The Gospel of the Resurrection - Part 1

A WORD FROM THE HOMELAND

10-15 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 1

"The Declaration of the Gospel"

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

(1 Corinthians 15:1-2)

From the Days of John

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

And from the days of John the baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violence take it by force. (Mt 11:12)

The days of John the baptist marked a time like never before. From his day "until now" men would seek to seize the kingdom of God with a most "ardent zeal" (AMP), even a violent approach. This is the norm in the day of salvation. Those who can see God for who He truly is and those who can perceive the greatness and value of His kingdom are forcing their way into it. They are in violent pursuit of God and will stop at nothing until them obtain an audience with Him.

Before John. Jesus pointed out that "the prophets and the Law prophesied until John" yet the kingdom of heaven did not suffer violence. None of the prophets experienced what John experienced. The prophets were sent by God to the people, but the people were generally indifferent and usually neglected the message. Consider the experiences of former men of God.

Moses - Many hated Moses for his work. They preferred that he speak with God alone so that they didn't have to. Moses was burdened by their desire to stay in bondage rather than be free and live by faith. Their constant murmuring and complaining caused him even to despair of life; "I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. And if Thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray Thee, out of hand, if I have found favor in Thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness" (Num 11:14-15). Moses experienced a day when the people withdrew from the presence of God; but from the days of John the baptist until now, they pursue God.

Isaiah - The prophets found out who among the people really wanted to serve God and hear His word. Isaiah perceived and chastised the people for their rejection of his word saying, "I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass" (Isa 48:4). He said, "this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord; which say to the seers, 'See not;' and to the prophets, 'Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits'" (Isa 30:9-10). What a burden to minister to such a people. Yet he continued to minister knowing that a people would come who would be prepared for the Lord. It was revealed to him that his ministry wasn't even to his own generation primarily but unto those who would be partakers of the grace of Christ (1 Pet 1:10-12). 

Asaph - This psalmist pleaded with the people of God to "not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God" (Ps 78:8). How he would have blessed God for a day when the kingdom of heaven was sought after with such fervor as it is today among believers.

Jeremiah - Those who desired to hear the word of the Lord were rare in Israel. The majority would shut their ears at what the prophets spoke. "I spake unto thee in thy prosperity; but thou saidst, 'I will not hear.' This hath been thy manner from thy youth, that thou obeyedst not My voice" (Jer 22:21). Blessed are they that hear the words of the Lord and do them!

Ezekiel - In order to confront a hard-headed people, the prophets had need also of being hard-headed. The Lord prepared Ezekiel for his ministry with words that were never said to John.

"Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with My words unto them. For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language but to the house of Israel; not to many people of a strange speech and of an hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, had I sent thee to them, they would have hearkened unto thee. But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto Me; for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted. Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads. As an adament harder than flint have I made thy forehead; fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house." (Ezekiel 3:4-9)

Others sought to hear the prophets as those who could entertain but they would not take heed to the message. The people of God are not like this but those who hold to a form of godliness, denying the power of God, are like this still. Sadly many preachers in spiritual Babylon today experience what Ezekiel experienced: "And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as My people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them; for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument; for they hear thy words, but they do them not" (Ezek 33:31-32).

The Problem was the People, Not the Message. During the days of John the Baptist, John went out into the wilderness and "all of Judea" went out to him. Even the Pharisees went out to hear him (whom he rejected). But when many of the prophets preached to the very people of God, they were rejected. This is what happens when the nature of the people is contrary to the nature of God. This is what the flesh does. This is also the reason for the law. Where a people have no understanding and live contrary to the ways of God, they need law. Law, after all, is for the lawless. "The law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine" (1 Tim 1:9-10).

The Prophets Spoke of These Days. Thankfully, the prophets were not only shut up to rebuking the people all of their days. (Such a thing is wearying to the soul.) They were also given to see marvelous things concerning Christ and the work that God would do through Him. They were even shown that there would come a time and a people who would readily heed the word of God and earnestly seek after the Lord to do His will. In other words, the prophets prophesied of a time when the norm for the people of God would not be waywardness and indifference but zeal, faithfulness, pursuit.

Moses - Speaking to the people, Moses declared, "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" (Deut 18:15). There would come a prophet who would have the attention of the people. In view of this word, the people of John's day asked him, "Art thou that prophet?" And he answered, "No" (Jn 1:21). But John did prepare the way for this prophet and Jesus testified of Himself, "My sheep HEAR MY VOICE, and I know them and THEY FOLLOW ME" (Jn 10:27). Not "they should" but "they do" hear His voice and they do follow Him. From the those days until now, the Lord's people DO hear His voice and they DO follow Him.

Hosea - All day long the Lord stretched out His hand to a disobedient and gainsaying people (Rom 10:21) but there would come a time when those people would reach out to Him. Hosea was blessed with speaking of such a time, "Afterward shall the children of Israel RETURN, and SEEK the Lord their God, and David their King; and shall FEAR the Lord and His goodness in the LATTER DAYS" (Hos 3:5). Though it would be a long time off, even from the days of John the baptist onward, the prophets could rejoice that disobedience would not forever prevail; Israel would return.

Zechariah - The turning to the Lord would not only be for Israel but for all. From the days of John onward, we would see a time when those who were even "not a people" and those who were "afar off" would seek to lay hold of the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. The people of God would not be limited to one fleshly nation but to a "chosen nation" that consistent of men from "every kindred, and tongue, and people and nation" (Rev 5:9). The prophet Zechariah spoke of such a time in these words: "In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even SHALL TAKE HOLD of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, 'We will GO WITH YOU; for we have heard that God is with you'" (Zech 8:23). With violent pursuit men from all over the world would seek the Lord.

Conclusion. We are living in a time when the kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force. We are living in a time when those whom the Lord has drawn to Himself will stop at nothing to get to Him. They will hear His voice and follow Him. Like sheep that have gone astray, they will return to the Shepherd and Bishop of their souls (1 Pet 2:25).

This is all a display of the wisdom and power and glory of God. For He has exalted His Christ having made an end of sin by Him. When believing men see that Jesus gave His life for them, they readily and eagerly live not for themselves but for Him who died and rose again. For He saith,

"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will DRAW ALL MEN unto Me. This He said, signifying what death He should die." (John 12:32-33)

How the Gospel is Preached

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

"For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel; not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect" (1 Cor 1:17).

"And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God...and my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God" (1 Cor 2:1,4-5)

How the gospel is preached is important. To be sure, it is the "the message preached" (NASB) that saves them that believe (1 Cor 1:21) but the preacher must make sure that the manner in which he speaks does not hinder the message he is speaking.

The apostle Paul declared that he preached the gospel "not with wisdom of words." He indicated that doing such a thing would make "the cross of Christ...of none effect." He also declared that he came "not with excellency of speech or of wisdom" and that his speech and preaching "was not with enticing words of man's wisdom." He indicated that doing these things would cause the faith of his hearers to stand "in the wisdom of men" rather than "in the power of God." He was careful about how he preached and preachers today must be careful as well.

Wisdom of Words. The flesh will desire to promote itself and all those who speak in behalf of the Lord must put to death any attempt it makes to say "here I am." Paul was fully capable of using wisdom of words, excellency of speech and enticing words of man's wisdom. He was an intelligent, educated man. He had to deliberately forsake such wisdom when he preached the gospel so as to not draw attention to himself or cause men to trust in him.

Preaching the gospel is not simply persuading men to join a group. It is not laying out some systematic theology to prove the salvation of Jesus beyond the shadow of a doubt. Preaching the gospel is not about just saying things in such a way to invoke an emotional response. Preaching the gospel is testifying or announcing the record that God has given of His Son. It is a proclamation of what God is doing and has done and will do through Jesus.

Adverse Effects. The use of worldly wisdom or man's wisdom will actually detract from the message and work of the Lord. God will not honor a person who preaches a message that seeks to glorify someone other than the Father or the Son. Many people have heard preaching that is "puffed up." It draws that attention to how smart the preacher is rather than how affective salvation is. It is common for such preachers to speak about historical context, original languages, psychological observations and statistics and the like. They declare things that the average church-goer is unaware of because they have gotten their information from a source other than the Scriptures. Such a practice does not clarify the things of God; it often convinces the hearer that they must study the books of men to understand the Bible. Their faith then rests in the wisdom of men rather than the power of God - which is the gospel itself (Rom 1:16).

Let everyman who speaks, speak as the oracle of God (1 Pet 4:11). Let him trust that the gospel is enough to save them that believe. Let him not be ashamed of it but boldly declare what God has said. Let him forsake the wisdom of men, when he preaches the gospel of Christ. Let him preach Jesus Christ.

Mountain Top Magazine - Issue #4

Mountain Top Magazine - Issue #04 by Pat Woods

 

Christ's Generation

“A seed shall serve Him; it shall  be accounted to the Lord for a generation.” (Psalm 22:30)

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

Christ’s sacrifice would not leave Him without a reward. God would not allow His Holy One to suffer death and a curse without rewarding Him appropriately. “Therefore” says the Father, “will I divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong; because He hath poured out His soul unto death; and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isa 53:12). Christ would be given an inheritance of people that would serve Him. They would be a spiritual seed born of the Spirit; they would be more numerous than the sand on the seashore; and they would be willing.

Adam’s Generation. The seed that would serve Jesus would not be Adam’s seed. The descendants of Adam proved to be deplorable, particularly during the days of Noah. “God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen 6:5). Their waywardness was not owing to the absence of law but to the nature of that generation. For even when men were given a holy, good and just law, they remained “a very froward generation, children in whom there is no faith” (Deut 32:20). Adam’s seed did not and will not serve the Lord. Surely the generation that “shall serve Him” shall be one that does not trace its genealogy back to Adam.

Contrary to Adam’s generation, Christ’s generation steadfastly walks in all the statutes of the Lord, having been given a new heart and a new Spirit (Ezek 36:26-27). Though they still reside in a vile body inherited from that first Adam, the Second Adam enables them to buffet that body and make it their slave. They are no longer dominated by its baseless lusts. What they have inherited from Jesus enables them to overcome what they inherited from Adam.

Not Fleshly but Spiritual. Though Christ was “cut off out of the land of the living” around the age of 33 and had no physical generation or seed to speak of (Isa 53:8), Isaiah declared that as a result of being made an offering for sin, Jesus would “see His seed” (Isa 53:10). This “Spiritual seed” are disciples who are becoming like their Master. They are those who have been born “not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (Jn 1:12). These are men who have been “born again” and “born of the Spirit” (Jn 3:3,6). They were born in Zion and God Himself establishes them (Ps 87:5). They were born of incorruptible seed (1 Pet 1:23), even the word of God. They dwell in heavenly places.

Numerous. “Look now toward heaven,” God told Abraham, “and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them; and He said unto him, so shall thy seed be” (Gen 15:5). In fulfillment of His promise to Abraham, God has blessed all the families of the earth in Christ. The seed that serves Christ is so numerous that they are accounted to Him for a generation. In accordance with His eternal purpose God gave Jesus not only to raise up only the tribes of Jacob, but also as a light to the Gentiles, that He would be God’s salvation “unto the end of the earth” (Isa 49:6). God was not intending to save only a few when He sent Jesus. He had determined that His Servant would justify “many.” In Christ, the house of  the Lord is greatly enlarged (Isa 54:2).

A Willing Generation. Christ’s seed shall be a generation that willingly serves the Lord. “This is the generation of them that seek Him” (Ps 24:6) laying aside all encumbrances and distractions. These are a people who are willing in the day of His power (Ps 110:3); willing and glad to suffer for His name’s sake. Willing even to die in the body that they might serve the Lord (2 Cor 5:8). They are a spiritual seed; a numerous seed; and a willing seed which serves the Lord and they are accounted to Him for a generation.

Strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth: The Old Man and the New Man

"These all died in faith...and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." (Hebrews 11:13)

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

Believers are misfits in the world. They walk contrary to the ways of men and are citizens of a kingdom that is "not of this world" (Jn 18:36). Furthermore, those in Christ actually experience fierce conflict within themselves. The part of them that is from the earth is at war with the part of them that has been born from above. One way this is described in the Scripture is by the flesh and the Spirit being contrary to one another (Gal 5:17). Another way this is described is by the contrary nature of "the old man" and "the new man." In Christ, men have, within their own constitution, an old man who is opposed to the ways of God and a new man who is in complete accord with the ways of God. It is the new man that is the stranger and the pilgrim here.

Illustrated. The Lord said to Rebekah, who was pregnant with Jacob and Esau, "Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels, and one people shall be stronger than the other people, and the elder shall serve the younger" (Gen 25:23). The old man is like the elder son of Rebekah. Though he was there first he is destined to serve the younger. The new man is like the younger son of Rebekah. He is born later but is stronger than the elder, old man. The fact that the "two manner of people shall be separated" from birth identifies the conflict resident within the old man and the new man. They do not get along. They are contrary one to another. Though this illustration is not perfect but it does show the experience of those who have been born again. They have two manner of people within them that are opposed to one another from birth - specifically, the new birth.

The Manner of the Old Man. Since the day we were baptized into Christ Jesus onward, "our old man is crucified with [Christ]" in order that the body of sin might be done away with (Rom 6:6). But, like the impenitent thief on the cross, this crucified old man is still alive. Though greatly hindered and weaker, he still speaks blasphemies and hurls insults. He is in conflict with the new man. Likewise, even though we "have put off the old man with his deeds" (Col 3:9) the battle is not over. In a sense, we have to keep him on the cross and continually put him off. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul exhorts the brethren, “put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts” (Eph 4:22). His corrupt “conversation” or manner of life incites the wrath of God as it is contrary to godliness. He must be put to death.

"Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry; for which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience; in which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth." (Colossians 3:5-8)

Warfare is not always wrong. The new man must be exhorted to "mortify" or "kill" (ABPE) or "put to death" (NIV) the old man and his ways. This is the task of a warrior, even one who has put on the full armor of God. This is a real "holy war" that the sons of God are engaged in. The old man "is crucified" and we must spend the rest of our lives finishing the job, so to speak.

The Manner of the New Man. Putting off the old man is not enough. Believers cannot just leave their house "empty, swept and garnished" (Mt 12:44). The “new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” must be “put on” (Eph 4:24). This new man "is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him" (Col 3:10). This is the part of the believer that is "born of God" and "doth not commit sin, because he is born of God" (1 Jn 3:9). This is the part of the believer that loves and knows God (1 Jn 4:7) and believes that Jesus is the Christ (1 Jn 5:1) and overcomes the world (1 Jn 5:4). He must be put on, accentuated, fed, and given prominence.

Conclusion. The new man is altogether good and does not sin. The old man is altogether bad and only sins. Both of them are housed in the vile bodies that we now possess and both are seeking to gain prominence in our lives. The old man must be put off and the new man must be put on. This is often an every day, even moment by moment occurrence, but the Lord has given us grace to fight a good fight and "war a good warfare" (1 Tim 1:18).

Someone well said, "two natures (manner of people) beat within my breast. One is cursed, the other blessed. The one I love, the one I hate. The one I feed with dominate." Put on the new man and feed him!

Strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth: Flesh and Spirit

"These all died in faith...and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." (Hebrews 11:13)

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

When a person is "born again" (Jn 3) or "created in Christ Jesus" (Eph 2:10) or "translated...into the kingdom of [God's] dear Son" (Col 1:13) he is immediately placed into a conflict. This is a common warfare that every child of God experiences. The specific "battles" fought in this war are varied yet common. Every believer experiences the conflict between flesh and spirit; the old man and the new man; the citizens of heaven and the citizens of the earth.

Flesh and Spirit. Jesus clarified the matter to Nicodemus saying, "that which is born of flesh, is flesh; and that which is born of Spirit, is spirit" (Jn 3:6) showing the need of being "born again" (Jn 3:7). Flesh, along with blood, cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven. The flesh profits nothing. In the flesh dwelleth no good thing. So, having been born of the Spirit, those still dwelling in the flesh by necessity find that they actually have to overcome their own flesh in order to inherit the kingdom of heaven. Thus, there is an inherent conflict between the flesh and the spirit even resident within every believer. "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary one to another, so that ye cannot do the things that ye would" (Gal 5:17). That is, the inner desire of the part of man that is alive to God and born of the Spirit is faced with the opposition of the flesh that wants to resist the will of God. The Spirit is not free to work without opposition. To be sure, the believer can and must overcome but not without a fight.

This inner conflict is described by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans. He noted that "the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin" (7:14). This bondage that he is speaking of is the conflict experienced by all believers who "would do good" (7:21). There is a competing influence within redeemed man's constitution called the flesh, and though it is crucified it is still a fierce foe that must be overcome by the Spirit. The flesh is governed by "the law of sin," which is a principle that tends to act contrary to the law of God.

"I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man; but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members." (Romans 7:21-23)

The dreadful condition is burdensome to redeemed man and he longs to be delivered from it...and he will! For this law of sin and this "flesh" is all tied to this earthly body that we currently inhabit. When this body is gone, the conflict will be ended. Thus the apostle cries out, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" (7:24). Christ Jesus the Lord has delivered Paul and shall deliver us also. For if "now" there is no condemnation for those that in Christ Jesus than especially then, there shall be no condemnation. The conflict between the flesh and Spirit will end in the new heavens and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness...and only righteousness. We will be made suitable for dwelling there. For we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, our vile bodies shall be changed liked unto His glorious body. And, as the song writer said it, "this robe of flesh [we'll] drop and rise, to seize the everlasting prize."