Thank God for fellowship with like minded believers who will fight with one mind for the love of the truth.
If that is you, thank God for your fellowship.
~ Justin Johnson ~ http://www.graceambassadors.com
The Galatians were being convinced that they needed to become circumcised law keeping proselytes to receive God’s blessings.
Their teachers said that Paul taught the same thing as them having learned it from the same people in Jerusalem.
In reality, Paul received his gospel directly from the Lord Jesus Christ, and spends the first two chapters to the churches in Galatia saying as much.
In chapter 3, he begins his argument that blessing does not require the works of the law, circumcision, or becoming Abraham’s seed in the flesh.
The Promise By Faith
“Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” – Gal 3:2
Of course, we receive the Spirit by faith.
Abraham, too, received his blessing by faith, and is the classic example of faith in Israel. He did not receive his promises with conditions, or his blessing by his works, but by the hearing of faith (Gen 15:6).
“So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.” – Gal 3:9
The law that the Galatians were being persuaded to keep was a curse and could not justify anyone. Christ became a curse for us and removed the curse of the law, so that the blessing by faith could come to everyone not through the law.
Any uncircumcised Gentile could now receive the promise of the Spirit, justification by faith, the gospel of Jesus Christ through faith.
“…that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” – Gal 3:14
The Single Seed
Abraham and his seed received promises, but not every seed of Abraham received them.
“For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.” – Rom 9:6-7
Abraham’s promises were not inherited by every child he had, as if the promises were for Abraham to have many children. The promise was that he would have a single child, a single seed, the child of promise.
It is true that God promised Abraham a multiplied seed (Gen 13:6), but God did not promise that every son of Abraham would receive the promises.
Isaac was the one God chose to inherit Abraham’s promises, and Jacob after him. Abraham’s promised blessings, received by faith, foreshadowed the coming of Christ, the promised one.
There is only one Christ, not many.
There is only one way to receive the blessings through Christ: by faith (Gal 3:22).Children of God, Abraham’s Seed
The law was added to teach the need for justification by faith (Gal 3:24).
Once the object of faith came, there was no more need for the schoolmaster. God chose Abraham. God chose Issac. God chose Jacob. God chose to save by faith through Jesus Christ and his finished work.
We are all children of God by faith in Christ Jesus, not by works, nor circumcision, nor by being part of Israel.
We are children of God by being one in Christ Jesus.
Abraham’s singular seed, Isaac, was the child of the promise. Abraham’s seed of promise is Christ. Abraham’s seed was of promise by faith, not by the works of the law.
If we be Christ’s by faith, then we are blessed with faithful Abraham in his seed and we receive the promise of the Spirit through faith (Gal 3:9; Gal 3:14).
“And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” – Gal 3:29
We are not heirs because we are Israel or because we are now children of the covenants and the prophets. We receive inheritance not according to the law, circumcision, or Israel, but according to the promise which is by faith.
Conclusion
Many fail to realize that Paul is not denying the promises God will fulfill with the nation Israel (Rom 11:26-29). Neither is he saying that the church is Israel by putting them into Abraham’s earthly promises.
He is simply explaining how God’s blessings can be received by Gentiles apart from the law, circumcision, and Israel.
The only way God can bless Gentiles apart from these three things was the same way he blessed Abram without the law, circumcision, and Israel… by faith.
~ Justin Johnson – http://www.grace ambassadors.com
There are two ways to buy a house: make a promise to pay in the future, or pay it all up front.
If you make a promise to pay, the provision is always future, and there is always a possibility that either party can breech the contract. Paying up front makes a promise to pay needless, but requires a huge one time payment.
Salvation is a purchase of God. He redeems lost sinners while building an eternal house. Since the world began, God has been building the house of Israel for an eternal inheritance on the earth. He did not provide the inheritance up front, so he gave Israel a promise to pay, a covenant of promise.
Israel’s covenants of promise were God’s obligations to provide salvation, blessing, and earthly inheritance in the future.
To make the promise sure, covenants were declared. How does Israel know the promise is sure? The covenant is made in blood and guaranteed with death of the buyer. This is called a surety or mortgage (a death promise).
God made a promise to pay to Israel, a divine mortgage, to be fulfilled in his kingdom come to the earth. The blood of Christ was the down payment and surety of the future provision for that nation.
The Fulfillment of God’s Mortgage
Israel was blessed with these covenants of promise. He made no such covenants of promise with any other nation. While God’s complete provision is extended to the future, the promise ensures it will be Israel that will inherit the earth.
When the terms of the covenants of promise are fulfilled, then there is no longer any need for the covenants. They are finished. The mortgage can be ripped up, because the house is paid for.
However, Israel’s covenants of promise have not yet been fulfilled. They have not yet received their salvation, worldwide blessing, earthly inheritance, or many other promises given to them through their covenants of promise (Heb 8:11; 13:14; Rom 11:26-27).
This is why God’s covenants are critical for the future earthly inheritance of Israel. Without them, what hope do they have that God will make final payment?
God’s Present Payment Plan
Today, we are not partakers of God’s promises in covenants to receive future salvation and blessing. God has another payment plan that has bought the house of God, which is the church, the body of Christ (1 Tim 3:15).
God has already promised an earthly habitation to Israel through a covenant of future promise. The new creature abides in heavenly places, and we can be placed into this household today if payment is provided in full immediately.
This transaction with the church of God is described through the revelation of the mystery of Christ, which is without Israel and without covenants. Instead of striking a covenant with the church for future provision, God has declared this purchase paid in full through the blood of Christ.
Just like paying for a house up front, this required a huge lump sum payment in the beginning. The cross is where we find this sufficient payment for all.
No More Waiting
Before the revelation of the mystery of Christ, the only way to receive any hope of salvation or blessing from God was through Israel’s covenants of promise. Israel’s covenants of promise are still waiting future provision.
But now the blood of Christ is offered for direct entry into the household of God (Eph 2:13).
Since Christ has already made the full payment through his blood, and there are no other obligations to the church, God can provide everything to us now without the need for a covenant.
Whereas Israel’s covenant promises them a complete package when the kingdom comes, we are complete in Christ now (Col 2:10). Whereas Israel is still waiting for their Day of Atonement where the blood of Christ is applied to their nation, we have “now received the atonement” (Rom 5:11).
There is no more waiting for the fulfillment of Israel’s covenants of promise to receive salvation. What they have been promised in payment, we now possess. Now is the day of salvation by the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery!
Christ has done it all, it is all paid for up front the moment we believe (Eph 1:13).
Christ vs. Covenant
How very different trusting the finished payment of Christ is from trusting a future promise of provision. Christ and a covenant are different. Christ is a person who made a payment. A covenant is a promise that has not yet been provided. If the promise has been delivered, rip up the mortgage!
If a house is paid for up front, there is no covenant or promise that is needed, there only need be the person rich enough to pay for it.
We have that person in the Lord Jesus Christ, and the riches are unsearchable (Eph 3:8)!
Our message today is not one of entering into contract with God, or partaking of God’s promise in a covenant made with Israel. We preach that all men can partake of God’s promise in Christ by the mystery gospel (Eph 3:6).
While no believer would deny God’s faithfulness to keep his promises to Israel, and it was because of those promises that Christ came, especially now that we know the mystery of God’s will in Christ, but certainly possessing a thing is much better than a future promise of a thing.
According to the mystery of Christ, the body of Christ now preaches and possesses salvation, whereas Israel is still waiting the fulfillment of their covenants of promise made for the earth.
God will keep the covenants for Israel through Christ, but beware of anyone who would take your paid for house in heavenly places and put it back under a mortgage! They are robbing you of the unsearchable riches of Christ!
~ Justin Johnson – http://www.graceambassadors.com
So far, the fourth day of very high temps, in the region of 40°C…. and nothing but blue skies above….. that is an actual photo taken of the sky today. I have a permanent tan nowadays… and the little red flower is a Hibiscus….. indigenous to Hawaii?
Writing this in between “Yorkie Patrol”, otherwise known as, ” Yorkie Standby”. Put plainly: “Mom, we want to pee…” say the Yorkies to me.
I think…. I thunk… I understand it now, that about the one-sided reconciliation, that is.
According to 2 Corinthians 5:19 they believe God reconciled the world unto himself. So the world is reconciled to God now, according to their belief…
Got it? God reconciled the world unto himself. Remember: the world is reconciled….
But further down Paul beseeches those in the world, “be ye reconciled to God”, but if the world (which one is a part of) is already reconciled to God, why would Paul still beseech people to be reconciled to God? “Hello, ya just said God reconciled the world unto himself…”
And here’s where the absurdity strikes one silly…
“Nah”, they say, ” God is reconciled to the world, but one needs to be reconciled to God”…. But they just said, God reconciled the world unto himself…
If God reconciled the world unto himself as they say, not imputing anyone’s sins…. why would someone have to beseech one to be reconciled to God, because one already is (reconciled to God, that is).
And there are people out there who believe this stuff? Doesn’t anyone out there think for themselves anymore?
To go boldly where no man has gone before…. to reach new heights of absurdity, where they will probably also prove that the devil will be saved and we can all hold hands and sing in unison. Ya know which song, right?
“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” ~ 1 Corinthians 14:33
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” ~ Romans 8:35
According to some, what separates one from the love of Christ is having one’s sins forgiven but landing up in hell, because one didn’t believe they were forgiven 2000 years ago…. never mind all the other dastardly things like tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril or sword that are unable to separate one from the love of Christ…
They say God loved all of mankind enough to forgive their sins at the Cross 2000 years ago…. but his love (according to their belief) is obviously limited, because…
“Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ~ Romans 8:39
Oops! Paul forgot to include “going to hell with one’s sins forgiven” to the list of things which cannot separate one from the love of Christ, because it does just that… silly me…
Some have a Sunday School mentality concerning the nature and character of God. They see him as a big, soft, teddy bear kinda fella in the sky, handing out unconditional forgiveness to all, irrespective of their unbelief and enmity towards him. The big softie in the sky who wanted so dearly to reconcile with mankind, he made amends at the cross in order to be reconciled to all men, but not all men want to be reconciled to him, the reason why they refuse to believe the gospel…
Has one ever thought how things would work if one is reconciled to an estranged family member or friend, but they refuse to be reconciled to you? Once anyone figures out how this type of “relationship” works, inbox me with a feasible explanation, but until then, I will file the notion under, “Dysfunctional 21st Century Politically Correct Religious Claptrap”.
Does one realise that there are almost 7 billion people on this earth who are running around, ignorant of the fact that their sins were forgiven 2000 years ago? A God who forgives one’s sins unconditionally, but doesn’t tell anyone… does anyone else smell a rat? A men-pleasing, appeasing rat… that is.
One would think God was so hard-up for companionship and fellowship, that he decided to reconcile himself to the world unconditionally. So if God reconciled the world unto himself 2000 years ago, where does that leave the devil who so happens to be the god of this world. Talk about a conflict of interests… a world reconciled to God, ruled by the god of this world… now that really makes a lot of sense. Not.
Wait a minute… didn’t they say God reconciled himself to the world, but the world isn’t reconciled to God? (“Be ye reconciled to God”) then why do they say he reconciled the world unto himself? Silly question: Anyone confused yet?
THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS – SALVATION IS SOLELY PROVIDED BY WHOM:
Provider: The Lord Jesus Christ. Access: by faith into his grace.
“BY WHOM also we have ACCESS by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” ~ Romans 5:2
One receives grace for obedience to the faith. No obedience to the faith, no grace. Wrath awaits you.
“For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.” ~ Colossians 3:6-7
“BY WHOM we have RECEIVED grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith AMONG ALL NATIONS, for his name:” ~ Romans 1:5
Among all nations = world.
Baptist theology: “…. by whom we HAD received the atonement 2000 years ago at the cross” …. but we weren’t even born yet…
“And not only so , but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have NOW received the atonement.” ~Romans 5:11
HOW DO WE POSSESS THE ACTUAL FORGIVENESS OF SINS? EXCLUSIVELY IN CHRIST.
“IN WHOM we HAVE redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” ~ Ephesians 1:7
Baptist theology: “By whom we HAD redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins 2000 years ago, according to the riches of his grace”
Why do people always choose the weak and beggarly road of feel good denominationalism that “God loves everyone”? Fact is, He doesn’t. Those who are not saved are still in their sin, and if they do not repent, they will experience his wrath firsthand. We, the members of the body of Christ who were lost and in our sins, were once God’s enemies too, but once we repented, we became his adopted children whom he now loves.
“And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled” ~ Colossians 1:21
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” ~ Romans 5:8
Who is the “us” that God COMMANDS his love TOWARDS? The body of Christ. God knows who will believe the gospel and who won’t, but all are given a fair and equal chance, the reason why we need to preach it to all men, as we do not know who will believe it and who won’t…
“Nor height, NOR DEPTH, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ~ Romans 8:39
Seems those who land up in hell with their sins forgiven have been separated from the love of God…?
What else does this verse say? “… the love of God, which is IN CHRIST Jesus our Lord”.
One needs to clarify the difference between God’s mercy, longsuffering and his love.
Yet one, as a Saint is to have love for the lost in order to give them a chance at being pulled out of the clutches of eternal damnation by the preaching of the gospel.
“Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” ~ Romans 13:10
The next lost person one meets could be a future member of the body of Christ. Only God knows…
Think about it.
“To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, MERCY, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” ~ 2 Timothy 1:2
“Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I OBTAINED MERCY, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.” ~ 1 Timothy 1:13
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but ACCORDING TO HIS MERCY he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” ~ Titus 3:5
Baptist theology: “….. but according to his love he forgave our sins 2000 years ago at the cross…”
Some have a thing about time and location. The rest of us believe the finished work by Jesus Christ on the cross and his resurrection…
God’s provision for our sins is still in effect, almost 2000 years after the event….. God is longsuffering.
“Howbeit for this cause I obtained MERCY, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all LONGSUFFERING, for a pattern to them which should HEREAFTER believe on him to life everlasting.” ~1 Timothy 1:16
There are different laws, some of which are in effect today, and others which are not.
The law of Moses, which is not in effect today:
“And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;” ~ Luke 2:22
The law of the Jews, which is not in effect today:
“While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.” ~ Acts 25:8
“Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;” ~ Ephesians 2:15
The law of faith, which is definitely in effect today, as one needs to have faith in the gospel to be saved:
“Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.” ~ Romans 3:27
The law of sin, which is in effect today, as there are many people who are lost and in their flesh, in the captivity of sin:
“But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my member” ~ Romans 7:23
The law of righteousness, which is in effect today, and which can only be attained to by faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross and resurrection, not by works of the law:
“But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.” ~ Romans 9:31
The law of Christ, which is definitely in effect today, but sadly almost nobody in the BoC adheres to:
“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” ~ Galatians 6:2
The law of liberty, which is not in effect today because it pertains to the New Testament Saints who will one day have to continue (endure to the end) therein:
“But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein , he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” ~ James 1:25
The Body of Christ, the church is a purchased possession.
“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” ~ 1 Corinthians 6:20
“Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.” ~ 1 Corinthians 7:23
“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” ~ Acts 20:28
“Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” ~ Ephesians ,1:14
Our spirits are redeemed, unfortunately, not the same can be said of our bodies. We are waiting for the adoption, namely, the redemption of our bodies.
“And not only they , but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit , the redemption of our body.” ~ Romans 8:23
The Body of Christ (us) is the predestined adopted children of God by Jesus Christ, who has made us accepted in the beloved (in Him), in whom we have redemption through his blood, which means our sins have been forgiven, according to the riches of his grace, the gospel.
“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” ~ Ephesians 1:5-7
“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” ~ Acts 20:24
How many out there see grace only as God being kind to mankind, when in reality God’s grace is the gospel, how that Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again on the third day? The same gospel which is extended to all men in order that they might believe in order for their sins to be forgiven, the same which saved people already possess ~
“IN WHOM we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins…”
In whom….
“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” ~ Romans 8:2
“Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
Those in this dispensation who work for their salvation (or try to), the reward is reckoned of debt. In other words, they still owe, and will do so until the day they die, because they haven’t received, neither have they believed God’s grace whereby their sin debt is/ can be cancelled. Their works can never justify them in the sight of God.
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
To the individual that does not do good works for salvation, but rather believes the gospel, his faith is counted for righteousness. One’s faith is the key to obtaining God’s righteousness. Of course, faith must have an object, in this instance it’s the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
Even as David ALSO describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
King David also mentioned or described the very same thing. Those whose sins are forgiven (present tense), whose sins are covered (present tense), are blessed.
Saying , Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
BLESSED is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.”
~ Romans 4:4-8
“And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying , In thee shall all nations be BLESSED” ~ Galatians 3:8
“So then they which be of faith are BLESSED with faithful Abraham.” ~ Galatians 3:9
“Blessed is the man to whom the Lord HAS NOT imputed sin.” ~ Imaginations 4:8
~ Past tense “has not imputed”.
Doesn’t Romans 4:8 beg the following questions, why Paul (saying David ALSO said the same thing), ~
1. does not say “men”, plural, after all, “the world” is made up of men, plural.
2. Why didn’t he say “all men” for that matter?
3. When he said “the man”, he meant individuals who believe the gospel and are saved, they are the individuals who are blessed in this dispensation; to whom God isn’t imputing sin; (Galatians 3:8-9).
4. If Christ forgave everyone’s sins 2000 years ago, Paul would have used the word ” imputed”, past tense and would not have preached Galatians 3:9;
The hereticks’ different variations of Romans 4:8:
“Blessed are all men to whom the Lord HAS NOT imputed sin.”
“Blessed is mankind to whom the Lord HAS NOT imputed sin.”
“Blessed are the men to whom the Lord HAS NOT imputed sin.”
“Blessed is the world to whom the Lord HAS NOT imputed sin.”
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“Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” ~ Romans 4:8
~ Now. Present tense. When one believes the gospel, the Lord will not/does not impute sin to one’s account. “Impute” – present tense.
“(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.” ~ Romans 5:13
Paul said “but sin IS not imputed….”. Why didn’t he say, “(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin WAS not imputed because there is NO LAW”. Isn’t this how some people read this verse?
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“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye ARE not under the law, but under grace.” ~ Romans 6:14
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“But NOW we ARE delivered from the law, that being DEAD wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.” ~ Romans 7:6
Who is Paul addressing in the epistle to the Romans?
“By whom we have RECEIVED GRACE and APOSTLESHIP, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: Among whom are ye also THE CALLED OF JESUS CHRIST: To all that be in Rome, BELOVED OF GOD, called to be SAINTS: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.” ~ Romans 1:5-7
God is reconciling the world unto himself by the Cross, by Jesus Christ today.
“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled US to himself BY JESUS CHRIST, and hath given to US the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto US the word of reconciliation. NOW THEN we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” ~ 2 Corinthians 5:18-20
The Ministry of reconciliation we’ve been given, namely (to wit), how that Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again on the third day, also informs us that we have salvation security since our sins are no longer being imputed to us because we believe Christ took them all upon himself, hence the reason we do not repent of them nor confess them. He took them all and never gives them back to us.
“Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also SEALED us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” ~ 2 Corinthians 21-22
“In whom ye also trusted , after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were SEALED with that holy Spirit of promise,” ~ Ephesians 1:13
When one trusted the gospel of one’s salvation after having heard it, meaning, after one believed Christ’s (in whom) finished work on the Cross and resurrection, one was sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.
Nowhere in Paul’s writings does it say the seal can be broken to impute those sins back to us for us to lose our salvation.
“For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.” ~ Romans 4:13
“Jesus paid for your sins but you’ll pay for them again in hell if you don’t believe.
That my friends is called “Limited Atonement” and “Double Jeopardy”.
“Paid for” appears nowhere in scripture…
They were imputed to Christ’s account and bled out…. Period.”
Polly wants a cracker.
If “Jesus paid for one’s sins and one pays for them again in hell if one doesn’t believe” is called Limited Atonement”, I wonder what “Jesus paid for one’s sins, so all are forgiven, but one stands a 99% chance of landing up in hell anyway” means? Rank inanity?
Where is the atonement when landing up in hell with one’s sins forgiven?
Some people need to read Romans 6 – slowly.
And…. where in the Bible does it say “bled out…. Period”?
Obviously some do not know what Limited or Definite Atonement means, nor Double Jeopardy for that matter….. can someone say “Strawman”?
Double jeopardy means a person, the same person that is, cannot be tried for the same crime twice…. are we and Jesus the same people?
What this “teacher” and “preacher” sees as Limited Atonement, is rightly known as “Provision & Possession”, something he clearly was not taught at the Baptist seminary he attended…. so Unconditional Election it sadly is that drives his doctrine, that God handed out forgiveness to all, but most land up in hell regardless…
If people land up in hell with the their sins forgiven, then God is unjust. Isn’t it fact that heresies always affect God’s character somehow? Because people only ever land up in hell because of unrighteousness, which is sin.
… in certain aspects I would imagine, it would be best to stick to the doctrine of Welsh Ale and Dragons…?
“But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” ~ 2 Corinthians 4:2
Who knows that one gets different types of alcoholics?
One would think alcoholics don’t/can’t work because they’re always inebriated. Not true. There’s the functional alcoholic who can and does work.
I have (had) a few alcoholics in my family, all who have been functional, it’s just that they were unable to function without alcohol… as opposed to not being able to function at all.
I am of the opinion that something really bad must have occurred in peoples’ lives for them to use alcohol as a coping mechanism. In my family it was wrong choices in marrying the wrong people and not having the courage to undo it all. I have firsthand experience of what that does to families. The children take tremendous strain and suffer into adulthood because of it, and most of the time they also turn to alcohol in order to cope.
There are quite a number of saved functional alcoholics that I know of – one can clearly see it in the manner in which they speak and in their general mannerisms, and of course, by some of their topsy turvy doctrine, but most of all, one can see it it in their shamelessness which they call their “liberty in Christ”.
If one is so naive as to think that some do not read the Bible when they’re “filled to the gills”, one is sadly mistaken. It is cold fact. One gets all types out there, unfortunately. It doesn’t mean that if one is saved that life hasn’t negatively affected one in some way.
With alcoholics, it’s always a laugh or joke a minute… it’s their way of hiding the hurt and inability of dealing with the harsh reality that is their lives – past or present.
Today, sadly it’s either drugs or alcohol or even both which people cannot live without. I see it every day, I experienced it as a child through various family members, I know the signs….. a person’s demeanour and language are a dead give away….
I currently live in the Western Cape Province which is the drug capital of South Africa. For the first time in my life I am seeing the harshness, cruelty and destruction caused by drug and alcohol abuse. Meth addicts walking around with open, weeping sores on their bodies, marijuana users who are totally out of touch with reality….. alcoholics who make out as if their lives are great (when they clearly aren’t).
There are a lot of people out there who are hurting…. people without hope, people who think the solutions to their problems are found at the bottom of a bottle….. or many a bottle…. that is.
Saved people who do not know who they are in Christ, who are men pleasers, these are normally the reasons for the alcohol and drug dilemma in the body of Christ.
Sometimes (as my late father professed), one has to burn one’s fingers to learn a lesson in life, so unfortunately one has to leave some to their own devices, because they are ignorant as to how life works.
Alcoholics and drug abusers not only abuse themselves, but others too. It’s a sad, sad situation…… truly it is.
“Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.” ~ Proverbs 31:6
Time and again I think of how great it would be to fellowship with ALL Saints, but alas, we do not speak the same things because we do not believe the same things. We do not speak the same language, so to speak.
How can one possibly be expected to have anything to do with saved people on the one hand, who believe and venomously propagate a subtle form of Calvin’s Unconditional Election and Acts 28 theology (everyone’s sins are forgiven but not everyone is saved and Paul only preached to Jews and Gentiles that were nigh in his pre-prison epistles), and on the other hand, there are those who hold to and preach Kenosis.
It’s a minefield out there. These are major issues. As a Saint, one does not lower the bar, one rather raises the bar, irrespective of judgment and condemnation.
This blog is a Unconditional Election – Two Sendings of Paul – Kenotic Theology – Acts 28 theology free zone.
Why do I say “everyone’s sins are forgiven, but not everyone is saved” falls under the banner of Calvin’s Unconditional Election? Because they believe God doesn’t send people to hell for their sins, but rather as He deems fit, that’s why, according to their thinking, people go to hell with their sins forgiven….
Unconditional Election is comprised of two different types of grace, one of which is of no consequence (everyone’s sins are forgiven: as if it matters or makes a difference, as the vast majority of people land up in hell anyway), and the other, which is activated by faith when one believes one’s sins are forgiven….. is this making any sense……?
It’s complicated….. like most doctrines of devils are….. unlike the simplicity that is in Christ. Why believe one’s sins are forgiven, if they’ve already been forgiven? Because they cannot be unforgiven.
Another thing, imagine those from this dispensation landing up in hell with their *sins forgiven* and meeting those from previous dispensations who are in hell because they died in their sins…. does this, would this make God a just God?
It’s like doing something for one’s child, which is of no consequence, and totally pointless. “I have taken away the very thing which stops you from being bad, but I will still punish you anyway….. I know you think what I’ve given you is great…. but you still have to tow the line….. and will only be good when you believe it…. or else….”
The god of Calvinism is not the God of the Bible! The vast majority of Right Dividers believe and spread major heretical doctrine, so one must be careful of who one associates with and what books one reads.
And yes, there ARE actually people out there who believe this stuff – plenty.
“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” ~ 2 Corinthians 11:3
Who knows that certain things in life are provided for all men, but not all men take advantage of these things?
God provided the way through Christ for the forgiveness of mankind’s sins, but most men reject God’s provision for same.
The reason why most people reject Christianity is because they are told they have to work themselves into heaven with good works, which they see as hard work or too much work.
The reason why the vast majority of religionists accept Christianity is because they believe they can control their own destinies by working themselves into heaven. They are convinced that having faith in their rotten flesh is all it takes to please God.
Yet, God’s provision for one’s sins is still on offer today, after almost 2000 years of Christ having died for them, the same Christ who was buried and rose again on the 3rd day.
The law of faith is in operation today. All it takes is faith in His finished work on the cross for one’s sins and His resurrection from the dead, to be saved for all eternity.
“To declare, I say , at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” ~ Romans 3:26-28
To my mind, there’s a good reason why God gave us a book (The Bible) and not a video camera with countless videos, or even a DVD player or iPod for that matter.
He expects us to read (study) to become WORKMEN… to think…. not to rewind, replay and become parrots.
Ever considered why the majority of people out there are lost? They do not like reading… particularly the Bible…. and if they do not read it, they definitely do not study it….. if they did, they would question the contradictions of Paul’s epistles in comparison to the Hebrew epistles…. if they were honest, that is… if they could be honest with… themselves.
Most who do read the Bible, read it in the context of what they’ve been taught at Bible Colleges and Seminaries, or in relation to notes handed out to them by their Assemblies, or in line with videos or audios they have seen and heard. On the contrary, the Bible needs to be read in context to 2 Timothy 2:15, which is the way God intended.
Videos, audios and notes are fine, they are tools used for preaching the gospel of Christ, but they cannot and should not replace the reading and personal study of the Bible… because God never intended for us to be students, rather his goal is for us to be workmen.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, A WORKMAN that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” ~ 2 Timothy 2:15
The word “by” is a preposition, used to identify the agent, which in this case would be the Cross with which an action was performed, which indicates the means of achieving something, and in this instance it is Christ’s death for our sin.
By = action, achievement.
“And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:” ~ Ephesians 2:16
If Paul used the word “at” instead, it would have a different meaning entirely, expressing the location or time where the action or achievement took place, that is at Calvary, almost 2000 years ago.
It is Christ’s achievement on the cross which matters and is important because it is what saves one’s soul, not the time and location of the deed, this is why Paul uses the term “by the cross”, and not “at the cross”.
“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” ~ 1 Corinthians 1:18
“To declare, I say , at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” ~ Romans 3:26
If men could work themselves into heaven, then God wouldn’t be just, as men could, and would boast of themselves, besides, what would be the yardstick in this instance by which God measures Man’s entry into heaven?
Would it be a person who has done 50% good works throughout their life but forgot to repent of a few sins? Would this be fair on another who accomplished 80% good works and did not forget to repent of any sin? Where would God draw the line concerning who gains access to heaven and who doesn’t?
If Man could save himself or maintain his salvation, what would be the minimum stipulated requirements in order for it to be fair? Besides, man in this instance would also get all the glory, not God.
Man needs justification to gain entry into heaven. How would he begin to justify his natural, corrupt, sinful and fallen state to a holy and righteous God?
The only fair way in which God can save mankind and pull him out of the quagmire of sin (which prevents him from standing before a holy God), is by way of God’s imputed righteousness through faith alone in Christ’s finished work on the cross and resurrection.
With God’s imputed righteousness, man boasts of God and His accomplishment on the cross, and all the glory goes to Christ the Saviour.
“Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” ~ Romans 5:9
“But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” ~ Romans 4:24-25
The unfortunate status quo of the majority:
“For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” ~ Romans 10:3
Why does one need to submit oneself to the righteousness of God?
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” ~ Romans 3:23
If one is a sinner, one unfortunately is unrighteous….. and clothed in one’s own righteousness….. in this scenario one does or attempts to do good deeds or works to make oneself righteous in order to please God for him to allow one into heaven when one dies.
People clothed in their own righteousness believe good people go to heaven and bad people go to hell; others believe they are saved by God’s grace but still attempt to try and please Him in order to remain saved. This is not salvation, nor is it God’s grace, but rather a lifetime of self-imposed probation, the quality of which is solely dependant on one’s own behaviour and good works. It is not God-based nor God-given righteousness.
A summary of one’s own righteousness:
“Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,” ~ Romans 1:29
Is faith ALONE in Christ’s redemptive work on the Cross and His resurrection sufficient though to save one’s soul?
“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” ~ Romans 4:5
“For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.” ~ Romans 4:13
Summed up, if one has faith in the gospel of Christ, the word of reconcilation, one has become righteous, one is righteous…
We are living in a time, an age where God is currently declaring His righteousness, not our own with respect to salvation:
“To declare, I say , at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” ~ Romans 3:26
It is solely Him who justifies. It is impossible to justify ourselves by way of our good works.
“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” ~ Romans 4:5
“Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:” ~ Romans 3:22
Hence the reason why Paul calls those who believed the gospel, “Saints”, as they have been justified by God, and thus can no longer be called “sinners”, “the ungodly” or even “unrighteous”.
“But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;” ~ Romans 3:21
Salvation is NOW presented to mankind through the faith of Christ, dispensed to the Apostle Paul.
Romans to Philemon, rightly divided, because we are not saved by the faith of Christ according to the law dispensed to the 12 as stipulated in the synoptic gospels or Hebrews to Revelation.
The time is now, not past tense, nor future tense. Now.
Just as God dispensed various gospels throughout the ages whereby men’s souls could be saved during specific dispensations, so too does the devil have various gospels to circumvent the salvation of men.
During this dispensation alone, the devil has many different gospels. There’s the prosperity gospel, the repent and be baptised gospel, the confess one’s sins gospel, the change one’s lifestyle gospel, the turn back to God gospel….. to name but a few….
Christ paid for everyone’s sins on Calvary’s Cross, thus the solution to everyone’s sin has been provided, even to this day by the Cross.
The devil emphasizes one’s sins, but conveniently ignores the Christ provided solution for those sins.
God’s good news for this current dispensation is simple faith in how that Christ died for one’s sins, was buried and rose again on the third day.
Salvation is one’s receipt of the provision God made for one’s sins on the Cross.
“For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” ~ 2 Corinthians 11:4
TIMES PAST & TIMES TO COME – DISPENSATION OF THE LAW:
Broken off, do not enter into his rest, damned, condemned, experience the wrath of God .
“Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:” ~ Romans 11:20
“And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.” ~ Hebrews 3:18-19
“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” ~ Mark 16:16
“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” ~ John 3:18
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” ~ John 3:36
“He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.” ~ 1 John 5:10
NOW – DISPENSATION OF GRACE:
Indignation, wrath, tribulation, anguish, destruction.
“But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;” ~ Romans 2:8-9
“Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.” ~ Ephesians 5:6
“Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.” ~ 1 Thessalonians 2:16
There is no unrighteousness in Him. God is perfect.
“To shew that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.” ~ Psalm 92:15
Man’s unrighteousness will eventually result in God’s wrath.
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;” ~ Romans 1:18
The majority of men love the wages of unrighteousness.
“Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;” 2 Peter 2:15
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” ~ Romans 6:23
What is unrighteousness?
“All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.” ~ 1 John 5:17
All men have been concluded under sin, therefore none are righteous.
“What then? are we better than they ? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” ~ Romans 3:9-10
If one does not realise it by now, one must be blind and deaf: Communism is taking over the world and seems to be unstoppable, and is putting an end to the way of life as we know it and turning the world into a Mad Max scenario.
What has happened and is currently taking place in America, Namibia, South Africa, Europe, Venezuela, even Botswana will eventually take the world right into the Tribulation.
There’s a tide of hate which is flagrantly anti-minority and pro-socialism which despises the current western lifestyle….. and its Christian values, and there lies the crux of the matter…… which means there will no longer be, not only freedom of speech, but no freedom to practice one’s religion….
That in turn means more people landing in hell for eternity….. after all, that is the whole idea, it’s the devil’s motive.
One needs to ask oneself, why now are the screws being tightened on western values and on the Judeo-Christian qualities of the western lifestyle? Some people will say, “because the devil knows his time is near”, but does he, since it’s only God who knows the times and seasons?
The world is by no means improving socially, spiritually or morally, it’s actually in a downward spiral. Now put advanced technology in the hands of reprobation…. big brother is coming to a city near you, where the Bible will be outlawed and preaching the gospel will be anathema.
Tell anyone they’re a sinner in need of a Saviour and it will be hate speech and defamation of character, especially Romans 1, 2 and 3.
The last days of Paul’s ministry were perilous times as he was thrown in jail, persecuted, then executed. The last days of this dispensation too will be encompassed with perilous times.
There’s a pattern: if Paul suffered for preaching the gospel, so too will those who choose to follow him as he followed Christ according to Romans 16:25-26.
Call anyone a homosexual, or even a male or a female….. you will be, you’re already toast…. to my mind, the only Bible which will be permitted will be a twisted and politically correct one which fails to mentions the negativity of homosexuality, does not include any reference to gender and downgrades the deity of Christ.
The only solution is to be saved. Believe the gospel of Christ alone for your salvation ~ 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” ~ 2 Timothy 3:1
“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.” ~ Romans 6:16-20
1. The natural man who disobeys God is a servant of sin.
2. But when he obeys from the heart (believes) “that form of doctrine which was delivered you” – the gospel, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 4:5,; Ephesians 1:13
3. Then only is he made free from sin, simultaneously
4. made righteous and has therefore become a servant of righteousness.
Paul says in verse 20, when one is a servant of sin, one is free from righteousness. Upon believing the gospel, one’s sins are replaced by his righteousness when one believes he died for all those sins and rose from the dead.
The ability to become a servant of righteousness isn’t accomplished by one’s own performance, it was accomplished by Christ’s redemptive work on the Cross and his resurrection, so all one has to do is believe it.
One can, however, read and believe the abovementioned verses differently due to one’s unbelief, stating Paul was referencing the flesh, but –
No flesh can possibly become free from sin, no matter how hard one tries to control it or keep it in check. We are all living proof of that.
Servants of sin = clothed in one’s own righteousness
Servants of righteousness = possessing God’s righteousness.
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” ~ Titus 3:5
Take full advantage of God’s mercy while it is still on offer….. one never knows what tomorrow may bring.
Could someone please be so kind as to categorise all the clothing, shoes and accessories out there that are racist, so everyone can know not to wear them in future.
It will be of great help, thank you, as well as prevent further inanity, save time and everyone’s sanity.
If one didn’t know the wearing of certain clothing could be racist, well, now ya know. One learns everyday…. we’re not talking military uniforms or KKK garb, we’re talking fashion here….
Who coulda thunk a Pommie pith helmet worn in Africa in days gone by, when regurgitated, could cause such a raucous? Don’t people have better things to do with their lives?
Colonialism, slavery, et al, are all part of history, build a bridge and get over it?
You are…… for saying this, but here goes….
“Make America great (depression) again…”
Please note: I do not support any political party out there, nationally or internationally.
It’s just that most, if not all gubberments out there are turning their countries into Globalist loving Banana Republics…. but as long as the money is flowing freely and people can buy what they want….. no-one cares…
There are many roles for women in the ministry, like teaching children for instance (boys up to the age of 15 years) as well as other women. The role of a woman just isn’t that of a Pastor-Teacher.
There is a huge difference between getting people saved by the preaching of the gospel and standing and teaching them from a pulpit and calling oneself a Pastor and having AUTHORITY over men.
One can measure the Baptist tendencies in some who go to the extreme of forbidding women to wear jeans, pants or shorts, or even forbid women to cut their hair. Bottom-line: One cannot dictate another person’s personal preferences.
Their version of women keeping silent in the church also adds up to women keeping silent when abuse (emotional, spiritual, mental or physical) rears its ugly head and women are expected to submit to that too since it is dished out by their husbands….
Once upon a time there was (and still is) a Baptist preacher who claims God has nothing to say about a husband being physically abusive to his wife. He claims, the Bible is silent on the matter, yet legally speaking, Family Law calls it “family violence”….. and God has plenty to say about violence…… look it up….. what some Baptist pastors condone, God hates.
Generally speaking, a women is saved IN childbirth (not by it) from the cruelty and evil of the world. Her role is to bear children, but at the same token, she is definitely not saved from the world in being in an abusive marriage either. Which brings me back to the Baptist minister or ministers who see divorce as the unpardonable sin and excommunicate those from their Assemblies for not towing the line in submitting to their abusive husbands. (Such excommunication of course, being a blessing).
Divorce is a big deal in Baptist Assemblies because they kow-tow to Israel’s levitical law. Put bluntly, they are religionists who are trying very hard to please God by their own performance.
Today, in the 21st century, when there are no men to do the teaching (as is the case in certain cities, towns and countries), a woman can teach men up to a certain point, that is…. meaning once the men are competent, she chooses the strongest one (doctrinally speaking) and he takes over the reins from her.
It makes me wonder how come some Baptist Right Dividers (identified as such due to their beliefs) call all women who spread the gospel of God’s grace, “teachers”. “How come there are so many women teachers these days?”, they ask…. not realising the difference…
It is the calling of each and every single Saint, male and female to spread the good news. Hypothetically speaking, if there aren’t any saved men in China to preach the gospel, only saved women, are they to keep silent? How would men in China, for that matter, be saved then?
I find it strange how Baptists still expect most women in this day and age, in this current economic environment to be stay at home moms and wives, and in so doing put women on a tremendous guilt trip for holding down a job and helping to support their families.
If one’s family was starving and in need of basic necessities, would you as a woman still prefer to be a stay at home mom, or would you look for a job?
I’m of the opinion that 1 Timothy 2:12-15 are the verses abusive men twist and use to put women down.
“How to shut a woman up and make her tow the line in one easy step” : 1 Timothy 2:12-15, ripped out of context, of course. As far as they’re concerned, women are not allowed to have an opinion or disagree with their husbands on certain issues apart from the ministry.
I might sound like a feminist, but I am far from being one, if anything, I am a realist.
It would be nice though, to be 100% in line with God’s word concerning one’s Christian service as a woman, but life on this planet in the 21st century regrettably dictates otherwise…. so….. suck it up buttercup.
“But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.” ~ 1 Timothy 2:12-15
The role of saved men in this dispensation reflects Christ and His authority, and the role of saved women reflects the church, His body.
On first inspection the US economy is in robust good health with strong growth, investment and retail sales figures. Having slashed the rate of corporate profit tax from 35 to 21 percent at the beginning of the year, billions of dollars of cash held offshore have been repatriated. By one estimate the rate of growth recorded between January and April was 5 percent on an annualised basis – the strongest since 2003 – though, the latest official figure was just 2 percent.
The dollar has been strengthening in the expectation that the Fed will continue to increase interest rates, as it has already done seven times since 2016. The Dow Jones Industrial Index, as we know, rose by 25 percent last year, hitting record highs on 70 days in 2017. Gains have been more attenuated this year though the tech-oriented NASDAQ is up around 7 percent.
Yet there is a red light flashing. The US Treasury bond market yield curve has gone flat again. The difference in yield between 2-year and 10-year Treasuries was down to just 27 basis points on Wednesday (11 July) – the same as it was in 2007. Analysts are pointing out that a flat or inverted yield curve has preceded all nine US recessions since 1955.
Of course, correlation is not causation. The flat yield curve could suggest that the institutional players who dominate the US Treasury market lack confidence about America’s medium-term prospects. But it could also have something to do with the fact that the US Treasury Department, under Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin, has been borrowing increasingly at the short term end and rolling over these issues at maturity.
In the credit markets, JP Morgan recently revealed that the yield curve on the overnight index rate swap (the rate at which corporate customers can swap floating rate liabilities into fixed rate ones) was inverting (i.e. trending downwards) at the 2-year maturity point. Some commentators regard this as an omen of recession because it suggests that the Fed will have to cut rates two years out in response to an economic downturn
For a landlubber such as myself to be living at the coast is heaven even though the 65km north-wester made hamburger meat of our gazebo. The poor gazebo was solemnly laid to rest amidst all the other rubble two days later. R.I.P, you served us well on many a scorching day… arrivederci…
I remember the trip down to the coast last year in July, it was mid-winter and our first stop was at a place called Henley-on-Klip. A “one horse town”, and the horse died….. probably from pure boredom……. meaning they roll the sidewalks up at 7pm and all the lights are turned off…… in English speak they would call such a place a sleepy hollow.
Onward we drove until approximately 3pm and decided to overnight at a guesthouse in a place called Winburg. Dunno what could have been won, but it sure as heck was depleted, whatever it was. There was absolutely no “win” in the burg that I could see. If one thought Henley was doggone boring, ya should see Winburg…… the horse didn’t even feature… he probably ran away, and who could blame him?
The guesthouse was located on a sand road, and apart from that, we had to smuggle the Yorkies into the room…. why do Yorkies always bark when they’re not supposed to? “No, that’s not my dog barking in the bag I can assure you, I’m innocent, don’t look at me like that…. I know nuthin’….”
Story of my life: “We don’t allow dogs here because they poop and piddle everywhere”. Tell that to someone who is bone tired and hungry, so the decision was made, ” in the bag ya go, Yorkies”, yap, yap, yap, yap…
I should write a thesis on “How I turned into a dog smuggler”.
That night my electric blanket didn’t work and it was freezing, so I left the heater on and everyone was in seventh heaven, suitably warm and toasty. Two Yorkies were comfortably stretched out like two strings of spaghetti, where else but on the bed…. “you don’t expect us to slum it on the floor, do you?” they asked, giving me a dirty look.
The following morning after a breakfast of burnt eggs on toast (the “stove thingy” only had one temperature setting and didn’t work until the pan was placed on the plate, eureka! I managed to figure this out after 20 frustrating minutes – take pan off, stove goes off, place pan on, stove goes on… what the……), we set of once again, next stop Bloemfontein.
“Bloem” means “blossom” or “flower” and “fontein” means “fountain”, so literally it means a “fountain of roses”, but alas, there ain’t no fountain of roses to behold. There was once upon a time, but they died, probably of old age. The place is dry and cold in winter. We spent two nights there in a guesthouse, two nondescript nights that is.
Monday morning we were on our way again, and drove until 5pm and were approximately 120km from our intended destination, but decided to stop over at a guesthouse in Uniondale as the sun was already beginning to set.
This time the Yorkies were given legal admittance into what was one of the most sterile looking rooms I’ve ever encountered. After buying dinner and drinking all the complimentary tea and coffee available, (it’s free!) we settled down for the night.
The next morning, after paying our money, we were summarily “dismissed” by the owner’s grumpy husband because “we were taking too long” in exiting his wondrous establishment, and in so doing we were preventing his staff from cleaning the room on time, he might as well have said – “leave before the dogs piddle and poop all over the carpet”. Check out time was 9am. The clock said it was 8am. It’s amazing what effect two tiny dogs have on some people… so Annie said, “Take that Mister!” and piddled on the holy grail which so happened to be his carpet… oi vey…. talk about Yorkie revenge, ya ain’t seen nuthin’ yet…
Off we went, through wondrous mountain passes and farmlands, awestruck at the beauty which surrounded us, stopping at a farmstall to buy snacks, then made our way through the majestic and breathtaking Outeniqua mountains…… 40km in the distance lay the azure sea…
They say due to ageing, mature people do not look the same, but with the advent of editing software, NO-ONE will ever look the same anymore…
When people require Christ to have faith (faith and faithfulness are not the same) they are diminishing the truth found in Christ.
~ Justin Johnson
I am convinced that no matter what one is addicted to, it’s all the same. Addiction has the same symptoms, be it to coffee, cigarettes, booze or drugs. People who are given over to addiction cannot live without their “crutch of choice”.
They are slaves, and slaves have masters which rule over them. I cannot see myself being ruled over by a packet of cigarettes, a can of beer or a bottle of wine. I do not have an addictive personality.
I am thankful I do not have any chemical masters. I can live without tobacco, caffeine, alcohol, or any other chemical or ingredient that “helps one cope with life”.
When one is saved and one learns and matures, eventually one is changed from the inside out, as opposed to religion which dictates a person must change on the outside for the world to see.
Let God’s word strengthen the innerman in order for it to control the flesh.
Dare to be different.
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” ~ 1 Corinthians 3:16
When traveling around, one can find oneself in the weirdest of places which so happen to fly under the auspices of holiday resorts…….. yeah, holiday resorts…….. pfffff….
“Pet friendly”, I’ve come to realise, means, “We allow pets, but we are as grumpy as Scrooge on Christmas Eve”. Their line of thinking is, animals aren’t the ones who steal the shower heads, damage the property, get drunk or gossip about others, kapeesh?
“Pets allowed by prior arrangement”, means their visual assumption of someone’s Rottweiler cross Labrador is that it’s as old as the hills, so it must be as meek as a lamb and won’t hurt a fly”…… yep, looks can be deceiving, old doesn’t necessarily mean decrepit… it’s more like an enraged galloping bull on steroids going in for the kill…. did someone say “old”?
“No pets allowed”, means the ” holiday resort” management are Neanderthals who hate anything with fur, feathers or scales. They quartered and hung up Dr Doolittle to dry a long time ago….. animals are meant to be eaten, not molly coddled.
“Experience the raw beauty of nature” in most instances means the ablution facilities are suspect, the staff are downright rude and management have perfected the art of being invisible. The scarlet pimpernel can definitely learn a few lessons here. Yep, they aren’t kidding, it is pretty raw….. raw on the nerves.
But ya pays ya money upfront and deals with whatever comes ya way, be it good, bad or ugly… put it down to experience and fight off the urge to give most a one star rating on the internet….. because most people have already done so, so one more won’t make as much as an iotas difference…. as after having seen the 20th bad rating it’s quite obvious, and plainly stated, “the place well and truly sucks”.
Yet, to my mind, one never loses in these instances as they give one something to talk and laugh about one day when one is old and gray….
Life is one huge learning curve. The day one stops learning, one dies, both mentally and spiritually.
I believe one can even learn from something as inconsequential as trees. Does that make trees, teachers?
Man learns from every experience, from every person, from every situation, from everything and everyone he encounters. He just chooses to either take note of what he has learnt (apply it) or to ignore it. Man learns good things…… bad things….. useless things…… good habits….. bad habits… superficial things….. excellent things…… useful things…..
Man has choices in life.
What one should realise is that what one chooses to believe today, will have eternal consequences… that means forever.
Eternity is too long to deal with regret.
“For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” ~ 1 Corinthians 1:21
Such a cutie pie💖
If Paul still had the gift of healing when he wrote 2 Timothy, why didn’t he have compassion on Trophimus and lay hands on him like Benny Hinn and Churchianity who claim to have this gift, even today?
“Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.” ~ 2 Timothy 4:20
The following verses are proof that Paul’s ministry was progressive, and that once the mystery was revealed in its entirety, the sign gifts (which were given to Paul and the body of Christ) ceased:
“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” ~ 1 Corinthians 13:11-13
Now: “For now we see through a glass darkly”
Then: “But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” 1 Corinthians 13:10
Truth be told, if the sign gifts were still in effect today, hospitals and insane asylums would be empty, why, they wouldn’t even exist. There would be no need for doctors and psychiatrists.
Today faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross for our sins and his resurrection remains, as it is the only hope we have of eternal life, it is the charity we live by in order for the lost to have the same hope as we do….. by the preaching of, as well as having faith in the gospel of Christ….
The sign gifts (that which was in part) gave way to the full revelation of the mystery (that which is perfect).
Praise Him forever and ever.
Strange thing about those who criticise ‘ism’s’ is that they believe in some form of ‘ism’ themselves, like Pentecostal-ISM, Dispensational-ISM, Hindu-ISM, Method-ISM, Athe-ISM…..
It’s not the ‘ism’ at the end of the word that matters, it’s the belief contained in the word attached to the ‘ism’ which counts….
If one believes Covenant Theology, which summed up, is the belief that the church, the body of Christ began in Acts 2, and that speaking in tongues, and signs, wonders and miracles are in effect today, it means one is a Pentecostal……. and unarguably makes one an adherent to PentecostalISM, even though some deny it because they ignorantly refuse to be labeled, but people are identified according to their beliefs, whether one likes it or not…..
People and things are labeled for the simple reason that they require to be identified and analysed.
If it croaks like a frog, then it is a frog.
The Jews were labeled and categorised as Sheep and people of The Way. The body of Christ is also labeled or known as the One New Man.
Labelling and categorisation doesn’t necessarily make something or someone bad.
It simply identifies the belief……. we are labeled and categorised our entire lives: men, women, male and female, children…..
We can see the non-identification or refusal to identify things and people now being forced upon us by generation Y and Z who do not want to be categorised as males or females…..
Are we all to become nothing, having no God-given identity because of a few who see shame in being identified as Mid-Acts 9 Dispensational Right Dividers because of how others who label themselves as such behave?
Why would they in essence then want to be identified with Paul who was arrested and thrown in jail, labeled a criminal, who was also complicit in murder when he was a Rabbi known as Saul?
I can honestly say I am not ashamed to be identified as a Mid-Acts Dispensational Right Divider, nor am I ashamed of being associated with the Apostle Paul.
God’s grace is the reason and makes the difference.
As a matter of interest…. the purple house behind the cross is inhabited by Americans because the back window of their truck has the confederate flag emblazoned on it…..
Don’t attack personality, people or their character.
Attack their doctrine – beliefs.
and….
walk away from people who see merit in men (teachers), instead of the doctrine they uphold and teach……
I am a dispensationalist, but there is a shelf in my office dedicated to books that oppose dispensational teaching. They are from the other side of the doctrinal aisle.
It is good to be aware of your weaknesses, and the best way to identify them is by listening to those who disagree with you.
There are good and bad arguments against dispensationalism and I want to know what they are. The shelf does not get very big, because there are not many good arguments. Most are bad.
Here are some of the worst. Hopefully, this will save you time and shelf space.
Bad Argument #1:
Dispensationalism is false because [Darby/Scofield/other dispensational teacher] is a bad person.It is common to attack the man, but all this achieves is injury toward the man’s reputation not his teaching. When the man is dead his teaching still exists.
When you read this type of argument you are reading someone who thinks there is merit in following men and is not responding to the doctrine. Personal attacks are not worth your time.
David was an adulterer and a murderer. Peter lied. Paul put disciples of the Lord in prison. John the Baptist, Jesus, Paul, and many other Bible teachers were arrested as criminals and executed. So, what?
When you hear an argument attacking the man save your time and move on until you meet someone who is wise enough to deal with the doctrine.
Bad Argument #2:
Dispensationalism is false because there is no proof for the rapture.The rapture of the church has been popularized into a sideshow for many books and movies, but it is not the key idea behind dispensational doctrine.
As soon as you hear this argument you have identified someone who is ignorant about dispensational teaching. Turn around and walk away, they cannot help you.
Yes, most dispensationalists believe in a rapture, but if this is the depth of someone’s understanding of dispensational truth, then their grasp is so superficial that their argument will fly away before the church does.
Bad Argument #3:
Dispensationalism is false because it is new.A variation of this bad argument is to combine it with the first one: “Darby invented it in the 19th century”. (See above. Darby is dead, and all that remains are ideas.)
As time goes on this claim becomes more and more silly. Teachings foreign to scripture should be warned against. This argument turns bad when it does not refer to the teaching at all, but to its historical popularity.
According to this inane argument, only ideas that have had widespread historical appeal should be considered true, not those that have widespread appeal at this time in history. This is the argument of historical losers.
We are now two hundred years past the 19th century, but wasn’t the Protestant Reformation new 500 years ago? Newer still are the Presbyterian and Lutheran denominations. Have there not been any new developments in Covenant Theology since its popularity in the 17th century?
How then do we know what is truly new? Answer: by comparing it to scripture, not to historical popularity. Has it been compared to the scriptures yet? Truth is determined from the scriptures.
Truth can be uncovered, forgotten, restored, and our understanding developed. Uncovered truth is not new.
Perhaps it has been there all along, and it is only just now being nailed to the door of old dead wrong tradition.
Knowing the Good from the Bad
How do you know if an argument is good or bad?
Good arguments correctly identify the dispensational target, and take shots clearly at the doctrine. Bad arguments wrongly identify the teaching and attack the men or institutions teaching them.
Good arguments are rare and a pleasure to read. They can challenge and help refine your understanding. Bad arguments are abundant and a waste of time. When you see them, walk away.
Your time is better redeemed fighting the good fight, not getting stuck in the foolish fervor and fallacy of bad arguments.
~ http://www.graceambassadors.com
In some places merely mentioning the word revival will draw out a few excited shouts.
(Amen!)
It’s hard to say revival without a little jump and an exclamation point.
As in, “We need revival!”, “Let’s pray for revival!”, or “There’s a revival in the land!”
Revival. ~definition. n. A movement of the Holy Spirit that imbues a large group of people with greater desire for God, music, or faithful tithing. Normally accompanied by miraculous signs and tongue talking, which can be replaced with gospel singing and spitting preachers among the Baptist. (Dictionary of the Christian Language, first edition.)This word entered the Christian vocabulary by evolution. Like all evolutionary processes, what started out as a simple thing mutated over the course of time, and with the help of Bible ignorance, became what it is today: a mess.
Revival in the Land
In the Biblical sense, revival most always refers to the return and blessing of Israel according to their covenants.
God promised Israel a land, a mighty nation, and a blessing. When Israel lost these things they prayed for God to revive them to their former glory.
“For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, … to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.” – Ezra 9:8-9
It is a failure to rightly divide between Israel and the Church that drives people to pray for revival in our land according to Israel’s covenant with God.
The Church of God does not have a promised land, and Paul says that we have been raised to sit in heavenly places (Eph 2:6-7).
Revival of the Spirit
Since modern revivals always seem to require a move of the Spirit in people, the most popular prooftext for revival in the Bible is Pentecost.
“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” – Acts 2:4
If only we could have the Spirit fall on usas at Pentecost, then the Church would have a revival, they say.
The pouring out of the Spirit was a specific fulfillment of prophecy about Israel’s kingdom, and not related at all to the church the body of Christ (Joel 2:28, Isa 2:2).
The Spirit Already Moved Us
A nation of priests operating under the law in a temple on a Jewish feast day would be a terrible pattern for the Church.
Today, once the gospel is believed the Spirit indwells the believer until the day of redemption.
“…after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession…” – Eph 1:13-14
We no longer need him to move us once he places us into Christ where we receive all spiritual blessings in heavenly places (Eph 1:3).
If someone prays for a move of the Spirit, it may be they are ignorant of where the Spirit has placed them.
True Revival
Modern revivals create a lot of excitement which fades again in a short time.
When the pattern for modern revival comes from covenant Israel and ignorance of the mystery of Christ, it is no wonder they do not last long.
People cannot live without right doctrine. Revival meetings are the only way people with wrong doctrine can stir up enough emotion to feel alive.
Eternal revival of men’s souls happens today when faithful men learn the word of God rightly divided.
When men learn right doctrine, and are able to teach others also, people come alive never to die again (Gal 2:20, Rom 6:2-4).
While others wait for revival, let God’s workmen open the Bible and learn that God has already given us everything we need to be complete in Christ (Col 2:10).
Tell most lost people out there they are a sinners – they get offended.
Tell most lost people out there they are in need of a Saviour – they get offended.
Most do not want to be told they’re lost and hell-bound as they are of the opinion that Man is inherently good and is capable of fixing himself.
The preaching of the gospel offends, generally speaking, it is an offence to Man’s self righteousness and independent nature sans God, the Saviour.
Man’s pride won’t allow him to admit he is hellbound sinner, and that he needs to believe the Lord Jesus Christ provided the solution to his sinful condition.
“Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?” ~ 2 Corinthians 11:7
If you do not have a Bible, you can download one on the Google Play Store on your phone, or alternately on your computer.
Do a search for “Tecarta”, it’s free and you can access it offline.
“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.”
~ Ephesians 1:6-12
“In [Paul’s] writings alone we find the doctrine, position, walk, and destiny of the church.” – Dr. Cyrus I. Scofield†
Mid-Acts dispensational Bible study recognizes the importance of the mystery of Christ revealed to the apostle Paul as doctrine particular to the church in the present dispensation (Rom 16:25, Col 1:25-27, Eph 3:2-4).
While most Bible students would make the most important division in the Bible to be between Israel and the Church or the Old and New Testaments, mid-Acts Bible study teaches the most important distinction in your Bible to be the right division between God’s Mysterypurpose, “kept secret since the world began”, and God’s Prophecy purpose, which had been “spoken since the world began” (Acts 3:19-21 vs. Rom 16:25).
Understanding the mystery of Christ revealed to Paul for us clears up the theological confusion that is created by blending Prophecy and Mystery doctrines. Some controversial doctrines resolved by Pauline right division include:
Jesus instructs us to identify Paul as our pattern (1 Tim 1:16; 1 Cor 4:16; 1 Cor 11:1). A failure to operate according to the Lord’s revelations to Paul often leads to frustration with denominational traditions, including:
If you have been confused by some of these doctrines or frustrated by empty Church tradition, consider the Lord’s revelation to Paul and get some answers (2 Tim 2:7).
Basic teachings of Mid Acts Dispensational right division
– Jesus, in his earthly ministry, ministered to the circumcision. (Rom 15:8, see here)
– The mystery of Christ was first revealed to Paul (Col 1:25-26, 1 Tim 1:16, and here)
– Prophecy and mystery are different (Acts 3:19-21 vs Rom 16:25)
– Peter and Paul taught different messages (Peter prophecy, and Paul mystery: See here)
– Prophecy has been interrupted. (See here)
– The gospel of the kingdom is not the gospel of the grace of God (See here and here)
– Israel’s Church and the Church, the body of Christ, are different. (See here)Further study:
Common Responses to mid-Acts dispensational right division.
Contradictions resolved by mid-Acts dispensational Bible study.
What is the Mystery information?
What is the Prophecy information?
FAQ – Frequently asked questions about mid-Acts.
Where on earth have I been?
The use of marijuana for personal use has been legalised in South Africa, so one can smoke it, eat it and grow it now without breaking the law….
Makes one realise that the current legalisation of drugs and hallucinogenics will escalate and have a tremendous affect in a future end-time scenario like the Tribulation.
Don’t tell me marijuana doesn’t make one hallucinate, as I have had experience of it in my younger, foolish days. Breath enough of the stuff in and it does exactly that.
I despise the stuff, or any drug for that matter. Drug abuse sadly, is for people who cannot cope with the ugly reality of this evil world. As if breathing in second hand cigarette smoke isn’t bad enough, now one has to contend with the aroma of marijuana….. it’s disgusting…..
I’m of the opinion that once marijuana has been legalised, as it has been, the legalisation of other drugs will follow suit, to the obvious detriment of the minds of men, after all, it’s where the spiritual battle rages.
Never did I think this would all happen in my lifetime. I was a kid once upon a time, growing up without a care in the world, a world which still had some semblance of justice, sanity and morals.
The one thing that stands out to me in today’s society is the obvious lack of shame. People just don’t have shame anymore, it’s a free-for-all, anything goes world where everything is relative, including the truth.
By all intents and purposes, this is a blog and I am an amateur blogger. I have never claimed to be a Pastor, nor a Preacher, neither a Teacher…. nor a Scholar for that matter….. I simply do not have the experience, nor the qualifications, besides, I am not a man…..
I blog about my beliefs, I also blog about this present evil world as well as others’ beliefs.
I like to analyse things, especially spiritual matters and doctrine pertaining to the church the body of Christ. I have never been interested in politics, but if something grabs my attention such as the long-term negative effect Trump’s bull market will have, not only on America, but the entire world… then yes, I might blog about it…. sometimes, all is not what it seems….. I believe all politicians and leaders of this world are puppets of Satan, irrespective of how godly and conservative they seem to be.
“Take one’s Bible to school” day is right up Satan’s alley. What is the point of the whole exercise if it’s a perverted bible and it’s not rightly divided?
It was always my desire to understand the Bible more than anything else in the world, and that prayer was answered when I obeyed Paul’s command in 2 Timothy 2:15, which is the key that opens the Bible to God’s plan and purpose for the ages… thereafter, things were never the same again.
It is, however, my calling as a Saint to convey, promote and tell everyone how that Christ died for their sins, was buried and rose again on the third day in order for them to be saved as women are not exempt from receiving heavenly rewards such as silver, gold and precious stones one day.
The verse liberals use to justify women teachers and preachers:
“[28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
One of the verses used to justify replacement theology:
[29] “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
~ Galatians 3:28-29
Universalists believe everyone’s sins are forgiven, yes, but do not believe people go to hell with their sins forgiven…. in fact they do not believe anyone goes to hell, nor do they even believe there is a hell for that matter….
Warped doctrine held in certain Grace circles is as old as the hills, there is nothing new about it. It might be new to you, but it definitely isn’t new, it has just been regurgitated, promoted, repackaged and has a new label.
What Paul encountered during his ministry, is what we’re encountering today in this respect.
The preaching of the cross is an offence, and Satan’s lies and deception serve to overcome the offence by preaching false gospels which promote self righteousness as far as denominationalism is concerned, or totally disregards sin as far as Universalism and Calvinism are concerned.
“And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.” ~ Galatians 5:11
There are more flowers to be seen this year as the drought has been broken. Yesterday was an absolutely magnificent day, the sea looked like glass and there was a smoky haze over the mountains. At last, long, hot, hazy days are now the order of the day. This is a winter rainfall region – a lot like the Mediterranean.
We have the second most temperate climate in the world after Hawaii – so I am told….. but one would at times never be convinced of this, as when the wind howls, it really takes the cake, and being a born and bred landlubber, I kinda hate wind as I come from a place where the wind hardly ever blows…..
One can discern between people who were born here and those who are out-of-towners, purely by their posture….. the locals are bent over and lean forward from the wind….. even some of the trees here are like that….
We had such a huge storm a few weeks back, that the sand dunes disappeared and the mouth of the estuary widened. A battle seemed to rage between the waves and the wind which was blowing in the opposite direction.
We do not have four distinct seasons over here. Autumn is rather non-descript and feels more like an extension of summer. Neither do we have colourful leaves falling off trees, most are just pale yellow and brown, and are mainly from exotic trees. Indigenous trees are evergreen. Naturally this area consists of evergreen forests, where ranking and creeping vegetation intertwines to form “monkey ropes”.
The strange thing is, we also have several days of summer during winter too – known as berg wind conditions, a phenomenon which occurs along the cost over an area of 800km, where temperatures soar well over 30°C. I enjoy it as there’s nothing better than basking in the heat during winter… I see it as a bonus – a gift.
The average maximum temperature for winter is around 20°C, although this past winter has been colder due to more cold fronts blowing in from the South Pole, which means we had more rain. We have been freezing at 17°C…… yikes!
People who live in hot climates have thinner blood than those living in colder climates….. hence the reason those with thin blood ” almost die” when they encounter colder temperatures than what they’re accustomed to. When one acclimatizes, ones blood either thickens or gets thinner, depending on the climate, then one isn’t affected so much by it anymore. The higher the temperatures, the better.
Bring it on.
“And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.,” ~ 2 Corinthians 11:14
People are surprised to learn that the area where Satan is most active and prominent today is behind the pulpits of mainline assemblies, hence the reason he is called an angel of light, light meaning spiritual awakening or the opening of one’s spiritual eyes… religion….
He even has his own ministers, and to the untrained eye, they seem to be very nice, upstanding and good people. The Bible calls those standing behind pulpits who do his will, “ministers of righteousness” because they preach works or performance based gospels of “do, change, repent and pray” in order to obtain and maintain salvation.
So, does it come as any surprise that those who do charitable works, repent of their sin, pray to God to save them, forgive them or have mercy on their souls, that they are seen as good people – righteous people – by the world?
“Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” ~ 2 Corinthians 11:15
His ministers preach false gospels to keep souls in darkness. Lost men and women with corrupt minds cannot discern between a light bulb that has been turned on and shines in the darkness and the sun shining where no darkness exists at all – so is the comparison between the light of Satan’s false salvation and the light of the glorious gospel of Christ.
People are even more surprised to learn the devil is also present in the very assemblies where the word rightly divided is preached and taught.
For Saints, he has the same modus operandi. He works through saved people who have become enemies of the cross who twist scripture, the end result being a distinct lack of edification; no spiritual growth; lifelong babes in Christ; defenceless warriors.
There is so much milk flowing in Grace assemblies, that one can be forgiven for thinking one is on a dairy farm….
Satan even has his own Bibles, namely the NIV, Amplified, New King James, New American Standard, etc, etc, etc – there are far too many to name them all here. If it isn’t an Authorised King James Bible, it isn’t a Bible period. Isn’t it par for the course for Bible correctors to call King James Bible only believers “devils”? It goes without saying, the spirit behind it is clearly obvious….
It has always been Satan’s agenda to corrupt or twist God’s words.
“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” ~ Genesis 3:1
Arminianism, Calvinsm, Methodism, Roman Catholicism, Baptist assemblies, Church of Christ….. et al – all denominations, once again, too many to mention here, are all Satan’s religious assemblies which serve only to confuse, give false hope, keep people tied up in rituals and traditions – working to obtain salvation.
When I see how most Grace Assemblies resemble Baptist assemblies, it sickens me… while another larger Grace Assembly in particular is nothing but a mainline denomination because of what it practises and preaches…. both have one thing in common though, they “Play Church”. The baking of cookies, cakes and scones, instead of the preaching of sound doctrine is seen as a labour of love…..
The fact remains : One is not preaching sound doctrine if one is promoting and preaching a subtle Calvinist coated gospel….
Grace Assemblies who preach Calvinism (everyone’s sins are forgiven before they are even born (God’s common grace), while only people who believe the gospel are saved (God’s special grace) should be avoided…..
Calvinism which so happens to be rife in Baptist assemblies…. is preached by Grace teachers who were once Baptist preachers and probably still are…. now….. this is how Satan works during this current dispensation……. subtle….. hardly noticeable…. not questioned….. for the simple reason that what these men preach sounds good – and right – besides, they are some of the most even tempered people on planet earth….. friendly and accommodating….. how can nice people who do so much good, be so wrong?
Most people out there look at the person – the vessel, instead of looking at and taking notice of what comes out of the vessel….
“……The reason it is not a sin issue is not because all sins are already forgiven, but that forgiveness is available to all. The issue is only if they will receive it through faith in the gospel of Christ. If your family is starving due to lack of food and I provide a ton of groceries on your front porch, you no longer have a food issue, but you are still starving until you open the door and cook the food – i.e. you must receive it by faith that it is yours. Without faith people die in their sins… and people only ever go to hell because of sins, otherwise God is unjust. (Again, the calvinistic mind has God electing people to go to hell due to his unconditional election, so hell is just an option, sins or justice not being necessary.)”
“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” ~ 2 Corinthians 11:3
One can by no means repent, rue or pray oneself into the book of life. It is solely through faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross and his resurrection that one’s name is written in it.
“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” ~ Revelation 20:15
ALL religions out there preach (self) righteousness can be obtained by works of the law, whereas the Faith of Christ dispensed to the Apostle Paul, preaches God’s imputed righteousness through faith in Christ’s finished work on the Cross and His resurrection.
“For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” ~ Romans 10:3
How to submit to the righteousness of God: Believe the gospel of Christ alone for one’s salvation. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
My grandchildren, Born on 25/8/18. A boy and a girl.
💕Proud granny💕
Soon I am going to be like my “old man” and take up fishing as a hobby and see how much patience I really do have, sitting beside the seaside virtually the entire day waiting for a fish to bite….. wonder if I could manage to sit still for that long……… I know absolutely nothing about fishing, all I know is that I could never chop off a fish’s head and gut it, I’d be too grossed out.
I’d much rather be on a hiking trail though, so much more to see. I have a tendency to walk rather than jog these days, but the wind has put paid to that today – it’s howling at approximately 50km. We’re situated approximately 400km east of the beautiful city of Cape Town, and if the wind blows there, it blows here…… great…… it’s just started to rain too…… but on the bright side of things, tomorrow will be a perfect day again. That’s coastal weather for you – one day absolutely splendid, and the next absolutely rotten and totally unpredictable.
The things I have accomplished and can tick off my bucket list thus far are:
1) Live as close to nature as possible for as long as I want.
One down, and counting…. hahaha.
I am at odds, wondering if I will ever be able to live a normal life once again in suburbia with paved sidewalks and concrete walls…… doing what normal people do – living predictable 9-5 lives. The routine of suburbia bores me, and I often wonder how people can live for years in the same house, in the same suburb, in the same city/town. I admire them because I used to move often when I lived a normal 9-5 life in a city and had a normal job.
It’s windier this year, and we’re getting more rain compared to last year, and it isn’t good for outdoor living. It makes one long for home comforts….
The cliche, “how time flies when one is having fun” is so true, this year flew by and I cannot believe the silly season is yet upon us again so soon, when most will predictably be bringing out their Baal bushes and decorating them and worshipping another baby Jesus instead of the ascended Jesus according to the revelation of the mystery (Romans 16:25).
The solution to boring 9-5 living is to get away quite often to nature and the wild for as long and as frequently as possible. The best of both worlds. It makes me think of those insufferable coffee shops where suburbia congregates on Saturday and Sunday mornings in particular, to watch the world go by. Why watch the world go by when one can watch nature happen in all its glory and splendour? I see whales along the coastline almost every day, I see Seals, I see crabs, all sorts of interesting birds, and I meditate on the beauty of God’s creation.
By the time Starbucks arrived in South Africa, I was thankfully already AWOL from big city life and I do not miss the so-called benefits of living in a city. I’m not a coffee drinker for one reason: it gives me migraines because it is a CNS stimulant. When I smell the aroma of coffee in the air it reminds me of pain and nausea.
I have come to many new conclusions during my hiatus in the wild:
1) Utter refusal to mingle with people who obviously do not want one in their lives for whatever rhyme or reason. Move on.
2) If one is hurt by the spitefulness of others due to their wrong perceptions and the bearing of false witness – let it be. The wheel turns. Move on.
3) If people do not want to change their erroneous beliefs due to pride, and after several warnings, move on, after all, how many times can one flog a dead horse?
4) Playing mind games is futile and a waste of time.
5) What one puts in, one gets out. One reaps what one sows.
6) Be original, there are far too many duplicates out there.
Life isn’t a competition to see who has the best house, job, family, car, and so forth, we weren’t put here for any of those shallow reasons, we were put here to decide our own eternal destiny.
Who and what do you trust to save your eternal soul?
Tyke, aka “ChiChi”, the 2kg Yorkie who so happens to have tons of chutzpah, by the way, had us in dire straits yesterday morning….. there was a ton of blood in his stools… yet ” attitudanly” he seemed fine – still wagging his tail and barking….. ?
It didn’t make any sense……
It’s amazing what truth unfolds and comes to light when one remembers that one’s cherry flavoured and cherry coloured chewing gum which one left on the bedside table one night ceremoniously disappeared into thin air, along with it’s packaging….. that was more than a week ago…..
I had been searching high and low for the stuff…… now we know what happened to it…… the evidence of the crime has come to light as cherry coloured blood in the stools, ha!
Poor blighter, gum, when swallowed causes constipation and a sore stomach as one’s colon is impacted, so he must have suffered, but since he is so cheeky….. one couldn’t tell, he was just very restless at night.
Moral of the story:
If Yorkshire Terriers were bred to sniff out rats in clothing factories, they will sniff out all and any food, and if it’s not put away, a midnight snack will ensue. Yorkies will eat anything – sweets, fruit, veg, chips, popcorn, chicken bones – you name it, they will eat it.
So after a dinner of chicken and rice to settle his stomach, the 2 kilogrammer lives to play and bark another day…..
*Happy*
The Apostle Paul says to WORK OUT one’s OWN salvation with fear and trembling, which does not mean one is left to figure out how one is saved, like a science experiment where people come to many different conclusions and all so happen to be right, meaning one person believes Acts 2:38 is the gospel, another believes 2 Chronicles 7:14 is the gospel and so forth….
God’s salvation isn’t a gamble where one believes and does what one thinks is right and by doing so, takes one’s chances……
If one does not believe dispensational truth, it can be dangerous, not only by way of handling poisonous snakes and drinking poison today, but also by believing the wrong gospel which can damn one’s soul to an eternity of hell in the lake of fire.
Once one is saved, one is told by Paul to work out one’s salvation, aka running the race, aka one’s service to the Lord. There is a huge difference between working out one’s own salvation with fear and trembling, and working for one’s own salvation with fear and trembling….
If one is saved and is under the impression that one need not fear the Lord, think again. How will one fare at the Judgment Seat of Christ knowing one led people astray with one’s very own rendition of wrongly dividing the word of truth as a Saint?
Contrary to popular belief, being in heaven won’t consist of “Let’s Cuddle a Moment” politically correct sessions, nor will there be countless ongoing “Let’s Ask Jesus and Paul ” group sessions. Instead, and to begin with, one will ceremoniously have one’s tail feathers set alight and be ashamed, especially those who turned back to the weak and beggarly elements of the law. (Galatians 4:9).
As a Saint, one can lie, deceive, manipulate, back-stab, gossip, ridicule, reject people for telling the truth and bear false witness, but it will all be laid bare at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” ~ Philippians 2:12-13
One is justified by the Faith which the ascended Christ revealed to the Apostle Paul:
“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” ~ Galatians 2:16
One is saved by grace through faith alone:
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” ~ Ephesians 2:8-9
We were alienated from God by sin before we were saved:
“And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled” ~ Colossians 1:21
“Unto”, as opposed to ” by”:
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” ~ Ephesians 2:10.
Saved – not according to our works/works of righteousness:
“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,” ~ 2 Timothy 1:9
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” ~ Titus 3:5
“© Audrey Henry” is a default setting on my posts. Wherever something has been copied over, credit has been given to the author thereof below the article.
The most amazing statements on salvation by grace without works in the entire Bible are found in Paul’s epistles. What liberation it is for sinners to learn that God offers salvation freely by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ (Eph 2:8-9; Gal 5:1).
There is nothing you do to deserve or earn salvation from God.
Nevertheless, there are a few Pauline passages that repeatedly trouble new believers as to whether their sins can negate what God has given them by grace.
For the religious minded fruit inspectors 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Ephesians 5:5-6, and Galatians 5:21 become tests of salvation, and when you fail the test one of these explanations is given:
“You were never a Christian in the first place.”
“A Christian would never do these things.”
“Faith without works is dead.”
“You need to repent and get right (again) with God.”
Not Tests of Salvations
Let’s be clear. If these three passages are talking about conditions or qualifications for salvation then there will be no one but Christ in the kingdom of God.
A look at the wide scope of sins mentioned in these passages disqualifies all but the self-righteous in their own delusions.
It would also mean that your salvation by grace is not through faith, but through your continuance in doing good works the rest of your life. This described salvation under Israel’s covenant relationship, but not in this dispensation of grace (Mark 13:13; Lev 18:5).
No, these passages are not tests of salvation or membership in the body of Christ.
Not Conditions of Inheritance
To avoid the obvious problem with making them tests of salvation, it is sometimes suggested that these three passages put conditions and qualifications on your inheritance, blessings, or levels of glory in heaven.
While it is true that the work of the saints will be judged by Christ for reward or loss, these passages can not be referring to that either.
1 Cor 6:10 says that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom, it does not say they will not have as many rewards or will “suffer loss” as does 1 Cor 3:15 at the judgment of the saints.
Eph 5:5 makes it clear that those sinners do not have “any inheritance”. It is not lesser inheritance, but any inheritance at all. This would be contrary to Eph 1:3, Eph 1:18, and Eph 3:6 that describe the saved having “all spiritual blessings”, “the riches of the glory of this inheritance”, and as being “fellowheirs” according to the mystery.
While these passages are surely intended to condemn wrong thinking and actions among the saints, they cannot be referring to believers who have been promised an inheritance by grace even if we do suffer loss for poor workmanship at the judgment seat of Christ.
A question remains. Why is Paul warning believers about what happens to unbelievers who are living in their flesh?
Understanding Your Position
Something often overlooked in Paul’s instructions to the saints is the difference between our position and our condition. It has also been referred to as our standing and state, salvation and service.
Your salvation, standing, or position in Christ is received by grace through faith. This new position in the body of Christ has changed your identity, that is, who you are.
You are no longer a sinner, but a saint (Rom 5:19). You are no longer in Adam, but in Christ (Rom 5:17). You are no longer a servant of sin, but a servant of righteousness (Rom 6:17-18).
This new identity is like the job title you are given on the first day of work. You have not done any work, but you have been given a new identity, you sit in a new position.
What would happen if on day two in your new position you were doing your old job and not your new one? No doubt, your boss would remind you that you no longer hold that position, and need to do the work becoming of your new position.
Whether or not you are operating according to the privileges, benefits, or description of your new position is called your condition, service, or walk. It concerns your performance in Christ.
All three troubling passages are trying to correct the performance, walk, or service of believers by reminding them of who they are and who they are not.
“Remember your position. Remember who you are, not who you were. Walk according to who you are now in Christ.”
Knowing your position will put these trouble passages in the proper perspective. Let’s look at each one.
Trouble Passage #1) 1Corinthians 6:9-10
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither … shall inherit the kingdom of God.” – 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
This is very clear that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Though you had been in the position of an unrighteous person before you were saved, you have now, after trusting the gospel, been made the righteousness of God in Christ by grace through faith (2 Cor 5:21).
Notice the verse right after the troubling passage which distinguishes what the Corinthians were with what they are now in Christ.
“ And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. “ – 1 Corinthians 6:11
They were unrighteous, but now they arejustified and sanctified. What they were was not what they are now in Christ, and it had nothing to do with their behavior. The reason Paul condemns the unrighteous is that the Corinthians were acting like them as if it were acceptable behavior in their new position.
“Stop doing unrighteous things. That is not who you are anymore! Those things are condemnable.”
Trouble Passage #2) Ephesians 5:5-6
“…hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.“ – Ephesians 5:5-6
What a terrifying verse, and rightly so! Sin deserves all wrath, and the wrath of God is revealed upon all sinners (Rom 1:18).
The question remains are you a child of disobedience or not? Is that your title? Is that your position?
The religious minded would have you believe that if you disobey, then that means you are a child of disobedience. That was the case under the law, but no longer under grace. Now, you can be justified by grace through faith in Christ without works and without the law. This is the mystery of Christ!
Notice the verses immediately following the condemnation of the children of disobedience.
“Be not ye therefore partakers with them.” – Ephesians 5:7
Don’t partake with them? Who are they? Not the saved Ephesians. But why?
“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light…” – Ephesians 5:8
They were children of disobedience and darkness, but now they are changed. They have a new position in Christ! Every saved member of the body of Christ is a child of light, and Paul teaches them to walk according to their new job description received and secured by grace without works.
“Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called” – Ephesians 4:1
Trouble Passage #3) Galatians 5:21
“…that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” – Galatians 5:21
Like the previous two passages, knowing your position puts this troubling passage in context as well.
The Galatians had received the Spirit and salvation through faith, but they were being persuaded to walk under the law. There is a difference between living in and walking in. There is a difference between position and condition.
The Galatians thought the only way to avoid the condemnation of sin after salvation was to go back under the law, but the law brought condemnation. Paul exhorts them in the better way, “Walk in the Spirit” (Gal 5:16).
“But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” – Galatians 5:18
If they were truly saved by grace through faith, then they do not live in the flesh, but in the Spirit and not under the law.
If there is one thing we cannot be condemned for under grace, it is the work of our flesh. The power of the law to condemn the flesh was removed when it was crucified with Christ (Gal 2:20; Gal 5:24; Rom 6:6; Rom 7:4).
The admonition Paul gives the Galatians in chapter 5 is found in Gal 5:25:
“ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
But how do you know if you are walking after the Spirit or after the flesh?
They could tell whether their flesh or the Spirit was winning the war for their walk by what comes out of them. The works of the flesh were manifest, and are condemned by God. The fruit of the Spirit is where there is no condemnation (Rom 8:1; Gal 5:23).
If the Galatians received the Spirit by faith, then they lived by the Spirit. They needed to walk after the Spirit in order to bear the fruit of the Spirit. Any attempt to walk under the law would strengthen their condemned flesh, bring condemnation, and manifest the condemnable works of the flesh.
Conclusion
These passages have troubled grace believers for a while and it is time to set them at rest. They may be difficult but not impossible. There is no reason to sacrifice the riches of God’s grace by neglecting to remember who you are in Christ and how you were saved.
Don’t forget who Christ made you, and how that was possible. It is the cross of Christ that did all the work necessary for your salvation, and the power of the resurrection of Christ that guarantees you a heavenly place with Christ.
The response to sin for the believer is to stop living like who you were, and start living according to who you are in Christ by faith.
Now it is our duty to live up to the high calling we have received freely through Him.
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Copied over from http://www.graceambassadors.com
Being from the part of the world that I am, I have never experienced extreme weather conditions the way some do in other parts of the world.
The worst for me was more or less two weeks ago, when a “massive” cold front moved in with wind speeds as high as 65km and I thought that was the pits, so I cannot begin to imagine what wind speeds of 175km (110mph?) are like, especially in tandem with torrential rain… I cringe at the thought and my heart goes out to those who are currently in the throes of Hurricane Florence.
Did I hear someone say hurricanes have grown in size because of global warming? Hurricanes have their beginnings in the Sahara desert in north Africa, so the hotter the temperatures are there, the bigger the hurricanes will be.
Since the Sahara desert lacks industry and development (for obvious reasons), I find the global warming excuse inane. Deserts are meant to be hot, besides, other factors influencing the size of hurricanes are weather patterns over the Atlantic ocean. It seems “half of the water” in the Atlantic is sucked up and is then ceremoniously poured out with rage when a hurricane makes landfall.
I have often thought about how I would cope in such extreme weather conditions, fact is, I wouldn’t. I cannot handle snow (experienced it in Canada). Long, cold winters would be my nemesis for sure, so I’m not sure how those who emigrate take to shovelling snow and dressing to the extreme in winter, as I found it to be a constant pain in the nether region.
When all is said and done, hurricanes aren’t God’s judgment on America, they are simply a phenomenon of nature. Today God isn’t pouring out His judgment on the world, He is pouring out His unmerited favour instead. His gift for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life is currently on offer, all one has to do is receive it in faith, namely, how that Christ died for one’s sins, was buried and rose again to justify one in the eyes of God (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 4:25; Ephesians 2:8-9).
This is the reason why weather patterns are unpredictable, earthquakes happen and bad things happen to good people:
“For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” ~ Romans 8:22
Simply put: We live in sin cursed bodies, in a sin cursed world, so don’t let your spirit be cursed to everlasting destruction too – get saved by believing the gospel of Christ today.
© Audrey Henry – 14 September 2018
This isn’t my definition, please note, but it is a good example of the word ‘peaceably’, which many confuse with ‘peacefully’:
To say that something has been “peacefully enjoyed” means that people have enjoyed it while being peaceful, ie quiet, calm etc. To say that it has been “peaceably enjoyed” means that people have enjoyed it in such a way as to avoid creating any conflict.
In order for Saints to live peaceably in the countries they were born, they are to pray for their leaders, all men and kings, ie., Presidents.
Saints should not create conflict, especially not with those in authority. Our calling isn’t to challenge worldly or social causes or governments, but rather, as we already know, to preach the gospel of Christ and to edify Saints.
I know some see all world leaders as puppets of the NWO, but it’s not our battle or war to fight. We are no longer children of disobedience, nor are we children of wrath who have an ungodly mind, a worldly agenda.
“Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” ~ Ephesians 2:2-3
© Audrey Henry – 13 September 2018
When someone claims that the earth being a sphere is a lie, in order to blind the masses to God’s creation….
Truth be told, people who believe in swamp gas and big bangs, have a problem with God and his existence, irrespective of the shape of things, and quite frankly I couldn’t care less whether it’s flat, round, oblong, square or hexagonal as it’s not my home, I’m an Ambassador here, so feel free to make of it what you want.
My home is in heavenly places, so I’m not going to spend valuable time arguing about this stuff, nor am I going to push it down people’s throats.
It don’t matter therefore I ain’t gonna propagate the agenda, kapeesh?
“Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” ~ Ephesians 3:5-7
© Audrey Henry – 13 September 2018
Sometimes…. at times… one cannot see the wood for the trees although the truth is staring at one from the pages of the King James Bible…..
What is the answer to political turmoil and unrest in this present evil world?
The answer of course, is prayer.
“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” ~1 Timothy 2:1-2
Please note: there are no exclusions, therefore, it includes liberals…. and those leaders one doesn’t like very much…..
© Audrey Henry – 13 September 2018
Whilst some are eeee-moo-aieouing, otherwise known as Bible Greeking themselves through a Bible written in middle English, others are wrapping or tying themselves up in tin foil…… some even theorise (is there such a word?) about love, as well as spreading it in order for one to live one’s best life now a la Joel Osteen style “as there is absolutely no love in doctrine, schmoctrine”….. (a lot find Pauline truth “too harsh” for their “miracle every moment” spiritual mindsets, because there are no spiritual blessings in earthly places, miracles, signs, nor any wonders today).
And while all of this is happening…. people are going to hell for eternity.
Saint, where do your priorities lie?
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” ~ Philippians 3:10-11
© Audrey Henry – 13 September 2018
The banning of straws and running shoes, not to mention the burning of flags and how two tall buildings and another small building imploded 17 years ago are none of our business as Christians in this world……
On the contrary, our business is to see souls saved and Saints edified. If we were doing our jobs, or that which we are called to do less people would land up in hell. Food for thought.
I do not apologise for being totally unconvinced by “research” which poses as a Facebook meme and has a questionable source, besides, what would be the point of arguing “who, when, what, how” in hindsight? What’s done is done. I don’t believe in regurgitating the past from a worldly point of view because it gets one absolutely no where.
I don’t care much either whether the Pope wears a dragon emblem, holds a satanic stick or chants 40 hail Mary’s every day. It’s of no consequence to me, so I’m not going to waste my time researching it. I already know this world is evil, and lost people do the devils work, that much is evident. The question remains: How do we change this? The answer is evident from the word of truth rightly divided.
What concerns me a lot are those who call themselves Christians who are more concerned with the buildings, shoes, flags and straws of a dying world than the lost souls in that dying world.
“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” ~ Ephesians 5:15-16
© Audrey Henry – 13 September 2018
9/11 conspiracy theories…….. a snooze a minute. It’s amazing what people can come up with…… When I read conspiracy theories, I am always left wanting….. because I always get the sneaky feeling some people have a propensity for very tall and convincing stories.
Does it matter why the buildings came down? What matters is: how many of the victims were saved? Some people went to work like it was just another day, others boarded aeroplanes like it was just another trip…. only to find themselves eternally in a place they never wanted to be….. a place they cannot escape from.
I was a lost person at the time, my belief was, that if any of them believed in God, they had entered heaven on that day.
Don’t ignore death. Get saved before you enter into eternity.
© Audrey Henry – 12 September 2018
If you can supply me with scripture where Paul says the following, I will have a change of mind concerning my beliefs:
We are sheep.
We are justified by faith plus works.
We must endure to the end.
We can lose our salvation.
We are spiritual Israel.
We are blessed with all spiritual blessings in earthly places.
We must do good works and repent of our sins to obtain salvation.
We must do good works and confess our sins to maintain our salvation.
© Audrey Henry – 12 August 2018
We do not do good works in order to be saved, we do good works because we are saved.
The Saint’s ultimate goal concerning his/her work on this planet apart from getting people saved by preaching the gospel:
“Let all your things be done with charity.” ~ 1 Corinthians 16:14
© Audrey Henry – 12 Sep 2018
Doesn’t anyone else out there besides yours truly find it odd how LOVE always seems to be the convenient trump card of those who want to manipulate others into submission to their skewed doctrinal beliefs? This type of LOVE is also known as AGREEING TO DISAGREE.
So who and what are the victims of this kind of LOVE when all is said, done?
Biblical-Dispensational Truth which was revealed by the ascended Lord Jesus Christ to the Apostle Paul so happens to be the main victim of the Cult of Personality, and it therefore goes without saying that the secondary victims are the undiscerning men and women who judge according to personality and performance, and not according to doctrine.
“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” ~ Ephesians 4:14-16
Paul contrasts the speaking of truth in love with spiritual immaturity and being tossed about with every wind of doctrine, and he also equates truth with love….. Conclusion: no truth, no love.
When is a Bible verse a half a verse? When it is separated by a semi-colon and one only quotes the part before or after the semi-colon.
© Audrey Henry – 12 September 2018
If the King James Bible is written in what some state to be the equivalent of Grade 8 English, why can these same people not identify figures of speech, namely, metaphors and similes which are present throughout the Bible, especially in the Old Testament, while others who so happen to be English Teachers, Greek it in order to understand it…….?
It’s an enigma.
©Audrey Henry – 12 September 2018
Christ did not die for our sins in order for us to live our best lives in the here and now (an average lifespan of just 70 years) in the flesh…. in this world…. nor did he die for people who could achieve righteousness by way of the their own accomplishments or personal merit, that is, repenting of the very sins that were imputed to Him on the Cross. The good news is that it’s already been done, salvation has been sorted, yet most do not believe it…. so sadly they try to unburden themselves of their sins throughout the course of their lives on this earth in order to please Him, in order for Him to save them….
But He died for their sins, he was buried and rose again from the dead in order for them to live their best lives in eternity, reconciled to Him. Yet on the contrary, and erroneously, most churches out there preach that He died in order for them to be blessed materialistically in this world. The truth is – He came to save their souls, not to make them rich in the flesh……
No matter who you are, no matter what you have done, no matter where you’re from, if you believe Christ died for all of your sins, was buried and rose again from the dead, you ARE saved and your eternal destination is heaven.
Trust what He did for you.
“We then, as workers together with him , beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)” ~ 2 Corinthians 6:1-2
© Audrey Henry – 10 August 2018
Here are the reasons why I do not preach easy believism and cheap grace:
Faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ’s finished work on the Cross for one’s sins, his burial, and resurrection alone does not come easy to most, if it did, the entire world would be saved…. but it isn’t, so why do some call faith alone in Christ’s finished work alone, easy believism?
Total trust in the Lord Jesus Christ amounts to believing that which He accomplished on the Cross, without one’s personal input in any form whatsoever, that is, without one adding to Christ’s finished work, namely, good works, adherence to traditions and rituals, continually asking God for the forgiveness of one’s sins….. or even asking Jesus into one’s heart, not even the repenting of one’s sins…..
Whatever needed to be done to save one’s eternal soul, has already been done…… by Christ alone……. on the Cross….. so all one needs to do is rely solely on His accomplishment, on His Crosswork….. not on one’s own performance, merit or accomplishment…..
The grace I preach is God’s grace, it isn’t Man’s fallible and fickle grace (if you rely on people and their version of grace, you are going to be disappointed time and again). High expectations in men = great disappointment.
We were bought for a very high price on the Cross when Christ died on the Cross and shed His precious blood for us, as opposed to the cheap man-made version of being saved by some preacher in a building called a “church”, or in a marque where one has to walk the aisle (a work), or one has to pray a sinner’s prayer (a work), change one’s mindset or lifestyle (a work), or repent of one’s sins (a work) – all are man-made doctrines, and all do not pertain to salvation in any way.
Faith in Christ’s finished work on the Cross and His resurrection: in these 11 words are eternal life and God-given reconciliation.
God paid the price in order for us to be saved. His grace is by no means cheap.
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9
© Audrey Henry – 10 September 2018
Believing the gospel of Christ.
How that Christ died for your sins, was buried and rose again on the third day. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (paraphrased).
Sweet. Short. Simple. Real.
© Audrey Henry – 7 September 2018
Why Paul went to the Jews first and immediately thereafter, using Acts 13 as an example, went to the Gentiles, was to provoke the Jews to jealousy….
“They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.” ~ Deuteronomy 32:21
“But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.” ~ Romans 10:19
“If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.” ~ Romans 11:14
Reason: in order for some of them to be saved.
Today, God is the God of all men, not only the God of the nation of Israel.
© Audrey Henry – 7 September 2018
We started a “road trip” officially more than a year ago. It’s a slow, leisurely one for a very good reason,and thus far, we’ve lived in three different towns….. I said it was slow…. didn’t I? At times, it is stressful, yes. Some days one isn’t sure if one will have to board a ship or race to safety beyond the borders of this country.
I do not live my life in a vacuum, nor am I a slave to mainline media who treats it’s readers and viewers like mushrooms. Most who live in cities do not have a clue as to what is happening in this country. Their heads are firmly entrenched in the sand. Snowflakes and liberals do not know, nor can they identify what (social) Marxism is and religious nuts on the other hand are praying for the”healing of the land”….. it is a truly crazy, messed up world we live in.
As I am a very private person and do not put my PRIVATE life on display as many others do….. so a lot make narrow minded assumptions about me. I’m not one for posting photos of every meal, field trip, new dress, new pair of shoes, new car and new place on social media like some do out there – and to prove what? That I have a life? Absolutely laughable…… where I come from that’s seen as uncouth and not being used to anything in life. We call it “niks gewoond” (and it’s a big joke). In a nutshell it amounts to boasting, whichever way one looks at it, and I find boasting a tad uncooked – raw…….. like denominationalists who boast about their own righteousness….
Oh yes, and I became a granny on the 25th of August this year. Twins. A boy and a girl. Like millions of others, I’m a granny…… not unusual at all…… perfectly natural.
The factors limiting our trip at the moment in this country are politically motivated riots, uncontrolled looting, the burning of trucks and motor vehicles (even on the highways), the stoning of same, violence – so, all-in-all, concern and overall, general safety for oneself, one’s family, and one’s property is THE major deciding factor where one will find oneself these days in this country. One cannot get into one’s car anymore like one could in the past and drive where one wanted without as much as a second thought, one is now forced to sign up to WhatsApp groups in order to receive warning messages of no-go areas that are to be avoided at all costs otherwise one becomes yet another government statistic in a crooked office somewhere….
It goes without saying that we have met a lot of people, some really great folk, and others who are downright rude and nasty – which goes without saying – that’s life, and I accept it. It’s like Facebook hahaha…. only you can’t block them and make them disappear at will. The most interesting “people” we’ve met so far is a husband and wife team who so happen to be Cape Geese, who we have named, Doris and Morris. Their antics have given us much entertainment. Then there are the real life couples like Frans and Colleen, Vincent and Poppy, Chris and Karen, and a few others whose names I cannot remember, like the couple from Cape Town….. real people caring people…..
It’s been raining consistently over here since Friday night and it’s only forecasted to let up this evening (Saturday). I’m having withdrawal symptoms already. I need sunshine and warmth desperately…. I cannot live without constant sunshine…. it’s an African thing… one can virtually cease to exist without lots of sunny, hot days….
So what have I been doing while it’s been raining and pouring, while the “old man has been snoring”? For one I’ve decided travelling is for the birds…. I’ve lived in far too many places in my life….. and haven’t settled down….. since I’m not getting younger (goes without saying), the time has come for this old mama to call it quits and get a house, even if I have to do it with a sawn off shot gun and a semiautomatic rifle as defence. As someone said, ” I’m getting too old for this……” Ya know what I mean?
When all is said and done, it sometimes is still interesting though to see what the microcosm of the world, that is social media, believes, says, does and thinks, especially when the weather is bad, especially when one is restricted to a mini mobile home and the ablution block is 100m away…. and it’s raining cats and dogs…. hahaha. The absurdity of social media serves as temporary fun and laughter when one is restricted by wind and rain.
I must say, I now know what a ” guy rope” is, how to pitch a tent in a jiffy (as I’ve assisted others), I know all about tent pegs, 65km gusts which make fodder of two man tents, the ocean roaring in my ears at night, making countless fires, eating eggs and bacon outside at sunrise on “the porch”. Why, I am THE expert when it comes to outdoor living hahaha, and I’ve been called certain things because I know and do a lot of “masculine” things, like putting up a gazebo singlehandedly, for instance, and not screaming like a girl when encountering spiders, instead, I merely take my flip flop off and whack them to death with a sigh, not even giving it a second thought….
It seems I’ve sorted my gall stone problem out too with Virgin Coconut Oil, lemon juice and apple…… and I trust it stays sorted… because I preferably choose to avoid Quackdom (doctors) like the plague. I have yet to meet a doctor who doesn’t think he/she is a god.
So far there have been good days, bad days, nondescript days, boring days, exciting days…. sleepy days, dang hot days, long days when the sun only sets at 8:15pm….. and BBQ days which are my favourite.
Of course, we are limited to where we can stay as not all places like or accept two cheeky, spoilt rotten teacup Yorkies with large attitudes. I’m convinced that certain people need an attitude adjustment, not my dawgs. Yorkies at least talk to you and tell you what they want, they aren’t double-minded. ” Yap, yap, yap – mom I want water, and please don’t give it to me in a bowl, please pour it in my cup, I like drinking my tea and water from a cup, yap, yap, yap”. Yorkies know what they want, that’s why I like them.
When all is said and done, it beats the humdrum of a 9-5 life any day. I have not worn make-up in ages, neither high heels, nor have I titivated since grandpa fell off the bus. I’ve become organic….. free range…. flip-flops, jeans, ski pants and hair which hasn’t seen a blow drier in months…. and no, I do not look like the wicked witch from Eastwick (or wherever).
Now tell me again, who is it that has a life? And if I get the dates wrong on my posts, it’s because I don’t keep track of time anymore…. don’t have a watch and I am too chilled to check……. who cares anyway? So stop making assumptions about my life because I don’t brag on Facebook, Twitter and,,, and,,, and,,,….. stop putting me into the limited area that so happens to be your mind, as I do not, fortunately, live in the confines of it.
©Audrey Henry – 7 September 2018
If things could change, would you risk walking a mile in the Apostle Paul’s shoes?
Could you live in constant danger of your life?
Would you risk visiting South Africa and living on a farm?
If not, why not? After all, if the violence, murders and torture are not true, there’s nothing to fear, right? So why don’t you? After all, the proof of the pudding is in the eating…. you won’t know until you tried it….. current statistics state that being a farmer in South Africa is more dangerous than an American soldier fighting in Iraq. Just one thing though to consider before putting on your Rambo outfit: you aren’t allowed to shoot home invaders immediately when they come into your home – according to the law, there are other things you can do first to protect yourself, like pressing a panic button for the armed response… like locking yourself into a room…… like escaping and finding help….. and last, but not least, showing them “love” by convincing cold blooded brain washed Marxist murderers not to slit your throat or shoot you execution style between the eyes without warning…. yeah, it doesn’t get any crazier than that…..
Life seems to be rather easy for some people, the only problems they seem to have in their lives is deciding at what restaurant they’re going to have their next meal, whether the world is round, flat or ? …… and when the next church conference is planned in order for their egos to swell up another 10 notches……. so is it any wonder most believers are soft, rotund spoilt keyboard warriors with not only the biggest egos, but also the biggest mouths, not to mention that a cushy lifestyle takes one off onto various rabbit trails in order to overcome the blandness of simplicity that so happens to be the truth?
Soft, luxurious, easy lifestyles do not make for good Christians – fact. It is through adversity, strife and hardship that one depends on Christ more. The Apostle everyone claims to follow, is proof of this. On the contrary, today we have the “I have been blessed” brigade….
“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” ~ 2 Corinthians 12:10
Unfortunately, most out there do not suffer for Christ’s sake, but rather because of themselves.
© Audrey Henry – 6 September 2018
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places .” ~ Ephesians 6:12
Principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, spiritual wickedness in high places….. the devil and his devils….. who use politicians and religious men…… anyone for that matter who glories in their shame, they use as their pawns to further their evil agenda of perversion and destruction.
The world has recently changed tremendously over just a short period of time, and it makes one wonder why and how suddenly all this evil has “crawled out of the cracks”… but believers know the reason why the world is becoming more crazy and messed up as the years go by.
One asks oneself how people can be so blind, so confused and so cold hearted… lost people are myopic, they can only see the here and the now as they walk by sight, they are in the flesh.
Once pedophilia is promoted as just another option on the LBGTQ agenda…. then you know this world (as we know it) is going downhill faster than a toupee in a hurricane. In fact, the world as we knew it is no more…
Money and power are gained, and seem to be the only things which matter to most these days, but at what cost? Most will go to any lengths and sink to all time lows to gain notoriety in this sick world.
And….. things aren’t going to improve…..
“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” ~ 2 Timothy 3:13
One also sees the decay setting in every day amongst believers…. the twisting of scripture, ignorance concerning the gospel, subtle manipulation when it comes to gathering followers unto themselves, people who should know better, preaching fake love which has absolutely no substance and no foundation of truth, which is one-sided, and in fact, comes straight out of the corridors and pulpits of Baptist churches… which is only love when it suits their agenda, $adly enough.
What I have learnt in life is that no company can rise above its CEO, just like believers cannot rise above their churches and more importantly, their preachers, dead or alive. It gives new meaning to the saying, “what one puts in, one gets out”. Why is modern Man so prone, and ruled so much by his emotions? Why does he equate emotion with love? Because it is the easiest way to manipulate people, that is the simple reason why. If you preach perverse things, yet you’re an amicable and charming person, it is seen as love….. therefore you are believed. It’s the Cult of Personality that holds sway in the 21st century. Most profess to be loving, yet the state of the world confirms otherwise.
Does one really think the devil does not play the love card to the hilt? One only has to look at the caring Pope, kissing peoples’ feet, how much Benny Hinn cares by healing people, and how loving Joyce Meyer is by preaching a works-based gospel and sending people straight to hell. All liars…… but loving, nevertheless….
Most people don’t know what real love is. If one disciplines one’s child, does it mean one doesn’t love him or her? The world seems to think so….. so do most Christians….. is it love when Paul says to hand hereticks over to the devil for the destruction of their flesh……. good heavens…… as far as most are concerned, one must not go there….. it’s unloving…….
To my mind, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, but unfortunately, “eating” perverse doctrine most of the time is irreversible as it lands people in hell.
It comes as no surprise that the devil is always where it matters most, corrupting the truth which the ascended Christ dispensed and revealed to the Apostle Paul. How else?
Sometimes I wish I had remained naive to the fact that the Truth isn’t immune from devilish attacks and perversion, as then it wouldn’t slice through me as it does hence the saying, ignorance is bliss, but unfortunately not when it comes to eternity….. so Here I am…. may the Lord not tarry for too long……
It’s brain numbing stuff reading mostly slogan ministries on social media…. everyone seems to have those insipid memes which were created for an instant world, why, there’s even a “Mr Bean” ministry – a joke a minute hahaha…. a gospel preaching comedian with a “sense of humour”, all that while the devil is serious and totally perverse about what he does….
There are some even spiritualising 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 these days….. lawd have mercy…… and others going at the flat earth theory, hammer and tongs like their lives depend on it ~ get this: It is said Freemasons preach perverse stuff, except when it comes to a flat earth, then they are right…. apparently it’s “the truth hidden in plain sight”. Preach flat earth and your IQ automatically drops by 75 points.. and you wonder why people are blind and cannot see the word of truth you also preach? Could it be that they’re not blind but just don’t believe someone who is clearly being foolish?
Quite frankly I don’t care for the ignorant disregard of figures of speech and physics. The JSoC will sort it all out some time soon.
© Audrey Henry- 5 September 2018
“I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.” ~ Romans 15:17
Banting causes gall stones as it is a high fat diet.
Gall stones are not for sissies….. I’m in agony. What was misdiagnosed (did someone say Quack?) as arthritis of the spine is actually……… gall stones……. the pain even radiates into one’s legs, back and arms.
It’s best to stick to a normal meal plan, exercise and eat in moderation AND drink plenty of water. To prevent gall stones on a Banting diet, one has to eat plenty of fruit and veg – and that kinda defeats the object of a low carb diet….
Be warned!
As someone posted recently…..
“These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” ~ Proverbs 6:16-19
BUT more importantly ~
The Lord Jesus Christ died for each and every one of these sins. His death was not in vain.
© Audrey Henry – 5 September 2018
“Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” ~ 2 Timothy 2:7-10
No Paul, calling Paul a liar and a deceiver or ignoring his ministry – means having no salvation today, so it is important to consider what he says….
© Audrey Henry – 5 September 2018
What God has given Man is sufficient to save his soul.
There is simplicity in Christ.
ONLY in Paul’s epistles ~
“Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” ~ 1 Timothy 2:4
© Audrey Henry – 30 August 2018
If one believes Man is no longer meant to eat only fruit, herbs and plants as Adam and Eve did, or that one is not instructed by God to build an Ark today like Noah, then one is a dispensationalist.
Fascinating how dispensation is also referred to as immunity… how, in what form and by what system is God currently dispensing salvation to the world?
By the Gospel of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), as opposed to Acts 2:38 or 2 Chronicles 7:14.
It is purely by grace through faith plus nothing (Ephesians 2:8-9) and not by faith plus works (James 2:24) that we obtain salvation today in this dispensation of the grace of God.
By believing the gospel, we receive immunity from God’s wrath and are made free from the penalty of sin.
© Audrey Henry – 29 August 2018
In times past, Israel was separated from the heathen Gentile nations by the covenants and laws given to them by God, thus, Gentiles could not approach God directly, neither could they be close (near, nigh) to Him compared to the Jews were who were privileged in this instance.
“Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;” ~ Ephesians 2:11
But something happened that changed the status quo…
“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;” ~ Ephesians 2:19
What was it that changed the status quo?
“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” ~ Ephesians 2:13
Instead of Israel making peace with God through animal sacrifices with the blood of animals, and Gentiles having to go through Israel to have access to God, both now have the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is their peace…it is through his blood he made peace. It is the gift of God, it is waiting to be received, and it can only be received through faith.
“For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.” ~ Ephesians 2:14-17
The peace which is now preached to both Jew and Gentile (all men) is the Gospel of Christ.
“And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” ~ Romans 10:15
“And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;” ~ Ephesians 6:15
Believing the Gospel of Christ is what gives you peace with God.
“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” ~ Romans 14:17
Believe how that Christ died for your sins, was buried and rose from the dead on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) and be saved.
Peace is not judgment. Peace is not wrath. Peace is reconciliation.
© Audrey Henry – 29 August 2018
“Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.” ~ 1 Timothy 1:13-16
What denominationalists and religionists, who believe one’s good works gets one a ticket into heaven and into God’s good books need to ask themselves is: Are we saved by our good works, which Paul clearly had none of, or are we saved by God’s mercy (grace) which Paul clearly was given …..and in light of this, if the 12 already had received what Paul had, why does he state, “… that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.”
First means first. It doesn’t mean thirteen, nor does it mean second.
Words mean things.
© Audrey Henry – 28 August 2018
Do you think of the inevitable? This temporary earthly life cannot be compared to eternity….
God says the average lifespan of Man is 70 years….. 80 if he is healthy…
“The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” ~ Psalm 90:10
Believe the gospel of Christ according to 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 to be assured of salvation, how that Christ died for your sins, was buried, and resurrected on the third day for your justification ~ Romans 4:25.
No works – No rituals – No traditions – No lifestyle changes as dictated by religion and denominationalism.
God made salvation easy because He wants all men to be saved ~ 1 Timothy 2:4.
Believe.
….
© Audrey Henry – 27 August 2018
Skeletons are scattered all over Romans chapters 9-11 where people have broken their necks trying to figure out if the passage applies to the church the body of Christ.
It is possible to exit these chapters alive, but you must remember the context of the passage. To determine the context, ask these questions:
Who is speaking? (authorship)
To whom are they speaking? (audience)
What are they speaking about? (content)
If ‘Israel’ is the answer to any of these questions then the passage is not doctrinally applicable to the church today.
The more verses next to each other with ‘Israel’ as the context makes any single verse in the passage more likely to talk about Israel.
The chart below applies these simple rules to Romans 9-11.
| Passage Summary | Context |
| Romans 9:1-5 – Paul’s sorrow over Israel’s failure. | Israel |
| Romans 9:6 – There is a true and false Israel. | Israel |
| Romans 9:7-8 – Identifying Abraham’s seed of promise. | Israel |
| Romans 9:9 – The word of promise is a prophecy about Isaac. | Israel |
| Romans 9:10-12 – The word of promise is also a prophecy about Jacob (the prophecy was not based on Jacob’s works). | Israel |
| Romans 9:13 – Quote from Mal 1:2-3 about God’s preservation of Israel because of Jacob’s promise. | Israel |
| Romans 9:14 – Is God unrighteous because Israel did not believe? No. (See also Rom 3:3-6). | Israel |
| Romans 9:15 – Paul quotes what God told Moses about God’s will. | Israel |
| Romans 9:16 – Paul’s explanation of Exodus 33:19. God shows mercy to whom he wants. | Israel |
| Romans 9:17 – Quote from Exodus 9:16where God uses Pharaoh for his earthly purpose to make Israel a name. | Israel |
| Romans 9:18 – To fulfill his promise to Israel, God showed some mercy, and others a hard hand. | Israel |
| Romans 9:19 – A repeat of Rom 3:5-7, questioning God’s authority to judge Israel. | Israel |
| Romans 9:20 – A quote from Isa 29:16about the righteousness of God to judge his own creation (Israel). | Israel |
| Romans 9:21 – A reference to Jeremiah 18:1-12 about two pots of Israel: faithful and disobedient. | Israel |
| Romans 9:22-23 – Paul’s explanation of how God responded to Israel’s vessels. | Israel |
| Romans 9:24 – Jews and Gentiles could both be in God’s vessel of mercy. | The first verse mention of the word ‘Gentile’, and it is in the context of what God had prepared since the world began. This is God’s purpose for the earth through Israel. |
| Romans 9:25 – Quote from Hosea 2:23about God’s mercy toward Israel. | Israel |
| Romans 9:26 – Quote from Hosea 1:9-11about the restoration of faithful Israel. | Israel |
| Romans 9:27 – Quote from Isaiah 10:20-22about the Israel being only a remnant. | Israel |
| Romans 9:28 – Reference to Isaiah 10:23and Isaiah 30:12-14 about God chopping off and burning Israel’s branches. | Israel |
| Romans 9:29 – Prophecy from Isaiah 1:9about God leaving a remnant in Israel. | Israel |
| Romans 9:30-31 – What happened? Gentiles received righteousness, but Israel didn’t. | Gentiles during the time when Israel did not believe (remember Luke 7:9). |
| Romans 9:32 – Why? Because Israel did not have faith when the stone of stumbling came. | Israel |
| Romans 9:33 – Quote from Isaiah 28:16and Psa 31:17. | Israel |
| Chapter 10 | |
| Romans 10:1 – Paul’s heart for Israel’s salvation. | Israel |
| Romans 10:2 – Israel’s ignorant zeal for God. | Israel |
| Romans 10:3 – Israel’s failure to submit to God’s righteousness. | Israel |
| Romans 10:4 – Belief in Christ puts an end to Deu 6:25. | Israel (see John 20:31) |
| Romans 10:5 – What Moses said about the law in Lev 18:5. | Israel |
| Romans 10:6 – Quote from Deu 30:11-12about what was in Israel’s heart. | Israel |
| Romans 10:7 – Quote from Deu 30:13about what was in Israel’s heart. | Israel |
| Romans 10:8 – Quote from Deu 30:14about the faith in Israel’s mouth and heart that would accompany their doing. | Israel |
| Romans 10:9 – What Israel needed to have in their heart and mouth to be saved in Jesus’ ministry and with Peter. | Israel |
| Romans 10:10 – What is in the heart and mouth lead to salvation (Matt 10:32) | Israel |
| Romans 10:11 – Paul quoting prophetic scripture about the need for faith. | Israel |
| Romans 10:12 – Quote from Psalm 145:9and Psalm 145:18 about Israel’s kingdom where God would show mercy to all that called on him. | Israel |
| Romans 10:13 – Quote from Joel 2:32about Israel’s kingdom where deliverance comes to all who call upon him. | Israel |
| Romans 10:14 – The need for Israel to have messengers so they can hear and believe. | Israel |
| Romans 10:15 – A quote from Isaiah 52:7about the messenger sent to Jerusalem (the Messiah). | Israel |
| Romans 10:16 – A quote from Isaiah 53:1about Israel’s rejection of the messenger sent (the Messiah). | Israel |
| Romans 10:17 – They could hear by the scriptures about faith. | Israel |
| Romans 10:18 – Quote from Psalm 19:4, and Psalm 98:3 about the word to Israel heard by the world. They had heard. | Israel |
| Romans 10:19 – Moses told them in Deu 32:18-21, that if they had no faith and rejected the Rock, God would punish them. | Israel |
| Romans 10:20 – Isaiah told them in Isaiah 65, that a remnant would find him in the place that did not seek him. | Israel |
| Romans 10:21 – Quote from Isaiah 65:2about God’s longsuffering towards the disobedient nation of Israel. | Israel |
| Chapter 11 | |
| Romans 11:1 – God has not cast away Israel forever. Paul is a Jew. | Israel |
| Romans 11:2-4 – The scripture shows a remnant of Israel in 1 Kings 19:14-18. | Israel |
| Romans 11:5-6 – There is a remnant of Israel that believed instead of offering their works for righteousness. | Israel |
| Romans 11:7 – The remnant obtained righteousness, but the rest of Israel did not. | Israel |
| Romans 11:8 – Quote from Isaiah 29:10and Isaiah 6:9 about the blinding of unfaithful Israel. | Israel |
| Romans 11:9 – Quote from Psalm 69:22about ensnaring those who put Christ on the cross in unbelief. | Israel |
| Romans 11:10 – Quote from Psalm 69:23about Israel’s blindness. | Israel |
| Romans 11:11 – Israel didn’t stumble to be destroyed, but even through their fall they are given opportunity to repent. | Israel |
| Romans 11:12 – Israel’s restoration will be greater than their fall or diminishing. | Israel |
| Romans 11:13 – Paul speaks to Gentiles about Israel. | Gentiles that believed when Israel did not (remember Matt 15:28). |
| Romans 11:14 – Paul wants to save some of Israel. | Israel. |
| Romans 11:15 – If the prophecies of Israel’s casting away are true, then their restoration will be more glorious. | Israel |
| Romans 11:16 – A reference to the law of firstfruits applied to the fulfillment of Israel’s promises. | Israel |
| Romans 11:17 – Unbelieving Israel broken off. The faithful remnant graffed in. | The remnant of Israel (made of Jew and Gentile, consider Acts 10). |
| Romans 11:18 – Boast not against Israel as if you earned something they didn’t. | Israel |
| Romans 11:19-20 – Unbelieving Israel stumbled at faith in Christ, and the remnant didn’t, but be fearful. | Remnant of Israel |
| Romans 11:21 – God cut off unfaithful Israel, he will cut off the unfaithful remnant also. | Remnant of Israel |
| Romans 11:22 – If the remnant does not continue they will be cut off (consider Mark 13:13, and Heb 10:38). | Remnant of Israel |
| Romans 11:23-24 – Israel can return if they believe. | Israel |
| Romans 11:25 – Israel is blind until the fulness of the Gentiles. | Israel |
| Romans 11:26 – Quote from Isaiah 59:20about Israel’s salvation from Zion | Israel |
| Romans 11:27 – Quote from Jeremiah 31:34 about Israel’s new testament being fulfilled in the kingdom. | Israel |
| Romans 11:28 – They are enemies because they do not have faith, but God has a promise reserved for Israel. | Israel |
| Romans 11:29 – God keeps his promises. | Israel |
| Romans 11:30-31 – Gentiles received mercy through Israel’s unbelief. Israel can receive mercy by those who now believe. | Israel |
| Romans 11:32 – Israel is in unbelief now, so that we can minister to them, not for them to be disregarded. | Israel |
| Romans 11:33-36 – Even in their failure God shows mercy. God is wise and deserving of all glory. | Israel |
In Romans 9-11 Paul addresses the remnant of Israel about God’s faithfulness to keep his promises to them. This was necessary because the Gentiles who believed during Jesus and Peter’s ministries were boasting about replacing Israel, since Israel failed in unbelief.
Paul had to explain first why this was (Romans 9), where Israel failed (Romans 10), and, finally, why those Gentiles could not boast against Israel (Romans 11), because God will be faithful to keep his promises to them.
When Paul starts talking about Israel in Romans 9-11 the mystery church of Christ’s body does not show up in the context again until Romans 12:3-5.
We must rightly divide even Paul’s epistles.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
~ Justin Johnson – http://graceambassadors.com/books/romans/the-context-of-romans-9-11
Things opposed to the gospel:
Israel:
“As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.” ~ Romans 11:28
How many denominations preach replacement theology today? How many people out there still think that the current State of Israel is God’s chosen nation? Yet, Israel was cast aside, she became God’s enemy for our sake. The casting away of Israel meant the reconciling of the world unto God with a new set of doctrine, which includes a new gospel which was revealed to Paul by the ascended Christ.
Water Baptism:
“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.” ~ 1 Corinthians 1:17
Baptismal regeneration/water baptism is in direct opposition to the gospel as it is a work. Water cannot save a person. One is in no way ritually or symbolically cleansed by water as one has been washed by the blood of Christ if one believed the gospel of Christ.
The law:
“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” ~ Galatians 2:21
It’s not about what one can do, it’s about what Christ has done. If one can save oneself by means of keeping the law, then one is one’s own saviour, thus one has no need for Christ and his payment for one’s sins.
These enemies of the Cross stand behind pulpits:
“For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” ~ 2 Corinthians 11:4
Any pulpits for that matter, not necessarily only denominational pulpits. There are Saints for that matter, who preach another Jesus and another gospel…
Saints who depart from the Faith:
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;” ~ 1 Timothy 4:1
There are many – it is difficult to remain faithful to Pauline nomenclature as one being a Saint, has to endure suffering, and therefore most seek acceptance by reverting to Bible blending once again, as well as going off on various rabbit trails… of which there is an entire satanic smorgasbord to choose from.
Those who resist the Truth:
“Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.” ~ 2 Timothy 3:8
Those who deny Paul’s ministry…. Paul haters, Paul deniers…. also those who deny the exclusivity of Paul’s ministry, refute his gospel of saved by grace through faith plus nothing, and of course there are also the obvious ones like the Atheists, the followers of Mohammed, Buddha, Hare Krishna (to name but a few) who resist the word of truth outright.
It is truly tragic – infinitely sad, when people refuse to adhere to God’s instructions for mankind today, instructions which were given to the Apostle Paul. It’s no laughing matter when the devil blinds the eyes and minds of men…. including Saints.
“(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)” ~ Philippians 3:18-19
“To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” ~ 1 Corinthians 5:5
© Audrey Henry – 22 August 2018.
Who says there are no miracles today? Here’s one right here, a God-given one:
There is no longer a connection between me and my old man which was in the first Adam, nor am I destined to die and face judgment which will condemn me to hell and the second death, rather, I am now destined to live eternally in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, I am no longer identified by my corrupt, fleshly, sinful old man, but rather with the Lord Jesus Christ himself.
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” ~ Romans 6:3-4
“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” ~ Colossians 3:3
“It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him , we shall also live with him :” ~ 2 Timothy 2:11
“Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” ~ Colossians 2:12
© Audrey Henry – 22 August 2018.
“In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;” ~ Colossians 1:22-23
Those who depart from the Faith and those that are moved away from the hope of the gospel remain saved, but are nonetheless blameable and reproveable in the sight of God, and will face the consequences thereof at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:” ~ Galatians 1:6
“This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.” ~ 2 Timothy 1:15
“And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” ~ 2 Timothy 4:4
© Audrey Henry – 22 August 2018.
Instead of cursing the darkness of this world all day long… turn on the light:
“To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” ~ Acts 26:18
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” ~ 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” ~ 2 Corinthians 4:6
© Audrey Henry – 22 August 2018.
The world suffers from the following spiritual sicknesses and diseases caused by ignorance and unbelief:
*Religion
*Denominationalism
*Atheism
The God-given cure for these sicknesses and diseases are as follows, because He not only treats the symptoms, he also treats the cause:
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
© Audrey Henry – 18 August 2018.
If it is true that the two things you do not talk about in polite society are politics and religion then this list explains why.
Below is a list of the most controversial doctrines in the church today which can be resolved with a Pauline pattern built on the foundation of Christ.
- Baptism – The most options
- Lord’s Supper – The most Roman Catholic
- Prayer – The most confusing
- Christmass, Hallowmass, and other Holy Days – The most practiced by the world
- Tongues – The most feigned
- Separation – The most divisive
- Great Commission – The most blindly accepted
- Faith and Works – The most scripturally supported (and the most condemning)
- Free Will and Predestination – The most philosophical
- Miracles, Spiritual Gifts, and God’s Intervention – The most superstitious
- Tithing – The most fraudulent
- Sabbath – The most traditional
- God’s Will – The most elusive
- Dispensationalism – The most maligned
- Bible Versions – The most misunderstood
- Family Roles – The most politically incorrect
- Paul’s Apostleship – The most ignored
Editor’s note:
Ecumenical religion teaches us to avoid doctrinal disputation in order to keep the peace. Yet, the Bible says peace is only achieved when sound doctrine is unanimous. We cannot ignore the controversies which exist when we have the cure in the Lord’s instruction to rightly divide.~ Justin Johnson – http://graceambassadors.com/tradition/list-the-churchs-most-controversial-doctrines
“Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.” ~ Proverbs 26:12
Interestingly, a silly person has more hope than a proud person.
Pride: “Feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction as a result of one’s own achievements, qualities, or possessions or those of someone with whom one is closely associated.”
Most Saints have experience in dealing with proud religious or worldly people who think they have no need for the truth as physically, mentally and emotionally they want for nothing, especially as some are already members of a denominational church, and also have family.
Most these people unfortunately do not/cannot see past physical or fleshly gratification. They will tell you they are doing okay, so why change anything?
Do these people ever think of eternity? Do they think of dying? Or are they too busy with their lives to give it as much as a second thought?
Eternity is forever. It’s a long time to suffer, especially when one doesn’t actually have to go to hell as God has already provided the simple solution.
Believing in Christ’s death for one’s sins, his burial and his resurrection doesn’t cost anything, nor does it take up one’s time.
Be eternity minded. Don’t let pride dictate where you will spend eternity.
© Audrey Henry – 16 August 2016.
“God was in Christ and reconciled (past tense) the world to himself not imputing (present tense) the world’s trespasses”
“God reconciled (past tense) the world to himself not imputing (present tense) anyone’s sins to them”
Why don’t they say ~
“God was in Christ and reconciled (past tense) the world to himself and therefore their sins are not imputed to them? (past tense)
Bible correctors change ” reconciling” to “reconciled”, but not “imputing” to “imputed”? If, as they say, God reconciled the world to himself, he would also have, at the same time, not imputed their sins to them on a once-off basis, he wouldn’t still not be imputing their sins to them on an ongoing basis which is present tense.
🌸2 Corinthians 5:19 Authorised King James Bible ~
To wit, that God was in Christ, (past tense)
reconciling, the world unto himself, (present tense)
not imputing their trespasses unto them; (present tense)
and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (present tense: hath/has).
By all intents and purposes, Paul could have said the following if their theory was true:
“To wit, God was in Christ, whereby he reconciled the world to himself, thus, the world’s sins are no longer imputed to them…”
But he didn’t.
What matters? Man’s opinion or the results of God’s provision on the Cross for all men, who, by the way, have a choice either to accept it in belief or reject it in unbelief.
All glory to God.
© Audrey Henry – 16 August 2018.
The words in your Bible are defined by context.
© Audrey Henry – 14 August 2018.
The User-Manual we have been given tells us we did not, and not surprisingly, to date still do not, nor will we ever evolve from apes ~
“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” ~ Genesis 2:7
“And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord.” ~ Genesis 4:1
No need for psychiatrists to discern Man’s propensity for wars, hatred, murder, sexual perversion, lies and destruction ~ to name but a few problems, the User-Manual tells us what the underlying issue is ~
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” ~ Romans 3:23
The User-Manual is user-friendly ~
It tells us God’s plan and purpose for our lives ~
“Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” ~ 1 Timothy 2:4
It tells us how to be saved ~
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.
It even contains specific directions on how to “peruse” the manual itself ~
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” ~ 2 Timothy 2:15
The User-Manual in question is the Authorized King James Bible. It contains God’s instructions not only for your life, but for eternal life.
© Audrey Henry – 14 August 2018
“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” ~ The Apostle Paul, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19.
*God has reconciled sinners to himself by Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), whereafter they are known as Saints.
*He has given Saints the ministry of reconciliation, a ministry based on Christ crucified – how that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them;
*and has thereby committed the word of reconciliation to Saints to preach reconciliation to the world, how God made provision for their sins regardless of their nationality, race, gender, social, economic and spiritual status or beliefs.
Our ministry as Mid-Acts Pauline Dispensationalists is to preach the gospel of Christ according to the specific manner in which God is currently reconciling the world unto himself (Romans 16:25), a world which no longer has to prostelyze to the Jewish faith in order to be saved, neither does it have to endure to the end in order to be saved, a world which isn’t saved by faith + works (Ephesians 2:8-9).
The ministry of reconciliation in this dispensation preaches the non-imputation of sins to those who believe (2 Corinthians 5:18), thus giving them them eternal security/assurance of salvation, meaning, their sins aren’t being accounted for or held against them by God, which in turn means:
“… ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11.
Ye are washed…. clean…… new…. not a sin in sight… no sins whatsoever…. reason: all one’s sin are forgiven by the blood of Christ, and are not being imputed to one’s account… one has thus become a new creature in Christ.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Under both the Old and New Covenant, Israel’s sins are imputed to her, hence the reason Saints under the Dispensation of the law have no option but to endure to the end. Their sins must continually be confessed:
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” ~ 1 John 1:9
Context matters:
2 Corinthians 5 is dispensational – it not only mentions the Judgment Seat of Christ, but also the non-imputation of sins and the fact that we no longer follow Christ according to his earthly ministry, it also mentions the new creature in Christ – all of which are unique to this current dispensation, and reflects the manner in which God is currently reconciling (present tense) the world unto himself, it is the way God is currently dealing with people with respect to salvation. The gift of salvation God gives those who have faith in the gospel of 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 in this present dispensation differs vastly from that of the Kingdom Saints who were under the law.
“And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.” ~ Galatians 3:17
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“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” ~ 2 Corinthians 5:21
© Audrey Henry – 14 August 2018.
The secrets of men (secrets are hidden things) during this current dispensation will be judged by Jesus Christ according to Paul’s gospel – more precisely – all those who reject God’s grace during this dispensation will be judged at the White Throne Judgment as their names are not in the book of life.
“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” ~ Revelation 20:15.
(On the contrary, and in comparison, Saints’ names are in the book of life ~ Philippians 4:3).
Lost people – sinners who refuse to believe, are without excuse as each and every person has been given a conscience.
“Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)” ~ Romans 2:15
Man, apart from being given a conscience, was also given information (as revealed to the Apostle Paul by the ascended Christ, information whereby he can be saved during this current dispensation), so it is Man’s responsibility to respond in faithful obedience to God’s requirements concerning that salvation.
It goes without saying that using one’s ignorance as an excuse on the day of judgment, just won’t fly…
“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:” ~ Romans 1:20.
“Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.” ~ 1 Corinthians 4:5
© Audrey Henry – 12 August 2018
Rightly Divide the Bible
The Bible was inspired over the course of 1400 years and its content spans from eternity to eternity. It is precisely because of this great span of application and audience that great respect must be given to the distinct revelations of God.
This is called dispensational Bible study, and its method is described in scripture as “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). A new dispensation can change what we know about God’s will and how we respond.
Discern the TimesA common mistake in Bible study is reading future revelations into passages where it was not yet revealed. Also, future revelations can replace or change instructions given in older revelations.
Moses did not know the later promise made to David. Abraham knew nothing of water baptism by John the Baptist. Likewise, Peter did not need to follow the previous instructions to build an ark given to Noah. Instructions had changed.
God treats each man on the basis of what he has revealed. It is man’s responsibility to know God’s revelations, or dispensations, and respond in faithful obedience.
Know Your InstructionsAll scripture is profitable for our learning, but not every instruction is for our participation. It is necessary to discern the intended audience of God’s revelations. To whom was God speaking?
There are many instructions in the Bible for past saints or future Israel that do not address anyone in the church today.
It would be wrong to claim these instructions addressed to someone else for our obedience. We do not participate in the promises and covenants given exclusively to Israel.
However, we should participate in the mystery of Christ revealed for all men. It contains the gospel, purpose, and destiny for the church.
Knowing your instructions from the Bible requires rightly dividing God’s revelations by audience.
~ Justin Johnson – http://www.graceambassadors.com
“For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?” ~ Romans 11:15
The casting away of Israel.
Whereas God dealt only with Gentiles in times past via the nation of Israel, in this present dispensation, he deals directly with individuals, on a worldwide basis.
It is through Christ’s provision for mankind’s sins, his burial and resurrection, (which is the word of reconciliation in this present dispensation of grace), that all men can now approach him directly, without having to go via Israel as they did in times past to be saved.
God provided all men with the knowledge on how to be saved. It’s in the Book, rightly divided – 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 – how God is reconciling the world unto himself today.
Thus, Israel’s casting away almost 2000 years ago still has relevance today as it means God is still reconciling (present tense) the world to himself through the ministry of reconciliation, by the word of reconciliation, and not through Israel as a mediator.
God provided. The world needs to take ownership of that provision, which is the good news which saves men’s souls:
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” ~ 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.
© Audrey Henry – 13 August 2018.
