WHOSE CHILD ARE YOU?

[Note:  All Scripture is based upon the King James Version of the Bible.]

BECOMING A CHILD OF GOD!

John 1:1, 11-14 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . He came unto His own people, and His own people did not accept Him.  But to as many as accepted Him, to them gave He power to become the children of God, even to those who believe on His name:  who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 3:3-9 - Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  Nicodemus said unto Him, How can a man be born when he is old?  Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I said unto you, you must be born again.  Just as the wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell from where it is coming, or where it is going:  so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit.  

[Note:  Red represents the physical birth; blue represents being born of God:  that is, the Spiritual birth.]

THE CHILDREN OF GOD COME FROM ALL NATIONS!

John 11:47-52 - Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we?  For this man does many miracles.  If we let Him alone, all men will believe on Him:  and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.  And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, You know nothing at all, nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.  And this spoke he not of himself:  but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; and not for that nation only, but that also He should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

Romans 10:9-13 - If you are willing to confess your faith in the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.  For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the Scripture says, Whosoever believes is Jesus shall not be ashamed.  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile:  for the same Lord is rich in mercy and grace unto all who call upon Him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Galatians 3:22-26 - But the Scripture has concluded all are guilty of sin, so that the promise which is by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.  But before faith came, we were kept under the Law, ignorant of the faith which would later be revealed.  Therefore the Law was our school master to bring us unto Christ, that we might be made right with God by faith.  But after faith is come, we are no longer under a school master.  For we are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

THE CHILDREN OF GOD ARE NOT YET PERFECT!

Romans 7:18-25 - For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwells nothing good:  for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.  For the good that I would I do not:  but the evil which I do not want to do, that I do.  Now if I do that which I do not want to do, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me.  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.  For I delight in the Law of God after the inward man:  but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.  O wretched man that I am!  Who shall deliver me from this body of death?  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.  So then with the mind I myself serve the Law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

1 John 3:1-2 - Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God:  therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.  Beloved, now are we the children of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be:  but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.

FAITH IN JESUS RESULTS IN ETERNAL LIFE!

REJECTION OF HIM RESULTS IN ETERNAL TORMENT!

THE CHOICE IS YOURS; CHOOSE WISELY!

THE PARABLE OF THE TARES OF THE FIELD!

MATTHEW THIRTEEN

THE PARABLE OF THE TARES* OF THE FIELD

[24-30] Another parable put He forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:  but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.  But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.   So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, did not you sow good seed in your field?  From whence then has it tares?  He said unto them, An enemy has done this.  The servants said unto him, Will you then that we go and gather them up?  But he said, Nay; lest while you gather up the tares, you root up also the wheat with them.  Let both grow together until the harvest:  and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them:  but gather the wheat into my barn.

THE PARABLE OF THE TARES OF THE FIELD EXPLAINED

[36-42] Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house:  and His disciples came unto Him, saying, Declare (explain) unto us the parable of the tares of the field.  He answered and said unto them, He that sows the good seed is the Son of man (I am the Sower); the field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.  As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.   The Son of man (I) shall send forth His (My) angels, and they shall gather out of His (My) kingdom all things that offend, and them which do** iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire:  there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

* "Tares" - A type of Eurasian rye grass resembling wheat but its grains are black.  While their appearance (fruit) reveals who they are, to remove them could damage the genuine plants.  Perhaps removing one family member would cause some or all of the rest of the family to be grieved so badly that they no longer produce good grain (fruit).

** "Them which do" - Greek poieo - here, a verb used as a participle, a present, active participle meaning "a doer who continues doing."

SOME THOUGHTS ON THE MEANING OF THIS PARABLE

There are several clues to the timing of this parable.  It appears to refer to Christ's Millennial Kingdom which is described in Revelation Twenty.  Notice that the "good seed" are the children of His kingdom.  Also notice that the gathering of the tares takes place at the end of this world.  Chapter Twenty-one of Revelation describes the destruction of this present world and the manifestation of "a new heaven and a new earth."  It appears then that the separation of the wheat from the tares would have to have been accomplished at the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).  The "furnace of fire" would then have to be the Lake of Fire.

WARNING!

WHILE THIS PARABLE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE REFERRING TO THE CHURCH,

AS THE CHURCH WILL HAVE BEEN REMOVED APPROXIMATELY 1007 YEARS EARLIER, WE MIGHT STILL ASK OURSELVES, "AM I WHEAT, OR AM I A TARE?"

TIME IS SHORT; TRUE BELIEVERS WILL SOON BE REMOVED BY JESUS;

THIS MAY BE THE LAST MESSAGE YOU EVER GET OFFERING FORGIVENESS THROUGH FAITH IN THE DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS!

TRUST HIM AS YOUR SAVIOR, AND SERVE HIM AS YOUR LORD TODAY!

WHICH CAME FIRST: THE CHURCH OR THE GOSPEL?

THE BIRTH OF THE CHURCH!

The Greek word translated "church" in the New Testament is ekklesia, which means "a called out assembly."  It is translated "church" 115 times and "assembly" 3 times in the King James Version.  Those using ekklesia in their contribution to God's Word were:  Matthew (2x); Luke (24x in Acts); Paul (67x); the writer of Hebrews (2x); James (1x); and John (22x in 3 John and Revelation).

Ten days after the Lord's Ascension, which occurred forty days after His Resurrection (Acts 1:3), His followers were assembled together on the Feast of Pentecost (Acts 2:1).  They were all filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4).  Peter preached the Gospel (Acts 2:14-40) and we are told that 3000 souls believed, were baptized, and were added to their number (Acts 1:41).  They continued to meet daily in the Temple, and to fellowship from house to house.  Luke then tells us that "the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved (Acts 2:47).  

Obviously, the Lord cannot add numbers to a group that does not already exist.  I say this because there are many false teachers today, who say the church was not created until the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, the Apostle Paul, who was chosen by God to be the Apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15; Romans 11:13; Galatians 2:7).  That is strange because Jesus Himself said that Peter would be the one to determine who would be considered acceptable to belong to His church.  

Matthew 16:18-19 - And I say also unto you, that you are Peter [Greek masculine proper noun Petros - meaning a small piece of rock], and upon this rock [Greek feminine noun petra - meaning a large stone, a boulder] I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  And I will give unto you the keys of the kingdom of heaven:  and whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven:  and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

The fulfillment of Christ's prophecy can be found in the acceptance of Jews (Acts 2:14), Samaritans (Acts 8:14-25), and Gentile (Acts 10:9-47) believers, all of which were recognized by Peter as being part of the Lord's church.  Jesus, just before His Ascension, told the disciples they would be witnesses to those dwelling in Jerusalem and Judaea, in Samaria, and in the rest of the world (Acts 1:8).  In each case, the Gospel, the rock upon which Christ is building His church, was preached and the Holy Spirit filled the new believers (Acts 2:4; 8:17; 10:47)!

THE BEGINNING OF THE GOSPEL!

Recently, one young "Bible teacher" said that without Paul's writings, there would be no mention of the Rapture of the church, and that the means of salvation was not revealed until Paul presented the Gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.  Clearly the Rapture is revealed in:

John 14:1-3 - Let not your heart be troubled:  you 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 you may be also.

And, the Gospel is mentioned in Matthew (4x); Mark (8x), and Acts (2x).  Because the word "kingdom" is connected with the word "Gospel," he and others suggest that there is more than one Gospel.  The Apostle Paul states that there is only one:

Galatians 1:6-9 - I marvel that you are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another Gospel:  which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the Gospel of Christ.  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Romans 1:16 - (The Gospel) is the power of God unto salvation to every one who believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (non-Jew).

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 - Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also you have received, and wherein you stand; by which also you are saved . . . . 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.

Ironically, Mark's Gospel begins with these words:  The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God....  The Gospel of the Kingdom, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ are the same Gospel; He is both KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS (Revelation 19:16)!

Paul himself wrote:

2 Timothy 3:16 - ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness....

And Luke wrote:

Acts 17:10-11 - And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.  These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

DO YOU WANT TO BE A NOBLE BELIEVER?

CHECK OUT EVERY BIBLE TEACHER!

ESPECIALLY ME!

THE HUMAN RESPONSES TO GOD: FEAR HIM OR LOVE HIM!

SIN MAKES US WANT TO HIDE FROM GOD!

Genesis 3:6-9 - And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.  And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.  And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day:  and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.  And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where are you?  And he said, I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

MEN LOVE DARKNESS TO CLOAK THEIR SIN!

John 3:19-21 - And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  For every one who does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  But he that does (what is in harmony with the) truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in (harmony with) God.

EVEN WHEN WE REJECTED HIM, GOD LOVED US!

Romans 5:8-10 - . . . God commended (demonstrated) His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 - Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also you have received, and wherein you stand; by which also you are saved ….  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.

2 Corinthians 5:20-21 - Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us:  we pray you in Christ's stead, be reconciled to God.  For He has made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

Ephesians 2:4-9 - But God, Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us (made us alive again) together with Christ, and has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:  that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.  For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:  it is the gift of God:  not of works, lest any man should boast.

1 John 3:1-2 - Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons (children) of God: therefore the world knows us not, because it knew Him not.  Beloved, now are we the sons (children) of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be:  but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.

WE LOVE GOD BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US!

DO YOU BELIEVE GOD LOVES YOU?

WELL, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, HE DOES!