Tag Archives: Jesus

Come let us Grow Together: Instruction

October 1, 2016 cpministries 1 Comment

Come let us Grow Together is a weekly series that deals with the many topical categories that exist within the Word of God. The purpose of this series is to grow in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding in things pertaining to God.

Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. (Pro 8:10) For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mk 8:36-37) Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life. (Pro 4:13)

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 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 thee, Ye must be born again. (Jn 3:5-7)

And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. (Lk 13:2-3)

Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death. (Pro 8:33-36)

And he (Jesus) 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; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; (Mk 16:15-17)

The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise. He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding. (Pro 15:32)

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. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. (Lk 24:45-49)

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4)

For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. (Isa 28:11-12)

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. (Acts 2:38-39)

And as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. (Acts 13:48b)

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Bible study, Faith

Obedient Faith

September 30, 2016 cpministries 5 Comments

Connections and Comparisons is an ongoing weekly series that deals with many scriptures in the Bible, some of which are not commonly addressed. The purpose of this series is to examine the scriptures at hand comparing what is said and looking at the connections within.

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Hebrews 11:1-2
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

Faith is an action word! Faith is something that you believe will take place! The result of this belief by faith produces a hope of what one desires and believes will take place. Thus you place your trust into this hope that you desire to take place by your faith.

The gospel of Jesus Christ was revealed to all people and nations for the obedience of faith.

Romans 1:5-6
5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

Obedience requires actions on your part. In order for you to be saved through faith you must put forth actions necessary to be obedient to the faith that was once delivered to you.

Romans 16:25-27
25 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,
26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

Again, we see the Apostle Paul has told us that the gospel was made known to all nations for the obedience of faith. So, what is the gospel that the Apostle Paul preached?

1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

So the gospel that the Apostle Paul preached was the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Of which he tells us that we are saved by this gospel if we keep in memory what he preached to us.

Romans 3:19-25
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Remember the Apostle Paul said above that we are saved by the gospel, “if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.” So you can believe the gospel in vain and be lost!

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Here the Apostle Paul is explaining to us the process of how we are justified freely by God’s grace.

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

It is important to recognize what the Apostle Paul is referring to in this explanation. Here the Apostle Paul speaks of the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God. So what does it mean to have faith in the blood of Jesus and how does this tie in with the remission of our sins?

We are speaking about being obedient to the faith that was made known to all nations. We are speaking about the gospel of Jesus Christ that was revealed to us by the Prophets and the Apostles. This gospel being the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and how we are to be obedient to this gospel that is able to save our souls if we keep in mind what was preached to us.

Remember we have learned that faith is an action word that one believes will take place producing a hope in the belief that one has, ultimately leading to the placing of your trust into what you have believed. And we can believe in vain. So how do we make sure we are obedient to the faith that was delivered to us and not be as one the believes in vain?

One must search the scriptures daily and see if what he hears is so by remembering that all scripture is inspired by God.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

So what does it mean to have faith in the blood of Jesus and how does this tie in with the remission of our sins?

Hebrews 9:22
22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Luke 22:19-20
19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

The shedding of Jesus Christ’s blood is what allows us to have our sins remitted.

Hebrews 8:10-13
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

So how do we have our sins remitted according to scripture?

Acts 2:38-39
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

This is how one partakes of the gospel of Jesus Christ that the Apostle Paul preached about.

The Apostle Paul, Saul of Tarsus, testifying of his conversion before the jews.

Acts 22:12-16
12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,
13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.
14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.
15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Immediately Ananias told the Apostle Paul to be baptized and wash away his sins calling on the name of the Lord. This is because the blood of Jesus Christ is applied to your sins when you are baptized in Jesus name for the remission of your sins.

Remember we are speaking of being obedient to the faith that was once delivered to us. The gospel of Jesus Christ of which was made know to all nations for the obedience of faith.

We have learned that this gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and that the New Testament Covenant that was given to us by God required the shed blood of Jesus Christ for the remission of our sins. Our faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ causes us to take actions of obedient faith in accordance to how we partake of the plan of salvation of which we believe by faith. This causes us to then apply what the Apostles and Prophets taught us to do to partake of this new testament covenant that the shed blood of Jesus Christ purchased for us.

We were told by God concerning the New Testament Covenant that he would be merciful to our unrighteousness, and our sins and iniquities would he remember no more. So in order for us to receive the remission of our sins according to the scriptures we found that we must repent of our sins and be baptized in Jesus name for the remission of our sins and that we would receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. That this promise was to all that was afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

So what are you waiting for? Let us be obedient to the faith that was once delivered to us.

John 14:15
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

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Christian, Salvation

Are you being Taught the Truth?

September 29, 2016 cpministries 5 Comments

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Is your Church Teaching you the True Plan of Salvation? What is your soul worth to you? Are you a Truth Seeker? Let us Journey together through the Word of God and make certain your calling and election is sure.

Let us begin with the root verse for exposing false doctrines.

2 Timothy 3:16
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Do you believe it today? Do you believe that All Scripture is given by the inspiration of God? Do you believe that all scripture is profitable for doctrinal teaching, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness?

Let me explain to each of you today, that if you believe this verse of the Bible, then there should no longer be any divisions of Christianity. Why? Because to acknowledge that all scripture is inspired by God and profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness will only lead you to the one true path.

Since the Bible tells us that all scripture is inspired by God, there is never a time that you will use one passage of scriptures to reject another passage of scriptures. There also will never be a time that you leave out or exclude scripture because you do not understand them.

This very thing however is what happens over and over throughout the many doctrines of Christianity. Let me give you a couple of examples:

John 3:16 says,
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Praise God for that! And, this is true! But, just because this is true, does that mean you exclude what other scriptures also tell us to do? Like:

Mark 16:16 that reads,
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

It was very clear that those that believed and are baptized would be saved. Not just those who say I am sorry. No where in scripture is it taught that all one has to do is say I am sorry and accept the Lord Jesus as Savior and they will be saved.

Instead scripture teaches us….

Matthew 7:21-23
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Again Jesus was clear that it was those who do the will of God that will be able to enter into the Kingdom of God. Let me give you one more example of only picking and choosing a scripture you want to apply.

Romans 10:9-10
9 {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.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Amen! This is true. But again does this mean you no longer have to be baptized? Of course not.

Acts 2:38-39 reads,
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

If we exclude scriptures are we being obedient to 2 Timothy 3:16 which told us, All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness?

Of course we are not being obedient to this scripture if we are using one scripture to eliminate another. But nevertheless it does not seem to stop most all of the Christian Denominations from doing it anyhow.

So I challenge you!!!! To follow this lesson and discover what the Bible does teach us to do, concerning the Plan of Salvation. I then challenge you, to share this with the Pastor of your Church. For through him, many lives are affected. Let us bring Unity to as many Pastors as we can.

So how can you make sure that you are not one of the many people who are following after the Plan of Salvation incorrectly?

As with all are answers we will turn to the Bible for direction.

Acts 17:10-11
10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 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.

We to must be like those of Berea. We too must search the scriptures and make sure what we are being taught is Biblical.

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

Let us begin with the understanding of how the Word of God is set up.

Isaiah 28:9-12
9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

A precept is a general rule regulating behavior or thought. For example when you apply a commandment of God in your life. This commandment or precept is put in place for us to regulate our behavior and thought.

The prophet Isaiah has told us that we learn doctrine, “precept must be upon precept precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little. This means we learn from studying the Word of God, commandment upon commandment, reading line upon line, line upon line; gaining this doctrinal knowledge here a little, and there a little. Here a little and there a little meaning, one book may have part of the answer, and another book another part of the answer, and in another book, yet more of the answer.

God purposed this for man so that we would study the scriptures. God is looking for someone who truly loves Him and is seeking Him. These type of people, will search the scriptures, pray about them, learn from their pastor, preachers, and teachers, and will always consider all possible meanings of the verse at hand, because they want to make certain, they are obeying the Gospel correctly.

What is the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

How important is it for us to be obedient to the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

2Thessalonians 1:7-10
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

So it is of the utmost importance that we be obedient to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
So how are we to be obedient to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ? It is important at this time to recall 2 Timothy 3:16, which reads…..

2 Timothy 3:16
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Jesus gives us instructions in the gospels.

Luke 13:1-5
1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

According to Jesus we must repent or we will perish.

Mark 16:15-16
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

We are told by Jesus here that we must believe and be baptized in order to be saved.

John 3:1-7
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith 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?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Here we find out by Jesus that we must be born again or we cannot see or enter into the kingdom of God.

Matthew 10:22
22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

And finally we learn that we must endure to the end to be saved.

So to sum up what we were told, Jesus tells us that we must believe, repent, be born again of water and of the Sprit, and finally we must endure to the end.

So to be obedient to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we must believe, repent, be born of water, be born of Spirit, and then endure to the end.

In Acts chapter 2 we learn….

Acts 2:1-4
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

As we continue reading we find that there were Jews present out of every nation under heaven. They questioned, what meaneth this? Apostle Peter explains to all that are present this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel. That it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh.
And then in……

Acts 2:36-41
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

The people there believed that what the Apostle Peter spoke was the truth, and it pricked their hearts, and brought forth conviction, and they asked, Men and brethren, What shall we do????

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Notice that the people believed, then the Apostle Peter tells them to repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and then tells them that they will receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. This is the fulfillment of what Jesus instructed us to do in the gospels.

Notice verse 39 tells us that this promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. This lets us know without any doubt that this promise was to everyone throughout every generation that is to come.

So to partake of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, or to be born of water and of the Spirit, one must do what the Apostle Peter instructed us. We must repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

To repent, one must acknowledge their sins, be sorrowful for them, and then tell the Lord, that I no longer want to walk after my own will, but after the will of God. Showing by action the changing of one’s mind or direction. This is the first part of how we partake of the death of Jesus Christ. We die out to ourselves, and we now live unto the Lord.

Romans 6:3-7
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

This is the second part to how we partake of the Lord’s death, we must be buried with him in baptism. A submersion into water that represents the burying of one’s body.

Galatians 3:26-27
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female:

Here we learn that to put on Christ, we must be baptized into Christ. It is of the utmost importance that when you are baptized, that you are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, this is how we put on Christ, by taking His name. This is when your sins are remitted.

Colossians 2:11-15
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

It is in the baptism, that you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands. It is in the baptism that your sins are cut away.

After you have partook of the death and burial of Jesus Christ, you are then promised the Gift of the Holy Ghost. It is important to realize however, this is not an automatic process. When your receive the free gift of the Holy Ghost, it will be evidenced by the speaking of another tongue as the Spirit gives the utterance.

Acts 8:12-17
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

We can see clearly here from verse 16 the Holy Ghost had fallen upon none them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Acts 19:1-6
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Again, we can clearly see that the Holy Ghost was not automatic, and the baptism that one receives is important. Apostle Paul re-baptized these disciples in the name of the Lord Jesus. It was not until Apostle Paul laid his hands upon them, that the Holy Ghost came on them, and they spoke with other tongues and prophesied.

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Faith, Salvation

Are you a Berean at Heart

September 21, 2016 cpministries 2 Comments

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Acts 17:11
10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 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.

A. Understanding How Faith and Grace Operate

James 2:18-26
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

The word wrought means to be a fellow-worker, i.e. co-operate.

23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Galatians 5:4-6
4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

John 14:15
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Titus 2:11-12
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

To be saved by grace you have to apply what grace teaches you. To be saved through faith you must apply how faith operates.

Grace teaches us: denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Faith works by love and Faith without works is dead being alone.

Jesus said,

John 14:15
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments..

So to fulfill what the Apostle Paul spoke in:

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

You must then apply the process of each into the verse.

Ephesians 2:8 Brackets inserted by me
8 For by grace [which teaches us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world] are ye saved through faith; [which worketh by love.] and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

So if faith works by love, and Jesus said, If ye love me, keep my commandments; then you are saved by grace through obedient faith which works by love, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of grace given by God.

1 John 5:3
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

With this understanding of how grace works and how faith operates

You then remember that….

2 Timothy 3:16
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Then we all follow after what Jesus tells us to do, which is….

Jesus told us we must repent.

Luke 13:3,5
3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Jesus told us we must believe and be baptized.

Mark 16:16
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Matthew 28:19
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Jesus told his disciples what to do and revealed the name to them.

Luke 24:47
47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

The disciples were obedient and fulfilled both Matthew 28:19 and Luke 24:47.

Colossians 3:17
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

This would include the baptism.

The foundation that the Gospel stands on….

Ephesians 2:20
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Jesus was both an Apostle and Prophet.

Hebrews 3:1
1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

Deuteronomy 18:15-19
15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
16 According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.
17 And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.
18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

And the scriptures agree that we must be obedient to the faith.

Romans 1:5
5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

Romans 16:25-26
25 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,
26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

And how do we partake of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ? By being born again of water and of the Spirit. (John 3:1-7). This is fulfilled by applying Acts 2:38 which reads, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

B. Understanding the Difference between the Works of Faith and the Works of the Law

John 5:39
39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Romans 3:19-20
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Romans 3:24-28
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

But remember faith without works is dead being alone. The works of faith is not the works of the Mosaic Law. Faith is an action word that requires an action in accordance to what you believe.

James 2:21-23
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Romans 3:31
31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Matthew 5:17
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Galatians 3:21-22
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

And if you believe, then we must be obedient to the gospel of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the keeping of God’s commandments in accordance to our faith that we believe that God raised up Jesus our Lord from the grave.

Remember that under the Old Testament Covenant there was no remission for sins and the penalty of death was not yet taken back by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Hebrews 10:9
9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

Hebrews 2:14-16
14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

Romans 4:1-3
1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

This is important to understand. Remember the Apostle James said, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works.”

The Apostle Paul and the Apostle James are talking of different works. The Apostle Paul asked a question in verse 1 and answered it in verse 3. The answer was by faith and the Apostle James gives us further explanation of the Apostle Paul’s words.

James 2:20-23
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

The topic is faith!!

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

This is exactly what the Apostle Paul said above. He asked the question in verse 1 and in verse 2 said, “if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God” This is because the topic from verse 1 is found in the prior verses which is speaking of the Mosaic Law versus faith.

Even though the Mosaic Law had not yet come during Abraham’s lifetime, the Apostle Paul is speaking to people who understand the Mosaic Law and is telling them that Abraham was not justified by works of the flesh, but was justified by the works of faith.

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

But this does not make void the works that accompany faith. The works that accompany faith are not the works of the flesh nor of the Mosaic Law.

James 2:20-23
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Galatians 3:16-18
16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

Romans 4:13-14
13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

Romans 4:4-5
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

Galatians 3:12
12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

Romans 4:16
16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

Galatians 3:23-24
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Galatians 3:12
12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

C. The True Tabernacle in the Heavens

Hebrews 6:13-20
13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Hebrews 8:1-2
1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

Hebrews 9:8-12
8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Hebrews 8:3-4
3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.
4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:

D. The Earthly Tabernacle Served as an Example and Shadow of Heavenly Things

Hebrews 8:5-7
5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount.
6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

Again, this being because remission of sins had not yet come and the penalty of death was still upon mankind.

Hebrews 8:8-13
8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

Hebrews 9:1-9
1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the showbread; which is called the sanctuary.
3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.
7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;

Mark 15:37-38
37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.
38 And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.

Upon the death of Jesus Christ, the way into the Holiest of all was now going to be by the blood of the Lamb, which was shed for the remission of sins.

The services as pertaining to the worldly sanctuary….

Hebrews 9:10-11
10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

Hebrews 8:2
2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

Hebrews 9:12
12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Hebrews 4:14-16
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 9:24
24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

Hebrews 9:13-15
13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Dead works referring to the works of the Mosaic Law.

15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Hebrews 9:16-22
16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Likewise the New Testament!

Matthew 26:27-28
27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Hebrews 9:23-28
23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Isaiah 50:6-9
6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
7 For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
8 He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me.
9 Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.

Hebrews 10:1-23
10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

Why? There was not yet remission of sins.

2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

E. Justification unto Life Eternal

Hebrews 10:38-39
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Romans 4:17-25
17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb:
20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Romans 8:1-4
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 3:21-28
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Romans 5:1-2
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

F. The Righteousness which is of Faith

Romans 9:30-33, 10:1-4
30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Galatians 3:12-14
12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Romans 10:5
5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

Galatians 3:6-14
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

Galatians 3:25-27
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

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Bible study, Heaven

C&C: Death is Swallowed up in Victory

September 16, 2016 cpministries 5 Comments

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The subject of today’s lesson is about several passages of scriptures pertaining to the subject of death being swallowed up in victory. A subject that is not regularly addressed. What we are going to be taking a closer look at today is the possible timing of this futuristic event.

Isaiah 25:6-9
6 And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.
7 And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.

This is an important clue for the possible timing of this event. We are told that the Lord will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations. This means that when this event takes place that the vail and the face of the covering cast over all people will be removed from all nations.

8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it.

Many clues are given here. Death will be swallowed up in victory, the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces, and the rebuke of his people shall be taken away from off all the earth. This being done with His victorious salvation!

9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

Those of the nation of Israel will say this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us. So we see here that they are acknowledging the one who is coming in the name of the Lord and we know this will be Jesus Christ the Righteous. They will announce that they will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

So for us to begin to establish a possible time line for death being swallowed up in victory, we need to look at the other clues given during this time period. That being: 1) The vail and the face of the covering cast over all people will be removed from all nations. 2) The Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces. 3) And the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth. 4) And for His victorious salvation when the children of Israel who have waited for him will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

So the questions to fulfill our time line that need to be addressed is when do these four other events take place?

1 Corinthians 15:23-26
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

So we learn here that the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death!

1 Corinthians 15:51-55
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 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.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

Here the Apostle Paul explicitly tells us that when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. He then follows up by asking death, where is your sting? And grave, where is your victory?

What the Apostle Paul has just revealed to us here is that when the catching away of the Saints takes place, what we term the rapture, that the saying that was written concerning death being swallowed up in victory will have taken place. As we have already observed, this saying is written in the Prophet book of Isaiah who tells us that four other events will also take place at this time period. One of which is, The Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces.

Revelation 21:1-5
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Another clue is given in this passage of scripture where we learn that a great voice out of heaven says, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Here we see another possible clue where we see God wiping away all tears from their eyes. We also learn that there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain. For the former things are passed away.

5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Ezekiel Prophesying of the nation of Israel says,

Ezekiel 37:22-23, 27
22 And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all:

This king over them being Jesus Christ.

23 Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.

Here we see another clue, God will save them out of all their dwellingplaces and says, so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. This fulfilling another one of our four clues above, that His victorious salvation came to the children of Israel who have waited for him and will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

27 My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Here we see the same wording as we saw above in Revelation where the Lord said, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. Where He followed it up with the next verse saying, And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

What else do we know about the timing of this victorious salvation of the children of Israel by God?

Zechariah 12:7-10
7 The Lord also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah.
8 In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them.
9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Zechariah 13:6
6 And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.

So we learn from these passages of scripture that when this victorious salvation comes to the children of Israel, that the children of Israel will ask Jesus, What are these wounds in thine hands? And Jesus will answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. But this also appears to fulfill two of our four clues above where it was said, The vail and the face of the covering cast over all people will be removed from all nations. And the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth.

Zechariah 14:1-5
1 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
3 Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

Here we get to see a glimpse of what will take place when the Lord defends Jerusalem and brings forth His victorious salvation to them.

4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.

What we learn from all of these passages of scriptures is that it appears that we can establish a time period for when death is swallowed up in victory by following the connections and comparisons within the verses that appear to reveal to us the timing of the other events that will be taking place when death is swallowed up in victory.

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C&C: The Seed that was to Come

September 9, 2016 cpministries 10 Comments

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Genesis 3:15
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

This is the first prophecy of the coming Messiah. This enmity or hostility between the serpent’s seed (the children of disobedience) and the woman’s seed (The Virgin Mary) would be Jesus Christ, who was coming to restore that which was lost in the Garden of Eden by Adam and Eve, this being sonship.

We learn from this prophecy that the seed of the woman, this being Jesus Christ, would bruise the head of the serpent, this being the devil, and it would also bruise the heel of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ the Righteous.

Isaiah 53:3-8
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Another prophecy of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, where we learn that he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities and with his stripes we are healed. Healed from what? The power the devil had over us, this being death.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

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. (2 Cor 5:21 KJV)

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

Galatians 4:4-7
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

The prophesied seed to come that would place enmity or hostility between the serpent’s seed, (the children of disobedience) and the woman’s seed (The Virgin Mary).

5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

It is the Spirit of God’s Son that dwells inside of the born again believer of God. This being the Spirit of Christ or the Holy Ghost.

7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

The opportunity to once again become the sons of God through adoption by partaking of the born again process of God which involves being born of water and of the Spirit. A spiritual rebirth that sets us free from the Law of Sin and Death.

Romans 8:1-4
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus because by one offering for sin, by the death of Jesus Christ, God has forever perfected the conscience of them that are sanctified because there is no more yearly sacrifice made for the remembrance of sin.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

The power which the devil had over mankind destroyed victoriously by Jesus Christ allowing a way for us to once again become the sons of God by adoption.

3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Galatians 3:13-16
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham, the Son of God. The prophesied seed to come that brought forth the ministry of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:17-20
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 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.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

Galatians 3:17-18
17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

The entire Word of God is about this seed that was to come and restore mankind back unto Himself.

Romans 8:2
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

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The Birth of the Trinity Doctrine

December 29, 2010 cpministries Leave a comment

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In this lesson we will be discussing when the Trinitarian doctrine first came into existence, by briefly explaining to you the two councils which eventually brought forth the Trinitarian Doctrine, and pointing out some key elements about the people of those councils and the Emperors influence within those councils.

This can be found by reading and studying the two councils that ultimately brought forth a Trinitarian point of view. The first council, The Council of Nicea took place in 325 AD. Unlike what you may be thinking, this Council was not over a debate of a Oneness point of view versus a Trinitarian point of view. However it was because of a man named Arius who believed that the Son (Jesus) was created out of nothing before the world was called into being, and for that very reason was not eternal nor of the divine essence. For his argument he referred to Proverbs 8:22, which reads, 22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. The Hebrew word translated for possessed, he said, could also have meant created or brought forth. Thus Arius, interpreted the passage that the Son was created at some point by God before the creation of the world. This was the reason for the first council.

The council convened in 325 AD in Nicea. It lasted for just about six weeks. It has been said that 318 persons attended, but a more likely number is 225, including every Eastern bishop of importance, four Western bishops (among them Hosius of Córdoba, president of the council), and two papal legates.

Papal: Of, relating to, or issued by a pope.

As the Council began to unfold, it was found that there was mainly three points of view. The first group was a minority led by Athanasius who argued that the Father and the Son were of the same substance. The second group was the Arian group which believed the Son was of a different substance from the Father. And the third group was the majority, in which case the majority of them never fully understood the issues at hand but wanted peace. The majority of them never agreed with Arius, but they also never agreed with Athanasius. Thus later in history they received the nickname of Semi-Arians.

Finally Emperor Constantine, hoping to obtain the most unanimous decision possible, introduced a word called homoousios, which means of the same substance. This was considered controversial because it was used by some people to support a Oneness doctrine of the Godhead, known as Sabellianism, against those with a Trinitarian position.

Upon conclusion of this first Council, the position of Athanasius prevailed. At this time Emperor Constantine sealed the victory by threatening to banish all dissenters. However there were two Bishops who would not sign the creed along with Arius. One of the two Bishops was Eusebius of Nicomedia and these men were placed in exile.

Emperor Constantine then declared that the decrees of the council were divinely inspired, declared them as laws of the empire, and made them punishable by death. The creed that was created from the Council of Nicea was not, however, the creed generally circulated today as the Nicene Creed.

In summary up to this point, this council was mainly those of a Trinitarian mind set concerning the Father and the Son being of the same substance, where as the Arians were of the mind set that the Father and the Son were of a different substance. During their debates, the Emperor Constantine introduced a word that those of the Trinitarian mind set did not like, because a group of people of the mind set that God was not only of one substance, but he manifested himself as the Son, so he was not two separate persons of one substance, but rather one person who manifested himself as the Son and the Father. These people were known as Sabellianism or Oneness people.

The original Nicene Creed that came out of this Council stated: We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of all things visible and invisible. And in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten of the Father, the only begotten of the Father; (they then clarify what they mean concerning Jesus Christ) that is (He, Jesus is) of the essence of the Father, (He is) God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, (He was) begotten, not made, from the substance of the Father, by whom (Jesus) all things were made both in Heaven and on Earth; who for us men, and for our Salvation, came down and was incarnate (that means he was robed in flesh) and was made man; he suffered, and the third day he rose again, (He) ascended into heaven; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. And in the Holy Ghost.

Remember this creed was to refute Arianism. And again, Arianism was those who believed that the Father and the Son were of a different substance. Due to the fact that during this council, the Trinitarian people as they were trying to refute Arianism, were speaking in a manner that actually was supportive of the Oneness or Sabellianism people; this led to the bishops signing the creed so that they would not be exiled, but to continue teaching the Godhead the way that they always had, which was somewhere between the teachings of Arianism and Trinitarianism. This also sparked the Arians to continue to pursue their doctrine, thus in 381 AD there was a second council that convened.

The second council that convened was the council of Constantinople. This council was summoned by Emperor Theodosius I in 381 AD. Theodosius was a staunch supporter of the original Nicene Creed. So he was biased already. Only Eastern bishops were summoned to this council, but the Greeks claimed that it was ecumenical. Even though they never invited anyone from the West.

Ecumenical: Of or relating to the worldwide Christian church.

So basically the people of this council were claiming that it represented the worldwide Christian Church, even though no one from the Western portion of the Mediterranean was invited.

This council was not truly ecumenical and there were only about 150 bishops in attendance. It gave the bishop of Constantinople honour second only to that of the pope. Even though the Western church did not accept the ranking of Constantinople as second to Rome until the 13th century. Hear what was just said. It took close to nine hundred years before the West finally agreed that the bishop of Constantinople was second only to that of the pope. This Council declared, and the Emperor made it law, that there is one Godhead, Power and Substance of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit; the dignity being equal, and the majesty equal in three perfect persons. This is how the Trinitarian Doctrine was born and was the first time the Holy Spirit was even considered a third person in the Godhead.

However it wasn’t until some time in the fourth century that the Nicene creed that we use today, came into existence. That’s right. Four hundred and some odd years after Jesus’ death, the Nicene creed we use today, based off of these two councils that were both completely biased and declared law by the Emperors of Rome, with adjustments to the creed as late as 589 AD at the Synod of Toledo, became the common doctrine of the Trinitarian today.

The Nicene creed in use today omits (that means that they removed it from) the original clause in the first Council of Nicea that stated that Jesus was of the essence of the Father, because it left open the possible interpretation of a Oneness point of view. Yet everyone was taught that the first council was divinely inspired and here they are making adjustments to it, to continue to support their doctrine.

And then they added to the original creed, concerning the portion that stated, And in the Holy Ghost.

The addition reads: And [I believe] in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceedeth from the Father [and the Son]; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified.

It also confessed one Baptism for the remission of sins.

This information is readily available at any library or by searching online about these two councils. Due to the fact that there is no mention of Trinity or Triune in the Bible, and the fact that these councils were not divinely inspired, there is no reason to believe our God is three co-equal persons.

In an in-depth study of these two councils, you will find that many scriptures Athanasius used in the original council of Nicea, and explained their meanings according to the Godhead, to establish his stance against Arianism, that the Trinitarians of today use those same scriptures, to substantiate their arguments against Oneness believers; yet they have already been defined by Athanasius in the council of Nicea stating the opposite meaning that the Trinitarians of today are using to defend their stance against Oneness believers.

In conclusion, what we should have learned from this condensed version of how the Trinitarian Doctrine was born, is that these councils were not divinely inspired, but rather were conducted in a very controlled environment, with Emperors of Rome establishing them as laws, and they are the people who claimed these councils were divinely inspired.

We also learned that the first council had nothing to do with Oneness versus Trinitarianism, and for this very reason, the original council defined scriptures, and built a defense system, that ended up supporting a Oneness point of view. So in the next council, they made the necessary changes to try to alter this point of view, even though they claimed the first council was divinely inspired, it never stopped them from altering it. They also claimed that the second council was ecumenical, yet they did not even invite the bishops from the Western Mediterranean area, who never fully accepted what they concluded at this council until the 13 century, some 900 years later.

And finally, due to the amount of time that has now elapsed since these councils and in our present time, the Trinitarians of today don’t even hold true to their original roots, but have changed the meaning of the scriptures around that were already defined in the council of Nicea, to mean something else that was not established in this council. Thus, if you will, the Trinitarians of today would not even agree with the Trinitarians of 400 AD.

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Understanding the Godhead – Part 2

December 22, 2010 cpministries Leave a comment

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At this time if you are still having trouble seeing the Oneness of God, I would like to give you a run down and some more questions to further explain the Oneness of God. For this I would like to give a condensed example.

God the Word (John 1:1) became flesh (Jesus) (John 1:14) upon being conceived by Mary, whom the Holy Ghost hovered over. (Luke 1:35) Notice that 1) the Holy Ghost does not have a name. Yet all Angels, Man, and God have and had names. So then why would the Holy Ghost be a third individual without a name? And 2) the Holy Ghost hovered over Mary and not the Father so this would make the Holy Ghost the father of Jesus and not God being the Father of Jesus. Also, if the Holy Ghost can be in every person on planet Earth; that wouldn’t make the Holy Ghost 6.5 billion Individuals that make up the Holy Ghost. So then, if the Holy Ghost can be one, yet in 6.5 billion different people, how then is it hard to see that one God can manifest himself as an infinite number, yet still only be one God.

At this time I would like to bring your attention to one called Melchisedec.

Genesis 14:18-20
18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

Here we read of a Melchizedek, who is the king of Salem and that he was the priest of the most high God. We also learn that Abram pays tithes to Melchizedek.

Now let’s read about Melchizedek in the book of Hebrews to better understand who he is.

Hebrews 6:20
20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

We now see that Jesus has been made our high priest after the order of this Melchisedec.

7:1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

Here we are told some very important things concerning Melchisedec. He was the King of Righteousness, the King of Salem, the King of Peace. Without father, without mother, without descent, having no beginning of days, nor end of life; and made like unto the Son of God; and abides a priest continually.

Many people try to pass off Melchisedec as being just a man, and try to say that he was without mother and father because they didn’t know his lineage. This is a very naive statement for many reasons. Lets discuss a few.

The Holy Ghost can easily reveal lineage. Since in the book of Luke 3:23-38, they give the lineage of Christ clear back to Adam, the son of God. This belief system completely ignores the wording of this verse which tells us he was without beginning of days, nor end of life. That is very clear, that he never had end of life. The verses also tell us that Melchisedec was made like unto the Son of God. What natural man could be like unto the Son of God? What man could fulfill being the King of righteousness, the King of Peace? Since the prophet Isaiah tells us in Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Let’s continue to read about Melchisedec.

(Continuing) Hebrews 7:4
4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

In verse 6 we were just told that Melchisedec received tithes of Abraham and then blessed Abraham which had the promises of God. Then in verse 7 we are told that without contradiction the less, meaning Abraham, was blessed of the better, meaning Melchisedec. What natural man could have been more important than Abraham, which had received the promises of God. The answer is no one. That is why it was said that without all contradiction. The answer was because Melchisedec was not just a man, he was God.

8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

Again, it was stressed that men here that receive tithes die, but there Melchisedec received them, and it was witnessed that he lives.

9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

These verses tell us that the sons of Levi paid tithes to Melchisedec even though they were yet in the loins of Abraham.

Continuing

11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

These verses explain to us that God changed the priesthood, and since he changed the priesthood, out of necessity he also changed the law. That new law is the Law of Liberty, of which we now are free from the law of sin and death because Jesus died on the Cross and took back the keys of death and hell, and as many that are born again, and obey the New Testament and it’s commandments, through the Faith of Jesus Christ, we have eternal life.

This next verse is extremely important concerning the belief system that Melchisedec was just a man. It reads

15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,

That priest was Jesus Christ. And this verse just told us that Jesus was after the similitude of Melchisedec. How then seeing that Jesus was Emmanuel, being interpreted God with us, can you compare him to only a flesh and blood man?

Since Emmanuel was God with us, we know that God had no beginning of days, nor does he have end of life. The only way that Melchisedec could be similiar to Jesus Christ would be that Melchisedec never had beginning of days, nor end of life, which was clearly stated as well as the fact that verse three also tells us that he was made like unto the Son of God.

Let’s reread Hebrews 7 verses 2 & 3.
2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

Since we know that Jesus is in the similitude of Melchisedec. Notice Melchisedec was the King of Peace, and that Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace.

Verse 3
3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

Notice that it tells us that he abideth a priest continually. That means that he still is a priest. And since it also tells us he neither had beginning of days nor end of life, that means that if you are of a Trinitarian mindset you will either continue to say that Jesus came after the order of a man that was King of Righteousness or that now there is a fourth deity in the Godhead. Just because in 1 John 5:7 it says there are three that bear record in heaven, does not mean that Melchisedec ceased to exist.

Continuing at verse 20 and it reads.
20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he (Jesus) was made priest:
21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)
22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

1 Johne 5:7
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

Notice that verse 7 said that the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost are one. It did not say these three are one made up of three. Because that would no longer be one, but three. And this is exactly what the Trinitarian does. They add to this scripture to make their doctrine fit.

If the Lord chose to list twenty different things and told us that these twenty things bear record in heaven, and these twenty are one, we would not conclude that they are one made up of twenty. The reason: because the verse said these are one. If we were to have concluded twenty, then we would have been told, and these twenty are one made up of twenty. So the Trinitarian person has added to the Word of God by teaching that these three are one, made up of the Holy Trinity, which consists of three co-equal individuals made of the same substance but each with the ability to think separately and make decisions.

So there are three that bear record in heaven: the father (God), the Word (God), and the Holy Ghost (God), and these three are one God named Jesus. Just as Melchisedec (God) is another manifestation of God. This means he is still alive even though he doesn’t bare record. He is alive as God.

Melchisedec can not be overlooked or ignored. He was a manifestation of God. Many Trinitarians call Oneness people heretics for saying that, God is one God, who manifested himself in different roles, as the Father, the son, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one whose name is Jesus. Melchisedec was existent not as a fourth individual in the God head, but as the One God who is capable of manifesting himself as anything, anywhere, in any number, at any time. Just like he appeared as the burning bush (Exodus 3:5) and as a Rock in the wilderness that followed Moses. (1 Corinthians 10:4) These just being more examples of how He is all powerful, just as he appeared in the fiery furnace in Daniel. (Daniel 3:25)

We look at our own body made in his image. And I see one body that is made up of three: Body, Soul, and Spirit. Yet I am only one person. Just as spiritually Jesus was one body made up of three: God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost.

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Understanding the Godhead – Part 1

December 15, 2010 cpministries Leave a comment

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Deuteronomy 6:4-6
4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

Deuteronomy 32:39
39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

So up to this point, we see that the Lord our God is one Lord and there is no god with Him.

2 Samuel 7:22
22 Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee,

Deuteronomy 4:35 {it also says that there is no god beside Him.}
35 Unto thee it was showed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.

This is very important to understand. Now we know that God is one Lord, and there is no god with him, neither is there any god beside of Him.

Isaiah 43:10-11
10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he:before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour

Here we see that not only is there no god with Him, or beside of Him, there also was no God formed before Him, neither shall there be any god created after Him.

James 2:19 {reinforces that the Lord is one God. It reads,}
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

So, we have just read in Isaiah that the Lord said beside me there is no saviour. Now listen to what it says in,

Acts 4:10-12
10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Here we see that God said beside me, there is no saviour, and we just read in Acts that there is no salvation in any other name but Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 3:16
16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

This verse tells us that God manifested himself in the flesh as Jesus.

Colossians 2:1-9 (Apostle Paul Explains Jesus Christ’s role in the Godhead.)
1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

Notice in these verses that Paul desires all the people to be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto the riches of the understanding of the mystery of God, the Father, and of Christ. The three things he mentioned was the mystery of God, the Father, which is God, and of Christ, which is the anointed one of God.

3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
5 For though I (Paul) be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Hear the Reason to be rooted in the faith!!!

8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him (Jesus) dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

This is very important. We have just learned that in Jesus is all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

An example of what Paul was referring to when he said in verse eight, beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, would be the Trinitarian doctrine. One can go research the two councils that were responsible for this change in the teaching of Christ. They are the Council of Nicea and the Council of Constantinople.

This is a prime example of being spoiled by man’s philosophy and vain deceit. They took place hundreds of years after Jesus’ death and the teachings of the gospel. They were presented in a controlled environment in a biased group of men, and enforced by Emperors of Rome.

So the next question is, Is it possible for anyone to know the mystery of the Godhead? The answer to this question is yes according to:

Romans 1:19-22 (Apostle Paul is addressing all the people in Rome)
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him (God) from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Again verse 20 very clearly states that even his eternal power and Godhead can be understood.

So to recap what we have learned thus far. We now know that God is one Lord, that there is no god with Him, or beside of Him, that there was no God formed before Him, neither shall there be any god created after Him, and that beside Him there is no Saviour, and that there is no other name, but Jesus Christ, given under heaven where by we must be saved. We also learned that in Jesus Christ is all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, and that the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ can be understood.

The next scripture that will help to better understand the Godhead is,

Matthew 1:23
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Now we see that Jesus Christ is God with us.

John 14:9 (listen to Jesus’ reply to Philip.)
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?

Now listen to something very important!!!

In John 16:23-25 we find out that Jesus spoke in proverbs concerning the Father.
23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall show you plainly of the Father.

You may be wondering what a proverb is,

A Proverb is: a short saying stating a truth or piece of advice.

To better understand this proverb concerning the Father, let’s read,

Isaiah 9:6
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

This was a Bible Prophecy concerning the birth of Jesus Christ, stating that he would be The mighty God and The everlasting Father. Now, Recall Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

There is only One….

Ephesians 4:4-6
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

There is only One body,
The Body of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 12:5
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

There is only One Spirit,
The Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ.

Romans 8:9
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

There is only One hope,
Eternal life through our Savior Jesus Christ.

Titus 2:13
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

There is only One Lord,
Jesus whom God made both Lord and Christ.

Acts 2:36
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

There is only One Faith,
The teaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:27
27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

There is only One baptism,
The baptism into the death of Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:3
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

There is only One God,
His name was manifested by Jesus Christ.

John 17:6
6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.

There is only One Father,
His name was declared by Jesus Christ.

John 17:26
26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

There is only One door,The door which is the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 10:7
7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

There is only One name,
Every knee shall bow before Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:9-10
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

I would like to pose to you a question……

1 John 3:8
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

If Satan had not sinned and the son of God then not manifested, would you have any reason to believe that there is a Trinity?? Of course not. Why? Because God wouldn’t have had to manifest himself as the Son of God to remove sin from the world.

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Offer God only Your Best Sacrifice

April 12, 2010 cpministries 3 Comments

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I have decided to start my blogging experience off here on wordpress with a sermon written by my father entitled, Offer God only Your Best Sacrifice. I will periodically along the way share some of my father’s sermons along side of my own.

Malachi 1:6-8
6 A son honoureth his father and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? And if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
7 Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.
8 And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.

Israel offered the blind, the lame, and the sick at God’s alter.

Israel profaned God’s name and polluted God’s alter.

Israel snuffed at God’s alter, they were proud, rebellious, stiffnecked, arrogant against the sacrifice to God!

Therefore God spoke to Israel.

Malachi 1:10-11
10 Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.
11 For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.

Therefore, I have no pleasure in you. But my name shall be great among the Gentiles!

Let us the Gentile people, that have became God’s chosen, that have been born again of God’s Spirit having been baptized in Jesus name, filled with the Holy Ghost, speaking in other tongues as the Spirit giveth the utterance;

Give our best to Jesus everyday for we are all laborers together with God,
Ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building

I Corinthians 3:9
9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

* Know ye not that ye are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you!

Offer God Only Your Best!!!

I Corinthians 3:16
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

I Corinthians 6:15
15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.

I Corinthians 12:13
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

I Corinthians 12:27
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Give God Only Your Best!!!

Romans 12:1
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Give God Your Very Best!!!

Ephesians 5:2
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

Jesus Christ Gave God His Best!!!

Jesus gave His very life!!!!!

Hebrews 13:15
15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

I Peter 2:1-5
1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

God gave His best; His only begotten son- For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Church, also offer your best sacrifice; Yourself-100%

Lesson written by Perry Harris.

Connecting Point Ministries

Tag Archives: Jesus

Come let us Grow Together: Instruction

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Obedient Faith

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Are you being Taught the Truth?

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Are you a Berean at Heart

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C&C: Death is Swallowed up in Victory

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C&C: The Seed that was to Come

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The Birth of the Trinity Doctrine

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Understanding the Godhead – Part 2

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Understanding the Godhead – Part 1

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Offer God only Your Best Sacrifice

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A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.