God’s Church
Romans 1:1
(1) “PAUL, A SERVANT OF JESUS CHRIST, CALLED TO BE AN APOSTLE, SEPARATED UNTO THE GOSPEL OF GOD,”
The phrase, “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ,” in effect, has Paul labeling himself as a “bondslave” of Christ. This refers to one who is the entire property of another (Mat. 20:27; I Cor. 6:19–20; II Cor. 4:5).
As well, if it matters, Paul is the only one of the Bible Writers who discarded his Jewish name (Saul) for his Gentile name.
Actually, his Gentile name gains the ascendancy on his first Missionary Journey as he deals with the Roman Officer on Cyprus, and thereafter marks him out as the Apostle to the Gentiles, which was his Calling (Acts, Chpt. 13).
The word “servant” or “doulos” in the Greek Text, actually denotes, as stated, a slave, even in the most abject and servile of meanings.
The word designated one who was born as a slave, one who was bound to his master in cords so strong that only death could break them, one who served his master to the disregard of his own interests, one whose will was swallowed up in the will of his master.
Paul was born a slave of sin at his physical birth, and a bondslave of his Lord through Regeneration. The cords that bound him to his old master Satan, were rent asunder in his identification with Christ in the latter’s death. The cords that bind him to his new Master will never be broken since the new Master will never die again, and is Paul’s New Life, and ours as well, I might quickly add.
Paul’s will, at one time swallowed up in the will of Satan, now is swallowed up in the sweet Will of God. In this he calls himself “A bondslave of Christ Jesus.”
Actually, there were certain individuals in the Roman Empire designated “Slaves of the Emperor.” This was a position of honor. One finds a reflection of this in Paul’s act of designating himself as a slave of the King of kings. If one is to notice, he even puts this ahead of his Apostleship (Wuest).
The phrase, “Called to be an Apostle,” actually says in the Greek “A called Apostle.”
The word “called” in the Greek is “kletos” and means “called to an Office and Divinely selected and appointed to fill it” (I Cor. 1:1; Gal. 1:15). In other words, his calling came from the very Highest Source, the Lord Himself.
In fact, the three statements of verse 1, emphasize the Apostle’s independency of the Twelve at Jerusalem, or anyone else for that matter. He was chosen by the Holy Spirit. He was not their servant, neither was he chosen by them to be an Apostle, nor ordained by them to preach the Gospel.
However, in no way is the Salutation meant to impugn the Twelve, or anyone else for that matter, but is simply meant to state that God is the One Who does the calling, and as it held true for Paul, it holds true for all others as well.
Paul wished to emphasize, for the sake of his authority and the authority which his position would give the letter he was writing, that he was already in possession of the Office of the Apostle, and exercising the authority it conferred upon him. The word “Apostle” means “sent on a commission.” The noun was used of an envoy, namely, one sent on a commission to represent another person, the person sent being given credentials and the responsibility of carrying out the orders of the one sending him. Actually, our word “Ambassador” adequately translates it. Paul thought of himself as an “Ambassador of the King of kings” (Wuest).
The idea and tenor of Acts and the Epistles regarding all those called by God, always denote the Call as independent of human instrumentation; consequently, the Called one must answer first of all to God. In fact, the only thing the Called one owes to his brother and sister in Christ, and this would hold true for all Believers, is to “Love one another” (Rom. 13:8).
Of course, and as should be overly obvious, if one truly loves another, one would never do anything to hurt or to harm that person in any fashion.
~JSM
Romans 1:24-28
(24) “WHEREFORE GOD ALSO GAVE THEM UP TO UNCLEANNESS THROUGH THE LUSTS OF THEIR OWN HEARTS, TO DISHONOR THEIR OWN BODIES BETWEEN THEMSELVES:”
The phrase, “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts,” presents mankind not merely drifting toward depravity, but actually in a sense being shoved by God in that direction.
Since men chose to give up God and worship the creature, God could do nothing but give men into the control of the sinful things they preferred. In other words, God would not violate man’s will and force him to do something he did not want to do. When men persisted in following their totally depraved natures, God allowed them free reign. The natural result was immorality of the vilest kind (Wuest).
Alford says of God’s act of delivering mankind over into the control of utter human depravity, “Not merely permissive, but judicially, God delivered them over. As sin begets sin, and darkness of mind, deeper darkness, Grace gives place to judgment, and the Divine Wrath hardens men, and hurries them on to more fearful degrees of depravity.” God delivered man to uncleanness.
The word “lusts” is “epithumia” in the Greek Text, and means, “a passionate craving, longing, desire,” and in this sense, an inordinately sinful one.
Alford again says, “Not by or through the lusts; the lusts of their heart were the field of action, the department of their being in which the dishonor took place.” In other words, this was what their hearts wanted.
The phrase, “To dishonour their own bodies between themselves,” carries with it more than the mere profligacy in the satisfaction of natural lust, but rather bestiality, which refers to impurity in the physical, and not only in the social and religious sense. In other words, man is grossly immoral.
It speaks of adultery, fornication, pedophilia (sex with children), bestiality (sex with animals), lesbianism and homosexuality.
(25) “WHO CHANGED THE TRUTH OF GOD INTO A LIE, AND WORSHIPPED AND SERVED THE CREATURE MORE THAN THE CREATOR, WHO IS BLESSED FOR EVER. AMEN.”
The phrase, “Who changed the Truth of God into a lie,” refers back to verse 23, which speaks of spiritual and sexual uncleanness.
In the realm of idolatry, this refers to anything that is placed before Christ.
Most people presently are not inclined to make idols out of pieces of wood as they did many centuries ago; however, if we allow anything to come between Christ and us, whether we realize it or not, such becomes an idol. That’s why John the Beloved said, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols” (I Jn. 5:21).
However, this condition of men’s hearts in purposely refusing the Truth of God, led to the Lord using no restraining force over man whatsoever, allowing him without restraint to push headlong into this lie of darkness, which in effect is the same as God giving man a push. Considering man’s already depraved condition, the slide even further downward was terrible, to say the least!
As we see here, the words, “God also gave them up,” as given in verse 24, is a restraining force exercised by God even on unregenerate mankind, unless refused, which it was and continues to be.
As well, there is a far greater restraining force on Believers as should be obvious (Job 1:10; Ps. 91; Rom. 8:28).
However, this restraining force even on Believers can be removed as well through disobedience and rebellion.
The phrase, “And worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator,” presents that of which Paul spoke in his Message to the Athenians (Acts 17:29–30).
For man to worship and serve the creature, means that he is doing such to something he has made with his hands, and is, therefore, less than him.
Regarding the “creature,” even if man worships himself or other men and women, which most of the world does, still, what good does such do him?
The phrase, “Who is blessed for ever,” should have been translated, “bless-ed,” because it refers to God.
The word “blessed” refers to one receiving a Blessing, in which as should be obvious, God needs nothing.
The word “bless-ed,” in effect, two syllables, refers to the One doing the Blessing, in this case, the Lord.
The idea is, all True Blessings come exclusively from the Lord, with idols or anything else for that matter, able to produce none at all.
The word “Amen” means that this is anchored in the Word of God, and as such, will not change.
(28) “AND EVEN AS THEY DID NOT LIKE TO RETAIN GOD IN THEIR KNOWLEDGE, GOD GAVE THEM OVER TO A REPROBATE MIND, TO DO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE NOT CONVENIENT;”
The phrase, “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge,” carries the idea of the human race putting God to the test for the purpose of approving or disapproving Him.
They wanted a God to their liking, and finding that He did not meet those specifications, the world refused to approve Him as the God to be worshiped, or have Him in its knowledge.
The “knowledge” spoken here, in the Greek is “epignosis,” and means “full and precise knowledge.” In other words, their knowledge of God, due to their rebellion against Him and, therefore, going into deep sin, was only a dim memory, and that perverted!
If one wants to know what is wrong with the modern School System in America, despite the fact of hundreds of billions of dollars being thrown at this ever-worsening situation, it is because Educators “did not like to retain God in their knowledge.” So, and speaking of the Public School System, we have Godless schools, which means that the schools are filled with Satan. We have Godless education, which means that what knowledge the students do have is largely warped and twisted, ill preparing them for life. We have Godless direction, consequently we have erroneous ways.
The phrase, “God gave them over to a reprobate mind,” presents the third time such a statement is used (vss. 24, 26). Once again, humanity wanted that which was licentious and evil and the Lord took away the restraining forces, allowing them to have what they desired.
The words “Reprobate mind” in the Greek Text is “adokimon noun.” It carries the idea of the human race putting God on trial, and because it rejected Him after trial, God gives it a “trialess” mind, in other words, one incapable of discharging the functions of a mind with respect to the things of Salvation (Wuest).
As they did not think it fit to keep God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a mind which has no way to comprehend God. In other words, Light rejected is Light withdrawn. The one thing answers to the other.
Virtually, they pronounced the True God disapproved, and would have none of Him, and He in turn gave them up to a disapproved mind, a mind which is no mind and cannot discharge the functions of one, a mind in which the Divine distinctions of right and wrong are confused and lost, so that God’s condemnation cannot but fall on it at last.
This speaks of people who are completely perverted, and as the Canaanites of old, who did their abominations unto their gods, then the last deep of evil has been reached.
The phrase, “To do those things which are not convenient,” concerns wrong direction which will affect the person in every capacity, and in a very negative way.
The Greek word for “convenient” is “katheko,” and means “It is becoming, it is fitting.” So, the human race does things which are not fitting.
It is like an old abandoned building, the home of bats, spiders and snakes, not a very pleasant place to be (Robertson).
~J. Swaggart Ministries
Was America created as a Christian nation? Those who forged a nation of steel from 13 British colonies won liberty against all odds only because of their faith in a Supreme, Almighty God. Today’s view that America is not a Christian nation comes from the views of social progressives in government and from the atheistic princes of industry and the barons of banking and business who possess the wealth to enforce their views through their advocates in the leftwing media who claim America was not, and today is not, a Christian nation.
In 1951 a Gallup Poll reported that 92% of all Americans identified themselves as Christians. In 2011, 76% of Americans still identified themselves as Christians. Fifteen percent claimed to be atheists or agnostic. Interestingly, in 2011 the Gallup Pollshowed that while only 76% of those polled identified themselves as Christians, 92% of those polled said they believed in God, but only 55% said religion was important in their lives. I guess that 55% believed they were going to save themselves by doing good deeds although the Bible clearly tells us we are saved by faith and not by works [Eph. 2:8-9]
In a campaign speech on June 28, 2006, US Senate candidate Barack Obama said:“Where we once were, we are no longer a Christian nation—at least, not just. We are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation and a Buddhist nation and a Hindu nation, and a nation of non-believers.” The Christian community in the United States—that 76% of the population which claimed to be Christians, or at least the 55% (not just of registered voters, but the 55% of the population) who insisted that religion was important in their lives, should have been shouting from the rooftops that not only was Barack Obama not eligible to run for the office he was seeking inn 2006, he wasn’t fit to be a candidate in the presidential race of 2008 because he lacked the stalwart character Americans have always expected their national leaders to possess—beginning with being a natural born citizen of the United States. While you don’t have to be a natural born citizen to seek the office of a US Senator, you are still required to be a citizen of the United States, either native born or naturalized. Obama is neither. Sadly, the guardians of liberty—the free press—which was Constitutionally guaranteed immunity from arrest or prosecution for speaking out against tyranny, chose to join the conspiracy financed by the princes of industry and the barons of banking and business who are now creating a new society on Earth that will bring about global government.
The United States of America is no longer safe because its government has succeeded in evicting God from the lives of our children, from our military and even from our churches. And we wonder why crime is, once again, on the rise across the land.
While many Americans believe that the official attack on religion in the United States began with Obama in 2010, in point-of-fact, it did not. As noted in the opening paragraphs above, it began with the ABA in 1989. While the ABA triggered the initial assault on Christians and the Christian Church its motive remained concealed and, for the most part, still is because the very first attempt to create world government failed in 1920 when our 28th president, Thomas Woodrow Wilson, was unable to convince Congress to join the League of Nations and surrender America’s sovereignty to a world government headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. Why did it fail? For one simple reason. Faith in God it immutably tied to patriotism and national pride.
In 1920, the globalists who plotted to erase American sovereignty and reshackle the United States to the crown heads of Europe couldn’t understand why, with generational world peace as its objective, the US Senate declined to ratify the Treaty of Versaillessimply because it meant surrendering the nation’s sovereignty to the European socialists in the Hague. In the view of the social progressives, if every nation on Earth surrendered their external sovereignty, it would end war for all time by forging a world government which would have the authority to eliminate the private ownership of guns by all peoples—particularly the United States—within the global union. Of course, the nations which wouldn’t join the global confederation under the control of the Hague would be the totalitarian regimes in the Muslim and communist worlds.
When President George HW Bush claimed we were now part of a “New World Order” in 1989, the social progressives utopians realized three things. First, they realized they were rapidly running out of time. Second, they realized that voluntary world government could not become a reality because Christian America knew that liberty is not a gift of the State, it is a perpetual gift from God. And, finally, the social progressive princes of industry realized that Christianity was so fused to patriotism thatas long as the United States remained a Christian nation, it would never willingly surrender neither its sovereignty nor its liberty.
That’s why the attack against Christians and the outlawing of Christianity as a racist religion was behind schedule. The globalists were running out of time. While theSleeping Republic still doesn’t get it, the clock that is ticking down isn’t their clock—it’sGod‘s. And His timeline is still on schedule.
And, that’s why the utopians who were attempting to create world government at the end of World War I were slow to grasp the depth that the nationalistic fervor that fuels patriotism is rooted in faith—Christian faith.
It became more clear to the globalists between the two world wars that, before American sovereignty could be breached, the princes of industry—aided by corrupt political hacks, judges, and bureaucrats—would have to erase Christianity from the hearts, minds and souls of the American people.
Because the American people struggled against impossible odds to gain their freedom from the overlords of Europe, the Founding Fathers of the United States understood that, more than anything, it was the patriotism of the colonial soldier that buoyed him through the war America should have lost.
~Excerpt –Jon Christian Ryter-
What is the Sin Nature?
In simple terminology, the sin nature is the bent of the human being toward sin. When Adam and Eve fell, they fell from the level of total God-consciousness down to the far, far lower level of sin-consciousness. As a result of the Fall, their entire nature became one of sin. In other words, they were controlled by the sin nature, even as every single unredeemed person in the world is controlled by the sin nature.
Before you, as a Believer, gave your heart to Christ, you were totally and completely controlled by the sin nature, and in every capacity, which refers to every aspect of life and living. In other words, your whole bent or persuasion was altogether toward sin.
Paul said:
“And you has He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
“Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience:
“Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others” (Eph. 2:1–3).
Let us look now at these same Verses from THE EXPOSITOR’S NEW TESTAMENT:
“And you has He quickened (made alive), who were dead in trespasses and sins (total depravity due to the Fall and original sin);
“Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world (refers to the fact that the unredeemed order their behavior and regulate their lives within this sphere of trespasses and sins), according to the prince of the power of the air (pertains to the fact that Satan heads up the system of this world), the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience (the spirit of Satan, which fills all unbelievers, thereby working disobedience):
“Among whom (the children of disobedience) also we all had our conversation (manner of life) in times past in the lusts of our flesh (evil cravings), fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind (the minds of the unredeemed are the laboratory of perverted thoughts, impressions, imaginations, etc.); and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” (God’s Wrath is unalterably opposed to sin, and the only solution is the Cross.)
All of this tells us that the sin nature totally and completely controls the unredeemed individual, whoever that person might be, despite their education or lack thereof! Born in original sin, mankind is controlled by the sin nature, which is the cause of all war, strife, and man’s inhumanity to man.
As we have stated, this thing can be ameliorated only by one’s acceptance of Christ and what Christ has done for us at the Cross. At the Cross alone was sin addressed.
Paul said: “But this Man (this Priest, Christ Jesus), after He had offered one Sacrifice for sins forever (speaks of the Cross), sat down on the Right Hand of God (refers to the great contrast with the Priests under the Levitical System, who never sat down, because their work was never completed; the work of Christ on the Cross was a “Finished Work,” and needed no repetition [Heb. 10:12]).
The Christian and the Sin nature
When you came to Christ, you were born again, thereby becoming a “new creation in Christ Jesus” (II Cor. 5:17). At that time, the Holy Spirit, in His regenerating process in your heart and life, also gave you the “Divine Nature” (II Pet. 1:4). When you were born again, the sin nature became dormant in your life. It was not taken out, but, as we have already addressed, it was made ineffective. However, if you, as a Believer, do not know how to properly exercise your Faith, which must always be in the Cross of Christ, you will find yourself depending on self, even though you may not understand that’s what you are doing.
When this happens, and I’m speaking of trusting in “self” instead of the Cross, you will fail the Lord. When this takes place, it is like throwing gasoline on the fire. The sin nature, which had been dormant in your life, will suddenly come alive because it is sin which fuels this nature. It will then start to control you, exactly as it did before you were saved.
As we’ve already stated several times, if the Believer doesn’t understand the Cross as it regards Sanctification, he will not understand how to address the sin nature, and will not be able to obey the Lord, no matter how hard he may try otherwise.
Paul said:
“Let not sin therefore reign (rule) in your mortal body, that you should obey it in the lusts thereof” (Rom. 6:12).
While the sin nature is to remain in your mortal body, it is not to “reign”in your mortal body. Tragically, it is ruling and reigning in the hearts and lives of most Christians, and they don’t even understand what is happening to them. The cause is either ignorance of the Word or unbelief of the Word.
Remember what Paul said:
“For that which I do I allow (understand) not” (Rom. 7:15).
Lack of Scriptural Teaching
This which I am teaching you is seldom taught in the modern Church. Coming up in Church as a young boy, actually being in Church most of my life, I don’t recall ever hearing, or reading, one single sermon on the subject of the sin nature.
Over the years, I’ve read hundreds, maybe thousands, of sermons. I did occasionally come across the phrase, “sin nature,” but, until I read the information given by Kenneth Wuest, no one had ever explained in their Messages exactly what the sin nature was and how dangerous it actually was.
To be sure, Scriptural ignorance can cause one just as much problem as unbelief. Unfortunately, almost all of the modern Church is ignorant regarding the “sin nature.” As a result, failure among Believers is of tragic proportions. And, please believe me, the failure of which we speak results in broken hearts, broken lives, twisted dreams, and pain and suffering of such magnitude as to defy all description.
The Reader should carefully notice in the Word of God how frequently the Apostle Paul says, “Now I would not have you ignorant …” (Rom. 1:13; 10:3; 11:25; I Cor. 10:1; 12:1; 14:38; II Cor. 1:8; 2:11; I Thess. 4:13). Considering that the word “ignorant” was used that many times in Paul’s writings, don’t you think the Holy Spirit is trying to tell us something?
The sad truth is that the sin nature is ruling, in some way, the hearts and lives of most Christians, exactly as it did before they got saved. This is tragic, but true!
And how do I know that?
I know that simply because the modern Church understands the Cross not at all as it regards Sanctification. That being the case, and it most definitely is, the sin nature will most definitely rule and reign. That makes for a miserable existence for the Child of God.
Swaggart, J. (2005). Baton Rouge, LA: World Evangelism Press.
Ephesians 4:4
(4) “THERE IS ONE BODY, AND ONE SPIRIT, EVEN AS YE ARE CALLED IN ONE HOPE OF YOUR CALLING;”
The “Unity of the Spirit” of which Paul has spoken, brings into realization the unity of the Son and thence to the Source of unity in the Father, as we will see in succeeding Verses.
“One Body” depicts the Church as a single visible community. It is not simply a mystical concept. Its unity is recognizable in that Jews and Gentiles are now seen to be reconciled in Christ. In the Pagan world there were many religious cults, but as it regards Christianity, all are members of one Body. However, the Holy Spirit through the Apostle had much more in mind than merely the amalgamation of Jews and Gentiles into one Body, i.e., “one Church.” He is speaking of the entirety of the Plan of God as it regards not only the Church, but each individual. It is the manner in which all things are received from the Lord, and as well, in which all things are given to us.
“One Spirit” indwells the Body of Christ. By Him the Body lives and moves (I Cor. 12:13). The Holy Spirit is its soul; apart from Him it cannot exist. Consequently, the same Spirit fell on the Jews at Pentecost and on the Gentiles in the House of Cornelius. Peter made it clear that it was the same Spirit (Acts 10:47; 11:12, 15–17).
The “one Spirit” Who has already spanned this gulf will bring together all who Name the Name of Christ, and for the obvious reasons.
The Holy Spirit is the pledge of our inheritance (Eph. 1:14) and so He is the Guarantor of the “one hope” to which we are called (Eph. 1:18; 2:12). This is not the hope that stems from the calling but the hope that belongs to the call (Eph. 4:1). It is, of course, the hope of sharing Christ’s Glory at the end of the age (I Jn. 3:2).
ONE BODY
The phrase, “There is one Body,” pertains to the Church, the Body of called-out Believers. Admittance to this Body is the “Born-Again” experience (Jn. 3:3).
This “Body” is the invisible Church, and yet at the same time visible, the Mystical Body of Christ, which is composed of all Believers before the Cross and after the Cross. All are included in this Body, for this was actually the purpose of God in forming the nation of Israel to begin with. It was done in order to give the world the Word of God, and bring the Redeemer into the world, so that all, both Jews and Gentiles would have the opportunity of Salvation, all in Christ. That Israel refused her share, in no way negated the Plan of God, even though it did alter its direction (Rom. Chpt. 11).
This “One Body” will have its culmination at the Rapture, or perhaps a better word would be “The Resurrection.” That’s the reason that the Holy Spirit said through John, “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the First Resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be Priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years” (Rev. 20:6).
The phrase, “One Body” means as should be obvious, that there aren’t 20 Churches or five, or even two. There is just one, and as stated, admittance into this Church or Body is the acceptance of Christ, Who Alone is the Redeemer (Jn. 3:16).
Man cannot bring an individual into this “Body,” and man cannot take an individual out of this “Body.” To be sure, some have been attempting to do that, and I speak of so-called religious leaders, almost since the beginning of time. In other words, the claim by some, that if you do not belong to their Church you are not saved, etc. Such is foolishness, as should be obvious!
While it’s imperative that the Believer find a good Church, faithfully attend that Church, and faithfully support that Church, it must always be understood, that membership or participation in an earthly organization, constitutes no Salvation at all. However, the assembling of ourselves together in order to worship God is absolutely necessary, and for all the obvious reasons. We are saved not only to ourselves, but as a part of the Body, and as such, we desire to be with the Body.
THE NECESSITY OF A GOOD CHURCH
As we’ve already explained, when we say “Church” we are not necessarily speaking of a building beside the road with the name “Church” painted on it. Church is made up of Believers, and when Believers meet together in order to worship God, wherever that may be, that is “Church.”
It is absolutely necessary that one be led by the Spirit as it regards the Pastor under whom one sits. The Believer will always be a product of what they are taught. God has set various callings in the Church for this purpose, which we will deal with in the 11th Verse. However, if the Believer chooses to sit under an “Angel of Light,” who in fact, is one of “Satan’s ministers,” the end results will be dire (II Cor. 11:12–15).
To which we have already alluded these “ministers” will look like God, act like God, talk like God, and say many right things; however, all of that is done, in order to snare the individual for their own devious purposes. False teachers came into the Church in the time of Paul, which caused him to address this subject over and over again, and to be sure, false teachers are still abundant presently. In fact, for every “true Teacher of the Word,” there are probably several false teachers of the Word.
Unfortunately, there are many Believers, perhaps the majority, who are truly in this “one Body,” meaning they have been truly Born-Again, but are sitting under false teachers. It happened at Corinth and Galatia, with attempts no doubt being made in all the Churches planted by Paul, necessitating several of his Epistles.
So, Satan will do all within his power to keep the person out of this “Body of Christ,” but if he cannot do that, he will attempt to push them into erroneous teaching, which will greatly hinder their spiritual growth, and could even cause them to ultimately be lost.
THE EFFORTS OF SATAN
Satan was strongly attempting in the time of Paul to split the Church, in effect, making it two bodies of Christ, one composed of the Jews and another composed of the Gentiles. Through the power of the Cross, reconciliation with God had been effected for both Jew and Gentile, thus creating the possibility not only of the vertical relationship of peace with God but also the horizontal relationship of peace with all men. Thus, one Body of Believers has been brought into being (Eph. 2:16).
As we have stated, Satan’s effort in this capacity did not die with the early Church but continues unto this moment. He attempts to make several bodies, which of course, can never be sanctioned by the Holy Spirit. So, any Believer who even remotely hints in his thinking, of admittance into this Body, as by any other way than Faith in Christ, that individual is on dangerous ground. In other words, if he thinks that one has to belong to his Church to be saved, he has just created a second body, which the Lord cannot accept and in which the Holy Spirit cannot work. In other words, the very thing they are claiming—their Church as the only Church—has the very opposite effect. By their own actions, they are taking themselves out of the true Body of Christ, placing themselves into this man-devised body. Millions have lost their souls in this fashion.
The “one Body” means that this is not a Western Gospel, or an Eastern Gospel, or any other type of localized Gospel. It is one Gospel for this one Body, for the entirety of the world, for all of mankind, all in Christ.
ONE SPIRIT
The phrase, “And One Spirit,” refers, of course, to the Holy Spirit. Even though this phrase is short, it contains a wealth of meaning, as should be obvious.
Paul is stressing here the unity of the Godhead, which unity should rest in the hearts of Believers as well. Inasmuch as there is only One Holy Spirit, there can be no diversity of doctrine or contradiction in any capacity. So, in essence, Paul is saying that both he and the Judaizers cannot be correct, inasmuch as the teaching of each contradicts the others. It is the same presently!
There are hundreds and possibly even thousands of different types of Churches and belief systems as it regards the Word of God, much, often contradictory. Knowing that the Holy Spirit is not the Author of such contradiction, then we must come to the conclusion that some are wrong in their Doctrine. For those who sit under such wrong doctrine, and untold millions do, what they are hearing is not given by the Holy Spirit, not inspired by the Holy Spirit, which means irrespective of the claims, that it is not the Word of God. Consequently, deception and spiritual wreckage are the result, which regrettably, characterizes most of that which goes under the name of “Church.”
THE TRUE CHURCH
The true Church does not go under a denominational name. Whatever name it goes under, it is where the One and the Selfsame Spirit dwells.
Regarding all who are truly Born-Again, it was the same Holy Spirit Who awakened all; enlightened all; convicted all; and, converted all. Wherever they may be, and whoever, there has been substantially the same work of the Spirit in the heart of every Christian. There are circumstantial differences arising from diversities of temperament, disposition, and education; there may be a difference in the depth and power of His operations on the soul; there may be a difference in the degree of conviction for sin and in the evidence of conversion, but still there are the same operations on the heart essentially, produced by the same Spirit.
All the Gifts which come from God, are in essence, products of the Spirit. All the zeal, the ardor, the love, the self-denial in the Church, are produced by the same Spirit. Consequently, there should be, therefore, “unity.”
There is one Spirit, the Holy Spirit of God Who was outpoured on Believers with such marvelous manifestations on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1–4), who were altogether Jewish. As well, this same Spirit was given to the Gentile Believers at Caesarea under the ministry of Peter (Acts 10:44–46; 15:7–9), and in fact, to all Believers from then unto now.
Swaggart, J.
Many have been offended/hurt in the body of Christ by fellow Christians and many believe that one has to put up with and continue in fellowship with the offender and keep moving as if nothing has happened. This isn’t the bible’s stance. The bible does expect the offended to forgive but fellowship may not be restored. The bible desires for us as Christians to admit our faults with the intent of not doing it again, and get it right with fellow believers. God doesn’t expect the offended to continue to be a door mat, but the goal is that we walk in fellowship with one another if at all possible. We can forgive the offender but sometimes the offender may not be willing to admit his/her faults and continue to walk in offending others.
~Shonette
ON RESTITUTION AND PRAYER
Matthew 5:23-26
23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the Altar (referring to the Brazen Altar as used in the offering of Sacrifices in the Law of Moses), and there remember that your brother has ought against you (is meant to describe our relationship with our fellowman);
24 Leave there your gift before the Altar (the intimation is that the Lord will not accept our “gift” unless we do all within our power to make things right with the offended party), and go your way (make every effort to bring about reconciliation, if at all possible); first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift (worship will not be accepted by the Lord, if we have wronged our brother, and have not done all within our power to make amends).
CHRISTIAN RELATIONSHIPS
25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are in the way with him (if we offend our brother and do not make amends, the Lord becomes our adversary, or opponent, which places one in a serious situation indeed); lest at any time the adversary deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison (regarding a Believer who offends a fellow Christian, and will not make amends, God becomes that person’s Adversary, and thereby is Judge instead of his Saviour, and spiritually speaking, puts such a person in a spiritual prison).
26 Verily I say unto you (the absolute solemnity of this statement), You shall by no means come out thence (come out of this spiritual prison), till you have paid the uttermost farthing (the Lord’s method of teaching was symbolic and figurative; if the Believer doesn’t make amends with his fellowman who he has wronged, he will suffer one reverse after the other; God will see to it).
1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
John 4:23-24 But 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.
In today’s church we find that the emphasis is often placed on serving, working, submitting but it’s all to an organization or a man or woman behind the pulpit. Oftentimes, it’s not stated verbally but it is insinuated and often expected of it’s members. We often tie belonging to a church with our Salvation, but if we were to read our bibles in the full meaning and context of scriptures, we will find that our loyalty and commitment is to the Lord. There is nothing wrong with going to a church or belonging to an organization, the bible encourages that, but our loyalty and commitment is to the Lord and His redemption plan, Calvary. Commitment ends when the word of God has been violated, misinterpreted, manipulated, and abused. In 1 Samuel 15:22, you can see where King Saul thought that his participation in a religious event and the offering of sacrifices to the Lord, but having to neglect to obey the Lord’s command, would bring about a favorable response from God.
In the Hebrew text, the words, “to obey is better than sacrifice” asserts in the clearest terms the superiority of moral to ritual worship, and that God can only be really served with the heart. This is what we are missing in most of our churches. We are more focused on externally building our kingdoms instead of allowing the Spirit of God to build us in character morally and internally. We have forgotten that Christ is the Head of the Church, that is the Body of Christ. Many as stated in Mark 7:7-13, have allowed the traditions of the church and man to hinder us in our relationship with the Lord by laying aside the commandment of God for the rules and traditions of men.
Notice that Samuel states that the Lord has a great delight in obeying the voice of the Lord. I have come to the conclusion that the reason we are so loyal to men is due to not knowing the voice of the Lord. The bible states that His sheep follow Him because they know His voice and a stranger they will not follow (John 10:4-5). I have seen many leaders upset with individuals because they will not follow them, their ministry, their planning and efforts outside of faith in Calvary. Those who are of Christ, follow His message, His voice and those of like faith…etc., and His alone. Why? Because Christ states that “If I be lifted up, I will draw all men”(John 12:32). The way in which He was lifted up was at Calvary where He paid the price for our redemption. It is not enough to lift up churches, ministries, works, activities, leaders ….etc., but this message of the atonement made at Calvary is where the power resides to save and deliver all men who will believe.
True worshipers, obey God by the power of the Holy Spirit when one’s faith is properly placed in Calvary, according to the Truth (as only found in the message of the Cross) of the Gospel which brings about true freedom and rest from all bondage. Follow Him!
~Shonette
and he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Beth-el, and pitched his tent, having Beth-el on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he built an Altar unto the LORD, and called upon the Name of the LORD (Gen. 12:8).
“Beth-el” means “House of God.” “Hai” means “garbage dump.”
The Altar alone, typifying the Cross, can keep the Believer away from the garbage dump.
It is virtually impossible for the Believer to know the difference between the “House of God” and the “garbage dump” other than by the Cross. That’s the reason we have so much false doctrine presently and so many Christians following false doctrine. For the last several decades, the Church has drifted so far from the Cross that it hardly knows any more where it has been, where it is, or where it is going. Because it no longer plants its doctrines on the foundation of the Cross, it has lost completely its moorings.
Without an understanding of the Cross, there is absolutely no discernment regarding false doctrine.
That’s the reason that Paul said:
“Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times (the times in which we now live) some shall depart from the Faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (I Tim. 4:1).
A “departure from the Faith,” i.e., “Christ and Him Crucified,” is the reason!
Never forget:
Satan dresses up his “garbage dumps” to look like something else altogether. In other words, they look like anything but garbage dumps; and, without an understanding of the Cross, invariably that’s the way the Believer will go (Gal. 6:14).
~J. Swaggart
January 7
and the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto your seed will I give this land: and there built he an Altar unto the LORD, Who appeared unto him (Gen. 12:7).
Abraham is referred to as the “Altar builder.” Why did he build so many Altars?
Whenever the Lord spoke to Abraham, and Abraham heard and yielded, which was the moment of his conversion, the Lord also made it very clear to Abraham as to the manner in which man was to approach God. It only could be through the sacrifice of a clean animal, which necessitated the shedding of blood, all which symbolized Christ. That was the only way that God could converse with man—any man. God accepts nothing from humanity except it comes by the way of the Cross.
That’s the reason that Abraham had to build a new Altar everywhere he went. There was no other way to converse with the Lord.
It has not changed even unto this moment. Man can come to God only by the way of the Cross (I Cor. 2:2).
This means if the Church is not preaching the Cross, then whatever that particular Church is doing is totally unacceptable to God. This means every person who attends such a Church, for whatever reason they are attending, is not attending for the Lord, but for something else entirely. Such a course spells disaster!
Find a Church which “builds the Altar,” i.e., “trusts in Christ and what He did at the Cross”; there life and victory will be found (I Cor. 1:17–18, 21, 23; 2:2).
~J. Swaggart
The Idol of Ethnicity
The idol of ethnicity: There are many believers who have allowed their ethnicity and culture to trump the Word of God. Jesus said culture is even stronger than the Word of God in some people’s lives (Mark 7:7-8). Consequently, people read the Scriptures through their Caucasian/Western, Afro-centric, Hispanic or Asian lenses. One of the most important things to do in regards to receiving the Word of God for personal transformation is to attempt to take ourselves out of our own skin and read the Bible through the eyes of the authors original intent—something only the Holy Spirit can accomplish. There is no such thing as a Western European Caucasian Bible or an Afro-centric Bible. We need to stop reading the Scriptures merely through our ethnic lens because the truth is that the Bible was written with a Hebraic mindset and it is foolish to think we can fully understand it with our contemporary ethnic mindset.
Consequently, believers often act and react no different from non-believers in regards to things that happen in contemporary society. White, black and brown believers have generally reacted far different from one another when it comes to interpreting immigration reform and the tragedies of the Ferguson shooting and Eric Garner death. Truly, I believe that the gospel is so powerful that it is possible for diverse Christians to come together with one voice and prophetically interpret, speak into and bring solutions to these painful and controversial issues!
God is not color blind, since He made humans black, brown, yellow, red and white in His own image. Hence, He designed us to have distinctions in culture regarding food, dress, language and other things based upon ethnic nuances. However, these distinctions are not where believers should derive their primary identity or anchor their biblical ethics, for in Christ there is neither male nor female, black, white or brown, for we are all one in Christ (Gal. 3:28). When our ethnic thinking trumps our biblical thinking, we are guilty either of ignorance or ethnic idolatry. Unless or until the body of Christ gets over its idolatry according to ethnicity, we will never become the generation that can disciple the nations (or in other words, ethnic people groups as shown in Matthew 28:19). Since there is no neutrality, either the church will disciple the nations or the nations will disciple the church!
Joseph Mattera