Mon, Apr 26th - 5:16AM
THE CONFESSING CHURCH?
Part 6 Reflecting back on the Old Testament confession, dear saints, we can clearly observe certain basics: that God FIRST commanded that the nation of Israel confess their sins under, the Mosaic Law, to the high priest, who alone could offer atonement for them as well as His own, and yearly the nation as a whole. This kind of atonement offered only temporary forgiveness, certain violations of God’s law or sins could not be confessed but brought the death penalty, even the high priest was not exempt from this penalty. ALL SINS brought God’s disfavor, and withdrawal of His help, but never His mercy to the nation of Israel. The kind of forgiveness of sins through atonement offered by a human priest, I repeat, was only temporary, and had to be repeated yearly. God expected His people to confess all their sins when they sinned without exception. Finally there were some sins, I repeat, that could not be confessed but brought the death penalty from God. God’s unchanging faithfulness, utter holiness and righteousness, His firm control over the destiny of His people, even the whole earth, His severe mercy, goodness and love blazes forth as the sun, in sharp contrast to the shabby adultery and unfaithfulness of men. While God can and does give men power for His own purposes He AWAYS retains the totality of His supremacy, dominion, and might. He will not share His glory, neither will He give His praise to ANY idol, and He ALONE is to be worshipped now and forever. My dearly beloveds, what ever comes out of our mouths, whether we be teachers, pastors or other saints, if it does not match up with the Holy Bible correctly interpreted, it MUST be rejected. Whatever does not match up with what the Holy Bible says regarding our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, is a perverting of the scriptures and must be rejected without any hesitation. God’s way is the only right way, and the only right way is God’s way. Is it any wonder, dear saints that kind of confession and atonement offered under the Mosaic Law caused them under it to hunger for the One who would bring them the good news of salvation, for the Holy Bible speaks of Him: 1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. Isaiah 61:1-3 (KJV) Again, in another place God said: 28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. 30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. 32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call. Joel 2:28-32 (KJV) Now that we have had a good look back at the fact that none of those confessions nor their temporary atonements had any permanence nor the taking away of sins, we will next look at the New Testament, at the fruition of the coming of Christ, under which we have a better atonement, and a better High Priest. Dearly beloved, let us keep on praising Jesus, let us keep on studying, believing, sharing and living the word of God rightly divided, for the reward is to them that keep His word and does it. Love serola
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Tue, Apr 20th - 4:26AM
The church is being vilified greatly today, and even some of the saints murmur and complain about the church as a whole, or about all of the saints in some particular nation. To be truthful, dear saints, I have infrequently on past occasion indulged unwisely in this way, but I repented of any omniscience in such matters after I looked into the word of God, which is the absolute truth, and final authority for the whole earth and saw and read and believed and determined by the grace of God to apply it to my life: 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16 Holding forth the word of life; Phil 2:14-16 (KJV) There is no need to fear or panic for the church, because Christ is the head of the church, and He is continually going about the business of ensuring it’s strength, perseverance, and vitality for the saints individually and as a whole from the beginning to the end for, He says: 8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Rev 1:8 (KJV) None of us need remotely think that He has left His church to the whims of men, women, nor any other creature, for He still guides and leads us today and for ever speaking to the church individually and as a whole : 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Jude 1:24-25 (KJV) Notice beloveds, that He says He is able to keep us…He has not left this task to mere men. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Eph 5:23-27 (KJV) Now this does not negate His commands to us the church regarding our responsibilities, duties, disciplines, organization and love, which He has enabled us through the Holy Spirit to carry out. We must walk by faith and not by sight. Time would fail me to tell of the brave churches, reaching out to prostitutes, addicts, pimps, and all manner of unsavory persons, to bring them the gospel of Jesus Christ. Time would fail me to tell of the multitudes, of pastors, teachers, and other saints using their gifts to make a difference in persons considered by mainstream society to be little more than human refuse. The names of these saints won’ be seen in the papers, heard on the radio, or seen on television, but there is the God of Heaven and earth with whom all their labors are duly noted. Time would fail me to tell of the compassion of the saints to the poor, bereaved, friendless, orphans, widows, and downtrodden everywhere. You see, dear friends, they do not toot a horn before themselves to tell everyone what they are doing, but go about humbly and quietly doing the will of God. We would be terribly mistaken to think that some of these saints have not been killed, right here in America for the cause of Jesus. We must stand against wholesale slander against the children of God, for when we slander them, we are slandering the Lord who made and indwells them. I must say also that I am blessed to be in a local body with very humble overseers, when I presented my study on tithing, which they read, after carefully reading it, they no longer preach or accept tithing, but simply accept offerings. So I feel greatly humbled, that our Lord would use me to make a difference in rightly dividing and sharing the word of truth. I know, I believe, without any question, without any doubt, that God’s word correctly interpreted, has the power of God to grow us. I take no credit, but give God alone ALL the honor, worship, glory and praise. It’s early morning, so that is all for now. I beseech you holy brothers and sisters: 6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 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: Col 2:6-10 (KJV) Love serola
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Sun, Apr 18th - 12:55AM
THE CONFESSING CHURCH?
Part 5 Dear saints, we must understand as well as believe that the Holy Bible is the finished work of Christ Jesus from beginning to end, for He is the completion of God ‘s plan for all men, and every soul shall give account to Him without exception. Dear fellow citizens of heaven, we must understand that error can creep into some but NEVER ALL churches whenever the basics of the finished work of Christ is not understood, or wrongly interpreted. It is the task of each and everyone of us to work together, NOT IN COMPETITION , but for the SAME CAUSE OF GOD, that we all speak the same things- the word of God, correctly understood, that Christ be glorified, and that we be concluded together and be built up in His love. When we do not understand that Christ has finished His work, then we think or believe that it is up to us to complete His work in someway. The fact that our Lord is the completion of God’s plan for us, and all men does not negate His commands to the church and the world as a whole, because we know that there are false teachers who knowingly purpose to bring in heresy to God‘s people, who must be resisted on every side. As we reflect back on the Old Testament we see the awful and awesome contrast between a Holy and Faithful God, and mere men who mess up, screw up, rebel, confess, and continue on in sin. Despite the rampant unfaithfulness of God’s chosen people, God was, is , and always will be faithful to carry out His plans, not only for them, but for us and the whole world also. The Old Testament puts to rest that men have free will in any absolute sense, of themselves totally independent to God’s will. It shows quite clearly that ANY will that challenges the will of God will be met with His punishment, and/or outright destruction. So it was then, so it is now, so shall it always be for all time. Dear saints, God’s will ALONE is sovereign, and blessed are those who live in accordance with His will. God owes no man anything, but to Him alone, we owe all. Sooner or later those who oppose the will of God, will pay the price, for Mighty is the Lord God, totally invincible in power, whom no foe can ever defeat. His will shall be done in heaven and in earth, according to His timing and His plan. Good night, and God bless you dear saints, because our Lord Jesus has washed you and me in His own blood. He is the Captain of our salvation, who shall surely steer each and everyone of us before His very presence, without spot nor wrinkle nor any such thing. Trust Him for He is truth, and our final sole Authority. Love serola
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Thu, Apr 15th - 1:47AM
THE CONFESSING CHURCH?
Part 4 As we continue on with the study, dearly beloveds, we begin to get the big picture, for although in Ex. 29 we find elaborate, intricate, ceremonies consecrating the priests. The high priest could not come into the holy place any ole time he felt like it either, for God said to Moses: 1 And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died; 2 And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat. Lev 16:1-2 (KJV) See Ex. 30:9 regarding “strange fire”, and how it relates to the deaths of two of his sons in Lev. 10:1. Please feel free, saints, to look up on your own the numerous missteps that could result in the death of the high priest, his sons, and Levites if they were not careful to keep certain of God’s commands in performing their duties within the tabernacle. The Levites were the mediators between God and men. The bottom line here is that despite all the confessing, all the ornate , meticulous rituals and sacrifices performed regarding sin, absolutely nothing that the high priest or the people did, permanently absolved anyone from sin. This is why they had to keep making the same confessions and sacrifices over and over again. There were many sins that brought the death penalty outright, as well as some sins that could not be forgiven and for which the high priest could make no atonement. The New Testament addresses this, but we will look at this later. Ironically we find the high priest Aaron to whom confession was made, himself being defrocked and put to death by God for his sin! Numbers 20: 23-29 We must also note that the people did not have direct access to God, and the priests only had limited access: 10 And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest's office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. Num 3:10 (KJV) We see, dear saints how also the thread of limitations run rampant throughout the Old Testament: limited anointing, limited spirit of God, only given to certain persons, limited confession, limited atonement. This is addressed in the New Testament but we will look at this later. This is all for tonight, dear friends, I thank my Lord and yours who keeps us by His power, in the palm of His hand. If any be troubled, if any be grieved, if any be perplexed, I pray the Lord Jesus uphold you, nourish you, sustain and strenthen you, and bring you through by His mighty working power, for He ever cares for you and He is utterly Faithful and True. Love serola
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Sun, Apr 11th - 11:09PM
THE CONFESSING CHURCH?
Part 3 Brothers and sisters, we can see the awful thread running through these previously cited scriptures put forth in part 2 of this study regarding those Old Testament confessions- that every sin had to be individually acknowledged by the sinner, and of the nation as a whole, but even this wasn’t enough, because the high priest had to make an atonement for each one through various kinds of sacrifice supplied by the offender, etc., but it still was not enough as each, even ones committed out of ignorance, had to be subsequently dealt with in this way. Every year to boot, the high priest had to offer first for his own sins, then for the sins of all the people. Then this cycle would be repeated over and over again. The Old Testament says regarding the high Priest: 34 And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the LORD commanded Moses. We also see that un- confessed sin led to disfavor with God, and withholding of His blessings; I.e. rain would be with held, and also they would be unable to overcome their enemies, etc. So in a sense we can say that the Old Testament exemplifies broken fellowship or disfavor with God, when they had un- confessed sin, of individuals and of the nation of Israel as a whole. Lev 16:34 (KJV) Now the high priest did not have it easy either he was required by God to wear these ornate and heavy clothing described in Ex. 28. Bells were required by God to be on the hem of the high priests garments when he went into the holy place, and their sound had to be heard every time he went in there, or he would die when he came out. He had to be sure, along with all his sons to wear linen breeches under all these ornate garments, as required by God, because if any of them were naked under these garments they would die. Ex. 28: 42-43 . This is all for now, beloveds. Where the Holy Bible is silent we ought to be silent, where the Holy Bible speaks, we ought to speak, and we ought to speak the same thing the Holy Bible speaks, neither adding nor subtracting to the word of God, and certainly not by inserting our own personal opinions, or that of other persons into the word of God as though it has equal validity with the scriptures, which it does not and never can. Love serola
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Wed, Apr 7th - 5:15AM
THE CONFESSING CHURCH?
Part 2Brothers and sisters, I have previously set forth the key questions for this study, but most importantly, scriptures must be laid out, for God can and will speak for Himself through His word. Please feel free, dear saints, to take your time in reading these scriptures, wherein the Holy Spirit will help, guide, teach, and lead us into His truth. There will be more scriptures than can be posted here, saints, feel free to look up others on your own. Confessing sins first appears as a command in the Old Testament, not unexpectedly, as commanded by God in the Mosaic Law: 5 And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing: 6 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin. Lev 5:5-6 (KJV) 21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: 22 And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness. Lev 16:21-22 (KJV) 40 If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me; 41 And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: 42 Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land. Lev 26:40-42 (KJV) 5 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 6 Speak unto the children of Israel, When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, to do a trespass against the LORD, and that person be guilty; 7 Then they shall confess their sin which they have done: and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal thereof, and add unto it the fifth part thereof, and give it unto him against whom he hath trespassed. Num 5:5-7 (KJV) 33 When thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto thee in this house: 34 Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest unto their fathers. 1 Kings 8:33-34 (KJV) 35 When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them: 36 Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, that thou teach them the good way wherein they should walk, and give rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance. 1 Kings 8:35-36 (KJV) 24 And if thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee; and shall return and confess thy name, and pray and make supplication before thee in this house; 25 Then hear thou from the heavens, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest to them and to their fathers. 2 Chron 6:24-25 (KJV) 26 When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; yet if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them; 27 Then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou hast taught them the good way, wherein they should walk; and send rain upon thy land, which thou hast given unto thy people for an inheritance. 2 Chron 6:25-27 (KJV) 13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chron 7:13-14 (KJV) Let us stop here for now, and God willing we will continue next time. Until then, beloveds of the Lord, I pray that by the grace of God, we shall continue to strive to be a blessing and a light to one another, and all men. Love serola
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Fri, Apr 2nd - 5:53AM
THE CONFESSING CHURCH?
Bless the Lord, who is our Saviour, Deliverer, Redeemer, and the sole Mediator between God and men. For Jesus is the head of the church and High priest over the house of God forever. There can only be One High Priest over the house of God, He is Jesus our Messiah and King, who reigns forever and ever, for He alone is worthy. I praise the Triune God, who has delivered me and you brothers and sisters from darkness to light. In doing any study, dear, dear children of light, I lay aside any personal opinions, which have O (zero) value, but to step aside and let God tell His truth from His word, correctly interpreted, for He alone is our final authority, and truth, for the whole earth. Every soul shall give account to Him, without exception, for every soul was created by Him and belongs to Him alone. The issue of whether or not Christians should confess their sins, my beloveds, stirs up quite a bit of rancor. For one holds to confessing all known and unknown sins as often as possible to maintain fellowship with God, and/ or prevent a break in fellowship with God , while another feels that it is unnecessary to confess our sins because we are already forgiven. I have read and heard much of both of these arguments, and hope to contribute a bit also to this issue in a manner that will be clear, and easily understood, by the grace of the Triune God, to whom I, along with you all, give all the glory, honor and praise. There is no competition in helping ourselves or others in growing from understanding God’s word. We are all a part of His wonderful plan to teach us and also allow us to share His word in cooperating with Him in helping one another to grow in Him. Jesus came to give us life and freedom, He says in His word: 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. John 10:10-11 (KJV) 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:36 (KJV) By the grace of God, He is able to help us through His word to partake more and more fully of His life and freedom. There are a number of questions that must be examined in the light of the scriptures, regarding the aforementioned issues: 1.Where does the command to confess sin appear in the Holy Bible? 2.What acts of a Christian results in broken fellowship with God? 3. What does God mean by forgiven? 4.What does God expect of Christians when they sin? One thing to keep in, mind in this study, dear saints, and any study, the whole of the Holy Bible MUST be understood in the finished work of Jesus Christ. He is the completion of God’s plan, for all peoples, for all eternity. Failure to understand what our King has done for us leaves us open to false doctrines, and heretical teachings, that add and or subtract from the finished work of the cross. ( see Eph. 4:9-16) To digress a bit I met a young lady who told me that Jesus is not equal with God. She based it on this scripture: 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: Phil 2:5-6 (KJV) She counted herself to be well educated, and indeed she was, but felt no offense when I asked her to interpret that scripture without the word not, occurring before the word robbery. Then to compare it with the word not included. She correctly interpreted that Jesus is equal with God. And indeed scripture confirms scripture: 18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. John 5:18 (KJV) Next God willing, we will start with the Old Testament where confessing sin first appears and go on from there. Until then, the Lord keep you and me walking in the light of His love, peace and grace. Love serola 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 Thess 3:12-13 (KJV)
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Name: Dolores serola Rutherford
