PastorDavid wrote :
> So, Bit Brush, do you believe that God has dealt with man the same from Adam until Today?

Yes. In the garden God allowed us freedom to choose and when we chose to disobey, he covered our nakedness of sin, but it was our faith in God and walking in obedience. When the Law was established, the shedding of blood continued to cover our sins but it was still faith in God and walking in obedience. When the Lord came and became the final sacrifice of blood, it is still, even today, simple faithful obedience to God.
Man's specific actions may require change, but we still must walk in obedience in faith. All throughout time, God has looked at the inside of a man and not what he does on the outside. Salvation is not of any works. What He finds in the heart determines whether there is anything to account as righteousness.

> For example, Bit Brush, Do you believe that YOU can lose your salvation?
> Please answer...

No, you cannot lose your salvation, however...

My example comes from the walk of Judas. He, like most in the church of the United States today, never surrendered his life to the Lord. Judas believed Jesus to be the next earthly king. He created the Jesus he wanted. Many come to church and do the same thing. They come for entertainment, they come to feel better about themselves and hear a feel good sermon and leave happier, but never challenged to come face to face with sin in their lives, the punishment that comes with it and discover who the real Jesus Christ is and why he came. Church is a place to go for answers for today's battles, just as Judas wanted to rid Israel of Rome...the problem of their day. What they fail to do is look for a place where they can discover eternal life which gives hope for today. That feel good sermon or rock beat songs singing praises to a god named "you" will not accomplish the same thing. They may think they are saved because they recited a prayer of salvation much like a witch recites magic words for a casting a spell, but there's never been a change of the heart. I believe there are many in the pulpit who have never been regenerated in Christ. So like demons, we can believe in Jesus, but belief alone doesn't save. Have our hearts been changed? Do we submit our lives? Once true regeneration has taken place, there is no way to loose that. Man loves to add all kinds of baggage on a person to determine if they are really saved and remained saved. I'm opposed to that sort of legalism.

OK let's go over a few things. Ok, here we go, 1) There is not one line concerning the Old Testament in the Book of Genesis. The Testament (Covenant), made OLD by the death of Yahweh Yahuwshua, The LORD Jesus Christ, was established about 2500 years after Adam left the garden of Eden. Hebrews 8:9-13 . Exodus 20 . Romans 5:20 . Galatians 3:19 . There is no reference to that Covenant in Genesis.

2) Abram (Abraham) was not a Jew. God called “Abram” in uncircumcision when he was 75 years old. Genesis 12:1-15 . He was circumcised and became “Abra­ham” 24 years later. Romans 4:8-12 . Genesis 17:6-16 . The gospel was preached to uncircumcised Abram 430 years before the Law was given at Sinai. Galatians 3:8-17 . Therefore, Abraham did not live under the reign of, or Dispensation of Law.

3) The word “Jew” is found for the first time in Esther 2:5 , about 470 B.C., or centuries after Abraham was circumcised. “Jews” is found the first time in 2 Kings 16:6 , about 624 B.C. The word “Jew” is found about 300 times in the Bible; the word “Christian”, 3 times. The Jews are called “Judah” or “Juda” about 812 times in the Bible.

4) When the word “Jew” or “Jews” is used in the New Testament Scriptures, it generally refers to Jews by religion, and the leadership, rather than to the descendants of Judah. John 2:13 ; John 7:11 ; John 11:55 ; John 19:42 , and Galatians 2:14 .

5) In Esther 8:17 is recorded the fact that Persian Gentiles became “Jews”. This, of course, refers to religion and not to race. The Gentiles thus were known as “proselytes.” The males were circumcised. Some of the devout Jews from every nation under heaven on the day of Pentecost were proselytes. Acts 2:5-10 .

6) Abram was declared righteous 430 years before The LORD made the Covenant (now Old) with Israel. Galatians 3:16-19 . Abram, in uncircumcision, believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Genesis 15:6 . Galatians 3:6 . Romans 4:3 . James declared that Abraham was justified by works when he offered Isaac. James 2:21 . HOWEVER, that was YEARS after he was justified by Faith.

7) Abraham was not an Old Testament saint. Neither was his son Isaac, nor his grandson Jacob (Israel), nor any of the twelve sons of Israel, including Levi, Judah and Joseph. None of these were Jews by religion, although circumcised.

8) The Book of Romans (especially Romans 1 ) tells how God cast away the Gentiles, right about the time Abram was called out. Romans 11 relates how Israel was cast away right about the time that the Apostle Paul was sent to the Gentiles. The temporary casting away of Israel brought reconciliation for Gentiles and the Reign of Grace for the human race. This was AFTER Acts 13 .

9) Nothing is said about the SAB­BATH during the 2500 years between Genesis 2:2 and Exodus 16:23 . God gave no SABBATH to Noah, Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph. Not one of these fathers was under the Law. Abram found rest in a Person, NOT in a day. Abram had the Faith in God but no God given religion. He was circumcised 24 years after he was justified by The Faith.

10) The LAW was added 430 years after God preached the Gospel of Grace to Abram, till Christ fulfilled and abolished the Law. Galatians 3:17-19 . 2 Corinthians 3:11-13 . The LAW entered 2500 years after sin entered the world by Adam. Romans 5:20 and Romans 5:12 . Therefore the “Law” Dispensation was both parenthetical and temporary. Galatians 3:19 . Hebrews 8:7-13 . The Law, which was contrary to man, was nailed to the cross. Colossians 2:14 .

Bit Brush, do this...become fully aware that in the messages from the first chapter of Matthew to the last chapter of Revelation FIVE different groups or classes of people are addressed...here they are:

1) To unsaved Israelites who were under the Law.

2) To saved Israelites who were under the Law before they became members of the Body of Christ.

3) To unsaved Gentiles who were aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel, and not under the Law.

4) To carnal saints and babes who were members of the Body of Christ.

5) To those who were of full age, called “the faithful in Christ Jesus.”

The classes are interesting, but tell me this, what does it matter what class you belong to if you do not have faith?
What good does it do to load someone down with prerequisites, such as you are doing to me before discussing the topic I desired.
What damage can take place when one thinks, as Judas did, the wrong things? When he finally realized that Jesus wasn't what he thought, he betrayed him. I see the danger of teaching the rapture in the same light. When people realize that the events unfolding around them are the events they are not supposed to be here for according to their rapture ready upbringing, what will happen to their faith? Jesus taught to be prepared for tribulation. Christians have and will suffer at the hands of Satan. However, we are not appointed to God's wrath and as the Hebrews were protected the night of the passover, so will all Christians who are alive and living on the earth at that time.

This is simple to see. Plainly spoken about. You don't need to have a degree from a Bible college. A child can get this stuff.

OK BitBrush, indulge me a little longer,

Here we go...

1) The “Law” Dispensation was both parenthetical and TEMPORARY. Galatians 3:19, Hebrews 8:7-13. The Law, which was contrary to man, was nailed to the cross. Colossians 2:14.

2) In the first eleven chapters of Genesis we have the record from creation to the call of Abram, about 2100 years. Israel was Abraham's grandson. About 70 souls out of the loins of Jacob (Israel) went to Egypt about 1900 B.C. More than one million Israelites came out of Egypt about 1500 B.C. Exodus 1:5, and Exodus 12:37.

3) The period from the sin of Adam to the time God made the Sinai Covenant with Israel, is called, “from Adam to Moses,” “when there is NO law.” Romans 5:12-14. Remember also, that there were no Israelites before the flood. Abel, Seth, Enoch, Noah, Shem, and Eber were not Israelites. But the Israelites were “Eberites,” and “Shemites.” The Jews are still called the “Semitic” people.

4) From Genesis 12:1 to Malachi 4:6, there are 926 chapters. With the probable exception of Job, and some of Proverbs, they all deal with the one Nation Israel. The other nations spoke of are only those nations that have dealings WITH Israel. All of the 39 Books, from Genesis to Malachi, were written by Jews. Read Romans 3:1, and Romans 9:4-6. If Luke was a Jew, then the 27 Books of the New Testament were written by Jews.

5) “The times of the Gentiles” politically, or governmentally, began about 600 B.C. (Jeremiah 50-52.). “The times of the Gentiles” spiritually, began when God sent temporary blindness upon Israel and the Risen LORD Jesus Christ sent the Apostle Paul to the Gentiles with the Ministry of Reconciliation.

6) The Spirit of Christ was in the Old Testament prophets and testified beforehand the sufferings of the LORD Jesus Christ, and the glory that should follow. 1 Peter 1:11. In Genesis 3:14-16, BEFORE the Old Testament existed, Christ was to be the Seed of the woman; in Malachi 3, “the LORD Whom ye seek.” In Isaiah 7:14, Christ was to be the LORD AND the Seed of the woman. Fascinating stuff!

7) All of the prophets “SINCE the world began” spoke of the restitution of all things (the millennium or the coming kingdom age). Acts 3:21, and Acts 3:24. When that time arrives the twelve apostles will be sitting on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Matthew 19:28. Note the words of the LORD Jesus Christ in Mark 1:14-15 and Matthew 4:17, why the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand.

8) The prophets foretold that Christ would be the Stone rejected by the builders. Matthew 21:42. Luke 20:17. Psalm 118:22. David wrote that Christ would be raised from the dead to sit on David's throne. Acts 2:27-32. Now, carefully note the prophecy of Amos in 9:11-15. Christ, here, is to build again the tabernacle of David, and save Israelites and Gentiles. This is the program of Acts 15:13-18.

9) The Old Testament Prophets foretold the resurrection of Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:4. Psalm 16:8-10. They foretold the time of Jacob's trouble, Israel's “tribulation.” Jeremiah 30:7. Luke 21:11. They prophesied “the tree” (Calvary), “the tribulation”, “the throne”, and “Gentile salvation.” In Abraham's seed all nations would be blessed. Note what these Scriptures foresaw when Abram was justified. Galatians 3:8.

10) The Old Testament Prophets prophesied that Christ would be a King on David's throne. Isaiah 9:6-7. Psalm 24. Ezekiel 34:23-24; Ezekiel 34:28-31, and Ezekiel 37:24. HOWEVER, the Old Testament Prophets never ONCE prophesied that Yahweh Yahuwshua, The LORD Jesus Christ, would be the Head of the Body of Christ. Ephesians 1:19-23. Believing Jews and believing Gentiles joined, without distinction, in the one Body of Ephesians 4:4-5 of which Christ is the Head was truth NOT known and NOT prophesied by Israel's prophets.

11) When the Old Testament Prophets foretold the salvation of Gentiles, many times it was concerning their salvation IN THE KINGDOM, in SUBJECTION to Israel, but NEVER concerning God's eternal purpose in Christ, as revealed in 2 Timothy 1:9-11 and Ephesians 3:8-11. The Apostle Paul preached to Gentiles many Divine truths about which Israel's prophets wrote and spoke, but he ALSO preached among them the unsearchable (unprophesied) riches of Christ. Ephesians 3:8. Read carefully 2 Timothy 1:9-11 and compare with the Apostle Peter's message to Cornelius in Acts 10:34-38.

12) Not ONE of Israel's prophets knew, spoke, or wrote concerning the “One New Man” of Ephesians 2:15, or the present Age of Grace, the Reign of Grace, that is, God's eternal purpose in Christ (Ephesians 3:11), or concerning the joint-Body (the Sussoma) of Ephesians 3:6. Colossians 1:24-27. This was the “Mystery” revealed to the Apostle Paul by the Risen Christ. Ephesians 6:19-20; Ephesians 3:9, and Ephesians 5:32. In Ephesians 3:6 the word “Body” is, in the Greek, “Sussoma” meaning “joint-Body”. (Make note, make a BIG NOTE, that when you read in the Apostle Paul's Epistles of “The Mystery,” or “The Secret,” that this truth was withheld from all servants of the LORD until it was revealed by the Risen Christ to the Apostle Paul.)

Here is a thought to keep with you: A love for religion, ritualism, or sectarianism, will keep a saint carnal just as much as a love of the world!

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN AND THE CHURCH. In Psalm 22:22 we read...I will declare Thy name unto My brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise Thee. In quoting this verse, the writer of the Hebrews wrote, “In the midst of the CHURCH will I sing praise unto Thee.” (Hebrews 2:12). In the light of Colossians 1:24-26, Ephesians 3:1-3, and Ephesians 3:6-11, we know that the ‘congregation’ of Psalm 22:22, and the ‘church’ of Hebrews 2:16, is NOT the CHURCH, Which is Christ’s joint-Body. (Ephesians 1:22-23).

We have the right to wonder how and when the theologians and Bible translators decided to use the word ‘CHURCH,’ translated from the Greek, ‘Ekklesia,’ meaning literally, ‘called out.’ (An etymology of the word "Church" is in order here). Using the word ‘CHURCH’ has added so much to the confusion, especially when it is a known fact that more than ninety percent of Christians call a meeting place, a stone, brick or wood building, ‘a church.’ And, God never called out stone, brick or wood.

Every time the word ‘CHURCH,’ either in the singular or plural, is used in the Scriptures the reference is to PEOPLE. The Greek word translated ‘churches’ in Acts 19:37, ‘robbers of churches,’ is the one exception; for the word should be translated ‘temples.’ However, it is quite interesting to note that in Acts 19:32, Acts 19:39-41, the word ‘ASSEMBLY,’ referring to a mob of heathen, is translated from the Greek ‘ekklesia: You may ask why is the word here translated ‘assembly’ and more than one hundred times, ‘CHURCH.’ It is thought that the word ‘CHURCH’ is a form of the word ‘KURIOS,’ meaning ‘The Lord.’ However, that proves out to be nonsense. The word "CHURCH" was used on purpose, but that's another story and message.

In Acts 7:38 we read of ‘THE CHURCH IN THE WILDERNESS’ referring to God’s people whom God called out of Egypt, under the leadership of Moses, the mediator of the Old Covenant. Surely those Israelites were not baptized by the Holy Spirit into the joint-Body, mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:13. The body of Moses for which Satan contended was not ‘THE CHURCH IN THE WILDERNESS,’ but the body of Moses referred to in Deuteronomy 34:5-6. Take a moment and read Jude 9, and Hebrews 2:14-15.

In Matthew 18:17 the word ‘CHURCH’ appears twice. The Lord Jesus said, “tell it unto the Church!” The expression, ‘the kingdom of heaven’ is found about thirty times in the Book of Matthew. That Message is certainly a message concerning the King and the Kingdom. What ‘CHURCH’ the Lord referred to in Matthew 18:17 we may not know, but we do know that while the LORD Jesus was here on earth, the Minister of the Circumcision, with messages and a program fulfilling Old Testament prophecies (Romans 15:8), sent only to Israel (Matthew 15:24; Matthew 10:5-8), Jews and Gentiles were not being baptized by the Holy Spirit into the UNPROPHESIED joint-Body of 1 Corinthians 12:13, and Ephesians 4:4-5. You got all this so far? Good!

Another interesting and all important fact is that the LORD Jesus Christ is coming to redeem Israel after the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled...‘Israel shall be saved’...(Romans 11:25-29). Why? Because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance and because God said, “This is My covenant when I shall take away their sins.” Now, take a moment and read Romans 11:26-29, along with Jeremiah 31:31-37. As God, at the time He gave Israel the Old Covenant, called Israel out of Egypt, so God, under the guarantee of the New Covenant, will surely fulfill Jeremiah 32:37-40, and call Israel out of ALL the countries where they now dwell. Not leaving a great majority of them in New York and Florida! And according to the Scriptures, all Israel shall know the LORD. (Jeremiah 31:34). (Hebrews 8:9-12). Then, at that time, TRULY Israel will be The New Testament ‘CALLED OUT.’ But they will not be the ONE BODY, the JOINT-BODY of Christ of Romans 12:4-5 and 1 Corinthians 12:13 and Ephesians 4:4-5.

Surely every intelligent, spiritual, steward of the Mysteries of God must see that the joint-Body of Christ is ‘THE CHURCH OF GOD'. HOWEVER, in the Bible, ‘THE CHURCH OF GOD’ is not necessarily ‘THE BODY OF CHRIST’.

“Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” Acts 16:31, while there is still time!

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide. The time is short

PastorDavid wrote :
> OK BitBrush, indulge me a little longer...

The Law was brought into existence to show man what God considered to be sin. Rom 2:12 "For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;" Col 2:4 refers to the "handwriting of ordnance" a list of ordinances we've broken, our sin, which was nailed to the cross of Christ blotting it out. As in Nehemiah prayed against the Samrians in Neh 4:5 "...and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee..." Besides Jesus told us "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." Matthew 5:17. The Law has no power over us yet we are measured by it. IE Fornication, homosexuality, theft and the various "sins" mentioned in the NT.

As far as the separate "bodies" we former gentiles are grafted into the Olive Tree.

Are we one the same page here?

Take a moment and read Romans 11:26-29, along with Jeremiah 31:31-37. As God, at the time He gave Israel the Old Covenant, called Israel out of Egypt, so God, under the guarantee of the New Covenant, will surely fulfill Jeremiah 32:37-40, and call Israel out of ALL the countries where they now dwell. Not leaving a great majority of them in New York and Florida! And according to the Scriptures, all Israel shall know the LORD. (Jeremiah 31:34). (Hebrews 8:9-12). Then, at that time, TRULY Israel will be The New Testament ‘CALLED OUT.’ But they will not be the ONE BODY, the JOINT-BODY of Christ of Romans 12:4-5 and 1 Corinthians 12:13 and Ephesians 4:4-5.

Surely every intelligent, spiritual, steward of the Mysteries of God must see that the joint-Body of Christ is ‘THE CHURCH OF GOD'. HOWEVER, in the Bible, ‘THE CHURCH OF GOD’ is not necessarily ‘THE BODY OF CHRIST’.

When we carefully study the Apostle Paul’s Epistles to the Ephesians and to the Colossians we learn that we have Scriptural right to speak of the ‘ONE BODY,’ the JOINT BODY (Ephesians 3:6), as ‘THE CHURCH OF THE MYSTERY.’ (1 Timothy 3:15-16; Ephesians 1:9; Ephesians 3:9). Therefore, inasmuch as the NEW TESTAMENT was prophesied, and its fulfillment will NOT be the MYSTERY, we should NOT speak of the BODY OF CHRIST, as ‘the New Testament Church,’ without explaining 2 Cor. 3:6-7 and 1 Corinthians 11:25 and Hebrews 12:22-24.

Members of the Body of Christ are brought nigh to God by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13), and Christ declared that the blood He shed on the cross was the blood of the New Covenant (Matthew 26:28). Bible teachers who claim that ALL of the prophesied New Covenant of Jeremiah 31:31-37, mentioned in Hebrews 8:9-12, is being literally fulfilled in the Age and Dispensation of Grace, while the Nation of Israel is set aside and in God’s disfavor, do error greatly, not knowing the Scriptures according to 2 Timothy 2:15.

Then, on the other hand, some extremests explain the three Scriptures I mentioned along with Romans 15:27, Acts 26:22, and Acts 28:20, to support their theories that the Church of God of Acts 20:28, or for that matter any Church mentioned in the Book of Acts or in Paul’s Epistles written before he reached Rome at the close of Acts, was not ‘The Church Of The Mystery’; ‘THE ONE BODY’ of Ephesians and Colossians.

They teach that the Church up to the close of the Book of Acts was ‘The Prophesied New Testament Church,’ with a different hope and calling, and because the LORD’s Supper is mentioned in connection with the New Covenant, or Testament, that memorial has no place in the joint-Body of Christ, having passed away with water baptism, tongues and other signs after the Apostle Paul reached Rome and began a new ministry as recorded in his ‘prison’ Epistles. Especially Ephesians, Colossians and 2 Timothy.

According to this extremism, the Kingdom messages and programs proclaimed by the twelve Apostles, and by the Apostle Paul, up to the time of God’s pronouncement in Acts 28:25-28 concerning Israel’s blindness and the salvation of Gentiles, were in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and have no place in the ‘MYSTERY’ joint-BODY, in the Dispensation of the Grace of God for Gentiles, or in ‘the Dispensation of the Mystery,’ mentioned in Ephesians 3:1-9. (In Parts 7-9, of this series of messages on the Book of Acts, I will address ‘THE HOPE OF ISRAEL’, so no worries, sit tight).

But the answer to this extremism is Romans 16:25; Romans 11:30-31; and Romans 11:15, COMPARED with 2 Cor. 5:16-21, and the ‘THE CHRIST’ of 1 Corinthians 12:12. Surely it should require no profound Bible study to see that the Body of Romans 12:4-5 is the ‘JOINT BODY’ of Ephesians 3:6. The Epistle to the Romans was written before the pronouncement of Acts 28:25-28. The ‘SAME BODY’ of Ephesians 3:6 should read ‘THE JOINT BODY.’

“Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” Acts 16:31, while there is still time!

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide. The time is short