Have You Believed In Vain?

An incredible read by dear brother in Christ Scott Clark. I beseech you take time to read it and consider what he says.

Exceeding abundantly

God gives so abundantly, so exceedingly to those who are in His Son. He pours out of the riches of His grace far beyond anything we could ever think to ask, desire or pray for.

Ephesians 3:20 KJV — Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Ephesians 2:7 KJV — That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 1:7 KJV — In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

After all who would think to ask God to do what He did? Who would have thought to ask Him to come to Earth as a man, live a sinless life then take on all our sins, our filth and mess as He took our place and died of or us on the cross?

When Adam ate that fruit way back in the garden he brought the curse of sin on all mankind. We are all his descendants by birth and therefrom we are all sinners. We’ve all done things that broke His laws and His heart, things that separated us from Him eternally and signed our death sentence. But God never wanted it to be this way, He created man to fellowship with, for His glory, and in His wisdom He knew full we what man would do, what they would choose before He even spoke those words of power and might “Let there be light…”. See, before the world began He made a perfect plan to save mankind that He kept hidden in himself until the due time. He planned to pay the debt we owe because of our sins himself, He took our place and died for us that we might be made righteousness in Him. Basically, Christ paid a debt He didn’t owe to make your sin black heart pure as snow . That’s love and that is more than we could ever think of to ask.

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV — For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

God offers us the most amazing gift and all we have to do is accept it by believing that Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again . When we believe that we we are saved eternally, sealed by the Holy Spirit and seated in Christ. We are seated in heaven in Him, blessed beyond imagining in Him, lived beyond understanding in Him. And all we have to do is believe that He is who He said, did what He did, and it means what He says. We just have to trust Him, it’s that simple. So have you, if not will you right now? Will you believe in His death burial and resurrection for your eternal salvation?

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV — 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:

Ephesians 1:13 KJV — In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.

Sin is the Problem, Not God

Often believers face difficult situations, hard times and inevitably most ask “Why is all this happening to me?” They say that they are mad at God in a way because of the circumstances they find themselves in. I understand that feeling but it isn’t God causing those things to happen, God isn’t punishing or chastising them. That’s not what the Bible says He is doing today and the Bible is God’s very words to us. His only way of communicating to us today what HE IS and ISN’T doing right now. He’s not punishing us – He will punish those who reject him in the future but right now His attitude towards the world is grace and peace.

2 Corinthians 5:19 KJV — “To wit, that God was in Christ, 👉reconciling the world unto himself👈, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”

Bad things happen because we live in a sin fallen world, of which Satan is the prince.

Ephesians 2:2 KJV — “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to 👉the prince of the power of the air👈, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:”

Job 1:7 KJV — “And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, 👉From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it👈.”

Ephesians 6:12 KJV — “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but 👉against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places👈.”

When we are living for Christ then we are working against Satan and his wiles as spoken of in Ephesians 6 so he gets mad and thus is working double time to try and stop us. One of his most powerful tools to do this is keeping us mixed up doctrinally. Such as being in a church or group that teaches law and grace or that we can loose our salvation, that we must work to keep it. Another is convincing us that God is working through signs and wonders as He did in times past with Israel such as praying for signs, physical blessings and wonders. That’s not how God is working today we walk by faith not sight. The signs and wonders ceased during Paul’s lifetime but today we still have many blessings they are spiritual though not physical. Here are just a few of the blessings we have in Christ :

Colossians 2:10 KJV — “And 👉ye are complete in him, 👈which is the head of all principality and power:”

Ephesians 1:3 KJV — “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath 👉blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:👈”

Ephesians 2:6 KJV — “And hath raised us up together, and 👉made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus👈:”

Romans 3:24 KJV — “Being👉 justified freely by his grace through the redemption👈 that is in Christ Jesus:”

When we realize what God is doing by obeying Christ’s instructions to us to rightly divide the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15) and are thus grounded in sound doctrine as found in Paul’s Epistles for us today then Satan can’t decieve us because we know what God is doing and why. We have our armor on and are standing strong in Christ.

That makes Satan madder still so his next line of attack is throwing problems in our path to distract and discourage us. However if we understand who we are in Christ, what He has made us to be, and why as well as focus on His word and will for our lives found in Scripture then Satan and the world loose their hold and power over us because we are made strong in Christ. We have His peace filling and sustaining us. His will as given to us through His word the Bible which leads us, guides us, builds us up and edifies us to go out in the world and live for Him the one who died for our sins, was buried and rose the third day for our justification. The one in whom we are sealed by the Holy Spirit the instant we believe until the day of our redemption, our blessed hope the catching away of the body of Christ.

Now if we aren’t grounded and stablished in God’s word, knowing that it is our final authority in life and allowing it to work effectually in our lives by studying it and following what it says then we are not going to be fruitful and our lives will be unstable, we are weak soft targets for Satan to attack. Instead of doing what God would have us we are doing what the world tells us.

That’s what those who ask “Why” are doing, letting the world pull them away from Christ and who they are in Him. And Satan is dancing a jig about it, they’re really making that ole slewfooted deceivers day. Many times the problems they face involve family and friends and how they feel they have failed them. They say they try to give those they love everything yet feel they messed up, I ask them did do they give them what matters most? Do they give those around them time and letting others see them putting God first in their life? People will do what we do not what we say! Just as Paul is our example in following Christ, we are our loved ones example, they follow us. We have a choice every day do we give them more of the world by buying them things, adding more stuff to their lives, letting money and the world be the focus. Or do we give them our time, do we give them God’s word, point to Him in our actions and speech, and behavior?

They focus on money and the world in their personal life even though it makes them so miserable. Always wanting more, craving it, being overwhelmed by greed and lust for the things of this world. Always seeking more to try and fill that gaping void in their heart that stuff can never fill . When they realize all the stuff can’t make them happy they throw it out and try new stuff again and again and again. That carries over to their families and friends. They love them and think they show it if they buy them stuff but don’t really spend time with them. Not quality time. They never let them see you studying God’s word or relying on Him to lead them, never share the gospel of God’s glorious grace with them or help them grow in grace. They certainly don’t help them find a way to escape their temptations and problems in Christ through the word, because they themselves don’t do so.

1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV — “There hath 👉no temptation taken you but such as is common to man👈: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will 👉with the temptation also make a way to escape👈, that ye may be able to bear it.”

One way to escape those temptations is through God’s word working effectually within us.

Psalm 119:11 KJV — “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

They always wonder why they are falling into a world of hurt, along with those around them. But their lives ones are just reacting to the problems of this world the way they were taught. When believers focus in the world and not Christ they don’t take time to learn how to walk in Christ, to really live and grow in Him or teach others how. Instead they reach for the world, teaching others to also and then seek God when it bites them as it inevitably will because it belongs to Satan not God. They use God as a life preserver not as their life and Savior.

I know this is gonna make many of you mad and I am sorry but I speak from experience here. We reap the results of the seeds we sow , the life we choose to live and what we focus on is the seed the results of that are the fruit we reap. Focus on the world then you get the heartache and worry and stress of the world because you get the world. Focus on Christ and even though you live in the world and it’s problems you have peace and hope and strength because you get more of Christ. This world is just a cheap motel for us if we are saved in Christ, we are His Amabassadors representative of who He is and one day we aregoing home to the one whom we represent here. Do you represent him well? Or do you represent the world?

Those are questions I ask myself often and I strive to live in a way that represents Him well.

Once You Expire It’s Too Late

Everything and everybody  has an expiration date, including you. Which is why it is so important that every single one of us is absolutely certain of where they will go when that expiration date is up – eternal with God in Christ in heaven or eternal life in hell and the lake of fire where the worm dieth not.  We are all guilty before God, sinners bound for hell by birth.  Scripture tells us that all have sinned and that the wages of that sin is death.  That sin separates us from God who is holy, perfect and can not have sin where He is. He didn’t want it to be that way, He made man to fellowship with that’s why he walked with Adam in the garden, but when Adam rebelled and sinned  closeness and connection was broken.  God knew before he spoke this world into creation it would so way back then He came up with a plan to fix what Adam would bring on the world about to be created.  He planned one day to become a man, to put meat on, and live a perfect sinless life then at just the right time he would go to the Cross and die to pay for the sins of all mankind, he’d be buried and rose the third day alive, victorious over death and the grave offering complete and total justification to all who believe that today.  It’s that simple to know where you will go when your expiration date comes, just believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins was buried and rose again for your justification before God and that very instant you are saved, sealed and seated in heavenly places spiritually in Christ.  It is a done deal and nothing you do or don’t do from that moment on can ever change that.  It is finished, you are saved and heaven will be your eternal home.

Romans 3:23 KJV — For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 5:12 KJV — Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Romans 6:23 KJV — For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 5:15 KJV — But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

Romans 4:4-5 KJV “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV “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:”

Ephesians 1:7 & 13 KJV “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;… In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”

“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.” — Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV

We Walk By Faith Not Sight

People often say God shows them things or signs, they think they see signs everywhere, whether it is in the sky above them or the ground beneath them, some even claim to see them in their food.  For instance I recently have seen several people claiming to have seen God’s hands in the clouds.  But this is just not what Scripture tells us is happening today.  Christ tells us in 2 Corinthians that we are to walk by faith not sight, that means we are to trust what God’s word says and have faith that it is true not be looking for physical, visible signs. 

It’s true that in times past God did sometimes speak to certain people and give them visible signs in both the heavens and on Earth.  For instance he gave Moses many signs as he brought Israel as a nation out of Egypt and through the wilderness.  Then later he spoke to and gave his prophets signs for the nation of Israel as well.  Jesus in his earthly ministry and Peter on the day of Pentecost both talked about signs in the heavens that would occur during the last days leading up to and during Daniels 70th week as well. 

But all of these signs and messages have one thing in common, they are all to do with the nation of Israel – they are signs to Israel that confirm prophecies or things spoken to them by God.  They are never random messages or signs that only make sense much later in retrospect.  All through Scripture when these signs and messages occur they are to for and about Israel and have to do with God’s promises to them, they are never to the gentiles and nation’s or about them although occasionally a gentile or nation may see or be used to deliver a message to God’s chosen nation Israel.

“For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:” — 1 Corinthians 1:22 KJV

The one time anything related to Gentiles was seen in heaven was when the glorified risen Christ shined down on a Jewish Pharisee named Saul, who became known as Paul, and saved him by grace alone on that Damascus Road one day. But that was much more than just a sign in the sky, that was God Almighty pouring out his glorious grace on the world apart from the nation of Israel by saving a Jewish man who was also a Roman citizen – the perfect man for what God was about to do.

“And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:” — Acts 9:3 KJV

Israel and her promised Kingdom was put on hold and God revealed the secret he had kept hidden in himself since before the world began.  Before “Let there be light.” God had cooked up the most amazing plan ever to reconcile both heaven (which was already unclean in His sight) and Earth in Christ.  The Earth through Israel which was spoken of ever since the world began starting in Genesis and will be fulfilled in the future beginning with the promised Davidic kingdom of Christ on Earth.  The heavens though, they get restored in Christ through the Body of Christ which God is forming of all who trust Christ for their salvation today and are made members of his body. 

“Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” — Ephesians 2:11-13 KJV

Each and every person today who believes that Christ died for their sins, was buried and rose again for their justification before God is instantly and eternally saved. Then they are sealed by the Holy Spirit into Christ, made a new creature in him, a member of his body. It is a gift of grace by God and all we have to do is accept that Jesus Christ did it all, paid it all and it is finished.  In that instant we are saved, sealed and seated in Christ. It’s by grace through faith.

“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 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” — Ephesians 1:7 KJV

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” — Ephesians 1:13 KJV

God will pick back up with Israel after the body of Christ is caught up and Daniels 70th week begins in the future. At that time salvation by grace through faith alone for all will end and salvation will once again be of the Jew on a faith plus works basis such as we see in Acts 2:38 and 3:19.  Unlike today when God is dealing with men individually and saving us one by one, in the future salvation will be through Israel and the only way for Gentiles to be saved will be for them to become a Jew or to bless Israel in some way.  And since the Jew requires a sign then God will begin giving them what they require, signs and wonders.

Today we have no signs and wonders occurring.  Scripture is very clear that today we walk by faith and not by sight.  We are to lean upon the word of God as our means of interpreting the world around us and knowing God’s will for our lives.  We are to study to understand what he is doing by rightly dividing the word of truth.  All of Scripture is true, it is all God’s word, but it isn’t all in effect at every moment.  Salvation is always by faith and the shed blood of Christ but the means of showing that faith and obtaining access to that salvation changes. 

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” — 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV

For instance Noah had a salvation plan given to him – build an ark.  Abraham was told to leave his father’s land, trust God and wait for a child then to sacrifice that child.  All through out the Old Testament we see how God gave different instructions to each person along the way and how the action required to show their faith is different. Israel as a nation had to do certain things such as get water baptized and confess their sins of rejecting God, killing their Messiah and blaspheming the Holidays Spirit to be saved and enter their future kingdom. Their program will again be filled with signs that verify and prove all the prophecies that God gave that have yet to be fulfilled.

“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” — 1 Timothy 2:3-4 KJV

But today God’s will is that all men be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth by grace alone through faith alone.  We don’t get signs, wonders or miracles.  For a time while Paul was receiving from Christ the revelations that would become and compete our Scriptures their were signs and miracles occuring such as tongues (actual foreign languages not nonsensical babbling like some teach today), prophecies (confirmation of revelations given to confirm what was Scripture and what was faked lies), and healings (signs done by Paul to counter those by Peter and the 11 to provoke the Jew to jealousy and believing the gospel of the grace of God and becoming a member of the body of Christ.  The signs and wonders done at the beginning of the age of grace ceased though in time.  By the time the last book of Scripture, 2 Timothy,  is penned by Paul the signs and miracles have ceased because that which is perfect – the completed word of God, the Bible – was come.  That’s why Paul told Timothy to take wine medicinally and why he left Trophimus sick in Miletum instead of just healing them. 

“For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” — 1 Corinthians 13:9-10 KJV

Because we have the completed word of God today we don’t need to look for signs in the earth or the sky or listen and seek for a word from God.  He has already given us all the words he wants us to have in the Bible.  If you speak English they are found in the King James Bible and that is our final authority, where we go to know what God is doing and what we need to do. We have faith that it is enough and we walk in that faith and assurance.  We don’t look for signs or for God to show us things (notice those things are only clear in retrospect when in Scripture they are clear immediately and do not have to be made to fit a situation) we read His word and walk by faith in it.  The reading is our sight and if we want to hear God speak read it aloud.

Grace and peace.

Why, Why, Why?

Often believers face difficult situations, hard times and inevitably most ask “Why is all this happening to me?” They say that they are mad at God in a way because of the circumstances they find themselves in. I understand that feeling but it isn’t God causing those things to happen, God isn’t punishing or chastising them. That’s not what the Bible says He is doing today and the Bible is God’s very words to us. His only way of communicating to us today what HE IS and ISN’T doing right now. He’s not punishing us – He will punish those who reject him in the future but right now His attitude towards the world is grace and peace.

2 Corinthians 5:19 KJV — “To wit, that God was in Christ, 👉reconciling the world unto himself👈, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”

Bad things happen because we live in a sin fallen world, of which Satan is the prince.

Ephesians 2:2 KJV — “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to 👉the prince of the power of the air👈, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:”

Job 1:7 KJV — “And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, 👉From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it👈.”

Ephesians 6:12 KJV — “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but 👉against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places👈.”

When we are living for Christ then we are working against Satan and his wiles as spoken of in Ephesians 6 so he gets mad and thus is working double time to try and stop us. One of his most powerful tools to do this is keeping us mixed up doctrinally. Such as being in a church or group that teaches law and grace or that we can loose our salvation, that we must work to keep it. Another is convincing us that God is working through signs and wonders as He did in times past with Israel such as praying for signs, physical blessings and wonders. That’s not how God is working today we walk by faith not sight. The signs and wonders ceased during Paul’s lifetime but today we still have many blessings they are spiritual though not physical. Here are just a few of the blessings we have in Christ :

Colossians 2:10 KJV — “And 👉ye are complete in him, 👈which is the head of all principality and power:”

Ephesians 1:3 KJV — “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath 👉blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:👈”

Ephesians 2:6 KJV — “And hath raised us up together, and 👉made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus👈:”

Romans 3:24 KJV — “Being👉 justified freely by his grace through the redemption👈 that is in Christ Jesus:”

When we realize what God is doing by obeying Christ’s instructions to us to rightly divide the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15) and are thus grounded in sound doctrine as found in Paul’s Epistles for us today then Satan can’t decieve us because we know what God is doing and why. We have our armor on and are standing strong in Christ.

That makes Satan madder still so his next line of attack is throwing problems in our path to distract and discourage us. However if we understand who we are in Christ, what He has made us to be, and why as well as focus on His word and will for our lives found in Scripture then Satan and the world loose their hold and power over us because we are made strong in Christ. We have His peace filling and sustaining us. His will as given to us through His word the Bible which leads us, guides us, builds us up and edifies us to go out in the world and live for Him the one who died for our sins, was buried and rose the third day for our justification. The one in whom we are sealed by the Holy Spirit the instant we believe until the day of our redemption, our blessed hope the catching away of the body of Christ.

Now if we aren’t grounded and stablished in God’s word, knowing that it is our final authority in life and allowing it to work effectually in our lives by studying it and following what it says then we are not going to be fruitful and our lives will be unstable, we are weak soft targets for Satan to attack. Instead of doing what God would have us we are doing what the world tells us.

That’s what those who ask “Why” are doing, letting the world pull them away from Christ and who they are in Him. And Satan is dancing a jig about it, they’re really making that ole slewfooted deceivers day. Many times the problems they face involve family and friends and how they feel they have failed them. They say they try to give those they love everything yet feel they messed up, I ask them did do they give them what matters most? Do they give those around them time and letting others see them putting God first in their life? People will do what we do not what we say! Just as Paul is our example in following Christ, we are our loved ones example, they follow us. We have a choice every day do we give them more of the world by buying them things, adding more stuff to their lives, letting money and the world be the focus. Or do we give them our time, do we give them God’s word, point to Him in our actions and speech, and behavior?

They focus on money and the world in their personal life even though it makes them so miserable. Always wanting more, craving it, being overwhelmed by greed and lust for the things of this world. Always seeking more to try and fill that gaping void in their heart that stuff can never fill . When they realize all the stuff can’t make them happy they throw it out and try new stuff again and again and again. That carries over to their families and friends. They love them and think they show it if they buy them stuff but don’t really spend time with them. Not quality time. They never let them see you studying God’s word or relying on Him to lead them, never share the gospel of God’s glorious grace with them or help them grow in grace. They certainly don’t help them find a way to escape their temptations and problems in Christ through the word, because they themselves don’t do so.

1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV — “There hath 👉no temptation taken you but such as is common to man👈: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will 👉with the temptation also make a way to escape👈, that ye may be able to bear it.”

One way to escape those temptations is through God’s word working effectually within us.

Psalm 119:11 KJV — “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

They always wonder why they are falling into a world of hurt, along with those around them. But their lives ones are just reacting to the problems of this world the way they were taught. When believers focus in the world and not Christ they don’t take time to learn how to walk in Christ, to really live and grow in Him or teach others how. Instead they reach for the world, teaching others to also and then seek God when it bites them as it inevitably will because it belongs to Satan not God. They use God as a life preserver not as their life and Savior.

I know this is gonna make many of you mad and I am sorry but I speak from experience here. We reap the results of the seeds we sow , the life we choose to live and what we focus on is the seed the results of that are the fruit we reap. Focus on the world then you get the heartache and worry and stress of the world because you get the world. Focus on Christ and even though you live in the world and it’s problems you have peace and hope and strength because you get more of Christ. This world is just a cheap motel for us if we are saved in Christ, we are His Amabassadors representative of who He is and one day we aregoing home to the one whom we represent here. Do you represent him well? Or do you represent the world?

Those are questions I ask myself often and I strive to live in a way that represents Him well.

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This quote by Rodney Beaulieu says so well what that joy, calm and comfort we feel after being emotionally keyed up by circumstances we find ourselves in, which is often mistaken as bring the PRESENCE of God. It’s not, it’s the PEACE of God:

“I understand what you are saying but let me help you. What you experienced was not the presence of God, It was the peace of God that replaced the guilt and the emotional abuse. When the peace of God replaces the guilt of emotional tragedy in a persons life, they will cry, tears release chemicals that cause stress, when stress is gone and replaced by peace, it will be such an overwhelming change from your former state that you will think you are FEELING the presence of God. But you are not. You are experiencing the wonderful peace of God and knowing that you are forgiven by him and at one with him. The weight is lifted off your shoulders, you feel lighter, you feel happy, you feel joy, you feel like you can go on with life. This is what happens to every person who has believed the gospel and has been forgiven and saved by grace through faith in the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. So I know exactly what you are speaking of. I’ve been saved for 35 years and still experience the peace of God.”

Are You A Saved, Sealed Saint?

You Gotta Rightly Divide

You Gotta Rightly Divide.

Have you ever wondered why there are so many different denominations in Christendom? How can so many groups, who all claim to be Bible believing Christians, have so many different beliefs? I mean they all claim Jesus saves but none agree on exactly how. Some say repent and be baptized, so say keep the law, some say short accounts and endure till the end, so say sacraments pave the way, on and on it goes each group cherry picking verses to fit what they want to believe and none just letting God be true and every man a liar. They miss all together the simplicity of God’s grace and reject the gift He so freely gives in their vain attempts to do what only God can and already did.

They are trying to interpret the Bible instead of allowing the Bible to interpret itself.

👉Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 2 Peter 1:20 KJV

The Bible is God’s word and therefore it must be studied God’s way. God did not start any denominations. He is only building one spiritual church.

👉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. Ephesians 4:4‭-‬6 KJV

Did you know there is a verse that tells us exactly how to study the word of God?

👉2 Timothy 2:15 KJV — “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Notice that it does not say divide truth from error, but rightly divide the word of TRUTH. All scripture is the truth and is FOR us, but it is not all written directly TO us.

God never changes in His person and moral principles, but He has changed in His dealings with man through the ages as He gave progressive revelation. If you don’t understand this, the Bible will be a confusing book to you.

👉1 Corinthians 14:33 KJV — “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”

We cannot possibly obey everything in the Bible. Consider the basic issue of what we are to eat:
Adam (creation, about 6,000 years ago) = no meat.

👉And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. Genesis 1:29 KJV

Noah (about 1500 years later) = meat without blood.

👉Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. Genesis 9:3‭-‬4 KJV

Moses (about 1000 years later) = clean meats.

👉This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth: To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten. Leviticus 11:46‭-‬47 KJV

Paul (over 1500 years later) = nothing is to be refused. It should be noted that to teach otherwise in this age is actually considered a doctrine of devils per 1 Timothy 4:1.

👉Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For everyone creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. 1 Timothy 4:1‭-‬5 KJV

We must not try to invent our own divisions nor ignore the ones God put in His word. Everybody divides the Bible to a point by the designation of the Old and New Testaments, but we must rightly divide it, by acknowledging the distinctions and details God has placed in His Word. They are so important and put there for our benefit.

There are several distinctions and divisions in Scripture but when you get right down to The meat of it they can be summed up in two major ones: Prophecy and the Mystery.

👉Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. Acts 3:19‭-‬21 KJV

Prophecy has been spoken of by the prophets of God since the world began. It deals specifically with one nation of people on the earth – Israel and God’s plans and dealings with them. You find the prophetic program as it is often referred to in the Old Testament as well as the four Gospels, and Hebrews – Revelation. Prophecy began first with the promised seed of the woman in Genesis 3, then it got narrowed to the seed of Abraham and the giving of the covenants which separated one nation – Israel – from the nations, to Moses and the giving of the Law further separating Israel from the Gentiles, on down to the seed of David which is Jesus Christ who came offering that nation their promised kingdom. That’s what the prophecy program is all about.

👉Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, Romans 16:25 KJV

The mystery however was a secret hid in God since before the world began. Note that carefully it was 👉kept secret 👈since the world began is way different than spoke of since the world began. That means no one knew about the mystery until it was revealed to Paul by the glorified risen Christ after the nation of Israel fully rejected their Messiah and His kingdom at the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7. It is a new and different program dealing not with the nation of Israel alone but with all men both Jew and Gentile alike as equals; All are counted in unbelief and the only hope for salvation any have is through belief in faith of Christ through His shed blood for the redemption of sins and eternal salvation.

The ONLY Gospel of Salvation today 👉1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV — “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:”

Only in Paul’s epistles of Romans through Philemon do you find the mystery, the grace of God, the formation of the Body of Christ. It’s just not in the Old Testament, Gospels or Hebrews through Revelation because God wasn’t operating on an all by His grace alone program during prophecy like He is today. Instead salvation was through Israel – you either were a Jew, you became a Jew or you blessed the Jews, and salvation was through grace plus works to show faithfulness to be bestowed at the first resurrection yet future when Christ returns and sets up His kingdom.

The following passages explain this in detail.

👉For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of 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: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. Ephesians 3:1‭-‬13 KJV

👉Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Colossians 1:24‭-‬27 KJV

There is one family of God, but there is a difference between God’s earthly people and His heavenly people. If words have any meaning, there must be a difference between the nation of Israel who is destined to reign on the earth over the nations.

👉Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. Isaiah 60:1‭-‬5 KJV

And the spiritual Body of Christ (neither Jew nor Gentile,) who is seated in heavenly places and is destined to reign there eternally (Eph. 2:6-7; Phil. 3:20; Col. 3:1-4).

👉If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:1‭-‬4 KJV

All believers saved today are made members of that body the instant they trust Christ for their salvation by believing the Gospel of God, Christ crucified. That’s the only way to be saved today and if a person is trusting in anything other than that truth then they are still lost as a golf ball in high weeds. Similarly, if a person is saved but fails to recognize and acknowledge God’s plan and purpose for them as members of the Body of Christ in this dispensation of the age of grace then they will not be fruitful members but as 2 Timothy 2:15 points out they will be ashamed before God.

As always my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ may you be eternally gripped in His glorious grace.

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