Once and for all phenomenon

Once and for all phenomenon

 Since there are so many different ideologies with regards to the once and for all phenomenon let us with an open mind search the scriptures to find out what exactly the terminology once and for all truly means.

As far as I have studied the word of God, I can pinpoint five (5) things which Jesus Christ did once and for all for humanity, and two things yet to be done once and for all. And as far as I can perceive none of them relegates mankind especially the believer the responsibility from doing what they have been ordained to do, which is to become holy and blameless before Him in love, as a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own special people, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

One should always bear in mind the fact that this once and for all phenomenon is to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

It is also of intrinsic importance to note that, they are not all Israel who are of Israel: Therefore, what the Lord did once and for all pertain to all humanity especially the true Israel who is of that One Seed which is Christ. For there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for we are all one in Christ Jesus. And if we are Christ's, then we are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Now the five once for all phenomena mentioned in the scriptures which have already transpired and are currently in force today are as follows:

1.    Christ died to sin once for all 

It is stated quite clearly that, “Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.  Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit: And also, “knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God” (Hebrews 9:28; 1 Peter 3:18, Romans 6:9-10).

The emphasis here is on Jesus Christ who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence: For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross" (Colossians 1:15-20).

This is the first once and for all phenomenon which will never again be repeated. It is the revealing and presentation of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

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 To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Reasons for fearing God

There is a motive for fearing God and to tremble at His word because there are basically six reasons why we are to appear before the Lord and tremble before Him, also taking delight in the Lord.

·         His Majesty

We ought to stand in awe before the Lord because of His majesty as we have been duly admonished saying; “Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? For this is Your rightful due. For among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like You” (Jeremiah 10:7).

·         His Holiness

We have been instructed saying; “Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested" (Revelation 15:4).

·         His forgiveness

Because according to the Psalmist; “If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared; “Psalms 130:3-4)

·         His Power

As the Israelites were reminded saying; “ the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over, that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever" (Joshua 4:23-24).

·         His Goodness

For we have been duly instructed saying; “Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you” (1Samuel 12:24).

·         His judgment

As we have been instructed by the angel with 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).

Therefore, when it comes to having the fear of God we should follow the example of David who wrote; “But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple” (Psalms 5:7).

Or like the early Christians of whom it is said, “then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied” (Acts 9:31).

So then, appearing before the Lord on the days He has appointed to appear before Him is not legalism but rather something we should all take delight in as we have been duly admonished saying; “If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, The holy day of the LORD honorable, And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, then you shall delight yourself in the LORD; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the LORD has spoken" (Isaiah 58:13-14).

This is the essence of trembling before the Lord; it is by taking delight in Him, appearing before Him at His appointed time and expressing our deepest appreciation and gratitude for who He is and for what He has done for us,

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With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

The seventh vital component of true worship

 

The seven integral part of true worship is to tremble before Him, or take delight in Him meaning that, we are to stand in awe of Him and have the rightful fear by being obedient to His word, for thus says the Lord; “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist," Says the LORD. "But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word” (Isaiah 66:1-2).

The reason why we are to tremble before Him or take delight in Him it is because the church being similar to the captives of the children of Judah and Israel to whom the Lord said; “I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against Me. Then it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise, and an honor before all nations of the earth, who shall hear all the good that I do to them; they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the prosperity that I provide for it” (Jeremiah 33:8-9).

Remember, Jesus Christ is the Lord God of the Old Testament who created the heavens and the earth, for it is written; “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that were made: In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it’, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:1-5, 14).

It is further stated in scripture that; “He [Jesus Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:15-18).

Now it is a common belief and a biblical statement that, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” And when He came into the world He said; "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath" (Hebrews 13:8; Mark 2:27-28).

Since Jesus Christ is Lord of the Sabbath, the summons to attend the holy convocation at their appointed times is a directive from Him, and when obeyed we are demonstrating our reverence, glory and honor to Him as “LORD.” For thus says the LORD, “You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:30; 26:2).

Similarly, when one disregards or hold in contempt the days which the Lord has summoned them to appear before Him and choose to appear before Him at a time He has not summons them to appear before Him is profanity: For thus says the Lord; "When you come to appear before Me, who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts?

Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies --- I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear, your hands are full of blood” (Isaiah 1:12-15).

Having fellowship, in the breaking of bread was the community spirit that prevailed in the New Testament church when it originally started, when Peter said to them, "Be saved from this perverse generation." Then those who gladly received His word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles” (Acts 2:40-43).

The Christian church, the children of God, and the Philadelphia church are all characterized in whole and in part by these seven distinctive marks or attributes, and it is the formula by which the church which is presently so confused and divided can obtain its objective and be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Unfortunately people rather hold on to the customs and traditions taught by men instead of taking delight and stand in awe of the directives the Lord gave to His people and the only sign He gave to distinguish His people from the rest of the world. For thus says the Lord; “Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.” And, “I am the LORD your God: Walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them; 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: 12, 19.20).

Remember, Jesus Christ unequivocally said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled” (Matthew 5:17-18).

Therefore, the Sabbaths, the seventh day including the annual Sabbaths are perpetual sign God ordained to distinguish Himself and the people who are sanctified. Moreover, in our new dispensation as free moral agents, one person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. It is a matter of love, respect adoration and delight in Him who loves us.

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With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness (part four)

 

One of the main reasons why people refuse to make a clear distinction between the holy and the profane, and refusing to teach the difference between the clean and the unclean it is because of dishonest  gains, and fame. But there is a protocol by which one can appear before the Almighty God, and it is by abiding by the instructions which says; “by those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified.' (Leviticus 10:3).

Now to regard the Lord as holy, one must also himself be holy, for it is written; “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:13-16).

Now there is one and only way by which one becomes holy, and it is by eating of the things by which the atonement was made. For thus it is written; “Then Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram, and the bread that is in the basket, by the door of the tabernacle of meeting. They shall eat those things with which the atonement was made, to consecrate and to sanctify them; but an outsider shall not eat them, because they are holy” (Exodus 29:32-33).

It is therefore the requirement of everyone who seeks an audience with the Lord to, “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:” And what gives one the assurance and boldness to draw near to the Father is as the apostle Paul says; “ Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10: 19-22).

It is imperative that believers understand their status as members of the church. Those who constitute the church are regarded as, “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His (God's) own special people, that they may proclaim the praises of Him who called them out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy”.

As a nation of priests and the Lord's chosen people, our main objective is to, “Come to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2: 9-10, 4- 5).

As a nation of priests, our objective is to be holy to our God and not profane the name of our God, for we offer the offerings of the Lord, and the bread of their God; therefore we shall be holy. It is for this reason believers have been duly instructed saying; “I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.'

“But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner --- not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges: Therefore, "put away from yourselves the evil person" (1 Corinthians 5:9-13).

The high calling of the believer is that of holiness, and therefore have been admonished saying; “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God: As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people" (2 Corinthians 6:14-16).

So how could this group of people called the church be a sanctuary for sinners? Except it has been converted to the synagogue of Satan! One should be careful not to misconstrued the church's commission which is to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;” with the status of the one who has been delivered from the power of darkness and conveyed  into the kingdom of the Son of God's love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

The growth of the church comes not by inviting the world into the church, and allowing it to become a sanctuary for sinners, but by those who gladly received the word becoming baptized; And continue steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers, praising God and having favor with all the people, and the Lord will add to the church daily those who were being saved.

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With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness (part three)

The irony of truth is, despite the fact that Jesus Christ Himself made a clear distinction between the church (the body of believers) and the world, people refuse to make this distinction, assuming a more loving, compassionate, and pitiful attitude than Christ Himself Who said; “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth” (John 17:14-19).

 Believers have been duly forewarned to come out from the system to which the dragon (Satan) has given his power, his throne and great authority. They have been forewarned saying; "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!

For all the nations have drunk (deceived) of the wine (doctrine) of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury."

And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities” (Revelations 18:2-5).

Remember that Jesus Christ did not come to destroy either the law or the prophets, and to one of the prophets the Lord said, “The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured people; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst. 

Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain” (Ezekiel 22:25-27).

And to another prophet, this is what the Lord said concerning those who enter the gates to worship Him; "Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name, and say, 'We are delivered to do all these abominations'? Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it," says the LORD” (Jeremiah 7:8-11).

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To be continued, stay tuned

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness (part two)

Since we are to worship the Father in the beauty of holiness and holiness signifies the absence of sin, how can the church therefore are regarded as a sanctuary for sinners?

Is the Church a sanctuary for sinners?

I recently watched a television program, and the Host asked the participants the question, “Where do you find most sinners?” The first participant replied, “In the church”, and she scored a hefty twenty nine (29) points. Another participant was asked the similar question, and he replied, “In hell”, he scored only six 6) points. Then the host said, “Church was the number one answer”.

 I have just read an article where a so called minister encouraging fornicators, drug addicts, gays and lesbians, and anyone with an addiction or anything whatsoever to go to church anyway! Churches he said are hospitals for the broken. Even people saved are not perfect.

 Really! What a travesty! The result of this survey and this article is a clear indication of how people generally perceive the church. Most people perceive the church as a sanctuary for sinners. But is the church in the true sense of the word a sanctuary for sinners?

The church is indeed a sanctuary, but is it a sanctuary for sinners! Or is it a sanctuary for the sacred (holy) things of God?

 First of all Jesus Christ established His church by giving directives to Peter saying; “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:18-19).

The church in the true sense of the word is the body of Christ, as clearly explained by the apostle Paul who after explaining about the unity and diversity that should exist in One body wrote; “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually” (1Corinthians 12:27).

It is clearly stated that Jesus Christ, “is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18).

Now since the church is the body of Christ, in whom we are told, “dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and that we are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.” The logical question is, how can the church be a sanctuary for sinners?

When, in order to have fellowship with one another, which incidentally is also with the Father and the Son, we have been duly admonished saying; “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.  But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:5-10).

So I beg to ask the question, are not the adulterers, fornicators, gays, lesbians, and drug addicts walking in darkness? So how does that square with the fact that, God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth? 

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To be continued, stay tuned

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

 

The sixth vital component of true worship

 

6.  Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

Holiness is the absence of sin, and the way one becomes holy is stated as follows; “Then Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram, and the bread that is in the basket, by the door of the tabernacle of meeting. They shall eat those things with which the atonement was made, to consecrate and to sanctify them; but an outsider shall not eat them, because they are holy” (Exodus 29:32-33).

Those who do not regard themselves as priests of the New Covenant should not be present during a holy convocation for it is stated quite clearly, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy” (1Peter 2:9, 10).

Those who stumble at these instructions are those who are being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed, because our main duty as priests is to offer to the Lord the food for His offerings, for it is written; “They shall be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God, for they offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and the bread of their God; therefore they shall be holy” (Leviticus 21:6).

For this reason the church is duly admonished saying; “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?'

“And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God as God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people." Therefore " Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty" (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).

Therefore, since we are to worship the Father in the beauty of holiness and holiness signifies the absence of sin, how can the church therefore are regarded as a sanctuary for sinners? 

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To be continued, stay tuned

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph