THE SIGNS ARE ALL AROUND US

The Word of God clearly tells us that no man knows the day nor the hour of Christ's return.  Jesus stated that even He did not know, but that only the Father knows.  He said, "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father (Mk. 13:32).

And yet, He did tell His disciples that there would be signs of His return.  Jesus said:  "Now learn a parable of the fig tree; when her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:  so ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors" (Mk. 13:28-29).

Most theologians believe "the fig tree" in Scripture, is a symbol of Israel, and that the phrase, "puts forth her leaves," refers to Israel becoming a nation again.  The United Nations declared Israel to be a nation in A.D 1948.  So, the first clue that Christ's Second Coming is very near, occurred sixty-six years ago.  According to God's Word, a generation is approximately seventy years (Ps. 90:10).  Ironically, in the same passage quoted above, Jesus made this statement:  "Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.  Heaven and earth shall pass away: but My words shall not pass away" (Mk. 13:30-31).

More clues are found in the signs Jesus called the "the beginning of sorrows."  Jesus said:
"For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.  And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.  All these are the beginning of sorrows.  Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name's sake.  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.  And this Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come" (Mt. 24:5-14).

 

If you have a television, you know these things are happening today!

Christ could return at any moment; accept Him as your Lord while there is still time!  

IT LITERALLY IS HAPPENING!

Still reeling from the disappearance of my dad and dozens of his fellow church members, I went to the grocery store this morning, and I notice there were several police officers standing at the doors.  They appeared to be looking at the faces and hands of the customers as if they were expecting to see something.  Most were allowed to enter, but every so often, the officers appeared to arrest one who did not have the proper marking.  I knew from the news on my car radio that the government had passed some kind of law, the day before, concerning financial transactions, but I didn't really pay that much attention to the report.  As I sat in my car watching, I turned the radio back on, and sure enough, a government spokesman was informing the public that the President had signed into law, Bill 666, and that it took effect last night at midnight.  He said that anyone wanting to buy or sell anything, had to go to the local police station, and register. 

Since I had not done so, and apparently those being arrested had failed to do so, I decided to go back home, and think about what I was going to do.  I remembered my dad telling me, years ago, something about a Bible Prophecy Conference he had attended, where the speakers were warning people of what seemed to be taking place.  Dad said that some global leader would force people to leave their religions, and join his.  Dad said this man would actually claim to be God, and that all who agreed to worship him would receive some kind of tattoo or micro-chip or something, that would enable the person to go about his normal life.

I went to my computer, and "googled" the phrase "a mark necessary to buy something."  Instantly, there were millions of sites which explained what was happening.  They all seemed to refer to the Bible's Book of Revelation, chapter thirteen.  When I found Dad's old Bible, I read the following:

"And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.  And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.  And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.  And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.  And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:  and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.  Here is wisdom.  Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six" (Rev. 13:11-18).

I had to make a decision; worship this man, or the God of my father.

THE NECESSARY ESSENTIALS OF JOHN'S GOSPEL

Have you ever given much thought to significance of the word "must?"  It carries within it, an imperative, a requirement or obligation to do something.  "Must" (58 times) is one of the English words which is translated from the Greek δεῖ (dei), which the Blue Letter Bible defines as:  A necessity:

1. A necessity lying in the nature of the case.
2. A necessity brought on by circumstances or by the conduct of others toward us.
3. A necessity in reference to what is required to attain some end.
4. A necessity of law and command, of duty, equity.
5. A necessity established by the counsel and decree of God, especially by that purpose of His which relates to the salvation of men by the intervention of Christ, and which is disclosed in the Old Testament prophecies concerning what Christ was destined finally to undergo:  His sufferings, His death, His resurrection, and His ascension!

Some of the other English words translated from δεῖ are "ought" (31 times); "must needs" (5 times); and "should" (4 times).  This Greek word (δεῖ) appears 11 times in the Gospel of John.  These are the things John tells us are of necessity:
*  Jn. 3:7     "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again."
*  Jn. 3:14   "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up."
*  Jn. 3:30   "He must increase, but I must decrease."
*  Jn. 4:4     "And He must needs go through Samaria."
*  Jn. 4:20   "Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and Ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship."
*  Jn. 4:24   "God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth."
*  Jn. 9:4     "I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work."
*  Jn. 10:16  "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one Shepherd."
*  Jn. 12:34 "The people answered Him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest Thou, The Son of man must be lifted up?  Who is this Son of man?"
*  Jn. 20:9   "For as yet they knew not the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead." 

Jesus had to die that, believing, you might be born again!

          God raised Him from the dead to be both Lord and Savior!           

BELIEVE AND CONFESS JESUS IS YOUR LORD

Two words in the Bible express God's will for mankind:  "trust" and "believe."  I am not sure of all the nuances which make the two words differ from each other, but my guess is, we "trust" a person, and because of that, we "believe" what he or she tells us. 

The word "trust" appears 134 times in the KJV of the Bible; 107 of them in the Old Testament, and 27 in the New Testament.  The word "believe," on the other hand, is found 143 times in the Bible; 17 times in the Old Testament, and 126 times in the New Testament.

Perhaps the reason the Old Testament stresses one "trust" God, is because much of what His Word promised Israel had not happened yet.  With the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, over 300 of God's promises were fulfilled.  With the Lord's First Coming, God proved He could be trusted, that His Word was truth.  Today, we look back on the Lord's First Coming and His Ascension and we are being asked to "believe" what Christ has already done for us.  We also "trust" that the remaining prophecies, those which address the Rapture of the Church, the Tribulation or Daniel's Seventieth Week, and the Millennium Kingdom, will be literally fulfilled!

If you "trust" God, and "believe" what He has done and will do for you in the future, then call upon Jesus Christ as your Lord, and begin confessing to one and all that He is your Lord and Savior!  Paul wrote: 

"But what saith it?  The Word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the Word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed. 

For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?  And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?  And how shall they hear without a preacher?  And how shall they preach, except they be sent?  As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!  But they have not all obeyed the Gospel.  For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Rom. 10:8-17).

You can trust God, and believe what He has told us in His Word!

HOW MANY WITNESSES DOES IT TAKE?

When one's life was in the balance, God told Israel that it took at least two witnesses to convict him or her of a crime.  This is repeated over and over again throughout Scripture.  Here are a few examples:

*  Numbers 35:30.
*  Deuteronomy 17:6 and 19:15.
*  Matthew 18:16.
*  2 Corinthians 13:1.
*  1 Timothy 5:19.
*  Hebrews 10:28.
*  Revelation 11:3.

Let's look at the number of witnesses Jesus Christ had, which saw Him after He had been crucified and buried.  If believing two witnesses should convince a jury of the truth of the charges against a criminal, wouldn't the testimony of two witnesses be sufficient to convince someone that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead?  Well, I have some really good news for those who are struggling with believing the Gospel; there are hundreds of witnesses who testified that they saw the risen Lord!

There are at least six books in the New Testament, written by five different men, which tell us about the resurrection appearances of Christ--Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, and 1 Corinthians. At least three of these Bible writers actually saw the risen Lord--Matthew, John and Paul--and thus they wrote from first hand experience.   As we study these inspired documents, we learn that Christ appeared to the following people, in the following order:

*  Christ was first seen by Mary Magdalene (Mk. 16:9; Jn. 20:1-18).
*  Christ was seen by the women returning from the tomb (Mt. 28:9-10).
*  Christ was seen by Peter (1 Cor. 15:5; Lk. 24:34).
*  Christ was seen by two on the road to Emmaus (Lk. 24:13-35; Mk. 16:12).
*  Christ was seen by the ten disciples (Mk. 16:14; Lk. 24:36-43; Jn. 20:19-24; 1 Cor. 15:5).
*  Christ was seen by the eleven disciples (Jn. 20:26-29).
*  Christ was seen by the seven disciples (Jn. 21:1-22.
*  Christ was seen by more than 500 people in Galilee (1 Cor. 15:6).
*  Christ was seen by James (1 Cor. 15:7).
*  Christ was seen at His Ascension (Mk. 16:19; Lk. 24:50-51; Acts 1:3-12).

NOTE:  After the Ascension, Christ was also seen by:
              Stephen (Acts 7:55-56).
              Saul (Acts 9:1-7; 1 Cor.9:1; 15:8).
              John (Rev. 1:9-18).

Now, suppose you are asked, "How do you know Jesus rose from the dead?" 

Hundreds saw Him, and billions have had their lives changed by Jesus Christ!

After all, He said, "I AM THE RESURRECTION!"

LUKE: THE GOSPEL OF REPENTANCE

Yesterday, I wrote about the "two-sided coin" we call "salvation."  In Luke 24:47, Jesus told His disciples to preach two things:  repentance and remission.  Perhaps that is why Jesus sent them to preach the Gospel in two's (Lk. 10:1); one would play the "bad cop," and the other would be the "good cop."  The first would inform the lost about their guilt and its consequences, and the other would offer them the hope of salvation found through faith in Jesus Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; Eph. 2:8).

It is clear from Scripture that Jesus' mission was to save souls.  Early in His ministry, He declared, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Lk. 5:32).  When His disciples suggested that fire be called down from heaven on those who challenged Jesus, He replied, "For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them" (Lk. 9:56).

Later, when questioned about some who were killed by Rome, Jesus told them that they were no more righteous than those who were slain.  He said, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Lk. 13:3).

In His parable of the lost sheep, He contrasted being lost with being repentant:  He said, "I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance" (Lk. 15:7).

He told those who criticized Him for going to Zacchaeus' house:  "This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.  For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Lk. 19:9-10).

Just a side note:  Luke, who was also the author of the Book of Acts, continued his focus upon the lost needing to repent.  He called on Israel to repent (Acts 5:31; 13:24; 19:4), and for the Gentiles as well (Acts. 11:18; 20:21).

Repentance occurs when one hears the Gospel, and believing it, turns from going his own way, to following Jesus.  It is like when the "light bulb" comes on:  you see, for the first time, not only where you are headed, but you also see the Lord beckoning you to follow Him.  It is the greatest "Gestalt Switch" of all.  You no longer see Jesus as a historical figure; you see Him as your Savior, your Lord!  It is like the picture of the frog which "miraculously" turns into a horse's head, or the picture of the old witch that suddenly changes into the picture of a beautiful young woman!  Once you see Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you will never see Him any other way.

"Why seek ye the living among the dead?

He is not here, He is risen!" 

REPENTENCE AND REMISSION OF SINS SAVES

According to Webster's Dictionary, "repentance" is defined as:  "The act of repenting, or the state of being penitent; sorrow for what one has done or omitted to do.  The Blue Letter Bible defines "repentance" as "a change of mind, as it appears to one who repents, of a purpose he has formed or of something he has done."  The Greek word, μετάνοια (metanoia), which appears twenty-four times in the New Testament, always refers to one having "a change of mind."

Jesus told His disciples the importance of repentance, when He said, "repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem" (Lk. 24:47).  He was clearly stating that remission was just part of the equation.  How important is repentance?  It is equal to remission!  So, what is remission? 

"Remission," as it is used here, means "forgiveness or pardon, of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed), remission of the penalty (The Blue Letter Bible).  It is the "Good News," the Gospel, that Jesus "died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Cor. 15:3-4). 

The Gospel is preached to the lost - the lost man believes what the Gospel says (he is a sinner, Jesus died in his place, and God raised Him from the dead to show His sacrifice was acceptable to God - Rom. 1:4) - the lost man changes his mind, that is, he repents and acknowledges Jesus Christ as his Lord!

One might ask, "what caused the man to have a change of mind?"  The answer is two-fold:  for one, the Gospel has the power to change one's mind (Rom. 1:16); and secondly, God Himself, in the Person of the Holy Spirit, convicts the lost man of his condition, and the truth of the Gospel.  Jesus said,

It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.  And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:  of sin, because they believe not on Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father, and ye see Me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.  I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.  Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come" (Jn. 16:7-13). 

 

Excluding repentance from the equation, is, in effect, ignoring the work of the Spirit!

JESUS: RESURRECTED LORD OF THE SAVED

YOU ARE A SINNER

Romans 3:10 - "There is NONE righteous, no, not one."
Romans 3:23 - "For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."

THE PENALTY FOR SIN IS DEATH

Ezekiel 18:4, 20 - "The soul that sinneth, it shall die."

Romans 6:23 - "For the wages of sin is death."

 

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO WORK YOUR WAY TO HEAVEN

Ephesians 2:9 - "Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Titus 3:5 - "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us."

 

THOSE WHO ARE SAVED, ARE SAVED WHILE STILL IN THEIR SIN

Romans 5:8 - "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Acts 9:1-5 - "And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.  And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:  and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?  And he said, Who art Thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutes."

 

SALVATION IS THE GIFT GOD GIVES TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE

Romans 6:23 - "The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Ephesians 2:8 - "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."

 

WHEN WE BELIEVE THE GOSPEL, WE ARE SAVED

Romans 1:16 - "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth."

Romans 10:9-10 - "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

IT IS ALL ABOUT JESUS!

The Bible begins and ends with information about Jesus Christ.  The first verse, in the first book, says:  "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."  "God," is referring to Jesus!  How do I know?  By looking at what the rest of the Bible says about the act of creation!  We read:

*     "All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made" (Jn. 1:3).  We know by the context of verse one, verse ten, and verse fourteen, that "Him" is referring to Jesus Christ!
*     "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" (Eph. 3:9).
*     "For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him:  and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist" (Col. 1:16-17).  Again, the context of the chapter is about Jesus.
*     "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds" (Heb. 1:1-2).
*     "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created" (Rev. 4:11).

As I stated above, the Bible ends focused upon Jesus:

*     "I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.  And let him that heareth say, Come.  And let him that is athirst come.  And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.  He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly.  Amen.  Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Rev. 22:16-17, 20).

I can hear the devil whispering in your ears, "What about everything in between?"  Jesus answered that Himself:

*     "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself" (Lk. 24:27)!

WAITING TO BE SAVED IS EXTREMELY RISKY

Some teach that those who do not get saved prior to the Rapture, have no hope of being saved after the Rapture, a view based upon a misunderstanding of 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12, which says: 

"And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:  that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

But that makes no sense.  God specifically speaks of two human ministries which will proclaim the Gospel during the Tribulation.  In Revelation 7:4-17, John writes of 144,000 sealed witnesses; twelve thousand from each of the twelve Tribes of Israel.  Later, in Revelation 14:1-5, the 144,000 are mentioned as having been martyred during the Tribulation, perhaps just as the Lord's witnesses in Revelation 11:3-12.  There, John tells us of two witnesses who are killed for preaching the Gospel, but that God resurrects them, and they ascend into heaven (further witness that their testimony is true)!

God's proclamation of the Gospel during the Tribulation is not limited to human beings; He has an angel whose mission is to warn the world.  John wrote: 

"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, 'Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters" (Rev. 14:6-7).

Again, 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 describe individuals who reject the Gospel during the Tribulation.  They are not talking about people who reject the truth before the Rapture.  These are people who willfully decide to follow the devil's man (see the context of 2 Th. 2:3-9).  These are people who reject the truth and receive the LIE that the man of sin is to be honored as God, and worshiped.  These are those who deliberately choose to take the mark of the beast and worship this evil man. According to Revelation 14:9-11, those who take the mark cannot be saved. Their destiny is Hell. Thus, during the Tribulation, those who willfully identify with the devil's man are doomed (2 Th. 2:12).  In that day the issue will be very clear: worship God (Rev. 14:6-7) or worship the devil's man (Rev. 14:9-11).  One's choice will determine one's eternal destiny.

If a person refuses to believe on Christ prior to the Rapture, there is still hope that he will trust Christ after the Rapture.  However, it is always dangerous to reject the truth, no matter when you live.  The time to be saved is today, not tomorrow.  The time to believe is now.

 

"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation!"

SAVING FAITH: BELIEVING THE GOSPEL

In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were arrested, beaten, and cast into prison in the city of Philippi (v.19-24).  The Word says that at midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to the Lord, loud enough for everyone to hear (v. 25).  Following an earthquake which released all the prisoners, the jailer, fearing he would be blamed, was about to kill himself (v. 26-27).  Paul stopped him by telling him all the prisoners were still there (v. 28).  When he had verified that none had escaped, and having heard the prayers and praises of the two men, realizing they were obviously men of God, he asked:  "...Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"  Their answer was:  "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved..." (v. 29-30)!

Because one must hear and believe the Gospel in order to become a born again child of God (Jn. 1:12; 3:3-21; 16:7-15; Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 15:1-4), one might speculate that Paul and Silas incorporated the Gospel message in their prayers and praises.  Perhaps they did, but the context tells us that they "spake unto him the Word of the Lord..." (v. 32).  Romans 10:17 says, "...faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

Some are quick to point out that "the thief on the cross" did not hear the Gospel, and yet Jesus told him he "was saved," which is basically the same thing as being with Jesus in paradise (Lk. 23:43).  However, let's look at what the "good thief" knew.  He, like the Centurion, knew that the man hanging on the cross next to him, must have been the Son of God (Mt.27:54; Mk. 15:39), and there was even a sign above His head that declared it in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin (Lk. 23:38)!

He basically knew the Gospel:  Jesus was dying, and based upon his statement, "Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom" (Lk. 23:42), he also knew Jesus would rise from His grave!  He called Jesus Lord!  He knew of His pending death, naturally followed by His burial, and that He would be resurrected - is that not the Gospel? 

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand....For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Cor. 15:1-4)!

Have you heard?  Do you believe?  Do you long for Christ's return? 

That is the faith which saves!

JESUS: SLAIN BY MAN; RAISED FOR MAN!

Born again believers have been given one message to proclaim, a message which the Scripture calls the very power of God, the only message capable of bringing a lost soul to salvation:  the Gospel (Rom. 1:16).  Simply stated, the Gospel tells us that Jesus died for our sins; that His body was buried; but that God raised Him from the dead; all according to the Scriptures; that is, according to Old Testament prophecy (1 Cor. 15:3-4; Ps. 22:1-19; Isa. 53:1-12; etc.).

Just prior to His Ascension, Jesus told His disciples to go proclaim the Gospel to every creature (Mt. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:19-20; Lk. 24:50-53; Acts 1:8-9).  On the Day of Pentecost, ten days after His Ascension, the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:3; 2:1-4).  Although there were Jews present from many nations, each heard the disciples proclaiming the works of God in their own language (Acts 2:5-11).  When questioned about this, Peter quoted the prophet Joel, who had foretold of what they had just witnessed (Acts 2:13-22; Joel 2:28-32).

Now that Peter had their attention, he preached the Gospel!  Here is some of what Peter said:

"Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:  Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:  Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that He should be holden of it" (Acts. 2:22-24).

"This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.  Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.  For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit Thou on My right hand, until I make Thy foes Thy footstool.  Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:32-36).

Please note that Peter proclaimed the Lord's Crucifixion, the Christ's burial, and the Savior's Resurrection.  And what was the response?  Three thousand received Jesus Christ as their Lord (Acts 2:37-41)!  Their lives were changed, and as a result, souls were saved every day (Acts 2:42-47)!

If you truly want to see souls saved, proclaim the message that saves!

THE FALL FEASTS OF THE LORD

In Leviticus Chapter Twenty-three, the Lord instructs Moses to set aside seven "feasts of the Lord."  The first three, Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits, were held in the Spring of the year; in Israel's first month of their calendar:  Nisan.  As born again believers know, these three feasts were "pictures" or types for the events which took place during Christ's First Advent.  In His death, Jesus is identified as "our Passover" in 1 Corinthians 5:7.  The fact that He revealed Himself as the sinless "Bread of Life" (Jn. 6:35; Heb. 4:15 - leaven is always a picture of sin in the Bible), we see this feast as representing His burial.  And finally, the Word specifically states that Jesus was the "firstfruits" from the grave (1 Cor. 15:20, 23).  These three concluded Christ's First Coming.

There are also three Fall "feasts of the Lord," which, if the pattern continues, will be typical of Christ's Second Advent, and I believe they are associated with His Second Coming.  However, because the Feasts of Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles, have yet to occur, it is not so clear as to their meaning.  Many "know" what they represent, but I do not; I would prefer to look at "clues" about them, and say, "I believe these feasts represent the following:  the first two set the stage for His Second Coming; the last occurs after He has returned.

"Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of Trumpets, an holy convocation" (Lev. 23:24).  Because the word "trumpets" is plural, I believe it is possible that two trumpets are pictured:  one to signal the Rapture of the Church (1 Th. 4:16-17), and the other, as the sound for Israel to gather as one; to assemble in the land (Lev. 23:24, 36).  This regathering will probably set the stage for the Antichrist to make a seven-year peace pact with them (Dan. 9:27).

"Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a Day of Atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD" (Lev. 23:27).  Half way through the seven-year peace agreement with the Antichrist (Tribulation), he is used of the Lord to humble Israel, in what the Word calls the Day of God's Wrath (Ezek. 7:18; Zeph. 1:18; Jn. 3:36; Rom. 2:5; Col. 3:6; 1 Th. 1:10; 5:9; etc.).

"Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD.  On the first day shall be an holy convocation..." (Lev. 23:34-35).  "Tabernacle," as it is used here, means "the place where God dwells," and it refers to the literal Second Coming of the Lord.  Jesus will make His abode with His people during the Millennium, just as God dwelt in the Tabernacle of Israel (Ex. 29:43; 40:34; Num. 20:6; Acts 15:16; 2 Cor. 6:16; Rev. 20:1-9; 21:3; etc.)!

Two gatherings, the Day of Atonement, and a Millennium with Christ!

I don't know about you, but I cannot wait!  Come, Lord Jesus! 

THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD FOR EVERY MAN

In 2 Peter 3:9, we read, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."  I know, you thought I was going to say it is God's will that all men should be saved.  Well, in a round-about way, I did.  When a person "comes to repentance," in the sense it is used here, it means he "comes to understand the Gospel, and he turns to follow Jesus."  Notice the context for 2 Peter 3:9 is God patiently withholding judgment so that all who will come to Christ, have a chance to do so! 

The message His disciples were to preach, was given to them by Jesus just prior to His Ascension.  Matthew's Gospel focuses on spreading the Gospel, the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16), baptizing those who believe the Gospel, and training new believers according to the doctrines of Christ (Mt. 28:19-20).  Mark's Gospel presents Christ's charge to them, but omits the element of discipleship; he wrote:  "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved..." (Mk. 16:15-16).  In John's Gospel, Jesus' instruction focuses upon Peter, telling him three times, to feed His sheep (Jn. 21:15-17).  Luke's Gospel literally focuses on the Gospel message itself.  He wrote: 

"And He said unto them, 'These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the Law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning Me.'  Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures, and said unto them, 'Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  And ye are witnesses of these things'" (Lk. 24:44-48).

The Gospel proclaims the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus; that is "remission of sins" (1 Cor. 15:3-4).  "Repentance," the turning to follow Christ, is the natural response to those who believe the Gospel (1 Cor. 15:1-2)!  In other words, the Gospel not only tells us what Christ has done for us, but it shows what believing it does to us!  If one genuinely believes that God loved us that much, the only response possible, is to turn from a life focused on sin, and to a life focused on living in a way that brings honor to our Savior! 

We are not righteous because we have faith in Christ;

we are righteous because Christ replaced our sin with HIS righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21)!

CHRIST'S TWO ADVENTS

More than three hundred Bible prophecies were fulfilled during Christ's First Coming.  He came as a baby, born of a virgin, to serve His Father as our Passover Lamb (Isa. 7:14/Mt. 1:23; Jn. 1:29/1 Cor. 5:7).  Israel's mistake was, they failed to comprehend that their Messiah would need to come twice in order to fulfill all the prophecies about His coming.  They did not understand that Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 spoke of their Messiah as a Suffering Servant.  Instead, they were focused upon their Christ's coming for His coronation; they were expecting the King of the Jews.

A biblical scholar, Arnold Fruchtenbaum, in his book Jesus Was A Jew, had this to say:

 

"Anyone who sets himself to the task of seeking to know what the Old Testament has to say about the coming of the Messiah soon finds himself involved with a seeming paradox.  At times one even seems to be faced with an outright contradiction. For the Jewish prophets gave a two-fold picture of the Messiah who was to come.  On the one hand, the inquirer will find numerous predictions regarding the Messiah which portray him as one who is going to suffer humiliation, physical harm, and finally death in a violent manner. This death was stated by the Jewish prophets to be a substitutionary death for the sins of the Jewish people.  On the other hand, he will find that the Jewish prophets also spoke of the Messiah coming as a conquering King who will destroy the enemies of Israel and set up the messianic kingdom of peace and prosperity.

 

This is the two-fold picture the Jewish prophets gave of the Messiah. For centuries past, during the formulation of the Talmud, our rabbis made serious studies of messianic prophecies.  They came up with this conclusion:  the prophets spoke of two different Messiahs.  The Messiah who was to come, suffer and die was termed Messiah, the Son of Joseph (Mashiach ben Yoseph).  The second Messiah who would then come following the first was termed Messiah, the Son of David (Mashiach ben David).  This one would raise the first Messiah back to life, and establish the Messianic kingdom of peace on earth.  That the Old Testament presents these two lines of Messianic prophecy was something that all the early rabbis recognized. The Old Testament never clearly states that there will be two Messiahs. In fact, many of the paradoxical descriptions are found side by side in the same passages, in which it seems that only one person is meant. But for the early rabbis the two-Messiah theory seemed to be the best answer."

 

 

Born again believers know "this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11).

The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; 

and He shall reign for ever and ever" (Rev. 11:15).


 

 
   

JESUS CALLS MAN TO TRUST IN GOD

Thanks to men like John Darby, Lewis Sperry Chafer, C. I. Scofield, John Walvoord,  J. Dwight Pentecost, etc., students of the Bible are aware of what the Apostle Paul meant by "rightly dividing the Word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15).  God has, from the beginning of time until the end of time, laid out seven scenarios in which mankind is given the opportunity to live in fellowship with Him.  The seven are known as dispensations.  A dispensation is nothing more than a period of stewardship, whereby man is held accountable for maintaining that fellowship. 

For instance, Adam was to avoid eating fruit from a forbidden tree; of course, he failed to trust God, and he ate of it (Gen. 3).  From Adam's fall until Noah's day, man was to live according to their consciences, but instead, having their consciences seared by sin (Rom. 2:14-15; 1 Tim. 4:2), became so wicked, they not only failed to trust God, they acted as though He did not exist, and so, God destroyed all but eight souls (Gen. 6:5-8:22). 

Upon leaving the Ark, Noah was told to multiply and replenish the earth (God meant the whole earth - Gen. 9:1).  You would think, by now, man would trust God, and obey Him; but no, man decided to do exactly the opposite of what God commanded (Gen. 11:1-4)!  And so, God divided the human race into family groups, and chose one family to carry out His bidding (Gen. 11:5-12:5).

God chose Abraham to be the patriarch of a family that would become a nation; two generations later, his family became known as Israel (Gen. 12:1; 32:28-32).  God promised Abraham that He would provide for them in a land known as Canaan, but like men before and since Abraham, he failed to trust God.  He chose to trust in Egypt (Gen. 12:1-10).  Later, Abraham did trust God, and demonstrated his faith by obeying God's order to offer Isaac (Gen. 22:1-13).  Because of his trust in God, Abraham was viewed as righteous in God's eyes (Rom. 4:3; Gal. 3:6; Jam. 2:23).

The nation of Israel was given promises from God:  He promised they would always be His people (Gen. 12:1-3), and He promised them that if they kept His Law, He would bless them (Ex. 19:5-20:24).  Of course, they failed, so God sent His Son to be their teacher, their King, their Messiah, their Christ.  And did they trust God?  NO!  They killed Him!  And as a result, their risen Lord has postponed the establishment of His Kingdom until Israel finally trusts God (Rom. 11:25-27; Mt. 24:15; Rev. 12-20)!

Salvation has always come to those who trust in God. 

 

JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD

When a born again believers says that he believes Jesus Christ is the Son of God, exactly what does that mean?  Some believe that Jesus, like all "sons of God," became God's Son by faith in the Father.  After all, doesn't the Word of God say, "But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name" (Jn. 1:12)?  Yes, of course it does, but the "Him's" in that verse refer to Jesus.  All the rest of us who are called the "sons of God," have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  Jesus, on the other hand, is the Father's "only begotten Son" (sired by God); that is, His father actually was God, The Father (Jn. 3:16; Mt. 3:17; 17:5; Lk. 3:38; etc.)!  The Word says, "And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God" (Lk. 1:35).

Okay, Jesus is "the only begotten Son of God"; so what does that mean?  Well, the religious leaders who opposed Jesus throughout His earthly ministry, knew the implications of Him being called the "Son of God."  We read, "But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.  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" (Jn. 5:17-18).  The Apostle Paul confirmed that Jesus understood that He was, in fact, equal to the Father; he wrote, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God" (Phil. 2:5-6).

Die-hard opponents of Christianity are quick to say that Jesus never claimed to be the Son of God, and that Christians are as foolish as those who believe the Greek and Roman myths about the gods mating with mankind.  There are dozens of verses that make the claim that Jesus is the Son of God.  Let's look at what Jesus said:

"Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is He, Lord, that I might believe on Him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen Him, and it is He that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped Him" (Jn. 9:35-38).

 

 

Like this man, when you truly meet the Son of God, you will worship Him!

THE GOSPEL: THE POWER OF TRUE CHANGE

1. The Gospel of God (Rom. 1:1). Here is the SOURCE of the good news. It does not originate with man, but with God, who "sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (1 Jn. 4:10) and sent His angel to declare "good tidings of great joy...to all people" (Lk. 2:10).

 

2. The Gospel of Christ (Gal. 1:7). Here is the THEME of the good news, already noted. It is the declaration that Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, "came into the world to save sinners" (1 Tim. 1:15), that the Father "laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isa. 53:6), and that He is risen again and is at the right hand of God, making intercession for us (Rom.. 8:34).

 

3. The Gospel of the Grace of God (Acts 20:24). Here is the NATURE of the good news. God proclaims that He has an undeserved gift for all mankind, salvation through faith in His beloved Son. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Eph. 2:8-9).

 

4. The Gospel of your Salvation (Eph. 1:13). Here is the WORK of the good news. It is the "power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth..." (Rom. 1:16). "God hath chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth, whereunto He called you by our Gospel..." (2 Th. 2:13-14).

 

5. The Gospel of Peace (Eph. 6:15). Here is the EFFECT of the good news–peace! It is peace with God: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 5:1). It is also peace of conscience: "...the blood of Christ (shall) purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God" (Heb. 9:14).

 

6. The Gospel of Glory (1 Tim. 1:11). Here is the final GOAL of the good news, that those who receive it may share in God’s glory, both now and in eternity. "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Cor. 3:18). Christ "tasted death for every man...(that He might bring) many sons unto glory" (Heb. 2:9-10). "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me: for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world" (Jn. 17:24).

 

The Gospel + faith = salvation!

HANG IN THERE ISRAEL - GOD STILL LOVES YOU!

The Word of God says that Jesus, Israel's long-awaited Messiah, came, but that He was rejected by the Jews (Dan. 9:26; Lk. 19:14; Jn. 1:11; Acts 2:22-23; etc.).  The Apostle Paul explained that God has partially blinded the Jews, so that by rejecting their Messiah, Jesus became accessible to all (Rom. 11:1-32; see also Jn. 1:12; Acts 10:25-48; etc.).  But there will come a time, not in the too distant future, when God will remove their blindness, and at last, they will recognize that Jesus had to have been their Messiah!  Below are passages that describe the event which opens the eyes of the Jews.

"And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for Himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.  And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate" (Dan. 9:26-27).

"And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate" (Dan. 11:31).

"And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days" (Dan. 12:11).

"When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)  Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains" (Mt. 24:15-16).

"And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.  And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven" (Rev. 13:5-6).

Today, billions have heard the Gospel, the Good News that Jesus Christ died for their sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, and raised from the dead, according to the Scriptures (1 Cor. 15:3-4)!  And even though Israel has been paying the penalty for rejecting their Messiah for nearly 2000 years, God's Word says that, in the end, all Israel will be saved (Rom. 11:26)!

I am so grateful that Israel was blinded, so that the rest of us can see the Lord Jesus! 

WITH GOD, THERE ARE NO COINCIDENCES!

Anyone with a television, a radio, or a daily newspaper, knows that war rages within the borders of Israel.  Hamas continues to launch rockets into Israeli held territory, and Israel's defense forces, have for years, retaliated with force.  Recently, Israel declared that it would not stop military action until the threat of rocket attack had been eliminated, once and for all.  In other words, this current situation is not going to end any time soon!  "Coincidentally," Israel is carrying out this campaign DURING (within) a Blood-Moon Tetrad!

A Blood-Moon Tetrad is a series of four total eclipses occurring over a two year period of time (called Blood Moons due to the reddish hue of the shadowed moon).  Since Israel's War of Independence (1947-1949), there have been three Blood-Moon Tetrads, and all three have occurred while Israel was at war.  What makes them especially significant, is that the eclipses occur on Israel's Feasts of Passover and Tabernacles for two successive years.  The first of the three occurred on Passover, April 13, 1949; Tabernacles, October 7, 1949; Passover, April 2, 1950; and Tabernacles, September 26, 1950! 

The second Blood-Moon Tetrad occurred on Passover, April 24, 1967; October 18, 1967; April 13, 1968; and October 6, 1968.  During that Blood-Moon Tetrad, Israel was involved in the "Six Day War" (June 5th - June 10th) with Egypt, Syria, and Jordon.  In addition to these, other Arab countries played smaller roles in the conflict.  The war only lasted six days, because that is all it took for Israel to destroy the military might of their enemies.

The current Blood-Moon Tetrad began on Passover of this year (April 15th), and will continue this coming Feast of Tabernacles (October 8th), next Passover (April 4th), and will be completed with the Feast of Tabernacles of A.D. 2015 (September 28th).  As I wrote above, Israel is currently at war with Hamas, which is backed by several Arab nations. 

Many sincere Christians have been critical of Mark Biltz's (first to discover a relationship between the Blood-Moons, the Jewish Feasts, and Israel at war) belief that the Tetrads are signs from God.  Why?  I am not sure.  It seems to me that if there have only been three since Israel became a nation; and all three have occurred on same, specific Jewish holidays; and Israel has been at war during all three; it is at least noteworthy!  In addition, in the first, Israel gained land; in the second, Israel gained Jerusalem; and while we do not yet know this will happen, many believe that during the third, Israel will gain the Temple Mount. 

Stay tuned!  God is obviously at work doing something important!    

WE ARE SAVED BY OUR LORD

I have been receiving quite a bit of criticism lately, for my position on how one gets "saved."  So, that being said, let me be absolutely clear as to my understanding of what it means to be "saved."

1.  In order to be "saved," one must recognize that he is "lost," and that he needs a "Savior!"  Jesus compared it with a person needing to realize he was sick, in order for him to seek out a physician (Mt. 9:12; Mk. 2:17; Lk. 5:31; etc.).  The Father sends the Holy Spirit to draw fallen mankind to faith in His Son (Jn. 6:44; 14:26).  It is the work of the Holy Spirit, who convinces a man that he is a sinner, and that Jesus came to save him from the penalty of his sin (Jn. 16:7-11; Rom. 3:23; etc.).

2.  In order for the Just God to pardon us from our sins, someone would have to pay the penalty for them.  He sent His only begotten Son to die, so that we could be pardoned (Jn. 12:27-33).  The phrase "sent Me" occurs in 33 verses in just the Gospel of John!  Yes, while we were yet sinners, Christ came, and He died for our sins (Rom. 5:8)!

3.  In order for us to believe Christ's sacrifice was acceptable to God, He raised Jesus from the dead (Acts 2:32; 4:10; 5:30; 10:40; 13:30)!  Romans 1:4 says, "And declared (Jesus) to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead."

4.  In order to be saved, a person must accept the risen Lord for who He is:  Lord!  Jesus said, "Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am" (Jn. 13:13).  The Apostle Paul wrote: 

"But what saith it? The Word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the Word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Rom. 10:8-13).

Saving is what Jesus does!  Lord is who Jesus is!

THERE IS ENOUGH PROOF, IF YOU WANT TO BELIEVE!

There are twelve events in the life of Christ, that appear in all four Gospels.  The twelve begin with His being anointed by the Holy Spirit at John's baptism, and end with the Father raising His only begotten Son from the dead.  The twelve are:

1.   John baptizing Jesus - Mt. 3:13-17; Mk. 1:9-11; Lk. 3:21-22; Jn. 1:15-31.
2.   The Feeding of 5000 - Mt. 14:13-21; Mk. 6:30-44; Lk. 9:10-17; Jn. 6:1-15.
3.   Peter identifying Jesus - Mt. 16:13-19; Mk. 8:27-29; Lk. 9:18-20; Jn. 6:66-71.
4.   Mary anointing Jesus - Mt. 26:6-13; Mk. 14:3-9; Lk. 7:36-50; Jn. 12:1-11.
5.   The Triumphal Entry - Mt. 21:1-11; Mk. 11:1-10; Lk. 19:29-44; Jn. 12:12-19.
6.   The Last Supper - Mt. 26:17-30; Mk. 14:12-26; Lk. 22:7-23; Jn. 13:1-35.
7.   The Garden of Gethsemane - Mt. 26:36-46; Mk. 14:32-42; Lk. 22:40-46; Jn. 18:1.
8.   Judas' betrayal - Mt. 26:47-56; Mk. 14:43-52; Lk. 22:47-53; Jn. 18:2-11.
9.   Pilate as judge - Mt. 27:1-2; Mk. 15:1-5; Lk. 23:1-6; Jn. 18:33-40.
10. The Crucifixion - Mt. 27:27-50; Mk. 15:16-37; Lk. 23:26-46; Jn. 19:1-30.
11. Christ's Burial - Mt. 27:57-61; Mk. 15:42-47; Lk. 23:50-56; Jn. 19:38-42.
12. Christ's Resurrection - Mt. 28:1-10; Mk. 16:1-11; Lk. 24:1-12; Jn. 20:1-18.

If these twelve recorded events were all the information we had about the life, the death, and the resurrection of Jesus, we would know enough to bring us to salvation through faith in Him (Rom. 1:16; Eph. 2:8-9).  The last three events make up the Gospel message found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, which says:

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures."

Yes, there were not only many witnesses to the life of Jesus, there were also many witnesses of the risen Lord (1 Cor. 15:5-8)!  Not that I would compare myself with any of those I have listed above, but I also am a witness to the risen Lord.  As a twenty-eight year old atheist, the Father used a man named Hal Judd to witness to me, a man named Tim Coffman to mail me a pocket New Testament, a faithful preacher at Dolphin Way Baptist Church, who preached the exact message I needed to hear on television, and a man named Rex Humbard to invite me to kneel in my living room and accept a Savior who cleansed me of my sins, and a Lord to serve the rest of my life!  Jesus, His Father, and the Holy Spirit, are at work in me, even as I write this for all to read! 

Thank God!  What He has begun in me, He will complete!  How about you? 

THE BORN AGAIN BELIEVER'S BLESSED HOPE

I believe in the "Blessed Hope," the personal, imminent, pre-tribulation and pre-millennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for those who have called upon Him as Lord, commonly referred to as the Rapture!  When a person believes the Gospel, and responds by calling upon the name of the Lord Jesus, he or she becomes a born again child of God.

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand...that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Cor. 15:1-4).  "...The Word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the Word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Rom. 10:8-10).

Born again believers, those who have believe the Gospel, are not going to be here during the Tribulation, the time of God's wrath.  We will be removed by the Rapture of the true Church.

"Looking for that Blessed Hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" (Ti. 2:13).  "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (Jn. 14:1-3).  "(We) wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Th. 1:10; 5:9).

Jesus could return for His Church at any moment, and He will in the same way He left. 

"And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight....Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?  This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:9, 11).  "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality" (1 Cor. 15:51-53).  "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:  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" (1 Th. 4:16-17).

Only those who acknowledge Jesus as their Lord, have this blessed hope!

NOAH AND LOT - GRACE AND MERCY

"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.  And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth Me that I have made them.  The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence" (Gen. 6:5-8, 11).

The Bible tells us why God flooded the entire earth.  The Scriptures warn humanity that at the end of this age (the Church Age - the time between Christ's two Advents), our planet will again experience the wrath of God (Mt. 24:3-28; Rev. 6:1-18:24).  Why?  Jesus explained why to His disciples:  "And as it was in the days of (Noah), so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man" (Lk. 17:26).  Man's hearts will continually be focused on evil, wickedness, and corruption! 

Have you been paying attention to the news lately?  More than 1,500,000 babies are murdered in their mother's womb every year in the United States.  There are millions being slaughtered around the globe, because of their religious and/or political views.  Hatred for the Jews has continually escalated, and not just by Muslims; there have been anti-Semite demonstrations throughout Europe, as well.  Christianity is under attack in many nations, and a large number of Christians have been martyred for their faith.  We hear of parents murdering their own children every day.  Crazed gunmen shoot up movie theaters, malls, and houses of worship.  Terrorists are blowing themselves up, in acts of hate which kill all those around them, thinking they will be rewarded in the afterlife.  And who can forget 9/11? 

And, there is another sign that God is about to bring destruction upon His creation:  the increased acceptance of sodomy!  Jesus described the last days as being like the city of Sodom; He said: 

"Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all" (Lk. 17:28-29).

With the exception of those who have their own agenda, anyone reading Genesis 19:1-29, will recognize that the entire city of Sodom practiced homosexuality.  While I have never heard anyone preach or teach this, it is possible that Lot was also a participant.  Note that he received "mercy" from God (Gen. 19:16).  I know that the only reason Noah was saved from God's judgment, was because of God's grace (Gen. 6:8), so Noah must have been kept from the wickedness, by God's grace.  Lot, did not receive grace, but he received mercy; mercy is forgiveness for sin. 

Grace is the gift of God's righteousness. 

Mercy is God forgiving man's unrighteousness!  

TWELVE REASONS JESUS IS JEHOVAH

1. In Zech. 12 - Jehovah is speaking (v. 1, 4). In verse 10, Jehovah says, "They shall look upon ME whom they have pierced." This can refer to no one other than Christ (compare Jn. 19:37 and Rev. 1:7). 
2. The Jehovah of the O.T. declares Himself to be the First and the Last: "Thus saith Jehovah the King of Israel and His Redeemer, the Jehovah of hosts; I am the first and I am the last; and beside Me there is no God" (Isa. 44:6 - see 41:4; 48:11-12). Who is declared to be "the first and the last" of the N.T. (see Rev. 1:8, 11, 17, 18; 22:13)? 
3. In Isa. 6:5, the prophet said, "Mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD (Jehovah) of hosts." Isaiah saw Jehovah! The Apostle John referred to this same event and made it very clear that the Person whom Isaiah saw was actually Jesus Christ: "These things said Esaias [Isaiah], when he saw His [Christ’s] glory, and spake of Him (referring in the context to Christ)" – Jn. 12:41. 
4. In Ps. 23:1, David declared that Jehovah is the Great Shepherd of the Sheep. According to the N.T., Who is the Great Shepherd of the Sheep (Jn 10:11,14: Heb. 13:20)? Also, the O.T. repeatedly refers to Jehovah as Israel's "Rock" (Deut. 32:3, 4, 18; Ps. 18:2; 62:1-2; etc.). The N.T. clearly identifies this "Rock" as Christ (1 Cor. 10:4)! 
5. In Ex. 3:14-15, we learn that Jehovah is the great "I AM." According to the Gospel of John, Who is the great "I AM" (see Jn. 6:35; 8:12; 8:24; 8:58; 10:9; 10:11; 11:25; 14:6; 18:5-6)? 
6. In Isa. 43:10-11 and 45:21, Jehovah declares Himself to be the "only Savior." There is no other Saviour besides Him! According to the N.T., Who is the "only Savior" (Acts 4:10-12)? 
7. In Isa. 45:21-22, Jehovah says, "Look unto ME and be ye saved...there is none else." In John 3:14-16, we are told to look unto the crucified One to be saved! 
8. In Isa. 45:21-23, Jehovah says, "That unto Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear." According to Philippians 2:9-11 this passage in Isaiah, is referring to Christ, the One before Whom all shall someday bow! 
9. In Isa. 24:23 and Zeph. 3:15-17, we learn that Jehovah Himself will reign in Jerusalem during the coming kingdom age, and will be in the midst of His people. What does the N.T. tell us about the identity of this future, millennial King (Rev. 19:11-16; 20:4, 6)? 
10. In Isa. 40:3, we learn that John the Baptist was to prepare the way for the coming of Jehovah. In Mark 1:1-3 the same passage is applied to Christ (John the Baptist prepared the way for Christ). 
11. In Isa. 8:13-14, the Word prophetically states that Jehovah will be "for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence." According to 1 Pet. 2:7-8, these verses apply to Jesus Christ. 
12. Compare Joel 2:32 with Acts 2:21, 36, and Rom. 10:9, 13. Who is the LORD (Jehovah) upon whose Name sinners should call?

 

If Jesus is Jehovah in the O.T., then He is LORD.

When one calls Jesus his LORD, he is acknowledging His authority over him!

THE LAW: HOW ONE KNOWS IT IS THE SPIRIT'S LEADING

Yesterday, I wrote on the two kinds of sin:  1) Sins of Commission - thoughts, words, or actions which are contrary to the will of God (1 Jn. 3:4); and 2) Sins of Omission - failure to obey the Holy Spirit's leading to speak to, or assist someone in need (Jam. 4:17).  Today, I received a call from a good friend, who wanted me to further explain my post.  So, I want to clarify a few things.

First of all, born again believers are not subject to the Law of Moses.  The Apostle Paul wrote:  "Wherefore the Law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:24-26).

When Paul wrote this, he was not speaking of Christians "throwing out" the Law of God; he was saying that one could not stand as righteous before God, by obeying the Law, for all have broken it (sinned - Rom. 3:23).  The context of these verses in Galatians is clear; Paul wrote:  "...if there had been a Law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the Law.  But the Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe" (Gal. 3:21-22)!

In other words, no one can be saved by his own works, because our works are not perfect 100% of the time.  We sin!  So, if the obedience to the Law cannot save us from God's judgment, how does one get "saved?"  Paul wrote:  "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Eph. 2:8-9).

But once we are born again, what part does the Law play in our lives?  It serves to guide us as to what pleases God!  We know from the Law, that to steal, covet, murder, etc., are sins, so as born again children of God, we don't do those things.  A more complete list is found in Galatians 5:19-21.  By knowing what pleases God, we are able to discern which spirit is leading us to say or do something:  Satan, or the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).  After all, we are told to prove or "try the spirits" (1 Jn. 4:1).

The Law does not save you, but it is an awesome guide to the saved!

THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF SINS

In the beginning, God wanted to have a relationship with mankind, so, when He created mankind; He created them, both male and female, in His own image and likeness (Gen. 1:26-27).  And while the Scripture does not say so specifically, Adam and Eve must have walked and talked to God on a regular basis.  We are told that after Adam sinned (Rom. 5:12), he and Eve hid from God, knowing God's daily routine of walking in the garden in the cool of the day (Gen. 3:8).

Note:  The Word says God created; the Word also says Jesus is God, and that it was He that created all there is (Jn. 1:1-3, 14; Col. 1:15-17; Heb. 1:1-3; etc.)  We know the manifestation of God who walked in the garden, had to be the pre-incarnate Christ, for no man has ever seen the Father (Jn. 1:18; 1 Jn. 4:12).  So, whenever the Scriptures say someone saw God, they are referring to Jesus.

In the beginning, Adam and Eve knew only God.  When Satan approached them, they did not know him, for they had not yet partaken of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Gen. 3:1-7; Rev. 12:9; 20:2).  Instantly, they knew the difference between good and evil:  they knew God was good and that Satan and they were evil (Gen. 3:7-8, 13). 

From that moment on, mankind has known the difference between good and evil; what God says is good, is good, and what He says is evil, is evil!  To make sure mankind understands His will, God revealed it to Moses in the Law.  All of the Law, all of the Commandments of God, according to Jesus, can be summed up in just two commands:  "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets" (Mt. 22:37-40).  The Apostle Paul even condensed it further by suggesting that when we love others, we are, in fact, loving God.  He wrote:  "For ALL the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (Gal. 5:14)!  In other words, love is the fulfillment of God's will (Rom. 13:10)!

So, it is clear; sin is thinking, speaking, or acting contrary to God's Law:  "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law" (1 Jn. 3:4).  But there is another kind of sin which is overlooked:  it is the sin of omission!  James wrote:  "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" (Jam. 4:17).  I find it interesting that the majority of religious people want to know what they are not permitted to do.  Those who are born again, have a strong desire to demonstrate their gratitude to God for saving them, by going about doing good to those in need!  It is all a matter of perspective!

 

It is as important to know what God loves, as it is to know what He hates!

DAY, HOUR, NO! SEASON, YES!

Using Daniel 9:24-27 and Revelation chapters four through nineteen as foundational, I would like to make some observations about the Olivet Discourse (Mt. 24 - 25).  I believe the two chapters are to be understood chronologically.  Chapter Twenty-four:

*  The destruction of the Temple occurred in A.D. 70 (24:1-2).
*  The disciples wanted to know when Jesus would return, and the current age would end (24:3).
*  Prior to Christ's return, these things will occur:  "the beginning of sorrows" (24:3-8).
    - There will be many who claim to be Israel's Messiah (24:4-5; Jn. 5:43).
    - Israel will "hear of" wars and rumors of wars, but not experience them (24:6-7).
    - The world will experience famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes (24:7).

*  THEN: 
    - Messianic Jews will be persecuted in synagogues (24:8-14; Mk. 13:9; Lk. 21:12).
    - The Abomination of Desolation opens Israel's eyes (24:15; Dan. 9:27; Rom. 11:25).

*  THEN:
    - ALL Israel, now saved, flee persecution (24:16-22; Dan. 9:27; Rom. 11:26).

*  THEN:
    - Antichrist will attempt to entice saved Israel to come out of hiding (24:23-26).

*  THEN:
    - Christ will return in glory, and gather His people (24:27-31)!

*  A PARABLE OF THE FIG TREE - (Mt. 24:32-36).
    - Christ's return is guaranteed (24:34-35).
    - When He will return remains a mystery (24:36).
    - The world will be like it was in Noah's day (24:37-44).
    - The Lord will judge His people (24:45-51).

*  NOTE:  Chapter Twenty-five is also in chronological order.  Notice the nine times a verse begins with "THEN" (25:1, 7, 16, 24, 34, 37, 41, 44, 45).

 

Watch for the wickedness of Noah's day, and the homosexuality of Lot's day!

Also see Luke 17:22-37.

   

I BELIEVE:

1. The Holy Scriptures are inerrant in the original writings (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet.1:20-21; Mt. 5:18; Jn. 16:12-13).

 

2. The Godhead is the Triune God, eternally existing in three persons:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Deut. 6:4; 2 Cor. 13:14).

 

3. The Son of God, Jesus, Himself God, came to save those who would accept Him as Lord and Savior (Jn. 1:1-2, 14; Lk. 1:35; Rom. 3:24-25; 4:25; Eph. 1:7; 1 Tim. 4:10; Heb. 2:9; 1 Pet. 1:3-5; 2:24; 2 Pet. 2:1; Acts 1:9-10; Heb. 9:24; 7:25; Rom. 8:34; 1 Jn. 2:1-2).

 

4. The Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4; Jn. 16:8-11; 2 Cor. 3:6; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; Rom. 8:9; Eph. 1:13-14; Jn. 16:13; 1 Jn. 2:20, 27; Eph. 5:18).

 

5. Man, because of sin, needs a Savior (Rom. 3:22-23; Eph. 2:1-3, 12).

 

6. Salvation is the gracious gift of God to those who believe Jesus died for them, was buried, and that He rose from the grave to be their Lord and Savior (1 Cor. 15:1-4; Eph. 2:8-10; Jn. 1:12; Eph. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:18-19).

 

7. Believers are eternally secure in Christ (Phil. 1:6; Eph. 1:13; 4:30; Jn. 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1, 38-39; 1 Cor. 1:4-8; 1 Pet. 1:5; Rom. 13:13-14; Gal. 5:13; Tit. 2:11-15).

 

8. Believers, while in this body, have two natures (Rom. 6:13; 7:15-25; 8:12-13; Gal. 5:16-25; Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3:10; 1 Pet. 1:14-16; 1 Jn. 3:5-9).

 

9. Believers are to be in the world, but separate from it (2 Tim. 3:1-5; Rom. 12:1-2; 14:13; 1 Jn. 2:15-17; 2 Jn. 9-11; 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1).

 

10. It is every believer's mission to share the Gospel (Mt. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:15; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 5:19-20).

 

11. The Church is the body of Christ, and the espoused bride of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23; 5:25,27; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 11:2; Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11).

 

12. The Church has but two ordinances, water baptism and the Lord's Supper (Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:9-13; Mt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 11:23-33).

 

13. Dispensationalism is the fulfillment of prophecy, and the only right way to "divide the Scriptures" (Dan. 12:9; Acts 2:41-42; 18:8; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; 2 Tim. 2:15).

 

14. Jesus Christ is coming again (1 Thes. 4:13-18; Zech. 14:4-11; Rev. 19:11-16; 20:1-6; 1 Thes. 1:10; 5:9; Rev. 3:10; Tit. 2:13; 1 Cor. 15:51-52; Jn. 14:1-3).

 

15. The eternal state of man will be with God, or in the Lake of Fire (Mt. 25:46; Jn. 5:28-29; 11:25-26; Rev. 20:5,6,12,13; Lk. 23:43; Rev. 20:4-6; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; 3:21; 1 Thes. 4:16-17; Luke 16:19-26; Mt. 25:41-46; 2 Thes. 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Mk. 9:43-48; Rev. 20:11-15).

 

16. Time is short (Newspapers, Radio, Television, and the Internet)!!!!!!!

CAN A DEAD MAN SIN?

The debate over whether or not a "dead man" can believe the Gospel and be saved, seems a bit ludicrous when those who say no, believe that same "dead man" can sin, plot, covet, lust, etc.!  Here is what one student of God's Word, Douglas K. Kutilek, had to say on this topic.

 

While the unsaved man is described by Paul as "dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph. 2:1), I believe that this is a metaphor that is vastly overstressed by some of the Calvinistic writers of my acquaintance. Their typical justification for their "regeneration before faith" view (albeit, immediately before, which results inevitably and immediately in saving faith) is that "a dead man cannot respond to anything--he cannot hear, see, feel, think, touch, taste, act, OR BELIEVE. and therefore, God MUST regenerate him/make him alive before he can believe."

I see what to me is an insuperable problem with this view--these very Calvinists have no problem with a man being convicted of sin before regeneration, in some cases conviction enduring for many days, months, even years--yet how can a "dead" man (as they understand the term) anymore come under conviction, feel guilt, sense a drawing to Christ, than he can believe? To be consistent, they would have to also teach regeneration before conviction--but then there would be no need for conviction!

Paul uses a metaphor when he says that the sinner is "dead"--man is separated from God by his sin, guilt, etc., and is corrupted and tainted in all parts of his being by sin--his body, emotions, intellect, will, etc. are all corrupted. This is not to say that he is as evil in all his thoughts and acts as he might in practice be, nor that unregenerate man is incapable of acts of love, self-sacrifice, kindness, morality, etc. But like Adam, he is separated from God by sin, and is not capable of reconciling himself/restoring himself to God's favor, and unaided by God, cannot believe either.

Before regeneration, there must be the work of the Holy Spirit in conviction (the Father's essential drawing is carried out through the agency of the Holy Spirit). Saving faith is not the gift of God (I agree with A.T. Robertson, and John Calvin on Eph. 2:8,9, that it is salvation, not faith, which is described as "the gift of God" there; cf. Romans 6:23, where the same thing is taught); rather, it is the response of a sinner, enlightened and convicted by the Holy Spirit who employs the message of the Gospel as His tool, to the offer of the Gospel. This work of the Holy Spirit is essential to and prior to the sinner coming to the place where he may respond in faith--believe--the Gospel. That saving faith necessarily precedes regeneration seems to me to be absolutely required by John 1:12 where faith clearly precedes regeneration.

 

Why offer salvation to those who cannot respond?  

Because they can!      

                

 

 

THE FUNCTIONING OF THE CHURCH

Ephesians 4:1-3, the Apostle Paul is speaking to born again believers, and begins with making sure you and I know where we fit in, when it comes to the Church.  We are to live our lives in such a way, as to bring honor to God.  We are to have servant hearts.  We are to prefer others before ourselves.  We are to make every effort to maintain peace, and to display Christian unity. 

"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

He then goes on, in verses 4-6, to present God's organization known as the Church.  Its founder and leader, is the Triune God.
"There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."

Paul then explains in verses 7-10, that every born again believer has a role to play in the functioning of the church, and that God has given us the ability to do our part.

"But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.  Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.  (Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?  He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things)."

Paul then informs us that God chose some men as leaders, and explains their role in shepherding God's flock (verses 11-16).

"And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:  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; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:  from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."

Notice that the leaders focus is on protecting and preparing God's sheep, and that it is the sheep who are to do the work of the ministry (serving, soul-winning, financial support, etc.).

Are you a child of God?  If so, you have work to do!