Sat, Jul 31st - 1:05PM
The Confessing Church?
Part 19 John was writing to those who know the truth of the gospel , but had heard it second hand. Again, beloveds his epistles served as a confirmatory eye witness account of the gospel truth to them that had only heard it second hand, but now hear it from an eye witness account. It is evident from John that they had already heard, and know it as the truth, for he says to them: 21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 1 John 2:20-21 (KJV)
John further confirms that: 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 1 John 5:13 (KJV)
John is using the word “know” through out in an ABSOLUTE, resolved, certain application, and therefore John is taking what some might consider to be an extremely hard- line stance of the gospel. Yes, he absolutely is, without the slightest hesitation, temerity, wavering or apology. He declares that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the sole, complete, absolute, final, unchanging standard, authority, and truth. And brethren, we believers in the Son of God, Lord Jesus, in believing John’s eye witness account will be confirmed to also know that we too have eternal life, and also will believe on the name of the Son of God, absolutely, resolved and with all certainty.
God has made the Holy Bible easy to understand for His people. He makes His message simple and clear, through the Holy Spirit our Supreme Teacher. He enables our understanding, and sharpens our discernment to know truth from error by His power. He allows godly pastors, teachers, and saints as a whole to participate in helping the body of believers to be settled in His word, correctly understood and lived, but everything given and correctly taught is through our Supreme teacher over the saints of God, the Holy Spirit. Therefore, while we must be thankful for our godly pastors, teachers and saints as a whole, it is to the Holy Spirit that ALL the honor, praise, thanks belong, as the Supreme Teacher of every saint.
Back in Mt. 3:17 John along with his brother James are surnamed boanerges, sons of thunder (Bronte G1027 to roar, to thunder). In his epistles John roars his message, combat ready, dressed in full spiritual regalia, dangerous to error and fully armed against apostasy, and all the powers of darkness. He makes no appeal to emotionalism, humanism, intellectualism, or any other kind of ism, or political correctness. With his helmet of salvation he violently, brutally head butts away, any notion that there is a creature in which darkness and light, good and evil, God and satan can simultaneously exist or co-exists. He boldly declares God is absolute light for all time and for ever: 1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is NO darkness at all. The NO and NOT in all these passages are abosolutes: 12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall NOT walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12 (KJV) 46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should NOT abide in darkness. John 12:46 (KJV) Jas. 1:17-18 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights with whom is NO variableness neither shadow of turning. 18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Dear saints, what John said then still is true today and will be forever. Our God is Light, He is the absolute truth and sole source of light. God is the light that shines upon everything and shows what it truly is, and for what it is, or is not. God is also both the source and sovereign over all life. Beloveds we should note that John is also the author of the book of John and the Revelation. He is no novice, but a battle hardened, combat warrior of God, tested, tried, and true. He is the godly kind of experienced fighter, that we want, to train us through the word of almighty God, our sure victory. It is utterly all about our Triune God, and if not it is utterly about nothing at all. Brothers and sisters pray with me: Lord I humbly give you all the worship, glory, honor, praise and thanks. I bless your Holy Name for being my light forever, that I shall never walk in darkness. Amen. Perhaps some saint might feel emotionally that they have no right to pray such a prayer, but beloved the truth is that every saint has the right to pray this prayer, it is not based on our emotions, but the truth of God‘s word: 2 Co. 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. We must believe, and do God’s word, rightly understood, which will deliver us from the bondage of mere emotions . Love serola
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Fri, Jul 23rd - 9:12AM
The Confessing Church?
Part 18 1 Co. 3: 18-19 Let no man deceive himself, if any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. Here Paul is not telling us to forsake the pursuit of knowledge, or not to have leaders or teachers, but warning us that if worldly wisdom holds us back from God, it is not wisdom at all. God’s way of thinking is more valuable and takes priority, even though it may seem foolish to the world. Paul was addressing the Corinthians whose pride, caused them to value their leaders and teachers above the gospel, putting them in danger of creating a cult of personalities, rather than following the eternal, unchanging gospel of Christ. The epistles of John have been misinterpreted by the ignorant and perverted by those death messengers to turn the good news of the gospel into toxic terrible news of gloom and doom, instead of the joyful message it truly is. Shamefully, those who deliberately creep in to pervert the scriptures use these epistles to terrorize, threaten, and mercilessly slander and throw brickbats at those weak brothers and sisters, over turning their trust in the faithfulness of God. I believe such wicked persons are without any mercy and secretly rejoice in the misery they cause, and delight in watching these weak saints falter. Dear saint, let us began to look at the good news of these epistles, correctly interpreted in the light of what John saw and heard of Lord Jesus. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 ( For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us,) 3 That which we have seen and heard, declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ; 4. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 1 John 1: 1-4 KJV Here John is telling us that Jesus is the eternal beginning, even the Word of life, that is manifested or revealed. he boldly says that Jesus is life revealed, they are His witnesses and show to us that eternal life that was with the father and revealed to them. They saw Him, they heard Him, they handled Him. They want to tell us those things that they have both seen and heard, so that we can have fellowship with them, the Father, and Lord Jesus. This fellowship, brethren is not simply a mere human association, but in the Greek is called Koinonia the SPIRITUAL unbreakable union of all believers with one another AND in the Triune God. John declares that in knowing these things we would understand and be grounded in the gospel of truth, Koinonia and JOY that would be Full. John is an eye witness account of Jesus and the gospel, none of it is second hand at all. The epistles of John is writing about the gospel of Jesus that both are eternal from the beginning; that He and others had heard previously, and here in these epistles he is stating explicitly the gospel that Jesus preached from the beginning. John in no wise is writing in attempts to take away from the gospel message as a whole, and in no wise are these epistles claiming a separate stand-alone gospel. No, holy brothers and sisters, it rather reinforces the whole of the gospel message, explicitly, frankly, clearly without any beating around the bush. The Gospel is the absolute, complete sole/final, eternal, unchanging, truth, standard, and authority, for God’s people, and even the whole earth. These epistles correctly interpreted will make the believer Rock steady in God’s truth, rooted, anchored, full in joy and in hope. It is the magnifying lense of the Father, the mega light of the holy spirit, and the Saviour’s scalpel that presents the kingdom of God, and His children in sharp relief and profound beauty of holiness; in sharp contrast to that dark, tricky, lying, wicked, evil kingdom of darkness and the children of the devil. In the brilliance of these epistles of John, understand saints, we will find NO mixing of dark and light; clean and dirty; NO saved sinners, NO sort of lost saints but not quite, NO in-betweeners, NO quasi-lost, NO fancy lingo; NO warm and fuzzy touchy feely sentimentality, NO verbal gymnastics or manipulations, but the hard facts of God’s truth. No one can escape it, it is here in the mirror of these epistles that the true image of who we really are and who we really are not, is reflected in the blazing mega- watt radiance of God’s unchanging truth, which is the final complete, eternal, and sole standard, for all peoples, for ever, and all time.Lord willing, the study will be continued, saints. Until then beloveds I pray that each and every one of us shall rush boldly in to Jesus to richly partake of the love of a life time even for all eternity; that we will come to understand not only by word, but in our hearts that truly the Lord is our Shepherd, we shall not want, for He has provided richly every thing we need. Love serola
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Thu, Jul 22nd - 7:45AM
The Confessing Church?
1 John 1:9 has been misinterpreted by the ignorant and perverted by those death messengers to turn the good news of the gospel into toxic terrible news of gloom and doom. How pleased can God be to find those who have received the eternal Atonement of the sacrifice of His Son Jesus and power to live for God, groveling, begging, pleading for further forgiveness, keeping a list of sins to count out one by one begging for forgiveness? Enveloped in a conflagration of doubt, fear, self loathing, believing they have lost forgiveness and/or fellowship with Him? How pleased can God be to see His people spiritually abused, raped, denigrated, called names like sinners, failures, weaklings, forced back into the dirt and mire of the flesh by the false doctrines of men (and women) ? These lies can and has led to serious depression, and even some suicides of the vulnerable, immature saints, who lose hope of ever attaining God’s approval. Eph. 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. Under girded by the truth taught by the Holy Ghost we can easily go on to the epistles of John understanding that NOTHING there is taken back by God that He has already given us believers through the Old and New Testament and completely detailed in Hebrews. The stance of the church individually and as a whole for all time is this confession: Jesus Is Lord. No matter how many books, commentaries, we read or years spent in various schools, or organizations neither you nor I shall receive understanding of God’s word, except by the Holy Spirit. The whole of John’s message correctly interpreted is full of hope, joy and spiritual discernment that confirms the believer, and exposes the vast difference between saint and sinner completely and explicitly. Neither you nor I, dear saints, or any other Christian has to be a super guru to understand the Gospel. The simple truth is that the Holy Spirit gave gifts to the church: some Apostles, some pastors, teachers and various other gifts to the body. God is the author of the gospel, and not men, nor the wisdom of men. No matter how many books, commentaries, we read or years spent in various schools, or organizations I thank my God and yours for those faithful pastors and teachers, who correctly put forth the truth of the Gospel, bringing many into joy, stability, and peace with God, correctly interpreting the scriptures. Surely we must highly esteem love, pray for and support such teachers and pastors, and other saints, who faithfully share with us what they have received from the Holy Spirit; but we are not to be totally dependent on them, God expects each and every one of us to study individually and share the same with others, what the Holy Spirit has taught us. This is the nature of the partnership or labor in the gospel that we all have been gifted by God. Those who strip these epistles of John of their intricate and intertwined relationship with Hebrews and the Old and New Testament as a whole will always spin these epistles on their head and come up with error every time, causing distress, hopelessness, dangerous depression, and even suicide to those weak brothers and sisters. One more thing, saints, whatever God commands us to do, He helps us to do it. Our efforts are never independent of His help, but in co-operation with Him, for He enables us through the Holy Spirit: Jn. 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. Therefore we do not have to quake in fear of worry about possibly failing consistently to obey His commands such as in Phil. 2:12 …work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Not in the least for God always assures and supports us in our efforts to obey Him, telling us: Phil. 2:13 for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. God says in His word, regarding His people: 1Pe. 1:5 who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Here God tells us 2Pe. 1:10 wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall…( See the whole of this chapter) God ALWAYS turns right back to give us confidence and assurances: Jude 1:24 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…. Whatever sin, situation or condition that comes into our lives we have God’s strong assurances that He always helps, empowers us and never leaves us alone in them. Saints, all of us will suffer some form of trouble, or tribulation, some struggle with sin, but that is not the point, the point is that regardless we can count it all joy, for it is never in vain. He will teach, strengthen, and grow us through all of it, so that we can also turn around and help other brothers and sisters: 2 Col. 1:3-4 Blessed be God , even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. Dear saints, if you have found any edification here, any building up of your faith, any love of God towards us, any exaltation of our King, feel free to use it as you will, except not for gain, for you and I freely received it from the Holy Spirit, let us freely give. Oh, saints, I know there are those who claim that after we are saved, we have free will to sin and do what ever we want, because God will never violate our wills? But the Holy Bible says: 1Co. 6:19-20 What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. Heb. 12:5-10 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6. For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8. But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10. For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure, but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Rev. 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous therefore, and repent. Now, saints I am not calling anybody a bastard, but quite frankly and explicitly, no beating around the bush; God does call those who reject His disciplinary hand and will, BASTARDS, and NOT SONS at all. Thanks be to God we know we belong to Him as His children, because He enables us to willingly submit and lovingly confess to the Bishop and Shepherd of our souls for all time for ever- Jesus Is Lord in our daily lives. Love serola
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Wed, Jul 21st - 9:45AM
Part 17 Sect E Heb. 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Being forgiven is absolutely not a license to sin, far from it: See Ro. 6: 2-18 For this reason, what God expects NOW AFTER RECEIVING THE ATONEMENT, is that every believer would agree with Him, and agree that all sin is wrong. Therefore we repent to God many times, after having confessed for Salvation ONCE, and do not practice sin. An infinite Saviour has transcended both time and space, which have absolutely no power over Him, to completely wash away the sins of finite believers in Him. He has saved us, he has purposed, blessed, enabled us through the Holy Spirit, and given us the privilege that we should exercise our faith that although we still do sin, that we should repent, that is change our minds and turn away from ungodliness.
Do you understand what the Holy Ghost is telling you, me and every believer, brothers and sisters. After God has ONCE forgiven us there is no further offering to get forgiveness. Forgiveness from God ALWAYS requires a sacrifice, how many sacrifices did Jesus have to offer to forgive ALL your sins for ALL time? -ONLY ONE- HIS SINLESS BODY AND BLOOD. Through the Atonement we have received both eternal forgiveness /fellowship AND POWER TO LIVE FOR God. I thank my God and yours for the godly pastors and teachers that taught me the truth of the scriptures, wherein I am made to partake of the peace and rest of God. I thank my God and yours for the godly teachers and pastors that taught me how after I believed to say to any and all sin-Jesus IS LORD, I will not serve sin, THIS SIN WILL BOW AND BE CAST OUT OF MY LIFE. Oh what joy and strength I found in Jesus, knowing that He is always with me to help me to live above my old nature. This is not arrogance, saints, it is the truth, that EVERY saint can rely on the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to live God’s way. There is NO other way that we can live. Our faith leads us to trust that God will always give us something better and truly good for us when we give up anything that displeases Him. I think the greatest gift is the pleasure and delight we feel when we choose to serve Him over anything or anyone else, for He alone is worthy. Amen Love serola
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Fri, Jul 16th - 12:15PM
The Confessing Church?
Part 17 sect. D Here is man’s standard for believers in relation to God: this includes women too, Man demands that after a person receives salvation they MUSTcontinue to confess each and every sin, known and unknown, to REGAINfellowship and/or forgiveness for sins. Those that follow this humanistic doctrine, who are weak or have certain vulnerabilities will find themselves inevitably spiraling down into various stages of depression, and some will experience lack of stability, suicidal ideations, some will commit suicide, due to their inability to obtain any sense of God‘s love or approval. I am not saying that all depressions, or suicidal problems result from this, but some depressions and suicides do result from a faulty spiritual understanding of the scriptures. We ought to be extremely careful, to preach the gospel, not our personal opinions, no matter how correct it seems. If it does not match with the scriptures it is dangerous error, and a stumbling block to some brother or sister trying to serve God. The problem with this doctrine is that it derails trust in the finished work of Christ, and invariably raises this question: what if a saint dies. out of fellowship with Christ due to unconfessed sin? It keeps those believing this false doctrine stuck in the bondage of fear, dread and shame, endlessly trying not to lose God’s fellowship and/or forgiveness already given to those who believe, once and for all. Here is God’s unchanging standard, and absolute truth in relationship to those who are forgiven, once and for all. A perfect sacrifice is required by God before sins can be forgiven. In the Old Testament and New Testament God requires a perfect sacrifice in order for anyone to obtain forgiveness, He also makes it absolutely clear in the New Testament that this New Testament sacrifice, required and necessary is superior to that of the Old Testament many sacrifices, which only obtained temporary forgiveness, but did not remove the sin. Christ’s sacrifice is the perfect sinless complete Atonement for all sins for all time, accomplishing permanent forgivenes, and permanent removal of all sins. So after we receive salvation then come back to God seeking further forgiveness for sin or to regain fellowship with Him, He says (paraphrase): Why? I already paid for them, I no longer remember your sins, I keep no record of them, and I never put them on your account. Heb. 8:12; Heb. 10:17-18; Ro. 4:7; Ro. 4:8-15; Col. 2:13. So what is your problem, why won’t you believe me? Why do you dishonor the blood of my cross shed for all your sins for all time? Man’s standard (this includes women too) adds carnal commands, and takes away God’s truth. If you or I have to keep doing anything to keep fellowship with God, if you or I have to keep doing anything to keep getting God to forgive us, somebody’s lying, and it is not God, it is that man or woman, who rejects the finished work of Lord Jesus Christ . There is no need NOW for further confession to obtain further forgiveness, because Any and ALL forgiveness CAN ONLY BE OBTAINED BY THE PERFECT BLOOD SACRIFICE OR ATONEMENT, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE ONCE AND FOR ALL through king Jesus . For this reason God is no longer angry with us: God is no longer angry with us: much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Ro. 5:9. When we believe God, we have the freedom He gives us to lovingly obey Him, and to desire to do His will, growing and moving forward to love the brothers and sisters, and to carry out the good works that He has prepared and enabled us to do. When we sin, we repent, I.e. agree with God, that sin is wrong and turn from that sin, refusing to practice it, refusing any longer to yield to it by the power of the Holy Spirit, enabling every saint to live by the power of God. Holy brothers and sisters say this with me: Father we humble ourselves under your mighty hand, We love, worship, praise and thank you for all you have done. Lord Jesus, we know from your word, that it is your work from start to finish wherein we are made partakers in you, members of one another and of your eternal kingdom. Lord Jesus, we thank you for peace, reconciliation, and rest in God, that you have gained for every believer by the finished work of your cross forever. For this cause we who have died to sin, receive through the Holy Spirit, a new nature, power for right living, and eternal fellowship with God. We do not practice sin, do not condone or justify sin as a lifestyle, and gladly and willingly refuse to make an idol of any sin. Lord we pray that every saint will be reconciled, and rest in you through faith in your finished work on the cross. Gal. 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. To be continued Love serola John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed
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Thu, Jul 8th - 8:34PM
The Confessing Church?
Part 17 sect. C Now dear ones, we are continuing to address two things: vertically how God wants us to deal with sin in relation to Him, and horizentally: how God wants us to deal with sin in relation to one another. We are continuing first vertically in relationship to God first. It would seem comical to some, but is no laughing matter , but truly tragic, so tragic about how poorly this is understood by some, but NEVER ALL, for we have the Holy Spirit to enable and help us to rightly divide the word of truth directly, through godly teachers, pastors, and the saints as a whole, that the word will and can work over time with power to all them that belong to Christ Jesus. Let us, dearly beloveds go over this again: God alone has set the final standard for forgiveness for ever. Here is the plain truth without the perfect sacrifice made by our sinless Saviour THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO FORGIVENESS OF SINS FOR THE HUMAN RACE AT ALL. And once a penitent sinner is forgiven, there is not only no need for further sacrifices, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO FURTHER SACRIFICE FOR SIN , NOR CAN THERE BE, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE. Christ’s ONE sacrifice Once for all time removes all sin, for all time. Hmmm, just why is this so? Read on brethren. God’s standard for forgiveness is not based on what men determine it to be. It is based solely on the standard that He has established in His word. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood, without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. Heb. 9:22 Remission means G859 Aphesis: Pardon-deliverance. Forgiveness, liberty, remission. Heb. 9; 25-28 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now ONCE in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 28 So Christ was ONCE offered to bear the sins of many, and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. Heb. 10:18 Now where remission of these is there is no more offering for sin. To be continued. No study can be exhaustive, it is the work of God, that we all participate in helping one another to grow on some level. Competition, passivity and sloth is never sanctioned by the scriptures, feel free to look up on your own, and certainly many other teachers and pastors who deal correctly with this subject. Next God’s standard Vs. Man’s standard. I love you and wholeheartedly look forward to meeting with you here again. Love serola
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Wed, Jul 7th - 1:14AM
The Confessing Church?
Part 17 Sect. B Part 17 will be posted in segments as I mentioned in the first part of 17 The rest will be posted in sections ie. Part 17 sect. B to sect. F. Brethren let us pray: Holy Spirit we pray, that you will open up the eyes and the understanding of those saints who are trying to finish what you have already completed for all time to the house of God. Lord Jesus we urgently pray that they will believe you and accept your word as the final truth, sole authority and complete standard forever. Then we are certain, Lord Jesus, that they too will enter into the joy, rest, peace and reconciliation that you freely grant to all that believe on your Name. Amen. Believe: Pisteuo: from G4102 (pistis); to have faith ( in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing) ie credit, by implication to entrust, especially ones spiritual well-being to Christ: believe -r, commit, to trust, put in trust with. The Holy Spirit is the assigned teacher over the house of God, all right teachings come directly through Him, with overlap of Jesus and God. No man or woman can understand the scriptures except the Holy Spirit allows them to receive it, by His Spirit. God wants us to be steadfast in the faith of Jesus. The Holy Bible is easy to understand. I ponder, saints if the Holy Spirit has a sense of humor. Sometimes, (too often perhaps) I find myself struggling, but unable to gain some understanding of a particular passage on my own, then give up. Suddenly the Holy Spirit drops the meaning into my mind and heart, and I just say in awe-Oh! In delighted surprise. Then it seems as though I hear Him say at such times, “be more patient, I will freely give you what you need in me, in the manner of my choosing, you cannot get it on your own, indeed no one can.” I ponder that the reason we sometimes find the scriptures too complex, is because the Holy Spirit is bypassed, and the motives of our hearts is looking to our own glory, and not His. He resists pride, and rightly so, for God alone deserves all the honor glory and praise, which He will never share with another. Long before we reach 1 John the Holy Spirit has laid out very carefully in the New Testament that we cannot lose fellowship with God anymore as it was in the Old Testament it is NEVER so in the New Testament , Jn. 10:28-30; Ro. 8: 33- 39. To be continued. Love serola
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Tue, Jul 6th - 3:51AM
The Confessing Church? Part 17 Sorry brothers and sisters, I could not post part 17 as one part for some reason, so will have to post it by breaking it up into several parts. I Peter 5:6-11Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Oh the beauty, the wonder, the splendor and the glory of resting in the awesome arms of Christ, our Redeemer, Saviour, Deliverer and Lord. The weather changes, the world, people, places, things, relationships and even our emotions change, but He is absolutely faithful, and always the same, yesterday, tomorrow and for ever. Dearly beloveds, I know you can agree with me that Christ is the sole Anchor for our souls and the Root even of our stability, who prevents us from being swept away by the trials of this life. Oh, I love Him so, because He first loved me. What joy to bask in the light of His Presence, resting in His love. Holy brothers and sisters let us pray together: Father we humble ourselves under your mighty hand, We love, worship, praise and thank you for all you have done. Lord Jesus, we know from your word, that it is your work from start to finish wherein we are made partakers in you, members of one another and of your eternal kingdom. Lord Jesus, we thank you for peace, reconciliation, and rest in God, that you have gained for every believer by the finished work of your cross forever. To be continued Love serola
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Sat, Jul 3rd - 7:57AM
THE CONFESSING CHURCH?
Part 16 I Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. 2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to 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 Cor 11:1-4 (KJV) Dearly beloveds, brother Paul the Apostle’s godly jealousy over God’s people and God’s word is something we should all share in. Not even one of us should allow our minds to be corrupted, beguiled, or moved away from the simplicity that is in Christ. As I have said before, holy brothers and sisters, the Holy Spirit specifically is our assigned teacher, that we can totally rely on to lead us into all truth. We must faithfully carry out these teachings. Oh I know, dear saints, that there are persons who think that their salvation came about or was obtained partly because of their faith or something they did, but the Holy Bible says: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. Romans 12:3 (KJV) Some think their belief saved them, but the Holy Bible says: For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake Phil 1:29 (KJV) The scriptures confirms that everything we have came from God. 25 Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. 26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. 27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. John 3:25-27 (KJV) 6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. 7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? 1 Cor 4:6-7 (KJV)
It is never about what we have done to save ourselves, it is solely the work of the Triune God. For the Holy Bible says: 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Eph 2:4-10 (KJV) The natural man cannot wrap his mind about this, and sees it as some sort of passivity, and tries to put the cart before the horse so to speak, to insert some sort of human works that must preceed salvation, but has no understanding of how wrong he is. The Holy Bible says this about the natural man: 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Cor 2:12-16 (KJV) Dearly beloveds, we are marching on to 1 John, with the Holy Ghost leading, but there is one more stop along the way. Let us stop here for now. I pray that the joy of the Lord will envelop your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus, always. Love serola Ro. 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, thay ye may abound in hope. Through the power of the Holy Ghost.
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Fri, Jul 2nd - 4:32AM
The Confessing Church?
Part 15 It is against the background of the previously presented facts, my beloveds, that we now, dear children of light, must return to the main premise of this study: The issue of whether or not Christians should confess their sins, and as I said before, 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. I also again pose these basic questions: 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? Earlier on in this study we dealt with the these four basic question in the Old Testament how that it is under the Mosaic Law that the command to confess sin to God first appears, and also that refusal to do so resulted in broken fellowship with God under the Mosaic law. We also have to note that under this same Mosaic Law ie., the Law of Moses every year the high priest had to make atonement for sometimes the same sins over and over again, but first for himself then the sins of the people. Every saint in the Old Testament was commanded to confess his sins, to the high priest and required to give an animal for sacrifice to the high priest. It went this way, saints, the sinner confesses to the high priest and gives an animal for sacrifice. The high priest lays his hands on the animal and transfers the persons sin to the animal which is then sacrificed to God to make atonement to obtain forgiveness for the persons sin. Every sin required a sacrifice of some sort, but some sins could not be forgiven under the Law of Moses and brought death or some other penalty outright. God expected all of His people to confess all sins both known and unknown under the Mosaic Law of Moses. The bottom line is that no sin in the Old Testament was permanently taken away, but received only a temporary forgiveness, but certain ones carried a death sentence or penalty outright and could not be forgiven. The people even after receiving this kind of forgiveness, retained a guilty conscience. Dear saints, note that in in part 8 of this study I posted that: in the New Testament we find confession of sins presented in two separate contexts, first vertically In relationship to God and secondly horizontally in relation of the saints to one another. Beloveds God makes it easy to understand what He expects of His people under the New Testament both in relationship to Himself and also to one another But before we started in relation to God first: I want to tell you that one day I went out to witness, and I met a young man and asked him if he would like to become a Christian, although he well understood he was a sinner, he said some pastor had told him he could never be saved because under the Old Testament Law of Moses, he was of a certain lifestyle, although he desired to turn away from it. Well I shared with him the truth of the Salvation of Jesus Christ, that if he believed that Jesus shed His blood and died on the cross for his sins, and rose again, that he would be saved, and that all his sins would be forgiven, and he would become a child of God. He accepted this with all his heart, and I directed him to a local pastor, skilled in the scriptures, where he went faithfully and full of joy. I assured him that Jesus forgives all of our sins, even those that were under the Mosaic Law of Moses, and would help him in turning away from anything that offended God. Acts 13:38 be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Christ’s forgiveness is complete.) Holy brothers and sisters when anyone incorrectly relates the scriptures to someone, it is very harmful and destructive, whether on purpose or in ignorance the results are equally dangerous and destructive to someone seeking salvation. I do continually give thanks and praise to my God and yours for the multitude of loving and kind saints, teachers and pastors that love the Lord, and are careful in rightly dividing the word of truth. Once a sinner confesses and repents of his sins believing on the name of Jesus Christ all of his or her sins are forgiven, ONCE AND FOR ALL. Lord Jesus’ sacrifice of His sinless body and blood is completely FINAL as well as sufficient for taking and washing away ALL of our sins. He has nothing else to offer because there is absolutely nothing else to offer, or can be offered other than His ONE sacrifice. His ONE OFFERING for sin is Both FINISHED AND FINAL. He is not like those sinful old high priest under the annulled Mosaic law, whose work was never finished. Adding anything to his sacrifice or taking anything from it denies its validity. Any system to gain salvation through good deeds or any further works to obtain forgiveness after salvation is received, is essentially rejecting the significance of Christ's death and spurning the Holy Spirit's work. Beware of anyone who tells you that Christ's sacrifice still leaves you incomplete or that something else is needed to make you acceptable to God. When we believe in Christ, he makes us completely right with God. Our loving relationship leads us to follow him in willing obedience and service. He is pleased with our service, but we cannot be saved by our good deeds, or obtain further forgiveness after salvation is received. Our sins are completely cleansed away, there is no account, remembrance, or imputation of sin to those who have received grace. Through Jesus Christ, we are given peace and reconciliation with God. Some fear to tell the truth of salvation, thinking then that people would run amok sinning, since no record, no remembrance, and no sin is imputed anymore to those who have once been forgiven, receiving salvation by the mercy and Grace of God. Holy brothers and sisters we should not be surprised, ashamed, or shocked that we still need to grow, and yes we still do sin at times, and although as I have said repeatedly from God‘s word He keeps no record, account or imputes it to us any more, He can and does allow us to suffer the consequences of them. He will never leave or forsake us or take away His fellowship or forgiveness from us. Heb. 13:5; Ro. 8.God is not finished with us. We can encourage this growth process by deliberately applying Scripture to all areas of our lives, by accepting the discipline and guidance Christ provides, and by giving him control of our desires and goals. We have been purchased by God, we are no longer our own, in fact the triune God takes up residence in every believer to guide and help us to live the life of Christ according to the will of God: 1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 1 Peter 4:1-3 (KJV) There is only one acceptable confession to God left to those who have received salvation, and the church as a whole, it is this: Jesus is Lord. Indeed brethren the whole of the body confesses this for all time-Jesus is Lord. Why so? Because all of our sins are forgiven once and for all, and God‘s will is first in all we say and do. Well you might say what about I John 1:9-10? 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:8-10 (KJV) This will be looked into more closely later on. It is tragic that despite 1Johns purpose in writing in the first place is: 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 1 John 1:4 (KJV) Messengers of death and the ignorant have turned it into a terrible toxic, joy killing message full of misery, fear, defeat, debasement, despair, sadness, gloominess, shame, condemnation and hopelessness of ever resting in God’s approval, sending the vulnerable into a frenetic spiral of an unending useless quest of works, to seek forgiveness of sins that Jesus through His body and blood of the cross has already forgiven for all time; instead of agreeing and accepting the complete atonement in Christ Jesus our Lord. The forgiven saint repents of sin, and agrees with God that sin is wrong, changing their minds about that particular thing and doing God’s will in the matter and not their own, filled with joy in the assurance of true salvation, and the strength that God provides to aid His people to serve Him and not sin. When the Lord convicts our conscience that there is something in our lives that He regards as sinful or wrong, and wants us to turn from it, the joyous saint can say: Lord I thank you that all my sins are forgiven, and that you will no longer remember, keep any record or impute any of it to me. Lord I agree with you that sin is wrong, Lord Jesus, I repent, that is I change my mind from seeing that sin that displeases you as right and agree with you that it is wrong. Furthermore Holy Spirit I refuse to practice that sin anymore. I know in complete faith that it is for your glory and my good, and by your power that I am enabled to renounce and will no longer allow that thing to be a part of my life in obedience to you. I know I cannot do it by myself alone, no one can, but through your strength and faith in your Name, I can and will over come. So the joyous saint, instead of insulting King Jesus by denying the power of His blood, instead counts on the power of our Lord to practice a steady resistance to self and sin to serve Him our great High Priest and Shepherd over the house of God, going from victory to victory by God’s power. Repentance of sin for the forgiven saint is on going and most clearly seen in Revelation; but the issue of God’s forgiveness via atonement through Jesus is Once and for all settled for all eternity, it is finished. Jesus gave His people a new name, saints, children of light, children of the day, and many other terms of endearments out of His love for us. We do not allow anyone or anything to change the name that our God gave us out of His love for us. God has forever settled our identity as His people, and our eternal destiny, in Him alone. Repent: metanoeo—from —Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary <G3326> (meta) and <G3539> (noieo); to think differently or afterwards, i.e. reconsider (moral feel compunction) :- repent.This is all for now, I pray that our Triune God will open up our understanding to believe that God’s word is the final answer and sole authority for His people and for the whole earth. Love Serola John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
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Name: Dolores serola Rutherford
