Recently, a friend from afar came to visit us. She inquired about my journey to becoming a pastor. To summarize my experience, I explained that I spent six years in an organized church, where I received a salary. However, for close to twelve years now, I have been serving independently, conducting Bible studies without a salary. Instead, I trust in God for voluntary contributions. She was amazed by God’s goodness and grace.
Is it permissible for a pastor to engage in money-making ventures or be employed in secular work while also serving God? Paul addressed this question in 1 Corinthians 9:7-14.
“Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does He not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.” (1 Corinthians 9:7-14)
Jesus told a person who wanted to follow Him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Luke 9:58)
We do not follow Jesus for material gains, but rather for forgiveness, restoration to God, and the gift of eternal life. This principle applies to everyone, including both pastors and disciples of Christ.
Jesus warns those who wish to follow Him that it won’t be easy. It’s not a bed of roses; life’s challenges will still arise. He further emphasized this by telling another potential follower, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)
It’s ironic that many Christians often put Jesus or the Bible on the backseat when life’s troubles or even busyness arise. This is not a true way to follow Jesus Christ. Following Him can be summarized by the wedding vow: “I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.”
Oddly, Jesus even states, “Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10:37)
The journey of following Jesus is a narrow path with no other options. Hence, Jesus earlier in Luke 9 teaches: “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.” (Luke 9:23-24)
Doesn’t seem to have options there, do we? It requires a strong commitment to follow Him, regardless of the consequences or obstacles. Jesus Christ invites us, saying, “Come, follow Me,” with no qualifications or exceptions.
During our Bible study, we often come across a passage in Scripture that leads to disagreement among some participants about its applicability to everyone. Consider Christ’s directive: “And Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, ‘You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’” (Mark 10:21).
Is this an isolated teaching in Scripture? It is not. Jesus, in Luke 12:33-34, teaches something similar that applies to all who wish to be His disciples: “Sell your possessions and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Luke 12:33-34)
The central message of Christ Jesus is not to demand that we sell all our possessions, but rather to emphasize that we should not love material wealth more than we love God. We need to place our hearts in the right position, as stated in Matthew 6:19-21. Jesus further explains, “No one can serve two masters; either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)
We should follow Jesus with full conviction and trust. Take some time to reflect on whether you can endure the journey of following Him. The cost may be high, but the reward is priceless—eternal entry into God’s kingdom. Remember that when we decide to follow Jesus Christ, we are bound by a sacred commitment, like a wedding vow.
Peter, in the words of Acts 3:6, declared, “I possess neither silver nor gold, but in the name of Jesus Christ, I offer you what I have.” Share this article freely, for you freely receive. Take note, underlines and highlights are clickable links for definitions or Bible references. Stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox. Blessing!
Since June is an occasion for fathers, I am writing this letter to call on the attention of Christian fathers. Many Christian fathers are unable to minister to their families these days, perpetuating a cycle of decline. Since most Christian churches grow through birth rather than evangelism, it’s no surprise that we’re witnessing a decline in Christian leadership over time. To address this present dilemma, we must train the next generation in biblical interpretation. We should teach them how to properly explain Scripture, as people have been prioritizing communication skills over faithfulness to the content. Consequently, we see Christians adopting diverse and peculiar doctrines.
However, since the deterioration in doctrine has been occurring for decades, if not centuries, defective doctrines have become the norm. Consequently, truthful biblical teaching has become indistinguishable to most Christians.
The sanctity of the church hinges on two key aspects: right doctrine and Christian living, and these two aspects are intrinsically linked. How can we discern true Christian living if our doctrines are flawed? How can the church remain unified if each individual has their own interpretation of the church or its doctrine? Remember that Paul emphasized that true Christian unity rests on its doctrine. See Scripture below:
“As a prisoner for the Lord, I urge you to walk in a manner befitting your calling. Be humble and gentle, patient, and loving towards one another. Let us strive to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. We are one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the ONE hope that belongs to your calling. We have ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism, ONE God and Father of all, who is over all, through all, and in all.
Grace has been given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore, it says, “When He ascended on high, He led a host of captives and gave gifts to men.” (In saying “He ascended,” what does it mean but that He also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)
He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors, and the teachers to EQUIP the saints for the work of ministry and to BUILD UP the body of Christ, the church. Until we all attain to the UNITY OF FAITH (i.e. beliefs or doctrines) and knowledge of the Son of God, we will mature into men, reaching the measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, human cunning, and deceitful schemes.” Rather than SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE, we are to grow up in every way into Christ, the head of the church, from whom the whole body (i.e. the church), joined and held together by every joint, when each part works properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:1-16)
Love, as defined in Scripture, encompasses, rather centers on, right doctrines. So, why has the church chosen to prioritize protecting its aesthetics over its inner self or constitution (i.e., its doctrines)? Until when will Christians continue to be pretentious, claiming that everything is well with the church?
Lies, deceptions, or prosthetics can only keep those who are indifferent, naive in Scripture, or fatally attached due to relational bonds, but not the thinking, intellectually inclined, and truth-seeking Christians. Are you truly not aware of the reasons behind the church’s failures? The church has long ceased to effectively fulfill its mandate from Christ.
If you claim ignorance, then you don’t deserve to lead the church (1Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9) . However, if you are aware of the situation, your silence and indifference are harming God’s church. Let me remind everyone of Paul’s words: “If anyone destroys God’s temple (i.e., the church), God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:17)
Each Christian is obligated to uphold the sanctity of God’s church, particularly ministers, pastors, elders, deacons, and those who claim to be reverends.
Quoting Paul’s words: “For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.” (2 Corinthians 2:4)
As the saying goes, “Sharing is caring.” Let’s consider this article in the context of loving and caring for God’s church.
Peter , in the words of Acts 3:6, declared, “I possess neither silver nor gold, but in the name of Jesus Christ, I offer you what I have.” Share freely, for you freely receive. Stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox. Blessing!
Some Christian pastors argue that the church vanished after Revelation 3, suggesting that this indicates the rapture of the church. However, consider the photo above: did everything around the mushroom disappear, or was the focus solely on the mushroom? This analogy suggests that the idea of a church rapture is not necessarily valid. Rather, John shifts his focus to the judgment of Old Covenant Israel. This is evident in Revelation 11:15, where the seventh angel blows his trumpet, and heavenly voices proclaim, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.”
In John’s Gospel (the Book of Revelation was also written by him), Christ Jesus, confronted by the Sanhedrin, the religious order of the Jews, declared, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would have been fighting so that I might not be handed over to the Jews. But My kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36)
Therefore, the kingdom that Christ Jesus conquered was that of the Old Covenant Israel. In Matthew 21, when confronted by the chief priests and Jewish elders, questioning His signs and authority to teach, Jesus Christ responded, “Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits” (Matthew 21:43). Now, let’s consider the language of imminence that Christ Jesus spoke to the seven churches in Revelation.
First, to Ephesus, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I WILL COME TO YOU and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I WILL GRANT TO EAT OF THE TREE OF LIFE, which is in the paradise of God.” (Revelation 2:5-7)
Repentance is only possible during one’s lifetime, not after death, as demonstrated by Christ’s teachings in the story of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19-31). Therefore, Jesus’ warning is directed at the living church of Ephesus, urging them to repent before His return. Isn’t it logical then that Jesus implied His return would be in their lifetime?
Second, to Smyrna, “Don’t be afraid of what you’re about to endure. The devil is about to imprison some of you for ten days, testing your faith. Be steadfast until death, and I’ll give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. THE ONE WHO CONQUERS WON’T BE HARMED BY THE SECOND DEATH.” (Revelation 2:10-11)
The second death occurred at the final judgment of Christ Jesus, as described in Revelation 20:11-15. Concerning Christ’s deliverance and justice, refer to Luke 18:1-8, where Christ delivers a parable about an unjust judge. Jesus emphasizes the swift and imminent nature of His justice, stating that it would be speedy. I doubt the faithful Christians of Smyrna understood a millennial as the idea of such swift justice. However, it’s important to note that Christ’s teachings in Luke 18:1-8 were delivered in the context of Luke 17:20-31, where Jesus speaks about the coming of His kingdom. More importantly, in Luke 18:8, Jesus implicitly assures His disciples that His swift justice would be with them during their lifetime. Jesus said “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8)
Third, to Pergamum, “Repent, or I’LL COME TO YOU SOON and wage war against them with the sword of my mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I’ll give some of the hidden manna and a white stone with a new name written on it, a name known only to the one who receives it.” (Revelation 2:16-17)
Jesus prophesied that His coming to Christians in Pergamum would be imminent, not a millennium later. Why do Christians choose to complicate the straightforward statements of Christ Jesus? Keep in mind that Jesus Christ warns not to add or deduct from His Words written in Revelation: “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. He who testifies to these things says, ‘SURELY I AM COMING SOON.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:18-20)
Fourth, to Tyatira, “HOLD ON TO WHAT YOU HAVE UNTIL I RETURN. The one who conquers and keeps My works until the end will receive authority over the nations and rule them with an iron rod, just as I received authority from My Father.” (Revelation 2:25-27)
Isn’t “until I return” an assurance of imminent arrival? Jesus Christ, once again, assures churches of John’s lifetime that they should keep the faith because He is coming soon.
Fifth, to Sardis, “remember what you received and heard. Keep it and repent. If you don’t wake up, I WILL COME LIKE A THIEF, and you won’t know when I will attack you again. However, there are still a few names in Sardis, people who haven’t defiled themselves, and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed in white garments, and I will never erase his name from the book of life. I will proclaim his name before My Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 3:3-6)
The phrase “coming like a thief” suggests that Jesus’ return will be an unexpected event. This underscores the significance of the church’s role during this momentous occasion. If no one is present to witness it, what purpose does it serve for Christ to emphasize to the church that His return will be like a thief in the night? It’s important to remember that this message was addressed to the church during John’s time. In other words, the church wouldn’t have a precise understanding of the exact time of Christ’s return, but it would certainly be within the lifetime of John and his immediate audience.
Sixth, to Philadelphia, “I AM COMING SOON. Hold on to what you have so that no one can take away your crown. The one who conquers will become a pillar in the temple of My God. They will never leave it, and I will write on them the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which descends from My God from heaven, and My own new name.” (Revelation 3:11-12)
I suppose this time, it’s quite straightforward to understand. Jesus Christ had promised Christians in Philadelphia that His return would be imminent, not in the distant future of churches during John’s lifetime, but even ours, as futurists have led many to believe.
Lastly, the seventh, to Laodicea, “Behold, I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to them and eat with them, and they will eat with Me. The one who conquers will be granted a place with Me on My throne, just as I conquered and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 3:20-22)
Jesus Christ was speaking to the church of Laodicea, not to us. This is a recurring theme in John’s writings, referring to churches in his lifetime. Unless you believe that John would remain alive, as John clarified in his Gospel that this was not what Christ had told Peter. Instead, John wrote, “Jesus said to Peter, ‘If it is My will that he (John) remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!’” See John 21:20-25. Can you comprehend Christ’s declaration to Peter? Or have you been blinded by tradition to the point where it seems incomprehensible to you? Jesus Christ implicitly communicated to Peter that His return would occur during John’s lifetime.
Christ Jesus has fulfilled His purpose and promises. He declared that He alone would establish His church. The church is eternal, and even Hades has no power over it as seen in Matthew 16:18-19. The church is not just a parenthesis to Israel, its fulfillment signals the end of Old Covenant Israel. Keep in mind that “hades and death” were thrown to the lake of fire before John declared the passing of the first heaven and first earth and the coming of the new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1). Incidentally, the first heaven and the first earth refer to the Old Covenant, while the New Heaven and New Earth is the New Covenant. Consequently, Paul explained in 2 Corinthians 5:16-17, “From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh (that is, circumcision). Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard Him thus no longer. Therefore, IF ANYONE IS IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATION. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
See Galatians 6:11-15, for a parallel teaching of Paul on circumcision and flesh: “See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing IN THE FLESH WHO WOULD FORCE YOU TO BE CIRCUMCISED, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. FOR NEITHER CIRCUMCISION COUNTS FOR ANYTHING, NOR UNCIRCUMCISION, BUT A NEW CREATION.”
I completely understand if my discussion here might have confused you. I was in a similar situation many years ago. However, after being persuaded by Christ’s words, I dedicated myself to a serious and sincere study of God’s word. Today, there is a resurgence of Christians embracing the authentic teachings of the Bible. If you want to understand, all you need to do is to keep your focus, read, and study the Bible. While reading the Bible, avoid getting sidetracked by unnecessary details and focus on the main subject. In God’s own time, you will fully comprehend Scripture.
Peter, in the words of Acts 3:6, declared, “I possess neither silver nor gold, but in the name of Jesus Christ, I offer you what I have.” Share freely, for you freely receive. Stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox. Blessing!
I respectfully disagree with the statement below. Christ Jesus established His church at Pentecost through His resurrection. Consequently, the gates of Hades have no power over Christ’s church.
Scripture declared, “Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. THEY CAME TO LIFE AND REIGNED WITH CHRIST for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. THIS IS THE FIRST RESURRECTION. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! OVER SUCH THE SECOND DEATH HAS NO POWER, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with Him for a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:4-6)
Christ Jesus declared, “And I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this Rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail over it.” (Matthew 16:18)
The apostle Paul asserted, “For no one can lay any foundation other than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:11)
Paul also explicitly stated that Christ Jesus is the Rock, not Peter, as evident in 1 Corinthians 10:4.
Paul once again declared, “So, then, you (Gentile Christians) are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. In Him the whole building, being put together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In Him you are also being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:19-22)
In conclusion, God’s church is spiritual, not built on stones but on the words and resurrection of Christ Jesus. Consequently, Jesus Christ declared, “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24)
Peter, in the words of Acts 3:6, declared, “I possess neither silver nor gold, but in the name of Jesus Christ, I offer you what I have.” Share freely, for you freely receive. Stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox. Blessing!
Next week all Christendom would be remembering the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, more popularly known as the Holy Week. For the sake of clarity, the term “Holy Week” was nowhere spoken in the Bible, it’s a later invention, see caption on quotation below.
In the Greek and Roman liturgical books, it is called the Great Week because great deeds were done by God during this week. The name Holy Week was used in the 4th century by St. Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, and St. Epiphanius of Constantia. Originally, only Good Friday and Holy Saturday were observed as holy days. Later, Wednesday was added as the day on which Judas plotted to betray Jesus, and by the beginning of the 3rd century the other days of the week had been added.
Historically, Jesus Christ came to fulfill God’s promise of the Messiah. Yes, the Jewish religious leaders of Old Covenant Israel rejected Christ Jesus and sent Him to be crucified. To quote Joseph, son of Jacob, perhaps his words foreshadowed God’s redemptive work through Jesus Christ – “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today (Genesis 50:20)”.
God’s sovereign will for salvation prevailed. Jesus Christ died to overturn the curse of the Adamic Law (Genesis 2:15-17) – the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2). Consequently, Paul wrote “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive (1Corinthians 15:22)”. Take note, the Adamic death has to do with spiritual death, not physical. So Jesus Christ resurrected back to life offering the law of the Spirit (Romans 8:2; 1Corinthians 15:45). The Gospel is the law of the Spirit, the good news of the New Covenant. See 2Corinthians 3:5-9.
Not that we (Paul and his co-workers) are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter (Mosaic Law) but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.
See Romans 8:1-4“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life (the New Covenant or the Gospel) has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death (Adamic Law, Genesis 2:15-17). For God has done what the law (Mosaic Law, Galatians 2:15-21), weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us …”
Let’s be real, because of God’s grace, Christians ought to focus on the grace of God made available through Christ Jesus our Lord. We are not saved by faith just so we may continue in our sinful ways (see Romans 6:10-12) but to be the light and salt of the world. Christians ought to live according to the grace and Words of Jesus Christ.
Formerly, we too were lost and were doomed to die without salvation. It was only and still is, by the grace of God that we now have salvation and eternal life through faith in Christ Jesus. Hence, the unavoidable physical death of all humanity no longer reigns over us because Jesus Christ said, “Whoever hears My Word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life (John 5:24)”.
I do not mean that Christians have overcome physical death; rather, our existence would no longer be halted by physical death, for we would eternally be in the presence of God.
To be “light and salt” means we should exemplify the Christian standard of living by faith and in obedience to the Words of Jesus Christ. The Bible never spoke of Christians being perfect in themselves, but rather perfection through faith in the righteousness of Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:9, 12).
Simply said, Christians should not be an oxymoron to the confession of faith. Salvation is by faith in Christ alone, and so does everything else in life. So Jesus Christ said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Christians should not have a life of duality. Worshipping God when with Christian people, but in their day-to-day, professional or business lives, they are no different from people who worshipped money and power, just to enrich themselves with unrighteous wealth instead of true riches. Jesus Christ said, “If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Luke 16:11-13)
Money isn’t the enemy of Christianity. It’s simply a means for trade. Scripture said “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He (God) has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6)
The love of money is no different from Idolatry. The apostle Paul said “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” (Colossions 3:5)
Moreover, the unbelieving world is not the enemy of Christianity; rather, they are the focus of the Gospel. Therefore, the outreach of every Christian.
A restaurant, no matter how good its aesthetics are, would soon lose its appeal if the food turned out to be not so good or bad. Similarly, Christianity should not leave a bad taste on people, thereby losing its appeal to the lost. But the truth of the matter is, it isn’t Christianity in the real sense that has lost its focus but pretenders to Christianity destroying the Gospel of Christ.
Consequently, the real and true enemy of Christianity has to be the wolves in sheep’s clothing. The apostle Paul spoke of such people as “having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power … (2Timothy 3:5)” Make no mistake, by “power”, Paul was talking about the faith, the Gospel, the Scripture itself, which alone has the power to transform people for Christ Jesus. Wolves in sheep’s clothing have no regard for God’s Word and the Lord’s sheep (Acts 20:29-30; John 10:12).
Hence, Paul in the succeeding verses went on to say, “But as for you (Timothy), continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whomyou learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. I charge you (Timothy) in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you (Timothy), always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” (2Timothy 3:14 – 4:5)
The same Christian mandate holds true today. We ought to be perfectly correct as we teach God’s Word. No compromise, no modification, always remain true to the Scripture. Otherwise, we fall into the same mold – having the appearance of godliness but denying its power.
Paul addressing the problem within the church of Corinth said: “Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (1Corinthians 5:6-8)
Christians, for the good of our ranks, should be willing to cleanse out the rotten ones. In reality, within each Christian congregation gathering each week, there are not many rotten ones, but those few rotten ones are just so poisonous that they can easily misdirect the many to agree with their agendas and doings.
Termites, once detected in the house, should be remedied at once. Delays or dilly-dally after detection could cause the whole house to be damaged later. Restoration of a hugely damaged house is more costly than rebuilding a new ones. Similarly, Christians should never have second thoughts about addressing the termites or rotten ones within their congregation – fast and quick.
See Paul’s instruction to Timothy, “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especiallythose who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall notmuzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.” (1Timothy 5:17-20)
Compromises or ignoring wrongs within the church were never recommended in Scripture. Do not say “The church is a place for sinners”, that is a misrepresentation of God’s word regarding the church. Rather the church is the assembly of repentant sinners that have been transformed by God’s grace.
Jesus Christ, before sending out the apostles to preach about the kingdom of heaven, the Gospel, said: “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16).” The religious people of Jesus’ day, the spiritual leaders of Old Covenant Israel, were the wolves in sheep’s clothing. Just as it was then, it remains the same today. We also have wolves in sheep’s clothing from within supposedly Christian institutions.
I do not mean the whole organized Christian congregation but within their midst. However, it must be recognized we also have true people of God within their ranks. Let everyone be reminded of Jesus’s words, saying, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”
Seek the Scripture. Always let the Scripture be the guiding truth in decision-making. Do not be afraid to start anew once God’s truth has been compromised. Leave and start your journey through the guidance of God’s word.
Again, Paul warned: “Pay careful attention to yourselves (Christian elders of Ephesus) and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which He obtained with His own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.” (Acts 20:28-30)
The danger within the Christian community has always been from within their ranks. Learn from the Old Testament stories of Israel. Every time Israel has fallen out of the Scripture and turned to the ways of the world, it was then that Israel became apostate. They sought to do things not according to the guidance of the Word of God, but according to the pattern of ungodly people.
Historically, all Christian congregations almost always have a remarkable and humble beginning. They have a simple idea of establishing a place for gathering together; that is, to worship, care for one another, and honor the Lord Jesus Christ. Sadly, with time, each Christian community has the same tale to tell – deterioration from within their ranks.
Perhaps, history was simply repeating itself. Like Israel, Christians have sought charismatic leaders – leaders who appear to stand above the rest. Forgetting that the true Christian leader, being a true follower of Jesus Christ, should imitate his/her Master. Jesus Christ never appeared above the rest in terms of appearance but always by His teaching and Word.
Let’s be real. Stop calling a congregation a church if it has a mix of seekers still contemplating renouncing his/her old ways. All Jesus Christ said about such people was “You are not far from the kingdom of heaven”. Go read Mark 12:28-34.
But in contrast, Zacchaeus, having been found and befriended by Jesus Christ, offered to undo his mistake, giving away his wealth to repay those whom he had defrauded (surely, as a taxman, he had wronged many). The Lord Jesus declared said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he (Zacchaeus) also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Go read Luke 19:1-10.
Christianity is all about total surrender to Christ Jesus our Lord. Recognizing our wrongs, shortcomings, and our need of Christ Jesus for salvation and everything else in life. Joining a weekly worship service without experiencing any of the above does not make a person Christian.
Let us call a spade, a spade. The church ain’t the institution, nor was it the building where people gather each week. Rather, the church is God’s people, redeemed by His grace. They are the body of Christ, with Christ alone being the Head of His church.
Concerning the church, Paul said, “So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” (Romans 12:5)
To the church in Ephesus, Paul wrote, “This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” (Ephesians 3:6)
Now see 1Corinthians 3:5-8, Paul used agricultural and architectural language to describe the church: “What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.”
Stop saying “I’m a member of this or that church”, for there is no church that was/is built by man but by Christ Jesus alone. Jesus Christ declared before Peter, saying, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hades shall not prevail against it.”
Forget not what Jesus Christ had said to the Samaritan woman concerning God’s true temple or the place for worship. See John 4:21-24.
“Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming,and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.’”
Let’s be real. Nowhere in Scripture did Jesus tell His disciples to collect money for the building of a worship center or building. Rather, Jesus Christ asked them to preach the Gospel of the kingdom.
Let’s be real. Nowhere in Scripture did Jesus tell His disciples to gather all believers into one building. Rather, the first-century church gathered in their homes and houses. It’s doable then, more so now. No parking problems. No costly buildings to build and maintain.
Let’s be real. Jesus Christ offered His life to release His people from the bondage of regulations, shackles, restrictions, and the like. All Jesus Christ demands from us Christians is a true confession of faith to His Lordship and salvation offered. Living a life of faith, trusting His Word and promise – that is the true essence of true Christian worship, in spirit and truth.
Let’s be real. Only Jesus Christ holds the key to God’s kingdom and His church. No application for church membership. No regulations for church membership. No human-developed confessions are needed. Rather Christians became members of God’s house – the church – through faith in Christ Jesus alone. See Ephesians 1:13-14 “In Him (Jesus Christ) you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our (the church’s) inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory.”
We need not second guess Paul’s mention of the Church’s inheritance. See Ephesians 5:5 “For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
In conclusion, allow me to remind everyone of God’s Word. To be real, always remember, that the Scripture said, “For we (Paul and Christian workers) are God’s fellow workers. You (the church) are God’s field, God’s building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it (the foundation that Paul laid; that is, Christ Jesus). Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
Christ Jesus is the sole foundation of God’s church. Hence, there are no numerous churches, but all true Christians are members of the body of Jesus Christ – His church or assembly.
Blessings!
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I went into a writing hiatus due to the ongoing festivity. Also it is a good time to take the backseat, relax, and recharge, Lord willing, for another year of blogging. The last blog I had written, “Scripture vs. Tradition,” got a good number of viewing and response. To think that I haven’t even shared it on my best media platform. Thanks be to God that He has provided me a platform to share God’s truth.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of people got married this year. That is actually good, for the idea of marriage was introduced at the very beginning of the Bible, the Book of Genesis. See Genesis 2:18,21-24.
Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” … So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man He made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
It seems odd that Genesis 2:24 should be applied to Adam’s circumstance, his taking of a wife in Eve, for Adam does not have a human parent whom he should separate from as suggested by numerous Bible commentaries. There must be another meaning to Genesis 2:24 that would still be consistent with the context of Genesis chapters one and two – the story of God’s Creation.
The apostle Paul quoted Genesis 2:24 (“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh”) in two separate letters written to the church; see 1 Corinthians 6:12-17.
“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him.
The context of Paul’s discourse clearly was about the church, the body of Christ. Paul was rebuking the church for bringing their disputes before the courts of men; see 1 Corinthians 6:5-11.
I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers! Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
The apostle Paul teaches that Christ is the Head and the church is His body; see Colossians 1:15-23.
He [Jesus Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
In Romans 12:4-5, the Bible said:
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
Next, 1 Corinthians 12:27 says, “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.“
As can be seen above, Paul’s use of the word “body,” he meant the church, and Christians are individual members of the church. The church then is not the the building but the people of God. The church also is joined to the Lord and becomes one spirit with Him, hence here is a clear application of Genesis 2:24 having been quoted by Paul; see 1 Corinthians 6:15-17.
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him.
Understanding Genesis 2:24 from the perspective presented by Paul through 1 Corinthians 6:12-17 should enlighten us about the union of the church with the Lord. Scripture then, through Genesis 2:24, had prophetically foretold God’s New Creation; see 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
The “church” then is the New Creation of God. The other quotation of Genesis 2:24 by Paul may be found in Ephesians 5:31-32.
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.
Both in Ephesians and 1 Corinthians, Paul’s quotation of Genesis 2:24 spoke of the union or betrothal of Christ with the church while waiting for the Wedding Banquet – the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Yes, until the Return of Christ Jesus consummating His kingdom, the church remains in betrothal, not yet married to Christ. See 2 Corinthians 11:1-4; Paul, speaking to the church, said:
I wish you [the church] would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! For I feel a divine jealousy for you [the church], since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.
It surely is important to know and believe the Jesus Christ of the Bible, not based on conjecture of men but by the Word of God. For the Bible alone is the revelation of God for anyone to know Him, His message and promises.
It is of most importance to bear in mind that the Wedding Banquet of Christ and the church as taught by Jesus to His disciples would occur at His Return; see Matthew 24:44 to Matthew 25:13.
Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom His Master [Jesus Christ] has set over His household [Kingdom of heaven], to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom His master will find so doing when He comes. Truly, I say to you, He will set him over all His possessions [God’s kingdom]. But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect Him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the Bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them [no readiness], but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the Bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the Bridegroom! Come out to meet Him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the Bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with Him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But He answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
In Matthew 25:5, “As the Bridegroom was delayed,” the delay was not a deviation from Jesus’ promise but according to the plan of God; see 2 Peter 3:1-9.
This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
The passing of the heavens and the earth refers to God’s old covenant with Israel becoming obsolete. Yes, the Mosaic Covenant in Mount Sinai had become obsolete; see Hebrews 8:13.
In speaking of a new covenant, He [God] makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
Therefore, it’s not literal passing of heavens and earth as has been taught. See Isaiah 66:1, Scripture said:
Thus says the LORD: “Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool; what is the house that you would build for Me, and what is the place of My rest?
God declared heaven to be His throne, why then would He literally destroy even His place of throne? Can you see the irony of misunderstanding Scripture?
See also Deuteronomy 31:24 to 32:1.
When Moses had finished writing the words of this law in a book to the very end, Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, “Take this Book of the Law and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against you. For I know how rebellious and stubborn you are. Behold, even today while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the LORD. How much more after my death! Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears and call heaven and earth to witness against them. For I know that after my death you will surely act corruptly and turn aside from the way that I have commanded you. And in the days to come evil will befall you, because you will do what is evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger through the work of your hands.” Then Moses spoke the words of this song until they were finished, in the ears of all the assembly of Israel“Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak, and let the earth hear the words of my mouth.”
I did not write the whole of Deuteronomy 32 due to its length. It would be good though to read the entirety of Deuteronomy 28 to 33 for better comprehension. The Mosaic Covenant making Israel God’s people rest upon the condition of obedience to the Law. In Deuteronomy 32:1, Moses’ utterance of heavens and the earth was a covenant-making terminology. Therefore, the metaphorical expression “destruction of heavens and the earth” then speaks of the abolition of the covenant.
Furthermore, there’s no real delay that was not according to God’s grace. The “delay” was actually the time for the preparation of the harvest; see John 4:34-38.
Jesus said to them [His disciples], “My food is to do the will of Him [God the Father] who sent Me and to accomplish His work [the New Creation]. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”
Again, the presume delay concerning Jesus’ Return for people who witnessed His Advent was simply a period for the preparation of the harvest – the preaching of the Gospel for the deliverance of Jews who would believe so be saved and the increase of wickedness of all who refused Jesus so as be judge for God’s final punishment. That explains Jesus’ command to His disciples before sending them out to preach the Gospel; see Matthew 10:5-7,23.
These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ … When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
See Matthew 10:23; again Jesus clearly proclaimed that His Return would be at the lifetime of His apostles. There is therefore no argument regarding Jesus’ return, and with His return, the Old Covenant would pass away while ushering in His New Covenant.
See also Matthew 24:34-36.
Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place [the Second Coming with the destruction of the Jewish temple]. Heaven and earth [Mosaic Covenant] will pass away, but My words will not pass away. “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.“
Oh yes, Jesus said, “No one knows that day and hour except God the Father.” Christ was referring to the Zechariah 14:5-9, specifically verse 9.
And you shall flee to the valley of My mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. And you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with Him. On that day there shall be no light, cold, or frost. And there shall be a unique day, which is known to the LORD, neither day nor night, but at evening time there shall be light. On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea. It shall continue in summer as in winter. And the LORD will be King over all the earth. On that day the LORD will be one and His name one.
For the sake of argument, it might not be known to Jesus while He was still on earth, but He surely knew the day and the hour after His ascension because He said so; see Revelation 1:1-3,7.
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near … Behold, He [Jesus Christ] is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
In Revelation 1:7, “Every eye will see Him,” again a quotation from Zechariah 12:10.
“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on Him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.
Jesus received the revelation from God the Father and He gave it to John, His apostle, and He told him the time is near, He is coming! Once again, this agrees with the timetable of Jesus that His Return would be in the generation of His apostles (Matthew 16:27-28 and Matthew 10:23).
And as I have shared earlier, the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is the time of the Wedding Banquet (Matthew 25:10), of the Bridegroom and His church (Revelation 19:7-8), and also the time of His judgment against Israel (1 Thessalonians 2:14-16), thereby destroying the Jewish temple and abolishing His First Covenant, the Mosaic Covenant (Matthew 24:1-3,34-35; Hebrews 8:13).
Jesus Christ indeed is the Bridegroom who was to come; see Mark 2:18-20.
Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to Him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the Bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the Bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the Bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.
See also John 3:25-36. Here John the Baptist witnessed that Jesus is the Bridegroom.
Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. And they came to John [the Baptist] and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, He is baptizing, and all are going to Him.” John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before Him.’ The one who has the bride is the Bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears Him, rejoices greatly at the Bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.” He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what He has seen and heard, yet no one receives His testimony. Whoever receives His testimony sets His seal to this, that God is true.For He whom God has sent utters the words of God, for He gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
As I had mentioned earlier, Paul, in 2 Corinthians 11:2, clearly said the church prior to the return of Jesus was still in betrothal with the Lord. Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary explained the concept of Jewish betrothal.
Betrothal is a mutual promise or contract for a future marriage. In Hebrew custom, betrothal was actually part of the marriage process. A change of intention by one of the partners after he or she was betrothed was a serious matter, subject in some instances to penalty by fine. A Jewish betrothal could be dissolved only by the man’s giving the woman a certificate of divorce. A betrothal usually lasted for one year. During that year the couple were known as husband and wife, although they did not have the right to be united sexually. Betrothal was much more closely linked with marriage than our modern engagement. But the actual marriage took place only when the bridegroom took the bride to his home and the marriage was consummated in the sexual union.
When did Jesus, the Bridegroom, took His bride to be home with Him? See John 14:3.
And if I [Jesus Christ] go and prepare a place for you [the disciples], I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also.
The Advent of Jesus then is the coming of the Bridegroom betrothing the church to Him, as prophesied by the Old Testament Prophets of God and announced by John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ Jesus, announcing His coming so the kingdom of heaven indeed is at hand. See Matthew 3:1-3.
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’”
Jesus also announced the same; see Matthew 4:17.
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
See also Luke 17:20-21.
Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He [Jesus] answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”
The evidence of God’s kingdom rests on the reality that Jesus Christ came, for He declared, “For behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” Moreover, it cannot be observe or seen, for Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say ‘Look, here it is! or ‘There!”
It is ironic then that many who profess to be Christians remain adamant, refusing to believe Jesus’ declaration that He would return to consummate His Reign and Kingdom before the demised of His first generation disciples; see Matthew 16:27-28.
For the Son of Man is going to come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He will repay each person according to what he has done. Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
And let me remind everyone, Jesus made clear that the reality and presence of His kingdom cannot be observed or seen by the natural sight for it is a spiritual kingdom, right here in the midst of our present existence. Evil may continue to exist around us, but in God’s kingdom, which we may be part by faith in Christ Jesus, we are safely in the hands of the “Mighty Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)”.
By the way, Isaiah 9:6-7 is often quoted in reference to the Christmas festivity. But bear in mind that Isaiah 9:6-7 is not simply a declaration of Jesus’ birth, more so His reign, kingship, and of course kingdom.
To further understand the reality of God’s reign and the fact that Jesus had returned just as He had promised in numerous occasion and teaching, you may want to read my blog “Scripture vs. Tradition”.
Now going back to the theme of Marriage or Wedding Banquet – at the time of Paul, before the Return of Christ Jesus, the church remained betrothed to the Bridegroom; the marriage or union of Christ and the church had yet to be completed. I mentioned earlier that Paul did quote Genesis 2:24 and applied it to the relationship of Christ and the church. But before Paul, it is of most importance that Jesus Christ also quoted Genesis 2:24 (“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh”). See Matthew 19:1-9.
Now when Jesus had finished these sayings [Jesus’ teachings about the “Kingdom of Heaven” cf. Matthew 18:1-4], He went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. And large crowds followed Him, and He healed them there. And Pharisees came up to Him and tested Him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?”He answered, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?” He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”
Isn’t it clear that God’s creation of man and his wife was to be one flesh, joined by God in union with Himself? See the Trinity God’s declaration and purpose in creation (Genesis 1:26-27).
Then God said, “Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
The Trinity God is in perfect union with each Person of the GodHead – God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. So for man to be created in God’s image and likeness, it also spoke of the same perfect unity. Man (male and female) were in perfect unity with God before the fall. But due to the disobedience of both Adam and Eve, breaking God’s Covenant with them, mankind is no longer in unity with God. They were banished from the Garden of Eden – the picture of God’s presence with man.
Thanks be to God for His grace. See 1 Corinthians 15:22-26; Paul wrote:
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at His coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
As I have explained in my blog “Scripture vs. Tradition”, without the Return of Christ Jesus completing His kingdom, there is no resurrection yet. And death occurred in Genesis, immediately after Adam and Eve broke God’s covenant, just as God declared it would be once they disobeyed Him and ate the forbidden fruit. Again, as I have mentioned in my other blogs, it was a spiritual death that occurred – the alienation of man from God so they were banished from the Garden of Eden. Physical death came hundreds of years later, not immediately as pronounced by God, which is a natural consequence of man’s departure from God’s presence for what remains of man was his natural composition. Man was made from dust, thereby susceptible to decay. So the resurrection then is a spiritual one. Christians were made alive in Christ Jesus by faith. The resurrection or restoration of God’s union with man into the Garden of Eden was fulfilled after His Return – the Wedding Banquet.
The coming of the Bridegroom was announced by John the Baptist, some two thousand years ago. Jesus Christ came announcing His building of the church; see Matthew 16:13-19.
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this Rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Jesus Christ alone would build His church through the preaching of the Gospel. The church would fully be united with the GodHead – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit – with the Return of Christ, at the Wedding Banquet of Christ and the church.
Christ Jesus, not Peter, is the Rock by which the church would be built. See Ephesians 2:11-22.
Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made us both [Jew and Gentile] one and has broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of hostilityby abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God [the church], built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In Him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
See also, 1 Corinthians 10:1-4.
For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.
Christ Jesus indeed is the Rock, the Cornerstone by which His church is built. The church was betrothed to Christ at the time of Paul and the first generation Christians until the Wedding Banquet was consummated at the Return of Jesus. And bear in mind that Jesus promised to return before the demised of His immediate disciples – Peter, James and John and the rest of His apostles (cf. Matthew 10:23; Matthew 16:27-28).
Now, if it will be insisted that Jesus hasn’t returned, then there will be two possibilities only. As Christians, we hold on to the inerrant Word of God or the Scripture. Therefore every pronouncement of Jesus is true. So first, they must assume that the apostles are still alive today waiting for the return of Jesus, which of course is an impossibility. Then second, Jesus is not true to His Word, His pronouncement had fail, which I reject and am left with no choice but to understand and accept that the traditional teaching about Jesus’ Second Coming is erroneous, for it cannot stand the scrutiny of Scripture.
Hence, believing that Jesus Christ had fulfilled all His promises, He then is the Bridegroom who came just as He had promised and He was/is not a runaway bridegroom – knowingly or unknowingly projected by the traditional and popular teachings today. Actually, not only today but at the onset of the belief or teaching that Jesus has yet to return.
So sad that many who profess to love the Lord Jesus Christ fail to read and check the validity of each teaching and claim that is based on the imagination of man, not the Word of God. Quoting a Scripture here and there but denying or ignoring the context or background for which it was spoken is a dilution of the the Word of God, of which Jesus had forewarned against; see Revelation 22:16-20.
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
At the beginning of my blog, I shared that I took a rest from writing to relax and recharge. But due to the Reason of the Season, I was compelled to write this blog. However, due to the length of the discussion that would ensue, I have to end here for the moment. An understanding of the Wedding Banquet, vis-a-vis the church, is essential to our faith and walk. We shouldn’t simply celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and hope for the coming of His kingdom; rather, we ought to celebrate the festivity with the knowledge that the reality of His Kingdom is present and existing now. Glory be to God and Him alone!
Blessings everyone!
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Unlearning Tradition, Relearning Scripture 