There is and most likely will always be a debate about the Old Testament Vs. the New Testament. The Law, are we still under it or are we under Grace? Anyone who seriously studies the Bible can easily see for themselves how both the Old and  New Testaments are linked in such a way they cannot be divided.

            When God created man He created them perfect in every way. Everything was perfect Genesis 1:31 meaning exceedingly good or better than good. Then in Genesis 3 man gave up their perfection and willingly sinned. In the same chapter God pronounces a curse upon them but also made a way for man to break the curse and be restored to his Adamic covenant and place in God. Genesis 3:15 is speaking of the birth of Jesus, the seed of the woman. This is God’s plan to redeem man and restore him back to perfection, through Christ. God knew it would take time to prepare a sacrifice worthy of such an ability to restore fallen man. Romans 6:23 makes it clear what sin does but God’s gift (Jesus) Genesis 3:15 brings back or restores life.

            Here is the problem, God gave us life and earth to do with it what we want (Genesis 1:26). If God gives, He does not take away.  But if He can find a man who will ask God to intervene God will on man’s behalf. II Chronicles 7:14 gives us guidance on how to get God to help us out of the mess we make of our lives. So with all of that in mind the clock began to tick towards a complete restoration of man the way God desired in the beginning. The journey we are on began when man fell and will end when all is fully restored. (Genesis 3:6 / Revelation 21).

            In time sin caused man to become so wicked that God repented for making him and knew he had to be destroyed, Genesis 6: 5-7,  but then verse 8 mentions grace for the first time in scripture. God found a man who still walked with Him, verse9 and so through him God preserved man and was able to continue His quest for redemption. We know that only Noah and his family were spared but it was enough. Still in time man would again become so wicked they would stray from God. God would need again a man who would walk with Him and allow himself to be used by God to draw man toward redemption. This man was Abram who would become Abraham, Genesis 12: 1-7.

            Now a major part of God’s plan of redemption is completed in Genesis 22: 1-12. First mention of love in the Bible verse 2. Because Abraham was willing to sacrifice his only begotten son, God now would and could sacrifice His, John 3:16. From this point on through Abraham there would always be a righteous people on the earth, Matthew 1: 1-16. However in order to sustain right living before God He (God) gave to Moses the Law so people would know how God desired to be served and preserve them until redemption. So for hundreds of years through the Law God was able to bring man to the edge of his redemption. However sin had increased to such a point that the Law could no longer hold back the curse of Genesis 3. (Look at Malachi 4:6). Fast  forward to Malachi 3:1. The messenger is Jesus, keeper of the covenant. This along with verse 2 speaks of both His first coming (birth) and second coming. The rest of Chapter 3 should now explain itself.

 Man is on the verge of being delivered of his wickedness and a way back to God is being paved by grace and mercy through the blood of Jesus Christ. Christ means the anointed one. The anointing breaks the yoke of bondage. Read Malachi 4 carefully and it will all fit. Verse 1 speaks of destruction, verse 2 redemption, verse 3 conquering, verse 4 continue to keep the Law, verse 5 & 6 restoration before destruction. The last verse in the Old Testament (6) sums up the New Testament. rescued before the curse destroys (Redeemed).

            Now why did Jesus come? He came to save by fulfilling. Save by closing the gap between God and man that sin created. Fulfilling, not changing the Law so grace could do what the Law alone could not, bring us to faith.  Faith that Christ’s death forever secured our salvation (Ephesians 2:8).

            Does that mean the Law has been destroyed and we no longer need it? (No). To truly understand grace, faith and Christ we must first understand the Law and why it came to be. Matthew 5: 17-18, Jesus said it, not man. When is or was the Law fulfilled? John 19: 28-30 when Jesus knew all things were now accomplished that scripture might be fulfilled. Verse 28 said it is finished. (Fulfilled).

            So does that mean we can sin and still be saved? Absolutely not. We still must obey the Law wrapped up in Matthew 22: 34-40 and John 14:15 which are to love God with all your heart and your fellow man. So when we fail or fall short of keeping His command we can be forgiven and restored, redeemed by the blood of Jesus, not bulls and goats. So I’ve said all that to say this one thing.

            Unless we truly understand how the Old Testament and New Testament unite and work as one, we cannot and should not try to guide or convince anyone to do anything by quoting or giving one scripture. Every verse in the Bible is united with all verses to bring about one conclusion. Absolute truth so all people regardless of their past or present can, through obedience by faith and sustained by grace, have life eternal and be changed from what they became into what they were meant to be.

                                                                                          Love,

Bishop Keith Conard

The Church of God – A Divine Organ

Lesson #4

Nature of the Church

There are three questions I would like to start out with this morning:

Q#1 – What is a church?  A gathering of many members, yet one, to form the body of Christ.  (Romans 12:5 (KJV) “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”)

Q#2 – Define the term organization.  An organization is an organized body of people with a particular purpose, especially a business, society, association, etc.

(Play the guess the nature of the object game)

Q#3 – Define the word nature.   The basic or inherent features of something, especially when seen as characteristic of it.

 We have learned that the Church of God is a divine church, built and ruled by God.  It is different from all other organizations. 

Q#4 – What is the nature of the Church of God?  (See paragraph below.)

What is its nature?  Some of the qualities that make up the nature of the church are these: It is subject to Christ, pure, holy, glorious, without spot or wrinkle, full of love, obedient, sinless, overcoming, righteous, full of faith, believing in Jesus as the Son of God, Spirit-filled, and it has one name.  The nature of the Church of God sounds very much like Galatians 5:22-26 (KJV):

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. 

Its members are pilgrims who are witness unto Jesus Christ and thus are the light of the world.  This goes right along with Matthew 5:14-16 (KJV): 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Memory Verse comes out of John 17:26 and says, “And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them,”

No Spot or Wrinkle

Ephesians 5:24-27 (KJV) 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

            The church has one center of affection – Jesus Christ.  It exists to exalt Him.  The church is the bride of Christ and is subject to Him.  They love Him because He loved the church, and gave Himself for it.  He died to prepare it as a bride for Himself.  He died to sanctify and cleanse the church – to take away their sin and set them apart for Himself.  Literal water cannot wash away spiritual filth, but it is used figuratively here of the blood of Christ, which does wash away sin when we obey His Word in repentance and belief.  This is what makes the church fit for Christ.  He is preparing a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing…holy and without blemish.

Q#5 – What are some ways, here at Faith Evangelistic Center, that we have the opportunity to personally prepare ourselves for Christ?   

Romans 12:1-2 (KJV) 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

God never would receive an offering or sacrifice that was blemished.  Sin blemishes and is left outside the church.

1 John 3:7-11 (KJV) 7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. 11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

Let us look at 1 John 3:9 a little closer.  “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”  Being born of God, through true repentance and the acceptance of salvation, is the only way that anyone can meet so high a standard.

Q#6 – In what ways did Christ coming in the flesh teach us to meet so high a standard as set forth in His Word?

Also, according to 1 John 3:9, The seed of God – His life and nature – in the reborn one keeps him from sinning.  Thus, it is the nature of the church to have a desire and purpose to live holy.  The Life of God and sin CANNOT remain in the heart at the same time. 

Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (According to the Oxford dictionary, Mammon is defined as wealth regarded as an evil influence or false object of worship and devotion.)

We find that purity and beauty are in the nature of the church.

A Service of Love

1 John 5:1-4 (KJV) 1  Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Those born of God believe that Jesus is the Christ.  To truly believe this in one’s heart – not the mind only – causes one to surrender to God and to open the heart to Him.  This gives power to overcome the world, fleshly tendencies, and sin.  If overcoming is not present, then the belief is not genuine or active. 

Don’t be an aluminum siding Christian.  Anyone can buy a house that is rotting on the outside, slap on aluminum siding on it, and boom, you have a brand-new house.  To correct this, you sincerely must truly let the new owner come in.  The owner must be allowed to peel off the siding, and all the rot underneath will be exposed and you fix it together.

Saints love both God and other saints, as well as enemies.  The Church of God has love for all.

1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

This love from God brings obedience to His commandments.  Saints do right because they love to.  His commandments are not grievous.  When one begins to complain or comment that the standard is too high, or that God does not expect us to love as His Word teaches, you can be sure there is something wrong with his love for God.  A lukewarm love in the heart will cause one to grieve over what God has asked of a person. 

Revelation 3:15-17 (KJV) 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.

Sincere love gives saints a zeal to do all that God asks, so we see love is in the nature of the church.

In the World, Not of the World

John 17:14-16 (KJV) 14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

People in the Church of God are strangers and pilgrams.  This world is not their home because they are not of the world.  Saints are citizens of Heaven, traveling here on this earth on their way a heavenly country.  Every person is either a stranger to the world or a stranger to God.

While saints are not of this world, still Jesus has sent them into the world to carry on His work.  Jesus came as a light into a sin-darkened World.

John 1:4-5 (KJV) 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Now He is in the hearts of His Church and must shine out through them if the world is to have the light of the Gospel.

Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. It is the nature of the church to be a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Titus 2:11-15 (KJV) 11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

A Perfect People

Ephesians 4:11-13 (KJV) 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Much of what we see that is called the church does not fit this pattern.  Much that is called the church is not the church, but an imitation of it.  It is built on falsehood and the work of error.  The true church, being a living, growing organism, is not finished and is still standing true.  It has in it newborn spiritual babes.  It has its spiritual gifts for perfecting of the saints.  Also, there are those who start to serve the Lord, then fall back into sin.  These are no longer in the church but are sometimes counted by others to be so.  While the divine nature of the church is not so plainly evident to the world in an immature Christian, still it partakes of the same quality in all.

Light ranks responsibility.  A young Christian will be perfect walking in less light than one who has received more light.  Each of us is responsible only for the light that has been given to him by the Holy Spirit.  Saints are not, and will never be, perfect angels.  Obedience to all God’s Word that we know makes us a perfect people.  This is the perfection God speaks of in His Word.  Wherever you see the marks of Christ in human lives you are looking at part of the Church of God.

The fact that some congregations use the name, “Church of God”, need not confuse us.  Using the name does not make a group a true Church of God, but a true Church of God should have His name.  Any church a sinner can join and remain a sinner is not the Church of God.

2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Yet God sets people together in congregations, local churches.  Wherever we see a group of saints with Spirit-led leaders committed alone to Christ and His truth, resting their membership only in their relationship with God, there we see a visible Church of God.  Here we see the perfect nature of the church.

JUST A THOUGHT

A good place to find a helping hand is at the end of your arm.  If you want self-help, HELP YOURSELF to the Word of God!

By Minister Richard Hagemaster

CIRCUMCISE WHAT????

At the ripe young age of 42 (1989) I was kind of a cocky person; thinking back over my past I saw where I had accomplished many “great” feats, so I thought. I had been run through the mill a time or two, and came out smelling like a rose. I was beginning to think I was invincible and that nothing, absolutelynothing could touch me or change me in any way. How wrong I was.

During the year 1989 I was troubled in my mind as I was questioning my right to survive, after I had heard that a Combat Brother of mine had died suddenly shortly after I had helped him move to Florida. I knew that several Combat Vets were dying from suicide, of various kinds, and it troubled me that I was still alive. On top of this I had been going through Court hearings to gain custody of my only Daughter, and things were not looking good for me. I wont bore you with all of that; but suffice it to say I was hurting. So much so that I was looking at possible suicide myself.

I was angry; angry with my ex-wife, in fact I was angry with both of my ex’s. At that time, to tell me to forgive them and love them, I would have spoken a few indecent words at you. I was mad at my Lawyer, at my ex’s Lawyer, at the Judge and everybody else that was bent on keeping me away from my Daughter. But then, BUT THEN! It all began to change, there was an unseen force at work around me. I guess you could say: I had a stone cold, rock hard, unforgiving, get even heart. YES! ME! Can you picture this?

However, towards the end of October as I sat in my living room contemplating taking my life, unseen forces produced a letter on my coffee table that I did not remember getting in the mail. I opened it and read the letter. It was an invitation to visit a Church Family. I went out and bought me a King James Bible and began reading it, at work, at home, at church, just about everywhere I was time permitting I was reading it. It took me one month to read through the entire book, and what’s more I understood the message it gave. I read it through the month of November and then December  3, 1989 I went to an old fashioned Baptist altar and Prayed a Prayer and life changed for me, DRASTICALLY!!!!

ON that day I surrendered my self to Jesus Christ and let Him become my everything. Since then God had taken me through any Bible studies and taught me many things I had never known or heard before. One day God led me to Jeremiah 9:25 “Behold the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “that I will punish ALL WHO ARE CIRCUMCISED AND YET UNCIRCUMCISED.”

If you know me, you  know that I had to learn the meaning of this statement; so I researched it.

Beginning with:

[Genesis 6:5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness Of man was great on the earth, and that Every intent of the thoughts of his heart Was only evil continually.]

Now, the Spirit of the Lord told me that man is able to transplant the heart, but can not transplant the intent of thoughts of the heart. Which means man can not alter the evil that resides within them. The Bible says that it Grieves God’s Heart. Then as God would have it He did not leave me there, He moved me forward into further readings.

In Jeremiah 9:26 God said: “ALL THE NATIONS, ALL THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL” (who by the way are the ones who circumcise their 8 day young sons) “ARE UNCIRCUMCISED IN THE HEART.”

[DEUTERONOMY 30:6 The Lord your God will “CIRCUMCISE” Your hearts and the hearts of your Dependent’s, so that you may Love Him With all your heart and with all your Soul, and live.]

[EZEKIEL 11:19 “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new Spirit within you; and I will take the stony Heart out of their flesh, and will give them A heart of flesh.]

[COLOSSIANS 2:11 In Him you were also “CIRCUMCISED” in The putting off of the sinful nature, not With a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the “CIRCUMCISION” done by Christ.]

[II CORINTHIANS 2:11 Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a New Creature, old things have passed away; Behold NEW THINGS HAVE COME.]

Pray this Prayer:

Lord Father, I ask You to CIRCUMCISE my heart to take out that stony one and replace it with That New HEART that only You can do. I want to live and Love like Jesus did, so I Surrender myself to Your will. In the Name of Jesus Christ I Pray

AMEN.

ARE YOU READY?       

Bishop and others continually preach that Reading the Bible (excuse me, not just read the Bible but READ THE BIBLE) brings understanding and wisdom to the Believer. Some people think that because the Scriptures have been around this long that they will always be here, that the Preacher and Teacher will always preach and teach what the Bible says. However, that is not true.

I for one know that the Bible was here long before I came along and it  will be  here long after I am gone, maybe. I have met many Preachers and Teachers over my life time, and some of them have forsaken the Bible, some have retired from the pulpit, and some have sold out to the world. I have read in the Bible that in the last days many will grow cold and distant from God’s Word and live by their own standards. I also read where after having tasted the goodness of God you will not turn away. If you were able to turn away there is no more conciliation for you.

[Hebrews 6:4 – 6]

4 For in the case of those who have once been Enlightened and have tasted of the Heavenly gift and have been made Partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good Word of God And the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, it is Impossible to renew them again To repentance, since they again Crucify to themselves the Son of God, And put Him to open shame.

 Not only should we READ the Bible but we should also EAT OF THE WORD and ingest it into our innermost parts so that we may stand in the last days should we be called to stay a while longer here. One day it will come to pass that there wont be any more Preachers and or Teachers to speak the Word, one day there will no longer be Bibles to read or look up verses.

At I will be

11 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord God, “When I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, But rather for hearing the Word of the Lord. 12 And people will stagger from sea to sea, And from the north even to the east; They will go to and fro to seek the Word of the Lord, But they will not find it.

God wrote the Love Letter to us so that we may come to know Him intimately. That when He calls our name to come to Him it won’t be a shock, we will be ready. Oh to one day meet Him Face to Face, the Man who I have longed to meet; the one who GAVE ALL FOR ME. The only way that I can really get to know Him is to study His Life while on the earth and to talk with Him regularly. When I make to stand before Him I would rather hear “WELL DONE MY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT; then to hear that He didn’t know me.

PRAY THIS PRAYER:

Lord, I Pray that my mind, heart, soul and strength. Will reach out to You seeking to know Your Truth, To know all about You and Your plan for me. Have Mercy on me O Lord, for I am but a Man/Woman. In need of a Savior, and a Friend. Redeem me than I will be redeemed. Teach me how to Love the Way that you Love us. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ Of Nazareth the Only Begotten Son Of God. AMEN…