Instructions for Judgement or Gibberish?
If you had no other starting point but the Bible you would never find instruction for allowing unbeliever’s to enter the worship gathering. Since we have 1700+ years of tradition teaching us that is the way to do things we must deconstruct you back to the clear teaching of scripture.
One way to see the truth is to follow the instructions for the church that is found in scripture. Allowing unbelievers to participate in the worship gathering makes many of these instructions impossible to follow. This may be why many are just ignored today or modified to fit the current operating system.
"If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
A couple of quick problems to note. There is no expectation to tolerate sin in the church. In the system that mixes unbelievers in the church this instruction is meaningless since the punishment would be to treat them as an unbeliever, which would mean what - to include them in everything, beg them to come in or even bribe them to show up? Can we allow the unbeliever in yet exclude the believer who sins? Maybe that is why church leadership mostly ignores this passage today.
Paul gave the Corinthian church some instructions for judging.
I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.
OK so don’t associate with immoral brothers? But allow the immoral unbeliever to participate in the assembly that you exclude the immoral brother from attending. Yikes!
Again we are instructed …
Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
So if we follow this instruction in today’s system we could set unbelievers up as judges over believers, which is exactly what the passage instructs us NOT TO DO! So let’s get this clear. Sin is to be confronted and dealt with in the church not invited in and tolerated. We must associate with immoral people in order to be in this world but we are to remove the wicked from our midst. We are not to be judged by the unjust but rather by the least esteemed in the church, which cannot include the unjust, or we void the instruction.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
The Sacred Assembly Part 4
By the Letter.
The letters to churches that are contained in the New Testament indicate that the writers are only writing to believers. This is because the true church is only composed of those who believe. Assembling together with unbelievers means you are corrupting the sacred assembly. The instructions in these letters can only be properly applied when the context is understood. Changing the context changes the meaning of the instruction. The context is a sacred assembly.
1 Corinthians - Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called [to be] saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
2 Corinthians - Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge. But I call God as witness to my soul, that to spare you I did not come again to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith, but are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are standing firm
Galatians - You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
Ephesians - To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus:
Philippians - To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons:
Colossians - To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae:
1 Thessalonians - We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you; for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.
2 Thessalonians - therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. This is a plain indication of God's righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.
Hebrews - Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
James - Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
1 Peter - To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.
2 Peter - To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:
1 John - we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us—what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ
2 John - The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth, for the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever:
Jude - To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:
Revelation - The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place
The letters to churches that are contained in the New Testament indicate that the writers are only writing to believers. This is because the true church is only composed of those who believe. Assembling together with unbelievers means you are corrupting the sacred assembly. The instructions in these letters can only be properly applied when the context is understood. Changing the context changes the meaning of the instruction. The context is a sacred assembly.
1 Corinthians - Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called [to be] saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
2 Corinthians - Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge. But I call God as witness to my soul, that to spare you I did not come again to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith, but are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are standing firm
Galatians - You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
Ephesians - To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus:
Philippians - To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons:
Colossians - To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae:
1 Thessalonians - We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you; for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.
2 Thessalonians - therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. This is a plain indication of God's righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.
Hebrews - Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
James - Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
1 Peter - To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.
2 Peter - To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:
1 John - we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us—what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ
2 John - The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth, for the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever:
Jude - To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:
Revelation - The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place
Sunday, July 18, 2010
The Sacred Assembly – Part 3
The church defined by design and function.
God builds His church Matthew - 16:18
He adds those who are saved – Acts 2:47
Those he purchased with His own Blood – Acts 20:28
The church sends missionaries – Acts 15:22
The church consists of those sanctified in Christ Jesus – 1 Corinthians 1:2
The church is the temple of God – 1 Corinthians 3:16
God builds His church by placing real spiritual gifts into His people – 1 Corinthians 12:28
Christ leads the church – Ephesians 5:23
The church declares the manifold wisdom of God to the spiritual realm – Ephesians 3:10
The church will one day be presented to Christ – Ephesians 5:27
The church is the pillar and ground of truth – 1 Timothy 3:15
The church is made up of those whose names are written in Heaven – Hebrews 12:23
How do unbelievers participate in these things? They can’t. The unsaved are not part of the true church. They are not sanctified in Christ. They should not be choosing or sending missionaries. They are not part of the temple of God where His Spirit dwells. They do not follow Christ’s lead. They do not possess spiritual gifts. They will not be presented to Christ as His bride. They cannot proclaim the manifold wisdom of God to the spiritual realm, as they do not know what it is and only proclaim rebellion towards God to the spiritual realm. Their names are not written in heaven and they have not accepted the truth of who Christ is, the very truth the church is meant to present.
It does not matter how many people profess faith in Christ, open a building, call it a church, and invite unbelievers to attend a show. There is only one church and God defines who it is and what it is meant to do. God builds it and everything else that is built and called church is a fake. The true church only contains those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. Only the true church has the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. Only the true church can participate in the spiritual act of service and worship described in Romans 12. Only the true church is the temple of God and a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.
We are warned not to have unbelievers in our temples – 2 Corinthians 6:14
Be warned that God does not want His temple defiled – 1 Corinthians 3:17
The sacred assembly is the time and place where the true church gathers to be built up by spiritual gifts and to proclaim to the spirit realm the manifold wisdom of God. Unbelievers cannot participate in these functions so why are they there? The answer is simple. A long time ago men decided to let them come in so they could use religion as a tool for political power. If that is your goal then continue in your ways. If you want to experience the power of the sacred assembly you will have to leave the fake church to find it.
God builds His church Matthew - 16:18
He adds those who are saved – Acts 2:47
Those he purchased with His own Blood – Acts 20:28
The church sends missionaries – Acts 15:22
The church consists of those sanctified in Christ Jesus – 1 Corinthians 1:2
The church is the temple of God – 1 Corinthians 3:16
God builds His church by placing real spiritual gifts into His people – 1 Corinthians 12:28
Christ leads the church – Ephesians 5:23
The church declares the manifold wisdom of God to the spiritual realm – Ephesians 3:10
The church will one day be presented to Christ – Ephesians 5:27
The church is the pillar and ground of truth – 1 Timothy 3:15
The church is made up of those whose names are written in Heaven – Hebrews 12:23
How do unbelievers participate in these things? They can’t. The unsaved are not part of the true church. They are not sanctified in Christ. They should not be choosing or sending missionaries. They are not part of the temple of God where His Spirit dwells. They do not follow Christ’s lead. They do not possess spiritual gifts. They will not be presented to Christ as His bride. They cannot proclaim the manifold wisdom of God to the spiritual realm, as they do not know what it is and only proclaim rebellion towards God to the spiritual realm. Their names are not written in heaven and they have not accepted the truth of who Christ is, the very truth the church is meant to present.
It does not matter how many people profess faith in Christ, open a building, call it a church, and invite unbelievers to attend a show. There is only one church and God defines who it is and what it is meant to do. God builds it and everything else that is built and called church is a fake. The true church only contains those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. Only the true church has the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. Only the true church can participate in the spiritual act of service and worship described in Romans 12. Only the true church is the temple of God and a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.
We are warned not to have unbelievers in our temples – 2 Corinthians 6:14
Be warned that God does not want His temple defiled – 1 Corinthians 3:17
The sacred assembly is the time and place where the true church gathers to be built up by spiritual gifts and to proclaim to the spirit realm the manifold wisdom of God. Unbelievers cannot participate in these functions so why are they there? The answer is simple. A long time ago men decided to let them come in so they could use religion as a tool for political power. If that is your goal then continue in your ways. If you want to experience the power of the sacred assembly you will have to leave the fake church to find it.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
The Sacred Assembly – Part 2
In his letter to the Galatians Paul asks for peace and mercy to be upon the Israel of God. In his letter to the Romans he says that not all that are of Israel are Israel. He goes on to speak of a partial blindness that has fallen of some of Israel. The connection Paul makes to Israel in his letters shows us the connection to the original intent in God’s plan of setting apart a sacred people for Himself. He was addressing confusion regarding those who walked under the Law as a nation for so many years. He was expressing the fact that many of them did not seek God in their spirit. In fact the nation had become corrupted into an assembly of idol worshippers. Paul addresses this further in his letters to the Corinthians.
The letter to the Hebrews speaks of God establishing a New Covenant with “Israel”. In chapter 8 verse 10 it says –
"FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS, AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS. AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
The continuity from Old to New is clear. The New Covenant, just like the Old Covenant, was meant to separate God’s people as a unique people from among the nations. God showed this separation under the Law by requiring His people to adhere to certain practices and rituals. It is clear from Paul’s teaching in Romans that the acts themselves never reconciled the person with God but rather it was faith that reconciled them to God.
The same can be said of the New Covenant and of the new set of practices and rituals that people perform today. They do not make a person part of the Israel of God, the Israel whose mother is spiritual and from above as Paul puts it in Galatians. The passage from Hebrews quoted above clearly says that God will put His law into their minds and on their hearts. This is how God marks His people. The way in which He does this is by placing His Holy Spirit in them. Only those who have placed their faith in Christ and have had the Holy Spirit of God placed on them as a seal (see Ephesians 1), are of the Israel of God.
The Holy Spirit is the only one that can allow you entrance into the set-apart people. The problem today is that the false Israel preaches a false gospel that tells people they can be a part of the true Israel by participating in the practices and rituals or just showing up on a Sunday morning. They have allowed the assembly to be corrupted with those who are not a part of the Israel of God. They allow those who are not of God to partake in the Holy things of God that were meant to be reserved for His set-apart people. They may tell them they must pray a prayer first but do they tell them of the commands to be separate, holy, God’s chosen people, a royal priesthood, and an uncorrupted assembly where a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Do they teach them to put out the immoral brother or are they instead taught that we must tolerate sin because we are all just a work in progress? Is this message consistent with the teaching of Scripture? Teaching that says – It was for freedom that Christ set us free – The truth shall set you free – Be holy – do not be yoked together with unbelievers – don’t associate with an immoral brother – judge those that are in the church.
The church opened its doors to unbelievers and the sacred assembly was lost. Making disciples was replaced with bringing people to church to let the priest/pastor preach the word to them. Evangelism became an in house ordeal. The Spirit became a theological assumption or something that was faked in order to attract followers to men. The assembly became flooded with the common things of man as bait to lure in the heathens. Instead of being the sacred assembly of God’s chosen people the entire place became more and more heathen until we reached a place where those inside the false church are barely distinguishable from the rest of the world. Shame on us.
I for one will not remain silent any longer. There is a false Israel at work today just as it was in Paul’s day. Its time for God’s Israel to come out of the corruption and once again be set apart as a holy people of God. A people that handles the holy and spiritual privilege that God bestows on them as a royal priesthood. Whoever has eyes to see and ears to hear take notice. The restoration of the Holy and Sacred Assembly starts with you leaving the false and corrupted assembly.
The letter to the Hebrews speaks of God establishing a New Covenant with “Israel”. In chapter 8 verse 10 it says –
"FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS, AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS. AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
The continuity from Old to New is clear. The New Covenant, just like the Old Covenant, was meant to separate God’s people as a unique people from among the nations. God showed this separation under the Law by requiring His people to adhere to certain practices and rituals. It is clear from Paul’s teaching in Romans that the acts themselves never reconciled the person with God but rather it was faith that reconciled them to God.
The same can be said of the New Covenant and of the new set of practices and rituals that people perform today. They do not make a person part of the Israel of God, the Israel whose mother is spiritual and from above as Paul puts it in Galatians. The passage from Hebrews quoted above clearly says that God will put His law into their minds and on their hearts. This is how God marks His people. The way in which He does this is by placing His Holy Spirit in them. Only those who have placed their faith in Christ and have had the Holy Spirit of God placed on them as a seal (see Ephesians 1), are of the Israel of God.
The Holy Spirit is the only one that can allow you entrance into the set-apart people. The problem today is that the false Israel preaches a false gospel that tells people they can be a part of the true Israel by participating in the practices and rituals or just showing up on a Sunday morning. They have allowed the assembly to be corrupted with those who are not a part of the Israel of God. They allow those who are not of God to partake in the Holy things of God that were meant to be reserved for His set-apart people. They may tell them they must pray a prayer first but do they tell them of the commands to be separate, holy, God’s chosen people, a royal priesthood, and an uncorrupted assembly where a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Do they teach them to put out the immoral brother or are they instead taught that we must tolerate sin because we are all just a work in progress? Is this message consistent with the teaching of Scripture? Teaching that says – It was for freedom that Christ set us free – The truth shall set you free – Be holy – do not be yoked together with unbelievers – don’t associate with an immoral brother – judge those that are in the church.
The church opened its doors to unbelievers and the sacred assembly was lost. Making disciples was replaced with bringing people to church to let the priest/pastor preach the word to them. Evangelism became an in house ordeal. The Spirit became a theological assumption or something that was faked in order to attract followers to men. The assembly became flooded with the common things of man as bait to lure in the heathens. Instead of being the sacred assembly of God’s chosen people the entire place became more and more heathen until we reached a place where those inside the false church are barely distinguishable from the rest of the world. Shame on us.
I for one will not remain silent any longer. There is a false Israel at work today just as it was in Paul’s day. Its time for God’s Israel to come out of the corruption and once again be set apart as a holy people of God. A people that handles the holy and spiritual privilege that God bestows on them as a royal priesthood. Whoever has eyes to see and ears to hear take notice. The restoration of the Holy and Sacred Assembly starts with you leaving the false and corrupted assembly.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
The Sacred Assembly - Part One
On Glory, Discipleship, and the Purpose of Creation
God created everything as a declaration of His glory. Scripture is clear that the heavens declare the glory of God, man declares the glory of God, and that Jesus is the physical representation of the fullness of the invisible God. God is at work declaring to all of creation that He is all in all, mighty God, ruler and creator of everything.
In the beginning God created man in His own image and set him in the garden. This representation or likeness of God was intended to be a declaration of God’s glory. Man fell into sin and God’s declaration of His glory was corrupted. The man was set apart from God and commanded to reproduce. In spite of man’s wickedness, God promised to send forth a way for man to return to God and through His Holy Spirit to be restored to the man’s holy and uncorrupted original state. In this state man had fellowship and communion with God.
In the early ages of this plan God set apart a man and promised to make a great nation from him. This man was to be set apart from others and bear the mark of His covenant with God. As time progressed God continued to lead and guide His chosen people. He established the covenant of the Law and the sacrificial system. The rules were strict. Anyone could become a part of the assembly but no one could be a part of the assembly without adhering to the rules. The assembly was considered sacred and only God’s people could be part of the assembly.
It is recorded many times in the Old Testament that the people corrupted the assembly and suffered because of it. They corrupted it by allowing those outside the covenant to enter the assembly. This happened so often that by the time of the apostle Paul this offense was punishable by death. In the book of Acts we see where Paul was accused of bringing Greeks into the temple and the Jewish leaders sought the death penalty.
The purpose of God in creation is to declare His glory. His declaration through man was corrupted when man fell into sin. When people turn to Christ the Spirit of God is restored to them and God’s glory is once again declared through them as they choose to obey God. God has chosen discipleship as the method by which men learn to obey God and walk in His ways. God’s purpose in restoring mankind through His Spirit has not changed since He first called Abraham and set him apart. God is setting apart a holy people for Himself.
This people are called the Church. It consists of all those who through faith in Christ have had the Spirit of God restored to them. This people are instructed throughout Scripture to be set apart from the profane things of the world. We are to have no yoke with unbelievers, no fellowship with demons, and no unbelievers in our midst when we gather as God’s Holy assembly. The purpose of the church is defined as spiritual in nature and unbelievers do not have the spirit and therefore cannot participate.
The representation of the church in America today can be likened to the corrupted assembly of the Old Testament. When the church allows (or invites, begs, advertises for and even bribes) an unbeliever to enter into the sacred assembly it defies its purpose for existence. Not only does it defy its purpose but also it mocks God by allowing His enemies to partake in what was intended to be holy. The church in America has many problems today and many people that are hoping to correct them from the inside out.
There is one problem above all others that must be fixed before God’s church is what He intended it to be. The church must close its doors to unbelievers and cleanse the assembly. Until the assembly is cleansed the corrections to the structure of the church will only be superficial. No change in style or structure will produce a sacred assembly. The only way to have a sacred and holy assembly is to only allow those who possess the Spirit of God to partake of it.
God created everything as a declaration of His glory. Scripture is clear that the heavens declare the glory of God, man declares the glory of God, and that Jesus is the physical representation of the fullness of the invisible God. God is at work declaring to all of creation that He is all in all, mighty God, ruler and creator of everything.
In the beginning God created man in His own image and set him in the garden. This representation or likeness of God was intended to be a declaration of God’s glory. Man fell into sin and God’s declaration of His glory was corrupted. The man was set apart from God and commanded to reproduce. In spite of man’s wickedness, God promised to send forth a way for man to return to God and through His Holy Spirit to be restored to the man’s holy and uncorrupted original state. In this state man had fellowship and communion with God.
In the early ages of this plan God set apart a man and promised to make a great nation from him. This man was to be set apart from others and bear the mark of His covenant with God. As time progressed God continued to lead and guide His chosen people. He established the covenant of the Law and the sacrificial system. The rules were strict. Anyone could become a part of the assembly but no one could be a part of the assembly without adhering to the rules. The assembly was considered sacred and only God’s people could be part of the assembly.
It is recorded many times in the Old Testament that the people corrupted the assembly and suffered because of it. They corrupted it by allowing those outside the covenant to enter the assembly. This happened so often that by the time of the apostle Paul this offense was punishable by death. In the book of Acts we see where Paul was accused of bringing Greeks into the temple and the Jewish leaders sought the death penalty.
The purpose of God in creation is to declare His glory. His declaration through man was corrupted when man fell into sin. When people turn to Christ the Spirit of God is restored to them and God’s glory is once again declared through them as they choose to obey God. God has chosen discipleship as the method by which men learn to obey God and walk in His ways. God’s purpose in restoring mankind through His Spirit has not changed since He first called Abraham and set him apart. God is setting apart a holy people for Himself.
This people are called the Church. It consists of all those who through faith in Christ have had the Spirit of God restored to them. This people are instructed throughout Scripture to be set apart from the profane things of the world. We are to have no yoke with unbelievers, no fellowship with demons, and no unbelievers in our midst when we gather as God’s Holy assembly. The purpose of the church is defined as spiritual in nature and unbelievers do not have the spirit and therefore cannot participate.
The representation of the church in America today can be likened to the corrupted assembly of the Old Testament. When the church allows (or invites, begs, advertises for and even bribes) an unbeliever to enter into the sacred assembly it defies its purpose for existence. Not only does it defy its purpose but also it mocks God by allowing His enemies to partake in what was intended to be holy. The church in America has many problems today and many people that are hoping to correct them from the inside out.
There is one problem above all others that must be fixed before God’s church is what He intended it to be. The church must close its doors to unbelievers and cleanse the assembly. Until the assembly is cleansed the corrections to the structure of the church will only be superficial. No change in style or structure will produce a sacred assembly. The only way to have a sacred and holy assembly is to only allow those who possess the Spirit of God to partake of it.
Friday, July 9, 2010
To the Unknown god
I sometimes feel like I live in a modern day Athens. I see in scripture a God that says deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me. I see a Gospel of power that comes through walking in the Holy Spirit and making disciples. All around me I see people proclaiming faith that appear to follow other gods. These gods are gods made with hands or with their own imaginations. They include the god of self-gratification, television, fear, lust, pleasure, entertainment, and the list goes on and on. If someone asks me about what I do I usually explain in detail and try my best to teach from scripture my motivation for doing what I do.
Then I see in the book of Acts this morning that the response I have been getting is a common response of the Athenians, especially the religious Athenians. In Paul’s day these religious Athenians were referred to as Areopagites. They assembled on Mars Hill to discuss matters of philosophy and religion and to judge its merit. According to mythology this hill belonged to (Ares) Mars and was therefore called Mar's Hill; so called, because, as the story went, Mars, having slain Halirrhothius, son of Neptune, for the attempted violation of his daughter Alicippe, was tried for the murder here before twelve gods as judges. This place was the location where the judges convened who, by appointment of Solon, had jurisdiction of capital offences, (as willful murder, arson, poisoning, malicious wounding, and breach of established religious usage). The court itself was called Areopagus from the place where it sat.
The people that assembled here in Paul’s day had a curious habit. The scripture says “For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.” So it appears today that the primary pastime of religious people is to tell or hear something new. Amazing how many Christians still run to Mars Hill today to do nothing other than tell or hear something new.
The Kingdom of God is not about knowledge but it is rather about power. The power of God poured out through His people who choose to go and DO his will. 1Cor. 4:20
Let’s get off Mars Hill and go. Matthew 28:18-20
Then I see in the book of Acts this morning that the response I have been getting is a common response of the Athenians, especially the religious Athenians. In Paul’s day these religious Athenians were referred to as Areopagites. They assembled on Mars Hill to discuss matters of philosophy and religion and to judge its merit. According to mythology this hill belonged to (Ares) Mars and was therefore called Mar's Hill; so called, because, as the story went, Mars, having slain Halirrhothius, son of Neptune, for the attempted violation of his daughter Alicippe, was tried for the murder here before twelve gods as judges. This place was the location where the judges convened who, by appointment of Solon, had jurisdiction of capital offences, (as willful murder, arson, poisoning, malicious wounding, and breach of established religious usage). The court itself was called Areopagus from the place where it sat.
The people that assembled here in Paul’s day had a curious habit. The scripture says “For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.” So it appears today that the primary pastime of religious people is to tell or hear something new. Amazing how many Christians still run to Mars Hill today to do nothing other than tell or hear something new.
The Kingdom of God is not about knowledge but it is rather about power. The power of God poured out through His people who choose to go and DO his will. 1Cor. 4:20
Let’s get off Mars Hill and go. Matthew 28:18-20
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