A Word about Sexual Sins

A Word about Sexual Sins 

By Fred O. Blakely

Very much of today's society not only condones sexual sins; it actually glorifies them. Fornication among teenage boys and girls is euphemized as "sexual activity," and paraded in some circles as an acceptable norm. In case of the adults, it is dubbed "living-in," "trial marriage”, or the like. Adultery, which is the sin of sexual relation between a married person and someone other than the lawful spouse, is simply called "extramarital sex" and is increasingly practiced and "respectabilized".

Recently, on the news there has been brought to light a company that provides a service, via the Internet, enabling married persons to “cheat” on their spouses, only behind their backs.  This company made news headlines only because their database had been hacked, unveiling the confidential information of up to 32 million individuals who had used the “behind the scenes” dating site. According to one news report, there were only 3 Zip Codes in the United States that did not have records of persons who had patronized this company.  And those 3 Zip Codes encompassed areas either where there was no Internet, or had very low population levels.  The issues that were reported in the news pertained primarily to the consequences of the data breach, not to the gross impropriety and wickedness entailed in what this company is doing.

Whoredom, or harlotry, is more and more presented as something taken for granted, and is often toleratingly referred to as "the oldest profession" known to the race. Even sodomy, the ultra-degraded sex sin, is glossed as homosexuality, or “gay”, and depicted as an "alternate life-style", a life-style that is now demanding acceptance and equal rights.

But these attempts at softening the impact upon the conscience of the hard, ugly, and jarring reality of sin are wholly futile with those who know the truth of God's Word, and are determined to abide by it. Sin cannot be redefined, or reinterpreted as to its involvements and consequences by a pope.  Sin is not mitigated by majority practice, public approval, or by giving it new and more acceptable names. And certainly its direful consequences—which, if persisted in, is death—are in no degree whatever altered. Sin still separates from God, which separation in itself is spiritual death (Isa. 59:1-2), and its ultimate end is eternal death (Rom. 6:23: Rev. 21:8, 27), or everlasting exclusion from God's Presence and "the glory of His power" (II Th. 1:7-10).

 The Spirit by Paul plainly declares that "neither fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind [sodomites] . . . shall inherit the kingdom of God" (I Cor. 6:9-10). "Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge", the Apostle says in another place (Heb. 13:4). They shall "have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Rev. 21:8). 

Jude takes up the refrain in his very short, yet pungent epistle: "Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire" (v. 7). The "strange flesh" of reference is any "flesh" outside the divinely ordained husband and wife relationship.

For those in Christ, the body is "the temple of the Holy Spirit," and they are not their own, having been "bought with a price," even the precious blood of God's Son (I Cor. 3:19-20).

Thus, whoever commits fornication or adultery both "sinneth against his own body," and against God (vv. 15-18; cf. Gen. 39:8). This is because the body "is not for" such desecration, "but for the Lord" (v. 13). The commandment, then, is to "flee" both sins (v. 18). (The Greek word from which we get our word "fornication" as used here, denotes the practice of sexual immorality, irrespective of whether the involved persons are married or unmarried.)

In view of this unequivocal condemnation of fornication and adultery, it is incumbent upon the church to make it known to this wantonly wicked generation. "God is not mocked" by man's impudent defiance of His laws (Gal. 6:7-8), but will, as Solomon declared, "bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing" (Eccl. 12:14). And, as we have seen from Corinthians and Revelation, that judgment against fornicators and adulterers, unless they repent, forsake those sins, and are forgiven of them, will be eternal banishment from the Divine Presence. Today's profligates desperately need to have that grave reality drummed into their ears and hearts.

The Humanity of Christ

In This We See God’s Nearness to Us!

The Humanity of Christ

By Al Stoner

“Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God” (I Jn. 4:2-3).

The humanity, or manhood, of the Lord Jesus Christ is a subject that is both wonderful and necessary for us to consider.  It is something that every follower of the Lord Jesus Christ confesses, as can be seen in the text above.   Here it is that we behold somewhat of the great lengths to which God, in redemption, has gone to identify with us. And here it is that we see Christ to be that blessed “Friend that sticketh closer than a brother” (Prov. 18:24).

We shall, in this article, devote attention to three passages of Scripture taken from Psalms and Isaiah. In each of them there is recorded a dialogue between the Father and the Son, where the Father is holding before the Son the necessary incentives that would enable Him to endure “the Cross, despising the shame” (Heb. 12:2). Passages such as these were, no doubt, of great consolation and a source of great enstrengthenment to the Lord Jesus Christ in the days of His flesh as the prospect of going to the Cross loomed ever before Him. Let us consider these three portions of Scripture now.

The Second Psalm. Verses 7 through 10 of the second Psalm are words spoken by the Father to the Son, or more precisely, those of the Son recounting what the Father had declared unto Him.  “I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto Me, Thou art My Son; this day have I begotten Thee. Ask of Me, and I shall give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession” (Ps. 2:7-8).

This was a decree that was declared by the God of Heaven for the purpose of recovering lost humanity. As God’s Son, Jesus Christ would be made in the likeness of men, doing the Father’s good pleasure. He would lay down His life a ransom for many, and He would become the Head of a new and eternal order of redeemed men in the world to come (cf. Acts 13:33; Rev. 3:14; Col. 1:15).
We see here in the words of the Psalmist some of the “behind the scenes” involvements of the calling of the Gentiles and of the love of God for a lost and dying humanity. They were lost to Him because of sin and transgression. They were lost from the joys that are everlasting and from the blessed communion with, and service to, the living God.

Words of the Scripture such as this also instruct us that God does not consider the heathen to be nameless persons who shall in the end be arbitrarily discarded by Himself. Men who are created in the image and likeness of God are God's offspring (Acts 17:28-29), and in the gospel of His Son God has made abundant provision for the salvation of all men, even unto the uttermost parts of the earth. 

But if some men reject Him (cf. Rom. 3:3), He will have no choice but to cast them away from His Presence forever. All the rejecters of the gospel shall taste of God’s sore displeasure. He shall “break them with a rod of iron” and shall “dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel” (Ps. 2:9).

The One Hundred Second Psalm. “He weakened My strength in the way; He shortened My days. I said, O My God, take Me not away in the midst of My days: Thy years are throughout all generations.  Of old hast Thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of Thy hands. They shall perish, but Thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt Thou change them, and they shall be changed: But Thou art the same, and Thy years shall have no end” (Ps. 102:23-27).

This is the Son of God speaking here, the thoughts of His heart being recorded beforehand by the Holy Spirit in the Psalms. This is a commentary on the humanity of the Son of God, and how that He was “made in the likeness of men” (Phil. 2:7), perhaps more so than we would now dare to imagine. 

Christ Jesus was "crucified through weakness" (II Cor. 13:4), as it is declared by the Apostle, so that He might live by the power of God. In our judgment the Son of God partook of weakness that is unimaginable and incomprehensible, when He humbled Himself, and made Himself of no reputation.

The strength of the Son of God was “weakened” somewhat when the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. It is written that He “emptied Himself” (Phil. 2:7, RSV). Christ’s Deity was put, as it were, in escrow during His tenure here in this world. His strength was further weakened when He went to the Cross and layed down His life a ransom for many. But this weakening was so that Christ would have to depend absolutely and entirely upon the Father for the accomplishment of the work of redemption, and also so “that God in all things may be glorified through” (I Pet. 4:11) the Son.

In the Way. It appears that the Son, in the days of His flesh, started out, if we may speak this way, as a robust young man, being a carpenter. But when He had fully embarked on the mission of redemption at His baptism, it seems that the Father began to weaken His strength, making the Son constantly and acutely aware of His dependence upon the Father. This was the strength that Christ had by virtue of His humanity.

The Shortening of Christ’s Days. In the days of Christ's flesh there was a sense in which Christ thought of His days in the flesh just as you and I think of our days in the flesh. We are speaking now of the appointed “threescore and ten” years (cf. Ps. 90:10).

Speaking as a man (cf. Rom. 3:5), Christ was “cut off” at a relatively young age. God had shortened His days. The normal tenure for men in this world is three score and ten years, and if by reason of strength, four score years.  It is as though the Father had said to Him, “Son, We must get on with the work of redemption, and of putting away the sins of the world so that We can bring the children home.”

If men are ever tempted to minimize or think lightly of the Son's humanity and of His being tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin, then let them consider well the words of the Lord Jesus Christ as, prophetically through the Psalmist, He makes this plea unto the Father. “O My God, take Me not away in the midst of My days”.  Words such as these speak volumes as to the degree that the Son humbled Himself in order to save us.  Christ was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  He “made himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.”  Such matters as these can only begin to be comprehended with a believing heart.

The Father’s Response to the Son. The following words (Thy years are throughout all generations . . .) through verse 27 are the Father's reply to the Son, comforting Him with unfathomable billows of everlasting consolation in His time of great weakness. The Father was putting Christ in mind of His eternal status. Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever!

Thy Throne, O God, is For ever and Ever. We are not left to conjecture about the matter of the connection between Psalms 45 and 102 with Hebrews 1. Paul, in Hebrews 1:8-12, tells us that, starting at this point in the Psalm, this is the Father speaking to the Son. "But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows (Psalm 45:6-7). And, [here begins the text from Psalm 102, the Father yet speaking to the Son] Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands: They shall perish; but Thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt Thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail."

A Momentary Obscurement. This conversation between the Father and the Son, among other things, demonstrates the jeopardy that is involved in simply being flesh and blood and living in this present evil world. At this particular point in time, the Son's grasp of His heavenly and eternal status had been momentarily obscured to Him and the Father was reassuring Him here of these blessed realities. The Lord Jesus Christ was living by faith in the days of His flesh and was made subject to all the jeopardies and liabilities that we presently are subject to.

Let us also learn from this that we too are destined to inherit a blessed eternal and exalted status in the world to come, but living in the body of this death sometimes has the effect of eclipsing, or obscuring, the glory that shall soon be revealed in us (cf. Rom. 8:18)!

Something else that we learn from these words is this: One of the greatest favors that one can do for fellow saints is to seek divine assistance to effectually put them in remembrance of their eternal destiny and status in Christ Jesus by the ministration of the Word of God to them.

A Critical Question. And something that all men must ask themselves is this. Is being put in mind of the eternal world a strong enough incentive, of itself, to make you want to heartily take possession of it? It certainly was with the Son of God. The thought of such a blessed prospect ought to be an abundantly sufficient incentive for those professing godliness. By way of contrast, however, wherever earthly incentives are being employed by men to supposedly attract other men to the faith, there men are being deceived. They are being sold a false bill of goods. The knowledge of God and the things of God, of themselves, are exceedingly precious and they must be the things that do the attracting!

Of Old hast Thou Laid the Foundation of the Earth. These were the words of the Father to the Son, spoken to comfort Him in the days of His flesh. The Son had indeed laid the earth’s foundation, but because He had “emptied Himself” and taken upon Himself “the form of a servant” (Phil. 2:7), His awareness of that reality was then only by faith. And when the angel appeared unto the Lord Jesus Christ, “strengthening Him” (Lk. 22:43), it is very possible that he was comforting Him by putting Him in remembrance of eternal realities such as these recorded in the Psalms and Isaiah.

This word, regarding the foundation of the earth, has reference, of course, to the occasion when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God (the holy angels) shouted for joy (Job 38:7; see also vv. 1-6) at the prospect of the launching of the great human enterprise, as some have been known to call it.

All of them shall wax old like a garment. Things of the creation apparently did not wax old before the entrance of sin into the world. This is part of the curse. And men who are caught up in the course of this world are deceived, for this is a realm that is appointed to destruction by fire (cf. II Pet. 3:7) because of sin. And this is very evident to those who, by faith in the Word of God, have the eternal perspective!

Thy years shall have no end. This was an accommodation to Christ's time in the flesh. While in the flesh men are shut up to thinking in terms of days, weeks, months, and years and so the Father assured the Son that His years would have no end. But in the ages to come we shall speak of and measure the "passage of time" in eternal units and with the language of eternity.

The Isaiah Forty-Nine Text. “And (He, the Father) said unto Me, Thou art My servant, O Israel (speaking here of Christ), in whom I will be glorified. Then I said, I have labored in vain, I have spent My strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely My judgment is with the LORD, and My work with My God. And now, saith the LORD that formed Me from the womb to be His servant, to bring Jacob again to Him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and My God shall be my strength.  And He said, It is a light thing that Thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give Thee for a light to the Gentiles, that Thou mayest be My salvation unto the end of the earth” (Isa. 49:3-6).

The Father is here again addressing the Son regarding the mission upon which He was sent to redeem lost humanity. He was assuring the Lord Jesus that, in spite of all the rejection that He faced, His labor was not in vain.  Verse 4 is the Son's reply to the Father. These words were recorded by Isaiah the prophet some 800 years before the entrance of Christ into the world, no doubt, to comfort the Son and to enable Him to continue steadfastly through His time of temptation in the flesh unto His death of the Cross.

When Christ was here in this world in the days of His flesh, He was subjected to great temptation and discouragement. “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not” (Jn. 1:11). The Savior of men was “despised and rejected of men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isa. 53:3). Men tried to catch Him in His words (Mk. 12:13). They attempted to stone Him (Jn. 10:31) and to throw Him over the brow of a hill (cf. Lk. 4:29). (But His hour was not yet come.) He was mocked (Mt. 27:29), and scourged (Mk. 15:15), and shamefully treated (Mt. 26:67), and finally crucified (Mt. 27:35).  And in the midst of all this rejection and opposition the Son of God was sorely tempted to think that He had labored in vain and spent His strength for nothing.

As a sideline, we want to see clearly that Christ, when He came into the world, was not acting arbitrarily and was not being somehow mechanically propelled along through His tenure here with divine power. No, He was sorely tempted! He had to draw on the strength of His Father in the precise same way that we do. Christ Jesus was made to feel the extremities of rejection, sorrow, pain, hunger, thirst, and weakness, more than you and I will ever feel or know. His human strength failed Him, thus causing Him to rely implicitly upon the strength of His Father. And so, in this time of being cast down, as recorded here in Isaiah 49, Christ commits His judgment and His work unto His Father.

The Father’s Reply of Comfort. Verses 5 and 6 are the Son's recounting of the Father's reply of comfort and consolation to Him.  Here we see that with the outworking of the Divine purpose, everything is right on schedule. In these words we can see the Divine foreknowledge of the Jew's rejection of Christ, of the calling of the Gentiles, and of the later salvation of all Israel. God was not taken by surprise by the Jew's rejection of Christ, as some theologies teach. [Incidentally, if God could be taken by surprise, He would not be God, for God declares the end from the beginning (cf. Isa. 46:10)].

And God was not, at this point, switching from plan A to plan B as some men teach, the calling of the Jews being plan A, and the calling of the Gentiles, plan B. Men who propagate such foolishness as this ought not to be given an audience, no not for an hour!

Conclusion. What we are saying in all these things is that Christ Jesus was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin. He has identified with our plight of fallen humanity much more than is generally thought. He is, and ever shall be, our near Kinsman, by the grace of God, and the Friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Let us then seek to glorify God by our faith while we are yet here in this world, and to earnestly wait for our near Kinsman to return from Heaven. --thebanneroftruthfellowship@gmail.com

The Kingdom of Heaven Suffereth Violence (link)

The Kingdom of Heaven Suffereth Violence (link)
By Al Stoner


https://sway.com/0Q_OxGXPNbovTVDt

Preaching Festival Announcement, Antwerp, Ohio, October 2-4, 2015

 The Role of Understanding in the Kingdom of God

October 2-4, 2015
Antwerp Community Church, Antwerp, Ohio

Many church people today feel that understanding is unnecessary and even, in some circles, undesirable .  Yet, the essential change that takes place in salvation is going from darkness to light, from blindness to seeing.  Our faith is intimately connected to understanding and growing up into Christ requires that we grow in understanding.  Our prayer is that by considering the role of understanding in salvation we will encourage and challenge one another to go on to perfection and increase in the knowledge of God.  Contact Tim McCulfor for further information (tmcculfor@msn.com).

1. Understanding to Know the Father and the Son, “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life” (I Jn. 5:20).
2. The Understanding of Faith, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (Heb. 11:3).
3. Understanding Given By God, “Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things” (II Tim. 2:7).  “Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures” (Lk. 24:45).
4. Revelation of the Mystery, “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, 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” (Rom. 16:25-26).
5. The Full Assurance of Understanding, “That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ” (Col. 2:2).
6. Wisdom and Spiritual Understanding, “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (Col 1:9).
7. The Wisdom of God in a Mystery, “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory” (I Cor. 2:7).
8. The Peace of God Which Passeth All Understanding, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:7).
9. Understanding God’s Will, “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Col. 1:9; Eph. 5:17).
10. Increasing in the Knowledge of God, “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col. 1:10).
11. Alienated through Ignorance and Restored through Knowing the Truth, “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart” (Eph. 4:18). “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (I Tim. 2:4).
12. The Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation, “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened” (Eph. 1:17-18).
13. Understanding must be Pursued, “Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding” (Prov. 2:3-6).
14. Faith’s Connection to Understanding, “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God” (Heb. 11:3).
15. In Thy Light Shall We See Light, “For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light” (Ps. 36:9). “Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end” (Ps. 73:17).
16. In Understanding Be Men, “Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men” (I Cor. 14:20).
17. The Necessity of Fruitful Understanding in the Church, “For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful” (I Cor. 14:14-19).
18. They That Have Not Heard Shall Understand, “But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand” (Rom. 15:21).

The Accepted and Anointed Saints

In Christ Believers Are Kings and Priests

 

 

The Accepted and Anointed Saints

 

By Richard W. Ebler

"Our status as the accepted with God and the anointed by Him as kings and priests is our portion in Christ, who Himself was anointed by the Father and now sits at His right hand as the great High Priest over the house of God and King of the universe.”

The Acceptance of His Brethren in Christ

"In order to appreciate his acceptance in the Son, one must come to deeply realize how badly he needed to be accepted.” "That is where the problem lies with most people—they do not easily come to such deep awareness of their own sinfulness. When Adam sinned, he plunged the whole human race into sin, misery, and alienation from God. This fundamental fact is overlooked by those who imagine themselves to be naturally acceptable to God.

 

The destruction of the whole world by the flood and of Sodom and Gomorrah by fire are divine commentaries on the depth of man's corruption in Adam. God inflicted these destructions because man had become grossly corrupt and rebellious against Him. In view of this corruption, the great question, as Job recognized, obviously is, How can a man be just with God? (Job 9:2).

 

"Mount Sinai also demonstrated the sinfulness of the race. The law was given and broken before it was received. At the foot of the mountain, while the law was being delivered to Moses by God, idolatry and adultery were rampant among the people. All this is illustrative of how badly man needed to be accepted by God. A look at ourselves as to how we keep the law likewise reveals our need for divine acceptance. How do you keep the law? Perfectly? If you were to be accepted with God on the basis of the law, you would have to so keep it. This is because, as James tells us, (Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all' (Jas. 2:10-11)."

 

The Priesthood of the Believer in Jesus

The Gracious Provision of God. “But when the fulness of the time was come," however, God effectually intervened in man's behalf, to do for him in Christ "what the law could not do," the preacher observed (Rom. 8:34; Gal. 4:4-5). That is, "God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." The Scriptures apprise us of the forgiveness of sins through Christ and of justification before God by His blood, which was shed for the remission of sins. Passages like Acts 13:38-39 keynote this great truth: "Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." "That is the glorious gospel. It is also enunciated in Second Corinthians 5:18-19: 'All things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 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.' Similarly, in Colossians 1:20-23, we read, 'And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself."  We also read such great apostolic declarations as, 'Ye are complete in Him, which is the Head of all principality and power' (Col. 2:10), and that God 'hath made us accepted in the Beloved' (Eph. 1:6). Christ Himself is accepted at God's right hand, having been 'received up into glory’ (I Tim. 3:16), and we are accepted in Him. This is a fundamental representation of Scripture."

 

The Essentials of Priesthood. A good portrayal of the essentials of priesthood in the divine economy is provided in Numbers 16:5.  "Even whom He hath chosen will He cause to come near unto Him" was Moses' pronouncement for God in the case of Korah's rebellion. To "come near" to God for the sake of others is thus a principal function of the priesthood, it was concluded. As it is put in Hebrews, the priest is "ordained for men in things pertaining to God" (Heb. 5:1-4), and is to minister before God, or "about holy things" in that capacity (Acts 13:2; I Cor. 9:13-14).

 

"How do you become a priest?" the speaker asked. "You are to be born a priest. So was the requirement of the Levitical law. 'No man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron' (Heb. 5:4). God calls us in Christ to the spiritual priesthood when He calls us 'unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord' (I Cor. 1:9)."

 

The Demonstration under Law. The anointing for both the priesthood and kingship of the believer was demonstrated under the law. "Both the priest and the king were anointed with oil. Exodus 30:30-33 tells of the 'holy anointing oil' that was used in the consecration. First Kings 1:39 shows that the same oil was used to anoint kings. Of course, this anointing under the law was a type of the anointing of the Holy Spirit under Christ. This is apparent from First Samuel16:13, where it is recorded that 'the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward' when he was anointed by Samuel. Correspondingly, it is written that 'God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil; for God was with Him' (Acts" 10:38).

 

"The anointing oil is an especially fitting type of the Spirit, since oil gives light when it burns. So, as we feel the burning of the Spirit in our hearts, we are enlightened as to God and His Word (Ps. 39:3; Lu. 24:32). It is significant that the high priest was anointed with oil at his right ear, his right thumb, and his right big toe (Exod. 29:20). Leviticus 14:14-17 shows that the oil was likewise placed upon the leper to be pronounced cleansed. Thus, it can be inferred that the anointing of the Spirit sanctities one's ears to hear the Word of God; his hand, to do His work; and his feet. to walk in His statutes and paths."

 

The Display by the High Priest. The Jewish high priest effectively showed the symbolism of both the priest and the implements of his office. Not only was the high priest and his regalia typical of Christ and His ministry within the veil, it was pointed out; he and it also set forth the office and function of the believer's priesthood under the new covenant. "The breastplate is the center of the picture. In nature, the highest faculty is the intellect; in grace, it is the Spirit-filled heart; and so that will be the glory of man in heaven. The picture shows how Christ loves His people; regarding us, it depicts the brethren's love for one another. The Urim and Thummim means light and perfection. So, in heaven we shall know as we are known and be like Christ—perfect The inscription 'Holiness to the Lord’, which appeared on the holy crown of the high priest (Exod. 28:36; 29:6), denotes the perfected holiness of the "heavenly life, and that into which we by grace are to aspire and unto which we are to be ever pressing in this life. The Priestly robe, woven without seam, portrays heavenly integrity—the heavenly color of blue. The linen breeches were to cover the priest's nakedness; so we are not to walk naked before God (Rev. 3:18; 16:15). The girdle depicts heavenly service; we shall 'serve Him' (Rev. 22:3). The bells and the pomegranates seem to suggest that the heavenly life will be a joyfully happy one of service—joy in service without burden or weariness. The bare feet denote that God desires immediate contact between the believer and Himself and His holy things. Thus, the representation in Revelation 22:1 of the 'pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb’.  As we drink from that river, there will be no taint of earth or earthly thought."

 

The Portrayal in Christ. Some of the typical aspects with reference to Christ of Aaron's anointing, as set forth in Psalm 133, are as follows: "The precious ointment," it was recalled, "ran down upon the beard" and "went down to the skirts of his garments." "A parallel is the anointing of Christ's head, hands, and feet with His own blood in His mockery and persecution preparatory to His entry through death and resurrection into the office of His heavenly Priesthood. Leviticus 21:17-22 sets forth the restriction of the priesthood; to be eligible, one had to be without blemish. The Lord Jesus fully met this condition as High Priest, being 'holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners' (Heb. 7:26). He offered His humanity upon the altar of His deity, and the altar sanctified the gift, making it acceptable to God (Heb. 9:14). He took His own blood into the Holy of Holies—into Heaven itself—and there offered it to the Father in expiation of the sins of man; and it was accepted for that purpose by God (Heb. 9:11-12, 24).

 

"In His entry into the heavens, Jesus is our Forerunner as priests and kings in Him; for we, too, enter into the same place by His blood (Heb. 10:19-22). Soon we shall be elevated to sit with Him in His throne (Rev. 3:21), where we shall exercise the functions of our office in a much fuller measure. It has been well said that 'God loved His Son so much that He purposed to fill Heaven with saints just like Him.' And, since God is God, that is the way it is going to be. The Levitical law is thus seen to be, as the Apostle declared, (a shadow of good things to come' (Heb. 10:1). The tabernacle provided 'patterns of things in the heavens' (Heb. 9:23). It is quite proper for us to think and speak of spiritual things in terms of the Levitical institution, therefore, seeing that institution set forth a picture of heavenly things. And this is a Festival of heavenly things."

 

The typical elements of Melchizedek's priesthood are necessary as a supplement to those of Aaron's in order to present a complete picture of the priesthood and kingship of Christ. "The latter, it might be said, set forth the pattern and the former, the order of the divine Priesthood. Hebrews 9 speaks of the pattern, and has to do with the Aaronic priesthood. When it comes to 'the order,' Scripture brings up Melchizedek as the illustration (Heb. 7:17; cf. Ps. 110:4; Gen. 14:17-20). He is presented as 'King of righteousness, 'King of peace', and as being typically eternal (Heb. 7:1-3). As God's Son and the Savior of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ possesses all these qualities. Through Him, we partake of them now in a preliminary sense; and shall more fully share in them in the life to come."

 

The Anointing for Kingship under Christ

"And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as My Father appointed unto Me," the Master declared to His disciples (Lu. 22:28-30). "The Apostle tells us that 'the saints shall judge the world' and that 'we shall judge angels' (I Cor. 6:1-3). This is one of the functions of a king—to judge—as Solomon did in the case of the disputed motherhood of the child. In time of war, the king led in battle; in peacetime, he was a judge and administrator of the kingdom. This gives an idea of our function in glory. Right now, we are kings, if we are in Christ. We are unrecognized by the world as such, it is true. But, whatever our earthly station may be, we are kings unto God, and can reign through Christ in the area assigned to us."

 

The Situation with David. "It will be remembered that it was some time after David was anointed to be king of Israel before he actually ascended the throne and began the fullness of his reign. So it is with us. David at times seemed to despair of ever being enthroned as king. 'I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul,' he said in his heart on one occasion (I Sam. 27:1). Again, 'There is but a step between me and death' (I Sam. 20:3). ‘And I am this day weak, though anointed king’ (II Sam. 3:39).  In these times of discouragement, he was as surely destined to be king as in his brighter moments, for God had purposed that he should reign over Israel. So it is with our appointment and anointing as kings unto God. 'The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning' (Ps. 49:14). Right now, they seem to be the head and we, the tail; but the day will come when the tables will be turned. 'If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him,' is the promise of God (II Tim. 2:12), and on that we can confidently rely."

 

The Prospect for Us. "In old times, kings ruled over cities, as the scriptural record makes clear. Thus, the Lord Jesus' assignment to the faithful, 'Have thou authority over ten cities' (Lu. 19:17). Whatever that denotes, it certainly represents rule in the world to come by the saints. What the saints enjoy of grace in this life is just a little foreshadowing of their eternal portion and reign in glory. We shall reign over our allotment from Christ—our task, our situation—whatever the Lord has assigned to us. The meek shall 'inherit the earth,' saith the Lord (Mt.. 5:5); so shall we reign over the earth (Heb. 2:5-9).

 

"Melchizedek, as you know, was a King-Priest. Christ is Such, too. And, in Him, we also have this dual office. We experience this ministry in the firstfruit sense right now. Kings reign with power, and so can we, as we cleave unto the Lord, our glorious Head.  We also exercise our priestly influence upon our fellow men as “we are ambassadors for Christ” (II Cor. 5:20).

 

“Whatever ministry God gives you, seek to reign in that sphere by His grace, as becomes your high calling in Christ. Since you are a king under Christ, make full proof of your kingship. As priests, you can fulfill your ministry through prayer—interceding for others— and by proclaiming the truth of God to them. You are a 'royal priesthood' right now, saith the Scripture (I Pet. 2:9). Let us proceed on that basis, to the glory of God." –Noted and Recorded by Fred O. Blakely

 

I Do Remember

I Do Remember

By Al Stoner

“For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God” (I Thess. 2:9).

• I remember with great indebtedness and gratitude Brother Given O. Blakely.
• (For the sake of our readers, I would like clarify that Brother Given, now living in Joplin, Missouri, has been in extremely frail health in recent months and years.  Our purpose here in this edition of The Banner of Truth is to minister encouragement, as he has been such an integral part of this ministry.)
• I remember, in that twenty plus year duration of time when he was with us here in Indiana, being more impressed with the Word of God itself, than with Brother Given’s person.  He was not promoting himself.  And I would also like to say by all these remarks, that my purpose, here at the outset, is not to “promote” Brother Given, but rather to give honor where honor is due, and perhaps, where the honor is now long overdue.  Thus, we take this opportunity to say things that should have been said long ago.
• I remember every Lord’s Day, and every time of gathering of the saints, being profitable and substantive for the nurture of faith.
• I remember the very thorough verse-by-verse ministrations from Romans, from Hebrews, from the Revelation, from Habakkuk, Nehemiah, Daniel, and several others.  I remember being brought into acquaintance with all of Scripture, not just certain parts of it.
• I remember being brought into familiarity with such vitally-substantive concepts in the Word of God such as “new” and “old”, “first” and “last”, “first”and “second”, and “the right hand of God”.  New covenant, old covenant, new man, old man, new heavens and new earth, first heavens and first earth, the first man Adam, Christ, the Last Adam, the first covenant, the second covenant, first resurrection, second death, etc.
• I remember in that time being brought into acquaintance with both “the goodness and the severity of God” (Rom. 11:22), and with serving “God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Heb. 12:28). 
• I remember during that time being deeply and increasingly impressed by the importance and centrality of the New Covenant (Jer. 31:31-34; II Cor. 3, Gal. 3; Heb. 8, 10, etc.), with the truth of justification by faith in Christ, and with the reality of the Romans 7 conflict.
• I recall being often admonished about Babylon the great, the mother of harlots, and abominations of the earth, of the significance of the two beasts in Revelation 13, and of religion that has a form of godliness, but denies the power thereof.
• I remember being regularly instructed, and put earnestly in mind of, the coming of the Lord, and of the preeminent need for being ready for Christ’s appearing.
• As I look back on those years, I can say one of the foremost benefits that Brother Given gave to me through his ministry was the ability to minister the Word of God, without feeling like I was imitating or quoting Brother Given.
• I call to mind that, in the entire extended time (twenty plus years) that Brother Given was with us, there were only one or two “outbreaks” of iniquity in the assembly.  “All the counsel of God” (Acts 20:27) was being regularly declared, and this served, among many other things, to culture among those regularly attending an appetite for righteousness and truth, and to suppress such “outbreaks”. 
• I remember the assembly being itself being, as it were, an environment of focus on the Father, the Son, the Word of God, and the purpose of God in Christ Jesus.  It was a place of men and women being cultured for the world to come.
• I remember being duly impressed with the all sufficiency of God’s Word for all things pertaining to life and godliness.  While others were clamoring over “seminars” to be a better “this” or a better “that”, I was enabled to see the inferiority and shallowness and falsity of such approaches to living godly.
• I have in my memory extended times when there was a houseful of us, and other times when there was but a handful of us.  I know this had to weigh heavily on Brother Given’s spirit, but it did not affect his faithfulness in ministering.
• I have in my recollection Tuesday night meetings when there was hardly enough room for everyone in the room where the meeting was held.  Oftentimes, in the course of the lesson for that evening, someone would ask a question about the Scriptures, and the remainder of the time would be devoted to dealing with the question that was asked in a way that would be profitable to all.
• I remember particularly his message on Romans 16 at the end of one his series in the book of Romans.  After ministering on such ones as Rufus, Apelles, Urbane, Philologus, Tryphena, and Tryphosa, to name a few, Brother Given addressed each member present there in the assembly, and had a word of encouragement that was especially tailored for them.
• I remember that there were times when I would go home from the meeting being wounded in spirit, but yet in those same wounds I sensed that God was talking to me.  In those times I learned, that if the Word of God chafes against me, not to be offended by the speaker, or take it personally. And in those times I was given to learn about “the peaceable fruit of righteousness” that was the blessed fruitage of such wounds.
• I can recall specific messages, and series of messages, that Brother Given preached years ago, and yet they are still very clear and distinct in my mind.  In many instances I can call to remembrance specific things that were said, because they were well said, and worth remembering.
• I remember seasons of spiritual exhilaration directly associated with the preaching of the Word of God, where it seemed that I was “caught away”.
• I also remember seasons of exceedingly hard trial and casting down where the Word preached was my only stay, as well as the means for coming out of trouble.
• I remember well the Men’s Fellowship meetings led by Brother Given.  I remember early on going through John 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 verse-by-verse, Matthew 24, Daniel, and Romans, just to name a few.
• I remember Brother Given’s manner and conduct consistently being instructive in itself.  Whether he preached, or ministered at the Lord’s Table, or gave words of instruction at baptisms, or weddings, or funerals, something profitable for faith was always to be gleaned by the believer.  Nothing was ever done by him perfunctorily.
• I remember that everyone who had any ability to speak in the assembly was given a regular opportunity to minister, and was encouraged to develop and enlarge their kingdom abilities.  Though Brother Given was fully capable of doing everything by himself, he always insisted that everyone that was capable would have a part.
• I remember visits to our assembly from such ones as Jonathan Kwon, of South Korea, Abraham Samuel, of India, Doug Willis, of Australia, Jack and Mary Hendrickson, of Illinois, of Clayton Bowman, of Florida, and later of Illinois.  All of these associations had been made because of Brother Given’s focus on the Word of God, and the God of the Scriptures.
• I remember the debates centered around various issues related to the faith, and also the trips to India, to preach there, and the radio ministries from Chicago and Crown Point.
• I remember Project Plus 60, inaugurated by Brother Given to reenlist “retired” ministers who had been “pushed out to pasture” from the circles where they used to regularly minister.  Brother Given had a great burden to tap the resources of godly men as Seth Wilson, Harold Key, Roy Key, Don DeWelt, Charles Gresham, and several others. 
• Project Plus 60 soon became The Refreshing Waters Renewal, an annual preaching conference, held in various locations, for the purpose of enlarging upon central scriptural themes.
• I remember that Brother Given had a full time job at Lever Brothers, where he was promoted to one of the top positions in the company.  And yet his earthly vocation always remained, as it were, his “avocation”, compared to his labors in the kingdom of God.
• I remember that, in the whole course of time that Brother Given was with us, there was only one message on tithing, or offerings, and it was for the purpose of instruction, not because the people weren’t giving enough.  All of the regular attendees regularly gave because they wanted to.  I credit this to the fact that the focus was always upon the Word of God.
• I remember in that entire time that Brother Given was with us, he received a $100.00 a month salary from the assembly, but had it deposited in The Word of Truth account.  He never used it for himself, or even for his family.
• I remember Sister Adanna, Brother Given’s first wife. I remember her zeal and godly character, and her contagiously joyful spirit.
• I remember that after it became known that Sister Adanna had Lou Gehrig’s disease, upwards of twenty brethren were summoned to the Blakely home in Cedar Lake to make a special request to the Lord for her recovery, and to anoint her with oil.  The Lord graciously said “no” to our request, not audibly, of course, but in the subsequent rapid decline of her health.
• I remember that Sister Adanna was taken from us on January 1st, 1979, at 1:40 a.m. 
• I remember that when Sister Adanna died that several people were offended that God would take her, and they stopped coming to the assembly, and in some cases, they stopped attending anywhere at all.
• I here call to remembrance that in the weeks and months following that Brother Given was greatly and tenderly affected by Sister Adanna’s departure.  In the evening service, before his message, he would take his guitar and sing songs like, “Give me a Song to Sing at Midnight,” and “Gathering Flowers for the Master’s Bouquet,” and “We Shall Shine as the Stars of the Morning.”  He would sing them to comfort us, as well as himself.
• I remember the meetings Brother Given held at The Light of the World Tabernacle in New Port Richey, Florida.  Some meetings were held prior to Sister Adanna’s death, and some were held after. 
• I remember a particular sister that attended there, named June Ellen, who stood out from among all the rest in her godly character and manner.
• I remember that not long after this a courtship between Brother Given and Sister June ensued, and that they were married in Florida in the summer of 1980.  My wife, Sara, and I had the privilege of being present there at the wedding.
• I remember the great help that Sister June proved to be to Brother Given in the months and years following their marriage. 
• I remember how that Sister June was able to step in and lead the Ladies’ Fellowship meetings in a very profitable manner.
• I remember Sister June’s humble and cheerful manner, coupled together with her great zeal for the truth.  I remember the wonderful ministry that Sister June had with our young people while she was still with us here in Indiana. 
• And I remember very well the time when the sad news came that Brother Given and Sister June were moving to Joplin.  It was difficult for us, but it was difficulty that was coupled together with profitability not yet perceived at that time.  There was no thought of looking for another minister, for the Lord had raised up ministers in our very midst during Brother Given’s time with us. It was difficult for us, but it seems that the Lord was saying to Brother Given, with regard to Joplin, “I have much people in this city,” and “lo, the fields are white unto the harvest.”
• These remembrances and recountings only go up until the year 1992 when the Blakelys moved to Joplin.  Another major part of this story yet remains to be told pertaining to the last eighteen years.
• And yes, I do indeed, with great thankfulness to God, remember. --Al Stoner

The Matter of Perdition and Glory

The Matter of Perdition and Glory

By Given O. Blakely

“But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul” (Heb. 10:39).

“The word ‘second coming’ indicates a final and different order of coming. It does not necessarily mean second chronologically. The Lord Jesus ‘appeared’ to Paul, Cephas, James, the Twelve, and some five hundred brethren (I Cor. 15:5-8) after He arose from the dead. However Christ’s ‘second’ coming, or appearing (Heb. 9:28), shall be the final one.”
“There are manners of life [which are presently being lived] that lead to both glory and perdition, and when Jesus comes again, they shall have led there. Right now all men are associated with either perdition or glory. Both perdition and glory shall come when Jesus comes.”
“Laying up treasures in heaven entails developing an appetite for the glory that is to be revealed.”
“A coveting, grasping life is leading to perdition (cf. I Tim. 6:9). Believing “unto the saving of the soul” (Heb. 10:39) is leading to glory.” “The only way to avoid perdition is to be godly, which entails living by faith. Ungodliness is a manner of living that leads to the lake of fire, which is the second death.”
“It is presently hard to convince the sinner of perdition, and sometimes it is even difficult to persuade the believers of glory, because both perdition and glory are obscure now. They can only be perceived by faith. But both perdition and glory shall be experienced by men when Christ comes again the second time.”
“God did not call us for the ultimate purpose of being good neighbors, or for being a good husband or wife, but rather for the purpose of obtaining the glory that shall be revealed.”
“The ungodly shall be subject to “shame and everlasting contempt” (Dan. 12:2) in every sense of the word when they enter into perdition.”
“Perdition is the worst thing that can happen unto men, and glory is the best thing. And when Jesus shall appear the second time [and not before then], the wicked shall go into perdition, and the saints shall enter into glory.”
“When Christ comes again, the eternal habitations shall at that time be occupied by both sinners and saints. For the sinners the habitations shall be in “outer darkness,” but for the righteous they shall be in the presence of the Lord.” “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal” (Mt. 25:46).
“Both perdition and glory shall be the logical outcomes of the manner of living that preceded them. The identifications with both of these states are presently in the process of being made.” As it is written, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still” (Rev. 22:11).
“Christ’s coming, like a battery, has both positive and negative points. It speaks of an ending and a beginning. It will end temporal existence and begin eternal existence. The saints will come out of tribulation, and the sinners shall go into it. He will take away from sinners, and bring to the saints. The objects of lust will be taken, the objects of hope will be brought.”
“He will take away the handicap and struggle from the righteous and give them to the sinner. He will take away liberty from the wicked, and give it to the saints. The saints shall exchange a cross for a crown, and the sinners shall exchange ease for tribulation.” --Excerpted from a sermon preached by Brother Given, entitled, “The Perdition and Glory That Shall Follow Christ’s Coming”

Initial Orientation, Subsequent Disorientation, and Final Reorientation

A Principle of God’s Working with His People

Initial Orientation, Subsequent Disorientation, and Final Reorientation

By Al Stoner

To restate and clarify our title we could say:

What and Where We Were, What and Where We Are Now, and What and Where We Shall Be, by God’s grace.

Or, The Orientation Associated with God’s Original Design, The Disorientation Caused by the Entrance of Sin in to the World, and The Reorientation Owing to the Purposed Demonstration of God’s Manifold Wisdom and Lovingkindness.

Or, having one’s beginnings in an environment and domain that have been defiled by sin, becoming mercifully and graciously disoriented from the defilement by a purposeful Divine working, and being refashioned and transformed unto the far better thing, which God has provided in the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.

This is a principle that is operative on the personal level as well as with an entire people. In the beginning orientation, there is, at best, a general sense of incompleteness and discontent.  In the beginning orientation the Holy Spirit strives with men, as He did in the days prior to the Flood.  He strives with men to turn from their wicked ways.  In the disorientation, there follows distress, anguish, heartache, woe, and even a sense of hopelessness. In the reorientation, there is a sense of wonder, and gratitude for the marvelous working of the blessed God of salvation, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Adam, and his Time of Orientation. “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Gen. 2:7).  “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it” (v. 15).

“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (vv.16-17).

“And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him” (v. 18).  “And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed” (vv. 19-25).

The Subtle, yet Abrupt, Disorientation Caused by the Transgression. “Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons” (Gen. 3:1-7).

“And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 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. Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (vv. 8-19).

“Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life” (vv. 23-24).

Abram’s Time of Orientation in Ur of the Chaldees. “Now these are the generations of Terah: TERAH BEGAT ABRAM, NAHOR, AND HARAN; and HARAN BEGAT LOT. And HARAN DIED BEFORE HIS FATHER TERAH IN THE LAND OF HIS NATIVITY, in Ur of the Chaldees. And ABRAM AND NAHOR TOOK THEM WIVES: THE NAME OF ABRAM'S WIFE WAS SARAI; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah. BUT SARAI WAS BARREN; SHE HAD NO CHILD.

The Inception of His Disorientation. And TERAH TOOK ABRAM HIS SON, AND LOT THE SON OF HARAN HIS SON'S SON, AND SARAI HIS DAUGHTER IN LAW, HIS SON ABRAM'S WIFE; AND THEY WENT FORTH WITH THEM FROM UR OF THE CHALDEES, TO GO INTO THE LAND OF CANAAN; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there. And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and TERAH DIED IN HARAN” (Gen. 11:27-32).

Completing the Disorientation and the Beginning of Reorientation. “NOW THE LORD HAD SAID UNTO ABRAM, GET THEE OUT OF THY COUNTRY, AND FROM THY KINDRED, AND FROM THY FATHER'S HOUSE, UNTO A LAND THAT I WILL SHEW THEE: AND I WILL MAKE OF THEE A GREAT NATION, AND I WILL BLESS THEE, AND MAKE THY NAME GREAT; AND THOU SHALT BE A BLESSING: AND I WILL BLESS THEM THAT BLESS THEE, AND CURSE HIM THAT CURSETH THEE: AND IN THEE SHALL ALL FAMILIES OF THE EARTH BE BLESSED. So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran (Gen. 12:1-4).

The Completion of Abraham’s Reorientation. “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Heb. 11:8-10).

“Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city” (Heb. 11:11-16).

Job and the Time of Orientation Prior to his Trial. There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters” (Job 1:1-2).

The Two Distinct Waves of Disorientation that Came upon Job. The First Wave. “And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee” (Job 1:13-17).

The Second Wave. “AGAIN there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD , and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD . And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD , and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.  So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes” (Job 2:1-8).

Job’s Reorientation after his Trial. So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. He had also seven sons and three daughters” (Job 42:12-13).

Joseph’s Disorientation and Reorientation. “He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him. The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free. He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance: To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom” (Ps. 105:17-22).

The Time of Disorientation. “This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not” (Ps. 81:5).

Joseph’s Ultimate Reorientation. “Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand” (Rev. 7:8). Sealed forever, world without end.

Israel’s Disorientation and Reorientation. “To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever: And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever: With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever: And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever: But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever: And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever: And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever: Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever. Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever: And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever. Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever” (Ps. 136:10-26).

The Psalmist. A Blessed Foretaste of the Final Reorientation. “A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed” (Ps. 103:1-6).

The Reorientation Overshadowing the Present Disorientation. “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour” (Ps. 8:4-5).

“For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins. Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place” (Ps. 66:10-12).

The Church. “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:25-27).

“For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit” (I Pet. 4:6).

We, as Individuals. God’s Wise Design in Disorientation. “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (Jas. 1:2-4).

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him” (Jas. 1:12).

Chastening and Affliction. Divine Implements of Disorientation unto Reorientation. “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?” (Heb. 12:5-9).

The Lord Jesus Christ. The Entire Gamut of Experience. His Experience Counts for Every Man. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 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” (Phil. 2:5-11).

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit” (I Pet. 3:18).

“And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne” (Rev. 12:5).

The Attestation of Sonship

The Attestation of Sonship

By Fred O. Blakely

"In whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise" (Eph. 1:13).  “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:36-27).
In Zacharias' prophecy of John the Baptist's ministry, he said that its effect would be to give to people "the knowledge of salvation" by "the remission of their sins" (Lk. 1:76-79). Whoever's sins are forgiven, on the terms laid down in the new-covenant Scriptures, is saved, and so is constituted a son of God (Jn. 1:12-13; Acts 2:38; Gal. 3:26-27; Eph. 1:7). He may be assured of that blessed situation simply on the authority of God's Word.
Those so "accepted in the Beloved" (Eph. 1:6), however, have another witness to their sonship of God. It is the Holy Spirit, "whom God hath given to them that obey Him" (Acts 5:32). Thus, Jesus' promise: "Ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you" (Jn. 14:20; cf. vv. 15-19).
"Because ye are sons," declared Paul, "God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father" (Gal. 4:6; cf. Rom. 8:15-17). So do we have "the witness" of our filial relation to God within ourselves (I Jn. 5:10; cf. ch. 2:20, 27). God having given unto us "His Holy Spirit" (I Th. 4:8), we are divinely "sealed," or marked, as His spiritual offspring (Eph. 1:13-14).
With Paul, therefore, we are "always confident" concerning our sonship, as well as of our immediate presence with the Lord upon our departure from the earthly body (II Cor. 5:5-8). Accordingly, we say with John, "We know that He abideth in us by the Spirit which He hath given us" (I Jn. 3:24). Or, "Hereby know we that we are in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit" (ch. 4:13).
Blessed assurance, indeed, is this twofold attestation to our full acceptance by the heavenly Father, the forgiveness of sins, attested to by the impartation to us of the Holy Spirit.
We pity those poor souls who drudge through their religious life on a mere "hope-so," or "I'm trying" basis, in their attempt to relate to God. We earnestly exhort them, in the Name of Christ, to render to Him the "obedience of faith" (Rom. 16:26), and receive the anointing that certifies to them their sonship. --The End-- 

And What About America?

And What About America?

By Alfred M. Rehwinkel

(Written in the 1950's)

“Atheism and a purely materialistic view of life are even finding their way into the pagan world. The temples of the heathen are decaying. The gods are crumbling or are being thrown into the rubbish heap. Atheistic communism has overrun all of China and is finding is way into India and Africa. It is no longer a question of what god or gods, but it is no god at all.”

“And what about America? According to the last religious census, less than half of the adult population of the United States is connected with one of the Christian denominations. This means that at least seventy million in our country profess no religion. They are not pagans in the common meaning of that term. They are indifferent to all religions, are unconcerned about God and God’s revelation; in other words, they are godless. This means that seventy million Americans are practical atheists! And that in a country which boasts of the superiority of its religious and moral standards. To millions of our people, the Bill of Rights, guaranteeing freedom of religion, stands for a freedom from all religion.  Democracy has become our fetish, and in the minds of many it supersedes in importance even religion and God. In our seats of higher learning, the colleges and universities of our country, where the leaders of the next generation are being trained, the authority of the Bible has been completely eliminated. The Creation story and the Great Flood are ruled out as impossible. What remains of the Old Testament is relegated to folklore or is placed on the level of mere poetry.  The miraculous elements of the entire Bible, the deity of Christ, the atonement of Christ, the resurrection from the dead, in fact, most of the fundamental articles of our Christian faith, are either questioned or openly denied and even ridiculed. What the Bible calls the Moral Law of God is placed in the categories of taboos and social mores, and sin has been reduced to a mere maladjustment, the result of frustration, or is merely termed a form of anti-social living.” –Written in the 1950’s, this segment taken from the final chapter of “The Flood”, entitled “The Flood, a Prototype of the Final Judgment”

The Proper View of Death

The Proper View of Death

By Beverly Brunner

Our Lord said, "Watch," "be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh" (Mt. 24:42-44). There is not one person who has ever lived or who is living now that can predict the time of their death or departure from this earthly body. The flesh never wants to leave this earth because it is rooted and grounded in it. But I confess with all the dear and precious brethren who have gone on before and, as well, to those whom I may meet while sojourning in this hostile land, that I am a stranger and a pilgrim. My citizenship is in Heaven, and when my Lord calls me, I shall be ready to go.

As we walk down the path that leads to Heaven we will have sorrow, but we "sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him" (I Th. 4:13-14).

We are not of those who are under the delusion that the body and the spirit lie in the grave until Christ returns. Our life, that is, the life we now have in Christ, does not stop at the grave. Death is but a door that opens into the very Presence of God. What a blessing this is for all those whose "life is hid with Christ in God" (Col. 3:3). What great peace and joy this brings within our hearts to know that in God's time we shall be reunited with all those who have died in Christ. --The End--