| THE ECCLESIA
WHICH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST
Section
5b - The Body of Christ (cont'd)
The
Body of Christ (cont'd)
Mutual Edification
God's spirit in us moves
us to improve ourselves, to eliminate our shortcomings, and to put into
practice what Scripture advises us to. The body of Christ is not just one
person, but many. Though it is a desirable objective for each individual
in the ecclesia to grow in the grace of God, we are reminded that this
becomes real only as we edify one another, as we build each other up. This
becomes a sharing of God's blessings in love among all the members. God's
gifts to the individual are not reserved for the use of that individual
only, but are dispensed according to expedience for the up-building of
the whole ecclesia. This does not mean that we do what we can when
it seems most convenient to us. We are not Christians only in our spare
time. Scripture advocates our 'slaving for one another', going out of our
way for the sake of brethren, making the edification of others our priority.
We are on the road to maturity when we put this principle into practice.
1Cor.12:7
Now to each one is being given the manifestation of the spirit,
with a view to expedience.
Rom.14:19 Consequently,
then, we are pursuing that which makes for peace
and that which is for
edification of one another.
1Thes.5:11 Wherefore,
console one another and edify one the other,
according as you are doing
also.
1Cor.14:12 Thus
you also, since you are zealots for spiritual endowments,
seek that you may be superabounding
to the edification of the ecclesia.
Eph.4:29 Let
no tainted word at all be issuing out of your mouth,
but if any is good toward
needful edification,
that it may be giving
grace to those hearing.
1Cor.14:19,20
But, in the ecclesia, do I want to speak five words with my mind,
that I should be instructing
others also, or ten thousand words in a language?
Brethren, do not become
little children in disposition.
But in evil be minors, yet
in disposition become mature.
Rom.15:5,6 Now
may the God of endurance and consolation grant you
to be mutually disposed
to
one another, according to Christ Jesus,
that, with one accord, with
one mouth,
you may be glorifying the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rom.15:7 Wherefore
be taking one another to yourselves
according as Christ also
took you to Himself, for the glory of God.
1Cor.10:31 Then,
whether you are eating or drinking, or anything you are doing,
do all for the glory
of God.
1Cor.10:23,24
All is allowed me, but not all is expedient.
All is allowed me, but not
all is edifying.
Let no one be seeking the
welfare of himself, but that of another.
Gal.5:13-15
For you were called for freedom, brethren,
only use not the freedom
for an incentive to the flesh,
but through love be slaving
for one another.
For the entire law is fulfilled
in one word, in this:
"You shall love your associate
as yourself."
Now if you are biting and
devouring one another,
beware that you may not
be consumed by one another.
Eph.2:10 For
His
achievement are we, being created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God makes ready beforehand,
that we should be walking in them.
Eph.5:9,10 As
children of light be walking
(for the fruit of the light
is in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
testing what is well
pleasing to the Lord.
Gal.6:9 Now
we may not be despondent in ideal doing,
for in due season we shall
be reaping, if we do not faint.
1Tim.6:17-19
Those who are rich in the current eon be charging not to be haughty,
nor yet to rely on the dubiousness
of riches,
but on God, Who is
tendering us all things richly for our enjoyment;
to be doing good acts, to
be rich in ideal acts, to be liberal contributors,
treasuring up for themselves
an ideal foundation for that which is impending,
that they may get hold of
life really.
Gal.6:10 Consequently,
then, as we have occasion,
we are working for the
good of all,
yet specially for
the family of faith.
Operating According
To The Truth
Spiritual growth for the
individual, as well as for the whole ecclesia, can be realised only as
we order our lives in accord with revealed truth. Hence a continual effort
must be made to study what has been revealed for us of the body of Christ.
Based on this source, we can set the priorities that will engender an environment
for growth. Knowing the satanic influence over the world's wisdom and methods,
we cannot allow ourselves to be dictated to by commercial and corporate
principles, which measure success by physical and tangible results, in
the operation of the ecclesia. We are humans, still physical, but our arena
is spiritual. We need God's revelation to tell us how things operate on
this, for now, intangible plane.
1Cor.1:10
Now I am entreating you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that all may be saying the
same
thing, and there may be no schisms among you,
but you may be attuned
to the same mind and to the same opinion.
1Cor.11:18,19 For
first, indeed, at your coming together in the ecclesia,
I am hearing of schisms
inhering among you, and some part I am believing.
For it must be that
there are sects also among you,
that those also who
are qualified may be becoming apparent among you.
Col.2:18,19
Let no one be arbitrating against you, who wants,
in humility and the ritual
of the messengers, to parade what he has seen,
feignedly, puffed up by
his fleshly mind,
and not holding the Head,
out of Whom the entire body,
being supplied and united
through the assimilation and ligaments,
is growing in the growth
of God.
1Cor.3:7 So
that, neither is he who is planting anything, nor he who is irrigating,
but God Who makes
it grow up.
2Tim.4:2-4 Herald
the word. Stand by it, opportunely, inopportunely,
expose, rebuke, entreat,
with all patience and teaching.
For the era will be
when they will not tolerate sound teaching,
but, their hearing being
tickled,
they will heap up for themselves
teachers in accord with their own desires,
and, indeed, they will be
turning their hearing away from the truth,
yet will be turned aside
to
myths.
Col.3:16,17
Let the word of Christ be making its home in you richly,
in all wisdom, teaching
and admonishing yourselves;
in psalms, in hymns, in
spiritual songs,
singing, with grace in your
hearts to God.
And everything, whatsoever
you may be doing, in word or in act,
do all in the name of
the Lord Jesus Christ,
giving thanks to God, the
Father, through Him.
We need to distinguish truth
from error; we must learn how to. Otherwise we shall be just merchandise
in the hands of spiritual slavers! And we become slaves to men, who appear
to be of God, and to their venerated traditions - as they teach 'for teachings
the directions of men' which are made to take on the appearance of being
of God - paying mere lip service to our Lord. We fall from the environment
of revealed truth and from freedom as sons of God, a freedom won for us
by Jesus, our Lord.
We must expect, because Scripture
forewarns us of the situation, that such false teachers are within the
ecclesia and that they form a substantial number within the ranks
of the believers.
2Cor.11:13-15
For
such are false apostles,
fraudulent workers,
being transfigured into apostles of Christ. And no marvel,
for Satan himself
is being transfigured into a messenger of light. It is no great
thing,
then, if his servants
also are being transfigured as dispensers of righteousness--
2Cor.2:17 For
we are not as the majority, who are peddling the word
of God,
but as of sincerity, but
as of God, in the sight of God in Christ, are we speaking.
Tit.1:9-11 upholding
the faithful word according to the teaching,
that he may be able to
entreat with sound teaching
as well as to expose
those who contradict.
For many are insubordinate,
vain praters and imposters,
especially those of the
Circumcision,
who must be gagged, who
are subverting whole households,
teaching what they must
not, on behalf of sordid gain.
Phil.3:18 for
many
are walking, of whom I often told you,
yet now am lamenting also
as I tell it,
who are enemies of the
cross of Christ,
Tit.1:13-16
This testimony is true. For which cause be exposing them severely,
that they may be sound
in the faith,
not heeding Jewish myths
and precepts of men who are turning from the truth.
All, indeed, is clean to
the clean,
yet to the defiled and unbelieving
nothing is clean,
but their mind as well as
conscience is defiled.
They are avowingan
acquaintance with God, yet by their acts are denying it,
being abominable and stubborn,
and disqualified for every good act.
Mt.15:8,9 This
people with their lips is honoring Me,
Yet their heart is
away at a distance from Me.
Yet in vain are they
revering Me, Teaching for teachings the directions of men
Col.2:22,23
…in accord with the directions and teachings of men?-- which are
(having, indeed, an expression
of wisdom in a willful ritual and humility and asceticism)
not of any value toward
the surfeiting of the flesh.
1Tim.4:1,2 Now
the spirit is saying explicitly,
that in subsequent eras
some will be withdrawing from the faith,
giving heed to deceiving
spirits and the teachings of demons,
in the hypocrisy of false
expressions,
their own conscience having
been cauterized;
Eph.5:6-8 Let
no one be seducing you with empty words, for because of these things
the indignation of God is
coming on the sons of stubbornness.
Do not, then, become joint
partakers with them,
for you were once darkness,
yet now you are light in the Lord.
Col.2:2-4 that
their hearts may be consoled, being united in love,
and to all the riches of
the
assurance of understanding,
unto a realization
of the secret of the God and Father, of Christ,
in Whom all the treasures
of wisdom and knowledge are concealed.
Now I am saying this, that
no one may be beguiling you with persuasive words.
Col.2:6-8 As,
then, you accepted Christ Jesus, the Lord, be walking in Him,
having been rooted and being
built up in Him,
and being confirmed in
the faith according as you were taught,
superabounding in it with
thanksgiving.
Beware that no one shall
be despoiling you through philosophy and empty seduction,
in accord with human
tradition, in accord with the elements of the world,
and not in accord
with Christ,
2Tim.3:1-8 Now
this know, that in the last days perilous periods will be present,
for men will be selfish,
fond of money, ostentatious, proud,
calumniators, stubborn to
parents, ungrateful, malign, without natural affection, implacable, adversaries,
uncontrollable, fierce, averse to the good, traitors, rash, conceited,
fond of their own gratification rather than fond of God;
having a form of devoutness,
yet denying its power.
These, also, shun. For of
these are those who are slipping into homes
and are leading into captivity
little women,
heaped with sins, being
led by various lusts and gratifications,
always learning and yet
not
at any time able to come into a realization of the truth.
Now, by the method by which
Jannes and Jambres withstand Moses,
thus these also are
withstanding
the truth,
men of a depraved
mind, disqualified as to the faith.
Understanding of truth comes
from a right application of Scripture rather than from argument and 'wise',
but non-scriptural, assertions by those who, to all appearances, seem to
be honest and of good character. We are advised to avoid being involved
in such spiritually deadly distractions which spawn error and generate
friction.
Tit.2:1
Now you be speaking what is becoming to sound teaching.
1Tim.4:12,13
… become a model for the believers,
in word, in behavior, in
love, in faith, in purity.
Till I come, give heed to
reading, to entreaty, to teaching.
Tit.3:10,11
A sectarian man, after one and a second admonition, refuse,
being aware that such a
one has turned himself out,
and is sinning, being self-condemned.
Rom.16:17,18
Now I am entreating you, brethren,
to be noting those who are
making dissensions and snares
beside the teaching which
you learned, and avoid them,
for such for our Lord Christ
are not slaving, but for their own bowels,
and through compliments
and adulation are deluding the hearts of the innocent.
2Tim.2:23 Now
stupid and crude questionings refuse,
being aware that they are
generating fightings.
Tit.3:9 Yet
stand aloof from stupid questioning and genealogies
and strifes and fightings
about law,
for they are without
benefit and vain.
2Tim.2:14 Of
these things be reminding them, conjuring them in the Lord's sight
not to engage in controversy
for
nothing useful,
to the upsetting of those
who are hearing.
2Tim.2:16-18 Yet
from profane prattlings stand aloof,
for they will be progressing
to more irreverence,
and their word will spread
as
gangrene,
of whom are Hymeneus and
Philetus, who swerve as to truth,
saying that the resurrection
has already occurred,
and are subverting the
faith of some.
2Tim.2:24-26
Now a slave of the Lord must not be fighting,
but be gentle toward
all, apt to teach, bearing with evil,
with meekness training
those who are antagonizing,
seeing whether God may
be giving them repentance
to come into a realization
of the truth,
and they will be sobering
up out of the trap of the Adversary,
having been caught aliveby
him, for that one's will.
We have to be very careful about
such characters for their errors will spread within the ecclesia, especially
among those who neglect, or are careless about, the study of God's word.
Gal.5:7-10
You raced ideally! Who hinders you not to be persuaded by the truth?
This persuasion is not of
Him Who is calling you.
A little leaven is leavening
the whole kneading.
I have confidence in you
in the Lord
that in nothing you will
be disposed otherwise.
Now he who is disturbing
you shall be bearing his judgment,
whosoever he may be.
At the same time, we have to
be very alert to the danger of having our fellowship disrupted through
our becoming involved with factions and through divisions caused by personality
problems. Jealousy and discrimination are engendered by our not keeping
in mind the fact that 'all is of God' (2Cor.5:18).
1Cor.3:3,4
… For where there is jealousy and strife among you,
are you not fleshly and
walking according to man?
For whenever anyone may
be saying,
"I, indeed, am of Paul,"
yet another, "I, of Apollos," will he not be fleshly?
1Cor.4:6,7 …be
learning not to be disposed above what is written,
that you may not be puffed
up, one over the one, against the other.
For who is making you to
discriminate?
Now what have you which
you did not obtain?
Now if you obtained it also,
why are you boasting as though not obtaining?
Pride, camouflaged as self-fulfillment
in a desire for recognition by peers, is out of place in the ecclesia.
Each member is placed in the ecclesia to function for the growth of the
whole body. Each should strive for best results and should assess his own
work critically as one important step in the process towards the completion
of a finished piece of art that will please the Lord Who oversees the production.
It is He Who will commend and reward the good worker.
Gal.6:3-5
For if anyone is supposing himself to be anything,
being nothing, he is imposing
on himself.
Now let each one be testing
his
own work,
and then he shall be having
his boast for himself alone, and not for another,
for each one shall be bearing
his
own load.
2Cor.5:10 For
all
of us must be manifested in front of the dais of Christ,
that each should be requited
for that which he puts into practice through the body,
whether good or bad.
2Cor.10:17,18
Now he who is boasting, in the Lord let him be boasting.
For not he who is commending
himself is qualified,
but whom the Lord
is commending.
Support Of The Ministry
Not everyone in the ecclesia
is meant to be an evangelist, or a pastor, or a teacher. But that does
not mean that those who do not have this function have no part or share
in the ministry. Scripture shows how each may still participate through
other, indirect, ways - through prayer and contributions.
Eph.6:18-20
During every prayer and petition be praying on every occasion
(in spirit being vigilant
also for it with all perseverance and petition
concerning all the saints,
and for me),
that to me expression
may be granted, in the opening of my mouth with boldness,
to make known the secret
of the evangel,
for which I am conducting
an embassy in a chain,
that in it I should be speaking
boldly, as I must speak.
1Thes.5:12,13
…perceive those who are toiling among you
and presiding over you
in the Lord and admonishing you,
and to deem them exceedingly
distinguished in love, because of their work.
Be at peace among yourselves.
1Tim.5:17,18
Let elders who have presided ideally be counted worthy of double honor,
especially those who
are toiling in word and teaching,
for the scripture is saying:
"A threshing ox you shall not be muzzling,"
and "Worthy is the worker
of his wages."
1Cor.9:6-11
Who is warring at any time supplying his own rations?
Who is planting a vineyard
and not eating of its fruit?
Or who is tending a flock
and not eating of the milk of the flock?
Not according to man am
I speaking these things.
Or is the law not also saying
these things?
For in the law of Moses
it is written:
"You shall not muzzle the
threshing ox." Not for oxen is the care of God!
Or is He undoubtedly saying
it because of us? Because of us,
for it was written that
the plower ought to be plowing in expectation,
and the thresher to partake
of his expectation.
If, in expectation, we sow
the spiritual in you,
is it a great thing if we
shall reap of your fleshly things?
1Cor.9:13,14
Are you not aware that the workers at the sacred things
are eating of the things
of the sanctuary?
Those settling beside the
altar have their portion with the altar.
Thus the Lord also prescribes
that
those who are announcing
the evangel are to be living of the evangel.
Gal.6:6-8 Now
let him who is being instructed in the word
be contributing to him who
is instructing, in all good things.
Be not deceived, God is
not to be sneered at,
for whatsoever a man may
be sowing, this shall he be reaping also,
for he who is sowing for
his own flesh, from the flesh shall be reaping corruption,
yet he who is sowing for
the spirit, from the spirit shall be reaping life eonian.
2Cor.9:6,7 …
who is sowing sparingly, sparingly shall be reaping also,
and who is sowing bountifully,
bountifully shall be reaping also,
each according as he
has proposed in his heart,
not sorrowfully, nor of
compulsion, for the gleeful giver is loved by God.
Response To Unbecoming Behaviour
We have to realise that it
takes time and effort to understand doctrines that are meant for us. We
have to understand the situations others face, and be tolerant of their
lack of assimilation of spiritual principles. Where aberrant behaviour
is concerned, however, strict measures must be taken to prevent such attitudes
from spreading through and contaminating the ecclesia. It is true that
there is no more condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Rom.8:1). But
this does not mean that we can now sin as we like (Rom.6:1-7). We were
slaves to Sin (Rom.6:17). But, Scripture declares that,
1Cor.6:20
For you are bought with a price. By all means glorify God in your
body.
Scripture also tells us that,
1Cor.6:12
All is allowed me, but not all is expedient.
All is allowed me, but I
will not be put under its authority by anything.
2Tim.2:22 Now
youthful desires flee: yet pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace,
with all who are invoking
the Lord out of a clean heart.
Eph.5:11,12
And be not joint participants in the unfruitful acts of darkness,
yet rather be exposing them
also,
for it is a shame even to
speak of the hidden things occurring, done by them.
1Tim.5:19,20 Against
an elder do not assent to an accusation
outside and except before
two or three witnesses.
Those who are sinning be
exposing in the sight of all,
that the rest also may
have fear.
1Cor.5:11-13 ...
I write to you not to be commingling with anyone named a brother,
if he should be a paramour,
or greedy, or an idolater, or a reviler,
or a drunkard, or an extortioner.
With such a one you are not even to be eating.
For what is it to me to
be judging those outside?
You are not judging those
within!
Now those outside, God is
judging.
Expel the wicked
one from among yourselves.
1Cor.5:5-7 to
give up such a one to Satan for the extermination of the flesh,
that the spirit may
be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Not ideal is your boast.
Are you not aware that a
little leaven is leavening the whole kneading?
Clean out, then, the old
leaven, that you may be a fresh kneading,
according as you are
unleavened….
Scripture advocates a walk in
peace and orderliness. Toil and labour so as to have sufficient to share
with those who are in need is commended
2Thes.3:13-15
Now you, brethren, should not be despondent in ideal doing.
Now if anyone is not obeying
our word through this epistle,
let it be a sign to you
as to this man,
not to commingle
with him, that he may be abashed;
and do not deem him
as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
2Thes.3:6 Now
we are charging you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
to be putting yourselves
from every brother who is walking disorderly
and not in accord with the
tradition which they accepted from us.
2Thes.3:10-12
For even when we were with you, we gave this charge to you:
that "If anyone is not willing
to work, neither let him eat."
For we are hearing that
some among you are walking disorderly,
working at nothing, but
are meddling.
Now such we are charging
and entreating in the Lord Jesus Christ,
that, working with quietness,
they may be eating their own bread.
Eph.4:28 Let
him who steals by no means still be stealing:
yet rather let him be toiling,
working with his hands at what is good,
that he may have to share
with one who has need.
Appreciation Of Our Existing
Unity
There is only one body of
Christ, and that is the ecclesia. All of us have the same status in Christ.
We have the same spirit, we are sons of God, and we will surely be delivered
in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ. According to His Own counsel, God
has placed each member as an integral part of that body, so that each should
function in the way He has determined for them, to complement
that of the others in the efficient operation of the whole ecclesia. No
matter what the given function of the others may be, we have our own part,
set by God Himself, to implement in synchronism with the rest. We need
to realise that the same spirit forms us into one complete unit, the one
body of Christ! We should, therefore, avoid conflict and friction. Instead,
we should be caring about the welfare of the others, and be cooperative
with them in the operation of the ecclesia..
Gal.3:27,28
For whoever are baptized into Christ, put on Christ,
in Whom there is no Jew
nor yet Greek, there is no slave nor yet free,
there is no male and female,
for you all are one in Christ Jesus.
1Cor.1:10 …I
am entreating you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that all may be saying the
same
thing,
and there may be no schisms
among
you,
but you may be attuned
to the same mind and to the same opinion.
1Cor.12:13,14
For in one spirit also we all are baptized into one body,
whether Jews or Greeks,
whether slaves or free,
and all are made
to imbibe one spirit.
For the body also is not
one member, but many.
Eph.4:2,3 with
all humility and meekness, with patience,
bearing with one
another in love,
endeavoring to keep
the unity of the spirit with the tie of peace:
1Cor.12:24,25
Now our respectable members have no need,
but God blends the body
together,
giving to that which is
deficient more exceeding honor,
that there may be no schism
in the body,
but the members may be solicitous
for one another.
1Cor.12:11 Now
all these one and the same spirit is operating,
apportioning to each his
own, according as He is intending.
Eph.4:7 Now
to each one of us was given grace
in accord with the measure
of the gratuity of Christ.
1Cor.12:4-6
Now there are apportionments of graces, yet the same spirit,
and there are apportionments
of services, and the same Lord,
and there are apportionments
of operations, yet the same God
Who is operating all in
all.
Col.3:14,15
Now over all these put on love, which is the tie of maturity.
And let the peace of Christ
be arbitrating in your hearts,
for which you were called
also in one body; and become thankful.
Scripture likens the ecclesia
to projects in the hands of God, as His farm, as His building, and as His
dwelling place, His house. Those who are carrying out their assigned functions
have the privilege of having a share in working with God towards
the completion of His projects.
1Cor.3:9
For God's fellow workers are we. God's farm, God's building,
are you.
Eph.2:21,22
in Whom the entire building,
being connected together,
is growing into a holy temple in the Lord:
in Whom you, also, are being
built together for God's dwelling place, in spirit.
1Tim.3:14,15
These things I am writing to you, …
that you may be perceiving
how
one must behave in God's house,
which is the ecclesia
of the living God,
the pillar and base of
the truth.
Family Relationships
It is all very much the matter
of relationships - with God, with Christ, with fellow believers, and with
our own families. In fact, family relationship is the pattern God uses
to establish the other interactions. He chooses to be Father, we His children,
and Christ the Firstborn among us. In the matter of selection of supervisors
for the local ecclesias, it is stated that such should be…
1Tim.3:4,5
controlling his own household ideally,
having his children in subjection
with all gravity--
now if anyone is not aware
how to control his own household,
how will he care for
the ecclesia of God?
Scripture gives much needed
advice for parents and children, as well as for husbands and wives, which
we will do well to heed so that there is peace and harmony within the home.
Our minds would then be at peace and free to cope with other issues within
the ecclesia.
1Tim.5:8
Now if anyone is not providing for his own, and especially his family,
he has disowned the
faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.
Col.3:20,21
Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing in
the Lord.
Fathers, do not vex your
children, lest they may be disheartened.
Eph.6:1-4 Children,
be obeying your parents, in the Lord, for this is just.
"Honor your father and mother"
(which is the first precept with a promise),
that it may be becoming
well with you, and you should be a long time on the earth.
And fathers, do not be vexing
your children,
but be nurturing them in
the discipline and admonition of the Lord.
Eph.5:22-25
Let the wives be subject to their own husbands, as to the Lord,
for the husband is head
of the wife even as Christ is Head of the ecclesia,
and He is the Saviour
of
the body.
Nevertheless, as
the ecclesia is subject to Christ,
thus are the wives
also to their husbands in everything.
Husbands, be loving your
wives
according as Christ also
loves the ecclesia, and gives Himself up for its sake,
Eph.5:28,29
the husbands also ought to be loving their own wives as their own bodies.
He who is loving his own
wife is loving himself.
For no one at any time hates
his
own flesh, but is nurturing and cherishing it,
according as Christ also
the ecclesia,
Eph.5:33 Moreover,
you also individually, each be loving his own wife thus, as himself,
yet that the wife may be
fearing the husband.
1Cor.7:11 Yet
if she should be separated also,
let her remain unmarried
or be conciliated to her husband.
And a husband is not
to leave his wife.
1Cor.7:12-15
Now to the rest am I speaking, not the Lord.
If any brother has an unbelieving
wife,
and she approves of making
a home with him, let him not leave her.
And a wife who has an unbelieving
husband,
and he approves of making
a home with her, let her not leave her husband.
For the unbelieving husband
is hallowed by the wife,
and the unbelieving wife
is hallowed by the brother,
else, consequently, your
children are unclean. Yet now they are holy.
Yet if the unbeliever is
separating, let him separate.
A brother or a sister is
not enslaved in such a case.
Now God has called us in
peace.
Col.3:18,19
Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord.
Husbands, love your own
wives and be not bitter toward them.
Work Relationships
Most people, today, work
for organisations and companies and institutions. In effect, they are servants
to these, whether they like to accept the nomenclature or not. Their time
and effort - at least, for part of the day - has been sold, or contracted
out, to their employers for a certain remuneration. But, the blind obedience
some defer to 'the company', even to being involved in 'dirty tactics',
makes them virtual slaves to the organisation they are with. Tale-telling,
back-stabbing, apple-polishing, pretence, cover-ups, spying - anything
goes, as long as they can get on the good side of their bosses.
Most of us Christians, too,
work at similar occupations. But our motivation should not be just
to please those in charge of us. These people are incidental to our livelihood.
We have one Lord to Whom we are happy to subject ourselves. We should
seek to please Him in all that we do, striving for excellence in
His service. He it is Who will recompense us fairly and justly for He knows
every situation we are in.
Eph.6:5-8
Slaves, be obeying your masters according to the flesh
with fear and trembling,
in the singleness of your heart, as to Christ,
not with eye-slavery, as
man-pleasers,
but as slaves of
Christ, doing the will of God from the soul,
with good humor slaving
as
to the Lord and not to men,
being aware that, whatsoever
good each one should be doing,
for this he will
be requited by the Lord, whether slave or free.
Col.3:22-24
Slaves, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh,
not with eye-slavery, as
man-pleasers, but with singleness of heart, fearing the Lord.
All, whatsoever you
may be doing, work from the soul, as to the Lord and not to men,
Being aware that from
the Lord you will be getting the compensation
of the enjoyment of an allotment:
for
the Lord Christ are you slaving.
1Cor.7:21-23 Were
you called a slave? Let it not be causing you care.
But if you are able to become
free also, use it rather.
For, in the Lord, he who
is being called a slave, is the Lord's freedman.
Likewise, he who is being
called, being free, is a slave of Christ.
With a price are you
bought. Do not become the slaves of men.
Those who are employers should
treat their employees with respect and fairness, not exploiting their fear
of being demoted or of losing their much needed employment. Though such
masters are in a position to decide the welfare of others, their own place
is determined by the Master.
Eph.6:9
And, masters, be doing the same toward them, being lax in threatening,
being aware that their Master
as
well as yours is in the heavens,
and there is no partiality
with Him.
Col.4:1 Masters,
tender that which is just and equitable to your slaves,
being aware that you
also have a Master in the heavens.
Being Usefully Occupied
Even those who are getting
on in years should understand that they have a duty to conduct themselves
with decorum for the benefit of the younger members. The younger members
should see to it that they behave in a manner that brings credit to the
ecclesia.
Tit.2:2
The aged men are to be sober, grave, sane,
sound in the faith, in love,
in endurance;
Tit.2:3-5 the
aged women, similarly, in demeanor as becomes the sacred,
not adversaries, nor enslaved
by much wine, teachers of the ideal,
that they may bring the
young wives to a sense of their duty to be fond of their husbands, fond
of their children, sane, chaste, domestic, good, subject to their own husbands,
that the word of God may
not be blasphemed.
Tit.2:6-8 The
younger men, similarly, entreat to be sane as to all things,
tendering yourself a
model of ideal acts,
in teaching with uncorruptness,
gravity, with words sound, uncensurable,
that the contrary one may
be abashed, having nothing bad to say concerning us.
Relationship With
Those Outside The Ecclesia
Though we are not of the
world (Jn.17:16), our realm being 'inherent in the heavens' (Phil.3:20),
the fact is that we are in the world.. As ambassadors of a heavenly
realm in an alien environment (2Cor.5:20), we should be at peace with those
with whom we come into contact. We must bear with their misunderstanding
of our message (which is certain, unless the individuals we address are
being called by God), our conduct and approach being in the spirit of grace,
tactfully fielding their questions or accusations.
Rom.12:17-19
To no one render evil for evil,
making ideal provision in
the sight of all men,
if possible that which
comes out from yourselves.
Being at peace with all
mankind, you are not avenging yourselves,
Col.4:5,6 In
wisdom be walking toward those outside, reclaiming the era,
your word being always with
grace, seasoned with salt,
perceiving how you
must answer each one.
While we are in the world, we
have been placed under subjection to governments. We may not agree with
their strategies and policies. We may detest the corruption, dirty tactics,
and hypocrisy that seem to go hand in hand with politics.
Scripture, however, asserts
that it is God Who placed these authorities where they are
to suit His purpose. No one is in charge whom He has not
placed in charge. This being so, we are not to resist them. On the other
hand, we are advised to be ready to assist in whatever is for the benefit
of mankind.
Rom.13:1,2
Let every soul be subject to the superior authorities,
for there is no authority
except under God.
Now those which are, have
been set under God,
so that he who is resisting
an authority has withstood God's mandate….
Tit.3:1,2 Remind
them to be subject to sovereignties, to authorities;
to be yielding, and to be
ready for every good work,
to be calumniating no one,
to be pacific, lenient,
displaying all meekness
toward
all humanity.
Tit.3:8 Faithful
is the saying, …be insistent concerning these things,
that those who have believed
God may be concerned to preside for ideal acts.
These things are ideal and
beneficial for humanity.
Rom.13:7,8 Render
to all their dues,
to whom tax, tax, to whom
tribute, tribute, to whom fear, fear, to whom honor, honor.
To no one owe anything,
except to be loving one another,
for he who is loving another
has fulfilled law.
Focus
To hit our targets, to achieve
our objectives, we need to be focussed on them. We need to set priorities
and begin to 'zero in' on them. Our attitudes must be adjusted and our
discipline should be firm and strong. As children of God, we should want
to do all we can, subjecting our every faculty to the will of God (as we
know it), for the glory of our Father.
Jesus our Lord, into Whose
image we are being conformed (Rom.8:29) set the precedent for our emulation.
He was completely focussed on bringing honour and glory to His God and
Father, carrying out God's will in all things, even to death.
Heb.10:7,9
Then said I, "Lo! I am arriving--
In the summary of the scroll
it is written concerning Me--
To do Thy will, O God."
He has declared, "Lo! I
am arriving to do Thy will, O God!"
Jn.5:30 "I can
not do anything of Myself.
According as I am hearing
am I judging; and My judging is just,
for I am not seeking My
will, but the will of Him Who sends Me.
Jn.6:38 for
I have descended from heaven,
not that I should be doing
My
will, but the will of Him Who sends Me
Jn.12:49,50
seeing that I speak not from Myself,
but the Father Who sends
Me, He has given Me the precept,
what I may be saying
and what I should be speaking.
And I am aware that His
precept is life eonian.
What, then, I am speaking,
according as the
Father has declared it to Me, thus am I speaking."
Gal.4:6 Now,
seeing that you are sons,
God delegates the spirit
of His Son into our hearts,
crying "Abba! Father!"
[cf. Rom.8:14-16]
Phil.2:5-8
For let this disposition be in you, which is in Christ Jesus also,
Who, being inherently in
the form of God,
deems it not pillaging to
be equal with God,
nevertheless empties
Himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming to be in the likeness
of humanity,
and, being found in fashion
as a human, He humbles Himself,
becoming obedient unto
death, even the death of the cross.
Gal.1:4 Who
gives Himself for our sins,
so that He might
extricate us out of the present wicked eon,
Rom.8:9 …Now
if anyone has not Christ's spirit, this one is not His.
Rom.12:1,2 I
am entreating you,…
by the pities of God, to
present your bodies a sacrifice,
living, holy, well pleasing
to God, your logical divine service,
and not to be configured
to this eon,
but to be transformed
by the renewing of your mind,
for you to be testing what
is
the will of God, good and well pleasing and perfect.
Eph.5:16,17
Be observing accurately, then, brethren, how you are walking,
not as unwise, but as
wise, reclaiming the era, for the days are wicked.
Therefore do not become
imprudent,
but understand what the
will of the Lord is.
Col.1:9-11 …
that you may be filled full with the realization of His will,
in all wisdom and spiritual
understanding,
you to walk worthily
of the Lord for all pleasing,
bearing fruit in
every good work, and growing in the realization of God;
being endued with all power,
in accord with the might of His glory,
for all endurance and patience
with joy;
Phil.4:8 For
the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is grave, whatever is just,
whatever is pure, whatever
is agreeable, whatever is renowned—
if there is any virtue,
and if any applause, be taking these into account.
What the world can offer is
only temporary; it is powerless to provide anything of permanence. We have
found that the world's wisdom is not in accord with God's. It aggrandises
the self, advocating self-determination and the 'pedestal-ising' of personal
achievement. These worldly principles cater to the satisfying of the flesh
- which only leads to sin, and death. Can we continue to be disposed to
these enticements?
Col.3:1-3
If, then, you were roused together with Christ,
be seeking that which
is above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
Be disposed to that which
is above, not to that on the earth,
for you died, and
your life is hid together with Christ in God.
Phil.3:13,14
Brethren, not as yet am I reckoning myself to have grasped,
yet one thing--forgetting,
indeed, those things which are behind,
yet stretching out
to those in front-- toward the goal am I pursuing
for the prize of God's
calling above in Christ Jesus.
2Thes.1:11,12
For which we are always praying also concerning you,
that our God should be counting
you worthy of the calling,
and should be fulfilling
every delight of goodness and work of faith in power,
so that the name of our
Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him,
in accord with the grace
of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is of utmost importance for
us to differentiate between the salvation of believers on faith and the
rewards to believers on work done. Many, if not most, have been quite unable
to distinguish the one from the other.
Considering certain passages,
they conclude that salvation is through works, or at least that it is through
faith and works.
Scripture, in contrast, is
quite unambiguous on this - if only we would wholeheartedly believe what
it addresses to us, of the body of Christ. Salvation is through faith and
quite apart from works of any sort. And, even this saving faith is not
self-generated. It is God's goodwill present, initiating His approach to
the one that is being saved.
Eph.2:8,9
For in grace, through faith, are you saved, and this is not out of you;
it is God's approach
present, not of works, lest anyone should be boasting.
Rom.3:28 …For
we are reckoning a man to be justified by faith apart from works of
law.
It is flawed reasoning to conclude
from this that there are no works involved in the life of the believer!
As far as Scripture is concerned, this puts the cart before the horse.
Scripture insists that no works on the part of the believer can qualify
him for salvation. It declares, instead, that his salvation (apart
from works) initiates his involvement in good works that have been
prepared for him to do. The good works come as a result of his being
saved!
Eph.2:10
For His achievement are we, being created in Christ Jesus for
good works,
which God makes ready
beforehand, that we should be walking in them.
Phil.2:12,13
… with fear and trembling, be carrying your own salvation into effect,
for it is God Who is
operating in you to will as well as to work for the sake of His delight.
Our faith is in Jesus Christ.
On this sure foundation we need to exercise, to work out, our salvation!
What useful work we do produce from this 'carrying into effect'
brings on us rewards from God, in keeping with the quality of our performance.
We may participate in many distracting, energy-dissipating, activities
in our 'church' environment that earn us praise and accolades without actually
building anything that counts with God. But, even if we produce
nothing of real value, our salvation is never in jeopardy!
1Cor.3:11-15
For other foundation can no one lay beside that which is laid,
which is Jesus Christ.
Now if anyone is building
on this foundation
gold and silver, precious
stones, wood, grass, straw,
each one's work will become
apparent,
for the day will make it
evident, for it is being revealed by fire.
And the fire, it will be
testing
each one's work--what kind it is.
If anyone's work will be
remaining which he builds on it, he will get wages.
If anyone's work shall be
burned up, he will forfeit it,
yet he shall be saved,
yet thus, as through fire.
Being just, our God will reward
us appropriately for good work done in the service of the Lord. Though
all believers will be delivered as promised when the Lord comes for us
in the air, only those of faithful, useful, enduring service will reign
with Him! Yes, only those who endure the toil and suffering that goes with
the evangel (2Tim.1:8) will reign with Christ. Those who do not produce
such work, or who withdraw from working under the Lord in the evangel,
though saved and with Christ, will not have a share in His beneficent reign.
It is, here, a matter of rewards, not of salvation.
Rom.8:17,18
Yet if children, enjoyers also of an allotment,
enjoyers, indeed, of an
allotment from God,
yet joint enjoyers of Christ's
allotment,
if so be that we
are suffering together, that we should be glorified together
also.
For I am reckoning that
the sufferings of the current era
do not deserve the
glory about to be revealed for us.
2Tim.2:11-13
Faithful is the saying:
"For if we died together,
we shall be living together also;
if we are enduring,
we shall be reigning together also;
if we are disowning, He
also will be disowning us;
if we are disbelieving,
He is remaining faithful--He cannot disown Himself."
1Cor.10:31 Then,
whether you are eating or drinking, or anything you are doing,
do all for the glory
of God.
Eph.1:12
that we should be for the laud of His glory,
who are pre-expectant in
the Christ.
We need to ascertain, therefore,
the important objectives that we should direct our efforts to. Even love
can be misdirected and become an obstacle in the growth of the ecclesia.
To this end God has given some, within the fellowship, certain gifts to
be exercised in accord with the evangel for the growth of the ecclesia
as a whole. With these gifts in operation, the ecclesia is built up to
maturity in the things that are of consequence, thus protecting the members
of the body from being carried away into error, both in doctrine as well
as in its practical application.
Phil.1:9-11
And this I am praying, that your love may be superabounding
still more and more in
realization and all sensibility,
for you to be testing
what things are of consequence,
that you may be sincere
and no stumbling block for the day of Christ,
filled with the fruit of
righteousness that is through Jesus Christ
for the glory and laud
of God.
Eph.4:11-14
And the same One gives these, indeed, as apostles,
yet these as prophets, yet
these as evangelists, yet these as pastors and teachers,
toward the adjusting
of the saints for the work of dispensing,
for the upbuilding
of the body of Christ,
unto the end that we should
all
attain
to the unity of the faith
and of the realization of
the son of God, to a mature man,
to the measure of the
stature of the complement of the Christ,
that we may by no means
still be minors,
surging hither and thither
and being carried about
by every wind of teaching,
by human caprice,
by craftiness with a view
to the systematizing of the deception.
Eph.5:6-8 Let
no one be seducing you with empty words,
for because of these things
the indignation of God is coming on the sons of stubbornness.
Do not, then, become joint
partakers with them,
for you were once
darkness, yet now you are light in the Lord.
Col.2:4 …I am
saying this, that no one may be beguiling you with persuasive
words.
Col.2:8 Beware
that no one shall be despoiling you
through philosophy
and empty seduction,
in accord with human
tradition, in accord with the elements of the world,
and not in accord
with Christ,
1Tim.4:1,2 Now
the spirit is saying explicitly, that
in subsequent eras some
will be withdrawing from the faith,
giving heed to deceiving
spirits and the teachings of demons,
in the hypocrisy of false
expressions,
their own conscience having
been cauterized;
2Tim.4:3,4 For
the era will be when they will not tolerate sound teaching,
but, their hearing being
tickled,
they will heap up for themselves
teachers in accord with their own desires,
and, indeed, they will be
turning their hearing away from the truth,
yet will be turned aside
to myths.
2Cor.11:13-15
For such are false apostles, fraudulent workers,
being transfigured into
apostles of Christ. And no marvel,
for Satan himself
is being transfigured into a messenger of light.
It is no great thing, then,
if his servants also
are being transfigured as dispensers of righteousness—
whose consummation shall
be according to their acts.
Eph.6:11,12
Put on the panoply of God,
to enable you to stand up
to the stratagems of the Adversary,
for it is not ours to wrestle
with blood and flesh, but
with the sovereignties,
with the authorities,
with the world-mights of
this darkness,
with the spiritual forces
of wickedness among the celestials.
Mission
Representing Christ as ambassadors,
we have a definite mission. We have been given the commission to bring
the evangel, the word of conciliation, to the world. Many believers are
quite unaware of this and misdirect their efforts to the propagation of
the 'kingdom evangel' which was given to the twelve apostles for the
people of Israel! The members of the body of Christ have not
been commissioned for such a Circumcision message - and they will
not
be rewarded for it, no matter how much effort they put into it! No one
has been given the right to choose his commission. We are to do
only
as God directs us through our Lord!
2Cor.5:18-21
Yet
all
is of God, Who conciliates us to Himself through Christ,
and is giving us the
dispensation of the conciliation,
how that God was in Christ,
conciliating
the world to Himself,
not reckoning their offenses
to them,
and placing in usthe
word of the conciliation.
For Christ, then,
are we ambassadors, as of God entreating through us.
We are beseeching
for
Christ's sake, "Be conciliated to God!"
For the One not knowing
sin, He makes to be a sin offering for our sakes
that we may be becoming
God's righteousness in Him.
1Cor.4:1 Thus
let a man be reckoning with us--as deputies of Christ,
and administrators of
God's secrets.
Eph.6:18-20
During every prayer and petition be praying on every occasion
(in spirit being vigilant
also for it with all perseverance and petition
concerning all the saints,
and for me), that
to me expression may
be granted, in the opening of my mouth with boldness,
to make known the secret
of the evangel,
for which I am conducting
an embassy in a chain,
that in it I should be speaking
boldly, as I must speak.
Col.1:24-29
I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for you,
and am filling up in my
flesh, in His stead,
the deficiencies of the
afflictions of Christ, for His body, which is the ecclesia
of which I became a dispenser,
in accord with the administration of God,
which is granted to me for
you, to complete the word of God--
the secret which has been
concealed
from the eons and from the generations,
yet now was made
manifest to His saints, to whom God wills to make known
what are the glorious riches
of this secret among the nations,
which is: Christ among
you,
the expectation of glory—
Whom we are announcing,
admonishing every man and
teaching every man in all wisdom,
that we should be presenting
every man mature in Christ Jesus;
for which I am toiling also,
struggling in accord with His operation,
which is operating in me
with power.
Eph.3:10-12
that now may be made known
to the sovereignties and
the authorities among the celestials,
through the ecclesia,
the multifarious wisdom of God,
in accord with the purpose
of the eons,
which He makes in Christ
Jesus, our Lord;
in Whom we have boldness
and access with confidence, through His faith.—
Rom.10:13-15
…everyone,
whoever should be
invoking the name of the Lord, shall be saved.
How, then, should they be
invoking One in Whom they do not believe?
Yet how should they be believing
One of Whom they do not hear?
Yet how should they be hearing
apart
from one heralding?
Yet how should they be heralding
if ever they should not be commissioned?
According as it is written:
How beautiful are the feet
of those bringing an evangel of good!
2Tim.4:2 Herald
the
word. Stand by it, opportunely, inopportunely,
expose, rebuke, entreat,
with all patience and teaching.
1Tim.4:9-11
Faithful is the saying and worthy of all welcome
(for for this are we toiling
and being reproached),
that we rely on the living
God,
Who is the Saviour
of all mankind, especially of believers.
These things be charging
and teaching.
1Tim.2:3-7 …
our Saviour, God,
Who wills that all
mankind be saved and come into a realization of the truth.
For there is one God, and
one Mediator of God and mankind, a Man, Christ Jesus,
Who is giving Himself a
correspondent Ransom for all (the testimony in its own eras),
for which I was appointed
a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying),
a teacher of the nations
in knowledge and truth.
1Tim.1:15,16
Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all welcome,
that Christ Jesus came into
the world to save sinners,
foremost of whom am I. But
therefore
was I shown mercy,
that in me, the foremost,
Jesus Christ should be displaying all His patience,
for a pattern of
those who are about to be believing on Him for life eonian.
Paul, the apostle of the nations,
the one sent by God to carry His message to those of the Uncircumcision,
emphatically declares his God-given commission. It centres on Jesus - on
the impact and on the effect of His crucifixion. It exalts God to His true
position of eminence as Placer, Disposer, and Subjector over His creation.
And it puts man in his proper place - a creature in need
of his God for his very life and well-being, and not one who does God
a favour by his own righteous deeds!
1Cor.1:17,18
For Christ does not commission me to be baptizing,
but to be bringing the
evangel,
not in wisdom of word, lest
the cross of Christ may be made void.
For the word of the cross
is stupidity, indeed, to those who are perishing,
yet to us who are
being saved it is the power of God.
1Cor.2:1-5 And
I, coming to you, brethren,
came not with superiority
of word or of wisdom,
announcing to you the testimony
of God, for I decide
not to perceive anything
among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
And I came to be with you
in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling,
and my word and my heralding
were not with
the persuasive words of human wisdom,
but with demonstration of
spirit and of power,
that your faith may
not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
As our evangel is not a message
that feeds man's ego and soul-satisfaction, there are many who do not subscribe
to this teaching concerning the cross of Christ. They 'know' that it is
difficult, in fact, impossible, to convince and to convert audiences with
this type of self-effacing doctrine. They would have no following and,
therefore, neither moral nor financial support - so they would rather teach
the people what would please their senses, soothe their ego, and comfort
them with a sense of self-worth and self-achievement.
Phil.3:18,19
…many are walking, of whom I often told you,
yet now am lamenting also
as I tell it, who are enemies of the cross of Christ,
whose consummation is destruction,
whose
god is their bowels,
and whose glory is
in their shame, who to the terrestrial are disposed.
Faithful involvement in God's
work does not guarantee a comfortable life, or one that is honoured and
admired by all. The fact is that it seems certain to attract persecution
from non-believers of this evangel - especially from those within the local
fellowship. Neither does it guarantee a life free from pain and sickness
- as many preachers claim it does. The only strength we have is in the
knowledge that, especially at these trying times, it is Christ Jesus
Who invigorates us.
2Tim.3:12,13
And all who are wanting to live devoutly in Christ Jesus
shall be persecuted.
Yet wicked men and swindlers
shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
2Tim.2:10 Therefore
I am enduring all because of those who are chosen,
that they also may
be happening upon the salvation
which is in Christ Jesus
with glory eonian.
2Tim.1:7,8 …God
gives us, not a spirit of timidity, but of power and of love and of sanity.
You may not be ashamed,
then, of the testimony of our Lord,
nor yet of me, His prisoner,
but suffer evil with
the evangel in accord with the power of God,
Act.5:41,42
They, indeed, then, went from the face of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing
that they were deemed
worthy to be dishonored for the sake of the Name.
Besides, every day, in the
sanctuary and home by home,
they ceased not teaching
and bringing the evangel of Christ Jesus.
Phil.1:27-30
…that you are standing firm in one spirit, one soul,
competing together
in the faith of the evangel,
and not being startled by
those who are opposing in anything,
which is to them a proof
of destruction,
yet of your salvation, and
this from God,
for to you it is graciously
granted, for Christ's sake,
not only to be believing
on Him, but to be suffering for His sake also,
having the same struggle
such as you are perceiving in me,
and now are hearing to be
in me.
1Thes.3:3 No
one is to be swayed by these afflictions,
for you yourselves are aware
that
we are located for this.
Phil.4:12,13
I am aware what it is to be humbled
as well as aware what it
is to be superabounding.
In everything and among
all am I initiated,
to be satisfied as well
as to be hungering,
to be superabounding as
well as to be in want.
For all am I strong in
Him Who is invigorating me--Christ!
1Tim.1:12 Grateful
am I to Him Who invigorates me, Christ Jesus, our Lord,…
2Tim.4:17 …Yet
the Lord stood beside me, and He invigorates me,
that through me the heralding
may be fully discharged,
and all the nations should
hear;…
2Cor.12:9,10
And He has protested to me,
"Sufficient for you is My
grace, for My power in infirmity is being perfected."
With the greatest relish,
then, will I rather be glorying in my infirmities,
that the power of Christ
should be tabernacling over me. Wherefore I delight
in infirmities, in outrages,
in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses,
for Christ's sake,
for, whenever I may be weak,
then
I am powerful.
Rom.5:3,4 Yet
not only so, but we may be glorying also in afflictions,
having perceived that affliction
is
producing endurance,
yet endurance testedness,
yet testedness expectation.
Expectation
Because God declares that
something will come to pass, we do not merely hope (Gk.prosdokaö)
that it may be so, but we expect (Gk.elpizö) it will
be so! It becomes our expectation (Gk.elpis)! This word occurs in
some very important passages which concern our future. God declares that
He calls us for the purpose of conforming us to the image of His Son. We
now expect that this will become fact at the proper time. Because
of God's declarations, many other expectations are also ours - but they
all arise from this one primary expectation, Jesus Christ. For it is when
He
comes for us that it will be the proper time for all these other expectations
to become realities.
Eph.4:4
…according as you were called also with one expectation of your
calling;
Rom.8:28,29
who are called according to the purpose that, whom He foreknew,
He designates beforehand,
also, to be conformed to the image of His Son,
for Him to be Firstborn
among many brethren.
1Tim.1:1 Paul,
an apostle of Christ Jesus,
according to the injunction
of God, our Saviour,
and the Lord Jesus Christ,
our
Expectation,
Eph.1:17-23
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may be giving you a spirit
of wisdom and revelation in the realization of Him,
the eyes of your heart
having
been enlightened,
for you to perceive what
is the expectation of His calling,
and what the riches of
the glory of the enjoyment of His allotment among the saints,
and what the transcendent
greatness of His power for us who are believing,
in accord with the operation
of the might of His strength,
which is operative in the
Christ,
rousing Him from among the
dead
and seating Him at His right
hand among the celestials,
up over every sovereignty
and authority and power and lordship,
and every name that is named,
not only in this eon, but also in that which is impending:
and subjects all
under His feet,
and gives Him, as Head
over all, to the ecclesia which is His body,
the complement of the One
completing the all in all.
Rom.8:17,18
Yet if children, enjoyers also of an allotment,
enjoyers, indeed, of an
allotment from God, yet joint enjoyers of Christ's allotment,
if so be that we are
suffering together, that we should be glorified together also.
For I am reckoning that
the sufferings of the current era
do not deserve the glory
about to be revealed for us.
2Cor.4:17 For
the momentary lightness of our affliction
is producing for us a
transcendently transcendent eonian burden of glory,
1Cor.2:9,10
But, according as it is written,
That which the eye
did not perceive, and the ear did not hear,
and to which the heart
of man did not ascend—
whatever God makes ready
for
those who are loving Him.
Yet to us God reveals
them through His spirit,
for the spirit is searching
all, even the depths of God.
Tit.1:1,2 Paul,
a slave of God, yet an apostle of Jesus Christ,
in accord with the faith
of God's chosen,
and a realization of the
truth, which accords with devoutness,
in expectation of life
eonian,
which God, Who does not
lie, promises before times eonian,
Tit.3:7 being
justified in that One's grace,
we may be becoming enjoyers,
in
expectation, of the allotment of life eonian.
Tit.2:11-14
For the saving grace of God made its advent to all humanity,
training us that, disowning
irreverence and worldly desires,
we should be living sanely
and justly and devoutly in the current eon,
anticipating that happy
expectation,
even the advent of the glory
of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ,
Who gives Himself for us,
that He should be redeeming
us from all lawlessness
and be cleansing for Himself
a people to be about Him, zealous for ideal acts.
Rom.8:20-25
For to vanity was the creation subjected, not voluntarily,
but because of Him Who subjects
it, in expectation that
the creation itself, also,
shall be freed from the slavery of corruption
into the glorious freedom
of the children of God.
For we are aware that the
entire creation is groaning and travailing together until now.
Yet not only so, but we
ourselves also, who have the firstfruit of the spirit,
we ourselves also, are groaning
in ourselves,
awaiting the sonship,
the deliverance of our body.
For to expectation were
we saved.
Now expectation, being observed,
is not expectation,
for what anyone is observing,
why is he expecting it also?
Now, if we are expecting
what we are not observing,
we are awaiting it with
endurance.
1Cor.1:4-9 I
am thanking my God always concerning you
over the grace of God which
is being given you in Christ Jesus,
for in everything
are you enriched in Him, in all expression and all knowledge,
according as the testimony
of Christ was confirmed among you,
so that you are not deficient
in any grace,
awaiting the unveiling
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who will be confirming
you also until the consummation,
unimpeachable in the day
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Faithful is God,
through Whom you were called
into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Rom.5:6-9 For
Christ,
while we are still infirm,
still in accord with the era,
for the sake of the irreverent,
died…
yet God is commending this
love of His to us, seeing that,
while we are still sinners,
Christ died for our sakes.
Much rather, then, being
now justified in His blood,
we shall be saved from
indignation, through Him.
Rom.5:10 For
if, being enemies,
we were conciliated to God
through the death of His Son,
much rather, being conciliated,
we shall be saved in
His life.
Rom.3:24 Being
justified gratuitously in His grace,
through the deliverance
which is in Christ Jesus
Eph.1:13,14
In Whom you also—
on hearing the word of
truth, the evangel of your salvation—
in Whom on believing
also,
you are sealed with
the holy spirit of promise
(which is an earnest
of the enjoyment of our allotment,
to the deliverance of
that which has been procured) for the laud of His glory!
1Thes.4:13-18
Now we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren,
concerning those who are
reposing,
lest you may sorrow according
as the rest, also, who have no expectation.
For, if we are believing
that Jesus died and rose,
thus also, those who are
put to repose,
will God, through Jesus,
lead forth together with Him.
For this we are saying to
you by the word of the Lord,
that we, the living, who
are surviving to the presence of the Lord,
should by no means outstrip
those who are put to repose,
for the Lord Himself will
be descending from heaven
with a shout of command,
with the voice of the Chief
Messenger,
and with the trumpet of
God,
and the dead in Christ shall
be rising first,
Thereupon we, the living
who are surviving,
shall at the same time be
snatched away together with them in clouds,
to meet the Lord in the
air.
And thus shall we always
be together with the Lord.
So that, console one another
with these words.
1Cor.15:51-57
Lo! a secret to you am I telling!
We all, indeed, shall not
be put to repose, yet we all shall be changed,
in an instant, in the twinkle
of an eye, at the last trump.
For He will be trumpeting,
and the dead will be roused
incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must
put on incorruption, and this mortal put on immortality.
Now, whenever this corruptible
should be putting on incorruption
and this mortal should be
putting on immortality,
then shall come to pass
the word which is written,
Swallowed up was Death by
Victory.
Where, O Death, is your
victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?
Now the sting of Death is
sin, yet the power of sin is the law.
Now thanks be to God, Who
is giving us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Cor.5:10 For
all of us must be manifested in front of the dais of Christ,
that each should be requited
for
that which he puts into practice through the body,
whether good or bad.
1Cor.3:11-15
For other foundation can no one lay beside that which is laid,
which is Jesus Christ.
Now if anyone is building
on this foundation
gold and silver, precious
stones, wood, grass, straw,
each one's work will become
apparent,
for the day will make it
evident, for it is being revealed by fire.
And the fire, it will
be testing each one's work--what kind it is.
If anyone's work will be
remaining which he builds on it, he will get wages.
If anyone's work shall be
burned up, he will forfeit it,
yet he shall be saved, yet
thus, as through fire.
1Cor.4:5 So
that, be not judging anything before the season,
till the Lord should be
coming,
Who will also illuminate
the hidden things of darkness
and manifest the counsels
of the hearts.
And then applause will be
coming to each one from God.
2Cor.10:18 For
not he who is commending himself is qualified,
but whom the Lord is
commending.
Rom.14:10-12
…For all of us shall be presented at the dais of God,
for it is written:
Living am I, the Lord is saying,
For to Me shall bow every
knee, And every tongue shall be acclaiming God!
Consequently, then, each
of us shall be giving account concerning himself to God.
Phil.2:9-11
Wherefore, also, God highly exalts Him,
and graces Him with the
name that is above every name,
that in the name of Jesus
every
knee should be bowing,
celestial and terrestrial
and subterranean,
and every tongue should
be acclaiming that Jesus Christ is Lord,
for the glory of God, the
Father.
Destiny
According to God's declarations,
our destiny is a grand and glorious one, far beyond the imaginations of
any creature, because it is intimately tied to that of Jesus Christ! Thus,
we are destined to be a cause for universal praise to God's name!
Scripture does not say that any others, not even the faithful of the chosen
people, have such a destiny! This blessing is exclusively ours.
Eph.1:8-12
in all wisdom and prudence making known to us the secret of His
will
(in accord with His delight,
which He purposed in Him)
to have an administration
of the complement of the eras,
to head up all in the Christ--both
that in the heavens and that on the earth—
in Him in Whom our lot was
cast also, being designated beforehand
according to the purpose
of the One Who is operating all
in accord with the counsel
of His will,
that we should be for
the laud of His glory, who are pre-expectant in the Christ.
Eph.2:7
that, in the oncoming eons,
He should be displaying
the
transcendent riches of His grace
in His kindness to us
in Christ Jesus.
Rom.8:29,30
that, whom He foreknew, He designates beforehand, also,
to be conformed to the
image of His Son,
for Him to be Firstborn
among many brethren.
Now whom He designates
beforehand, these He calls also,
and whom He calls, these
He justifies also;
now whom He justifies, these
He glorifies also.
Phil.3:20,21
For our realm is inherent in the heavens,
out of which we are awaiting
a Saviour also, the Lord, Jesus Christ,
Who will transfigure
the body of our humiliation,
to conform it to the
body of His glory,
in accord with the operation
which enables Him even to subject all to Himself.
1Cor.6:3 Are
you not aware that we shall be judging messengers,
not to mention life's affairs?
August 2001
Back to:
....Main
menu of articles
....Section
1 - Introduction
..........................The
Advent of Jesus Christ
....Section
2 - The Promise of Holy Spirit
..........................Mankind
in Need of God
....Section
3 - A New Operation
.......................
.
The Law
....Section
4 - God's Operation
....Section
5a - The Body of Christ
Proceed to:
....Section
6 - Conclusion
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