Some Thoughts on the Grace of God

A word fitly spoken is like apples of God in settings of silver

"From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed." (Acts 14:26, NKJV)

All work in the kingdom of God is fueled by the grace of God. Knowing this, men can and must live by faith in God's ability to supply them with all the necessary resources to accomplished His objectives for them. In the above text the writer refers to a journey the apostle Paul and his friends had just completed and in few brief words reveals the source of power in their ministry - the grace of God.

Salvation by Grace. Anything that God calls men to do, any ministry or task, any Divine objective given to men will not only require God's grace it will come with God's grace. In other words, if God calls you to it, He will also give you what you need to accomplish it. The fault of the flesh is that it always leans on it's own understanding and works according to it's own power. And this is why justification is not by works of the law or man's ability to carry out God's commands. The law is "weak through the flesh" (Rom 8:3). So, "finding fault with them" (men in their weakness) "He saith, 'Behold the day cometh,' saith the Lord, 'when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah'" (Heb 8:8). This new covenant is not like the old one. The old covenant was based upon God's commands and man's ability to comply. The new covenant is based upon God's requirements and the Son of God's ability to fulfill them. Those who are in the Son are in the covenant. Salvation, then, is "by grace" - God's provision and "through faith" - man's trust in that provision (Eph 2:8).

The Empowerment of Grace. Grace is very practical. It is not just an idea or philosophy. It is a provision that has utility. Men can actually "frustrate the grace of God" but rejecting it's utility and trying to justify themselves through law keeping (Gal 2:21). But the apostle Paul was no such person. He was commended to the grace of God and lived and ministered out of the abundance of it's provision. Someone has once used grace as an acrostic defining it as "God's Riches At Christ's Expense." I like thinking about grace in this way. As a result of Christ's work men have been blessed with "all spiritual blessings in heavenly places" (Eph 1:3) and the promise to believers is that God "shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Php 4:19). Salvation itself is impossible with men but not with God (Mt 19:26) and so is valid ministry. The work of God is of such great import and objective that men alone cannot obtain it for themselves or help anyone else obtain it. Only God can bring men into His work and He can only do it through the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

The magnitude of Paul's ministry cannot be quantified. He was commissioned as the "apostle to the gentiles" - the entire non Jewish world! And he was given an abundance of revelations and ministered day and night even providing for his own needs by maintaining a vocation of tent making. How could a man do such a great work?...the grace of God. He confesses, "by the grace of God I am what I am; and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain, but I labored more abundantly than they all [the other apostles], YET NOT I BUT THE GRACE OF GOD WHICH WAS WITH ME" (1 Cor 15:10).

And so in view of these considerations and without reservation I would like to recommend you to the grace of God which is able to save you and empower you for the ministry you have received from the Father.

Grace and Peace

The Gospel is of God's Working

The gospel is an announcement of what God has done, is doing and will do in Jesus. It does not accomplish the work of salvation, rather it brings the work of salvation within the reach of man. Through it The Lord brings "life and immortality to light" - that is, real life, abundant life, everlasting life, eternal life is made manifest to be both accessible and obtainable through the Son of God. This is good news to the one who is convicted of his sin and fully aware of his waywardness and falling short of the glory of the incorruptible God.

Specifically, the gospel announces that all that is accomplished and performed in salvation is according to a Divine edict, not reaction. None of God's working out of His eternal purpose is dependent on man or a reaction to man. It is all driven by His determinate counsel and foreknowledge.

When all of creation is gathered before the Father and before the Lamb in the world to come; when they observe the greatness, the vastness and the detail of redemption; if ever the question is raised "Why are we here?" or "How did we get here?" or "Who is responsible for our everlasting life?" The answer will be a resounding and unified response: "Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb" (Rev 7:10). They will say "This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes" (Ps 118:23).

Men of faith have always had this perspective but it will be most notable then. Even in consideration of The Lord of Glory being slain by the hands of godless men we can see that it was not their work primarily but that "The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against The Lord and against His Christ...for to do whatsoever [God's] hand and [God's] counsel determined before to be done" (Acts 4:26,28).

The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and the salvation of men as a result of this work is proclaimed through the gospel to be the working of God our Savior according to His determinate counsel, His predetermined plan, His eternal purpose.

He is Brought as a Lamb to the Slaughter

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver

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. (Isaiah 53:7)

Jesus has always been the Lamb of God. He has always been the appointed sacrifice for the sin of the world. He came into the world as being brought to the slaughter house. He was given to us and for us, in order to take away sin. 

His appearing on the earth came with a sign in the sky, a star and even an angelic chorus that announced, 

"Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:10-14)

Now this grand event, this first announcement of the birth of the man child and Christ child was to "shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night" (v 8). While they were among sheep, some of which were also to be brought to be slaughtered, the very Lamb of God was announced to them, the final, last and only acceptable Lamb to be slain for the sin of the world. 

All references to the coming of the Messiah are in association with His work of putting away sin and dying for our transgressions. Everything He did was in order to appease God, satisfy God, obey the commandment of eternal life, set those enslaved by sin free, and proclaim the year of the Lord's favor upon men. Had it not been for the sin of man and the righteousness of God there would be no need for Jesus' death. He would have died in vain. But alas, we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and the wages of such sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Our remembrance of Him is a pleasant one for He has done and is doing all that His Father has asked of Him and He shall be compensated. Furthermore, we have been delivered from sin. We have been freed from its alluring power and condemning nature. We have been completely exonerated of all charges and transgressions that we have committed because Jesus was brought to the slaughter in our stead. The wages of sin, its debt has been paid; our debt has been forgiven. Believe that and rejoice in it. He is worthy of our remembrance. and praise.

Some Thoughts about the Kingdom of God

THE KINGDOM OF GOD

The Kingdom of Kingdoms. The kingdom of God is the authority over all other kingdoms. All other kingdoms are a part of and governed by the kingdom of God. Speaking of God’s kingdom Daniel said, “all dominions shall serve and obey Him” (Dan 7:27). Likewise, David declared, “For the kingdom is the Lord’s and He is governor among the nations” (Ps 22:28).

His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. God has always ruled over the kingdoms of the earth, though those earthly kingdoms failed to recognize and acknowledge it. Nevertheless, the Lord used kingdoms such as Egypt, Babylon, Greece, Persia, Rome, and Assyria. Those kingdoms were under the rule of His kingdom. So it is with all powers and authorities. The Divine word to them is this: “Thou couldest have no power at all against Me, except it were given thee from above” (Jn 19:11). “For there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God” (Rom 13:1)

Christ's Temptation. Jesus was able to overcome the temptation of the devil because He could not be deceived by the deceitfulness of sin. He was not allured by the devil when he took “Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and [showed] Him all the kingdoms of the world” (Mt 4:8-9). The devil told Jesus He could have all of those kingdoms if He would bow down and worship him. But Jesus knew the truth, that upon being exalted by His Father all of those kingdoms would be His in righteousness. Equality with God is not a thing to be grasped. Jesus willingly forsook many Divine qualities and glory but those things would be returned to Him when He would accomplish the work He was given to do. The Lord’s Christ would be exalted by His Father and the kingdoms of this world, along with all other enemies would become subject to Him.

The King of Kings. Jesus is the King over all kings. He is, upon sitting down at the right hand of the majesty in the heavens, exalted to the highest place. When He sat down in heaven, He sat down on a throne. He is not waiting to be crowned King - He has been. God the Father has made Jesus both Lord and Christ. The Kingdom of God has been put in the charge of the Son of God. And He is now reigning until “He hath put all enemies under His feet” and “the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death” (1 Cor 15:25-26). 

The Kingdom of God was given over to Jesus when He ascended to heaven and sat down on His throne. When the end comes and the dead are raised and all are judged and the earth is destroyed with intense heat, then, “He shall deliver up the kingdom TO God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power” (1 Cor 15:24). The kingdoms of the world are part of the rule and authority and power that are to be put down. Though, they are opposed to Him now, they shall be made to bow to Him then. 

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)

Ruling Now, Revealed Then. There is a large group of believers that claim that Jesus is not yet reigning and has not yet been given the kingdom of God. They say this because “if doth not yet appear” to the natural eye. But by faith we can see that He is reigning. The revelation of His reign will come at the last trump. It is then that Jesus shall be revealed (1 Pet 1:13) as the Christ of God; the One of Whom the prophets did speak; the King of kings and Lord of lords. For when He entered into heaven He entered as "the King of glory, the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle" (Ps 24). And when He returns He will return not as a babe in a manger but as the great King who overcame the world and is set to judge it in righteousness.

The Redemption of the Purchased Possession - Part 4

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver

MUTUAL BENEFIT: CHRIST’S INHERITANCE AND OURS
The ordained end of salvation, when the tabernacle of God is with men, will be a blessed condition for all involved. Not only will we receive God as our exceeding great reward; not only will receive bodies fit for our heavenly habitation; not only will we partake of the fullness of joy, but we ourselves will be a blessing to Deity. Christ will receive us as His bride on that day. In accord with the Father's promise to His Son the faithful God will give Jesus the heathen for His inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for His possession” (Ps 2:8). For not only will Jesus have raised up the tribes of Jacob there will be an innumerable company of men from every tribe and tongue and kindred and people present on account of this Light that shined in their hearts. And God will not be left without an inheritance either: for we shall be His people and He shall be all in all.

God, Our God and We, His People. “And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be My people” (Lev 26:12). “And I will give them an heart to know Me, that I am the Lord; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God; for they shall return unto Me with their whole heart” (Jer 24:7). “And ye shall be My people, and I will be your God” (Jer 30:22). “That the house of Israel may go no more astray from Me, neither be polluted any more with all their transgressions; but they may be My people, and I may be their God,” saith the Lord God (Ezek 14:11). “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 dwelling places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them; so shall they be My people, and I will be their God” (Ezek 37:23). “My tabernacle also shall be with them; yea, I will be their God, and they shall be My people” (Ezek 37:27). “Yet the number of children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, ‘Ye are not My people,’ there is shall be said unto them, ‘Ye are the sons of the living God’” (Hos 1:10). Redemption and salvation are mutually beneficial. We receive a God and God receives a people, in righteousness and truth.

CONCLUSION

This truth revealed by God is very encouraging and provoking to life Godward. It is good and right for us to think of ourselves in terms of "the redeemed" of the Lord. We belong to God. This will help us in our fight of faith. It will help us reason appropriately concerning our present experience. “For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Cor 6:20). “Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men” (1 Cor 7:23). We look forward to the redemption of our body (Rom 8:23) and until then, though groaning within ourselves, we are kept by the power of God and sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.

We have been purchased by God and yet while in this flesh we find ourselves enslaved, to some degree, to another. We are bound by this vile body. We are currently absent from the Lord. Until what has been purposed for us is completely ours we are found wanting. But be of good cheer, brethren, our final redemption is coming! "Look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Lk 21:28).

The Redemption of the Purchased Possession - Part 3

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver

THE REDEMPTION OF THE PURCHASED POSSESSION
The Earnest Looks Forward to the Fullness. Everything we now experience in Christ will be improved and increased upon the redemption of the purchased possession. Our experience in Heaven will not be entirely different than our experience here, but it will be better. What I am saying is that the earnest is in accord with the fullness. Because our fellowship with the Lord will be more intimate and unhindered our experience of salvation will be more potent and abundant. This vile body, this present evil world, the frailty of our minds and partial nature of our knowledge all hinder us from greater fellowship with the Lord. But when this mortal shall have put on immortality and when we know as we have been fully known, then our fellowship with Deity will be enhanced. Our hearts will be given a greater capacity to be enlarged. Again, this is similar to our experience now but without the limitations accompanying the "now".

Our Inheritance is a Purchased Possession. The inheritance and possession for which we long is not something that we are working towards but something that we are waiting for. It is not "for sale." Christ has already purchased our inheritance and it is reserved in heaven for us. We are awaiting the redemption of the purchased possession.

The great price for the redemption of a man’s soul is briefly expressed through the psalmist in the following words:

“Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about? They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him; for the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever, that he should still live for ever and not see corruption.” (Psalm 49:5-9)

How can man the soul of man be redeemed? How? By what means? Through what payment? Who could pay such a steep cost? The gospel reveals that God has purchased His church with His own blood. It declares that He who was rich became poor that through His poverty we might be made rich! Our hope of salvation and blessing rests on the purchasing power of the Savior and His currency. Can He do it? Does He have the means? Will His payment be accepted? “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet 1:18-19).

The Redemption of the Purchased Possession - Part 2

OUR PRESENT EXPERIENCE

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver

In Whom. Our salvation will never be separated from Jesus. We will never be able to experience or maintain an acceptable standing with God without Jesus ever living to make intercession for us. Whether we be here or there our association with the Lamb is what makes us pleasing to God. Everything we are and everything we do has to do with this phrase "in Whom".
     He is gathering all things together in Christ
     We have obtained an inheritance in Christ.
     We have trusted in Christ.
     We have been sealed with the Holy Spirit in Christ.

We Heard the Word of Truth. The mystery of His will is manifested through the gospel: the preaching of the good news of our salvation. That God is delivering, blessing, and rewarding men through the Man, Christ Jesus. The gospel announces that everything necessary for the fulness of joy to be realized is brought to us in Jesus. God is blessing the world through Him. The word of the truth of the gospel reveals the hidden mystery that God “spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all” and in view of this great sacrifice, “how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Rom 8:32). The “redemption of the purchased possession” speaks of the full obtainment of “all things” that are freely given to us in Christ. The gospel both announces and reveals this; it both declares the truth and gives the understanding of these things.

The Will of God was Made Known to Us. It is God's will that has been made known to us. He is showing us, through the gospel, His intention, desire and purpose. Our salvation is progressing from us being enlightened to this truth to actively experiencing it.

The will of God is primarily concerned with what He is doing in Himself, His Christ and His Spirit. It is in accord with His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself. The will of God involves Him gathering all things together in Christ. His will includes predestinating us to obtain an inheritance through Christ. He is working all His purpose after the counsel of His own will. He is glorified in salvation! What are we to do? Trust in Jesus.

We Trusted in Jesus. We have committed our lives and our souls to the One who is able to keep us and present us before God without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. We have staked the eternal condition of our souls on the fact that God is satisfied with the sacrifice of Christ and that Christ is, and will remain, one with the Father: acceptable to Him, blessed by Him and seated at His right hand. We have trusted that the blood of Christ is able to cleanse us from all unrighteousnesses. This is our present experience and our future experience will be in accord with it but better. We know in Whom we have believed and are persuaded that He is able to keep that which we have committed to Him against that day and we trust that we will be better for having done it. We will, now and always, follow the Lamb withersoever He goest, trusting in His provision of green pastures and still waters.

We Were Sealed IN Jesus WITH the Holy Spirit. We have, in Christ, “tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come” (Heb 6:4-5). We have been given an earnest, a pledge, a down payment of what we will be given in heaven. And by receiving of His fullness we have been "sealed unto the day of redemption” (Eph 4:30). He has "sealed us and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts” in order to establish us, anoint us and transform us into what we will be when we shed this robe of flesh. All this has been done by Jesus with the Holy Spirit and it has great utility for us to live by faith and patience. Having a treasure in an earthen vessel makes us grossly discontent with our present condition and causes us to long for a better more fitting dwelling. The Holy Spirit is our pledge that we will possess that which was purchased for us by Christ. We will receive a body that will not be a hindrance but a help to us. We will receive a body fit for heaven and a body fit to house the Holy Spirit.

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) we are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:1-8)

“And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” (Romans 8:20-25)

The Redemption of the Purchased Possession - Part 1

Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver

purposed in Himself: that in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him: in Whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will: that we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ. In Whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in Whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:9-14)

PRELIMINARY THOUGHTS CONCERNING SALVATION

First, the work of salvation is progressive in nature and it is actively moving toward it’s ordained end. In other words, God has begun a good work through Christ and He fully intends on bringing it to completion. The fullness of God's intention in salvation has not yet been brought to pass but it will in the world to come. If the Lord has said it you can be certain that He will do it. If He has purchased it, you can be certain He will redeem it. 

Furthermore, the partaking of Divine benefit and blessing, as everything in the kingdom of God, is increasing. So, everyone engaged in it now will see further involvement then. Thus, as those in Christ are translated from this world to that which is to come, their experience will be in accord with their current experience but also enhanced, improved, increased, and perfected. What we have partaken of here in the first fruits sense will be abundantly enjoyed there in the full obtainment sense. It will be of the same source and of the same substance but it will be better; a sort of unfiltered and unabated experience of the provision of God and the work of God. Specific to the text before us we can say, “we have been given an earnest of our inheritance, but the redemption of the purchased possession is in order to a better work than the earnest of it.”

Lastly, salvation is a fellowship and as such it’s benefits are mutually enjoyed by both the Savior and the saved. In fact, what God is working in Christ is pleasing and beneficial to all involved in it. The Godhead is involved and blessed by men being saved. Men themselves are involved and benefit greatly from salvation. The heavenly angels are even involved in ministering to the heirs of salvation and they are blessed by beholding such a great work, also. All those involved in the work of salvation are benefitted by it. Therefore the completion of the work will be to the end that all are blessed for evermore and all readily praise the Savior saying, "it is the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes." It will all be to the praise of His glory.

THINGS KEPT SECRET ARE NOW MADE MANIFEST

God is making known mysteries that have been in hidden from man since before the foundations of the earth were laid. And because the wisdom of man never comes to the knowledge of God, of His own will, God has revealed these mysteries to us by His Spirit. And both the revelation of the mystery of His will and the accomplishment of it are unto the praise of His glory.

“Hermeneutics” has been defined as the science of studying, interpreting, and understanding a text, primarily Scripture. When it comes to understanding the mysteries of heaven the only effective and true hermeneutic is Divine revelation. The mysteries of God must be revealed by God and if they are not, no amount of earthly expertise will find them out. Here is some good news: God is a revealer of mysteries.

The Gospel of the Resurrection - Part 19

A WORD FROM THE HOMELAND

10-20 minute messages concerning the world to come, the Christ that will bring us there, and the glorious inheritance of the saints

The Gospel of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Part 19

"All Things Put Under the Son"

For He hath put all things under His feet. But when He saith all things are put under Him, it is manifest that He is excepted, which did put all things under Him. And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all. (1 Corinthians 15:27-28)

The Gospel of the Resurrection - Part 18

A WORD FROM THE HOMELAND

10-20 minute messages concerning the world to come, the Christ that will bring us there, and the glorious inheritance of the saints

The Gospel of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Part 18

"Christ Shall Reign Until the End"

But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at His coming. 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. For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. (1 Corinthians 15:23-26)

The Gospel of the Resurrection - Part 17

A WORD FROM THE HOMELAND

10-20 minute messages concerning the world to come, the Christ that will bring us there, and the glorious inheritance of the saints

The Gospel of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Part 17

"In Adam all Die, In Christ all Live"

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:20-22)

The Gospel of the Resurrection - Part 16

A WORD FROM THE HOMELAND

10-20 minute messages concerning the world to come, the Christ that will bring us there, and the glorious inheritance of the saints

The Gospel of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Part 16

"Christ, a Man, is Risen"

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:20-22)

Christ Jesus Has Obtained Victory Over Death

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:20-22)

Death has taken every man. It is the common enemy of all life on the earth. When sin entered the world and death by sin, the world and everything in it began it’s descend toward decay and death. Everything, whether plant life or animal life or human life, will find it’s end in death. Anything with an earthly origin will eventually die. Nothing is eternal that can be seen. Death is the grand and undefeated enemy of life on the earth.

What is remarkable however, is that men have the ability to be enslaved to the fear of death and yet live as though it will never happen. So either in denial of their impending defeat by death or in acceptance of it, men spend their lives seeking to obtain fame, power and riches. Any obtainment of these things is often celebrated and emulated by their fellow men. They are seen as victorious in this life, though they will eventually die. 

The world glories in substandard victories that still result in death. “The earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (2 Pet 3:10). There is really no victory to speak of if, in the end, death has the final triumph. If small victories are not a prelude to this greater victory - over sin and death - then they are distractions; a sort of idol accepting the praise of men. Where men glory in their temporary, earthly accomplishments of obtaining power, prestige and riches, they have fallen prey to the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life (1 Jn 2:16). Power prestige and riches are not inherently evil but when they are not willingly forsaken for eternal life they are a pitfall. “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul” (Mt 16:26)? There has got to be something more, something lasting, something eternal. And, by Christ, there is!

“But NOW is Christ,” a man, “risen from the dead!” In accomplishing the salvation of man, Christ defeats this arch foe, death. He defeated death in rising from the grave “no more to return” (Acts 13:34) and when He comes again death itself shall be swallowed up in victory and the grave shall release it’s inhabitants. As a result of this good news, our hope extends beyond the grave. Our lives are lived by faith and patience. In preparation for a greater work we make the most of our time during our stay on the earth. The fear of death has given way to the hope of the resurrection.

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; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:14-15)

Believers are subject to bondage by living in fear of death. The threat of death cannot prevent them from living unto God. Like “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego” they know that their God is able to deliver them from death but even if He doesn’t they will not cave to the threats of men (Dan 3:17-18). For, the grave is only a temporary dwelling. All of the men of earth will stand on that last day and look back to the earth and say, “You can have your tomb back, I need it no longer.”

The Gospel of the Resurrection - Part 15

A WORD FROM THE HOMELAND

10-20 minute messages concerning the world to come, the Christ that will bring us there, and the glorious inheritance of the saints

The Gospel of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Part 15

"The Vanity and Hopelessness of Life Without a Resurrection"

But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen. And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching in vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raise up Christ; Whom He raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised; and if Christ be not raised, your faith in vain, ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 
(1 Corinthians 15:13-19)

Work Out Your Salvation

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver

Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and do of His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13)

Your salvation, and specifically, the better things that accompany it (Heb 6:9), must be worked out. That is, it must be brought from the inside out; a sort of manifestation of a hidden reality. Salvation involves an inward change orchestrated by a new birth (1 Pet 1:23), the implanting of a new heart (Ezek 36:26) and the indwelling presence of the Godhead (Jn 14:17; Rom 8:11; 1 Cor 3:16). Paul calls upon the brethren, here, to work that change out. He is saying, "Let that inward salvation come out in demonstration." Peter says it this way: "Give diligence to make your calling and election sure" (2 Pet 1:10). And that is accomplished, he says, by adding to your faith and making sure godly characteristics are in you and are abounding (2 Pet 1:5-9).

He goes on, "for it is God who is at work IN YOU." God is not just at work for you, or on you or around you, but IN you. What He is doing inwardly must make its way out for in this way the light that is in you shines bringing glory to God (Mt 5:16). When God's inward enlightenment of man seen by others, He is glorified. It is a manifestation of His work in making them righteous. For "he that doeth righteousness is righteous" (1 Jn 3:7). God's work in salvation is an inward operation that, when demonstrated in the lives of men, shows the manifold wisdom of God to the principalities and powers in heavenly places (Eph 3:10). All of heaven sees and declares that the only wise God is a mighty Savior.

So what is His work in you? His work IN you involves both willing and doing. He is producing IN us a "willing" to do righteousness but that willing must work it's way out into "doing." Here we become workers together with God in the sense that we are laboring together with God to produce fruit that is befitting a good tree. We are working OUT what God is working IN. This is accomplished by denying ourselves (Mt 16:24), forsaking the lusts of our flesh (Rom 13:14; Gal 5:24; 1 Pet 2:11; 4:2), bringing our bodies into subjection (1 Cor 9:27) and being led by the Spirit of God (Rom 8:14). This must be done with ardent zeal. It must be done in fear and trembling of failure.

If you are saved it is because God is working for you and in you. Now, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling - God will be glorified in this.

Slain Saints

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver

"And when He had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held" (Revelation 6:9)

Persecution is a Sure Thing for Believers. "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Tim 3:12). As Jesus said, "If they persecuted Me they will persecute you" (Jn 15:20). But the persecution of believers is not a new thing. Even the prophet Isaiah testified of a time when the "truth faileth and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey" (Isa 59:15). The waywardness and depravity of the world is clearly seen in that it speaks evil of those who turn from evil and harms those who cry out for justice.

Be not deceived, this warfare and hardship for the children of God is normal and this common participation among saints is encouraging. While the particulars may vary, the experience does not. Desiring godliness means suffering evil. Believers are thus exhorted, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour; whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world" (1 Pet 5:8-9). The saints of God have had a target placed on their back after the devil and his cohorts were plundered in the cross. The devil has been cast down "to make war with the remnant" of the children of God "which keep the commandments of God, and the have the testimony of Jesus Christ" (Rev 12:17). It is because of this relationship to Jesus that Christians are subject to persecution. "If ye were of the world," Jesus said, "the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you" (Jn 15:19)...and "all these things they do unto you for My name's sake, because they know not Him that sent Me" (Jn 15:21).

The souls under the altar are a vision of them that are slain for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus but there are more to be added to their number (Rev 6:11). There are more to be "counted worthy to suffer shame for His name" (Acts 5:41). There are more to "fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ" (Col 1:24). There are more precious souls that must "continue in the faith" for "we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). And as they continue in the faith they demonstrate that though they are being delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, the life also of Jesus is manifest in their mortal flesh (2 Cor 4:11). What a fellowship!? (Php 3:10).

Temporary Sufferings, Eternal Glory. Persecution is only "here and now." Glory is "there and then." Knowing that the ages to come and the exceeding riches of grace are for eternity equips the believer to endure suffering with faith and patience. For, "if we suffer, we shall also reign with Him" (2 Tim 2:12). It is our suffering with Him that qualifies us for our being "glorified together" with Him (Rom 8:17). Paul's desire to know the fellowship of Christ's sufferings and to be made conformable unto His death was in view of attaining unto the resurrection of the dead (Php 3:9-11) where he would obtain his incorruptible reward.

Seeing the souls under the altar is confirmation of their acceptance in heaven. Furthermore, as we continue in the revelation we will see that their cries are heard and that vengeance is the Lord's - He will repay. John's diligence in recording what he saw and heard provokes great courage in those who hold the testimony of Jesus firm until the end. They know that others have gone on before them and that they will have fellowship with the great cloud of witnesses who with Moses chose "rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season" (Heb 11:25).

Will you be among the number of them who through faith "had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment?" Will you be among the souls that "were stoned...sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword...wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented...wandered in deserts and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth?" These are they "of whom the world was not worthy" and "all these" have "obtained a good report through faith" (Heb 11:36-39). Faith enables men to stand against opposition. Faith looks past the persecution to the glory to be revealed. Faith considers the acceptance of God and not the rejection of men. By faith men suffer for righteousness and inherit the promises.

Strangers of This World. The world opposed the word of God and those who preach it. The souls under the altar confirm this. The world and heaven are in direct conflict. Foolishness is demonstrated by all attempts to feel "at home" here or to be friends with the world. "We are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness" (1 Jn 5:19). "Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God" (Jas 4:4). God will not be one of two masters. He will not remain where He has to compete for prominence. "The Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy" (Jas 4:5) and will not allow a man to love God and love the world at the same time. No one can be friend of the world and a friend of God.

Those of faith have always considered themselves to be strangers and pilgrims here. They are in search of a better country, that is an heavenly. They readily refuse the things which would hinder them from obtaining that country and all things contradictory to it. For this cause the world has always persecuted them. For, "they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot" and therefore "[speak] evil of you" (1 Pet 4:4).

Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael nearly lost their lives because they refused to do what everyone else was doing - and bow to an idol (Dan 3:12-13,15,17-20). Like Jesus (Jn 7:7), Zechariah testified of the works of the people and was killed for it (2 Chr 24:20-21). Stephen called the Jews to account and was promptly stoned (Acts 7:54,57-58). John the Baptist, the greatest among men born of a woman, was killed lesser men born of women (Mt 14:1-12). Just as the world hated these brethren because they testified against it's works, so all preachers of righteousness will be hated by the world when they testify of it. However, it is these slain saints that have the last word. Justice will be served and they will be rewarded according to the promise of their King.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecuted you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (Matthew 5:10-12)