Fatal Deception

To the present time, men insist on being saved in some way by which they may perform some important work. If they see there is no way in which to weave self into the work, they reject the salvation provided. They trample under foot the Son of God, and count the blood of the covenant wherewith He was sanctified as an unholy thing. Jesus could give alone security to God; for He was equal with God. He alone could be a mediator between God and man; for He possessed divinity and humanity. Jesus could thus give security to both parties for the fulfillment of the prescribed conditions. As the Son of God He gives security to God in our behalf, and as the eternal Word, as One equal with the Father, He assures us of the Father's love to usward who believe His pledged word. When God would assure us of His immutable counsel of peace, He gives His only begotten Son to become one of the human family, forever to retain His human nature as a pledge that God will fulfill His word. RH April 3, 1894

Justice demands that sin be not merely pardoned, but the death penalty must be executed…By dying in man’s stead, Christ exhausted the penalty and provided a pardon. 

Man through sin has been severed from the life of God. His soul is palsied (paralysed) through the machinations (plots or schemes) of Satan, the author of sin. Of himself he is incapable of sensing sin, incapable of appreciating and appropriating the divine nature. Were it brought within his reach there is nothing in it that his natural heart would desire it. The bewitching power of Satan is upon him. All the ingenious subterfuges (deceit used to achieve one’s goal) the devil can suggest are presented to his mind to prevent every good impulse. Every faculty and power given him of God has been used as a weapon against the divine Benefactor. So, although He loves him, God cannot safely impart to him the gifts and blessings He desires to bestow. But God will not be defeated by Satan. He sent His Son into the world, that through His taking the human form and nature, humanity and divinity combined in Him would elevate man in the scale of moral value with God.

There is no other way for man’s salvation. “Without me,” says Christ, “ye can do nothing.” [John 15:5.] Through Christ, and Christ alone, the springs of life can vitalize man’s nature, transform his taste, and set his affections flowing toward heaven. Through the union of the divine with the human nature, Christ could enlighten the understanding and infuse His life-giving properties through the soul dead in trespasses and sins…What is sin? The transgression of the law. Then the eyes are open to see the character of sin. The law is broken but cannot pardon the transgressor. It is our schoolmaster, condemning to punishment. Where is the remedy? The law drives us to Christ, who was hanged upon the cross that He might be able to impart His righteousness to fallen, sinful man and thus present men to His Father in His righteous character.

Christ on the cross not only draws men to repentance toward God for the transgression of His law—for whom God pardons He first makes penitent—but Christ has satisfied Justice; He has proffered Himself as an atonement. His gushing blood, His broken body, satisfy the claims of the broken law, and thus He bridges the gulf which sin has made. He suffered in the flesh, that with His bruised and broken body He might cover the defenseless sinner…All that was possible for man to endure in the conflict with Satan, Christ endured in His human and divine nature combined. Obedient, sinless to the last, He died for man, his substitute and surety, enduring all that men ever endure from the deceiving tempter, that man may overcome by being a partaker of the divine nature…To resist Satan’s desires is no easy task. It demands a firm hold of the divine nature from beginning to end, or it cannot be done. Christ, in the victories achieved in His death on Calvary’s cross, plainly lays open the way for man, and thus makes it possible for him to keep the law of God through the Way, the Truth, and the Life. There is no other way.

The righteousness of Christ is presented as a free gift to the sinner if he will accept it. He has nothing of his own but what is tainted and corrupted, polluted with sin, utterly repulsive to a pure and holy God. Only through the righteous character of Jesus Christ can man come nigh to God.

Christ as high priest within the veil so immortalizes Calvary that though He liveth unto God, He dies continually to sin, and thus if any man sin, he has an Advocate with the Father. He arose from the tomb enshrouded with a cloud of angels in wondrous power and glory—the Deity and humanity combined. He took in His grasp the world over which Satan claimed to preside as his lawful territory, and by His wonderful work in giving His life, He restored the whole race of men to favor with God…

Let no one take the limited narrow position that any of the works of man can help in the least possible way to liquidate the debt of his transgression. This is a fatal deception. If you would understand it, you must cease haggling over your pet ideas, and with humble hearts survey the atonement. This matter is so dimly comprehended that thousands upon thousands claiming to be sons of God are children of the wicked one, because they will depend on their own works. God always demanded good works, the law demands it, but because man placed himself in sin where his good works were valueless, Jesus’ righteousness alone can avail. Christ is able to save to the uttermost because He ever liveth to make intercession for us. All that man can possibly do toward his own salvation is to accept the invitation, “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” [Revelation 22:17.] No sin can be committed by man for which satisfaction has not been met on Calvary. Thus the cross, in earnest appeals, continually proffers to the sinner a thorough expiation.

As you near the cross of Calvary, there is seen love that is without a parallel. As you by faith grasp the meaning of the sacrifice, you see yourself a sinner, condemned by a broken law. This is repentance. As you come with humble heart, you find pardon, for Christ Jesus is represented as continually standing at the altar, momentarily (every moment) offering up the sacrifice for the sins of the world. He is a minister of the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man. The typical (symbolic) shadows of the Jewish tabernacle no longer possess any virtue. A daily and yearly typical atonement is no longer to be made, but the atoning sacrifice through a mediator is essential because of the constant commission of sin. Jesus is officiating in the presence of God, offering up His shed blood, as it had been a lamb slain. Jesus presents the oblation (a thing presented or offered to God)  offered for every offense and every shortcoming of the sinner.

Christ, our Mediator, and the Holy Spirit are constantly interceding in man’s behalf, but the Spirit pleads not for us as does Christ, who presents His blood, shed from the foundation of the world; the Spirit works upon our hearts, drawing out prayers and penitence, praise and thanksgiving. The gratitude which flows from our lips is the result of the Spirit striking the cords of the soul in holy memories, awakening the music of the heart.

The religious services, the prayers, the praise, the penitent confession of sin, ascend from true believers as incense to the heavenly sanctuary, but passing through the corrupt channels of humanity, they are so defiled that unless purified by blood, they can never be of value with God. They ascend not in spotless purity, and unless the intercessor who is at God’s right hand presents and purifies all by His righteousness, it is not acceptable to God. All incense from earthly tabernacles must be moist with the cleansing drops of the blood of Christ. He holds before the Father the censor of His own merits, in which there is no taint of earthly corruption. He gathers into this censor the prayers, the praise, and the confessions of His people, and with these He puts His own spotless righteousness. Then, perfumed with the merits of Christ’s propitiation (atonement; conciliation; mediation), the incense comes up before God wholly and entirely acceptable. Then gracious answers are returned. 

O, that all may see that everything in obedience, in penitence, in praise and thanksgiving, must be placed upon the glowing fire of the righteousness of Christ. The fragrance of this righteousness ascends like a cloud around the mercy seat. Ms 50, 1900 (Italicised words in parenthesis added.)

Out Of The Cities

Christ spent the majority of His 33½ years on this earth in a rural setting, well away from the cities of that time, and He, through His Testimonies in the Spirit of Prophecy, has for 175 years been kindly counselling us to have our homes “out of the cities”, “into rural districts where the houses are not crowded closely together” on “a small piece of land”, where we are able to enjoy the natural benefits of “Country Living”. 

The news each day has confirmed why this would definitely be the wisest advice that could ever have been given to His people, and it certainly always pays to heed the “counsel of the Faithful and True Witness” to the Laodicean church, for those He loves He “rebukes and chastens” for their highest good. We can surely see, for some time now, that in the very near “future the problem of buying and selling will be a very serious one”. This combined with all of the manmade distress and the frequent natural disasters that we daily see manifest on the news, makes the simple life in the country, that He has chosen for us, look even better each day and causes us to lift our voices in praise and thanksgiving often for the freedom that it gives us to be able to live so peacefully and to worship Him in “spirit and in truth”. 

He has informed us that just before He comes again there will be “Upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth. Luke 21:25,26

The advantages of “Country Living” are too numerous to mention here, so having heeded His counsel let us all, whilst at the same time also enjoying the very best possible health, appreciate all of the advantages each and every moment of time that He gives us breath.

“Remember Lot’s wife”.

The Bride – The Final Cut

Since Eden, the number of believers on the original path has at times been perilously few. In these last moments of earth's history, “My Beloved” is now purifying His Bride.

Throughout history marriage has been used by Christ to represent the intimacy which He desires to have when we abide in Him. Each aspect has great significance, here is an overview:

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness

...So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Genesis 1:26-27

And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him...And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Genesis 2:18-24

And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. Genesis 5:24

And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go...And Isaac...took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her. Genesis 24:58,67

And Jacob loved Rachel...And...served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. Genesis 29:18-20

And the women said...Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a Kinsman Redeemer. Ruth 4:14 [margin]

This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend. Song of Solomon 5:16- (and includes the entire Song).

For thy Maker is thine Husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 54:5

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. Isaiah 61:10

Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate:

but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah Married: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married. For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee...Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken. Isaiah 62:4,5,11,12

For I am married unto you. Jeremiah 3:14

I was an Husband unto them, saith the Lord. Jeremiah 31:32

Thus saith the Lord God unto Jerusalem...None eye pitied thee...to have compassion upon the...in the day that thou wast born. And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live. I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou wast naked and bare. Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord God, and thou becamest mine. Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil. I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers 'skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk. I decked thee also with ornaments...a beautiful crown upon thine head. Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper... And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord God. Ezekiel 16

I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. And it shall be at that day, saith the Lord, that thou shalt call me Ishi Husband; and shalt call me no more Baali Lord of the earth. And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the Lord. Hosea 2 [margin]

The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21

And the angel said unto her...And, behold, thou shalt...bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end...The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that Holy Thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. Luke 1:30-35

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men...That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him...He came unto his own...But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God...And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:1-14

He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. John 3:29

That ye should be married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. Romans 7:4

For I have espoused you to one Husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:2

Christ is the head of the church: and He is the Saviour of the body...the church is subject unto Christ...Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish...This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Ephesians 5:23-32

Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery...which is Christ in you, the hope of glory…that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. Colossians 1:26-28

Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. Revelation 3:12

To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Revelation 3:21

But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. Revelation 10:7

And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. Revelation 14:1-5

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. Revelation 19:7-9

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Revelation 21:2

And there came unto me one of the seven angels...and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. Revelation 21:9-11

Mountain = government. Great & high = there is no higher government. 

The government of the kingdom of Christ is like no earthly government. It is a representation of the characters of those who compose the kingdom. 5BC 1111.

Mt Sion, New Jerusalem = The Bride = 144,000.

At this time in the world's history the Lord is preparing His Bride.

The one sin that God's people commit is adultery, and He is the Husband of His people. It is not surprising then, when we give our affections to anything or anyone else, that He would be naturally jealous.

Let us strive with all the power that God has given us to be among the hundred and forty-four thousand. RH March 9, 1905.

Wake, O Wake

Wake, O wake! With tidings thrilling

The watchmen all the air are filling,

Arise, Jerusalem, arise!

Midnight strikes! No more delaying,

“The hour has come!”we hear them saying.

Where are ye all, ye virgins wise?

The Bridegroom comes in sight,

Raise high your torches bright!

Alleluia! The wedding song

Swells long and strong: 

Go forth and join the festal throng.

Zion hears the watchmen shouting,

Her heart leaps up with joy undoubting,

She stands and waits with eager eyes;

See her Friend from heaven descending,

Adorned with truth and grace unending!

Her light burns clear, her star doth rise.

Now come, Thou precious Crown,

Lord Jesus, God's own Son! 

Hosanna! Let us prepare

To follow there,

Where in Thy supper we may share.

Philipp Nicolai (1556-1608)

This is also the official hymn of this ministry:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vac01cyW0lg

The One who created and ruled the universe is now permanently bound by His humanity. In this humanity, He will join in marriage with those who have accepted His remedy and come out from Laod-I-cea, the 144,000, who have also overcome as He did, and will now be one with Him, on His throne in the capital city, Mt. Sion, New Jerusalem. And “What is a city, but its people”. The capital city of the universe will be brought down to the place where He became human, and which was the home of His Bride. 

The Bride is the guarantee that sin will never rise up again, therefore placing the Government of the universe on a more secure foundation than would ever have been possible. 

God is the husband of His church. The church is the bride, the Lamb’s wife. Every true believer is a part of the body of Christ. Christ regards unfaithfulness shown to Him by His people as the unfaithfulness of a wife to her husband. We are to remember that we are members of Christ’s body. Lt 39, 1902. 

The church is the bride, the Lamb’s wife. She should keep herself pure, sanctified, holy. Never should she indulge in any foolishness; for she is the bride of a King. Yet she does not realize her exalted position. If she understood this, she would be all-glorious within. Lt 177, 1901. 

The church is the bride of Christ, and her members are to yoke up with their Leader. God warns us not to defile our garments. Lt 123, 1898. 

Jesus says, “My son, My daughter, give Me thine heart, that I may mold and fashion the character.” This is all He asks. My dear Sister…is it not time for you to be disgusted with yourself? Is it not time that you came to your best Friend, your Counselor? Will you any longer dare to run the fearful risk of losing your soul? The day of God is right upon us. What preparation are you making for it? Do you realize that you are building for time and for eternity? Will you allow the love of amusement and your stubborn self-will to divorce you from God? Will you become married to another instead of being the bride of Christ? 18MR 266. 

By the wedding garment in the parable is represented the pure, spotless character which Christ's true followers will possess. To the church it is given “that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white,” “not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.” Revelation 19:8; Ephesians 5:27. The fine linen, says the Scripture, “is the righteousness of saints.” Revelation 19:8. It is the righteousness of Christ, His own unblemished character, that through faith is imparted to all who receive Him as their personal Saviour. COL 310. 

In full view is a dwelling house lighted up brilliantly as if for some festive scene. The light streams from the openings, and an expectant company wait around, indicating that a marriage procession is soon to appear. In many parts of the East, wedding festivities are held in the evening. The bridegroom goes forth to meet his bride and bring her to his home. By torchlight the bridal party proceed from her father’s house to his own, where a feast is provided for the invited guests. In the scene upon which Christ looks, a company are awaiting the appearance of the bridal party, intending to join the procession. Lingering near the bride’s house are ten young women robed in white…All are anxiously watching for the appearance of the bridegroom. But there is a delay. Hour after hour passes; the watchers become weary and fall asleep. At midnight the cry is heard, “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” The sleepers, suddenly awaking, spring to their feet. They see the procession moving on, bright with torches and glad with music. They hear the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride. The ten maidens seize their lamps and begin to trim them, in haste to go forth. COL 405. 

The bride is the church who is waiting for the second appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. RH October 31, 1899.  

This parable is not a representation of open sinners, but of those who profess Christ. The bride is the church who is waiting for the second appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. PrT June 29, 1899. 

This can only be the 144,000; His Bride, and they are also the ones who will receive every one of the rewards of each of the 7 churches – they are very unique because they have lived His life and were translated without tasting death. The translation of the 144,000 at the second coming is not due to the accident of their being on earth at this time, but to their life of perfect righteousness by faith. It is the natural working out of the life of Christ in them. 

We will love Him forever.

For Your Eyes Only

This post is just for you and does not concern any other person on this earth. 

In a rapidly changing world of information overload there is also much mis/disinformation. The Absolute Certainty that you are entitled to possess is constantly being threatened by forces that seem to be out of your control. You can, despite the pressures being applied from every direction, know exactly what is truth.

To belong to Christ is a very personal and intimate reality. He has compared it to marriage and to the complete Oneness and Unity of the Three Heavenly Beings of the Godhead.

When Adam, and later in the day Eve, were being formed by the hands of Christ out of the earth, He had you on His mind as He was writing your DNA into these first parents. With His Infinite mind He saw everything that would be you and all that would happen to you. On this earth four thousand years later, He was moment by moment living all of your life, to gain the victories that you would need. As He hung on the cross to save you from your sins, He was thinking of you. This is very personal. Christianity is very personal; Christ abiding, dwelling in your heart!

Christ and you.

This personal Christian life and it’s success, is not dependant on religion. It is not dependant on attendance at meetings. There are times when all religious services are an abomination to the Lord. Singing, prayer and words are disgusting to Him, He has to turn away from the noise. He cannot be deceived with honeyed phrases that mean nothing. Flattery does not tickle His ear. The double-minded man, who wants the evil, even while asking for the good, receives nothing from the Lord. Hypocrisy is detestable to God. He only desires sincerity, and that willingly. Isaiah 1-3. 

We currently see in our world so vast a contrast that — on one hand we have rapidly dwindling congregations and on the other mega-churches with tens of thousands attending, and virtual churches with allegedly hundreds of thousands viewing on livestream. However, the gospel is an individual work in each individual heart; this does not consist of dealing with multitudes, but the individual. Even when speaking to thousands Christ addressed each one individually. He did not consider it a waste to devote His time to one single person. The most important and glorious truths Christ has had recorded were to a one soul audience. The Good Shepherd looks after and cares for the single lamb. The church that Christ will present to Himself when He comes will not only be perfect, but will reflect His character and method perfectly. He loved the church and gave Himself for it, and whosoever will be of that church when it shall be the glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, must love the church, and give himself for it. 

That is the church by whom God will give His last message to the world “in this generation.” But He cannot have that church by whom He can give that message, until He shall find a people who will love the church and give themselves for it. This is the philosophy of things, as well, for is it not written, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”? Philippians 2:5. And when that mind in Him led Him to love the church, and to give Himself for it, what will that mind do in any other person? We need dwell no longer upon that. 

The church is the body of Christ in the world, it is Christ manifested in the world, it is Christ Himself incarnate in the world, and that church being His body, being Himself manifested, to love that church and give Himself for it, is nothing less, and cannot be anything more, than to love Him and give myself for Him. Membership in that church then, comes not by belonging to the church in order to belong to Christ, but by belonging to Christ in order to belong to the church. And the difference between these two things is the difference between true Christianity - the Mystery of God and the mystery of iniquity. The mystery of iniquity exalts the form, the name, the idea, the church, and then calls, and sweeps, and forces, all the world into that church, in order that it may be what the mystery of iniquity designs, not for salvation, for salvation is not in it, not for righteousness, for righteousness is not in it. The people are the same as before, though they bear a different name. They conform to different forms of things than they did before, but in character, in life, in all that they ever were, they are the same as though they were not members of the church at all. 

But the church, the church of Christ, is Himself manifested. Therefore to belong to this church we must belong first to Him. Membership in this church depends altogether upon our membership of Him. Being in the church depends altogether upon our being in Him, and to be in the church by being in Him, that makes a new people; that changes the individual into another person; that makes him a Christian, such as is Christ; Christ manifest. Then we need to consider ourselves daily, each one for himself, and ask, “am I a member of the church?” Not because I am enrolled on the books of the church. Not, am I a member of the church because I have joined the church and that is my dependence? But, am I a member of the church because my name is enrolled in the Book of Life? Am I a member of the church because I have given myself to Christ, and belong to Him, and live and move and have my being in Him? Such as these are the only members of the church that are on the earth. It matters not how much we have our names on the church book, nor how long it be done, we will never be members of the church that way. 

And though it should be that opportunity or circumstances prevent your name from being in any book on earth, or in any collection of individuals on the earth, yet if you are joined to Him, and live in Him, you are a member of the church, though you be the only soul on earth. That is the only true membership of the church of Christ, and that is the only way to membership in the church of Christ. This church fills heaven and earth. He is Head. He filleth all in all. All who are reconciled to God by the blood of the cross are members from this earth. All in the universe are embraced by one heart of love, a reconciled universe which is the fullness of Him. That unified universe is the church, and nothing else is. “The whole family of heaven and earth.”

The church is the fullness of Him, and He is the Infinite and filleth all in all, and it is nothing less than infinity. The church is the assembly of the universe, and that is infinite; the reconciling and gathering together in one of all things; the revelation of the manifold wisdom of God. It is the manifestation, the working out, of the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. That only is the church. Only the universe is the church of the infinite God, and He gave Christ to be the Head over all things, that is, the church.

The church is made up of God's elect. All converted, sanctified, with repentance towards God and faith in the word of our Lord Jesus Christ. With holiness of life and conversation, they hate sin and love Christ. They all worship with one heart, led by one Spirit, all builded upon the one Foundation, all draw religion from one Book, all joined at one great Centre, all say with one heart “Hallelujah”, all respond with one heart and voice, 'Amen and amen.”

The church is not dependent on ministers on earth, it does not depend on church membership, baptism, the Lord's supper (although valued) e.g. the thief on the cross. There is One great Head, Shepherd and chief Bishop – Jesus Christ my LORD and my God. He alone admits members. Let a man repent and believe the gospel and he is at that moment a member. No minister can prevent him or disfellowship him. If members are only left with the presence of Christ and His Spirit that is enough and the church cannot die. Only the church with true unity and all spiritual analogies are of one mind. All in it are holy, only because they have the Holy One living in them. The church is certain to endure to the end, nothing can overthrow or destroy it. 

The church that we are to belong to today is described in the book of Acts as “The Way”. It was unstoppable and took the gospel to the entire world in one generation. The apostle Paul describes it this way - But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. Hebrews 12:22-24.

His final church now is spoken of in this way - Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14:12

As a member of this Universal church - “You can be Absolutely Certain that there is no one in the universe more precious to Him than you”.

Yes, the Christian life is very personal indeed, and you can join with the faithful in all ages who have found the secret. You too can have this beautiful, intimate, very personal life, as He lives His Life of victory over self and sin out, in and through you, to the glory of God.

Christ and you.

Nothing or Everything

The special message for our time is that there are only 2 things that are necessary for anybody to know – 

1. that man is nothing 

2. that God is everything. 

He, who has learned this, has eternity, with all its riches and wisdom, in his grasp.

The everlasting gospel of Christ does the very thing that the great day of God does, only it is better to submit to the process now, willingly, than to wait until then. When men exalt themselves, everything is reversed and in disorder.
Man is nothing, and whoever trusts in man, even in himself, must inevitably come to nothing. The judgement will do nothing more that reveal things as they are and leave every man to the result of his own choice and God will be clear from the blood of the wicked who are destroyed for “God destroys no man, every man who is destroyed will have destroyed himself”.
The power of the gospel is equal to the great and terrible day of the Lord, when He will shake the heavens and the earth, as He comes to save His people, who He has, for eternity, made something out of nothing. 

Christ In All The Scriptures

The 2 sides of the Model Life, Who delighted in doing God’s will only, are:

Realised in the Living Word

Analysed in the written Word

Today we will look at how we are able to find Him in His written Word; the Holy Scriptures.

When we approach a word, phrase, verse or chapter in a book of the Bible firstly look at it’s setting and ask:

Who

What

Why

When

Where

Which

It is absolutely impossible for us to exhaust any portion of Scripture. The more you study, the more you see; it is absolutely unfathomable. One's understanding of each portion depends on the thoroughness of his knowledge of that which proceeds it.

No one can give any statement as to the teaching of any text which is final and authoritative. It is impossible to exhaust any portion of God's word. If you are satisfied and do not think that it is worth looking on, you will not see more. No matter how much we see, there is always much more we don't see. 

Each Scripture is connected to every other portion.
If you think through a Scripture time after time and see the whole of it, and each separate statement as a single whole, you see what no man on earth could tell you. Study each section then go back over the whole. This is the royal method. 

Study the text carefully, read it again and again. Find out exactly what it is saying. Note the dependence of each verse on that which precedes it. Nobody can tell you what is true concerning the text, that is not found in the text itself. If you give heed you can tell what the Lord says as well as anyone, He uses the language of the common people. 

“Hear O heavens, and give ear O earth.”, why? Because the Lord hath spoken. When the Lord speaks it is the time for everyone in heaven and earth to keep silence before Him.
If we would do this and not even in our innermost hearts uttering a word, but allowing God to give us His thoughts, we should find not only life but sound wisdom as well. 

Here are the Principles of Biblical Interpretation to guide you in your study of Christ in the written Word:

Proof text method 

Line upon line 

Parables  Stories  Prophecies

We are able to place this here...

Numbers - Dates - Chapters/verses

Ever the same

Events, waymarks, turning points, moment of truth

3+1

Repeat 

Meaning and significance of names – prophets, places, things

Progressive

Delineation  Fractal  Chiasm

End from beginning

Repeat and enlarge

Internal/External

Not as we expected

1st+2nd=3rd

Compare and Contrast 

Literal application

Typological application

Moral application

Prophetic application

Models of agriculture, marriage, construction, geography

Two witnesses

Alpha & Omega

The prophets are subject to the prophets

Rule of first mention 

Natural → Spiritual 

These are so simple that a child can easily understand how they are applied, so if you would like to share them with a child at anytime here is an easy way to show and explain it all to them: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ABEghFMGo4OZkvBK39mX6kZVikFZ2XNB/view?usp=sharing

Perfect Combination

The incarnation of Jesus Christ, the divine son of God, “Christ in you, the hope of glory,” is the great theme of the gospel. CET 246 This is the Mystery of God.

Christ brought men and women power to overcome. He came to this world in human form, to live a man amongst men. He assumed the liabilities of human nature, to be proved and tried. In His humanity He was a partaker of the divine nature. In His incarnation He gained in a new sense the title of the Son of God. Said the angel to Mary, “The power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). While the Son of a human being, He became the Son of God in a new sense. Thus He stood in our world — the Son of God, yet allied by birth to the human race. 1SM 226

While every post on this site is able to stand alone, many are related to previous posts which are available in the archive —>