Sometimes it is not enough to follow the culture of your religion. Jonah is a great example of a man caught between the corrupt Jewish culture of the Old Covenant Kingdom and the call of God. God told Jonah to preach to the people of Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire. Besides his own personal prejudice against Gentiles, he, being a prophet, may have known that the Assyrian Empire would in a couple of hundred years destroy the nation of Israel. And almost certainly Jonah had heard that the King of Assyria was just beginning his military conquest of the Middle East. In Jonah’s eyes and the eyes of his fellow countrymen, preaching to Nineveh could have been seen as an act of treason. Jonah thought he would rather die.
He bought a ticket to board a ship headed for Spain, the end of the known world. Jonah was thrown overboard and ended up in the belly of a fish. After God miraculously saved Jonah from the belly of the fish, Jonah finally agreed to preach to Nineveh. After the city repented, Jonah went to the east side of the city even though Israel was to the west. Maybe Jonah did not want to go home. What if his fellow citizens heard about his ministry to Nineveh? Maybe he thought he would not be the most popular prophet in Israel.
The first lesson for us is that we must be careful about putting our patriotism above the Word of God. Jonah’s fellow countrymen would have considered him a hero if he had been willing to die rather than save Nineveh. But Jonah was willing, after some not-so-gentle persuasion from God, to be a hero for the cause of Christ. Not only did he bring the entire city of Nineveh to its knees before God, but his experience in the belly of the fish became the greatest picture in all of the Bible of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. The Lord Jesus said to the Pharisees of His day:
Matt 12:39-41
39 . . . “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40 "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41 "The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. (NKJ)
The second lesson for us is that we must be careful about valuing our religion above the word of God. The people of Nineveh were not just saved from physical destruction, but they were saved for all of eternity. We know they were saved in a spiritual since because Jesus said they will one day rise up in judgement against the Jews who rejected the Lord Jesus. It is also true that the people of Nineveh will rise up in judgement against the Jews of Jonah’s day, because the Jews of Jonah’s day and the Jews of Jesus’ day were victims of their own religion. Their religion made the false assumption that God hated other people as much as they did. If they had known God’s Word, they would have known about God’s love for the Gentile nations. They would have known that God intended for the nation of Israel to be a testimony to the nations concerning God’s love and grace.
The Jews of Jonah’s day were destroyed by the Assyrians, and the Jews of Jesus’ day were destroyed by the Romans, but there is a greater judgement that is yet to come. It is a judgement which will bring eternal separation from God to those who refuse to believe what God has said in His word.
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
Wednesday, November 26, 2003
Tuesday, November 25, 2003
Abraham believed what God told him, and God counted Abraham as righteous. Paul said that God has always dealt with mankind upon this very basis.
Rom 4:5
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (KJV)
Much of the hatred we see in our world today is caused by the different religions of the world. Many times Muslims in Muslim communities simply follow the customs taught by their Muslim leaders. Many Hindus just follow the teachings of their Hindu leaders. Many Christians base their lives on the doctrine of the Christian traditions. On judgement day, God will not judge people on the basis of their compliance with their religious culture. He will judge on the basis of their faithfulness to what God has said.
That is why the Apostle Paul told Timothy,
2 Tim 2:15
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (KJV)
It is obvious that God deals with people differently in different times. How can we find out what God expects from us? We must rightly divide the word of truth. In the Old Testament, God gave the nation of Israel a kingdom which would bring great physical blessings to its citizens. To live in that kingdom, the Jews were required to live according to the Old Covenant Law.
During the period of time covered by the book of Acts, God offered Israel the New Covenant Kingdom. During that dispensation, God did many miracles as a sign to the nation of Israel that Jesus Christ was the promised Messiah. During that dispensation, Jewish believers continued practicing the Law, while Jews and Gentiles alike practiced water baptism.
During the Acts period, water baptism was especially important for the Jewish believers because the nation of Israel will function as a nation of priests in the New Covenant Kingdom. As such, they will perform the priestly duties for the nations of the world just as the Levites did for the tribes of Israel in the Old Covenant Kingdom. The priests of both kingdoms were to be set apart by ceremonial washings in water.
Today, we live in the dispensation of the Church which is the Body of Christ. Paul revealed the truths of this dispensation in Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. In these books, we find that the Church, the Body of Christ, has no earthly kingdom, and we have no physical ceremonies or rituals to bind us to the earth. Paul said,
Col 2:20-22
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? (KJV)
Phil 3:20
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, (NKJ)
After the believers of our present dispensation are caught up to be with Christ at His appearing, God will offer the New Covenant Kingdom to Israel once again. At that time He will once again perform many miracles, wonders, and signs as he protects the nation of Israel from the wrath of the antichrist.
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
Rom 4:5
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (KJV)
Much of the hatred we see in our world today is caused by the different religions of the world. Many times Muslims in Muslim communities simply follow the customs taught by their Muslim leaders. Many Hindus just follow the teachings of their Hindu leaders. Many Christians base their lives on the doctrine of the Christian traditions. On judgement day, God will not judge people on the basis of their compliance with their religious culture. He will judge on the basis of their faithfulness to what God has said.
That is why the Apostle Paul told Timothy,
2 Tim 2:15
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (KJV)
It is obvious that God deals with people differently in different times. How can we find out what God expects from us? We must rightly divide the word of truth. In the Old Testament, God gave the nation of Israel a kingdom which would bring great physical blessings to its citizens. To live in that kingdom, the Jews were required to live according to the Old Covenant Law.
During the period of time covered by the book of Acts, God offered Israel the New Covenant Kingdom. During that dispensation, God did many miracles as a sign to the nation of Israel that Jesus Christ was the promised Messiah. During that dispensation, Jewish believers continued practicing the Law, while Jews and Gentiles alike practiced water baptism.
During the Acts period, water baptism was especially important for the Jewish believers because the nation of Israel will function as a nation of priests in the New Covenant Kingdom. As such, they will perform the priestly duties for the nations of the world just as the Levites did for the tribes of Israel in the Old Covenant Kingdom. The priests of both kingdoms were to be set apart by ceremonial washings in water.
Today, we live in the dispensation of the Church which is the Body of Christ. Paul revealed the truths of this dispensation in Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. In these books, we find that the Church, the Body of Christ, has no earthly kingdom, and we have no physical ceremonies or rituals to bind us to the earth. Paul said,
Col 2:20-22
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? (KJV)
Phil 3:20
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, (NKJ)
After the believers of our present dispensation are caught up to be with Christ at His appearing, God will offer the New Covenant Kingdom to Israel once again. At that time He will once again perform many miracles, wonders, and signs as he protects the nation of Israel from the wrath of the antichrist.
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
Monday, November 24, 2003
In John 4 the Lord Jesus was speaking with the Samaritan woman. He offered her living water, of which, if she drank, she would never thirst again. She was very interested, but then the devil distracted her with one of the political issues of the day. Was it acceptable to worship God without going to Jerusalem? Jesus said,
John 4:23-24
23 . . . the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (KJV)
I have heard interpretations of this verse which assert that God wants believers to worship in a spiritual and a physical way. This would equate spiritual with spirit and physical with truth. This is an unfortunate interpretation in that it goes against the context of the passage. The Lord Jesus was emphasizing that it really does not matter to God where a person worships in the physical world. The spiritual reality of the heart is where real truth lies. Therefore, “in truth” simply gives further definition to “in spirit”.
John 4 continues developing the concepts expressed by the Lord Jesus in John 3. As you may recall, the Lord Jesus told Nicodemus he needed to be born again because
John 3:6
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (KJV)
The physical world will always have a tendency to draw believers away from the Spirit of God. The natural human body is at war with the Spirit of God. Paul wrote:
Rom 7:23
23 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 members. (NKJ)
The Spirit of Christ is the only hope believers have of overcoming the destructive pull of the physical body.
Rom 8:2
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. (NKJ)
Even the things of the physical earth have a tendency to draw the believer away from God. Therefore, Paul said:
Col 3:1-2
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (KJV)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
John 4:23-24
23 . . . the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (KJV)
I have heard interpretations of this verse which assert that God wants believers to worship in a spiritual and a physical way. This would equate spiritual with spirit and physical with truth. This is an unfortunate interpretation in that it goes against the context of the passage. The Lord Jesus was emphasizing that it really does not matter to God where a person worships in the physical world. The spiritual reality of the heart is where real truth lies. Therefore, “in truth” simply gives further definition to “in spirit”.
John 4 continues developing the concepts expressed by the Lord Jesus in John 3. As you may recall, the Lord Jesus told Nicodemus he needed to be born again because
John 3:6
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (KJV)
The physical world will always have a tendency to draw believers away from the Spirit of God. The natural human body is at war with the Spirit of God. Paul wrote:
Rom 7:23
23 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 members. (NKJ)
The Spirit of Christ is the only hope believers have of overcoming the destructive pull of the physical body.
Rom 8:2
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. (NKJ)
Even the things of the physical earth have a tendency to draw the believer away from God. Therefore, Paul said:
Col 3:1-2
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (KJV)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
Friday, November 21, 2003
The first time the word righteous is used in the Bible is in the Lord’s description of Noah in Gen 6:9.
Gen 6:9
9 This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God. (NIV)
Hebrews says that Noah’s righteousness was the righteousness of faith.
Heb 11:7
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. (KJV)
The first time the word righteousness is used in the Bible is in Gen 15:6.
Gen 15:6
6 And (Abraham) believed in the LORD; and (the LORD) counted it to him for righteousness. (KJV)
Paul quoted Gen 15:6 as he wrote to the believers in Galatia.
Gal 3:5-7
5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
(KJV)
Paul wrote the epistle to the Galatians during the time that God was offering the New Covenant Kingdom to Israel. During that time many miracles were done as a sign to the nation of Israel. Paul’s point was that these miracles were not done through the power of the law but through the power of faith. His proof of the superior power of faith lay in the fact that Abraham’s righteousness came through faith 430 years before the law was ever given.
Paul quoted Gen 15:6 again as he wrote to the Romans.
Rom 4:1-5
1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (KJV)
From the very beginning of the Bible we see that righteousness is a gift from God and is given in response to faith.
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
Gen 6:9
9 This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God. (NIV)
Hebrews says that Noah’s righteousness was the righteousness of faith.
Heb 11:7
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. (KJV)
The first time the word righteousness is used in the Bible is in Gen 15:6.
Gen 15:6
6 And (Abraham) believed in the LORD; and (the LORD) counted it to him for righteousness. (KJV)
Paul quoted Gen 15:6 as he wrote to the believers in Galatia.
Gal 3:5-7
5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
(KJV)
Paul wrote the epistle to the Galatians during the time that God was offering the New Covenant Kingdom to Israel. During that time many miracles were done as a sign to the nation of Israel. Paul’s point was that these miracles were not done through the power of the law but through the power of faith. His proof of the superior power of faith lay in the fact that Abraham’s righteousness came through faith 430 years before the law was ever given.
Paul quoted Gen 15:6 again as he wrote to the Romans.
Rom 4:1-5
1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (KJV)
From the very beginning of the Bible we see that righteousness is a gift from God and is given in response to faith.
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
Thursday, November 20, 2003
Abraham grew up in Ur of the Chaldeans worshiping the various pagan gods of that culture. But the Lord Jesus Christ spoke to Abraham and said,
Gen 12:1-2
1 . . . "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.
2 "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. (NIV)
So Abraham left and the Lord was with Abraham as he traveled to the promised land. One day Abraham mentioned to the Lord that he did not have any children in spite of the promise of Gen 12:2. The Lord Jesus confirmed the promise and said that Abraham’s descendants would be as numerous as the stars of heaven. Then one of the great events of human history occurred.
Gen 15:6
6 And (Abraham) believed in the LORD, and (the LORD) accounted it to him for righteousness. (NKJ)
Years later the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 3 that God can not give salvation to those who do good works because all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, but after quoting Genesis 15:6, Paul said that God will save anyone who has faith like that of Abraham. When people simply believe what God says, God counts that for righteousness.
What has God been saying since Jesus died on the cross of Calvary? Before Paul was saved, the apostles simply preached that Jesus had come back from the dead, and was, therefore, still Israel’s Messiah. During the Acts period, the Apostle Paul revealed that Jesus Christ died for our sins to bring eternal life in accordance with the hope of the New Covenant Kingdom.
1 Cor 15:3-4, 50-52
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;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed--
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (NKJ)
In Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians, Paul revealed the dispensation of the Church which is the Body of Christ and said that members of the Church receive salvation and experience all spiritual blessings in heavenly places.
Eph 1:3,7
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace (NKJ)
Eph 2:4-7
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (NKJ)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
Gen 12:1-2
1 . . . "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.
2 "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. (NIV)
So Abraham left and the Lord was with Abraham as he traveled to the promised land. One day Abraham mentioned to the Lord that he did not have any children in spite of the promise of Gen 12:2. The Lord Jesus confirmed the promise and said that Abraham’s descendants would be as numerous as the stars of heaven. Then one of the great events of human history occurred.
Gen 15:6
6 And (Abraham) believed in the LORD, and (the LORD) accounted it to him for righteousness. (NKJ)
Years later the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 3 that God can not give salvation to those who do good works because all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, but after quoting Genesis 15:6, Paul said that God will save anyone who has faith like that of Abraham. When people simply believe what God says, God counts that for righteousness.
What has God been saying since Jesus died on the cross of Calvary? Before Paul was saved, the apostles simply preached that Jesus had come back from the dead, and was, therefore, still Israel’s Messiah. During the Acts period, the Apostle Paul revealed that Jesus Christ died for our sins to bring eternal life in accordance with the hope of the New Covenant Kingdom.
1 Cor 15:3-4, 50-52
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;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed--
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (NKJ)
In Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians, Paul revealed the dispensation of the Church which is the Body of Christ and said that members of the Church receive salvation and experience all spiritual blessings in heavenly places.
Eph 1:3,7
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace (NKJ)
Eph 2:4-7
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (NKJ)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
Wednesday, November 19, 2003
Nicodemus was a Pharisee who came to Jesus by night. Presumably, he came by night because he was afraid of what the other Pharisees would think if they knew he was with Jesus. He told Jesus that he and all of the Pharisees knew there was something special about Jesus because the miracles Jesus did showed that God was with Him.
Jesus did not enter into that debate with Nicodemus for He could see that Nicodemus did not need intellectual clarification concerning His identity. Jesus saw immediately that Nicodemus needed to be born again.
John 3:3
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (KJV)
Nicodemus was dumbfounded. He must have thought this was the strangest thing he had ever heard, and he challenged the Lord.
John 3:4
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? (KJV)
John 3:5
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (KJV)
Certainly one has to be born as a human being before they can enter the kingdom, but Jesus told Nicodemus that one must experience another, spiritual birth to qualify for the kingdom. As Jesus spoke of being born of water and born of the Spirit, He was drawing a contrast between physical birth and spiritual rebirth. That is clear from verse 6 where Jesus said,
John 3:6
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (KJV)
When people believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for their sins, the Holy Spirit brings them into spiritual union with Jesus Christ, and they are forever changed.
2 Cor 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (KJV)
The Holy Spirit seals the believer in Christ and becomes the life-force within the believer. He reveals the Word of God. He gives guidance. He convicts of sin. He gives the joy of the Lord. In Ephesians, Paul says, we must do everything possible to maintain unhindered fellowship with the Holy Spirit.
Eph 4:30-32
30 And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (KJV)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
Jesus did not enter into that debate with Nicodemus for He could see that Nicodemus did not need intellectual clarification concerning His identity. Jesus saw immediately that Nicodemus needed to be born again.
John 3:3
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (KJV)
Nicodemus was dumbfounded. He must have thought this was the strangest thing he had ever heard, and he challenged the Lord.
John 3:4
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? (KJV)
John 3:5
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (KJV)
Certainly one has to be born as a human being before they can enter the kingdom, but Jesus told Nicodemus that one must experience another, spiritual birth to qualify for the kingdom. As Jesus spoke of being born of water and born of the Spirit, He was drawing a contrast between physical birth and spiritual rebirth. That is clear from verse 6 where Jesus said,
John 3:6
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (KJV)
When people believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for their sins, the Holy Spirit brings them into spiritual union with Jesus Christ, and they are forever changed.
2 Cor 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (KJV)
The Holy Spirit seals the believer in Christ and becomes the life-force within the believer. He reveals the Word of God. He gives guidance. He convicts of sin. He gives the joy of the Lord. In Ephesians, Paul says, we must do everything possible to maintain unhindered fellowship with the Holy Spirit.
Eph 4:30-32
30 And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (KJV)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
Tuesday, November 18, 2003
In Genesis 6, we read that God looked upon the earth and saw the wickedness of men, but Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. By faith, Noah believed that great judgement was coming upon the earth. By faith, Noah built an ark according to the instructions of the Lord. God told Noah,
Gen 6:14
14 "Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. (NKJ)
Noah sealed the ark with pitch so that the ark would be waterproof and none of the judgement waters would touch those who were sealed inside the ark. Before the rains came, the Lord brought Noah and his family into the ark, and the Lord shut the door.
Gen 7:16
16 And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in. (KJV)
The ark is a picture of the Lord Jesus in that those who by faith are spiritually baptized into the Lord Jesus are protected from the fiery judgement which is to come in the next life. The pitch is symbolic of the Holy Spirit for it is the Holy Spirit of God Who seals us inside Jesus Christ.
Eph 1:13
13 . . . ye also trusted (in Christ), 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,
(KJV)
Eph 4:30
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
(KJV)
The day of redemption is the day when we stand before the Lord Jesus and plead the shed blood of Christ as our atonement for sin. The seal of the Holy Spirit will protect not only in that day of judgement, but it seals and protects us in Christ until that day. From the day we believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins, we are protected in Christ by the Holy Spirit of God.
John 3:36 says,
36 "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (NKJ)
Notice that John did not say that believers will have everlasting life. Believers have everlasting life. The moment they believe, they are sealed by the Holy Spirit of God unto the day of redemption.
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
Gen 6:14
14 "Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. (NKJ)
Noah sealed the ark with pitch so that the ark would be waterproof and none of the judgement waters would touch those who were sealed inside the ark. Before the rains came, the Lord brought Noah and his family into the ark, and the Lord shut the door.
Gen 7:16
16 And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in. (KJV)
The ark is a picture of the Lord Jesus in that those who by faith are spiritually baptized into the Lord Jesus are protected from the fiery judgement which is to come in the next life. The pitch is symbolic of the Holy Spirit for it is the Holy Spirit of God Who seals us inside Jesus Christ.
Eph 1:13
13 . . . ye also trusted (in Christ), 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,
(KJV)
Eph 4:30
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
(KJV)
The day of redemption is the day when we stand before the Lord Jesus and plead the shed blood of Christ as our atonement for sin. The seal of the Holy Spirit will protect not only in that day of judgement, but it seals and protects us in Christ until that day. From the day we believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins, we are protected in Christ by the Holy Spirit of God.
John 3:36 says,
36 "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (NKJ)
Notice that John did not say that believers will have everlasting life. Believers have everlasting life. The moment they believe, they are sealed by the Holy Spirit of God unto the day of redemption.
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
Monday, November 17, 2003
After the first sin of Adam and Eve, the population of human beings rapidly increased, and mankind became more and more sinful. The people on the earth were very much like Cain in that they had no respect for the desire of God. They wanted what they wanted when they wanted it. God, in His mercy, delayed His judgement, but in Genesis 6 we read:
Gen 6:3
3 And the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years." (NKJ)
God decided to destroy all of mankind with a great flood, but a man named Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. God instructed Noah to build a huge boat. When the boat was finished, God brought Noah and his family into the boat to save them from the impending flood.
Gen 7:1
1 And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. (KJV)
The righteousness of Noah was not based on his own human perfection but was based on the grace of God.
Gen 6:8
8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. (KJV)
Grace is getting something that is not deserved. Therefore, Noah did not deserve to be saved from the flood, but Noah found grace because he was a man of faith. God told Noah that a great flood of water was coming which would destroy all the people on the face of the earth. Noah believed God and did what God told him to do. Noah told this same message to his neighbors but not one of them believed his warning.
The writer of the book of Hebrews made the following observation.
Heb 11:7
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. (KJV)
Even though Noah had never seen rain, he still believed that what God had said was true.
God will accept anyone who is sinlessly perfect, but the problem is that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. God in His mercy decided to offer Jesus Christ as the full payment for all sin so that faith could be the determining factor in salvation.
The ark that Noah built was a picture of Jesus Christ. Those who were in the ark were saved from the judgement. When we accept Christ by faith and believe that He died for our sins, we are spiritually baptized into Christ. Those who enter into Christ by faith find salvation from the judgement to come. It is important to remember that people must accept Christ before they die. There will be no second chance in the after life.
Heb 9:27
27 . . . it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (KJV)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
Gen 6:3
3 And the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years." (NKJ)
God decided to destroy all of mankind with a great flood, but a man named Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. God instructed Noah to build a huge boat. When the boat was finished, God brought Noah and his family into the boat to save them from the impending flood.
Gen 7:1
1 And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. (KJV)
The righteousness of Noah was not based on his own human perfection but was based on the grace of God.
Gen 6:8
8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. (KJV)
Grace is getting something that is not deserved. Therefore, Noah did not deserve to be saved from the flood, but Noah found grace because he was a man of faith. God told Noah that a great flood of water was coming which would destroy all the people on the face of the earth. Noah believed God and did what God told him to do. Noah told this same message to his neighbors but not one of them believed his warning.
The writer of the book of Hebrews made the following observation.
Heb 11:7
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. (KJV)
Even though Noah had never seen rain, he still believed that what God had said was true.
God will accept anyone who is sinlessly perfect, but the problem is that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. God in His mercy decided to offer Jesus Christ as the full payment for all sin so that faith could be the determining factor in salvation.
The ark that Noah built was a picture of Jesus Christ. Those who were in the ark were saved from the judgement. When we accept Christ by faith and believe that He died for our sins, we are spiritually baptized into Christ. Those who enter into Christ by faith find salvation from the judgement to come. It is important to remember that people must accept Christ before they die. There will be no second chance in the after life.
Heb 9:27
27 . . . it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (KJV)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
Friday, November 14, 2003
Today I would like to revisit the book of Hebrews and its relationship to the Church which is the Body of Christ. I want to do this because I have had to reconsider some of my thoughts of a few weeks ago. To begin with, let’s review some of the facts regarding the 70th week of Daniel.
The 70th week of Daniel is a 7 year period of time occurring after the death of Christ but before Christ’s return to set up the kingdom. The 70th week of Daniel is known as the tribulation period because it is a time in which the antichrist will rule the world and persecute the Jews. Daniel did speak of the 70th week separately from the other 69 weeks, but he never gave any indication that the 70th week would be separated from the death of the Messiah by 2000 years.
In Paul’s early writings he warned believers of the coming of the antichrist and the tribulation period. However, this subject was not included in Paul’s revelation of the dispensation of the Church which is the Body of Christ. In Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians, Paul wrote that the believers under this dispensation would be caught up into glory to be with the Lord but never mentioned the tribulation period or the antichrist. Paul spoke of the perilous last days of this dispensation but, again, never mentioned the antichrist or the tribulation period. This indicates that the period of time dedicated to the dispensation of the Church which is the Body of Christ will end with a rapture of believers before the tribulation period begins. Accordingly, the believers who live under this dispensation have no expectation of the tribulation period or the earthly kingdom.
But one must ask why Paul would write the book of Hebrews to confirm the New Covenant Kingdom to the Jews even after he revealed the mystery of the Church which is the Body of Christ. If Paul was writing to the Jews of his day, then he must have seen two groups of people on the earth at that time. One group would have been the Church which was to be raptured before the tribulation period, while the other group would have included the kingdom saints who would be left on the earth after the rapture of the Church to endure the tribulation period and inherit the New Covenant Kingdom.
However, the scriptures indicate that Paul did not write the book of Hebrews to the Jews of his day. First, Paul’s reference to the perilous last days of the Church (II Timothy 3:1) seem to be pointing to a time in the distant future. Second, Paul said in Ephesians that his mission was to teach all men about the fellowship of the mystery concerning the Church. Therefore, Paul’s goal was to teach the truths of the Church to the Jews of his day while, at the same time, writing the book of Hebrews to confirm the New Covenant promises to the Jews of the future who would inherit the kingdom after enduring the tribulation period.
Some people believe that there are two groups of believers on the earth today. They teach that only those who understand the truth of the Church which is the Body of Christ have received the high calling of Church membership. This would mean that the average believer who just believes that Christ died for his/her sins would not be part of the Church and would not be caught up with the Church at the rapture. This is false doctrine.
Paul was called to teach all people about the mystery of the Church because the Church is the only program for our present age. As Paul revealed the dispensation of the Church which is the Body of Christ, he said there is only one body and only one faith.
Eph 4:4-6
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (NKJ)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
The 70th week of Daniel is a 7 year period of time occurring after the death of Christ but before Christ’s return to set up the kingdom. The 70th week of Daniel is known as the tribulation period because it is a time in which the antichrist will rule the world and persecute the Jews. Daniel did speak of the 70th week separately from the other 69 weeks, but he never gave any indication that the 70th week would be separated from the death of the Messiah by 2000 years.
In Paul’s early writings he warned believers of the coming of the antichrist and the tribulation period. However, this subject was not included in Paul’s revelation of the dispensation of the Church which is the Body of Christ. In Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians, Paul wrote that the believers under this dispensation would be caught up into glory to be with the Lord but never mentioned the tribulation period or the antichrist. Paul spoke of the perilous last days of this dispensation but, again, never mentioned the antichrist or the tribulation period. This indicates that the period of time dedicated to the dispensation of the Church which is the Body of Christ will end with a rapture of believers before the tribulation period begins. Accordingly, the believers who live under this dispensation have no expectation of the tribulation period or the earthly kingdom.
But one must ask why Paul would write the book of Hebrews to confirm the New Covenant Kingdom to the Jews even after he revealed the mystery of the Church which is the Body of Christ. If Paul was writing to the Jews of his day, then he must have seen two groups of people on the earth at that time. One group would have been the Church which was to be raptured before the tribulation period, while the other group would have included the kingdom saints who would be left on the earth after the rapture of the Church to endure the tribulation period and inherit the New Covenant Kingdom.
However, the scriptures indicate that Paul did not write the book of Hebrews to the Jews of his day. First, Paul’s reference to the perilous last days of the Church (II Timothy 3:1) seem to be pointing to a time in the distant future. Second, Paul said in Ephesians that his mission was to teach all men about the fellowship of the mystery concerning the Church. Therefore, Paul’s goal was to teach the truths of the Church to the Jews of his day while, at the same time, writing the book of Hebrews to confirm the New Covenant promises to the Jews of the future who would inherit the kingdom after enduring the tribulation period.
Some people believe that there are two groups of believers on the earth today. They teach that only those who understand the truth of the Church which is the Body of Christ have received the high calling of Church membership. This would mean that the average believer who just believes that Christ died for his/her sins would not be part of the Church and would not be caught up with the Church at the rapture. This is false doctrine.
Paul was called to teach all people about the mystery of the Church because the Church is the only program for our present age. As Paul revealed the dispensation of the Church which is the Body of Christ, he said there is only one body and only one faith.
Eph 4:4-6
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (NKJ)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
Thursday, November 13, 2003
In Genesis 4, Cain and Able both brought sacrifices to God. Able brought an animal sacrifice while Cain brought an offering of produce he had harvested from the field. Cain’s fruit represented the things of the earth which perish with the using (see Colossians 2:22). The animal sacrifice of Able represented the gift of life which is given from heaven. God accepted the sacrifice of Able but refused to accept the offering of Cain. However, He did give Cain some advice along with a warning.
Gen 4:7
7 "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." (NKJ)
Anyone in a position of authority should learn from the example God has set. In this passage we see that God is a believer in due process. First, He told Cain that what he did was unacceptable, and then He warned him that consequences would follow for continued disobedience.
The Apostle Paul describes the fleshly fruit of the earth in his letter to the Galatian believers.
Gal 5:19-21
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (KJV)
Cain’s heart was full of envy, strife, and murder. His offering was rejected, and his response was to kill his brother. Able’s sacrifice was accepted because his animal sacrifice was an acceptable picture of the sacrifice that Jesus Christ would make upon the cross of Calvary.
Today, many Christians think that God will be satisfied with an offering of Church attendance and 10% of their income, but God wants much more than that. We today are called upon to present our bodies as a living sacrifice unto God.
Rom 12:1-2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (KJV)
As we experience spiritual union with Jesus Christ in His death, our bodies become a living sacrifice. Our responsibility is to offer that sacrifice to God so that God can fill our hearts with the fruit of the Holy Spirit of God. In this way, we become an offering which is holy and acceptable unto God.
Gal 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (KJV)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
Gen 4:7
7 "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." (NKJ)
Anyone in a position of authority should learn from the example God has set. In this passage we see that God is a believer in due process. First, He told Cain that what he did was unacceptable, and then He warned him that consequences would follow for continued disobedience.
The Apostle Paul describes the fleshly fruit of the earth in his letter to the Galatian believers.
Gal 5:19-21
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (KJV)
Cain’s heart was full of envy, strife, and murder. His offering was rejected, and his response was to kill his brother. Able’s sacrifice was accepted because his animal sacrifice was an acceptable picture of the sacrifice that Jesus Christ would make upon the cross of Calvary.
Today, many Christians think that God will be satisfied with an offering of Church attendance and 10% of their income, but God wants much more than that. We today are called upon to present our bodies as a living sacrifice unto God.
Rom 12:1-2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (KJV)
As we experience spiritual union with Jesus Christ in His death, our bodies become a living sacrifice. Our responsibility is to offer that sacrifice to God so that God can fill our hearts with the fruit of the Holy Spirit of God. In this way, we become an offering which is holy and acceptable unto God.
Gal 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (KJV)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
Wednesday, November 12, 2003
The Lord Jesus Christ was Jehovah God of the Old Testament. Therefore, it was Jesus Christ who formed Adam out of the dust of the ground, and it was Jesus Christ who created Eve from one of Adam’s ribs. Adam and Eve enjoyed constant fellowship with Jesus Christ in the Garden of Eden and had only one rule to live by. They were not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
The devil was determined to destroy Adam and Eve for he was jealous of their position of dominance over all things within the garden of God. The devil was very cunning and full of deceit, and with his power of persuasion, he convinced Adam and Eve to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Immediately, Adam and Eve knew what sin was, and they knew their own sinfulness. They made clothes of fig leaves for themselves to cover their nakedness.
As the Lord Jesus came walking through the garden, they hid from Him. He confronted them with their sin and pronounced a curse upon them, upon the earth, and upon the devil. The sentence of death came upon Adam and Eve, for God had said that in the day they ate of the fruit, they would surely die.
However, Jesus Christ had mercy on them, and He made coats of animal skin for Adam and Eve.
Gen 3:21
21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. (KJV)
This is one of the earliest events of human history, and in it we find that the shedding of blood was required to cover sin. This animal sacrifice was a pictured of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus upon the cross of Calvary, but it could never effectively take away sin or its consequences. Therefore, Adam and Eve did eventually die, and all of the descendants of Adam and Eve inherited death as a result of their mortality. However, when Jesus Christ gave His blood for the sins of the world, it provided a permanent solution for sin. The Lord Jesus said that faith in Christ would result in everlasting life.
When Christ was resurrected from the grave, He took the spirits of Old Testament believers such as Adam and Eve with Him into heaven.
Eph 4:8
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (KJV)
Since that day, when believers die, their spirits enter directly into heaven to dwell in the presence of the Lord. The spirits of all believers who have died, from Adam and Eve to the present, are waiting in heaven for the resurrection of their bodies. Resurrection day will be a great day of rejoicing for all believers, and it will be a great victory over death.
1 Cor 15:54
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (KJV)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
The devil was determined to destroy Adam and Eve for he was jealous of their position of dominance over all things within the garden of God. The devil was very cunning and full of deceit, and with his power of persuasion, he convinced Adam and Eve to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Immediately, Adam and Eve knew what sin was, and they knew their own sinfulness. They made clothes of fig leaves for themselves to cover their nakedness.
As the Lord Jesus came walking through the garden, they hid from Him. He confronted them with their sin and pronounced a curse upon them, upon the earth, and upon the devil. The sentence of death came upon Adam and Eve, for God had said that in the day they ate of the fruit, they would surely die.
However, Jesus Christ had mercy on them, and He made coats of animal skin for Adam and Eve.
Gen 3:21
21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. (KJV)
This is one of the earliest events of human history, and in it we find that the shedding of blood was required to cover sin. This animal sacrifice was a pictured of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus upon the cross of Calvary, but it could never effectively take away sin or its consequences. Therefore, Adam and Eve did eventually die, and all of the descendants of Adam and Eve inherited death as a result of their mortality. However, when Jesus Christ gave His blood for the sins of the world, it provided a permanent solution for sin. The Lord Jesus said that faith in Christ would result in everlasting life.
When Christ was resurrected from the grave, He took the spirits of Old Testament believers such as Adam and Eve with Him into heaven.
Eph 4:8
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (KJV)
Since that day, when believers die, their spirits enter directly into heaven to dwell in the presence of the Lord. The spirits of all believers who have died, from Adam and Eve to the present, are waiting in heaven for the resurrection of their bodies. Resurrection day will be a great day of rejoicing for all believers, and it will be a great victory over death.
1 Cor 15:54
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (KJV)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
Tuesday, November 11, 2003
Jerusalem had been charged with excitement ever since the news broke that Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. Then, as Jesus entered Jerusalem for Passover, a spontaneous parade erupted, and the people yelled, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” But the Apostle John declared the spiritual darkness in their hearts.
John 12:37-41
37 Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.
38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: "Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"
39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:
40 "He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn-- and I would heal them."
41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him. (NIV)
Verses 40 and 41 refer back to the events of Isaiah, Chapter 6, when Isaiah saw Jehovah God sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up. Isaiah confessed his sinfulness as he saw the righteousness of the Lord.
Isa 6:5
5 Then said (Isaiah), Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. (KJV)
The Lord called Isaiah to preach but warned him that no one would listen.
Isa 6:9-10
9 And (the Lord said to Isaiah), Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. (KJV)
John said that when Isaiah saw Jehovah God, he actually saw Jesus Christ in all of His glory.
John 12:41
41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him.
Isaiah knew that someday Jehovah God would come to earth in the person of Jesus Christ to die for the sins of the world.
Isa 7:14
14 "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. (NKJ)
Isa 53:2,5
2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. (NKJ)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
John 12:37-41
37 Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.
38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: "Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"
39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:
40 "He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn-- and I would heal them."
41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him. (NIV)
Verses 40 and 41 refer back to the events of Isaiah, Chapter 6, when Isaiah saw Jehovah God sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up. Isaiah confessed his sinfulness as he saw the righteousness of the Lord.
Isa 6:5
5 Then said (Isaiah), Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. (KJV)
The Lord called Isaiah to preach but warned him that no one would listen.
Isa 6:9-10
9 And (the Lord said to Isaiah), Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. (KJV)
John said that when Isaiah saw Jehovah God, he actually saw Jesus Christ in all of His glory.
John 12:41
41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him.
Isaiah knew that someday Jehovah God would come to earth in the person of Jesus Christ to die for the sins of the world.
Isa 7:14
14 "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. (NKJ)
Isa 53:2,5
2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. (NKJ)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
Monday, November 10, 2003
The creation was a team project of the three persons of the Godhead: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
In Gen 2:26 we read:
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (KJV)
The Apostle Paul revealed in Colossians that Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God and the fulness of the Godhead bodily (Col 1:15, Col 2:9). Therefore, man was created in the image of Jesus Christ. Paul also revealed that it was the Lord Jesus who was the active participant in the events of creation.
Col 1:16-17
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (KJV)
This was confirmed by the Apostle John.
John 1:1-3
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.(KJV)
The Old Testament prophets proclaimed that Jehovah was the creator of heaven and earth.
Isa 45:18
18 For thus saith the LORD (Jehovah) that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD (Jehovah); and there is none else. (KJV)
The scriptures conclude that Jesus Christ is Jehovah. Jehovah accepted a body of flesh and was born of the virgin Mary. He died on the cross of Calvary for the sins of the world that those who believe could have eternal life. In the day of judgement, every person will someday stand before Jesus Christ to face the obvious truth that Jesus Christ is the Lord, Jehovah.
Phil 2:5-11
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (KJV)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
In Gen 2:26 we read:
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (KJV)
The Apostle Paul revealed in Colossians that Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God and the fulness of the Godhead bodily (Col 1:15, Col 2:9). Therefore, man was created in the image of Jesus Christ. Paul also revealed that it was the Lord Jesus who was the active participant in the events of creation.
Col 1:16-17
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (KJV)
This was confirmed by the Apostle John.
John 1:1-3
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.(KJV)
The Old Testament prophets proclaimed that Jehovah was the creator of heaven and earth.
Isa 45:18
18 For thus saith the LORD (Jehovah) that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD (Jehovah); and there is none else. (KJV)
The scriptures conclude that Jesus Christ is Jehovah. Jehovah accepted a body of flesh and was born of the virgin Mary. He died on the cross of Calvary for the sins of the world that those who believe could have eternal life. In the day of judgement, every person will someday stand before Jesus Christ to face the obvious truth that Jesus Christ is the Lord, Jehovah.
Phil 2:5-11
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (KJV)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
Friday, November 07, 2003
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Gen 1:1). Truly, we serve an awesome God. He created all things out of nothing. As the creator, God has full authority over the creation and has the right to require whatever He wants from His creation. Some wonder how there could be a God when there is so much evil in the world. C.S. Lewis rightly pointed out that if there were no God, there would be no standard by which to judge good and evil. God, Himself, is the standard. The presence of good and evil actually confirms the reality of God.
God gave the Bible to reveal Himself to the humans He had created. As we read the account of creation in Genesis, we find that God refers to Himself as Elohim and as Jehovah.
Elohim created heaven and earth.
Gen 1:1
1 In the beginning God (Elohim) created the heaven and the earth. (KJV)
Jehovah created the earth and the heavens.
Gen 2:4
4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God (Jehovah) made the earth and the heavens, (KJV)
Elohim created man.
Gen 1:26-27
26 And God (Elohim) said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God (Elohim) created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (KJV)
Jehovah formed man.
Gen 2:7
7 And the LORD God (Jehovah) formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (KJV)
This illustrates that there is no name which can fully declare the glory of God. God is infinite and there is no word which can fully ascribe to Him the appropriate attributes.
God spoke to Moses from the burning bush when He sent Moses to Egypt to deliver the children of Israel. Moses asked Who he should say had sent him.
Exod 3:13-14
13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. (KJV)
God's glory is beyond our human comprehension. All that we know of God is what we see in Jesus Christ, and Paul said that it pleased the Father that all of the fulness of God should dwell in Christ. There is nothing about God that is not totally and absolute truth of Jesus Christ.
John 14:8-9
8 Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us."
9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; . . . (NKJ)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
God gave the Bible to reveal Himself to the humans He had created. As we read the account of creation in Genesis, we find that God refers to Himself as Elohim and as Jehovah.
Elohim created heaven and earth.
Gen 1:1
1 In the beginning God (Elohim) created the heaven and the earth. (KJV)
Jehovah created the earth and the heavens.
Gen 2:4
4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God (Jehovah) made the earth and the heavens, (KJV)
Elohim created man.
Gen 1:26-27
26 And God (Elohim) said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God (Elohim) created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (KJV)
Jehovah formed man.
Gen 2:7
7 And the LORD God (Jehovah) formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (KJV)
This illustrates that there is no name which can fully declare the glory of God. God is infinite and there is no word which can fully ascribe to Him the appropriate attributes.
God spoke to Moses from the burning bush when He sent Moses to Egypt to deliver the children of Israel. Moses asked Who he should say had sent him.
Exod 3:13-14
13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. (KJV)
God's glory is beyond our human comprehension. All that we know of God is what we see in Jesus Christ, and Paul said that it pleased the Father that all of the fulness of God should dwell in Christ. There is nothing about God that is not totally and absolute truth of Jesus Christ.
John 14:8-9
8 Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us."
9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; . . . (NKJ)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
Thursday, November 06, 2003
In Gen 12:1-3 we read:
1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (KJV)
The blessing which God pronounced upon Abraham and his descendants was passed down to Isaac but not Ishmael, and it was passed down to Jacob but not Esau. It was passed down only to those who had faith like that of Abraham.
After Israel's Exodus from Egypt, most of the nation refused to enter the promised land. As a result, God announced that they would be punished with forty years of wandering in the wilderness. The people became terrified at that prospect and some of the Jews decided they would enter the land after all. Moses warned them not to try it because the power of God would not be with them. They entered the land and were slaughtered by the Canaanites. Only after forty years in the wilderness did the nation of Israel enter the promised land and receive the Old Covenant Kingdom.
After the Lord Jesus was crucified and the Holy Spirit was given, the New Covenant Kingdom was offered to Israel. This was to be the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham. Again, the nation of Israel refused to receive the kingdom. As a result, God temporarily set aside His promises to Abraham. In our present age, Israel has no special purpose among the nations. However, God has not forsaken His promise to Abraham. God will someday bring the nation of Israel back to the promised land. They will accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and will receive the New Covenant Kingdom.
Today, there are some Jews who want to take the promised land by force, thinking that it is God’s plan for them to do so. They need to be warned that God is not with them in this effort. They will fail miserably. In fact their efforts will result in the ultimate reign of the antichrist who will slaughter those who try to take the land in their own might.
Daniel prophesied in Dan 11:13-14:
13 For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches.
14 And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall. (KJV)
It is not wrong for Israel to have a nation today, but it would be wrong for the nation of Israel to think that their nation is somehow the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham. When Jesus Christ returns to establish the New Covenant Kingdom, He will defeat the antichrist and give the promised land to those Jews throughout the centuries who have faithfully waited upon the Lord.
Today, it is most important that believers teach the nation of Israel about the truth of Jesus Christ and warn the nation of Israel of the dangers of trying to take the promised land by force. It is still true that God will bless those who bless Israel, but believers need to do some serious thinking about the best way to bless Israel.
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (KJV)
The blessing which God pronounced upon Abraham and his descendants was passed down to Isaac but not Ishmael, and it was passed down to Jacob but not Esau. It was passed down only to those who had faith like that of Abraham.
After Israel's Exodus from Egypt, most of the nation refused to enter the promised land. As a result, God announced that they would be punished with forty years of wandering in the wilderness. The people became terrified at that prospect and some of the Jews decided they would enter the land after all. Moses warned them not to try it because the power of God would not be with them. They entered the land and were slaughtered by the Canaanites. Only after forty years in the wilderness did the nation of Israel enter the promised land and receive the Old Covenant Kingdom.
After the Lord Jesus was crucified and the Holy Spirit was given, the New Covenant Kingdom was offered to Israel. This was to be the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham. Again, the nation of Israel refused to receive the kingdom. As a result, God temporarily set aside His promises to Abraham. In our present age, Israel has no special purpose among the nations. However, God has not forsaken His promise to Abraham. God will someday bring the nation of Israel back to the promised land. They will accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and will receive the New Covenant Kingdom.
Today, there are some Jews who want to take the promised land by force, thinking that it is God’s plan for them to do so. They need to be warned that God is not with them in this effort. They will fail miserably. In fact their efforts will result in the ultimate reign of the antichrist who will slaughter those who try to take the land in their own might.
Daniel prophesied in Dan 11:13-14:
13 For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches.
14 And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall. (KJV)
It is not wrong for Israel to have a nation today, but it would be wrong for the nation of Israel to think that their nation is somehow the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham. When Jesus Christ returns to establish the New Covenant Kingdom, He will defeat the antichrist and give the promised land to those Jews throughout the centuries who have faithfully waited upon the Lord.
Today, it is most important that believers teach the nation of Israel about the truth of Jesus Christ and warn the nation of Israel of the dangers of trying to take the promised land by force. It is still true that God will bless those who bless Israel, but believers need to do some serious thinking about the best way to bless Israel.
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
Wednesday, November 05, 2003
Since believers today have the power of the Holy Spirit within them, why can’t we establish the Kingdom of God on the earth? That is a question which theologians have debated for nearly 2 thousand years. Some say that we can and that we should. Others say that it can not happen until Christ returns to personally rule on the earth. As you may have guessed, I hold the latter view. The reason is this. Today, God has ordained in His perfect wisdom to allow the devil to have great power and authority within the world system. In fact, the Apostle Paul said that the devil is the “god of this world”.
2 Cor 4:3-4
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 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. (KJV)
However, the devil has very little power over the believers of this age as long as they yield to the power of the Holy Spirit.
I Jn 4:4
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (KJV)
To experience the power of the Holy Spirit, the believer must learn to separate himself from the things of this world system.
I Jn 2:15-16
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world-- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-- is not of the Father but is of the world. (NKJ)
The devil has used his power and authority to ensure that success within our present world system depends upon playing the devil’s game. For Christians to rule the world today, they would have to gain power by means of deceit and manipulation. Then to maintain power, they would have to abuse human rights and severely limit individual liberties. I am afraid that the Christian religion has been very successful through the years because it has maintained its power over people by these very means. These methods will never establish a spiritual kingdom.
We can praise the Lord that God has used even the evils of the Christian religion to accomplish much for His glory. God used the Christian religion to give us the Bible as we know it today, and even though the Christian religion has little regard for the truth of the Bible, it has been and continues to be God’s primary instrument of light in this world of darkness. The word of God is alive and powerful. It brings people out of the darkness of this world system and into the light of Jesus Christ. Reportedly, D.L. Moody said that our world is a sinking ship, and it is not our job to save the ship. It is our job to rescue as many people as we can before the ship goes down.
When the Lord Jesus returns to set up the New Covenant Kingdom, the world will experience the personal presence of the Lord Jesus, and human hearts will be filled with the Spirit of God. The devil will be stripped of all of his power, and the curse will be lifted from the earth. In this new world system there will be liberty and justice for all.
Micah 4:3
3 He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. (NIV)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
2 Cor 4:3-4
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 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. (KJV)
However, the devil has very little power over the believers of this age as long as they yield to the power of the Holy Spirit.
I Jn 4:4
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (KJV)
To experience the power of the Holy Spirit, the believer must learn to separate himself from the things of this world system.
I Jn 2:15-16
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world-- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-- is not of the Father but is of the world. (NKJ)
The devil has used his power and authority to ensure that success within our present world system depends upon playing the devil’s game. For Christians to rule the world today, they would have to gain power by means of deceit and manipulation. Then to maintain power, they would have to abuse human rights and severely limit individual liberties. I am afraid that the Christian religion has been very successful through the years because it has maintained its power over people by these very means. These methods will never establish a spiritual kingdom.
We can praise the Lord that God has used even the evils of the Christian religion to accomplish much for His glory. God used the Christian religion to give us the Bible as we know it today, and even though the Christian religion has little regard for the truth of the Bible, it has been and continues to be God’s primary instrument of light in this world of darkness. The word of God is alive and powerful. It brings people out of the darkness of this world system and into the light of Jesus Christ. Reportedly, D.L. Moody said that our world is a sinking ship, and it is not our job to save the ship. It is our job to rescue as many people as we can before the ship goes down.
When the Lord Jesus returns to set up the New Covenant Kingdom, the world will experience the personal presence of the Lord Jesus, and human hearts will be filled with the Spirit of God. The devil will be stripped of all of his power, and the curse will be lifted from the earth. In this new world system there will be liberty and justice for all.
Micah 4:3
3 He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. (NIV)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
Tuesday, November 04, 2003
God’s Old Covenant with Israel was characterized by its association with the physical world. In the Old Covenant, Israel had a physical kingdom in which they offered physical tithes by means of physical sacrifices. They observed the physical Sabbath days and numerous feast days. They also had various ceremonial washings with physical water.
During God’s offer of the New Covenant Kingdom in the gospels and the Acts period, we see water baptism as well as many physical miracles, wonders, and signs which God gave to validate the offer of the New Covenant Kingdom. When Jesus Christ returns to establish the New Covenant Kingdom, Israel will be filled with the Holy Spirit of God and will serve as a nation of priests in a physical kingdom. As such, they will receive the tithes, administer the various physical ceremonies and serve as judges for the nations of the world.
However, the dispensation of the Church which is the Body of Christ is characterized by its association with the spiritual realm. We have been spiritually baptized into the Church which is the Body of Christ. We have been spiritually translated into a heavenly kingdom and have found our spiritual sabbath in the Lord Jesus. Our hearts have been miraculously filled with all spiritual blessings, and we find our fulness or completeness in the fulness of Christ.
Col 2:9-12
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 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. (KJV)
The physical realm is but an empty shell without the spiritual reality just as the physical human body is dead without the spirit. The physical circumcision of the Old Covenant pictured the spiritual necessity of dying to one’s self. The water baptism of the New Covenant pictured the spiritual reality of death as well as resurrection with Christ. The members of the Church which is the Body of Christ have the opportunity to experience the spiritual fulness that was pictured in the physical shadows.
Col 2:16-17
16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,
17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. (NKJ)
We, as members of the Church which is the Body of Christ, are citizens of heaven (Phil. 3: 20) and should set our affections on things above (Col. 3:2).
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
During God’s offer of the New Covenant Kingdom in the gospels and the Acts period, we see water baptism as well as many physical miracles, wonders, and signs which God gave to validate the offer of the New Covenant Kingdom. When Jesus Christ returns to establish the New Covenant Kingdom, Israel will be filled with the Holy Spirit of God and will serve as a nation of priests in a physical kingdom. As such, they will receive the tithes, administer the various physical ceremonies and serve as judges for the nations of the world.
However, the dispensation of the Church which is the Body of Christ is characterized by its association with the spiritual realm. We have been spiritually baptized into the Church which is the Body of Christ. We have been spiritually translated into a heavenly kingdom and have found our spiritual sabbath in the Lord Jesus. Our hearts have been miraculously filled with all spiritual blessings, and we find our fulness or completeness in the fulness of Christ.
Col 2:9-12
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 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. (KJV)
The physical realm is but an empty shell without the spiritual reality just as the physical human body is dead without the spirit. The physical circumcision of the Old Covenant pictured the spiritual necessity of dying to one’s self. The water baptism of the New Covenant pictured the spiritual reality of death as well as resurrection with Christ. The members of the Church which is the Body of Christ have the opportunity to experience the spiritual fulness that was pictured in the physical shadows.
Col 2:16-17
16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,
17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. (NKJ)
We, as members of the Church which is the Body of Christ, are citizens of heaven (Phil. 3: 20) and should set our affections on things above (Col. 3:2).
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
Monday, November 03, 2003
The Apostle Paul taught that each believer is in Christ and that the Spirit of Christ is in each believer. He also taught that this union resulted in believers becoming part of the body of Christ in a spiritual sense. In the pre-prison epistles, Paul spoke of the body of Christ in very general terms. However, in the prison epistles of Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians, Paul spoke of the formal institution of the Church which is the Body of Christ.
Eph 1:22-23
22 (God) put all things under (Christ’s) feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (KJV)
Not only does this verse show the Body of Christ as an institution, it shows an institutional structure in which Christ is the Head of the Body. This is emphasized again in Colossians.
Col 1:18
18 And (Christ) is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (KJV)
In his pre-prison epistles, Paul was clearly addressing people who, like himself, lived with the daily expectation of Christ’s return to set up His earthly kingdom.
1 Cor 6:1-3
1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?
2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? (NKJ)
In the prison epistles, Paul made no mention of Israel's New Covenant hope but said that the revelation of the Church which is the Body of Christ was given to him as a special dispensation or deposit of truth from God. In Ephesians, he called this revelation the dispensation of the grace of God.
Eph 3:1-2
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles--
2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, (NKJ)
In Colossians, Paul called it the dispensation of the Church which is the Body of Christ.
Col 1:24-25
24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
25 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; (KJV)
In II Corinthians 3:6, Paul said that he was a minister of Israel’s New Covenant, but in the prison epistles, he wrote simply as a minister of the Church which is the Body of Christ. As Paul wrote to the Ephesians, he said that the Church which is the Body of Christ was kept secret from all other generations but that God now wanted all men to understand this great mystery.
Eph 3:8-9
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: (KJV)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
Eph 1:22-23
22 (God) put all things under (Christ’s) feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (KJV)
Not only does this verse show the Body of Christ as an institution, it shows an institutional structure in which Christ is the Head of the Body. This is emphasized again in Colossians.
Col 1:18
18 And (Christ) is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (KJV)
In his pre-prison epistles, Paul was clearly addressing people who, like himself, lived with the daily expectation of Christ’s return to set up His earthly kingdom.
1 Cor 6:1-3
1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?
2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? (NKJ)
In the prison epistles, Paul made no mention of Israel's New Covenant hope but said that the revelation of the Church which is the Body of Christ was given to him as a special dispensation or deposit of truth from God. In Ephesians, he called this revelation the dispensation of the grace of God.
Eph 3:1-2
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles--
2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, (NKJ)
In Colossians, Paul called it the dispensation of the Church which is the Body of Christ.
Col 1:24-25
24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
25 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; (KJV)
In II Corinthians 3:6, Paul said that he was a minister of Israel’s New Covenant, but in the prison epistles, he wrote simply as a minister of the Church which is the Body of Christ. As Paul wrote to the Ephesians, he said that the Church which is the Body of Christ was kept secret from all other generations but that God now wanted all men to understand this great mystery.
Eph 3:8-9
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: (KJV)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
