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This book of the bible is frequently and
erroneously
referred to as the start of "The Church, The Body of Christ".
99.44% of fundamental, bible-believing teachers and pastors
embrace this falsity as truth! The fact is, The Book of Acts is
primarily about the unbelief of Israel and God's postponement of
her program. |
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These books of the bible are where believers in this dispensing
of God's grace should go for their day-to-day doctrine on
living. These books contain the revelation of the mystery,
otherwise known as the gospel of Jesus Christ. |
Click here to
contact LMM
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For though
I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity
is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the
gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward:
but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is
committed unto me. What is my reward then? Verily that,
when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ
without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
1
Corinthians 9:16-18
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REMEMBER,
THE FOUR SYNOPTIC GOSPEL ACCOUNTS OF THE EARTHLY MINISTRY OF JESUS
CHRIST WERE WRITTEN
TO
ISRAEL UNDER THE LAW:
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SINCE
PROPHECY IS SUCH A HOT TOPIC THESE DAYS, DID YOU EVER WONDER WHAT THE
TRIBULATION SAINTS WILL STUDY AFTER THE BODY OF CHRIST IS RAPTURED?
Doctrine
for
The
Tribulation Saints after the rapture of the Body of Christ:
Here Israel is now back at the forefront under the law against the
imminent judgment and earthly return of The Messiah, Jesus Christ.
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1 For this cause I Paul, the
prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2 If ye have heard of
the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to
you-ward: 3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the
mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye
read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5
Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as
it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the
Spirit; 6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the
same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the
grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his
power. 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: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and
powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the
manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose
which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12 In whom we have
boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. 13
Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my
tribulations for you, which is your glory -
Ephesians 3:1-13 |
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Creation From a "Grace"
Perspective - Part V ....
I have always been
fascinated with the creation story recorded on the pages of
Genesis. However, in Ephesians 1, the apostle Paul mentions
something specifically for today's grace-age saints. The passage
in verses 1 through 6; (especially verse 4) may prompt us towards
further study as we learn about the richness of God's grace
which was planned before the creation account: - RICK
1 Paul, an
apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which
are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace be
to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus
Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in
heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as
he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus
Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6
To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us
accepted in the beloved.
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In part
four of our "Creation From a Grace Perspective" series we
discussed the fall of the demonic heavenly host and
the activity of angels in God's overall plan for
Israel. We then segued into "secret Anti-Semitism"
and closed with what role and responsibility The
Body of Christ has in these last days under
God's marvelous dispensing of grace that originated
since before the foundation of the world; as God
kept this aspect of His plan a "mystery". |
The bible
is God's inspired or God-breathed word for man. It's contents
show the greatness of God and failures of man over the last
6,000 years. The most important thing it shows man is that
despite his failures and miserable existence, hope lies within
the bible as fallen man can be reconciled to God The Father
through the person and work of God The Son, Jesus Christ!
Since the
beginning of creation, God has dispensed instructions for man to
follow. God did this for mankind's well-being, prosperity and
most importantly, to assure that His relationship would never be
broken with man. However, since man's rebellion in the Garden of
Eden, he continually disobeys God to his own destruction as well
as to the destruction of others!
Because
of God's grace, love and mercy, the bible shows us that God
gives man repeated opportunities to respond to Him. Man, in
turn, responds with disobedience. God judges man and then
counters man's rebellion with the ushering in of a new set of
dispensed instructions called dispensations. Since the
beginning, the bible can be broken into roughly eight (8) of
God's dispensations that in essence, all have the same
conclusion through the first seven:
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God dispenses
instructions for man to follow so that man will take God at
His word.
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Man rebels through
unbelief and rejects God's instructions.
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God judges man.
-
God in His grace,
love and mercy ushers in a new set of instructions.
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Parts or components
of each of God's instructions may or may not carry into the
next one (such as marriage). However, the requirements to
satisfy what God would approve of in regards to salvation
change due to His love, mercy, justice and grace to man!
As we conclude this
series let the reader be mindful of man's failures and God's
mercies over the last 6,000 years. As stated concerning God's
relationship with man, He ordained Adam as His ambassador,
steward and agent to win back legal dominion over the earth.
Adam failed which represented main's overall failure. In fact,
man is a miserable failure as demonstrated time and time again
friends! I am not talking about man's ingenuity, I am talking
about his ability to obey God. Once man through Adam lost his
innocence God dispensed new instructions which tested his
conscience. God judged mankind again through the
world-wide flood since man had degenerated into such depravity:
And God saw
that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that
every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil
continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on
the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
-
Genesis
6:5-7
Starting with Noah and
his family, God had dispensed instructions for mankind to govern
the earth in righteousness as God's steward. Unfortunately, man
soon forgot this cataclysmic event and did not reign on God's
behalf! Mankind
was told to replenish the earth but instead gathered together
under one language and in one structure against the will of God
(Genesis 11:1-6). God judged man through the confounding of
languages so that mankind could not understand one another. They
left the Tower of Babel as the Lord scattered them abroad upon
the face of the earth (Genesis 11:5-9).
This last failure of
mankind at the Tower of Babel would cause God to again
demonstrate His love, grace and mercy for man friends. Since man
failed and since the nations of man also failed, God would
create a man within His nation: Israel!
The Body of Christ
(those members that have believed on Jesus' death, burial and
resurrection for their sins and can now claim His righteousness)
has something that no other past saint has had: God's complete
canon! Because of this awesome privilege, believers have a great
responsibility to learn about the riches of God's grace in
Christ and to share this with people during our time here on
planet earth. This can be done through our vocation or
recreation, in person or utilizing technology such as computers.
But in all things let love be demonstrated which is the hardest
part friends since it is easier to love someone when they are
treating you well!
Today, only The Body of
Christ can look back over the completed Old Testament writings
and read about man's failure. More specifically, God called
Abraham and made a great nation out of him: Israel. But as a
nation, Israel did not take God at His word (as witnessed
through the prophets). Reading the Old Testament is an
outstanding expose of God's greatness amidst man's failure. When
compared with Paul's writings to us in this wonderful dispensing
of grace it is easy to see why we live in such blessed times
despite the peril and uncertainties in these "last days".
The
bible is God's inspired or God-breathed word for man. It's
contents show the greatness of God and failures of man over the
last 6,000 years. The most important thing it shows man is that
despite his failures and miserable existence, hope lies within
the bible as fallen man can be reconciled to God The Father
through the person and work of God The Son, Jesus Christ!
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PAUL TELLS OTHERS
ABOUT HIS GOSPEL
by Cornelius R. Stam
1 Then fourteen years after
I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with
me also. 2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto
them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but
privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I
should run, or had run, in vain. 3 But neither Titus, who was
with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: 4 And
that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in
privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus,
that they might bring us into bondage: 5 To whom we gave place
by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel
might continue with you. 6 But of these who seemed to be
somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God
accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat
in conference added nothing to me: 7 But contrariwise, when they
saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me,
as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship
of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the
Gentiles:) 9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be
pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave
to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should
go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. -
Galatians
2:1-9
It is true that now there is but one gospel and God’s anathema
is pronounced upon any who would presume to proclaim any other
(Gal.1:8,9), but those who suppose that Paul proclaimed the same
good news which the twelve before him had proclaimed, should
carefully read Galatians 2:1-9.
The twelve had been proclaiming our Lord’s kingdom rights in
“the gospel of the kingdom”. The kingdom having been rejected,
however, God raised up Paul to proclaim “the Gospel of the Grace
of God” (Acts 20:24). In Gal-atians 1:11,12, this apostle
declares:
“But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached
of me is not after man, for I neither received it of man,
neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
This is only one of many passages in which he declares that he
was commissioned to proclaim a special message by the glorified
Lord Himself (Eph.3:1-4; Rom.16:25; etc.).
Now in Galatians 2:2, the apostle states: “I went up by
revelation [God sent him] and communicated unto them [the
apostles and elders at Jerusalem] that gospel which I preach
among the Gentiles….” But was he not merely checking to make
sure that he and they were preaching the same good news? No, for
he goes on to say: “But [I went] privately to them which were of
reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in
vain”.
Verses 7 and 9 then go on to tell how “they saw” and “perceived”
the grace that had been given to Paul, so that they publicly and
officially gave him “the right hands of fellowship”,
acknowledging him as the apostle of grace, sent to the world
with a message of grace:
“Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that
is in Christ Jesus” (Rom.3:24).
1 Thessalonians
4:14-18 -
14 For if we believe
that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in
Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by
the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto
the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and
the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive
and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds,
to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the
Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
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Today's World News
Book of The Month Club:
Thessalonians
1 Thessalonians 1
1 Paul, and
Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is
in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and
peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We give thanks
to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; 3
Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and
patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our
Father; 4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. 5 For our
gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the
Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were
among you for your sake. 6 And ye became followers of us, and of the
Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy
Ghost. 7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and
Achaia. 8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in
Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is
spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. 9 For they
themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and
how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10 And
to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even
Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
1 Thessalonians 2
1 For yourselves,
brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: 2 But
even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated,
as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the
gospel of God with much contention. 3 For our exhortation was not of
deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: 4 But as we were allowed of
God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as
pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. 5 For neither at any
time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness;
God is witness: 6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of
others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. 7
But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: 8
So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have
imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls,
because ye were dear unto us. 9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour
and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be
chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. 10
Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we
behaved ourselves among you that believe: 11 As ye know how we exhorted
and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his
children, 12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto
his kingdom and glory. 13 For this cause also thank we God without
ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us,
ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word
of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. 14 For ye,
brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in
Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own
countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: 15 Who both killed the Lord
Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please
not God, and are contrary to all men: 16 Forbidding us to speak to the
Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the
wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. 17 But we, brethren, being
taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured
the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. 18 Wherefore we
would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan
hindered us. 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are
not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? 20
For ye are our glory and joy.
1 Thessalonians 3
1 Wherefore when
we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens
alone; 2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our
fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort
you concerning your faith: 3 That no man should be moved by these
afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. 4 For
verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer
tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. 5 For this cause,
when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some
means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain. 6 But now
when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of
your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always,
desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you: 7 Therefore,
brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress
by your faith: 8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. 9 For
what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy
wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; 10 Night and day praying
exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is
lacking in your faith? 11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord
Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. 12 And the Lord make you to
increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even
as we do toward you: 13 To the end he may stablish your hearts
unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
1 Thessalonians 4
1 Furthermore
then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as
ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye
would abound more and more. 2 For ye know what commandments we gave you
by the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, even your
sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every
one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and
honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which
know not God: 6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any
matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also
have forewarned you and testified. 7 For God hath not called us unto
uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth
not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. 9 But as
touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye
yourselves are taught of God to love one another. 10 And indeed ye do it
toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you,
brethren, that ye increase more and more; 11 And that ye study to be
quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as
we commanded you; 12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are
without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. 13 But I would not have
you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye
sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that
Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will
God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord,
that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not
prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend
from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the
trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which
are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the
clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the
Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 5
1 But of the
times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a
thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then
sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child;
and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that
that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of
light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of
darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch
and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be
drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be
sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet,
the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to
obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that,
whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11 Wherefore
comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you,
and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13 And to esteem them
very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among
yourselves. 14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly,
comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that
which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 16 Rejoice
evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for
this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19 Quench not
the Spirit. 20 Despise not prophesyings. 21 Prove all things; hold fast
that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. 23 And the
very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit
and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
25 Brethren, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.
27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy
brethren. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
__________________________
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose
again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are
alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them
which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with
a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and
the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and
remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the
Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord....
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. -
1 Thessalonians
4:14-18
__________________________
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I
write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord
so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and
safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a
woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not
in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all
the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the
night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but
let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and
they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of
the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for
an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to
wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for
us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
-
- 1 Thessalonians
5:1-11
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COFFEE
CORNER
Hymn's That Fell With Satan
"PASS ME NOT"
I
suspect when most readers begin to glance at
this article they will automatically assume that the
thrust of this review will condemn rock & roll songs,
hip-hop or other alternative secular music. No matter
what music we listen to we should examine it's content
and context before making any judgments. I have
found that what would be considered "head-banging"
music by most people (or by spiritual leaders) actually
provides more doctrine and truth then some of the
cherished foundational church hymns.
 Please
note that several of the hymns that we will be looking
at were written around the civil war or decades ago.
Please note this review is not meant to undermine the
difficult times of our country's past or discredit the
character of the authors but instead to simply study
the doctrinal content behind the songs!
Many of the
hymn's we will explore were considered favorite's by
those who have moved onto glory while other's are
accepted as revered favorites. The problem here is that
although they may appear romantic, heartwarming and
sentimental, they contain no doctrinal basis!
I
thought long and hard about what to call this particular
article so I listed some of the other titles that came
to mind but I am sure you get the picture!
Old-time grace preacher
Cornelius Stam who has since moved on
to glory (referring to the songs sung
in many churches today) once said that when Satan fell
from heaven he fell into the choir pit.! I think that is
an excellent evaluation of some of the songs that are
sung by believers today friends. Most do not hold these
songs up to the scrutiny of sound doctrine.
Satan would have us only consider songs written by famous rock groups
to be on this list due to the filth and content
contained in them. Although they appear to be
obvious choices, they must be avoided. Man does not need
Satan's help in this regard for he is depraved in his
own way. Blaming the devil for man's sin was already
done in the garden beloved. But in all fairness; listen to the
words friends. I have heard outstanding rock & roll songs
and country songs that have factual, spiritual life
lessons in them. Just like "religion" many
are led to believe that since anything is labeled
Christian (including music choices) it must be good.
It is my prayer that you will read this article with an
open mind while yielding to the Holy Spirit as a good Berean searching the scriptures to see if those
things be so"!
"PASS ME NOT" -
Words: Fanny Crosby, 1868; first appeared in
Songs of Devotion, by Howard Doane (New York: 1870).
Music: W. Howard Doane, 1870 (MIDI,
score).
Pass me not, O gentle
Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.
(Refrain)
Savior, Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.
Let me at Thy throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief,
Kneeling there in deep contrition;
Help my unbelief.
(Refrain)
Trusting only in Thy merit,
Would I seek Thy face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit,
Save me by Thy grace.
(Refrain)
Thou the Spring of all my comfort,
More than life to me,
Whom have I on earth beside Thee?
Whom in Heav’n but Thee?
(Refrain)
Written by Fanny Crosby in 1868 the hymn "Pass Me Not"
is not the official song of NASCAR as my wife
suggested when I told her about what I was doing.
Instead this revered classic was inspired by a verse in
Genesis 18:3.
As I read the first stanza of this hymn I must decide
from what side of salvation I am to read this from. If
as an unbeliever I am asking God to hear my humble cry
while He is busy in His work for others I am implying
that God is limited in His ability to save to the
uttermost. In addition, by using Genesis 18:3 as a
launching pad for this song I am mixing doctrine in
regards to how God dealt with man in the past (such as
with Abraham) with how He is dealing with man today
through the riches of His grace through Jesus Christ!
Beloved, is it really necessary to "kneel in contrition"
in order to find sweet relief? The Adversary's biggest
advantage over the Body of Christ today is getting them
to focus on unimaginable limits to our salvation! Satan
rejoices when believers beg God for forgiveness again
and again rather than trusting in Christ's all
sufficient cross work through simple faith. Notice how
each "refrain" is reinforced to get into
the minds of listeners to ask God not to "pass me by".
This message clouds what Paul calls "the simplicity that
is in Christ"!
3 But
I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve
through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted
from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that
cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not
preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have
not received, or another gospel, which ye have not
accepted, ye might well bear with him. -
2 Corinthians 11:3,4
If you think I am being over critical then let's ask
ourselves this question; Is a clear presentation to the
gospel of grace being presented in this hymn (if it is
indeed for an unbeliever)? I think what bothers me most
about this particular hymn is the confusion that it
causes for someone who has thought of themselves as a
believer. Friends, life is full of heartache,
disappoint, death and doubt...I will not argue that.
But, none of those facts should cause us to doubt our
unchanging, magnified, glorified justified position in
Christ Jesus! From we know that Romans 8 tells us:
For I
am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels,
nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor
things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other
creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of
God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. -
Romans 8:38,39
"Satan rejoices when believers beg God for forgiveness
again and again rather than trusting in Christ's all
sufficient, all inclusive, up-front, cross work through
simple faith."
It has been my experience that many teachers re-state
again and again the salvation message almost challenging
believers as to whether or not they are
really saved. In similar fashion I feel as if the hymn
above is prompting believers to question thier
salvation. Nowhere in Paul's epistles do we ever
see the apostle questioning someone salvation based on
their conduct due to sin. he may challenge their
understanding of grace, but never do we see him question
their salvation or get them to think along those lines.
__________________________
SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING
by
Cornelius R. Stam
Honest, prayerful study
of the Word brings us to spiritual maturity and understanding.
But does it not require superior intellectual powers to
understand these "deep things of God"? No indeed. Superior
intellects among unsaved men are unable to appreciate even the
"simple" truths of the Word, for "they are spiritually
discerned" (I Cor. 2:14). And as to the "mystery" made known to
Paul by the glorified Lord, the Apostle declares that it is now
"revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit"
(Eph. 3:5).
The mystery is not merely something more difficult to grasp
intellectually, for the Apostle specifically states that it is
"not the wisdom of this world" but "the wisdom of God" (I Cor.
2:6,7), and that only by the Spirit of God can it be understood
and appreciated. This explains why many of the humblest
believers rejoice in the mystery and understand it so clearly,
while so many great theologians and religious leaders fail to
grasp it and keep confusing it with God’s prophesied program
regarding the kingdom of Christ.
The mystery is not "hard to be understood" because men are slow
of mind to understand, but because they are "slow of heart to
believe," because the devil, who "hath blinded the minds of them
that believe not" also seeks to keep God’s people from seeing
and rejoicing in the truth of the mystery with its riches of
grace, its "one body" and its "one baptism." This is why the
Apostle prayed so fervently that the believers to whom he
ministered might be given "spiritual understanding" to take in
the glorious message he was commissioned to proclaim (See Eph.
1:16-19; Col. 1:9,10).
"Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus
Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from
this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father."
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been revoked".
Joe
knew that this could be a major problem in that he would not be able
to get his work completed without access to area XYZ! However, after
further review of the e-mail, the man quickly discovered that he was
not the intended recipient but instead "copied" or "cc'd" as a
reference only! As it turns out, a collogue of his was the man who lost
his access! Joe, as the superintendent of area XYZ, simply needed to
be aware of this. For a brief moment, Joe confused his TO
mail with his CC mail. Not understanding that distinction for
those brief seconds after reading the message caused severe anxiety for
Joe until he realized the message was indeed TO someone else!
In a much similar example, when
we
read the bible, identifying our TO
mail is very important lest
we make the same fundamental mistake as the person above. Without
understanding the distinction between our "to" mail and our
"cc" or our "reference only" mail, believers inadvertently
"read themselves" into areas of the bible that God did not intend.
The result when this happens: confusion!
(see
