KNOWING GOD AS “THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT”
2Co 1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 2Co 1:4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. The doctrine found within 2Corinthians may seem puzzling at the outset of the first chapter of 2Corinthians to some who are experiencing “trouble,” and “tribulation” in their lives, and need the “comfort,” and “salvation” from this type of sufferings, but as God our Father has designed; once we progress from the beginning of 2Corinthians chapter 1 through the end of chapter 13, we will be well equipped to fully understand and appreciate, and find the salvation and comfort in...
Read MoreTODAY’S CHURCH CALLED SPIRITUAL ISRAEL?
Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. It certainly is a doctrinal and spiritual tragedy when Christians don’t “rightly divide the word of truth” in recognition of God’s two programs; the one with Israel and the other with us today in this dispensation of God’s grace to the Gentiles. Not only does confusion abound in so many areas of doctrine and practice, but Christians even fail to identify themselves properly. Since they are commonly taught that we are fulfillers of Israel’s promises and...
Read MoreTHE REPROVING DOCTRINE TO GODLY SORROW
2Co 7:8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. 2Co 7:9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 2Co 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. One of the most important aspect of the son being “transformed by the renewing” of his mind is the son coming to the realization that his conduct as a son “in Christ” is not becoming of who God has made him to be “in Christ.” And it is the reproving doctrine found at the outset of...
Read MoreSONSHIP PRAYER: “BE CAREFUL FOR NOTHING”
Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. In order for us to fully understand, appreciate, and operate upon such issues as Philippians 4:5–6; Ephesians 3:20; and I Thessalonians 5:18; it is necessary that we first of all have operating within us some specific fundamental and foundational doctrines. For though, for example, Philippians 4:5–6 deals with the issue of prayer, it does not deal with prayer on a foundational level. The Philippian saints were not new believers, nor “babes in Christ,” nor carnal saints, nor...
Read More“TAKE HEED THEREFORE UNTO YOURSELVES”
Act 20:27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. Act 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Act 20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Act 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. Act 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an...
Read More“KNOW YE NOT THAT YE ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD”
1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 1Co 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. The main aspect of the son’s growth consists of a proper doctrinal establishment from a ‘milk to meat’ curriculum whereby the son can be fully utilized by the Father in being “conformed to the image of His Son.” But this important Godly design is not followed by men who seem more intent upon establishing men to be “conformed” to their image, and follow their designed way to educate today’s bible student. Paul...
Read MoreAS MANY AS WERE ORDAINED TO ETERNAL LIFE BELIEVED
Act 13:47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. Act 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. Act 13:49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. First off I want to speak very generally by saying that understanding and appreciating the nature of the information that is set forth in the overall context of what is recorded from the end of Acts 7 and leading up to 13:48 is critical to properly understanding what the last part of verse 48 states, along with appreciating why...
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