OUR LORD'S COMING - A FEW BASICS

OUR LORD'S COMING - A FEW BASICS

Steve Horne

In my life I have found that there is great dissension in the body of Christ concerning the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is just so much ambiguity regarding the circumstances of the second coming that I do not think there is anyone that can put it all together. I have been taught by premillenial dispensationalists, classical or historical premillenialists, amillenialists, and postmillenialists. I have read thru the Old Testament the New Testament with a focus on all the basic passages about the second coming and have not been able to determine exacts. Especially as some people claim to do. I have come to a point in my readings that I am not a dispensational premil. I do state that the position I understand the Bible to put forth is postmil. Amil is a position I also have a lot of respect toward. I have said before that I intend to change positions from day to day according to how optimistic I feel when I get up from bed in the morning. Now please, this is a joke. I do not float on theological subjects according to how I feel. Humor me and laugh with me! What I really want to do is to lay down a few basics that I do find clearly understood and encouraging about the second coming.

I.) Christians of all ages have known that the scriptures teach:

1. That Christ will return visibly and bodily


2. That there is going to be a resurrection of all men


3. The judgment of all men


4. There was no way to tell when Christ will return

NOTE: Those who believe the above are regarded as holding the Christian faith.

II.) Some particular understanding that I have discovered about the kingdom of Christ

A. The kingdom of God is already existent:

• Matthew 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

• Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

• Matthew 16:19 “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

• Mark 9:1 “and He said unto them, verily I say unto you, that there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.”

B. The kingdom of God is spiritual and invisible as opposed to worldly and material:

• Luke 17:20 “and when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, He answered them and said, the kingdom of God cometh not with observation”

• John 3:3-21 “Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in God."

• 1 Thessalonians 2:12 “That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.”

C. The kingdom of God is everlasting:

• Daniel 2:44 “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.”

• 2 Peter 1:11 “For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

D. The kingdom of God is not the physical nation of Israel:

• Luke 12:32 “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

• Revelation 11:15 “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

E. At the consummation at the end of the age our Lord will deliver up the kingdom to the Father:

• 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 “Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him that God may be all in all.

(Note: The kingdom of God will never end. Then ending in this passage is just referring to the mediatory administrative function of the kingdom on the earth as we now live in and know it.)

III.) The scriptures declare that Christ’s return will be:

A. Without signs or warnings:

• Matthew 24:36-39 “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the son of man be for as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the son of man be.”

B. A scene wherein all men will be called from the grave:

• John 5:28-29 “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

• Acts 24:15 “And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.”

C. A day in which the earth and the heavens will melt away:

• 2 Peter 3:10-11 “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

D. In the “last days”:

• This is the name given the time we live in which is from the death and resurrection of Christ until He comes on the last day.

(Compare the passages: Heb 1:2; Jn 6:39; 11:24; 12:48, Acts 2:17; 2Tim.3:18; 2Pet. 3:3, 1Jn 2:18)


E. In a day of great apostasy:

• 2Thessalonians 2:7-10 “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”

• 1 John 2:18 “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

F. A day of final subjection:

• 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 “Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that god may be all in all.

In conclusion I understand that the scriptures teach that the kingdom is a present reality. Jesus the Messiah has been ordained of the Father and anointed by the Holy Spirit to be our Prophet, Priest, and King. Christ is now King governing His people in his kingdom by his Word and by the Spirit, while preserving them and defending them in the salvation he obtained for them until the end of the world. The King will, after all the elect are regenerated, return in a day appointed and judge all men. And on that day I call the “horizon” of life the King will come in glory to finally stomp out all evil and His putting His enemies under His feet and then He delivers His Bride, the church, to God the Father. In this let us look for our coming King giving him all glory, laud, and honor.

Glorifying God

Glorifying God

In salvation God not only redeems His people from eternal punishment of hell but He works in them to do good works “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10) The Holy Spirit works in all who believe for a new way of living. The purpose of God in salvation is not only to justify you but also to sanctify you. You are redeemed and since you are owned by God you are set apart for holy living. Justification is the declaration of God whereby we are declare forgiven of our sins, by the shed blood of Christ, and therefore brought into the family of God and treated as if we had never sinned. Sanctification however is the work of God in every believer’s life, whereby the Holy Spirit is working in each one enabling them to “work out” their “own salvation with fear and trembling”. The Holy Spirit energizes the people of God “to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Phi 2:12-13)

The Holy Spirit works in the believer so that they are Christ centered and follow Him in whatever the circumstances may lead. The Christian’s commitment goes even to the denying of oneself (Matt 16:24). Believers understand that they are not their own but belong to God by way of redemption. It is the love of God, by the blood of Christ which bought us. It is that love which compels us to live for His glory and honor. “For the love of Christ constrains us that ….they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” (2 Cor.5:14-15) “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).
The good works which we are “recreated” to do are simply the things God has commanded in the Bible, particularly the moral law given in the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:1-17). In them God teaches His people to love God and their fellow man. These good works are things such as doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly before the Lord (Mic. 6:8; Rom. 12:2; Heb. 13:20-21). Fellowship, communion with, and obedience to God is the greatest desire in the believer’s life. Living holy before the Lord becomes a religiously joyful duty (Ps. 16:11). For, “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee”(Ps. 73:25). Because of this desire given to us by God himself we are quick to confess our sins, seek forgiveness, and have continued fellowship with the Triune God and our fellow brothers in Christ. On the other hand while one can never be saved by the works of the law those that claim to be believers yet live to themselves give no evidence that they are saved people of God. They just do not show that they are in fellowship with Christ and His church. “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ (1 Jn. 1:3).

Glorifying God is the purpose of the Christian life. So how does a believer glorify God? The Christian that has put on the new man and is being renewed “in knowledge after the image of Him that created him: Colossians 3:10. The believer is being renewed in thought and in actions in order to do all for God’s glory. Their desire and goal is to glorify God. This desire to please God is not burdensome to us but is a desire, and an ambition that the Holy Spirit works in us: Philippians 2:12-13 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. We are a new creature in Christ and old things are passed away and things have become new (2 Cor. 5:17). Therefore by the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, we can produce fruit that glorifies God by first offering praise to Him. “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God” (Ps. 50:23). And secondly, we can live a sanctified life being obedient to the principles and precepts of the law of God. The Apostle Paul taught that all of our life, whether family, work, worship, or social events are to be done for the glory of God. In doing so God is glorified. “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever……..Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (Rom. 11:36; 1 Cor. 10:31). It is in the sanctification process that the believer begins to produce fruit that brings honor and glory to God.
.
God is glorified when His people carry forth his commandments. The commandments contain how we are to live life. The sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit is a directing and energizing of the believer to love God with all the heart (first four commands) and a loving of all individuals or neighbors as they love themselves (last six commandments). In being obedient to our loving God and loving our neighbor is to glorify God.
.
The Ten Commandments have been called the moral law of God. The believer is to obey the moral law of God. The obedience to them in no manner merits favor with God nor salvation. The Holy Spirit, however, gives the direction and power to perform righteous living. The moral law of God is a guide and a delight to God’s people since obedience glorifies the Lord God. In being obedient to the commands of God we show our love to God. Living according to the commandments of God is the goal, living morally and ethically before a holy God is the call of Christianity. In lovingly being obedient to God’s word shows an “attitude of gratitude” toward God since he has so loved us.
.
Psalms 19:7-11 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great
reward.
.
John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
1 John 5:2-3 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
.
John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Listed below are the Ten Commandments. Many churches read these responsively in their weekly liturgical worship service along with the responses. It is important to notice that for every commandment there is a call from the New Testament to respond. It is no wonder then that Jesus said “...Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Matt. 22:37-39

The First Commandment: Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
.
The New Testament Response:
.
1 Corinthians 10:14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
.
Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
.
The Second Commandment: Exodus 20:4-6 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
.
The New Testament Response:
.
John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

The Third Commandment: Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
.
The New Testament Response:
.
Matthew 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
.
Mark 7:21-23 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
.
Colossians 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
.
The Fourth Commandment: Exodus 20:8-11 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
.
The New Testament Response
.
Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another:
.
1 Corinthians 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
.
1 Corinthians 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
.
The Fifth Commandment: Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
.
The New Testament Response
.
Ephesians 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
.
Colossians 3:20-21 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
.
The Sixth Commandment: Exodus 20:13 Thou shalt not kill.
.
The New Testament Response
.
Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
.
Matthew 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
.
1 John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
.
The Seventh Commandment: Exodus 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
.
The New Testament Response
.
Matthew 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
.
Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
.
Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
.
Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
.
The Eight Commandment:
THE RULE OF PROPERTY: Exodus 20:15 Thou shalt not steal.
.
The New Testament Response
.
Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
.
The Ninth Commandment: Exodus 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
.
The New Testament Response
.
John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
.
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
.
Ephesians 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
.
The Tenth Commandment: Exodus 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
.
The New Testament Response
.
Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
.
Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
.
Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
.
When understood and obeyed the commands provide and protect the people of God. They provide a righteous way to live and they protect God’s people from the hardships of sin. In each commandment there are requirements, restrictions, and prohibitions.
You cannot live a life of love and devotion to God in your own strength. Be diligent to read the word of God and pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to work in your life to glorify God. When we live sinful lives we forget that “sin will take us farther than we want to go, keep us longer than we want to stay, and cost us more than we want to spend.” The word of God, applied in the power of the Holy Spirit provides a righteous way to live and protects God’s people from those hardships of sin.
.
Finally, they can only be lived in the power of God. Jesus said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing (Jn. 15:5). Only as you are linked to the vine will you grow in sanctification and kill the works of the flesh thereby glorifying God. Therefore let us remember that it is essential to read God’s word diligently, heeding the commands, and seeking in prayer the power from Christ to make application to our life. It is from Christ that we have the strength to live holy and glorify God. Remember, you can “do all things through Christ” who gives strength (Phil. 4:13).

Worry A Sinful Atheistic and Lazy Process That Must Be Broken

Worry: A Sinful, Atheistic and Lazy Process That Must Be Broken

Many Christians worry. Do you? Are you aware that the Bible calls you not to worry? God will take your worries He calls His children to cast all their care on Him because He cares them (1 Pt. 5:7). Therefore if you do worry you must learn the Biblical response to life in order to remove this sin from your life. It will take a renewed mind (Rom. 12:2) and action on your part. Keep reading and find ways to put the following into practice. This will give you a peace that passes all understanding and will glorify your Lord.
.
To Worry Is To Sin
.
Jesus is clear very clear to us in that we are not to worry. John, the elder wrote Jesus directions in the sixth chapter of his gospel. Listen and take direction from Jesus. Mat 6:25-34 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Therefore to worry is to go against Jesus directions and therefore it is sin.
.
How is your life? Are you caught up in worry? Worry is an over emphasis and concern over the future that you have no control over. Are you trying to control the future, which is not yours but Gods? If you worry then you are trying to take what is Gods and are seeking to steal from Him. Are you looking at the future with trepidation, fear and anxiety? Do you feel life is scattered? Are you finding yourself confused and in mental difficulty over something you can do nothing about today? Are you looking into the future and worrying about things you have no control over? If so it seems that you have worry in you life. If so this is sin.

The sin of worry has many effects in your life. It causes many negative effects on the body such as ulcers, diarrhea, heart attacks, etc. Causing anger and fear it can rip the energy from life causing one to stop in their tracks. In reality while one may be thinking much about what they cannot control they really do nothing and become lazy. It is as simple as this: a worrisome person becomes unable to handle life’s problems. Worry keeps people from glorifying God and serving him. They cannot rejoice in the Lord always. Left unchecked and not corrected worry can drive one to an early death. The consequences of worry are quite serious! Therefore you must overcome the problem of worry and cast you care upon the Lord.
.
Worry Is Atheistic
.
Not only can worry bring many difficulties including causing a life to come to an “early” death but to worry is to bring atheistic thought processes into life’s problems and situations. When worrying about the future one is acting as though God does not nor cannot control the future in particular situations. It is to say God cannot handle tomorrow’s problems. Now all God‘s children know that this is a horrible thought. After all He created the world, planned and decreed all things that happen. Therefore, He works with perpetual energy in this world in and for his glory and the good of His people. Remember He cares for us. We are even to rest upon Him to take away these sinful atheistic thoughts when we petition Him to “hallow” his name in the Lord’s Prayer.
.
Worry Causes Laziness
.
The Bible points out that many people that worry are lazy. They don’t do the need of the moment. Those that worry do not complete the tasks of the day because they are focused on the problems of tomorrow. The worrisome and lazy person is simply one who is like a stuck car on ice - a spinning of the wheels – burning mental energy on what they cannot do while letting life fall down around them. Remember that Jesus called a worried person lazy. The person was afraid of what the future may have brought and did not do anything but excuse himself of personal responsibilities. Mat 25:26-27 “But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.”
.
How Do I Stop Worrying?
.
Firstly, it is important to know that you can overcome worry. You must first understand that God is interested in you and wants you not to worry. He cares for you. That is He cares for all that is happening in life and He can care for you as well as take care of what you cannot take care of – the future. He cares so much for you that he gives the directives and dynamics by which His children can live worry free.
Secondly, Jesus explained that in order to live without worry one must not be anxious over the future difficulties of life but live for today. "Therefore do not be anxious for {or worried about} tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself' (Matthew 6:34). Jesus made it clear that what is wrong with worry is that it is the wrong focus on life. Jesus here is teaching us that each day has its own troubles. The focus of our life, and therefore the key to overcoming worry, is to spend your energy on the issues of today for it will bring its own problems. Leave tomorrow to God.
.
Therefore in summary do this: 1. Believe God is in control and will take care of the future and wants to take your cares upon Him. Since He is in control and has tomorrow in His hands you can pour energy into each particular day. Therefore, take care of today since it has its own issues and it will take the day to work through them. Identify those each day and work the issues of each particular today. Pour your energies into today. Don’t spin wheels in worry about the future.
.
If you have difficulty in starting you day with a focus here are three questions that will help you focus and overcome worry.

1. What is my problem or issues to work today?
2. What does God want me to do about it?
3. When, where and how should I begin?
.
To live in a worriless fashion is not to live without concern. It is right and proper to be concerned. It is important that one concerns themselves with health, families, work, etc. Concern is not worry and therefore is not a problem. You cannot do away with concern. Concern motivates one to plan where needed and to focus on today each and every day. What you are called to do is to direct your concern so that you are to be concerned and working on the issues of this day. Concern for today and not worry is the formula and key by which you are to live.
.
Concern is an emotion which has been given to each of us by God. It has its place in our human makeup. Concern used properly our God given ability to use out mind and body in order to gather our thoughts and put plans together in order to work problems that come upon us. It is right when it is properly used according to the commandments and principles of His word. Emotional concern is the God-given ability to mobilize the forces of the body and the mind to focus upon a problem. If you turn concern into worry you use chemical and electrical energy in your body that has no place to go. It cannot be released in us as God created us. The body becomes frustrated since we cannot act upon the future. But remember this - the energy and chemicals will affect the body in a negative fashion (read above affects).
.
When you focus on today and concern yourself with this day then the chemicals and the electrical energy of the body is used. If you focus upon today, the energy is not wasted, and you can be fruitful in your daily endeavors. You will physically and spiritually do well and the Lord Jesus will be glorified.
.
When you take care of today’s problems you are obeying Christ in not being “anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself. So remember to take care of today's problems; take care of the troubles that you have to handle now. This is the KEY to eliminating worry. Proper daily concern with action without worry:
.
1. does not tear you up by you staying in constant confusion
2. lets you get a handle on daily problems
3. lets you do something due to the focus
4. allows you to deal with daily reality
.
Now that you have the biblical direction to overcome worry I feel I must state that there is nothing wrong in planning for the future and is actually Biblical to do so. Planning is never objected to in the Scriptures. Note what James wrote to the early church. Jam 4:13-15 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit" yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." In reality James is directing the church to make all plans with God in mind. In planning we must remember He is sovereign and our plans may not be what He desires from us. Therefore as one person has stated we need to make plans “in pencil with an eraser on it”. Lay out your plans before the Lord seeking that all you plan to be morally and ethically biblical. Then as you submit them acknowledge to the Lord if it is His will you desire these plans to come to pass if it be His will. However, you recognize before Him that that He is Sovereign and can change them. In other words submit them being flexible to God’s direction for your life since He controls the future and we do not. Remember?
.
Final Question: Are you a Christian?
.
Perhaps you have read this and you have not place saving faith in Jesus Christ. If not you do have something to worry about. You have an eternity that will not be spent with the Lord of all creation and comfort. Your worry should be that you are a sinner and have not worshiped God in Christ due to sin in your life. Perhaps you are beginning to understanding that you will be spend eternity in hell. In this you should be concerned. You also may be concerned that you do not have the power to overcome worry. Only those that love the Lord are promised that all things work together for them. But perhaps God is working showing you a need to lay your life before Him repenting of sin and in seeking him to help overcome your sin of worry. Perhaps he is working in your heart / mind to convict you of your sin. Christ died on the cross to die in the place of guilty sinners. He took hell for them. Those that believe He died for them and repent of sin are forgiven. Will you repent of sin and rest in the forgiveness of Christ today? God promise is this …”As many as received Him [Jesus Christ], to them He gave the right to be called the children of God, even to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12). Why don’t you trust Him now?

Heavenly Infants

Heavenly Infants
By Steve Horne


Dear Christian parent one can’t begin to express the sorrow felt for the loss of yours or of any infant in death. Many have come to visit over the years to talk about whether the infant is in the presence of God or not. Some were quite assured that their child was in the presence of the Lord Jesus but others were just not sure. Then there were some Christian parents that just were not sure, had never been sure and lived in fear that they may never see their infant again. There is not a window that we can look into heaven to see where infants are after they die, but there is a book called the Bible that clearly gives the answer concerning where the infants of Christians parents are after they pass from this world. If you’re assured of your infant being with the Lord continue to read this article and be renewed in your assurance. If you have doubts or have never understood where the infant is then this is for you. When you read this and understand the teaching of God concerning infants of Christians then your heart should be troubled no more.
.
“Why the death of my small innocent boy or girl baby?” you may be continuing to ask yourself. “How can it be that my “innocent” baby died?” “Why Did God take him or her from me?” Some of these questions cannot be answered. But why death happens can be answered.
.
Some may respond that their infant was “innocent and never sinned” and therefore not guilty until they commit an actual act of sin. God lets us know that this is not so. God lets parents know that all men are guilty of sin from conception. In this life all of the reasons for God calling the child home will never be known. What is known though is that we live in a world wherein there is sin and it has consequences. The Bible teaches that all persons since our first parents Adam and Eve are born and conceived in this state of sin. In the beginning the first parent Adam brought sin into the world and with it came death and misery such as you have experienced in the death of your infant. “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned-- for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.” (Rom 5:12-14) Death will come to all of us as it has come to your infant for the simple reason that the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23). The infant, like all of us still living were conceived in iniquity, and in sin their mother and father conceived them (Ps. 51:5). Death came upon them due to the fact of the guilt of sin upon them. It will come upon us due to our guilt as well.
.
Even though death came to your child because of sin that is in this world that does not mean that your child is not with the Lord. For the Christian parent there is not one reason you should doubt that the infant child which died is saved and with the Lord Jesus. The believing parent has as their spiritual father Abraham. Therefore you are entered into a covenant relationship with God and therefore you have the promises of the covenant placed upon you and your family. Gen 17:7 “… I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.” Therefore your child that died in infancy is with the Lord since your children are included in the covenant of grace. This blessing is shown in the Bible in several ways:

1. By God’s statements to Abraham that includes the rite of circumcision which proves that the children of believers are included in the covenant. Circumcision was the rite that signified the covenant relationship. God says in Gen 17:7 “… I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.”

1. By Peter’s statement in his sermon at Pentecost clearly placed the children of believers in the covenant of grace. Act 2:39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself."

1. By the purpose of God in marriage between believers is to produce a godly offspring. Mal 2:15 Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth.

1. By the Apostle Paul in 1 Cor 7:14-16 affirms that the children of unbelieving parents are “unclean”. But if even one parent believes the children are included in the covenant and even called “holy”.

.
There are Bible examples of this hope and certainty of reunion which the covenant brings. Here are a couple.
.
A. First is the account of King David wherein he was unburdened and comforted by the knowledge that his child was not lost forever but he would be with the Lord and they would be reunited. Note what he said, “I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me” (2 Sam. 12:23).
.
B. Secondly we have the account where Jeremiah prophesied (31:15-17) and gave evidence that the infants which were murdered in Bethlehem by the orders of King Herod (Matt. 2:16-18) were not forever lost but were in the presence of God and they and their parents would be reunited. Jeremiah stated the Lord’s declaration in his prophesy, “there is hope for your future, declares the Lord, and your children shall come back to their own country”.

Thus says the LORD: "A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more." Thus says the LORD: "Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears, for there is a reward for your work, declares the LORD, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope for your future, declares the LORD, and your children shall come back to their own country.
(Jer 31:15-17)



Therefore do not doubt the salvation of any of your children that died in infancy. Take comfort in the promise of God, in the examples contained within scripture and in the peace which comes from knowing the Lord Jesus personally. Rest assured that since you are a member of the covenant your and your children are a part of God’s decree of election, saved by the finished work of the shed blood of Christ. Therefore, beloved brethren rest that your dear infant is now in heaven “with Christ, which is far better” (Phil 1:23). He or she is a true “heavenly infants”! Oh parent, look for the day of Christ’s return. Await oh, blessed ones. There is coming a day of reunions. On that glorious day of the return of Our Lord you will be before your Savior and be restored unto your beloved child. Oh, what joys inexpressible and gull of glory. !



Some Applicable Scriptural References:

1. In comparing these Scripture together one understands that children of believing parents that die in infancy are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and saved by Christ.

Luk 18:15-16 Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. (16) But Jesus called them to him, saying, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.

Act 2:38-39 And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (39) For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself."

Joh 3:3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." …….. Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

1Jo 5:12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Rom 8:9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

2. The work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration is not something that is seen by human watching.

Joh 3:8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

3. Any person in the covenant who is incapable of being called by the normal means through the visible church by the preaching of the word is saved by Christ, through a special work of the Holy Spirit.

1Jo 5:12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Act 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

4. Children of believers are called holy.

1Co 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

Mal 2:15 Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth.

True Communion - Evangelizing and Growing Together

By Steve Horne

When you and I partake the Lord’s Supper we are:

• Revisiting by remembering the work of Christ on the Cross - “in remembrance of me”


• Partaking of a evangelistic meal - “ye do proclaim the Lord's death till He comes”


• Partaking a meal by which we practice personal church discipline - “let a man examine himself”.... and so let him eat”


• Partaking a meal of communion whereby we are practicing progressive sanctification thru self judgment in order to “so let him eat” after personal examination.


• Partaking of a communion meal whereby we fellowship with each other - tarrying "for one another”


• PArtaking a meal of potential condemnation. A meal of condemnation to those that partake of the meal unworthily for they “drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord”.

A Blog For You: The Lord’s Wonderful Day

The Lord’s Wonderful Day

Position Paper and Remarks Concerning the Sabbath


The Westminister Confession of Faith and the Sabbath (21:7,8)

"As it is of the law of nature, that, in general, a due proportion of time be set apart for the worship of God; so, in his word, by a positive, moral, and perpetual commandment, binding all men in all ages, he hath particularly appointed one day in seven for a Sabbath, to be kept holy unto him: which from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, was the last day of the week; and from the resurrection of Christ, was changed into the first day of the week, which in Scripture is called the Lord's day, and is to be continued to the end of the world, as the Christian Sabbath.

This Sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparation of their hearts, and ordering of their common affairs before-hand, do not only observe an holy rest all the day from their own works, words and thoughts about their worldly employment's and recreation; but also are taken up the whole time on the public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of worship and necessity."

This doctrinal teaching concerning the Christian can be summarized in these points:

1. God has by natural and special revelation bound all men to observe the Sabbath,
2. That the weekly Sabbath was the seventh day in order of succession from creation to the resurrection of Christ,
3 The Sabbath is the first day of the week since the resurrection of Christ

God requires that the Sabbath be kept holy by:

(1) a proper remembrance,
(2) a due preparation in respect to the day,
(3) a resting from worldly employment's and recreations,
(4) committing private and public exercises of divine worship and
(5) by being diligent in works of piety, necessity, mercy, and worship

Concerning this command instruction is following:

" THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT IS: Exodus 20:8 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Exodus 20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: Exodus 20:10 But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: Exodus 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day:
wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.”

“This is the commandment which most Christians ignore, or are unsure of, or do not believe exists for the New Testament believer. This is very sad for it is a creational command. The Sabbath was made for man not man for the sabbath. The sabbath was kept from Adam to Moses, and from Moses to the Lord Jesus, and then he, the Christ, took away all the false teachings that surrounded it and showed that is a good non-burdensome command.

The requirements of the commandment is that there is to be a day in the week, after six days of labor, to worship the Lord, to learn God's worship, and to rest from all the normal worldly activities. It is the day to do works of worship reading the word of God, pray, self-examination and partaking of the sacraments. It is a day to give of yourself to works of love in the areas of mercy and necessity. It is a day sanctified to the pious duty of our religion. The New Testament sabbath is the first day of the week, commonly called the lord's day. This day is to be kept holy until the end of the world. It is the Christian Sabbath. It is on this day which our Lord rose from the dead. The early church met for worship and alms giving on this most holy day. It is this day that the psalmist said to rejoice and be glad in.

The commandant is a call to remembrance. In our labor in six days with the "thorns and thistles" of life we may often forget to prepare for and keep this day set apart from all others. The commandment is to all the heads of institutions ie; families and businesses and others. All institutional leaders are bound to keep the commandment themselves but also they are to see that the day can be observed by all those under their authority by making sure that they order the business affairs so that the day is left free from labor and other pressures. In other words leaders and employers are to so run their businesses so that the employees are in no way hindered from keeping the christian sabbath. In the same way all the family is to keep the Sabbath and the father's must never direct their wives and children in any other way other than observing the Lord's day and keeping it holy. It has been rightly said that "as goes the observance of the sabbath so goes the spiritual life of the family and the church". This is a statement I agree with for if we do not set this day aside for our worship and reflection we will forget the other commandments and holy duties as Christians. We will forget to be thankful, our worldly employment's and pleasures will overtake us, and we will forget the god who bought us with his own blood. In not keeping the sabbath we greatly sin for we do not do the works and duties of pure worship, we think on the things of this world and we do not examine ourselves in our walk with the lord. In essence we go about living in our on way.”

Within our society there are no restraints placed upon men and women to keep them from not observing the Sabbath. In the United States society has left the Bible so that it is not the standard by which morals and ethics are established. This has happened for many reasons but I think there are three primarily. The first one is that the mainstream churches have accepted the liberal view of the Bible. That is that the Bible at best only contains the Word of God, they find that, truth is flexible in each culture, etc. This leads to a "this is what I believe" mentality because any 'absolutes" that there may be are up for question and debate. Secondly there are the premillinial dispensational churches that say that the Sabbath was the law of Moses, it was not a creational ordinance and that when Christ came the Sabbath was not to be observed any longer "law by Moses, Grace by Christ". Thirdly with the high pressure economics of the day we live in and the liberal or dispensational teaching of the Bible there are no restraints, within our society that would keep us from doing our own enjoyments and desires on the first day of the week. The economics philosophy of the United States pressures the people to both work and shop on Sunday. Many Christians in our churches pressure the restaurants to be open on Sunday just to feed them after the eleven or twelve o'clock service. They do not understand the Sabbath and the preparing for that day so they pay others to work for them, making it so that they could not go to worship even of they desired to.


A. The Sabbath is a perpetual ordinance for all people of all times and cultures as can be shown from the scriptures.


1.) We first see it at creation wherein the energetic God rested from the works of creation and sanctified the day. Genesis 2:3 states "And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made."

2.) Noah observed the Sabbath and the seven day cycle of the Sabbath in the Ark while waiting for the waters to abate from the earth from the flood. This giving evidence that the Sabbath or a seven day cycle of observance was in effect from creation till the flood and with Noah during the flood. Gen 8:10-12 " And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark; And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth [was] an olive leaf pluck off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth. And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more."

3.) The seventh day and Sabbath cycle of work and one day rest and worship observance of Sabbath was in effect in the wilderness wanderings prior to reaching Mt Sinai where the moral law of God was codified. We are told that the Israelites are told that the next day was a Sabbath observance and that on the sixth day there were to be two days worth of manna gathered. They were to order their affairs around a day of worship and of the sanctified Sabbath setting it apart for the Lord. 23 And he said unto them, This [is that] which the LORD hath said, To morrow [is] the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the LORD: bake [that] which ye will bake [to day], and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning. 24 And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein. 25 And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day [is] a Sabbath unto the LORD: to day ye shall not find it in the field. 26 Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, [which is] the Sabbath , in it there shall be none. 27 And it came to pass, [that] there went out [some] of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none. 28 And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? 29See, for that the LORD hath given you the Sabbath , therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.

Make note of what Matthew Henry states concerning this passage in regards to the Sabbath.:

"Here is mentioned of a seventh-day Sabbath. It was known, not only before the giving of the law upon mount Sinai, but before the bringing of Israel out of Egypt, even from the beginning, The setting apart one day in seven for holy work, and, in order to that, for holy rest, was ever since God created man upon the earth, and is the most ancient of the Divine laws. Appointing them to rest on the seventh day, he took care that they should be no losers by it; and none ever will be losers by serving God......This directs us to contrive family affairs, so that they may hinder us as little as possible in the work of the Sabbath. Works of necessity are to be done on that day; but it is desirable to have as little as may be to do, that we may apply ourselves the more closely to prepare for the life that is to come."

4.) There are many references to the Sabbath observance in the times of the kings and the prophets. Isaiah states that the proper observance of the Sabbath is of great blessing to the people of God. Isaiah 58:13-14 "If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath , [from] doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking [thine own] words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken [it]."

Again lets note the excellent comments of Matthew Henry: "The Sabbath is a sign between God and his professing people; his appointing it is a sign of his favour to them; and their observing it is a sign of their obedience to him.-We must turn from travelling on that day; from doing our pleasure on that holy day, without the control and restraint of conscience; or from indulging in the pleasures of sense. On sabbath days we must not follow our callings, or our pleasures. In all we say and do, we must put a difference between this day and other days. Even in Old Testament times the sabbath was called the Lord's day, and is fitly called so still; and for a further reason, it is the Lord Christ's day, Revelation 1:10 " I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day...." If we thus remember the sabbath day to keep it holy, we shall have the comfort and profit of it, and have reason to say, It is good to draw near to God."

5.) Christ, our example, entered the synagogue to worship with the people of God on the sabbath. We see this from such passages as Luke 4:16-18: And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and he entered, as his custom was, into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And he opened the book, and found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because he anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor: He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovering of sight to the blind, To set at liberty them that are bruised, To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. Jesus never said that the Sabbath would end, he honored and kept it .

6.) Paul and the apostles in the Apostolic period also observed Sabbath day of worship. Acts 17:2 and Paul, as his custom was, went in unto them, and for three sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures" and Acts 13:14 But they, passing through from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia; and they went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.

7.) The Christian church has always kept the Sabbath (1Cor. 16:1) until recent times of one hundred less years or so, The Presbyterians have historically been sabbatarians from their grass roots teaching of the Bible and the Confession and Catechisms. The Anglican and Episcopal church are noted for their liturgy and the reading of the law frequently calling to obedience the believers that have been saved by the mercies of God in Christ. Then there are the Baptists. When they were confessional and not so "independent" they held the doctrine of the Christian Sabbath in high regard and a holy duty of all believers.

So as we can see so far the fourth commandment of God given to Moses at the Mount was not something new but was observed from the day it was sanctified through the Old Testament, at the time and in the life of Christ, and also observed by the apostles and the churches throughout the ages. Even today there are Christians that do remember the Sabbath. I do think it weighty enough for all churches everywhere to remember to keep that day holy as has been done from creation. Who are we in the twentieth century to think we can do away with what God planned for his creation in the beginning. The church needs to reform at this time in its history in this observance.




B. We Must Observe the Sabbath for it is a Moral law of God.

1.) Moral laws are always perpetual. Moral standards are never changing. It is in the moral law of God that we see the reflection of His character. Our God established Shabbat, he reinstated the command to remember Shabbat in the ten commandments given to Moses for His people on Mt. Sinai. The moral law of God, summarized in the 10 commandments, were from the beginning. There was never a time when it was proper to steal, kill, commit adultery, reject authority, etc (the last six commandments). Also there was never a time from creation that God was not to be worshipped and that in the way prescribe by Him in His word (the first four commandments). There was never a time when idols were OK, nor the Sabbath could be shunned. So we have the moral law established concerning the approach to God in regards to heart and mental understanding and in regards to time set aside for him on the day he has given to man (Sabbath) .

2.) The Sabbath is established in the character of God and therefore is a moral issue. God himself sanctified the Sabbath at creation.. The Sabbath has been remembered in every age since the dawn of time and has never been rescinded in God's word. The fact of the Sabbath being mentioned in the decalogue with the other moral laws of God for both worship and society underscores the importance thereof. The Sabbath is such a moral issue the Lord Jesus in the sermon on the mount ripped apart the legalism that was so established in the religious community of the Jews of that day and restated it to be a day established for man and not man for that day. To pass by it, and not to remember to keep that day holy is to sin and to cause others to sin. In our daily toil and tasks we find that we are not focused upon the Creator. We and our families, employees, students, etc. need to come away, renew the mind and worship the Creator in a focused manner. For that the Sabbath has been given.

3.) It was such an issue in the Old Covenant economy that with the profaning of the Sabbath there was a death penalty (Ex. 31:14). There was also a death penalty for the first, second, third, fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth commandment. That is not so now for the state carries the sword and not the church. However there is not to be a failure of gathering together on the Lord's day (Heb 10:24-25). Just as there is to be no breaking of the other commandments either for they all proclaim morality and ethics set and established by a holy God. If there is then there is to be correction by the local church in the form of discipline. Restoration is to be sought after for the erring brethren even in the neglect and or profaning of the Sabbath, the Lord's day.

C. What can we say concerning the reasons Christians give for not remembering the Sabbath?

1.) One group of Christians that object to a Sabbath for the Christian Church are the dispensationalists. Their statements go something like this: 'We are under grace and not under works. Works or law by Moses and grace by Christ. The Sabbath is for Israel and not for the bride of Christ." Those that expound on this view state that no where in the New Testament there is no mention of the Sabbath in relation to the keeping of it. If you follow that flow of thought then you would state that the fourth commandment was not moral. Therefore the Decalogue is not all moral law, just a law for the Israel in the Old Testament. Let me suggest that the people of the early New Testament era new the moral law of God.
There were teachers of the Sabbath with so much zeal that they had made laws themselves to make sure they did not forget and "break" Sabbath. The people then would have known about Sabbath. Jesus clarified the Sabbath as has been stated; Sabbath for man not man for the Sabbath. Also with the Apostle Paul takes the decalogue for granted as still in effect and he said in Romans 7:7 that if it had not been for the commandment that he would have not known lust. There are all the commandments either explicitly stated, implied, inferred, or clarified in the New Testament. We can never say grace did away with the moral law of God. The moral law of the decalogue is perpetual for all times and in all places and for all people. Moral law was never just for the Jews and not for the New Testament believers.
Another objection that comes from dispensational Christians is: Every day is to be holy unto the Lord. God has not set aside a special day for rest for daily toil and worship to Him. We would agree that every day is holy unto the Lord. However that does set aside the truth that God Himself set aside a special day in the Old Testament.


2.) There is another group of Christians that confuse the Sabbath with the spiritual rest of the New Covenant. The thought goes something like this : " The Sabbath was a type of the rest Christians would have in the Messiah. Now that we have the rest in Messiah we no longer need the Sabbath day as a type. Christ has come, we rest in Him and the shadow has gone."
The answer to this is that Christ has shown us Covenant rest. We agree with that, however there is no warrant for that being all that the Sabbath was for. We are told better by the Lord when he states that the Sabbath was for created man. It was for more than a type or shadow pointing forward to our rest in Christ. It was a day sanctified by God in the dawn of time at creation for the remembrance of God to worship and rest in a focused manner. We do rest in our salvation in Christ. However there is no statement in the Scriptures which does away with the perpetual creational ordinance of the six days of labor and one day of rest and worship day principal.

D. What then is proper to do in the Lord's Day the Christian Sabbath

Isa. 58:13 If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, [and] the holy of Jehovah honorable; and shalt honor it, not : 14 then shalt thou delight thyself in Jehovah; and I will make thee to ride upon the high places of the earth; and I will feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it.

1.) We must prepare for worship by taking care of our daily chores before Sunday get here. The Lord's day should be the center of our week. We need a holy rest all the day so that we can focus on the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit in worship and praise. This is the first thing that we can do and must do on the Lord's day. So let us take care of lawn work, shopping, housework, etc. prior to the day of worship. Most neglect in remembering the Lord's day comes from poorly planned living the other six days of the week.

2.) We are also to come away from our worldly enjoyments and recreations. We are not to do our own things on that day but are to do things that are set forth to do from the scriptures. We have already said we are to set aside the day as different from all others. We are called to do works of worship on this day. A minister and church leaders must lead in worship in the preaching, prayers and administration of the sacraments, music, etc.. We also are to do works of necessity. It is necessary to prepare food for the family, and take care of the sanitary conditions in the home. there is also the need to do works of mercy. There may be oxen in ditches, houses on fire, homeless that need meals cooked for them, etc. (Matt. 12:1-4).

Concluding Statement

We need to make sure that all we do on that day framed in these principals. I know that there probably many questions concerning other particulars concerning what to do and not to do on that day. I will not try to dictate those to you but rest assured if you prepare for this day and then decide to do works of worship, mercy and necessity (separated from convenience) you will find the day filled and find very little time to "doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking [thine own] words".

God bless you as you remember His day.

Quotation Corner

John Calvin propounded truth more clearly than any other man who ever breathed, knew more of Scripture, and explained it more clearly. Charles Spurgeon

Profiting from the Puritans for Devotional Reading by Joel Beeke

Puritan literature has been a major resource for my devotional reading for thirty-five years. I believe there is no group of writers in church history that can feed our minds and souls with spiritual truth as effectively as do the Puritans. With the Spirit's blessing, here's how Puritan writings can enrich your devotional reading:

Shape Your Life by Scripture

Let the Puritans show you how to shape your entire life by scripture. They loved, lived, and breathed Scripture, relishing the power of the Spirit that accompanied the Word. They regarded the sixty-six books of Scripture as the library of the Holy Spirit that was graciously bequeathed to them. Scripture was God speaking to them as their Father; the Word was truth they could trust in for all eternity. They saw it as Spirit-empowered to renew their minds and transform their lives.

The Puritans searched, heard, and sang the Word with delight, and encouraged others to do the same. Puritan Richard Greenham suggested eight ways to read Scripture: with diligence, wisdom, preparation, meditation, conference, faith, practice, and prayer. Thomas Watson provided numerous guidelines on how to listen to the Word: Come to the Word with a holy appetite and a teachable heart. Sit under the Word attentively, receive it with meekness, and mingle it with faith. Then retain the Word, pray over it, practice it, and speak to others about it.

The Puritans sounded a call to become Word-centered in faith and practice. Richard Baxter's Christian Directory showed how the Puritans regarded the Bible as a trustworthy guide for all of life. Every case of conscience was subjected to Scripture's directives. Henry Smith said, "We should set the Word of God always before us like a rule, and believe nothing but that which it teacheth, love nothing but that which it prescribeth, hate nothing but that which it forbiddeth, do nothing but that which it commandeth."

If you read the Puritans regularly, their Bible-centeredness becomes contagious. They show you how to yield wholehearted allegiance to the Bible's message. Like them, you will become a believer of the Living Book, concurring with John Flavel, who said, "The Scriptures teach us the best way of living, the noblest way of suffering, and the most comfortable way of dying." Puritan books are rich with scriptural support and references. When you read these books for devotions, look up their references and meditate on them.

Marry Doctrine and Practice

The Puritans show us how to marry doctrine and practice in our lives by addressing the mind, confronting the conscience, and wooing the heart.

Puritan literature addresses the mind. The Puritans loved and worshiped God with their minds. They refused to set mind and heart against each other, but taught that knowledge was the soil in which the Spirit planted the seed of regeneration. They viewed the mind as the palace of faith. "In conversion, reason is elevated," John Preston wrote. Cotton Mather said, "Ignorance is the mother not of devotion but of heresy."

The Puritans teach us to think in order to be holy. They understood that a mindless Christianity fosters a spineless Christianity. An anti-intellectual gospel will spawn an irrelevant gospel that doesn't get beyond "felt needs." That's what is happening in our churches today. We have lost our intellect, and for the most part we don't see the necessity of recovering it. We do not understand that if there is little difference between the Christian and unbelievers in what we believe, there will soon be little difference in how we live.

Puritan literature confronts the conscience. The Puritans were masters at naming specific sins, then asking questions to press home the guilt of those sins. As one Puritan wrote, "We must go with the stick of divine truth and beat every bush behind which a sinner hides, until like Adam who hid, he stands before God in his nakedness."

Devotional reading should be confrontational as well as comforting. We grow little if our consciences are not pricked daily and directed to Christ. Since we are prone instead to run away, we need help in our daily devotions to be brought before the living God, "naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do" (Heb. 4:~3).

Puritan literature woos the heart. It is unusual today to find books that both feed the mind with solid biblical substance and move the heart with affectionate warmth, but the Puritans do this. They reason with the mind, confront the conscience, and appeal to the heart. They write out of love for God's Word, love for the glory of God, and love for the souls of readers. They set forth Christ in His loveliness, moving the reader to yearn to know Him better and live wholly for Him.

Focus on Christ

Puritan literature magnifies Christ. According to Thomas Adams, "Christ is the sum of the whole Bible, prophesied, typified, prefigured, exhibited, demonstrated, to be found in every leaf, almost in every line, the Scriptures being but as it were the swaddling bands of the child Jesus." Likewise, Isaac Ambrose wrote, "Think of Christ as the very substance, marrow, soul, and scope of the whole Scriptures."

The Puritans loved Christ and wrote much about His beauty. Listen to Samuel Rutherford: "Put the beauty of ten thousand thousand worlds of paradises, like the Garden of Eden in one; put all trees, all flowers, all smells, all colors, all tastes, all joys, all loveliness, all sweetness in one. O what a fair and excellent thing would that be? And yet it would be less to that fair and dearest well-beloved Christ than one drop of rain to the whole seas, rivers, lakes, and foundations of ten thousand earths." Thomas Goodwin summed that up, writing, "Heaven would be hell to me without Christ."

Would you know Christ better and love Him more fully? Immerse yourself in Puritan literature, asking the Spirit to sanctify it to you in a Christ-centered way.

Handle Trial Christianly

The Puritans show us how to handle trials. We learn from their books that we need affliction to humble us (Deut. 8:2), to teach us what sin is (Zeph. 1:12), and to bring us to God (Hos. 5:15). 'Affliction is the diamond dust that heaven polishes its jewels with," wrote Robert Leighton. They teach us to view God's rod of affliction as His means to write Christ's image more fully upon us so that we may be partakers of His righteousness and holiness (Heb. 12:10-11).

If you are presently undergoing profound trials, learn from the Puritans not to overestimate those trials. Read William Bridge's A Lifting Up for the Downcast (Banner of Truth), Thomas Brooks' A Mute Christian Under the Rod, and Richard Sibbes's A Bruised Reed (Banner of Truth). They will show you how every trial can bring you to Christ to walk by faith and to be weaned from this world. As Thomas Watson wrote, "God would have the world hang as a loose tooth which, being easily twitched away, doth not much trouble us."

Or read The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment (Banner of Truth) by Jeremiah Burroughs. He'll teach you how to learn contentment through trial. Then, the next time you're buffeted by others, Satan, or your own conscience, you will not waste time complaining. Instead, you'll carry those trials to Christ and ask Him, by His Spirit, to sanctify them so that you model spiritual contentment for others.

Live in Two Worlds

The Puritans show us how to live from a two-worlds point of view. Richard Baxter's The Saint's Everlasting Rest demonstrates the power that the hope of heaven should have to direct, control, and energize our life here on earth. Despite its length (800-plus pages), this classic became household reading in Puritan homes. It was exceeded only by John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress (Banner of Truth), which, by the way, is an allegorical proof of my point. Bunyan's pilgrim is heading for the Celestial City, which he never has out of his mind except when he is betrayed by some form of spiritual malaise.

The Puritans believed that we ought to have heaven ''in our eye'' throughout our earthly pilgrimage. They took seriously the two-worlds, now/not-yet dynamics of the New Testament, stressing that keeping the "hope of glory" before our minds helps guide our lives here on earth. Living in the light of eternity for the Puritans often necessitated radical self-denial. They taught us to live knowing that the joy of heaven will make amends for any losses and crosses, strains and pains that we must endure on earth if we are to follow Christ. They teach us that preparation for death is the first step in learning to live. This earth is God's dressing-room and gymnasium that prepares us for heaven.

Emulate Puritan Spirituality

There's so much to learn from the Puritans - how they promote the authority of Scripture, biblical evangelism, church reform, the spirituality of the law, spiritual warfare against indwelling sin, the filial fear of God, the art of meditation, the dreadfulness of hell and the glories of heaven - but space prohibits us. In a word, let's read the Puritans devotionally, then pray to emulate their spirituality. Let's ask ourselves questions like these: Are we, like the Puritans, thirsting to glorify the triune God? Are we motivated by biblical truth and biblical fire? Do we share the Puritan view of the vital necessity of conversion and of being clothed with the righteousness of Christ?

Reading the Puritans isn't enough. We also need the inward disposition of the Puritans authentic, biblical, intelligent piety that shows in our hearts, lives, and churches.

Let me challenge you. Will you live like the Puritans? Will you go beyond reading their writings, discussing their ideas, recalling their achievements, and berating their failures? Will you practice the degree of obedience to God's Word for which they strove? Will you serve God as they served Him? Will you live with one eye on eternity as they did? "Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls" (Jer. 6:16).

Identifying the True Church

Identifying the True Church
.
Introduction
.
What is the Church? That’s right how can we tell what the church is? If you found yourself in a geographical region and only two “ church" groups were meeting how would you know if they are a church? If one is a church and one is not how would you make that determination? The answer regarding how to define and know which would be a church must come from the Bible. Into this question we pray we make the principles about what a church is becomes clear.
.
The Ekklesia and Her Head
.
Technically the Greek word translated church is “ekklesia”. This term meaning is directed toward the people of God that are called out. The Biblical use of this terminology means an assembly, a body of people that are “called out” by God. It is a call to citizens of a kingdom or township for an assembly called by those in authority (compare Acts 19:32,41). Therefore the ekklesia of God are those called out unto salvation by grace, called into meeting with God, to hear the words of the God for common fellowship with all those called unto salvation. All that are called by God unto salvation are called to assemble to hear the Sovereign King. That Sovereign King is God himself (Heb. 10:24, 25).
.
I don’t think I have ever heard of anyone call the church the ekklesia The English term commonly used is the term Church. The word church is derived from the Greek word “kyriakon” that means “the Lords”. That Greek term says a lot for it declares that we that are in the Church are the Lords. In reality the term church does the same thing for it is derived from the Scottish term “Kirk” which is derived from the German word “Kirche” which is derived from the Greek adjective “kyriakon”. So we are the Lords.
.
The Church is the gathering of the called out people of God. They re called out for two main purposes: to worship and to fellowship. They are the called out people of God unto an assembly or congregation. In this assembly the elect hear the Lord speak the words and works of His kingdom, which is the scripture. As they learn of the King’s word and works they respond by worshipping Him giving honor and praises and respect that becomes diety, since He is God. Not only this, but as an assembly the people have many things in common therefore they fellowship with all the saints present, while understanding they also have a connection with all the saints that have gone before and those that will be redeemed in the future.
.
While this implies there is a need to have a place together it is clear that the church is not a building with stained glass windows, big pipe organs or grand pianos. These things are great for the building in which the believers meet but they are not the church. The church is a body of believers that have been redeemed, are being redeemed, and will be redeemed by the blood of Christ. The church is body of believers called out from fallen humanity for the purpose, pleasure, and glory of God. The church is the redeemed and their children (Acts 2:8; 1 Cor. 7:14). The church is people on a pilgrimage just as the “church in the wilderness” (Acts 7:38) and the people of faith in the Epistle to the Hebrews chapter eleven.
.
The Church is not without a leader. The leader of the church is Jesus Christ. It is He that is Lord of the church. The Father gave Him to be the head over all things to the church. He by the Holy Spirit through the word of God teaches how to live giving direction and power to live as called out ones in the kingdom of God. Paul says of Christ that the Father “....gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Eph. 1-:22-23).The church's foundation is Jesus Christ it’s Lord (1 Cor 3:11). It is upon Him and the testimony of Him that He is continually building His church. The Father gave Him to be the head over all things to the church.

• Matt. 16-18 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The church is so united to or in Christ that certain symbols clearly show His mystical union and relationship to her i.e. a husband to a bride and that of a head to a body. These scriptures teach that believers are in a close relationship with their Savior and that He is perpetually at work in His Church cleansing her with the word, giving her gifts and energizing them to live as aliving organism with a purpose and to spread the message of the gospel.

• Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

• 1 Corinthians 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 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.

How to Identify A True Church:


First Mark Of A True Church Is The Faithful Preaching Of the Word Of God
.
Going back to the original opening statements there have been times in history that it has been hard for Christians to determine what is a true church and what is not. It is not just a problem in our day but has also been a problem in other times in history. This has been evident throughout the centuries and was a concern even prior to the end of the first century. Peter in his second epistle and Jude in his letter gave cautions and warnings about the church and ungodly doctrines and practices that had already slid into the church. Jude desired to fellowship around the great basics of the common faith yet he found it needful to write calling for the believers to contend for the faith they had received. He stated, “It was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3). So then if they needed to contend for the faith they they like us today need to know the criteria by which one can know the true church. What marks establish it? What must be done so that the kingdom of God can be understood? It is this question and answer that we will take up at his time.
.
Since the Church is the Lord’s people called out by Him to hear then we must declare that the first mark of the true church is the faithful preaching and teaching of the Word of God. This is the foundation of all discipleship and training. Those groups, or persons for that matter, that do not hold to Christ’s teachings are not His disciples. Jesus was clear omn this when he said, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; (Jn. 8:31).” Other passage also indicate that those who do not speak or teach from the word cannot be the true church. They are dark, not being linked with the Father and the Son, “if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” (Isaiah 8:20).” Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” (2 John 1:9)
.
Therefore believers who have a need to look for a church need to ask themselves questions such as these: “Have the teachers and minister labored to explain the Bible and teach what it has to say where I have been visiting and / or attended?” “Have my sin and idols in my heart been exposed?” “Have I learned who God is and what God has done and has established for my life?” “Is my faith stronger and my life for the Lord stronger than when I first visited? If not have I been called into question about my life’s progress in sanctification?” If the Bible is not constantly and consistently proclaimed with these purposes then where you attend is not a true church.
.
It is through the preaching and teaching of the Bible that the Lord adds to His Church. Acts 2:41, 47 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.........Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
.

Because of the truth, proclaimation and instruction of the word the church is the pillar and ground of the truth. 1 Timothy 3:15. This truth must and will be proclaimed by a true church which is never accursed. Galatians 1:8-9 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Paul the apostle in the true church proclaimed about himself that he “kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house. Acts 20:20.” And “I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God Acts 20:27”. Because the basis of the church is the proclaimation of the word and because of its results Paul gave the following charge to his son in the faith to “preach the word “ in all situations!
.
2 Timothy 4:1-5 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

It is through the teaching and preaching of the Word of God that believers are built up in the faith:

• Ephesians 4:8,11-15 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men ... And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, e vangelists; and some, pastors and 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:

It is through the preaching and teaching of the Bible that believers hearts are laid bare and they are prompted by the Holy Spirit for growth in sanctification.

• John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.


• 2 Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.


• Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.


• Acts 20:26-32 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

Therefore if where you have been visiting or attending where the bible is not proclaimed leave and go look elsewhere. Also if there is not spiritual awakening and growth which would be the result of unfaithful preaching and teaching then there is no true church there. You should not attend. Go and look elsewhere.

The Second Mark Of A True Church the Administration of the Lord’s Supper and Baptism

The faithful proclamation of the word of God is the first mark in Identifying a true church. The second mark in identifying a true church is in the faithful administration of the sacraments. It is from the scriptures that there is the teaching concerning the number of sacraments and how these are to be administered. The Bible only teaches two sacraments (1) baptism and (2) the Lord’s Supper also known as communion.

The true church will administer baptism to the proper recipients as stated in the scriptures and they will also serve the Lord’s Supper to those who profess faith in Christ and are not under excommunication of the Church in discipline.
Without going into detail at this juncture and for the purpose of this teaching I want to just define what each sacrament is.

Between the Baptists, Lutherans and Presbyterians there are some denominational definitions and distinctions. These discussions between these groups can get very heated and the purpose of this paper is not to get into those denominational distinctives. Suffice it to say that all of these groups do perform baptisms and the Lord’s supper and are part of the true church.

If at some point someone wants to discuss these in greater detail either their pastor or myself a closer look can be discussed and taught. I do encourage all to learn diligently what these mean, as well as the place the sacraments have in the sanctification and hope of all that believe. In other words ask for more teaching concerning the sacraments please.

The Lord’s Supper

The Lord’s Supper has been established and will be observed in a true church until the Lord returns. It is a community meal for believers. The bread signifies the broken body Christ and the wine represents the shed blood of Christ. It is a meal that signifies God’s covenant of grace upon the lives of those that believe. (Matt. 26:28)

• 1 Corinthians 11:23-33 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.

In summary the Lord’s Supper is a meal of :

• Revisiting or a remembering the work of Christ on the Cross “in rememberance of me”


• An evangelistic meal “ye do proclaim”


• A disciplining meal “let a man examine himself, and so let him eat”


• A meal of self judgment or examination for purposes of sanctification “let a man examine himself”


• A community meal “ tarry for one another” (cp. 1 Cor. 10:16)


• A meal of condemnation to those that partake of it unworthily “drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord”

Baptism

Baptism is a sacrament instituted by Christ (Matt. 28:19) and is a symbol indicating that the recipient is bound to Christ by the terms of the covenant whereby God has declared Himself to be the God of his people.

• Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:


• Col 2: 11-14 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

Rom 6: 3-14 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
……
We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
……..
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

Baptism clearly represents:

• Regeneration – being made alive with Christ


• Being cleansed form sin and its defilment


• Being Bound to Christ


• Membership in the Visible Church


• It Represents the Believers Union and Identification with Christ’s Death on the Cross (the shed bloods cleansing from sin)


• Baptism is a seal confirming God’s promise that he will be our God

Once again I encourage you to seek a fuller understanding of the subjects of the sacraments. A deep and fuller understanding will lead to a deeper worship of the Creator and Savior.

The Third Mark of A True Church Is The Practice of Church Discipline

The faithful proclamation of the word of God is the first mark in identifying a true church. The second mark in identifying a true church is in the faithful administration of the sacraments. The third mark is the administration of church discipline.
The practice of church discipline has been established by God “tell it unto the church” (Matthew 18:17). Our Lord taught that this is the way of unity and peace in the church. It is the true church that maintains discipline over believers guards their souls (Heb 13). Any group that calls itself a church and does not exercise love for the people in helping restore them to righteous living, guiding them in their life, is not a true church. It is only the true church that cares enough to help restore the believer, desires to honor God, and which desires purity.

• Matt. 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.


• 1 Corinthians 5:1-5 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ , To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

The authority of the church does not rest in the personal and individual authority of the elders or pastors. The authority of the church leaders is a derived authority. Christ is King and Head of His church (Eph. 5:23; Col 1:18). He has given the Bible as the rule of all faith and practice. The leaders of the church must teach and discipline from the Word of God alone. They can only speak where the Bible speaks and teach what the Bible teaches with authority. The church and the members are to be directed by the Word alone in all matters in life and godliness. This truly glorifies the Lord and maintains purity in His, one and only church.

Church discipline has a lofty goal. It is properly administered for the maintenance of the the glory of God, the purity of the
church and the reclaimation, restoration and reconcilation of the erring brethren.

Church discipline includes:

• Teaching = It is is teaching the person what the Bible says concerning their sin, and how to change


• Convictiing = It includes the need to convince or persuade of the need to turn from sin to loving the living Lord unto holiness ;


• Admonishing = Discipline through admonishment includes all three of these encouraging, rebuking, warning,

• Excommunicating = Hopefully restoration will be accomplished before this step is taken. This is the farthest end of an extreme measure which includes expulsion from the Lord’s table


• Restoring = This is the goal of church discipline. It is an acceptance and compassion for a Christian brother or sister that has repented in order for there to be no grief.

From the teaching of Scripture there are four major steps in the practice of church discipline. The following are the biblically steps of church discipline and restoration from Matt. 18:15-17.

Read the passage from the gospel of Matthew and see if you can pick the three steps.

• Matthew 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Did you identify them? If not here you go:

Step 1. Private meeting = there is to be a private meeting between you and the person that has caused an offense concerning doctrinal error or delinquent in proper Christian living. “…., go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone”

Step 2. If restoration fails in step one then you must move to a second step where you “take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. The taking of others with you is for the purpose of supporting you in persuading the person to be restored. But sadly if the persuasion fails and the brother or sister does not repent the they are there in order to establish witnesses if the person does not repent and does not want restored in this second step.

Step 3. If this fails the discipline of the non-repentant brother gets very serious. It is here that you must get all of the information together and “tell it unto the church”. This does not mean that you tell the issue to the congregation but it is simply that you tell it unto the church leaders, i.e. elders. They must take up the process of discipline from this point forward. They are the church court and have the spiritual oversight of the people of the church. The church members are to “Obey … leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. ( Heb 13:17). They are the leaders who speak the word of God and watch over the souls of the congregation. Perhaps the person will obey his or her leaders and submit to them and be restored. And if the person does this discipline ends since restoration would have been accomplished.

Step 4. If sorrowfully the above steps fail and “if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.” This is the final discipline step that must be done, called excommunication. It must be accomplished for two major reasons: a. in order that the spirit of the person may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus (1 Cor. 5:5) and for the purging of sin out of the church to keep it a pure as humanly possible (1 Cor. 5:7).

The person that is delinquent in doctrine or in godly living, the person that has been sinned against, those brought in for support and witness and the elders of the church are all to be directed and guided not by their own thinking but by the word of God. If this is not done then there is no evidence that the people or the church leaders are Christian but show themselves to be self judging and at best just pragmatic people whether they stumble upon doing what is wrong or right. When one fails to be directed by the word, judged by the church and found to be in sin they are not to partake of the Lord’s supper They are living as the unsaved. Where there is no church discipline there are all kinds of evil. Humanism prevails, sin is in the camp, the leaders have no place to stand, doctrine can go anywhere since it is not checked, there is no growth at all and no watching over the souls of the people of the church.

Church discipline by the word of God and by the church and its people following the above steps is a must. A congregation or faith group that does not practice church discipline is missing a critical mark of being a true church.
.
Conclusion

The marks by which the true church is known and made discernable is 1) the faithful preaching of the word of God; 2) the administration of baptism and the Lord’s supper; 3) administering of church discipline. Each mark stands with the other like dominoes standing on end. If the Word is not proclaimed the sacraments will not be properly administered for anyone could be baptized or come to the table. Discipline will be non existent. Without either of these there no matter how many people attend a weekly gathering it is not a church. However, where these are carried out faithfully then the church is and it will produce fruit and the gates of Hell will not prevail against her. God’s blessings, spiritual growth and men will be brought into the kingdom of God. This happens because the preaching is diligent, church members come to the table often checking themselves against the word of while they eagerly await their risen Lord’s return. If there is a need to discipline someone it is carried out by the word of God for the purpose of restoration so that there is continual communion with one another and with the Lord in the supper.
.
Therefore, if you find yourself looking for a church do not fail to and please use these three marks in order to determine where to place you membership and accountability.
.

Oh Lord,
May you grant your people knowledge and discernment to know and to love the church, your darling Bride.
Amen.