What defines the church

The most popular concept which people have regarding the church is that it is a religious ceremony where people come to sing songs of praise, pray, listen to a Minister or Preacher delivering a sermon, collecting the offering, and having fellowship with one another. People encourage others to go to church, and take pleasure in inviting others to church, the ideology is, people go to church.

The other concept of church is the building or site where religious activities are held, so people generally use the term, I am going to the church. Unfortunately, this is the premise on which most people have built their concept of what church is. But let us with an open mind prove all things and hold fast to what is good. What is the Church?

The word church is associated 0nly with those who have been redeemed; and refers only to groups of Christians assembled for worship. Even in the wilderness where Moses told the Israelites that; “God will send you a prophet like me from your own people. He was in the congregation in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers; and he received living words to pass on to us” pertained only to God’s chosen people, and anyone who joined them had to abide by their rules. (Acts 7:37-38).

The whole meaning and concept of church has been profaned, corrupted, maligned, and compromised in order to gain popularity and commercial benefits. The church is not a forum for whosoever will may come, The forum for whosoever will may come is done in the outer Court, in our lectures, Bible studies, crusades, evangelistic campaigns, but not in the Inner Court.

The Inner Court is the place where, only those who have accepted the message, and are baptized, are added to, by being baptized into one Spirit, and it is the Lord who adds to the church those who are being saved. The titles which are assigned to the church is a clear testimony of the core and nature of the church. It has been assigned such titles as, The bride of Christ; The Body of Christ; Body of believers; Church of the first born; Church of the Living God; City of God; Flock of God; God’s Building; God’s husbandry; Habitation of God; Household of God; Israel of God; Kingdom of God’s dear Son; Lamb’s wife; Mount Zion; People of God; Spiritual house; Temple of God.

Such titles demonstrates the close and intimate relationship the church has with Jesus Christ its head, and the reason why it was destined. In fact when the good news of salvation is proclaimed to an unbeliever, and we wish that they could be converted and have fellowship with the church, they should first be made aware that our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. Sensitizing them to the fact that, God is light; and in Him there is no darkness at all, and so, if we claim to have fellowship with Him, yet walk in the darkness [sin], we lie and do not live by the truth.

It is only when we [believers gathered together] are walking in the light [in truth, holiness], as Jesus Christ is in the light, that we [the believers] have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin. There is a purification from sin that must take place when believers come together and have fellowship with one another, and with the Father and the Son, for if we claim to be without sin we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we claim that we have not sinned, we make God out to be a liar, and His word has no place in our lives.

It is imperative therefore that our sins be confessed, and if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. This purification of sins is a continuous process that is administered through the cup of the New Covenant, which Jesus Christ instituted as the new agreement in His blood for the forgiveness of sins, and became effective after His death.

Passover is a once and for all time phenomenon, but Atonement is a continuous process. The church therefore is not a forum for whosoever will may come. The forum for whosoever will may come is done in the outer court, in our lectures, crusades, evangelistic campagnes, bible studies, house to house visits, but not in the Inner Court.

Church is the forum where only those who are baptized into the body of Christ, and are willing to rid themselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind, and like new born babies, craving more spiritual milk, so that by it they may grow up in their salvation, for now that they have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

They come to Jesus Christ, the living stone - rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him. They also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. [the only spiritual sacrifice that is acceptable to God through Jesus Christ, is the offering of His body and blood]. For the scripture says; “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.”

Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,” and “A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message - which is also what they were destined for” (1 Peter 2: 1-8).

The church is destined before the foundation of the world to be holy, meaning free from sin and accusation, put people are disobeying the message by which the church is being sanctified, redeemed, and be reconciled to God, and profaning it by not separating the holy from the profane. The church is a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that they may declare the praises of God who called them out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Once they were not a people, but now they are the people of God; once they had not received mercy, but now they have obtained mercy. The church as a royal priesthood and a holy nation, must be holy to their God, and must not profane the name of their God, because they present the offerings made to the Lord by fire [zeal), the food of their God, they are to be holy. They become holy by eating the offerings by which atonement was made for their ordination and consecration. But no one else may eat them, because they are sacred. (Leviticus 21:6; Exodus 29:33).

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The church is therefore admonished saying; “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God, as God has said: I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.’ “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you: I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).

If anyone in the church is living a double standard life the instruction is, “I have written to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people - not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. Expel the wicked man from among you” (1 Corinthians 5:9-13).

What is it that we are commanded not to eat with a brother who is sexually immoral or greedy? Is it ordinary food! No! But the food which we eat when we come together as a church. The apostle Paul admonished the church saying; "Therefore, my brethren, when you come together [as a church] to eat, wait for one another. But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment." The judgment is for eating and drinking the body and blood of Jesus Christ in an unworthy manner, and not properly discerning the body.

The church as the body of Christ is represented by the breaking of bread, we come together as a church to recognize Jesus Christ by the breaking of bread. According to the apostle Paul; “My dear friends, flee from idolatry. I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation [communion, fellowship, sharing] of the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation [communion, fellowship, sharing] in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one bread” (1Corinthians 10:16-17).

It is the community spirit, the participation of the one bread that makes the many members one, and reconcile them to God, and it is the participation of the cup that purifies them from all sin. This is the premise on which the first century New Testament church started, for, “They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayer. Everyone was filled in awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common” (Acts 2: 42-44).

God has overlooked these times of ignorance and has now commanded all men everywhere to repent.

 

Our Freedom in Christ

The apostle Paul gave instructions to the church in Galatia saying, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1).

The important question here is: By what were the church enslaved? According to the context of Paul’s admonition, and other supporting scriptures, the church was enslaved to:

1. The law of circumcision which was regarded as a yoke which neither the disciples nor the forefathers were able to bear, and it is testified that, “To everyone who becomes circumcised is required to obey the whole law” which is rather impossible (Galatians 5:3).

Freedom from the law of circumcision however does not invalidate the obedience to the commandments of God as alluded to by the apostle Paul who said, “Circumcision is nothing and in-circumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters” (1Corinthians 7:19).

He also stated that, “Although I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more. To the Jews I became a Jew, in order to win Jews; to those under the law I became as one under the law – though not being myself under the law – that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law – not being without law toward God but under the law of Christ – that I might win those outside the law” (1Corinthians 9:19-21).
The apostle Paul was addressing the situation between the circumcised who were indebted to keep the law, and the uncircumcised who were without the law, and therefore the status now is, “In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor un-circumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith working through love” (Galatians 5:6).
Now the faith which is at work is not a blind nebulous faith, but a faith which comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God, and applied through love. In other words what really counts is recognize the truth of God’s word, acknowledge it, apply it through love, and become a slave to it.
For example, the psalmist David wrote; “Do not snatch the word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws. I will always obey your laws for ever and ever. I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame, for I delight in your commands because I love them. I revere thy commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on thy statutes” (Psalms 119:43-48).
True freedom therefore is, to walk in harmony with the laws of God.

2. Freedom in Christ has liberated us from the letter of the law but, has not invalidated keeping the spirit or the righteous requirements of the law.
God has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not in a written code but in the Spirit; for the written code kills, but the Spirit gives life. We have been delivered from the ministry of death and condemnation but, have been installed in the ministry of the Spirit and righteousness.
But how do we differentiate the letter of the law from the spirit of the law?
The letter of the law had to do with food and drink, various ceremonial washings and external regulations which were simply a type or a shadow of the real substance which is the body of Christ.
These external regulations were applicable until the time of reformation or the new order (Hebrews 9:10).
And for this reason, the apostle Paul instructed the Colossians saying; “Let no one judge you in food or in drink in, regards to a religious festival, a new moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ” (Colossians 2;16-17).
The purpose or intent of all these external regulations was to clear the conscience of the worshiper and make perfect those who draw near to worship which was not attainable (Hebrews 9:9, 10:1).
The Spirit of the law on the other hand is to fulfil the righteous requirements of the law by faith through love, without these external requirements, and a written code, because, “Love is the fulfilment of the law” (Romans 13:8, 10). And vice versa, for thus says the Lord; “If you love Me, keep My commandments”.
And so, it is written, “If the uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his un-circumcision be counted as circumcision? And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfilled the law judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision are a transgressor of the law? For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh, but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter, whose praise is not from man but from God” (Romans 2:26-29).
It is therefore conclusive that, our freedom in Christ has not invalidated the law itself, but only its external regulations with its written code.
For example, the apostle Paul wrote; “But now we are discharged from the law, dead to that which held us captive, so that we serve not under the old written code but in the new life of the Spirit. What then shall we say? That the law is sin? Certainly not! He further said, “So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good” (Romans 7:6-7, 12).
And even though circumcision which indebted one to keep the whole law is now of no value, and the only thing that counts is faith expressed through love, this nevertheless has not made void the law through faith, but on the contrary the law is established
For example, doing away with the letter of the law, and observing the law in the Spirit did not abolished the observance of the Feast of Passover/Unleavened Bread, because Paul’s admonition to the church is, “Purge out the old leaven (sin) that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover was sacrificed for us. Therefore, let us keep the Feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1Corinthians 5:7-8).
Neither did observing the law in the Spirit abolished the observance of the feast of Pentecost. Because, not only were the disciples of Jesus Christ celebrating the feast of Pentecost when they assembled together fifty days after the feast of first fruits, when Jesus Christ ascended to heaven to the Father on the Sunday after His resurrection from the dead, and received the Holy Spirit, the apostle Paul also made it his duty to keep the feast of Pentecost.
Because he said, “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; and he sailed past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible on the Day of Pentecost” (Acts 18:21; 20:16).
On another occasion we are told that, “He stayed in Ephesus until Pentecost” (Acts 16:8).
It is of importance to note that the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, and Tabernacles are interrelated as being ordained times of worship. For thus says the Lord; “Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses; at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the Lord empty handed” (Deuteronomy 16:16; Exodus 23:14-17; 34:18,22-23).
The abolishment of the letter of the law also did not do away with the seventh day weekly Sabbath, nor changed it to another day. Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath, so the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).
Now the way one shows reverence, respect, and adoration to the Son of Man as the Lord, is by observing His Sabbaths. For thus says the Lord, “Observe My Sabbaths and have reverence for My sanctuary, I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:30; 26:2).
He also said, “Hallow my Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God” (Ezekiel 20:20).

 3. Freedom in Christ liberated us from the bondage of sin, but again, this did not invalidate the keeping of the commandments.

The apostle Paul wrote; “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves of righteousness.” And, ‘Having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end everlasting life” (Romans 6:18, 22).

The bondage of sin from which we have been delivered is our independent sinful carnal nature, which is naturally hostile to God, and does not submit to God’s law, and neither can be.
We have received a new heart and a new spirit of adoption at the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and when combined with the Holy Spirit, He will cause us to walk in His statutes and keep His judgments and do them (Ezekiel 36:26; 11:19-20).

 4. Freedom in Christ liberated us from all men.

As it is written; “You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. And like the apostle Paul said, “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all that I might win the more” (1Corinthians 7:23; 9:19).
Our freedom in Christ should not be used as a pretext for evil, or lawlessness; but to live as servants of God, obeying His commandments, and neither should this freedom be used as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another (1Peter: 2:16; Galatians 5:13).
In other words freedom in Christ does not invalidate the keeping of the first and great commandment which is, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our mind” as demonstrated by the observance of the first four of the Ten Commandments; and neither the second great commandment, which is to love our neighbor as our selves, as demonstrated by the observance of the last six of the Ten Commandments.
In short, our freedom in Christ is to look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets, but a doer that acts, not under compulsion, coercion or by strict command, but a doer who acts by faith through love, he/she shall be blessed in all his/her doings (James 1:25).
The difference between fulfilling the law in the spirit, and fulfilling it in the letter, is application. One is applied through external regulations, and strict commands, while the other is applied by faith, through love as a form of gratitude. All we owe is a debt of love, for by the works of the law, shall no flesh be justified in his sight.

Copyright © 2009 by Lucius Joseph

All rights reserve

These times of ignorance God has overlooked, and now command all men everywhere to repent.

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Lucius Joseph

Essentials of life Ministry

P.O.Box 2071

Massade; Gros-Islet

St. Lucia W.I.

Email: essentialsoflifeministry@gmail.com

Is there a way of escape

With the world being under such a huge deception and Christianity has become so commercialized, it is hard to separate the sheep from the goats.

Some believers are not even expecting deliverance from the calamities that will definitely be affecting the earth because of man’s refusal to turn from their evil ways. The crux of the matter therefore is, should God's people suffer the same fate as with the unbeliever?

Recall that some people came to Jesus Christ and told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices and the eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed. The reply Jesus gave on both accounts were exactly the same: He said, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners that all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke.13:2-3).

And with reference to the eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed He said, "Do you think that they were worse sinners that all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish"(Luke 13:4-5).

Judging from Jesus 'response on both accounts one can safely say that, the one who repents, the one who stop living his own way, and begins to live the way of Jesus Christ, will not suffer the same fate as others who have not repented.

I believe firmly that, there is definitely a way of escape to those who has turned to the Lord. Those who have surrendered their lives to Jesus are admonished saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues"(Revelations 18:4).

They are asked to, "watch therefore and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:36).

These two admonitions are in collaboration with an assurance of safety which is recorded in the 91st Psalm which states; "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the almighty. I will say to the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust." Surely He will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge: His truth shall be your shield and buckler, you shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrows that fly by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked"(Psalms 91:1-8).

One thing is of paramount importance, and we need to note it carefully. Whilst the love and goodness of God is unconditional; for it is written; "He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." Nevertheless, His blessings and protection are conditional.  The assurance of our safety comes as a result of, "Making the Lord our refuge and the Most High our habitation.

It is because of this we are told that, "No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot" (Psalms 91:9-13).

So I beg to ask the question, with all these assurances why do some Christians still have the notion that they are apt to suffer the same fate as the unbeliever? Why should some be still anxious of what shall they eat, drink and wear, when it is said that, "After all these things the Gentiles (those who do not know God) seek, for your heavenly Father knows that you need these things: But seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

The reason why believers suffer the same calamities with the wicked, it is because they have not made the Lord, even the Most High their habitation, and unfortunately may not even know how to abide in the Lord, and make Him their habitation, and because of the weakness of their faith.

To abide in the Lord and make Him one’s habitation, one is required to:-

a. Acknowledging and confessing that Jesus is the Son of God (1John 4:15).

b. Love Him, and one another which is tantamount to keeping of His commandments (1John 3; 24; John 14:15-16, 23; 1John 4:16).

c. Having the Holy Spirit which is given to those who obey Him (1John 4:12; Acts 5:32).

d. By partaking of His flesh and blood [communion] (John 6:53-58).

e. By abiding in the doctrine of Christ, which is tantamount to abiding in the truth (1John 4:16; John 14:23; 2 John 9).

On the Lord's part He said, "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation" (Psalms 91:14-16).

For one to escape the impending disasters that will surely befall this world, one must be ascertain that he/she abides under the shadow of God's wings, and that he/she has made the Lord his/her habitation. Only those who are far from God perishes.

David said, "For lo, those who are far from thee shall perish; thou dost put an end to those who are false to thee. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge that I may tell of all thy works" (Psalms 73:27-28).

The Almighty God is in full control over His creation, and nothing happens without His express permission. Not even a sparrow which worth only a copper coin falls to the ground apart from the Father's will.

For Satan to inflict any punishment over a child of God he must first seek permission from God as he did in the case of Job. Those whom God has redeemed should not live in fear as He promised to Jacob saying, "Thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine.

When you pass through the waters I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God: the Holy One of Israel your Savior" (Isaiah 43:1-3).

The redeemed are God's witnesses to declare the wondrous works of God. To the redeemed the Lord says, "You are My witnesses, and My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no god formed, nor shall there be any after Me. I, I am the Lord, and besides Me there is no savior. I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange gods among you; and you are My witnesses," says the Lord. I am God, and also henceforth I am He; there is none who can deliver from My hand; I work and who can hinder it? (Isaiah 43:10-13).

This promise is applicable to believers to day who are said to be, "A chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, called to declare the wonderful deeds of Him who called them out of darkness into His marvelous light. Who once were not a people, but now are the people of God; who once had not received mercy, but now have received mercy" (1Peter 2:9).

Day and night at the time of the regular daily offering, Satan goes before the throne of God and accuses the brethren; It would be an ideal thing if Christians would also learn to appear before God at that same time, presenting their offerings to the High Priest, and Advocate Jesus Christ in order for Him to make intercession to the Father on their behalf: and not giving Satan any opportunity to lay and have any legitimate claim against them.

As long as Satan holds any claim over a child of God because of sins which has not been paid and settled in full by the redemptive blood of Christ, it is within his rights, and prerogative in a court of justice to seek retribution. Hence the reason why Jesus said to Peter: "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat" (Luke 22:31).

Allowing sins to remain for days, weeks, months, and years before confessing them, and having them cleansed by the cup of the new covenant of Christ's blood, gives the accuser the right to make his claim against the individual.

Hence the reason why we have been admonished saying, “In you anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians .4:26-27).

Therefore, it would be a wise thing for Christians to learn and practice, "Giving thanks to the Lord, and sing praises to the name of the most High, and declare His loving-kindness in the morning; and His faithfulness every night" (Psalms 92:1-2).

At the same time, remembering to present to our High priest and Advocate, His perfect offering for our sins.

It is God's desire that the righteous flourish like a palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing, to declare that the Lord is upright; He is their Rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

Let us all who are called by the name of Christ, depart from iniquity and stop limiting the powers of the Almighty. He works, and no one can hinder Him. What he has promised He is able to fulfill. Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you so that He will not hear.

Let us not suffer the same fate with the unbeliever.

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With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

The duties of God's chosen people

The chosen people of God are chosen from both Jews and Gentiles, and are called for specific purposes. For thus says the Lord: “What if God, wanting to make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom He called not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

As He says also in Hosea: “I will call them My people, who were not My people, and her beloved, who were not beloved. And it shall come to pass in the place where it is said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ there they will be called sons of the living God” (Romans 9:23-26).

The main objective for being called and chosen by God is to obtain the glory of the Lord. For according to the apostle Paul, “We are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).

God's chosen people are regarded as, “Living stones being built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1Peter 2:5).

Most people stumble because they disobey the message, which is also what they were destined for. The church is destined and has the responsibility to offer to the Lord the food for His offerings. This is made very clear by the apostle Paul who unveiled to us his insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.

He said, “This mystery is that through the gospel (which is Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that, He was buried, and rose again the third day according to the scriptures; and that we are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus) the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and shares together in the promise in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 3:6).

The apostle Paul continued to express his authority with regards to this mystery by saying; “Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration (application) of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.’

The church is consecrated by God, and its members are a chosen people, a holy priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, in order that they may declare the praises of Him who called them out of darkness into His marvelous light. This is God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (1Peter 2:9; 1 Corinthians 2:7-8).

As a nation of priests the number one responsibility of the church is to strive to obtain the glory of the Lord, until Christ is formed in us, and until we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

It is said that; “We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

The way the church can attain the glory of the Lord is by walking in unity of the Spirit, and by being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God, as alluded to by the apostle Paul who wrote saying; “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.'

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

The apostle Paul also admonished the church saying; “that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1: 1-6; Colossians 1:10-14).

The power of the church, and the means by which it is glorified, is through the redemption which is in the blood of Jesus Christ, and therefore the church is required to carry out its functions as a nation of priests.

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Copyright © 2012 by Lucius Joseph

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Is Satan the object of our worship

It is no hidden secret that Satan the devil is being worshiped just as God is worshiped, and even more than God for this matter. Because the apostle John wrote saying; “Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they (all the world) worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?"

Since we now have a clearer, and better understanding of the meaning of the different symbols mentioned in the book of revelation, let us now translate this passage, for a better understanding, to see the profoundness of this message.

What is observed in this passage is that, the apostle John in a vision saw himself standing on the sand of the sea, and saw a beast (kingdom), rising up out of multitudes of peoples, nations, and languages, having seven heads ( revivals), and ten horns ( nations), and on the heads of these nations ten crowns (signifying the sovereignty of these nations), and on the heads of these nations a blasphemous name. (Now please note that blasphemy, is directed only against the true Eternal God. It is to speak about God or His sacred things with abuse or contempt. It is any speech or action that is contemptuous of something deemed sacred). 

 Now the beast (kingdom) which John saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. (the leopard depicts the swiftness of the kingdom of the Grecian Macedonian Empire, the feet of the bear depicts the Persian Empire, and the mouth of the lion depicts the Chaldean or the Babylonian Empire.

Therefore, the fourth beast ( kingdom), which is the Roman Empire, has the characteristics of all the three previous kingdoms.  It was different from all the kingdoms (beasts) that were before it, and it had ten nations (horns). Now Satan (the dragon), gave this kingdom, his power, his throne, and great authority. And John saw one of the revivals (heads) of this kingdom, as if it had been mortally wounded (weak and feeble), and his deadly wound was healed (he revived and became strong again). And all the world marveled and followed the beast (the Roman Empire). So they (meaning the whole world), worshiped the devil (dragon) who gave authority to the kingdom (beast); and they worshiped the kingdom (beast) saying; “Who is like the Roman Empire? Who is able to make war with him?”

 

So it is no secret that the whole world is worshiping the devil. But how was this made possible?

 

The first thing one has to consider is the fact that, there is first and foremost, a rationale, or a logical reason for worship, and this rationale is substantiated by observing the day on which the event occurs. It is not simply a matter of singing, praising, praying, because you believe in a higher power. Worship is an expression of one's appreciation and gratitude, giving reverence and respect to God, for who He is, and what He has done.

 Take example of the four living creatures, the twenty-four elders, and the angels, of whom it is said; “ Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever,  and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: " You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created."

Also, “When He (the Lamb) had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying: " You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.'

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: " Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!" (Revelation 5: 8-12).

The rationale for their worship, is because the Lord created all things, and by His will they exist and were created, and the Lamb's worthiness to take up the scroll, and to open its seals, because He was slain, and have redeemed them to God.

Our rationale for worshiping God here on earth, it is because of He being God, and the things He did for the salvation of mankind, as explained in the proclamation of one of the three angels which reads; “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth --- to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people --- saying with a loud voice, "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water" (Revelation 14:6-7).

Now the symbol which is affiliated with the worship of the Eternal God, is the specific day on which the event transpired, and they are being celebrated as commemorations.

But what is the rationale for worshiping Satan? There is absolutely no rationale for Satan to be worshiped, and by the whole world for that matter. So in his subtlety, he chose the day which reflects his former glory, when he was known as Lucifer the son of the morning, when he used to illuminate the earth with his beauty. As it is written; “ How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ' I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:12- 14).'

It has always been Satan's ambition to “sit on the mount of the congregation” and to be worshiped as god. So he chose Sunday, which most people now refer to as the “Lord's day.” In fact it is said by the authorities who worship on Sundays, that one of the reasons why they choose Sunday above Saturday, it is because of the day of the sun, and this is what we read;+

“SUN-WORSHIP AND THE ORIGIN OF SUNDAY” Chapter 8 by Samuele Bacchiocchi, Ph. D., Andrews University” which states; “…Though Christ is often referred to by earlier Fathers as "True Light" and "Sun of Justices"83 no deliberate attempt was made prior to Eusebius to justify Sunday observance by means of the symbology of the day of the Sun. On the other hand Eusebius several times refers explicitly to the motifs of the light, of the sun and of the day of the Sun, to explain the substitution of the Christian Sunday for the Jewish Sabbath.’

“For example, in his Commentary on Psalm 91 he writes: "The Logos has transferred by the New Alliance the celebration of the Sabbath to the rising of the light. He has given us a type of the true rest in the saving day of the Lord, the first day of light. . . . In this day of light, first day and true day of the sun, when we gather after the interval of six days, we celebrate the holy and spiritual Sabbaths. . . . All things whatsoever that were prescribed for the Sabbath, we have transferred them to the Lord’s day, as being more authoritative and more highly regarded and first in rank, and more honorable than the Jewish Sabbath. In fact, it is on this day of the creation of the world that God said: ‘Let there be light and there was light.’ It is also on this day that the Sun of Justice has risen for our souls."

Satan is being worshiped by having a counterfeit to all that is worshiped. For example; God is worshiped on the seventh day of the week (Saturday), because the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

Satan counterfeited it by instituting Sunday to honor and glorify him in his former glory, and he used the beast power, the Roman Empire, and a universal church to accomplish his objective, which is to worship him as god.

For it is written; “Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot (False church) who sits on many waters (Peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues), with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk (deceived) with the wine (doctrine) of her fornication (political and religious intimate relationship)" (Revelation 17:1-2).

The crux of the matter is, the Roman Empire, is the fourth beast or kingdom, mentioned in the book of Revelation 13, by the apostle John, and by Daniel in the book of Daniel chapter seven, which corresponds with the two legs ,with two feet, and ten toes, of the great image seen by king Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel chapter two. This kingdom we are told ascended from the bottomless pit, denoting that it ascended from the domain of Satan, and Satan the dragon, gave this kingdom his power, his throne, and great authority.

Therefore, since it is the Roman Empire, who, in collaboration with this universal church that changed the Lord's day of worship from Saturday to Sunday, hence the reason why they (all who dwell on the earth) worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" And therefore; “ All who dwell on the earth will worship him (the kingdom being controlled by the universal church), whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If anyone has an ear, let him hear.

The bottom line is, we are all free moral agents, and therefore have the prerogative to choose whether we want to worship the God who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water,, and has sanctified, and made holy the seventh day of the week in honor of the work of creation which He has done; Or, The choice to worship Satan the dragon, who instituted Sunday, the first day of the week, to honor him, and reflecting on his former glory, when he used to be the son of the morning, and illuminated the earth with his splendor. The choice is ours.

This however does not mean that all worship festivals that falls on a Sunday is of the devil. Because God has ordained annual festivals, with specific dates, and will in some instances fall on a Sunday. As a matter of fact, there are two of God's festivals that are designated to to fall on a Sunday, and they are;

• The feast of first fruits

Which is the Sunday that falls during the days of Unleavened Bread, the day on which the Lord presented Himself to the Father on our behalf after His resurrection, known as the “Wave Sheaf offering”, And this is what is written concerning this offering; “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the first-fruits of your harvest to the priest. He shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted on your behalf; on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.” The day after the Sabbath is obviously Sunday (Leviticus 23: 10-11).

• The Feast of Pentecost

The day on which the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, fifty (50) days after the feast of first fruits, or the wave sheaf offering; and the beginning of the new testament church. And this is what we find written in the scriptures; “'And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the LORD” (Leviticus 23:15-16).

So it was no co-incidence that the disciples we are told, “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4).

Therefore, there is absolutely no justification to even suggest, that these events are the rationale for changing the Lord's seventh day Sabbath to Satan's Sunday Sabbath; because these two events which are designated to be celebrated on a Sunday, were observed simultaneously with the seventh Sabbath, and are all part and parcel of the Lord's Feasts, which honors Him as the Lord.

Truly, God has overlooked these times of ignorance, but now commands all men everywhere to repent because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness, by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.

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Copyright © 2014 by Lucius Joseph

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