Getting Back To The Faith Once Delivered!
In today’s message, I want to discuss the signs of the times in which we are living, and the overall condition of the church.
(1 Timothy 3:15) please.
But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God (and most importantly)the pillar and ground of the Truth.”
In order to evaluate the overall condition of the “church”, we need to measure our level of Truth.
Truth is of utmost importance to us (the church) it defines us (as we just read) and it sets us free (like we all have read in another place) But Truth also does something else, something extremely important to us; Truth is what makes us holy.
(John 17:17-19) please: “Sanctify them (make them holy) through thy Truth: Thy Word is Truth.
As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the word. And for their sakes I Sanctify myself that they also might be Sanctified (made holy) through the Truth.”
GOD’S WORD Translation says:
I’m dedicating myself to this holy work I’m doing for them so that they, too, will use the truth to be holy.
Truth is how we achieve what we have been instructed to do: “Become Holy!
“Be Ye Holy, for I am Holy.” (1Peter 1:15-16)
Don’t believe the “fable” that we (flesh and blood humans) cannot become holy until our change into Spirit, that’s false doctrine. We are instructed to be holy now, and if we’ve been baptized, and have received His Holy Spirit, then we have no excuse not to become holy now, while still in the flesh.
Yes, with God’s Spirit in us we have the power to become holy. But, it’s our choice; we’re created with free will,
If we want to become holy, we have a big part to play, and it has to do with learning Truth, and walking in Truth.
Notice we just read numerous times that we are made holy through thy Truth, through the Word, through the Scriptures.
Picture that word “through” like the oil filter on our automobile engine. All the oil has to pass through the oil filter. That’s what purifies the oil. In turn we have to pass all of our “thoughts” all of our “behavior” all of our “beliefs” though the Word of God.
Truth is also the way our Heavenly Father wants to be worshiped.
(John 4:23-24) Please: “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.”
In (2 John 1:4) the Apostle John says: “I rejoice greatly that I found of thy children walking in Truth, as we have received a command from the Father.”
(Some were walking in Truth back then, and others can walk in Truth today, With God’s Spirit in us, it’s not out of our reach.)
We need Truth, we’re the church, we need to be walking in it like they were, that’s for sure, but we need to exercise caution because we have many warnings about being led astray. And often times (too often) we forget who our culprit is when it comes to us being deceived and led astray… Yes, Satan deceives the world, but let’s not forget our big culprit includes men.
Our Lord tells us in (Matthew 24:4-5) “Take heed that no man deceives you, for many men shall come in my name, and deceive many”.
And Paul, speaking of the end of the age, and the return of our Lord, also warns us about men deceiving us, and a falling away from Truth that would occur before our Lord’s return.
(2 Thessalonians 2:3) Please: “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first (apostasy – defection from truth) and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition,”
Now the end of this evil age is upon us, and the falling away from Truth spoken of by Paul here, is already transpiring, and only going to get worse.
It’s been here for quite some time now, but what most don’t realize is that that defection from Truth is not only in the world, but it permeates the “church” of God today.
Now you may not believe that, but please hear me out and then see what conclusion you come to.
Now Jude also addresses this issue of apostasy (falling away from truth), and he makes it very clear exactly what needs to be done to fix it.
(Jude 1:3
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should “earnestly contend” (fight) for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”
NIV says we need to Fight for “The faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.”
Jude’s letter contains a warning to the saints to defend the faith in an age of apostasy. Jude’s letter is addressed to a church that’s been exposed to many false teachings, a church that has been led astray in many ways by the influence of men. Jude’s letter is addressed to us, the church of God today.
I want to talk about this “faith” that was once “entrusted” to the saints, and how it’s crucial for us to get back to it.
In order to do that, we need to talk about “heresy” yes “heresy”. And we need to discuss both kinds, because the Scriptures talk of “two” types, of “heresy”.
There is “heresy”, and then there is “damnable” heresy,
And we much exercise caution here, because many (too many) in God’s church have these heresies mixed up.
Most are scared of heresy, they’ve been taught to avoid it with a ten foot pole. But heresy is not necessarily a bad thing. Paul was accused of preaching heresy, and he was proud of it.
(Acts 24:14 KJV).
“But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things (that I heard from Mr. So-and-so?) No! believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets.”
We need to believe all things that are written also brethren, all things written in the Scriptures.
Even if it’s at variance to what’s normally believed or taught, God’s Holy Word needs to be Paramount, God’s Word is Supreme.
Heresy is a teaching or belief that is contrary to what is normally believed or taught, but not necessarily false doctrine.
Heresy is defined in the dictionary as: “opinion or doctrine at variance with the orthodox or accepted doctrine, especially of a church or religious system.”
We need not to fear heresy. It’s “Damnable” Heresy that we have to be careful of.
And Scripture clearly tells us (as we’re going to see) that “damnable” heresy is in the church of God today, and being taught and believed by many as truth.
Our fight for Truth, the fight to get back to the faith once delivered which Jude so Powerfully admonishes us to do, is not over, but sad to say, many in God’s church are not even engaged in the battle.
Many church of God pulpits in the past (and still today) falsely teach that we have already gotten back to that “faith”, they say we already have the truth, and all we need to do now is hold on to it.
Brethren, nothing could be further from the Truth. We have much studying, rightly dividing, and much proving still to do.
(John 16:13) please. We need to allow the “Spirit of Truth” to “guide” us into all truth; which our Lord promised He would do for us. Yes, “Guide us into all Truth”, and even “show us things to come.”
(John 16:13): “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, it will guide you into all truth: for it shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever it shall hear, that shall it speak: and it will shew you things to come.”
(Our Lord want us to be guided (by God’s Spirit) into all Truth.)
Now the most sobering warning concerning “damnable heresy” and that it’s in the church today is given to us by Peter. (And one needs to be sitting down before hearing Peter’s words.)
But before we go there, lets understand something very important concerning finding Truth and knowing for sure that what we believe is Truth. It’s something that too many in God’s church neglect to do.
(2 Timothy 3:16) please. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God (God breathe) and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be “perfect” (meaning complete) throughly furnished unto all good works.”
The word “reproof” here is very important word, it means “evidence”.
Evidence = a body of facts indicating whether a belief is true or false.
Everything we believe needs to have Scriptural evidence behind it. Too many in the church today concerning beliefs want to rely on what Mr. so-and-so says.
Brerthren we need to know what Scripture says. Let us not be the blind followers of the blind, where both end up together in the ditch.
(Matthew 15:14)
We need to know what the Holy Scripture say, and (most importantly) we need to Believe what the Scriptures say.
And God has to be our teacher, His Word, the Holy Scriptures’ has to be what persuades us to believe what we believe. (John 6:45)
In (Romans 10:17) (not turning) we are told that “faith” comes from hearing, and hearing from the word of God.
The word ‘faith” is Strong’s # G4102 and it means “persuasion” and it comes from another Greek word Strong’s # 3982 which means “to convince”…
Now faith and belief go hand in hand, but faith comes before belief. Faith or (persuasion) is what causes us to believe what we believe.
The problem in the church today is that too many have gotten their “persuasion” their “influence” which produces their “beliefs” from men instead of from the Scriptures.
(This is a serious problem, and needs to be addressed.)
We are living at the end of the age, a time when both “faith” and “belief” are both in short supply.
Not only did our Lord question whether He would even find “faith” at His return (Luke 18:8) (Not turning) but the “signs following” that our lord promised to perform to those who Believe are lacking in the church of God today.
(Mark 16:17) Please: “These signs shall follow them that Believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; speak with new tongues; take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover”.
Brethren, those signs have been absent in the church of God for a long time, and we don’t have to go far to understand why?
In (Mark 16:20) we can see why those “signs following” were present in the early church, but lacking in the “church” today.
(Mark 16:20) Please: “And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the “Word” (the Truth that they were preaching and teaching) with signs following.”
We have to be preaching and teaching Truth for those “signs” to follow. Our Lord will not confirm fables.
Good News Translation says it like this:
“The disciples went and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and proved that their preaching was truth by the miracles that were performed.”
Our Lord is not going to confirm the preaching, unless the preaching consists of Truth. He will not confirm fables. He will only confirm the word that is being preached if it is “Truth” (Correct Doctrine.)
(Sorry for reiterating, but it’s an important point.)
Let’s ask a question here, why did the saints (why did the church) fall away from the faith (from the truth, from the correct doctrines) in the first place?
The answer is given to us by Jude:
(Jude 1:4) Please:
“For certain men, crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men. turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying (to contradict) the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”
(They were contradicting what our Lord had been teaching; causing the saints, the church to lose the “faith” (the belief) that was entrusted to them… We’re going to see that word “denying” again shortly.)
Now the next verse reminds us of just how serious this matter is, how important it is for us to “Believe” Truth and not false doctrines.
(Jude 1:5) NIV “Though you already know this, I want to remind you that the Lord at one time delivered His people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not Believe.”
(Mark 16:15-16) also reminds us of the importance of “Believing” Truth.
(Mark 16:15-16 Please:“And He said to them, go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
Brethren I’m not here to scare us, I’m just trying to remind us that we need to believe the Scriptures, our “faith” our “persuasion” our “beliefs” have to come from the “Word” not from the influence of corruptible men.
Oh it’s good to hear men, (Acts 17:11) says: “the Berean’s “received the Word with all readiness of mind”, And then searched the Sculptures for evidence.
Yes, the noble ones listened first, with “all readiness of mind” Greek meaning: “ready and willing to hear what the heretic (in that case Paul) had to say, and then searched the Scriptures.
So we can’t ignore men, God even give us preachers and teachers, and actually all of us are to be teachers right?
We are called to be “Priests” in the coming Kingdom of God. The job of the Priest is to teach, and to teach Truth (correct doctrine).
So much caution concerning men needs to be taken again here, because according to Scripture, there are many teaching fables and too many believing them.
(2 Timothy 4:1-4) please. (Paul warns Timothy here that his teachings will come under attack as men desert from the truth, and turn to fables in the last days.
(2 Timothy 4:1-4) Please “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come (No, the time has come) when they do not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Brethren, we have no time for fables, we need to be walking in Truth. So let’s consider what some of the fables might be, that are being taught and believed as truth in God’s church today.
Nothing to be scared of here, we are only looking for “Truth” and Truth can stand on its own two feet, and Truth will prevail (with or without us.)
In (Matthew 25:1-9) we have the parable of the 10 virgins (I’m going to paraphrase here.)
The five wise are filling their vessels with “oil” as they await our Lord’s return, but the foolish neglect to collect this oil, and the foolish eventually are in great need of this oil, and are told to go and “buy” for them self.
Now it’s commonly taught (and believed by most) that the “oil” represents God’s Spirit, but does it? You cannot buy God’s Holy Spirit (Simon Magus sure proved that.) (Acts 8:18-20)
What we can buy is “Truth”. (Proverbs 23:23) Says: “Buy the truth sell it not” and (Psalm 119:105) says: “Thy Word is a lamp unto my fee, and a light unto my path.”
That oil that we need to be filling up on represents “Truth”.
We need to be the “wise” virgins, buying and filling up on Truth. How do we buy it? With our time, “time is money”. We buy Truth by taking time to study, rightly divide, and proving all things.
Another (questionable) teaching in the church pertains to whether we can “overcome” and walk this earth upright while still in the flesh.
Church of God International (CGI) published an article recently stating that the “church of God community” (which I suspect includes all the incorporated cog groups where “hierarchy” exists) they believe (and teach) that it is impossible for us (mere men) to overcome and walk this earth upright while still in the flesh.
They believe that our Lord could overcome the temptations of sin, and walk this earth upright, but that we mere men (flesh and blood human beings) cannot.
Brethren, that’s the spirit of antichrist. It’s made plain and simple by the Apostle John in:
(1 John 4:1-3) Please: “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth (acknowledges) that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
And every spirit that confesseth (acknowledges) not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (Also called spirit of erra in verse 6)
Brethren (John 1:14) says: “The Word (our Lord) was made flesh, and dwelt among us.”
The word “flesh” used there for our Lord is Strong’s # G4561 It’s the same exact Greek word used for the rest of us: human nature (with its frailties (physically or morally) and passions, or (specially) a human being (as such) carnal.
(Hebrews 4:15) says: “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
Our Lord was quite capable of sinning, the reason He didn’t sin, is because He chose not to sin, and He had the Powerful Holy Spirit of His Father in Him to overcome sin.
Brethren, we have that same Powerful Holy Spirit of the Father in us. Oh yes, He had the Spirit “without measure”. But we are told IF we want more of that Powerful Spirit, all we have to do is ask.
That article of CGI goes on to say that God doesn’t even expect us to “overcome” but only expects us to be “trying” to overcome.
Our Lord clearly tells all seven churches in Revelation 2 & 3: “To him that overcometh will I grant this and give that”. Nowhere in the Scriptures are we told that jut “trying” to overcome is sufficient.
That word “trying” is absent in the Scriptures, many in God’s church have just been influenced by men in pulpits to think it’s there. Like many think that anyone trying to live godly will suffer persecution….
But Scripture doesn’t use the word “trying” there either. (2 Timothy 3:12) KJV says: “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
That word “will” is Strong’s #G2309 meaning: not only willing something, but also pressing on to action. (It’s the doing that counts.)
(If we are not suffering persecution, then we are probably not living godly.)
Brethren, of and by ourselves we cannot overcome, that is true…. Of and by ourselves we cannot become holy, or perfect. But we are not by ourselves if the Powerful Holy Spirit of our Heavenly Father dwells in us.
And that “perfect” in the Scriptures that we are commanded to become (like in Matthew 5:48 not turning) “Be ye therefore perfect, like our Heavenly Father” only means: complete – full grown in mental and moral character.
Too many teachers and preachers in the church of God today seem to have forgotten that our Heavenly Father and His Son have been busy developing their Holy Righteous Character in us.
And it’s a process that takes time to accomplish.
False trachers seem to think that God will use a “magic wand” at the end of the day that will instantly develop His Holy Righteous Character in us. (It doesn’t work like that.)
I attended the Feast last year where the leader of that group gave a one hour sermon sating that we sin because we have sinful natures. But he neglected to mention even once, that God is in the process of “changing” our sinful natures.
After services I confronted him about this. And action was immediately taken; I was removed from the speaking list.
(Brethren, too many fables in the cog today.)
(Leviticus 23:17) Please. (There is a Big fable that is taught here concerning the”wave Loaves”)
“Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD.
Many pulpits (if not all) in God’s church teach that this leaven represents “sin”. They say the wave loaves (which represent the church) are baked with sin because the church is full of sinners.
Brethren why don’t they believe God? God says: “sinners will not inherit the Kingdom of God”
Leaven in the Scriptures doesn’t always represent sin… There is a good leaven spoken of in the Scriptures. (And it is this good leaven that the “wave loaves” will be baked with.)
(Matthew 13:33) Please: “Another parable spake he unto them (Remember parables are for us to know the mysteries of the Kingdom) The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven (You cannot say the Kingdom of heaven is like unto sin.) The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven (God’s Spirit) which a woman (the church) took (same Greek word in Acts 2:38 receive) and hid (incorporated) in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
The leaven in the “wave loaves” represents God Holy Spirit; it’s the only thing powerful enough to change our sinful natures.
(No one with a sinful nature will God bake and turn into a spirit being.)
Both (1 Corinthians 6:9-10) & (Galatians 5:19-21) (not turning) clearly say that sinners will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
If we want to be in God’s Kingdom, we have to have changed natures, we have to be pure. (just like our Chief Corner Stone is pure.)
(1 John 3:1-3) please. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
[2] Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
[3] And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself (how pure?) even as he is pure.”
There are many Scriptures that clearly tell us to become pure now while still in the flesh, like (2 Peter 3:14) Please: “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that you look for such things (speaking of our Lord’s return, and His Kingdom) be diligent (constant effort to accomplish something) that you may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”
Our Lord is the one building His church, and He plans to perfect His called and chosen and faithful now while still in the flesh, before we are turned into spirit beings.
We can clearly see this in the Book of Kings.
(1 Kings 6:7) please.
God always gives us the physical (which we humans understand quite well) so we can better understand the Spiritual (which we humans do not understand so well.)
(1 Kings 6:7) “And the house (The Temple – the church) when it was in building, was built of stone (That’s us) made ready (complete – perfect) before it was brought thither (to the other side): so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.”
When the Temple was built, the stones “us” were perfected at the quarry before they were brought to the other side. And perfected so well, that when they were brought to the “other side” there was no mortar needed between the stones, they fit together perfectly.
That’s what our Lord is doing with His church now (His small flock), bringing them to perfection, on to completion,
And we are among them brethren, IF we are looking to Him (and not men) to lead us. IF we Believe the Scriptures, and not the fables of men.
And let us notice, there’s no “magic wand” here, but there is an axe.
(It’s the same axe that John the Baptist warned all of us that unless our tree, unless (we) bringeth forth good fruit, we will be hewn down, and cast into the fire.
(Matthew 3:10) (Luke 3:7-9) (Not turning)
Men are good at leading us astray.
Men have the “church” divided into hundreds of separate groups, but let’s not be fooled by men.
In God’s eyes there are only two groups out there, the “wise” and the “foolish” – the “sheep” and the “goats”.
(Which group we reside in is our choice.)
And our Lord makes is quite clear how to know who we should work with, and who we should shun. (Many of the splinter groups restrict their members from associating with other groups.)
(Mark 9:38-40) Please “And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.
But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.
For he that is not against us is on our part.”
(Luke 9:50) says: “He that is not against us is for us.”
Brethren, there are many fables being taught and believed as truth in the cog today. Teachings that are contrary to the Scriptures and some teachings that are not even in the Scriptures that the majority of the Brethren are following.
(Let’s look at a big fable here.)
The church of God pulpits say we must follow the Hebrew calendar because (they say) there is no calendar in the Bible. But some heretics claim that God’s calendar is in the Bible, and that it’s quite simple and easy to understand, IF we (like everything else) look to the Scriptures.
Brethren do you think God would put so much importance on the keeping of His Holy days (His appointed times) and not give us a way in the Scriptures to know when they are? But instead expect us to rely on corruptible men to tell us.
Even the Jews are well aware that their calendar is wrong, and they want it fixed according to the Scriptures, the Torah.
Let’s consider the Scriptural simplicity concerning the calendar. (And I men simplicity.)
The majority in God’s church keep the Hebrew calendar. But you cannot proof with the Scriptures that it’s the one to keep, because that calendar along with its “postponements” is not even mentioned in the Bible.
The second largest group in God’s church look to the “sun” & “moon” to determine God’s calendar. And that’s what the book of Genesis clearly teaches.
(Genesis 1:14) “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons (His Appointed times) and for days, and years”
God put His calendar in the heavens for all to see,
That authority was not given to men, it was given to the sun moon and stars. (Genesis 1:16) “And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule (to have dominion) over the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.”
God’s heavenly calendar is plain and simple. The sun gives us the day, and the moon (the new moon that is) gives us the month.
It’s that simple. (New moon and month is the same exact Hebrew word.) (When its new moon, its new month.)
But, again we have to be careful of men, because that second largest group in God’s church are also being led astray by the influence of men, their keeping the wrong new moon.
Some men teach “how can the new moon be a sign” (like it says in Genesis 1:14) if you can’t see it? So they look to the pagan crescent moon to determine the new moon.
But nowhere in the Scriptures are we told to look to the visible crescent for new moon. But we are clearly told exactly when the new moon is in (Psalm 81:3) “Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.”
That word “time appointed” tells us exactly when it’s new moon. It’s Strong’s H3677 fullness, or fully covered. The root word is Strong’s H3680 to “plumb” “cover” “conceal” & “hidden”
The Scriptural new moon is when the sun, moon and earth are in a perfect line. “plumb” and that only happens at the conjunction. And there is a second witness here, the new moon is when it’s completely dark (covered concealed and hidden) and that only happens at the conjunction also, when they are perfectly lined up.
And the calendar is such an important matter, that there is even a 3rd witness, the “full moon”
If your full moon doesn’t fall on the 15th of the Month, then you kept the wrong new moon.
I want to go to that sobering passage of Peter now, the one that elaborates on the current condition of God’s church —- (IF you will believe it)
And as I previously mentioned, you might want to be sitting down before hearing Peter’s words.
The book of 1st Peter deals with problems from the outside; 2nd Peter deals with problems from the inside.
Now Peter wrote this a long time ago, and he wrote it in the “future” tense. But the “future” has arrived, so to drive Peter’s sobering words home, we need to read his words in the proper “present” tense.
(2 Peter 2:1-2) Please: “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there are false teachers among you, who privily have brought in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, (there’s that word denying again, contradicting our Lord’s teachings) and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many (not a few, not some, but many in God’s church) are following their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth is evil spoken of.”
That word “pernicious” is Strong’s G684 means = ruin, loss, waste.
And “damnable heresies” is the same Greek word G684.
Brethren, many in the “church” today, have “heresies” and “damnable heresies” mixed up? The Scriptures don’t lie Brethren.
I have one more “heresy” to put on the table, and it’s probably the most important one to consider.
It has to do with why there is Spiritual weakness in the church of God today, and why many in the church are not healed from their illnesses when anointed, and why some in God’s church have died (fallen asleep) from their illnesses, when they could have been miraculous healed.
(John 6:53) Please: “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.”
The Greek word used here for “life” is Strong’s G222 “Zoe” and this life is distinguished from # 979 “bios” meaning physical life, like where the poor widow cast in all that she had to sustain her physical life. This word here is referring to us having “spiritual” life in us, and in us now while in the flesh.
Our Lord says; “Except we eat His flesh, and drink His blood, there is not life in us. That word “except” is a “conditional particle”. Having this life in us is conditional. We have to partake of His body and blood to have this “Spiritual life” in us.
Now we know how to partake of the body and blood of our Lord, we do it every year at Passover. And it’s a wonderful thing, because it gives us a much needed spiritual boost as we examine ourselves and discern the Lord body.
It energizes us spiritually, like pulling into one of those “charging stations” with an electric car, where you get all charged up.
(Let’s go back to Jude for a moment and notice something)
(Jude 1:12) Please: (Speaking of the ungodly men that had entered the church and were leading them astray) we read: “These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
You see the new Testament church would “feast” together, it was called a “love Feast” it was a good time when they would come together, with everyone conversing about what the Lord was doing with them, and how the Spirit was flowing.
They also partook of the cup and the bread at these love feasts, like we do at Passover. That’s why Jude says those ungodly men were feeding themselves without fear. They were partaking of the bread and the wine without fearing, without “discerning the Lords body”
So the “Love Feast” was attacked from within, and then later completely done away with, and forbidden from the outside, by the council of Laodicea.
The Council of Laodicea was a regional synod (an Ecclesiastical council) of approximately thirty clerics from Asis Minor that assembled about 363–364 AD in Laodicea. The major concerns of the Council involved regulating the conduct of church members. The Council expressed its decrees in the form of written rules or canons.
Among the sixty canons decreed, several aimed at: Maintaining order amongst Bishops, Clerics and Laypeople, and outlawing the keeping of the Jewish Sabbath (Saturday) and encouraging rest on “Lord’s Day” Sunday. And also forbade the churches from celebrating the Agape love feast.
(Peter also speaks of the “agape love Feast” and how it was being attacked.)
(Most in God’s church today never even heard of the “Love Feast” and yet it was introduced by our Lord Himself.
I want to read these two cannons, # 29 first. Many of us are familiar with this cannon because WWC used to quote it from time to time”
CANON XXIX.
CHRISTIANS must not Judaize by resting on the Sabbath, but must work on that day, rather honoring the Lord’s Day; and, if they can, resting then as Christians. But if any shall be found to be judaizers, let them be anathema (an ath a ma) from Christ. (Meaning: excommunicated, banned & cursed.
(Most of us are familiar with that #29 Cannon or law)
But how many are aware of Cannon # 28, the Cannon that caused the “Agape Love Feast to end?
CANON # 28. (Word for Word)
“It is not permitted to hold “love feasts” as they are called, in the Lord’s Houses, or Churches, nor to eat and to spread couches in the house of God.”
Brethren, that was a sad day for the church, the removing of that Love Feast, brought about the weak & sickly condition of God’s church today.
(1Corinthians 11:17-34) is not speaking of the Passover. Passover was addressed in chapter 5 where it talked about a little leaven leavens the whole lump, and that we need to keep the Feast (The Passover) with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Chapter 11 is speaking of when they were coming together for the Agape Love Feast.
Brethren, the Love feast was initiated by our Lord Himself, on the night He was betrayed.
Let us not be among those who “deny” (reject) (contradict) our Lord’s teachings.
(1 Corinthians 11:24-25) is Red letter, these words came directly from the mouth of our Lord.
(1 Corinthians 11:24 -25) And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. (That word “remembrance” is Strong’s # G364 meaning recollection (remembering something) (bring to mind.)
After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament (Strong’s # G1242 covenant) in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
Now WWC always taught (and most till teach today) that the Greek word translated “as often as” means once a year. But that is another fables. Its Strong’s # G3740 meaning many times.
And it happens to be a word that was well understood by all back in early New Testament times.
HOSAKIS “As Often As”
The Greek word HOSAKIS translated “as often as” was used by many writers, including The Greek author Homer, the writings of Lysias (5th to 4th century BC) Plato (4th century BC) and Josephus (1st century AD) as well as various papyri and inscriptions, with the uncontested meaning to be: “As often As” denoting an event of variable yet frequent occurrences.
(The frequency is at our discretion.) (Same as two witnesses)
This exact Greek word is use in one other place:
(Revelation 11:6) Please: “These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, (when, how often?) as often as they will.”
They will not be calling plagues down on yearly intervals; they will be calling plagues down “often” and at their own discretion.
Our Lord commanded us, He said: (This Do). (Look at all the rich meaning in this command)
Strong’s # 4160 quality. To make, to endow a person or thing with a certain quality; to qualify; to appoint; constitute; the producing and bringing forth something which, when produced, has an independent existence of its own.
Brethren our God is reproducing Himself, And the Love Feast is a powerful tool that our Lord gave us to energize the Spirit of God which is within us.
(Like those electric car batteries, they need to be recharged often.)
(1 Corinthians 11:17) Please: “Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.”
The word better here is Strong’s # G2909 (stronger; better, power; strength) (this is talking about “Spiritual” strength) Partaking of the Love Feast energizes the Spirit of God within us..)
And look what it says in verse 30 (1 Corinthians 11:30) “For this cause many are weak (Spiritually weak) and sickly among you (sickly here means physically sick, like cancer or whatever ailment we might have) and many sleep (meaning died.)
Yes, we get anointed, but all too often we don’t get healed. Why? “For not discerning the Lord’s Body.”
How do we discern the Lord’s body? By examining ourselves, and partaking of the bread and the wine.
(1 Corinthians 11:28-29) “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.” (Acts 2:38, 41-43)
Brethren, we covered a lot of ground today. My hope is that you consider all of this.
Be those Berean’s who searched the Scriptures to see if what was spoken is so.
We are living at the end of this age, a time when we need to be coming together, and working together.
God give various gift to each of us, and they are there to profit all. (1 Corinthians 12:7).
I want to go to the book of Acts, where it talks about a time when the church was alive and vibrant, and at one accord with one another.
(Acts 5:12) Please “And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch”.
Solomon’s porch was a colonnade of Upright Pillars. And there was another Pillar on top called the “entablature”. The entablature was the Head Pillar. The entablature of course is our Lord.
Now in order for the Pillars to be connected to the Head Pillar “Christ” they had to be upright. They had to be following our Lord’s teachings, and not denying them.
Lets end In (Ephesians 5:27) “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.(That includes doctrine, fables are spots and blemishes too.
We need Truth Brethren, We need to be learning, believing, and walking in Truth.
The title of today’s message is:
Heresy! Or Damnable Heresy! – Which Do You Prefer?
Getting Back To The Faith Once Delivered!
Bill Goff