“Kerioth is taken, and the strongholds are surprised, and the mightv men’s hearts in Moab at that day shall be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.” Jeremiah 48:41
The extremism of Nic Kizziah is very unfortunate but must obviously be a compliment to Bible critics. Mister Kizziah has an article on the internet called “Believers Beware of Counterfeit King James Bibles” (http://www.biblebelievers.com/believers-org/counterfeit-kjv.html). In this article, he makes a big issue out of spelling differences in different editions of the King James Bible. For example, ‘asswaged’ or ‘assuaged’, ‘throughly’ or ‘thoroughly’, ‘morter’ or ‘mortar’, ‘to day’ or ‘today’, ‘further’ or ‘farther’, ‘musick’ or ‘music’. He goes so far as to call King James Bibles with American spellings (instead of English spellings) and more modern spellings (instead of the older spellings) counterfeit Bibles. I can see proponents of corrupt Bible versions standing off on the sideline, laughing, as they watch ‘Bible believers’ conducting this kind of nonsense and finding so called errors in perfectly good King James Bibles. After giving a list of 28 word spelling differences in a 3 column chart, showing the Scripture Reference, ‘The Real Bible’ spelling, and the ‘Counterfeit’ spelling, he says, “This is just a very short list of the changes being made by some of the worldly publishing companies. If you find one counterfeit word then that is a pretty good indication there are many more. Don't buy that Bible, check elsewhere.”
If this is really an important issue, why doesn’t Brother Kizziah give us the complete list?
Now in his list, only the first one might be of any real importance. This is the difference between ‘heaven’ and ‘heavens’ in Genesis 1:1. I haven’t seen a King James Bible with the word ‘heavens’ in Genesis 1:1. If I did see one like that, I probably wouldn’t buy it. But I have seen a ‘King James Bible’ with the word ‘wot’ changed to ‘know’. I had purchased one like that many years ago. After discovering the word change, I returned the ‘bible’. The word ‘wot’ is in the Bible 10 times. Wot is an acronym for word of truth which is what the Bible calls itself. The definition of ‘wot’ is easily discernable in its context. This is an implication that the word of truth is easily discernable with the Spirit of God. The word ‘wot’ should remain in the Bible. The word ‘heaven’ or ‘heavens’ in Genesis 1:1 would be of concern except for the fact that it could easily be a typographical error.
In the 2nd paragraph of his article, Kizziah calls the spelling changes in his list “minor changes”. If they are minor then they do not constitute counterfeit words and counterfeit bibles. Counterfeit bibles are books like the NIV, NASV, NKJV, etc. These versions have Major word and meaning changes that affect the truth of the text. He also says, in his 3rd paragraph, “To the best of my understanding this [the standard text of the Holy Bible] is the 1769 edition of the 1611 King James Bible with a few minor printing errors and spellings corrected along the way in the 1800's.” Now stop and think for a moment. How was it ok to make spelling changes in the 1800s but spelling differences are not ok today? Mister Kizziah is contradicting himself.
“All the common ordinary Bible believer wants is the same Bible that his grandmother had and the same Bible her grandmother had and the same Bible her grandmother had etc. that's all.” (Kizziah, 2nd paragraph.)
I checked the verses in Kizziah’s list in a 1863 and a 1871 Bible both published by the American Bible Society and a 1870s Bible published by F.M Dillie & Co. The results follow:
1. All three Bibles have the ‘counterfeit’ spelling of ‘assuaged’ in Genesis 8:1.
2. All three have ‘thoroughly’ in Genesis 11:3. (The ABS Bibles also have ‘thoroughly’ in 2 Timothy 3:17.
3. All three have ‘mortar’ in Genesis 11:3.
4. All three have ‘entreat’ in Genesis 23:8.
5. All three have ‘inquire’ in Genesis 24:57.
6-10. All three have ‘basins’, ‘jubilee’, ‘music’, ‘cloak’, and ‘public’.
11. The ABS editions has ‘always’ in Exodus 25:30.
12. The Bible Association Of Friends In America 1831 edition of the New Testament has ‘public’ in Matthew 1:19 but has ‘throughly’ in 2 Timothy 3:17.
13. The Dillie has ‘to-day’ instead of ‘to day’ in Genesis 21:26.
The Dillie also has the following:
14. ‘chesnut-tree’ in Genesis 30:37.
15. Lower case ‘s’ in Genesis 41:38.
16. ‘to-morrow’ in Exodus 8:23.
17. ‘rere-ward’ in Numbers 10:25.
18. ‘two-edged’ in Psalm 149:6, Proverbs 5:4, Hebrews 4:12, and Revelation 1:16.
19. The ABS Bibles have ‘or’ in Joshua 19:2.
20. The Dillie Bible has ‘and’ in Joshua 19:2.
I have yet to see a Cambridge Bible from the 1800s to check. But look at the sad shape my great grand father, Warren Jefferson Alford, Jr. [1863-1925] was in if his Bible was like one of my old ones instead of a Cambridge (or the ‘real Bible’ Cambridge). And my great great grand father, Warren Jefferson Alford, Sr. [1831-1898] could have had a ‘counterfeit’ Bible with the 1831 Friends New Testament. I also have an ABS pocket New Testament dated 1864 with a clasp to keep it closed. This pocket Testament was possibly owned by a Civil War soldier. It is too bad, isn’t it, that a war soldier couldn’t go into battle with a ‘Real Bible’ if he had an ABS. The ABS soldier’s pocket Testament not only has ‘public’ in Matthew 1:19, but it also has ‘thoroughly’ in 2 Timothy 3:17.
Kizziah mentions, in his 5th paragraph, “The Bible of our forefathers”. Then, later, speaking of a Bible he had purchased, he says, “IT’S A COUNTERFEIT! It’s not the Bible of my forefathers!” Now you can see from the information I have given about the old Bibles from the 1800s that I own, the Bibles of our forefathers had the same spelling variations that we have today. The Bibles of our forefathers also had the variation of ‘or’ or ‘and’ in Joshua 19:2. So, Brother Nic Kizziah has obviously failed to do his homework (research) before spouting off a bunch of silly, nonsense about something so unimportant.
My Large Print Cambridge Bible that I have used since 1989 has a few mistakes in it too. The most noticeable one is in Jeremiah 48:41 where the word ‘mighty’ is misspelled as ‘mightv’. This is an obvious spelling mistake and probably just a typographical error. This misspelled word does not constitute a textual error. It does not affect the truth of the text. Anyone can see that the word is ‘mighty’ misspelled.
Now what Kizziah is doing (intentionally or unintentionally) is surprising the strong holds of good Christian men. And this stupid ranting about minor differences which do not change “the truth of God into a lie” is causing “mighty men’s hearts” to “be as the heart of a woman in her pangs”.
Other mistakes in my Bible:
Exodus 23:15 – The ‘.’ should be ‘:’.
Numbers 12:12 – The verse has 2 lines at the bottom left column and 2 lines at the top right column. The word ‘consumed’ is split with ‘con’ in the 2nd line and ‘sumed’ in the 3rd line. The mistake is that there is no hyphen between the two syllables.
Numbers 23:30 – There is no period (.) at the end of the sentence.
Deuteronomy 22:3 – The word ‘thing’ should be plural.
2 Chronicles 13:19 – Should ‘Ephrain’ be ‘Ephraim’ ?
In conclusion, if you will read all the verses in the Bible that have the words ‘err’, ‘error’ or other forms of the word, you should find that the Bible defines an error as a false statement. So, let’s be sensible and defend the truth of God without wasting our God given time and effort on petty, meaningless nonsense.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Spanking A. D. Samples
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth 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.
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” 1 John 4:1-7
In my audio message “Ye Do Err, Not Knowing The Scriptures” [http://www.geocities.com/gna1611/preaching.html], I said that because of 1 John 4:1-3, you can try the spirits of Bible versions. Just check 1 Timothy 3:16 and see if the version confesses that “God was manifest in the flesh”. Other verses concerning God being manifest in the flesh are the following:
“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 1:14
“Who [Christ] verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,” 1 Peter 1:20
“ (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)” 1 John 1:2
“And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.” 1 John 3:5
“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.” 1 John 3:8
Although all of these verses speak of Jesus Christ’s manifestation in the past tense, A. D. Samples claims that in order to “try the spirits” today, you must insist on getting the present tense “is come” in the confession. Without those two words, you must be speaking to a devil.
If Samples had searched the scriptures and looked at all the verses that contain the exact phrase “is come”, he should have noticed Matthew 17:12. “But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.” Jesus here is speaking of John the Baptist some time after his death. In this verse, it is clear that this phrase “is come” is referring to someone who HAS come and HAS GONE. This is true also of our Lord Jesus Christ today. He has come in the flesh and he has also gone in the flesh (Acts 1:9-10). By the way, Samples said, “His flesh didn’t go anywhere”. So then, Jesus Christ is now still here on the earth in the flesh? No, not really. Jesus Christ is not here on the earth in the flesh. Jesus Christ went to heaven in the flesh. “He is not here: for he is risen.” Samples has been smoking pot with his brother-in-law.
Samples also said, “Jesus Christ is come in the flesh in the same way that he was here on earth in front of Nicodemus and in heaven at the same time”. This is another false statement. When Jesus was here on earth, he was here on earth in the flesh. Right now, he is not here on earth in the flesh. So, to make the confession that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is correct today. And Samples is just a bozo for insisting on the present tense “is come”.
Now let’s press the present tense “is come” and study the thing out and then and only then, we’ll see who is devil possessed. In verses two and three of First John, two spirits are mentioned. One is the Spirit of God and the other is the spirit of antichrist. In verse six, two spirits are mentioned. One is the spirit of truth and the other is the spirit of error. Obviously, the Spirit of God is the spirit of truth and the spirit of antichrist is the spirit of error. Another thing that should be obvious to a Christian who compares scripture with scripture, instead of smoking pot, is that to find the context and application of First John 1-3, you need to determine in which time periods would the confession that Jesus Christ “is come” in the flesh would be a true confession. There are five time periods to consider.
Before the birth of Jesus Christ, the confession that Jesus Christ “is come” in the flesh would be a false confession. It could only be confessed by the spirit of error during this time.
From the birth of Jesus Christ to the Ascension of Jesus Christ in Acts 1:9-10, the confession that Jesus Christ “is come” in the flesh would be a true confession. During this time, the spirit of truth could confess it.
From the Ascension of Jesus Christ to the Tribulation, the confession that Jesus Christ “is come” in the flesh would be a false confession. During this time, Jesus Christ is not come in the flesh. He is not here: for he is risen. And just to make it clear to stupid people: During this time, Jesus Christ is not come in the flesh – he was come in the flesh. Again, Jesus Christ is not come in the flesh – he is gone in the flesh. One more time, “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.” (Matthew 28:6) [And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead.]
During the Tribulation, the confession that Jesus Christ “is come” in the flesh would be a false confession. As a matter of fact, that confession during the tribulation would be a confession that the antichrist is Jesus Christ come in the flesh. It could only be confessed by the spirit of antichrist during this time.
During the 1000 year reign of Jesus Christ here on the earth, guess what? You get only one guess. The confession that Jesus Christ “is come” in the flesh would be a true confession. During this time, the spirit of truth could confess it.
Now, the conclusion of the matter is this: From the Ascension of Jesus Christ to the Second Coming of Christ after the Tribulation, it is truth to say that Jesus Christ “has” come in the flesh; but it is error to say that Jesus Christ “is come” in the flesh. [One more time for stupid people, “He is not here: for he is risen.] And since only the spirit of error – the spirit of antichrist – would confess now that Jesus Christ “is come in the flesh” instead of “he is risen”, it is A. D. Samples who is devil possessed. He is confessing the confession of error. And in addition to that, he wants you to get the spirit of antichrist too.
Christians are not supposed to be witnesses of Jesus Christ in the flesh. He is not here. Christians are supposed to be witnesses of his resurrection. You want proof of this statement. Good. I’m glad you asked.
Acts 1:22:
“Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.”
Acts 2:31:
“He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.”
Acts 4:2:
“Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.”
Acts 4:33:
“And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.”
Acts 17:18:
“Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.”
Romans 1:4:
“And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:”
Romans 6:5:
“For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:”
1 Corinthians 15:12:
“Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?”
1 Corinthians 15:13:
“But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:”
Philippians 3:10:
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;”
1 Peter 1:3:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”
1 Peter 3:21:
“The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:”
____________________________________________________________
“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.” 1 John 3:10
By his own testimony, A. D. Samples went to Bible Baptist Church, Pensacola, Florida and intentionally caused a disturbance in the church between services and after services. And he claims that God told him to do this. If he had wanted to do righteousness, he would have talked to whoever he wanted to, at least, outside the church building if not completely off the church property. And in the case of speaking to Dr. Ruckman, he should have waited until the building was cleared or asked Dr. Ruckman if they could go to his office or somewhere else private to talk about the matter. It is obvious that Samples was not concerned about being decent or orderly. “Let all things be done decently and in order.” (1 Corinthians 14:40) And it is also obvious that he was not concerned about doing righteousness. He was concerned about causing strife.
Secondly, if Samples was at all concerned about doing righteousness, and he really thought that Dr. Ruckman was devil possessed, Samples should have given much time to prayer (and I mean very much more than one week – more like months, at least) before publishing his 3 part ‘message’. What Samples has done shows that he is the worst kind of liar when he says that he loves Dr. Ruckman. If he really believed what he says he believes, and was concerned about doing right, instead of gaining advantage from this slander, he would not have done what he has done. That is obvious to anyone who has any sense at all.
According to First John 3:10, Samples is not only devil possessed, but this verse says that he is “not of God”, but is a child of the devil. A. D. Samples “doeth not righteousness” and he “loveth not his brother”. Even if Samples has been born again, he is a dirty rotten low life scum. He is worse than Bible correctors. Samples can go lick up his own vomit! He is a false prophet.
And don’t worry about 1 Timothy 5:1, the verse that says, “Rebuke not an elder”. He’s not anybody’s elder. In fact, according to 1 Corinthians 3:3, Samples is a baby. He is carnal. He is full of envying and strife and conceit. His ‘message’ is packed with conceit, contradictions, and nonsense.
This idiotic jackass thinks he is a David and he is going to take over as “the man of God in these last days” since according to him, Dr. Ruckman is now devil possessed.
____________________________________________________________
A List of Lies, Conceit, and Nonsense of A. D. Samples:
1. “I look across a non devil possessed room this morning and I thank God.”
If the room was not devil possessed, that is evidence that Samples was lying when he gave his message. When the truth is being preached, there are devils all over the place trying to block the airwaves and stop the effectiveness of the preaching. If there were no devils in the room, he must have been in a bar, getting drunk.
2. “I’m not preaching this to bash Dr. Ruckman.”
This is a lie. The only reason he did what he has is to bash Dr. Ruckman for his own personal gain.
3. “Nobody believes this passage but me. I believe it. You don’t believe it.”
4. “Everyone around there except for the exceptions.”
Absolute conceit and Idiocy.
5. “I was going to happily obey the Lord and beat the crap out of him.”
Samples is deluded. He expects you to believe that our Lord told him to “beat the crap out of” somebody. And it was not a matter of self defense. It is a matter of he has a plague in his head (Leviticus 13:44).
6. “God told me I had to go over there and handle this witchcraft seeping into the church.”
Who are you trying to kid? You are a liar.
7. “Even If you know where I’m going, you don’t know where I’m going.”
Yeah. Samples, even if you had a brain, you don’t have a brain.
8. “God’s original plan is he made your body to eat meat.”
Not according to Genesis 1:29-30; 2:16-17. Even after Adam’s sin, God still didn’t give animal meat to man for food until Noah.
9. According to Samples, nobody obeys the command of 1 John 4:1-3 except Samples himself and his buddies and their buddies.
10. At one point, Samples actually said that if a person says “Jesus Christ ‘is come’ in the flesh” without saying “I confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh”, the person failed the test of scripture and is a devil. Talk about stupid. This is beyond stupid. If a man says “Jesus Christ is come in the flesh”, he has made the confession. Does he think that in order to be saved, a person has to say “I confess with my mouth the Lord Jesus” etc. (Romans 10:9)?
11. “The one man that outranks me is Dr. Peter S. Ruckman. He is the only man who does.”
Who let this clown out of the circus anyway? He doesn’t outrank anybody. That crap is just his imagination. He must be an only child and desperately needs attention. That is after all what this whole thing is about. He is getting attention for himself.
12. “There are witnesses as I tell you these things. If you think you need more, you don’t.” “If you think you need more witnesses, go get them. Stop the tape and go get them.”
This guy has some real serious problems with his thinking process. Like Doc would say, “The bigger the belfry, the more room for the bats.” I would actually be surprised if Dr. Ruckman didn’t tell him that he is coo coo.
13. He said that if a person eats herbs, he is weak, taking Romans 14:2 out of context.
14. He said that since the beast is cast into the lake of fire in Revelation 19, 1 John 4:1-3 couldn’t apply to the millennium. But Revelation 19 does not say that the spirit of antichrist could not be on the earth at that time.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth 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.
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” 1 John 4:1-7
In my audio message “Ye Do Err, Not Knowing The Scriptures” [http://www.geocities.com/gna1611/preaching.html], I said that because of 1 John 4:1-3, you can try the spirits of Bible versions. Just check 1 Timothy 3:16 and see if the version confesses that “God was manifest in the flesh”. Other verses concerning God being manifest in the flesh are the following:
“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 1:14
“Who [Christ] verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,” 1 Peter 1:20
“ (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)” 1 John 1:2
“And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.” 1 John 3:5
“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.” 1 John 3:8
Although all of these verses speak of Jesus Christ’s manifestation in the past tense, A. D. Samples claims that in order to “try the spirits” today, you must insist on getting the present tense “is come” in the confession. Without those two words, you must be speaking to a devil.
If Samples had searched the scriptures and looked at all the verses that contain the exact phrase “is come”, he should have noticed Matthew 17:12. “But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.” Jesus here is speaking of John the Baptist some time after his death. In this verse, it is clear that this phrase “is come” is referring to someone who HAS come and HAS GONE. This is true also of our Lord Jesus Christ today. He has come in the flesh and he has also gone in the flesh (Acts 1:9-10). By the way, Samples said, “His flesh didn’t go anywhere”. So then, Jesus Christ is now still here on the earth in the flesh? No, not really. Jesus Christ is not here on the earth in the flesh. Jesus Christ went to heaven in the flesh. “He is not here: for he is risen.” Samples has been smoking pot with his brother-in-law.
Samples also said, “Jesus Christ is come in the flesh in the same way that he was here on earth in front of Nicodemus and in heaven at the same time”. This is another false statement. When Jesus was here on earth, he was here on earth in the flesh. Right now, he is not here on earth in the flesh. So, to make the confession that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is correct today. And Samples is just a bozo for insisting on the present tense “is come”.
Now let’s press the present tense “is come” and study the thing out and then and only then, we’ll see who is devil possessed. In verses two and three of First John, two spirits are mentioned. One is the Spirit of God and the other is the spirit of antichrist. In verse six, two spirits are mentioned. One is the spirit of truth and the other is the spirit of error. Obviously, the Spirit of God is the spirit of truth and the spirit of antichrist is the spirit of error. Another thing that should be obvious to a Christian who compares scripture with scripture, instead of smoking pot, is that to find the context and application of First John 1-3, you need to determine in which time periods would the confession that Jesus Christ “is come” in the flesh would be a true confession. There are five time periods to consider.
Before the birth of Jesus Christ, the confession that Jesus Christ “is come” in the flesh would be a false confession. It could only be confessed by the spirit of error during this time.
From the birth of Jesus Christ to the Ascension of Jesus Christ in Acts 1:9-10, the confession that Jesus Christ “is come” in the flesh would be a true confession. During this time, the spirit of truth could confess it.
From the Ascension of Jesus Christ to the Tribulation, the confession that Jesus Christ “is come” in the flesh would be a false confession. During this time, Jesus Christ is not come in the flesh. He is not here: for he is risen. And just to make it clear to stupid people: During this time, Jesus Christ is not come in the flesh – he was come in the flesh. Again, Jesus Christ is not come in the flesh – he is gone in the flesh. One more time, “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.” (Matthew 28:6) [And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead.]
During the Tribulation, the confession that Jesus Christ “is come” in the flesh would be a false confession. As a matter of fact, that confession during the tribulation would be a confession that the antichrist is Jesus Christ come in the flesh. It could only be confessed by the spirit of antichrist during this time.
During the 1000 year reign of Jesus Christ here on the earth, guess what? You get only one guess. The confession that Jesus Christ “is come” in the flesh would be a true confession. During this time, the spirit of truth could confess it.
Now, the conclusion of the matter is this: From the Ascension of Jesus Christ to the Second Coming of Christ after the Tribulation, it is truth to say that Jesus Christ “has” come in the flesh; but it is error to say that Jesus Christ “is come” in the flesh. [One more time for stupid people, “He is not here: for he is risen.] And since only the spirit of error – the spirit of antichrist – would confess now that Jesus Christ “is come in the flesh” instead of “he is risen”, it is A. D. Samples who is devil possessed. He is confessing the confession of error. And in addition to that, he wants you to get the spirit of antichrist too.
Christians are not supposed to be witnesses of Jesus Christ in the flesh. He is not here. Christians are supposed to be witnesses of his resurrection. You want proof of this statement. Good. I’m glad you asked.
Acts 1:22:
“Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.”
Acts 2:31:
“He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.”
Acts 4:2:
“Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.”
Acts 4:33:
“And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.”
Acts 17:18:
“Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.”
Romans 1:4:
“And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:”
Romans 6:5:
“For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:”
1 Corinthians 15:12:
“Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?”
1 Corinthians 15:13:
“But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:”
Philippians 3:10:
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;”
1 Peter 1:3:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”
1 Peter 3:21:
“The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:”
____________________________________________________________
“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.” 1 John 3:10
By his own testimony, A. D. Samples went to Bible Baptist Church, Pensacola, Florida and intentionally caused a disturbance in the church between services and after services. And he claims that God told him to do this. If he had wanted to do righteousness, he would have talked to whoever he wanted to, at least, outside the church building if not completely off the church property. And in the case of speaking to Dr. Ruckman, he should have waited until the building was cleared or asked Dr. Ruckman if they could go to his office or somewhere else private to talk about the matter. It is obvious that Samples was not concerned about being decent or orderly. “Let all things be done decently and in order.” (1 Corinthians 14:40) And it is also obvious that he was not concerned about doing righteousness. He was concerned about causing strife.
Secondly, if Samples was at all concerned about doing righteousness, and he really thought that Dr. Ruckman was devil possessed, Samples should have given much time to prayer (and I mean very much more than one week – more like months, at least) before publishing his 3 part ‘message’. What Samples has done shows that he is the worst kind of liar when he says that he loves Dr. Ruckman. If he really believed what he says he believes, and was concerned about doing right, instead of gaining advantage from this slander, he would not have done what he has done. That is obvious to anyone who has any sense at all.
According to First John 3:10, Samples is not only devil possessed, but this verse says that he is “not of God”, but is a child of the devil. A. D. Samples “doeth not righteousness” and he “loveth not his brother”. Even if Samples has been born again, he is a dirty rotten low life scum. He is worse than Bible correctors. Samples can go lick up his own vomit! He is a false prophet.
And don’t worry about 1 Timothy 5:1, the verse that says, “Rebuke not an elder”. He’s not anybody’s elder. In fact, according to 1 Corinthians 3:3, Samples is a baby. He is carnal. He is full of envying and strife and conceit. His ‘message’ is packed with conceit, contradictions, and nonsense.
This idiotic jackass thinks he is a David and he is going to take over as “the man of God in these last days” since according to him, Dr. Ruckman is now devil possessed.
____________________________________________________________
A List of Lies, Conceit, and Nonsense of A. D. Samples:
1. “I look across a non devil possessed room this morning and I thank God.”
If the room was not devil possessed, that is evidence that Samples was lying when he gave his message. When the truth is being preached, there are devils all over the place trying to block the airwaves and stop the effectiveness of the preaching. If there were no devils in the room, he must have been in a bar, getting drunk.
2. “I’m not preaching this to bash Dr. Ruckman.”
This is a lie. The only reason he did what he has is to bash Dr. Ruckman for his own personal gain.
3. “Nobody believes this passage but me. I believe it. You don’t believe it.”
4. “Everyone around there except for the exceptions.”
Absolute conceit and Idiocy.
5. “I was going to happily obey the Lord and beat the crap out of him.”
Samples is deluded. He expects you to believe that our Lord told him to “beat the crap out of” somebody. And it was not a matter of self defense. It is a matter of he has a plague in his head (Leviticus 13:44).
6. “God told me I had to go over there and handle this witchcraft seeping into the church.”
Who are you trying to kid? You are a liar.
7. “Even If you know where I’m going, you don’t know where I’m going.”
Yeah. Samples, even if you had a brain, you don’t have a brain.
8. “God’s original plan is he made your body to eat meat.”
Not according to Genesis 1:29-30; 2:16-17. Even after Adam’s sin, God still didn’t give animal meat to man for food until Noah.
9. According to Samples, nobody obeys the command of 1 John 4:1-3 except Samples himself and his buddies and their buddies.
10. At one point, Samples actually said that if a person says “Jesus Christ ‘is come’ in the flesh” without saying “I confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh”, the person failed the test of scripture and is a devil. Talk about stupid. This is beyond stupid. If a man says “Jesus Christ is come in the flesh”, he has made the confession. Does he think that in order to be saved, a person has to say “I confess with my mouth the Lord Jesus” etc. (Romans 10:9)?
11. “The one man that outranks me is Dr. Peter S. Ruckman. He is the only man who does.”
Who let this clown out of the circus anyway? He doesn’t outrank anybody. That crap is just his imagination. He must be an only child and desperately needs attention. That is after all what this whole thing is about. He is getting attention for himself.
12. “There are witnesses as I tell you these things. If you think you need more, you don’t.” “If you think you need more witnesses, go get them. Stop the tape and go get them.”
This guy has some real serious problems with his thinking process. Like Doc would say, “The bigger the belfry, the more room for the bats.” I would actually be surprised if Dr. Ruckman didn’t tell him that he is coo coo.
13. He said that if a person eats herbs, he is weak, taking Romans 14:2 out of context.
14. He said that since the beast is cast into the lake of fire in Revelation 19, 1 John 4:1-3 couldn’t apply to the millennium. But Revelation 19 does not say that the spirit of antichrist could not be on the earth at that time.
The Normal Christian Life
The Normal Christian Experience (The Thessalonian Epistles)
1. The Gospel Came (1 T 1:5)
2. Receive the Word in Affliction (1 T 1:6)
3. Assurance (1 T 1:5)
4. Become Followers (1 T 1:6)
5. Joy of the Holy Ghost (1 T 1:6)
6. Become Ensamples (1 T 1:7)
7. Become Witnesses (1 T 1:8-9)
8. Wait For Jesus From Heaven (1 T 1:10)
9. Faithfulness (1 T 1:8)
10. Walk Worthy (1 T 2:12)
11. Receive the Word of God as the Word of Truth (1 T 2:13)
12. Suffering (1 T 2:14)
13. Stand Fast (1 T 3:8)
14. Brotherly Love (1 T 4:9)
15. Comfort in Hope of the Rapture (1 T 4:13-18)
16. Comfort and Edification (1 T 5:1-11)
17. High Esteem for Laborers (1 T 5:12-13)
18. Be At Peace (1 T 5:13)
19. Pray Without Ceasing (1 T 5:17)
20. Thankfulness (1 T 5:18)
21. Grow in Faith (2 T 1:3)
22. Abundant Charity (2 T 1:3)
23. Patience in Persecutions (2 T 1:4)
24. Faith in Tribulations (2 T 1:4)
25. Endurance Through Persecutions & Tribulations (2 T 1:4)
26. Jesus Christ Glorified (2 T 1:12)
27. Separation (2 T 3:6, 14)
28. Knowledge of Things To Come (2 T 2:1-12)
1. The Gospel Came (1 T 1:5)
2. Receive the Word in Affliction (1 T 1:6)
3. Assurance (1 T 1:5)
4. Become Followers (1 T 1:6)
5. Joy of the Holy Ghost (1 T 1:6)
6. Become Ensamples (1 T 1:7)
7. Become Witnesses (1 T 1:8-9)
8. Wait For Jesus From Heaven (1 T 1:10)
9. Faithfulness (1 T 1:8)
10. Walk Worthy (1 T 2:12)
11. Receive the Word of God as the Word of Truth (1 T 2:13)
12. Suffering (1 T 2:14)
13. Stand Fast (1 T 3:8)
14. Brotherly Love (1 T 4:9)
15. Comfort in Hope of the Rapture (1 T 4:13-18)
16. Comfort and Edification (1 T 5:1-11)
17. High Esteem for Laborers (1 T 5:12-13)
18. Be At Peace (1 T 5:13)
19. Pray Without Ceasing (1 T 5:17)
20. Thankfulness (1 T 5:18)
21. Grow in Faith (2 T 1:3)
22. Abundant Charity (2 T 1:3)
23. Patience in Persecutions (2 T 1:4)
24. Faith in Tribulations (2 T 1:4)
25. Endurance Through Persecutions & Tribulations (2 T 1:4)
26. Jesus Christ Glorified (2 T 1:12)
27. Separation (2 T 3:6, 14)
28. Knowledge of Things To Come (2 T 2:1-12)
The Legend of Jimmy the kid
The Legend of Jimmy the Kid
by Gary Alford
For the imagination of a man's heart is evil from his youth.
The year was 1977. FLEETWOOD MAC (who was later to become his favorite rock-n-roll group) released their number one album "Rumors".
Over thirteen years before, when John Kennedy was murdered in Dallas, Texas, he was only three years old.
When America's children were sent to die in Vietnam, he didn't notice it. He had his own problems at home.
Almost a decade had passed since the Woodstock Music Festival. He missed it. He was only eight in August 1969. His family had recently moved into a house in Pearl, Mississippi. He grew up listening to country music and Elvis. He probably never even heard about Woodstock.
And when the peanut farmer was elected for President of the United States in '76, it didn't matter to the kid at all.
Born on November 24, 1960 in Biloxi, Mississippi, he lived on the Gulf Coast, in Ocean Springs, with his parents and five brothers until May of '64. Then, they lived in the Jackson area for the next ten years. He didn't have a happy childhood. After making all A's for six years in school, his grades dropped in 7th grade. In the ninth, school was just a place to go to get away from home. He didn't care about his grades and failed that year, although he enjoyed helping other students in Math class. He was a lonely boy and his best friend was his dog until it died in 1976.
He quit school a couple months before he turned sixteen. Then, his family moved to Plano, Texas and he started listening to rock music. He had almost no parental discipline in '77, and although he wasn't in school, most of the time, he didn't work either. So he spent his time hanging out at 7-11, or at Willowcreek Park, getting high with his friends, or at a party. He got high with somebody almost every day.
He learned to play pinball down at the local 7-11 store. After a while, he would go there, regularly, just before lunchtime and play while waiting for the kids from the nearby high school. By the time any of them arrived, he would have five games racked up. Back then, it was two games for a quarter and he would give three for a quarter. When the first buyers's three games were over, he still had two left, so, he would rack up five again, and the next up got three for a quarter.
He grew his hair long and wore a red bandana on his forhead. The kids that he hung out with thought that was cool. He was 'cool' because he was different. He looked different than anyone else and he had no curfew. (When ever a Plano policeman gave him a curfew warning, his dad didn't give it much attention.) He would sometimes get frustrated because his eighteen-year-old friends had to be home by eight o' clock. He was younger and stayed out as long as he wanted. His peers envied his freedom. Some wished they could be more like him. Most of them, however, were probably better off.
So many kids knew who he was that he didn't know who all of them were. Yeah, they knew who the kid with the long hair and red bandana was. Some said he looked like Jesus Christ. Others said he looked like Charles Manson. They called him "Jimmy the kid".
I don't remember much about living in Pearl. On February 15, 1973, we moved to Lee Drive in Jackson. We lived there for only one and a half months. One evening, some people visited us from Candlestick Baptist Church. This event brought a major change in my life. I don't have memories of church prior to this time although Mom and Dad had taken us sometimes before.
Three brothers and I started going to church at Candlestick. I entered the church scene full force, attending as much as possible. I went on Sundays and Wednesdays. I went on visitation nights, going door to door, telling people how to be saved by the gospel of Jesus Christ. I attended all other functions in between whenever possible. Finally, my life had some purpose and I had a reason to be happy. I had something to take me away from my unhappy home life.
They had a school at the church and the four of us enrolled the next September. I liked school again. The cirriculum was probably much like home school and it was easy. But then it didn't have to be easy for me. My teacher was one of the preachers. I had a lot of respect for him. We played flag football on the school team. One time, we traveled to Alexandria, Louisiana to compete with a school out there. It had rained and we played on a wet, muddy field. My brothers and I had always played tackle in earlier years in the front yard across the street from us in Pearl. And, I thought that pulling a flag off a runner was a sissy way to play. But we enjoyed it, anyway.
To the best of my memory, I continued to attend church for about a year. There was a record burning at the church one time and another time we had a carnival. We used to laugh at one older member who every week would run his fingers over his ear and say how badly he needed a haircut. We thought it was funny because he barely had any hair. I had learned during that time it was wrong for women to wear pants. I knew that my school teacher professed to believe this. One evening, I was at church and saw his two daughters come into the building wearing cut-off pants. I thought it was odd and later asked him about it. His reply was, "We had just come back from the lake". Maybe his answer should have been sufficient, but I wasn't sastified. I didn't understand why this man who I respected was going against something that he actually taught others. I was very offended by this. Soon after, I quit going to church. In July 1974, we moved to Vidalia, Lousiana and many years passed before I would have much thought about God or the Bible.
In March 1979, Jimmy the kid joined the U.S. Navy. He had a girlfriend who because of her father's transfer, moved to Ohio in December. So the kid went through boot camp and two weeks of apprenticeship training. When he took his leave, he spent a week at home in Texas and then a week with his girlfriend in Ohio. That is when she broke up with him. He was a heartbroken, lonely teenager going to a frightening new world and now with no purpose for being there.
Somehow he pulled himself together and reported for duty on board the USS Roanoke AOR-7 in Alameda, California. He was a likeable personality and soon became known on the ship as "the creeper". Of his many friendships, two of them, Jimmy Eason and Rich Merrill were Christians. The two tried over the next two years to win him to Christ, but the kid just wanted to have fun. He maintained his "sanity" by drinking, smoking pot, dropping acid, and hanging out with the gang.
In reality, he was miserable. After two years serving on this ship and going AWOL twice, he found himself, in May 1981, in a lonely cell in a Navy brig awaiting courts-martial. He was confused and scared. he thought he wanted to die. One day he looked up on the wall of his jail cell and saw some writing. He read these words, "For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country." Although he read the whole verse, just the thought of Jesus was what he needed.
As I recalled the gospel of Christ that I knew from my earlier childhood, I bowed my head and with tears, I cried, "Jesus, save me." That is when I truly received the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour. And now because of that I know that I have eternal life (I John 5:13). I am free from the power of sin through Jesus Christ my Lord. And I also joy in God through my Lord Jesus Christ.
You too can be saved!!!
You must believe you are a sinner.
Romans 3:23 says, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God."
You must believe there is a penalty for your sin.
Revelation 20:15 says, "Whosoever was not found in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire".
You must turn from your sin and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Luke 13:3 says, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."
You must believe that Jesus Christ, God's perfect Son paid your sin debt for you.
Romans 5:8 says, "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. "
You must receive Jesus as your personal Saviour.
John 1:12 says, "As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:"
Please be saved today! Ask the Lord Jesus to come into
your heart and forgive you for your sins.
That if though shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10
by Gary Alford
For the imagination of a man's heart is evil from his youth.
The year was 1977. FLEETWOOD MAC (who was later to become his favorite rock-n-roll group) released their number one album "Rumors".
Over thirteen years before, when John Kennedy was murdered in Dallas, Texas, he was only three years old.
When America's children were sent to die in Vietnam, he didn't notice it. He had his own problems at home.
Almost a decade had passed since the Woodstock Music Festival. He missed it. He was only eight in August 1969. His family had recently moved into a house in Pearl, Mississippi. He grew up listening to country music and Elvis. He probably never even heard about Woodstock.
And when the peanut farmer was elected for President of the United States in '76, it didn't matter to the kid at all.
Born on November 24, 1960 in Biloxi, Mississippi, he lived on the Gulf Coast, in Ocean Springs, with his parents and five brothers until May of '64. Then, they lived in the Jackson area for the next ten years. He didn't have a happy childhood. After making all A's for six years in school, his grades dropped in 7th grade. In the ninth, school was just a place to go to get away from home. He didn't care about his grades and failed that year, although he enjoyed helping other students in Math class. He was a lonely boy and his best friend was his dog until it died in 1976.
He quit school a couple months before he turned sixteen. Then, his family moved to Plano, Texas and he started listening to rock music. He had almost no parental discipline in '77, and although he wasn't in school, most of the time, he didn't work either. So he spent his time hanging out at 7-11, or at Willowcreek Park, getting high with his friends, or at a party. He got high with somebody almost every day.
He learned to play pinball down at the local 7-11 store. After a while, he would go there, regularly, just before lunchtime and play while waiting for the kids from the nearby high school. By the time any of them arrived, he would have five games racked up. Back then, it was two games for a quarter and he would give three for a quarter. When the first buyers's three games were over, he still had two left, so, he would rack up five again, and the next up got three for a quarter.
He grew his hair long and wore a red bandana on his forhead. The kids that he hung out with thought that was cool. He was 'cool' because he was different. He looked different than anyone else and he had no curfew. (When ever a Plano policeman gave him a curfew warning, his dad didn't give it much attention.) He would sometimes get frustrated because his eighteen-year-old friends had to be home by eight o' clock. He was younger and stayed out as long as he wanted. His peers envied his freedom. Some wished they could be more like him. Most of them, however, were probably better off.
So many kids knew who he was that he didn't know who all of them were. Yeah, they knew who the kid with the long hair and red bandana was. Some said he looked like Jesus Christ. Others said he looked like Charles Manson. They called him "Jimmy the kid".
I don't remember much about living in Pearl. On February 15, 1973, we moved to Lee Drive in Jackson. We lived there for only one and a half months. One evening, some people visited us from Candlestick Baptist Church. This event brought a major change in my life. I don't have memories of church prior to this time although Mom and Dad had taken us sometimes before.
Three brothers and I started going to church at Candlestick. I entered the church scene full force, attending as much as possible. I went on Sundays and Wednesdays. I went on visitation nights, going door to door, telling people how to be saved by the gospel of Jesus Christ. I attended all other functions in between whenever possible. Finally, my life had some purpose and I had a reason to be happy. I had something to take me away from my unhappy home life.
They had a school at the church and the four of us enrolled the next September. I liked school again. The cirriculum was probably much like home school and it was easy. But then it didn't have to be easy for me. My teacher was one of the preachers. I had a lot of respect for him. We played flag football on the school team. One time, we traveled to Alexandria, Louisiana to compete with a school out there. It had rained and we played on a wet, muddy field. My brothers and I had always played tackle in earlier years in the front yard across the street from us in Pearl. And, I thought that pulling a flag off a runner was a sissy way to play. But we enjoyed it, anyway.
To the best of my memory, I continued to attend church for about a year. There was a record burning at the church one time and another time we had a carnival. We used to laugh at one older member who every week would run his fingers over his ear and say how badly he needed a haircut. We thought it was funny because he barely had any hair. I had learned during that time it was wrong for women to wear pants. I knew that my school teacher professed to believe this. One evening, I was at church and saw his two daughters come into the building wearing cut-off pants. I thought it was odd and later asked him about it. His reply was, "We had just come back from the lake". Maybe his answer should have been sufficient, but I wasn't sastified. I didn't understand why this man who I respected was going against something that he actually taught others. I was very offended by this. Soon after, I quit going to church. In July 1974, we moved to Vidalia, Lousiana and many years passed before I would have much thought about God or the Bible.
In March 1979, Jimmy the kid joined the U.S. Navy. He had a girlfriend who because of her father's transfer, moved to Ohio in December. So the kid went through boot camp and two weeks of apprenticeship training. When he took his leave, he spent a week at home in Texas and then a week with his girlfriend in Ohio. That is when she broke up with him. He was a heartbroken, lonely teenager going to a frightening new world and now with no purpose for being there.
Somehow he pulled himself together and reported for duty on board the USS Roanoke AOR-7 in Alameda, California. He was a likeable personality and soon became known on the ship as "the creeper". Of his many friendships, two of them, Jimmy Eason and Rich Merrill were Christians. The two tried over the next two years to win him to Christ, but the kid just wanted to have fun. He maintained his "sanity" by drinking, smoking pot, dropping acid, and hanging out with the gang.
In reality, he was miserable. After two years serving on this ship and going AWOL twice, he found himself, in May 1981, in a lonely cell in a Navy brig awaiting courts-martial. He was confused and scared. he thought he wanted to die. One day he looked up on the wall of his jail cell and saw some writing. He read these words, "For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country." Although he read the whole verse, just the thought of Jesus was what he needed.
As I recalled the gospel of Christ that I knew from my earlier childhood, I bowed my head and with tears, I cried, "Jesus, save me." That is when I truly received the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour. And now because of that I know that I have eternal life (I John 5:13). I am free from the power of sin through Jesus Christ my Lord. And I also joy in God through my Lord Jesus Christ.
You too can be saved!!!
You must believe you are a sinner.
Romans 3:23 says, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God."
You must believe there is a penalty for your sin.
Revelation 20:15 says, "Whosoever was not found in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire".
You must turn from your sin and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Luke 13:3 says, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."
You must believe that Jesus Christ, God's perfect Son paid your sin debt for you.
Romans 5:8 says, "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. "
You must receive Jesus as your personal Saviour.
John 1:12 says, "As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:"
Please be saved today! Ask the Lord Jesus to come into
your heart and forgive you for your sins.
That if though shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10
Did The Body of Christ Begin With Paul?
Romans 16:7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
Question: Is ‘in Christ” the same as “in the body of Christ”?
There is a group of Christians who call themselves ‘Bereans’, ‘Grace Believers’, ‘Right Dividers’, (etc.) who teach the heresy that the Apostle Paul was the first person in the body of Christ. When confronted with Romans 16:7 (quoted above) which proves their belief to be false, they had to invent an additional, non-Biblical definition for “in Christ”. This is not surprising since heretics will do anything to prove that they are right once they have built their own system of belief by abusing the Scripture instead of believing it.
In case you are not already aware, I will here list the methods of building any heresy.
1. Subtract words from a Bible verse (or verses).
2. Add words to a Bible verse (or verses).
3. Private interpretation of a Bible verse.
4. Direct contradiction of a Bible verse.
5. Tell a half truth.
6. Tell a truth in order to deceive by misrepresenting the truth you are telling.
All six of these things take place in Genesis 3:1-6.
Now to begin at the beginning, we shall look at 1 Timothy 1:16, the foundational verse for the heresy that Paul was the first person in the body of Christ, and therefore the body of Christ began with Paul.
1 Timothy 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
First, you should notice that nowhere in the verse is mentioned anybody or anything being “in Christ” or “in the body of Christ”. Notice that instead Paul does mention something being ‘in him’. Do you see that? Paul is speaking and he says “in me”. What is Paul speaking of being in him? It is “longsuffering” and it is “for a pattern to” believers.
Why would God pick Paul to be the first pattern of longsuffering thereafter for believers? Why not one of the other apostles who had been with Jesus and known him for 3 ½ years? If the disciples who had worked with Jesus and been his companions during his ministry did get baptized into Christ and became part of the body of Christ, why not pick one of them to be the pattern of longsuffering for Christians? The answer is in verses 13-15.
1 Timothy 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
1 Timothy 1:15(b) Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
Some people teach that Paul is being humble and emphasize that we should all be humble and consider ourselves to be “the chief of sinners”. I don’t disagree with the humility, but I think the truth goes beyond that. Jesus Christ choose Paul to be the pattern of longsuffering for believers because first, the Lord had been quite longsuffering with Paul, and secondly, compare the testimony of Paul, the chief of sinners, the persecutor of the church turned into the vessel of honour, the pattern of suffering, the one who wrote more than ¼ of the New Testament which is (Paul’s epistles except for Hebrews) the primary doctrine for the body of Christ to the testimony of John the beloved apostle or Peter if one of them had been chosen instead. Jesus Christ purposely choose an unsaved Pharisee, a persecutor of the church to shew forth the pattern of longsuffering because he is a better, stronger, more powerful testimony than any of the others could have been.
Now I will requote 1 Timothy 1:16. But this time, I will give it as the ‘hyper-dispensationalists’ read it.
Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that me first in Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
When these so-called ‘right dividers’ read the verse, they must move the word “in”. They place it in a position to make the verse say what they want it to say; that Paul was the first in Christ or in the body of Christ.
Then when faced with Romans 16:7, as I stated before, they make up this ridiculous idea that ‘in Christ’ is just a term defined as if you are in Christ, that merely means that you are saved. And they say that being ‘in the body of Christ’ is a different thing. This private interpretation gives the explanation that Andronicus and Junia were saved before Paul, but not in the body of Christ before Paul. Now, let us become a man and put away childish things (1 Corinthians 13:11). We will compare scripture with scripture to get the Bible’s own interpretation.
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Is this “in Christ” in the body of Christ?
Romans 12:4-5 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Well, we are “one body in Christ”.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
How about this one? Is the new creature in the body of Christ or not?
In the following verses, it will be seen that “in Christ” and “in the body of Christ” are not the same thing. And the conclusion of the matter will be that the teaching of the hyper-dispensationalists is heresy. I am not going to give you my opinion. This is comparing scripture with scripture. This is the Bible interpretation.
Galatians 3:27-28 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
If you are “baptized into Christ”, you are baptized into his body, where there is neither Jew nor Greek, neither male nor female. We will compare these verses with 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 in a few minutes.
Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Were these “faithful in Christ Jesus” in the body of Christ? Surely when Paul wrote this epistle, he had been in the body of Christ for quite some time. Were there others who were saved after the body of Christ began supposedly with Paul who were merely saved but not in the body of Christ?
The idea that “in Christ” is just a term meaning that a person is saved is not exclusive to hyper-dispensationalists. Most Christians do not grasp the full impact of Ephesians 1:12-13; 2:6; the baptism into his body; and the spiritual circumcision. But these things are real. They are not just theological jargon. When a person receives Jesus Christ as his saviour, his spirit, soul, and body are cut apart on the inside according to Colossians 2:9-14 and Hebrews 4:12. Then his spirit is taken out of his body, risen up to the right hand of God, and immersed into the body of Christ and sealed in Christ by the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
Ephesians 1:12-14 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Colossians 2:11-13 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Now, finally, if you have not been baptized into the body of Christ, you are not in Christ. Being in Christ and in the body of Christ refer to the same thing. If for some reason, you are still not sure of this by now, the following verses confirm it beyond any shadow of a doubt.
1 Corinthians 12:12-13 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Galatians 3:27-28 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
For ye are all one in Christ Jesus and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. We are one body in Christ; in the body of Christ, that is.
Question: Is ‘in Christ” the same as “in the body of Christ”?
There is a group of Christians who call themselves ‘Bereans’, ‘Grace Believers’, ‘Right Dividers’, (etc.) who teach the heresy that the Apostle Paul was the first person in the body of Christ. When confronted with Romans 16:7 (quoted above) which proves their belief to be false, they had to invent an additional, non-Biblical definition for “in Christ”. This is not surprising since heretics will do anything to prove that they are right once they have built their own system of belief by abusing the Scripture instead of believing it.
In case you are not already aware, I will here list the methods of building any heresy.
1. Subtract words from a Bible verse (or verses).
2. Add words to a Bible verse (or verses).
3. Private interpretation of a Bible verse.
4. Direct contradiction of a Bible verse.
5. Tell a half truth.
6. Tell a truth in order to deceive by misrepresenting the truth you are telling.
All six of these things take place in Genesis 3:1-6.
Now to begin at the beginning, we shall look at 1 Timothy 1:16, the foundational verse for the heresy that Paul was the first person in the body of Christ, and therefore the body of Christ began with Paul.
1 Timothy 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
First, you should notice that nowhere in the verse is mentioned anybody or anything being “in Christ” or “in the body of Christ”. Notice that instead Paul does mention something being ‘in him’. Do you see that? Paul is speaking and he says “in me”. What is Paul speaking of being in him? It is “longsuffering” and it is “for a pattern to” believers.
Why would God pick Paul to be the first pattern of longsuffering thereafter for believers? Why not one of the other apostles who had been with Jesus and known him for 3 ½ years? If the disciples who had worked with Jesus and been his companions during his ministry did get baptized into Christ and became part of the body of Christ, why not pick one of them to be the pattern of longsuffering for Christians? The answer is in verses 13-15.
1 Timothy 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
1 Timothy 1:15(b) Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
Some people teach that Paul is being humble and emphasize that we should all be humble and consider ourselves to be “the chief of sinners”. I don’t disagree with the humility, but I think the truth goes beyond that. Jesus Christ choose Paul to be the pattern of longsuffering for believers because first, the Lord had been quite longsuffering with Paul, and secondly, compare the testimony of Paul, the chief of sinners, the persecutor of the church turned into the vessel of honour, the pattern of suffering, the one who wrote more than ¼ of the New Testament which is (Paul’s epistles except for Hebrews) the primary doctrine for the body of Christ to the testimony of John the beloved apostle or Peter if one of them had been chosen instead. Jesus Christ purposely choose an unsaved Pharisee, a persecutor of the church to shew forth the pattern of longsuffering because he is a better, stronger, more powerful testimony than any of the others could have been.
Now I will requote 1 Timothy 1:16. But this time, I will give it as the ‘hyper-dispensationalists’ read it.
Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that me first in Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
When these so-called ‘right dividers’ read the verse, they must move the word “in”. They place it in a position to make the verse say what they want it to say; that Paul was the first in Christ or in the body of Christ.
Then when faced with Romans 16:7, as I stated before, they make up this ridiculous idea that ‘in Christ’ is just a term defined as if you are in Christ, that merely means that you are saved. And they say that being ‘in the body of Christ’ is a different thing. This private interpretation gives the explanation that Andronicus and Junia were saved before Paul, but not in the body of Christ before Paul. Now, let us become a man and put away childish things (1 Corinthians 13:11). We will compare scripture with scripture to get the Bible’s own interpretation.
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Is this “in Christ” in the body of Christ?
Romans 12:4-5 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Well, we are “one body in Christ”.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
How about this one? Is the new creature in the body of Christ or not?
In the following verses, it will be seen that “in Christ” and “in the body of Christ” are not the same thing. And the conclusion of the matter will be that the teaching of the hyper-dispensationalists is heresy. I am not going to give you my opinion. This is comparing scripture with scripture. This is the Bible interpretation.
Galatians 3:27-28 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
If you are “baptized into Christ”, you are baptized into his body, where there is neither Jew nor Greek, neither male nor female. We will compare these verses with 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 in a few minutes.
Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Were these “faithful in Christ Jesus” in the body of Christ? Surely when Paul wrote this epistle, he had been in the body of Christ for quite some time. Were there others who were saved after the body of Christ began supposedly with Paul who were merely saved but not in the body of Christ?
The idea that “in Christ” is just a term meaning that a person is saved is not exclusive to hyper-dispensationalists. Most Christians do not grasp the full impact of Ephesians 1:12-13; 2:6; the baptism into his body; and the spiritual circumcision. But these things are real. They are not just theological jargon. When a person receives Jesus Christ as his saviour, his spirit, soul, and body are cut apart on the inside according to Colossians 2:9-14 and Hebrews 4:12. Then his spirit is taken out of his body, risen up to the right hand of God, and immersed into the body of Christ and sealed in Christ by the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
Ephesians 1:12-14 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Colossians 2:11-13 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Now, finally, if you have not been baptized into the body of Christ, you are not in Christ. Being in Christ and in the body of Christ refer to the same thing. If for some reason, you are still not sure of this by now, the following verses confirm it beyond any shadow of a doubt.
1 Corinthians 12:12-13 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Galatians 3:27-28 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
For ye are all one in Christ Jesus and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. We are one body in Christ; in the body of Christ, that is.
The Spiritual Birth
Psalms 19:7 says, "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple." "The testimony of the Lord is sure." So it is quite odd for a person who has truly received Jesus Christ as his saviour to doubt his salvation.
When "the testimony of Christ" is confirmed in a believer, he begins "waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ", knowing that the Lord shall also confirm him unto the end (1 Corinthians 1:6-8). Paul thanked God that the testimony of Christ was confirmed in the Corinthian believers.
Since "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy", every born again Christian should be a prophet. At the very least, a Christian should be able to prophesy where he will spend eternity.
This, of course, is only possible if a Christian knows that once he is saved, his salvation is secure in Christ. Therefore, the first thing a Christian should know is the doctrine of Eternal Security.
According to Romans 3:22, the righteousness of God is by faith and unto all that believe. Notice carefully that there is no mention of works for God's righteousness. Then, read carefully verse 24 and notice that justification is FREE.
Ephesians 2:8-9 says that salvation is through faith and not of works. Now to make that clear, read Romans 4:1-5. Notice carefully what Romans 4:5 says. "BUT TO HIM THAT WORKETH NOT, BUT BELIEVETH ON HIM THAT JUSTIFIETH THE UNGODLY, HIS FAITH IS COUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS." I am really amazed that anyone could believe that works is involved in salvation after reading this verse. How much clearer could it be said? NO WORKS / BELIEF ON JESUS / FAITH IS COUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Next, read Romans 5:10: "SAVED BY HIS LIFE". Now, do you see that we are saved by the life of the Lord Jesus Christ not our life, HIS LIFE? Since I am saved by his life, not my life, then, I didn't get saved by how I live, I can't stay saved by how I live, and I can't lose my salvation by how I live.
I Corinthians 12:13 says, "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body". According to Galatians 3:27-28, that body which we are baptized into is the body of Christ. Ephesians 1:12-14 tells us further that this happens when you believed. Ephesians 1:13 says, "in whom [Christ] also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise". So, when a person gets saved, he is baptized into the body of Jesus Christ and sealed in the body of Christ. Verse 14 goes on to say that ye are sealed "until the redemption of the purchased possession". Ephesians 4:30 agrees, saying, "ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." The 'purchased possession', according to I Corinthians 6:19-20 is your body. This is further confirmed by Romans 8:19-23. The redemption of our body is described in I Thessalonians 4:14-17 and is commonly called the rapture.
Now to review, If you have received Jesus Christ as your Saviour:
1. You have PASSED FROM DEATH UNTO LIFE.
2. You were SAVED BY FAITH WITHOUT WORKS.
3. Your ETERNAL LIFE IS A GIFT OF GOD.
4. Your JUSTIFICATION WAS FREE.
5. If you don't do good works after you are saved, YOUR FAITH IS COUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
6. You are SAVED BY THE PERFECT LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST & CANNOT LOSE YOUR SALVATION BY HOW YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE.
7. YOU HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST.
8. YOU ARE SEALED IN THE BODY OF CHRIST UNTIL THE RAPTURE.
How Can These Things Be?
After Jesus told Nicodemus that a man must be born of the Spirit in order to enter into the kingdom of God, "Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?"
Jesus didn't begin going into details of the matter, but instead replied, "Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
Judging from the Lord's response, I would say that there are some things about the spiritual birth that He expects Christians to know and especially 'masters' or teachers. In fact, Paul had a lot to say about the new birth. In this article, I will show from Paul's revelation what the scriptures say about some of the elements of being born of the Spirit.
First, we will look at ADOPTION. Then, we will examine some verses on the SPIRITUAL BIRTH. Third, we will study SPIRITUAL CIRCUMCISION. Afterwards, we will continue with THE SALVATION OF THE SOUL, DEATH OF THE BODY, RESURRECTION OF THE SPIRIT, and SPIRITUAL BAPTISM INTO THE BODY OF JESUS CHRIST . The SEALING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT has been covered in the article on page one "The Spirit of Prophecy".
Ephesians 1:5 says that we were predestinated unto "the adoption of children by Jesus Christ" Of course, this predestination was "in Christ" (verse 3). In effect, God the Father predestinated that whoever choose to be "in Christ" would get the adoption.
According to Galatians 4:4-7, Jesus Christ paid the price of redemption for us, "that we might receive the adoption of sons". Verse 6 goes on to say, "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts". So, when a person receives Jesus as his saviour, he is then adopted into God's family.
These verses match Romans 8:14-17. However, verses 18-30 continue by discussing the coming "manifestation of the sons of God" and verse 23 says that we are "waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body".
So when a person receives Christ, he is then adopted spiritually, but not yet physically.
The first mention of the spiritual birth in the New Testament is in John 3:3-8 when Jesus is talking to Nicodemus. Jesus said that a person must be born of the Spirit in order to see and enter into the kingdom of God. Then, in verse 8, he says, "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit."
The Holy Spirit goes into the Christian and he is the voice of God - the lost hear the sound thereof (the sound of the Spirit - the Christian's witness/ testimony) but the lost can't tell that he was born from above (whence he cometh) or where that Spirit came from and the lost can't tell that he is going to heaven (whither he goeth).
John 3:14-18 is very clear on the fact that the spiritual birth is brought about by belief on the Son of God. This also explains very well what is meant by "believe on his name" in John 1:12 which defines 'receiving Jesus Christ'.
According to Ephesians 2:1 and 5, a person is dead in sins before God "quickens" him. Since Adam and Eve died spiritually in the garden of Eden, every human afterward is born with a dead spirit. So when a person receives Christ, his spirit is quickened (made alive) [Colossians 2:12-13].
The word of truth is instrumental in the new birth (James 1:18). In fact, Peter says that "the word of God" is the incorruptible seed by which we are born again. So, the new birth is "of the operaion of God" (Colossians 2:12), of the incorruptible seed, "the word of God" (1 Peter 1:23), "of the Spirit" (John 3:5-6), by the quickening of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:45; John 5:21), and "Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all" (Galatians 4:26).
Ephesians 6:17 calls the word of God "the sword of the Spirit". A lost person is "in the flesh" (Romans 7:5). But a saved person "is not in the flesh, but in the Spirit" (Romans 8:9). So, there is a change that takes place when a person receives Christ. Hebrews 4:12 says that the word of God is "sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow". This describes the dividing [or cutting apart] of the soul, spirit, and body by the sword of the Spirit. This operation is further described in Colossians 2:11-15 and is there called "the circumcision of Christ".
"In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncir- cumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." [Colossians 2:11-15]
As I said, a lost person is "in the flesh" - in other words, his soul is stuck to his body on the inside. The circumcision of Christ takes place and the soul puts off the body of the sins of the flesh. The soul, although it does stay inside the body until death, is cut apart from the body and is loosed from the body. The believer's spirit is also loosed from his body.
When a person believes on Christ, his spirit is raised up and seated in Christ (Ephesians 2:6). So, the believer's spirit is taken out of his body and put in Christ.
At this time, when the soul is cut loose from the body on the inside, the soul is saved (1 Peter 1:3-9). "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." (verses 8-9)
When the spirit is taken out of the body, the body dies according to Romans 6 and 8:9-10. The Spirit of God also comes inside the believer to dwell permanently. "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness." Then, it may be that the body is brought back to life by the Spirit of God unless Romans 8:11 is referring to the rapture which is more likely. "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."
Now we come to the Spiritual baptism into the body of Jesus Christ. There are actually a lot of verses on this. The starting place with Paul is Romans 6:1-11.
"1What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" A Christian does not live in sin. A Christian lives "in Christ". "3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?"
"baptized into Jesus Christ". This is done by the Holy Spirit. This is the baptism that Jesus referred to in Acts 1:5. This is further confirmed by 1 Corinthians 12:13. And this will become more and more clear as we study further.
"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."
"4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
"For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:3)
"5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6Knowing this, that our old man is cruci- fied with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord."
So, the old man is dead that we should not serve sin. Being dead with Christ, death has no more dominion over us. We are dead and alive at the same time like before our salvation. The difference is that before salvation, the spirit is dead and the body is alive, but after salvation, the spirit is alive and the body is dead.
"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; 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)
Once you are saved, you are married to Christ by being joined to him spiritually. 1 Corinthians 6:17 says, "He that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit."
"For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another." (Romans 12:4-5)
Immediately after the new birth, a person is a babe "in Christ" (1 Corinthians 3:1).
"For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread." (1 Corinthians 10:17)
"For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it there- fore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one mem- ber suffer, all the members suffer with it;or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." (1 Corinthians 12:12-27)
"Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts." (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
When a person gets saved, he is established with all other believers in Christ, anointed by God, and sealed by God by the giving of the Holy Spirit.
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)
A new creature indeed! As we have been seeing from scripture, there is quite a bit new after the new birth.
"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:27-28)
This matches a couple of verses previously mentioned - 1 Corinthians 12:13 and 1 Corinthians 6:17. Look at them again and compare.
In Christ we are blessed with all spiritual blessings "in heavenly places" (Ephesians 1:3) "which always causeth us to triumph in Christ" (2 Corinthians 2:14). Remember (if you read Ephesians 2:6) that we are seated "together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus".
Jesus Christ is "the head over all things to the church, Which is his body." (Ephesians 1:22-23) This church, the body of Christ, the Lord added to daily" such as should be saved" (Acts 2:47). This is "the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." (Acts 20:28) This is the church mentioned in 1 Corinthians 10:32; 1 Corinthians 15:9; Galatians 1:13; Ephesians 5:23-32; Philippians 3:6; Colossians 1:18, 24; and 1 Timothy 3:15. This is the Spiritual church which is the body of Christ. This was a mystery before the Lord revealed to Paul; "That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel" (Ephesians 3:3-6).
The Lord gave gifts to the church - apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers; "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 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 fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." (Ephesians 4:11-16)
When we get our new glorified bodies - a body like Jesus Christ's body - we will be a perfect man. Then we will no longer be children; we will become a man and put away childish things (1 Corinthians 13:10-12).
Again, the Bible says that the church is the body of Christ in Colossians 1:18-24. Colossians 3:9-15 speaks of the church in the same manner as 1 Corinthians 12:13 and Galatians 3:27-28.
Now not all of this is easily understood. But we have to take all of what the Bible says as facts regardless of our lack of understanding.
The Believer' Standing and State
STANDING (Position in Jesus Christ)
Redeemed (I Peter 1:18-19)
Reconciled (II Corinthians 5:18-19)
Righteous (II Corinthians 5:21)
Sanctified (I Corinthians 1:30)
Justified (Romans 3:24)
Citizen of God’s Household (Ephesians 2:19)
Complete in Christ (Colossians 2:9-10)
STATE (Position as a sinner)
Conceived in Sin (Psalm 51:5)
Evil (Genisis 8:21; Matthew 7:11; Psalm 39:5)
Unrighteous (Romans 3:10-18)
Foolish (Jeremiah 4:22)
Wretched (Romans 7:24)
The Least of Saints (I Corinthians 15:9)
Chief of Sinners (I Timothy 1:15)
Unprofitable Servant (Luke 17:10)
When "the testimony of Christ" is confirmed in a believer, he begins "waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ", knowing that the Lord shall also confirm him unto the end (1 Corinthians 1:6-8). Paul thanked God that the testimony of Christ was confirmed in the Corinthian believers.
Since "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy", every born again Christian should be a prophet. At the very least, a Christian should be able to prophesy where he will spend eternity.
This, of course, is only possible if a Christian knows that once he is saved, his salvation is secure in Christ. Therefore, the first thing a Christian should know is the doctrine of Eternal Security.
According to Romans 3:22, the righteousness of God is by faith and unto all that believe. Notice carefully that there is no mention of works for God's righteousness. Then, read carefully verse 24 and notice that justification is FREE.
Ephesians 2:8-9 says that salvation is through faith and not of works. Now to make that clear, read Romans 4:1-5. Notice carefully what Romans 4:5 says. "BUT TO HIM THAT WORKETH NOT, BUT BELIEVETH ON HIM THAT JUSTIFIETH THE UNGODLY, HIS FAITH IS COUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS." I am really amazed that anyone could believe that works is involved in salvation after reading this verse. How much clearer could it be said? NO WORKS / BELIEF ON JESUS / FAITH IS COUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Next, read Romans 5:10: "SAVED BY HIS LIFE". Now, do you see that we are saved by the life of the Lord Jesus Christ not our life, HIS LIFE? Since I am saved by his life, not my life, then, I didn't get saved by how I live, I can't stay saved by how I live, and I can't lose my salvation by how I live.
I Corinthians 12:13 says, "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body". According to Galatians 3:27-28, that body which we are baptized into is the body of Christ. Ephesians 1:12-14 tells us further that this happens when you believed. Ephesians 1:13 says, "in whom [Christ] also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise". So, when a person gets saved, he is baptized into the body of Jesus Christ and sealed in the body of Christ. Verse 14 goes on to say that ye are sealed "until the redemption of the purchased possession". Ephesians 4:30 agrees, saying, "ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." The 'purchased possession', according to I Corinthians 6:19-20 is your body. This is further confirmed by Romans 8:19-23. The redemption of our body is described in I Thessalonians 4:14-17 and is commonly called the rapture.
Now to review, If you have received Jesus Christ as your Saviour:
1. You have PASSED FROM DEATH UNTO LIFE.
2. You were SAVED BY FAITH WITHOUT WORKS.
3. Your ETERNAL LIFE IS A GIFT OF GOD.
4. Your JUSTIFICATION WAS FREE.
5. If you don't do good works after you are saved, YOUR FAITH IS COUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
6. You are SAVED BY THE PERFECT LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST & CANNOT LOSE YOUR SALVATION BY HOW YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE.
7. YOU HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST.
8. YOU ARE SEALED IN THE BODY OF CHRIST UNTIL THE RAPTURE.
How Can These Things Be?
After Jesus told Nicodemus that a man must be born of the Spirit in order to enter into the kingdom of God, "Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?"
Jesus didn't begin going into details of the matter, but instead replied, "Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
Judging from the Lord's response, I would say that there are some things about the spiritual birth that He expects Christians to know and especially 'masters' or teachers. In fact, Paul had a lot to say about the new birth. In this article, I will show from Paul's revelation what the scriptures say about some of the elements of being born of the Spirit.
First, we will look at ADOPTION. Then, we will examine some verses on the SPIRITUAL BIRTH. Third, we will study SPIRITUAL CIRCUMCISION. Afterwards, we will continue with THE SALVATION OF THE SOUL, DEATH OF THE BODY, RESURRECTION OF THE SPIRIT, and SPIRITUAL BAPTISM INTO THE BODY OF JESUS CHRIST . The SEALING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT has been covered in the article on page one "The Spirit of Prophecy".
Ephesians 1:5 says that we were predestinated unto "the adoption of children by Jesus Christ" Of course, this predestination was "in Christ" (verse 3). In effect, God the Father predestinated that whoever choose to be "in Christ" would get the adoption.
According to Galatians 4:4-7, Jesus Christ paid the price of redemption for us, "that we might receive the adoption of sons". Verse 6 goes on to say, "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts". So, when a person receives Jesus as his saviour, he is then adopted into God's family.
These verses match Romans 8:14-17. However, verses 18-30 continue by discussing the coming "manifestation of the sons of God" and verse 23 says that we are "waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body".
So when a person receives Christ, he is then adopted spiritually, but not yet physically.
The first mention of the spiritual birth in the New Testament is in John 3:3-8 when Jesus is talking to Nicodemus. Jesus said that a person must be born of the Spirit in order to see and enter into the kingdom of God. Then, in verse 8, he says, "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit."
The Holy Spirit goes into the Christian and he is the voice of God - the lost hear the sound thereof (the sound of the Spirit - the Christian's witness/ testimony) but the lost can't tell that he was born from above (whence he cometh) or where that Spirit came from and the lost can't tell that he is going to heaven (whither he goeth).
John 3:14-18 is very clear on the fact that the spiritual birth is brought about by belief on the Son of God. This also explains very well what is meant by "believe on his name" in John 1:12 which defines 'receiving Jesus Christ'.
According to Ephesians 2:1 and 5, a person is dead in sins before God "quickens" him. Since Adam and Eve died spiritually in the garden of Eden, every human afterward is born with a dead spirit. So when a person receives Christ, his spirit is quickened (made alive) [Colossians 2:12-13].
The word of truth is instrumental in the new birth (James 1:18). In fact, Peter says that "the word of God" is the incorruptible seed by which we are born again. So, the new birth is "of the operaion of God" (Colossians 2:12), of the incorruptible seed, "the word of God" (1 Peter 1:23), "of the Spirit" (John 3:5-6), by the quickening of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:45; John 5:21), and "Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all" (Galatians 4:26).
Ephesians 6:17 calls the word of God "the sword of the Spirit". A lost person is "in the flesh" (Romans 7:5). But a saved person "is not in the flesh, but in the Spirit" (Romans 8:9). So, there is a change that takes place when a person receives Christ. Hebrews 4:12 says that the word of God is "sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow". This describes the dividing [or cutting apart] of the soul, spirit, and body by the sword of the Spirit. This operation is further described in Colossians 2:11-15 and is there called "the circumcision of Christ".
"In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncir- cumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." [Colossians 2:11-15]
As I said, a lost person is "in the flesh" - in other words, his soul is stuck to his body on the inside. The circumcision of Christ takes place and the soul puts off the body of the sins of the flesh. The soul, although it does stay inside the body until death, is cut apart from the body and is loosed from the body. The believer's spirit is also loosed from his body.
When a person believes on Christ, his spirit is raised up and seated in Christ (Ephesians 2:6). So, the believer's spirit is taken out of his body and put in Christ.
At this time, when the soul is cut loose from the body on the inside, the soul is saved (1 Peter 1:3-9). "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." (verses 8-9)
When the spirit is taken out of the body, the body dies according to Romans 6 and 8:9-10. The Spirit of God also comes inside the believer to dwell permanently. "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness." Then, it may be that the body is brought back to life by the Spirit of God unless Romans 8:11 is referring to the rapture which is more likely. "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."
Now we come to the Spiritual baptism into the body of Jesus Christ. There are actually a lot of verses on this. The starting place with Paul is Romans 6:1-11.
"1What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" A Christian does not live in sin. A Christian lives "in Christ". "3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?"
"baptized into Jesus Christ". This is done by the Holy Spirit. This is the baptism that Jesus referred to in Acts 1:5. This is further confirmed by 1 Corinthians 12:13. And this will become more and more clear as we study further.
"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."
"4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
"For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:3)
"5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6Knowing this, that our old man is cruci- fied with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord."
So, the old man is dead that we should not serve sin. Being dead with Christ, death has no more dominion over us. We are dead and alive at the same time like before our salvation. The difference is that before salvation, the spirit is dead and the body is alive, but after salvation, the spirit is alive and the body is dead.
"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; 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)
Once you are saved, you are married to Christ by being joined to him spiritually. 1 Corinthians 6:17 says, "He that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit."
"For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another." (Romans 12:4-5)
Immediately after the new birth, a person is a babe "in Christ" (1 Corinthians 3:1).
"For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread." (1 Corinthians 10:17)
"For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it there- fore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one mem- ber suffer, all the members suffer with it;or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." (1 Corinthians 12:12-27)
"Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts." (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
When a person gets saved, he is established with all other believers in Christ, anointed by God, and sealed by God by the giving of the Holy Spirit.
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)
A new creature indeed! As we have been seeing from scripture, there is quite a bit new after the new birth.
"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:27-28)
This matches a couple of verses previously mentioned - 1 Corinthians 12:13 and 1 Corinthians 6:17. Look at them again and compare.
In Christ we are blessed with all spiritual blessings "in heavenly places" (Ephesians 1:3) "which always causeth us to triumph in Christ" (2 Corinthians 2:14). Remember (if you read Ephesians 2:6) that we are seated "together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus".
Jesus Christ is "the head over all things to the church, Which is his body." (Ephesians 1:22-23) This church, the body of Christ, the Lord added to daily" such as should be saved" (Acts 2:47). This is "the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." (Acts 20:28) This is the church mentioned in 1 Corinthians 10:32; 1 Corinthians 15:9; Galatians 1:13; Ephesians 5:23-32; Philippians 3:6; Colossians 1:18, 24; and 1 Timothy 3:15. This is the Spiritual church which is the body of Christ. This was a mystery before the Lord revealed to Paul; "That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel" (Ephesians 3:3-6).
The Lord gave gifts to the church - apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers; "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 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 fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." (Ephesians 4:11-16)
When we get our new glorified bodies - a body like Jesus Christ's body - we will be a perfect man. Then we will no longer be children; we will become a man and put away childish things (1 Corinthians 13:10-12).
Again, the Bible says that the church is the body of Christ in Colossians 1:18-24. Colossians 3:9-15 speaks of the church in the same manner as 1 Corinthians 12:13 and Galatians 3:27-28.
Now not all of this is easily understood. But we have to take all of what the Bible says as facts regardless of our lack of understanding.
The Believer' Standing and State
STANDING (Position in Jesus Christ)
Redeemed (I Peter 1:18-19)
Reconciled (II Corinthians 5:18-19)
Righteous (II Corinthians 5:21)
Sanctified (I Corinthians 1:30)
Justified (Romans 3:24)
Citizen of God’s Household (Ephesians 2:19)
Complete in Christ (Colossians 2:9-10)
STATE (Position as a sinner)
Conceived in Sin (Psalm 51:5)
Evil (Genisis 8:21; Matthew 7:11; Psalm 39:5)
Unrighteous (Romans 3:10-18)
Foolish (Jeremiah 4:22)
Wretched (Romans 7:24)
The Least of Saints (I Corinthians 15:9)
Chief of Sinners (I Timothy 1:15)
Unprofitable Servant (Luke 17:10)
Salvation in the Church Age
SALVATION IN THE CHURCH AGE
Although the process of salvation is not the same in other times, the following should make it clear that salvation, in the church age, is strictly by faith and not of works.
1. ROMANS 3:21-24
The righteousness of God is by faith, and verse 22 says unto all that believe, without adding anything to the belief for righteousness (verse 22).
Notice that verse 24 says, ” justified FREELY “
2. ROMANS 4:1-5
Verse 5: His belief on Jesus justified him, and his faith is counted for righteousness, without works.
3. ROMANS 5:9-11
A. JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD, the blood of Jesus Christ. (Verse 9)
B. SAVED THROUGH HIM, Jesus Christ. (Verse 9)
C. RECONCILED TO GOD BY THE DEATH OF HIS SON. (Verse 10)
D. SAVED BY HIS LIFE. We are saved by the life of the Lord Jesus Christ, not our life, HIS LIFE. (Verse 10). Since I am saved by his life, not my life, then, I didn’t get saved by how I live, I can’t stay saved by how I live, and I can’t lose my salvation by how I live.
E. WE RECEIVED ATONEMENT WITH GOD BY JESUS CHRIST. (Verse 11)
4. GALATIANS 3:21-26
The promise of righteousness is given to them that believe with nothing added to it. (Verses 21 & 22)
Notice, “justified by faith” in verse 24.
Verse 26: Ye are the child of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Faith with nothing added.
5. EPHESIANS 2:8-9
Notice “saved through faith” in verse 8.
Notice “not of works” in verse 9.
6. EPHESIANS 1:13-14; 4:30;ROMANS 8:23;I CORINTHIANS 6:19-20
“ In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. ” Eph 1:13-14
“ And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. ”
Eph 4:30
“ What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. ” 1 Cor. 6:19-20
“ And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. ” Romans 8:23
AFTER THAT YE BELIEVED, YE WERE SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE UNTO THE DAY OF REDEMPTION OF YOUR BODY (THE RAPTURE).
This is the list of verses that I noted, as I read the books that Paul wrote, that say that salvation, righteousness, and justification is obtained by faith without works:
Romans 3:20-28; 4:1-5,22-25; 5:1-2,9-21; 9:30; 10:3-10
I Corinthians 1:21; 3:15 Galatians 2:16-3:29; 5:4-6
Ephesians 1:7,13-14; 2:8-10; 4:30 Philippians 3:9
Colossians 1:14 II Timothy 2:11-13; 3:15 Titus 3:4-7
(There is also I Peter 1:3-9; Hebrews 6:4-8; and some verses in I John)
Romans 3:25-28
Definition: Propitiation - peace offering / God gave himself for a peace offering to himself (Genesis 22:8 / Hebrews 9:26) to make atonement for our sins (I John 2:2;4:10)
His righteousness instead of our own righteousness or the righteousness by the law.
The righteousness of God is the substitution of himself taking the penalty of sin for us, the innocent taking the punishment for the guilty, so that, we can have eternal life with him, instead of the eternal death in the lake of fire that we deserve.
“the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” matches 4:5 “believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly”.
“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” (Verse 28)
Romans 5:1-2
Justified by faith / Peace with God through Jesus Christ
By Jesus Christ, we have access into the grace of God by faith wherein we stand. We stand in the grace of God by faith.
I Corinthians 3:15
“yet so as by fire” / if all of your works are burned, you shall suffer loss, but you yourself shall be saved.
Galatians 2:16 - 3:5
16: A man is justified by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ.
17: Is Christ the minister of sin because he justifies sinners?
18: “I make myself a transgressor.”
19: “And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” (Romans 8:10)
20: “Crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live” - Romans 6:6-13
21: If we could earn the righteousness of God, then Christ’s death served no purpose, accomplished nothing, and is a vain thing. It frustrates the grace of God to believe that you must work to get saved or work to stay saved. The reason that Jesus died for us is because we don’t deserve God’s righteousness, and can’t do anything to deserve God’s righteousness.
1-5: The Spirit of God was received by faith.
Ephesians 2:8-10
Saved through faith, the gift of God, not of works.
Although we are not saved by good works, we are saved for good works, for we are his workmanship.
II Timothy 2:10-13
The “eternal glory” of verse 10 includes reigning with Christ for a thousand years when we return to the earth with him after the tribulation, if we suffer for him. But if we deny him, he also will deny us our reward of reigning with him. Notice in verses 11 and 13 that while a reward can be lost, salvation cannot.
Titus 3:4-7
“But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
In verse 8 is an admonition to “they which have believed” (saved people) to “maintain good works”, like Ephesians 2:10.
Paul said, “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.” (I Corinthians 14:37-38) So, if a man reads the verses that I listed, he must believe in salvation by faith without works, unless he changes the verses to make them say what he wants them to say. And when a man does that, he is willingly ignorant.
And I say if any man will have a zeal of God, let him do so according to knowledge, not being ignorant of God’s righteousness, “that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 1:1-10)
Although the process of salvation is not the same in other times, the following should make it clear that salvation, in the church age, is strictly by faith and not of works.
1. ROMANS 3:21-24
The righteousness of God is by faith, and verse 22 says unto all that believe, without adding anything to the belief for righteousness (verse 22).
Notice that verse 24 says, ” justified FREELY “
2. ROMANS 4:1-5
Verse 5: His belief on Jesus justified him, and his faith is counted for righteousness, without works.
3. ROMANS 5:9-11
A. JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD, the blood of Jesus Christ. (Verse 9)
B. SAVED THROUGH HIM, Jesus Christ. (Verse 9)
C. RECONCILED TO GOD BY THE DEATH OF HIS SON. (Verse 10)
D. SAVED BY HIS LIFE. We are saved by the life of the Lord Jesus Christ, not our life, HIS LIFE. (Verse 10). Since I am saved by his life, not my life, then, I didn’t get saved by how I live, I can’t stay saved by how I live, and I can’t lose my salvation by how I live.
E. WE RECEIVED ATONEMENT WITH GOD BY JESUS CHRIST. (Verse 11)
4. GALATIANS 3:21-26
The promise of righteousness is given to them that believe with nothing added to it. (Verses 21 & 22)
Notice, “justified by faith” in verse 24.
Verse 26: Ye are the child of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Faith with nothing added.
5. EPHESIANS 2:8-9
Notice “saved through faith” in verse 8.
Notice “not of works” in verse 9.
6. EPHESIANS 1:13-14; 4:30;ROMANS 8:23;I CORINTHIANS 6:19-20
“ In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. ” Eph 1:13-14
“ And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. ”
Eph 4:30
“ What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. ” 1 Cor. 6:19-20
“ And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. ” Romans 8:23
AFTER THAT YE BELIEVED, YE WERE SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE UNTO THE DAY OF REDEMPTION OF YOUR BODY (THE RAPTURE).
This is the list of verses that I noted, as I read the books that Paul wrote, that say that salvation, righteousness, and justification is obtained by faith without works:
Romans 3:20-28; 4:1-5,22-25; 5:1-2,9-21; 9:30; 10:3-10
I Corinthians 1:21; 3:15 Galatians 2:16-3:29; 5:4-6
Ephesians 1:7,13-14; 2:8-10; 4:30 Philippians 3:9
Colossians 1:14 II Timothy 2:11-13; 3:15 Titus 3:4-7
(There is also I Peter 1:3-9; Hebrews 6:4-8; and some verses in I John)
Romans 3:25-28
Definition: Propitiation - peace offering / God gave himself for a peace offering to himself (Genesis 22:8 / Hebrews 9:26) to make atonement for our sins (I John 2:2;4:10)
His righteousness instead of our own righteousness or the righteousness by the law.
The righteousness of God is the substitution of himself taking the penalty of sin for us, the innocent taking the punishment for the guilty, so that, we can have eternal life with him, instead of the eternal death in the lake of fire that we deserve.
“the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” matches 4:5 “believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly”.
“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” (Verse 28)
Romans 5:1-2
Justified by faith / Peace with God through Jesus Christ
By Jesus Christ, we have access into the grace of God by faith wherein we stand. We stand in the grace of God by faith.
I Corinthians 3:15
“yet so as by fire” / if all of your works are burned, you shall suffer loss, but you yourself shall be saved.
Galatians 2:16 - 3:5
16: A man is justified by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ.
17: Is Christ the minister of sin because he justifies sinners?
18: “I make myself a transgressor.”
19: “And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” (Romans 8:10)
20: “Crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live” - Romans 6:6-13
21: If we could earn the righteousness of God, then Christ’s death served no purpose, accomplished nothing, and is a vain thing. It frustrates the grace of God to believe that you must work to get saved or work to stay saved. The reason that Jesus died for us is because we don’t deserve God’s righteousness, and can’t do anything to deserve God’s righteousness.
1-5: The Spirit of God was received by faith.
Ephesians 2:8-10
Saved through faith, the gift of God, not of works.
Although we are not saved by good works, we are saved for good works, for we are his workmanship.
II Timothy 2:10-13
The “eternal glory” of verse 10 includes reigning with Christ for a thousand years when we return to the earth with him after the tribulation, if we suffer for him. But if we deny him, he also will deny us our reward of reigning with him. Notice in verses 11 and 13 that while a reward can be lost, salvation cannot.
Titus 3:4-7
“But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
In verse 8 is an admonition to “they which have believed” (saved people) to “maintain good works”, like Ephesians 2:10.
Paul said, “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.” (I Corinthians 14:37-38) So, if a man reads the verses that I listed, he must believe in salvation by faith without works, unless he changes the verses to make them say what he wants them to say. And when a man does that, he is willingly ignorant.
And I say if any man will have a zeal of God, let him do so according to knowledge, not being ignorant of God’s righteousness, “that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 1:1-10)
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About Me
- Gary N Alford
- Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States
- I was "born of the flesh" on November 24, 1960 and I was "born of the Spirit" (John 3:5-6) in May, 1981. "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3) I am a 55 year old student and teacher of the word of God, the Holy Bible. I am a student of the English Language and its history including Anglo-Saxon and Middle English. I am also currently studying American History. I am an avid reader with a personal library of around 2000 volumes. I am a literary critic including Biblical works and Biblical doctrine. I am a master of Biblical studies, having read completely through the King James Bible approximately 30 times, and studied the Bible for most of 27 years. I have written and personally published and printed (by Word of Truth Publications) about 20 Biblical tracts. I continue my studies for continued personal growth and for preparation for further publication of new materials. [And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 2 Timothy 2:2 ]