DOES GOD BLESS THE BELIEVER WITH MATERIAL THINGS TODAY PT.1
I understand the issue of us being ‘blessed’ by God in this present dispensation of His grace to be sort of like the counterpart to the issue of chastening in this dispensation; or the ‘flip side’ of the same sonship coin, so to speak. And so just as I understand that chastening in this present dispensation is of the ‘sonship variety,’ and as such differs from the physical, circumstantial type chastening of childhood common in God’s program with Israel, so also do I understand the same to be the case with God’s blessing. It too differs from the physical, material, and circumstantial type blessings of childhood common in God’s program with Israel. Therefore, we have ‘sonship blessing’ today, if I can put it that way, in contrast to ‘childhood blessing.’ And since...
Read MoreDOES GOD CHASTIZE THE SAINTS TODAY?
First of all in my understanding the issue of chastisement is easy to understand, appreciate, and recognize, when we are in God’s program and dealings with Israel; especially in the “time past” portion of Israel’s program. As passages like Leviticus 26 set forth, God’s chastisement of them was a natural part of the contracted curses and punishments of the Law contract. Since Israel opted to be dealt with by God on the basis of their works, and hence receive from His Justice what their works merited, their failure to produce the righteousness of the Law merited the specific physical and circumstantial punishments of chastisement that are set forth and delineated in the Law. Therefore physical and circumstantial chastisement in God’s program with Israel was a...
Read MoreGODLY PROSPERITY?/DOES GOD BLESS THE BELIEVER WITH MATERIAL THINGS TODAY 2
1Co 16:1 now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 1Co 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. As this world’s economic problems grow worse, there also comes the desire for most to find a divine intervention into their financial woes. Whether the person is Christian or not, there is a belief system that would lead the believers to assume that God will ‘find a way’ to make things financially right in their lives, this type of doctrine is preached with the understanding that God blesses His people financially when they call upon Him in their time of need. This type of blessing is what the...
Read MoreWHY WE ARE CALLED CHRISTIANS
Act 11:25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: Act 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. The purpose of this study is so that a firm understanding can be achieved concerning why we as members of the body of Christ are called Christians today. Acts chapter 11 verse 26 is where we first come across the word ‘Christians,’ also in chapters 10 and 11 is where God reveals to Israel the issue that He was making a dispensational change in His dealings with all mankind. Act 11:15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning....
Read MoreWHAT IS THE MEANING OF “THE LAW OF CHRIST”?
Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Gal 6:3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. Briefly stated, my understanding is that in view of the corrective doctrine that Paul has set forth in the first 4 chapters of Galatians, (which is designed to effectually remedy the corruptive effects of the ‘bewitching’ doctrine that removed them from the truth of “the gospel of Christ” and from the truth of who God has made them to be “in Christ”), beginning in 5:1 and to the end of the epistle Paul now charges these...
Read MoreUNDERSTANDING ROMANS 12 THROUGH 16
Rom 12:1 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. Rom 12:2 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. Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. The doctrine found within Romans chapters 12 through 16 is essential for the son’s growth in ‘getting off on the right foot’ in his sonship education. The apostle Paul as our father...
Read MoreHOW IS THE BELIEVER “FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT”?
Eph 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; First off, my understanding is that being “filled with the Spirit” as per Ephesians 5:18 is not some mystical, or emotional, or ecstatic and/or supernatural experience involving the Holy Spirit. Nor is the ‘filling’ that Paul is talking about the same kind of ‘filling’ found in Israel’s program, which occurred with the prophets in general when they prophesied, or with the remnant of Israel when they were “baptized with the Holy Ghost” in connection with receiving “power from on high” in order for them to fulfill the prophesied signs, wonders, and miracles spoken about in connection with the...
Read MoreWHAT ABOUT DINOSAURS/ U.F.O.’S?
Man bases ‘his’ theory upon carbon dating which is not always accurate, along with many of the other dating methods that are used today. And this is something that is not only ponted out by bible believing Christians who take the creation accout literally, but it is even acknowledged within the halls of secular science itself; though not all that vocally, or even that often. (The inventor of radiocarbon dating, Willard Libby, asserted that it was only accurate for dating objects within the range of a couple thousand years old.) Radioactive carbon certainly exists, along with other such elements. But the problem with the dating methods employing them is that they are based upon way too many unproveable assumptions regarding their existance. If a person...
Read MoreGODLINESS PT.3~WORKING TOGETHER WITH GOD
Tit 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; Tit 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; Tit 1:3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour; Tit 1:4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. Tit 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: Tit 1:6 If any be blameless, the husband of one...
Read MoreGODLINESS PT.2~ DOING THINGS GOD’S WAY
Oftentimes the Thessalonians are called by many as the ‘model saint,’ the Thessalonians had learned to think like God does and they were well aware of Satan’s attempt to hinder their edification also. However as man advances through time he begins to become more and more comfortable with the “fashion of this world.” The world today has advanced greatly since Paul’s day, and man has created a world as if were his own ‘heaven on earth.’ 1Co 7:31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. The list of the ‘loves’ and desires of the man has gotten longer and easier to attain, also the more money you have, the easier it is to follow this world’s system, man can have all this world has to offer,...
Read More