My writing has been suffering.

 

My writing has been suffering.

 

It is Saturday morning and it has been a long work week. My writing has suffered because of my new schedule. I had to reprioritize my time to make sure I was on track of my goal. My goal is to study and learn the word of God so as to position myself for a better life. Rarely in life do we take the time to do an in depth study of the word of God. This is the first time in my life that I have actually taken the time to do an in depth study of the word along with journaling associated with the word. The combination of the two has given me a greater insight into the word and given me more confidence that I have been saved and will have life eternal with my Heavenly Father. What makes me a bit nervous as I sit here and write this morning is this: How do I go about associating my beliefs with the beliefs of an organized church and how do I reconcile with myself my beliefs with the beliefs of the organized church. What do the scriptures say about church, its structure, its practices, its methodology, its organization, its name, its foundation? What do the scriptures say about the church? Matthew 16:8 – And I tell you that you are Peter and in this rock I will build by church and the Gates of Hades will not overcome it. Matthew 16:19 – I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

 

Key verse – John 3:13 – No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven, the son of man. None of us came from heaven, we did not originate there, we have never been there, we did not exist there, and we were not created as spiritual offspring residing in heaven waiting for an earthly body. John clearly states “No one has ever gone into heaven.”

 

What he is referring to we need to take a look at John 20:23 – If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven, if you do not forgive them they are not forgiven. Jesus gave the apostles the authority to forgive or not to forgive ones sins so that they may be saved. They had the power and authority as granted to them by Jesus to save or redeem people by forgiving their sins or send them into damnation by not forgiving their sins. That is what is meant when they say what you shall bind on earth (to forgive or not to forgive) shall be bound in heaven and what you have loose (forgive or not to forgive) on earth will be loosed in heaven. What Jesus was doing was recognizing to them that they had been given the power and authority by God to forgive or not forgive a person’s sins. That phrase appears again in Matthew 18:18 – I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

 

Key Verse – Matthew 18:19, 20 – Again I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name there I will be.

 

This is taken from a section in Matthew entitled “A brother who sins against you” Matthew 18:15-20 – This is further reference to the fact that what Jesus was referring to when he said “bind” and “loose” relates to their power and authority to forgive or not to forgive sin. Another reference to church is found in Matthew 18:17 – If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church, if he refuses to listen to even the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

 

*** Who is the church? See Matthew 16:18 – And I tell you that you are Peter and in this rock I will build my church. We see that by combining these two verses that Peter is the foundation, the rock, in which Christ built his church. If you sinned against your brother you would 1. Approach your brother 2. Take along a mediator or two 3. Take it to the church. The church had the right to judge the situation, Jesus gave the power and authority to judge (bind and loose) one's transgression or sin against another. In verse 20 of Matthew we see that where two or three are gathered together in his name, there he will be. Do we need a church? Not to have the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ! He will be there if we meet together, as believers in his name. In Acts 20:28 – we see Paul telling the Ephesians Elders “Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.” Look at verse 28 – Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you over. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29 – I know that when I leave savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Here there is reference made to the church of God, his flock as in sheep. In Matthew 9:36 – Jesus said we “were helpless like sheep without a shepherd.” He is our shepherd; he has come to lead the flock. In John 10:1-42 – we see the story of Jesus and his flock (sheep). He tells us in chapter 10 verse 7 – I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 9 – I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. 14 – I am the Good Shepherd, I know my sheep and my sheep know me. 16 – I have other sheep (Gentiles not the Jews) that are not of this sheep pen that I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. Remember Gods will is to draw us to Jesus and Jesus work is to not lose one that God has drawn to him (Matthew 6:29, 39). Verse 27 – My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. 28 – I give them eternal life and they shall never perish, no one can snatch them (not even Satan) out of my hand. 29 – My father who has given them to me is greater than all, no one can snatch them out of my father’s hands, and I and the father are one. We have been called; we have listened and obeyed by believing in his son, we do hear his son’s voice.

 

Another function of the church (flock of believers) the church in those days constituted those who followed and believed in Jesus. There is no reference made to a building, a set of rules, guidelines, or other things constituted by man. In 1 Corinthians 5:12 – we see Paul talking to the people of Corinth and he says what business is it to judge those outside the church? (Those who didn’t believe in Jesus, or who were not his followers) Are you not to judge those inside (responsibility given to the Apostles who conferred that responsibility to others as it relates to the forgiveness of sins, transgressions, one against another)? God will judge those outside. Expel the wicked men from among you. In those days there were many false teachers of the word (the word being Jesus), Paul exclaimed, expel those who are wicked, who do not repent of their sins, who teach false doctrine, who break the laws or commands of God (his commandments, such as adultery, stealing, etc.) and who do not live responsibly. These you should expel from the flock or church as it was called. In 1 Corinthians 14:4 – Paul states he who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5 – He who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues unless he interprets so that the whole church may be edified. 12 – So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church. I believe it is apparent from these verses that the people who believed in Jesus came together and met and when they met together some spoke in tongues, others interpreted. Again there is no mention of a formal building, rituals or rites. In 1 Corinthians 14:26-39 – Paul instructs the people of Corinth on “orderly worship.” Verse 26 – What then shall we say brothers? When you come together everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation or a tongue or an interpretation. All these must be done for the strengthening of the church (Jesus flock).

 

Key verse – 1 Corinthians 14:33 – God is not a God of disorder, but a God of peace.

 

Verse 34 – As in all congregations of the saints (followers of Christ) woman should remain silent in the churches (plural). They should not be allowed to speak, but must be submissive as the law says – If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their husbands at home, for it is a disgrace for a woman to speak in church. Church back then is not the same as we know church today. Today we have organized religion and churches. Back then they did not have organized churches as we know them today. What we see today has been implemented by man. Women of today of course speak in church as man has developed it. Back then church may have consisted of a person’s home, an open field, or some other outdoor meeting place. What we learned in verse 26 of chapter 14 is that 1. We should come together 2. Have a hymn, sing 3. Have a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or interpretation. 4. All this must be done for the strengthening of the church. In Ephesians 5:22, 23 – we see wives submit to your husbands as to the Lord, for the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the savior. 24 – Now as the church (Jesus flock) submits to Christ (see him as their shepherd) so also wives should submit to their husbands. 25 – Husbands love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. 26 – To make her holy, cleansing her holy, cleansing her by washing with water through his word. 27 – And to present himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. Section on husbands and wives. Ephesians 5:22-33 – In verse 27 we are to present ourselves as a radiant church, holy and blameless. This would hardly be possible if we were a building. Colossians 1:24 – Paul is now writing a letter to the people of Colossi – Now I rejoice in what was suffering for you and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body which is the church. For the sake of who’s body? Christ! We are the body of Christ, we are his church as seen in Ephesians 5:27 – we are to become as a radiant church. What do the scriptures thus tell us above the nature of church, before we discuss this lets look up the definition of church and congregation. Church – all Christians regarded as a spiritual entity. A building for public especially Christian worship. A congregation. A public religious service. A Christian denomination. Congregation – a group of people gathered together for religious worship especially on a regular basis.

 

Key verse – Matthew 24:24 – For the false Christ and the false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect, if that were possible. See I have told you ahead of time. Jesus tells us in Matthew 24:35 – Heaven and earth will pass away, but his words will never pass away. (Remember Gods word has been manifest in Jesus, Jesus is Gods words and Gods words are Jesus, and they are one and the same.) God’s words were transformed into flesh, so that we would be able to see his word in the flesh. Jesus came to this earth as a witness that God lives and that his words are true.

 

In Acts 11:26 – we find that those who taught about Jesus and who were his followers or disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. Christian – a believer in Christianity. Of, pertaining to, or professing belief in Christianity. Relating to or received from Jesus and his teachings. Relating to Christianity and its adherents. The Disciples (followers and teachers of Jesus message while he was here on this earth) went teaching the message of Christ to the church. We are God’s church, each and every one of his. We are his flock, he is the head of the church, the body of Christ, he is the Good Shepherd, we hear him, he has called us and we will follow and obey. A Good Shepherd leads his flock away from danger; he takes care of them and makes sure they find their way home. There are careful not to lose even a single sheep. We are his church, we the people, when we meet together, two or three gathered in his name, there he will be, our shepherd, there to lead us so that we do not go astray. When we meet together, whether it be in our home, a building or the countryside we are to 1. Come together, 2. Sing hymns, 3. Instruct, revaluate or speak in tongue with interpretation. It says nothing about administering the sacrament or any other form of worship. How we worship them becomes a choice as long as there is 1, 2 or 3 and we come together as believers (Christians) in the name of our shepherd, Jesus Christ. When we administer the sacrament, the blessing of the water and the bread we are doing this in remembrance of our shepherd Jesus Christ, so as to witness to him and our Heavenly Father that we believe in the name of Jesus and that we are willing to take upon ourselves his spirit. He asks us to eat his body and drink his blood as a remembrance of him. We the people are his church, how we choose to worship him is our choice, he cautions us against false prophets, teachings and doctrines. He cautions us to not be led astray by the craftiness of the prince of darkness, be always be on guard, because we don’t know when he will come again, but most importantly we must 1. Believe in name of Jesus, 2. Be baptized for the rebirth of our spirit, 3. Obey and follow the commands of the Lord, 4. Study and read his word, put his word into action, 5. Pray continuously, 6. Find joy in everything and when we do this we will have eternal life in heaven. There is one God, only one God, one son which is God’s word made manifest as flesh and one Holy Spirit. Think of God as the sun and Jesus as the rays of the sun. The sun produces light, we cannot actually see the sun, what we see is the light from the sun. The sun cannot be without light just as the rays of the sun could not exist without the sun. The sun and its rays are one, without beginning or end, they are the same. You cannot separate the sun from the light it produces just as you cannot separate the light from the sun. God our father is the sun and Jesus is the sun light, they are one in the same. The Holy Spirit is the warmth of the light from the sun. The sun produces heat which is carried by the light. Just as you have light, you have heat. The sun, the light and the heat are all one; one cannot be separated from the others. If you have one you have all three, just as God, the son, and the Holy Spirit are one. You can’t have one without the other.

 

Fellowship of believers – Acts 2:42 – They devoted themselves to the apostles teachings and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:46, 47 – Everyday they continued to meet together in temple courts (not churches). They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the flavor of his people. Flavor – enjoying one another’s company. Similarities and differences. If Peter was the rock in which the church was built upon, why is there no mention of him in the bible building a church of Christ. A physical church, why didn’t he write a Gospel. It says in Revelations 22:18, 19 – I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the Holy City (Zion) which is described in this book. Many people have been confused over this verse saying it only applies to the Book of Revelations as John had witnessed and written about. This book refers to the bible. There is a reason God inspired John to write this at the end of Revelations. He wrote it at the end knowing full well what writings would be constructed together to create our modern day bible. Our Heavenly Father did not inspire John to write that verse for the back of Revelations only but in reference to the bible in its entirety. Book – a set of pages fastened on one side and enclosed between protective coverings. A printed or written literary work. A main division of a larger printed or written work. The Bible. Even the dictionary has a reference listed that said a “Book” is “The Bible.” Not John’s writing of Revelations, but the entire bible. The bible is the definitive word of God, all we need to know about our walk with the Lord is contained in the bible. If we encounter teachings that cannot be verified in the bible, they are not of God and therefore false teaching. These are the teachings of man lead by the spirit of the evil one. John indicates with verse 18 and 19 that there will be no new revelation. If we attempt to add any or subtract from what we read in the bible we will not share in the tree of life and in the holy city of Zion. We must therefore make sure that the teachings of any church that we attend do not attempt to add or subtract from that which we have been given in the bible. If they cannot document their teachings, instruction, or revelation founded in the bible, leave that church at once, for they are false teachers, leading men astray from the word of God using the words of Satan through their teachings. Jesus warns us to stay away from these teachings, he said even Satan goes around masquerading as the light. We have the definitive word of God; the bible is the only book we need to identify with. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ for this insight and wisdom. Who do we obey? Acts 5:29 – Peter and the other apostles replied: we must obey God rather than man. Acts 4:19 – But Peter and John replied, judge for yourself whether it is right in Gods sight to obey you rather than God. We obey God, not man!!! Acts 7:48 – The most high does not live in houses built by man, heaven is my throne. Acts 8:3 – But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. Notice they say house to house, not church building to church building. Church is where your heart is, where your heart is your church will be. Peter was the first one to bring the God news to the gentiles just as the Lord spoke. Acts chapter 10 – tells how it was first Peter who introduces the word of God to the gentiles. Verse 1 – at Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, e centurion in what is known as the Italian regiment. 15 – Do not call anything unclean that God has made clean. 28 – You are well aware of the law for a Jew to associate with a gentile or visit him. But God has shown me I should not call any man impure or unclean. 34 – Then Peter began to speak I now know how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. 44 – While Peter was still speaking these words the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 – The circumcised believers who had come with Peter (Jews) were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the gentiles. 47 – Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have, so he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Acts 11:1 – Gentiles also had received the word of God. Acts 11:14 – He (Peter) will bring you a message through which you and all your households (church) will be saved. Acts 11:18 – So then God granted even the gentiles repentance unto life. Acts 11:20 – Went to Antioch and began to speak with the Greeks (gentiles) telling them the good news of the Lord. Acts 11:26 – And when he (Barnabus) found him (Saul or Paul) he brought him to Antioch. So a whole year Saul and Barnabus met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were first called Christians (followers of Christ) first at Antioch. One of the last times if not the last time Jesus appeared on the earth he met with some of the disciples while they were fishing and after his resurrection. Jesus reinstated Peter as the founder of the church as we see in John chapter 21. Three times Jesus asks Peter if he loved him, verses 15, 16, 17, and three times Peter indicated that he truly loved the Lord and this is what Jesus said to Peter 1. Feed my lambs (small sheep) 2. Take care of my sheep 3. Feed my sheep. In verse 19 – Peter is told to “Follow me” by Jesus. This is all done at the end of the Gospel of John, Peter was directed to feed his lambs and sheep and take care of his flock. Earlier in chapter 10 of John we see that Jesus is the shepherd of the flock which God gave to him and Jesus work was to not lose even one of that flock which Jesus drew to him. When Jesus died and subsequently rose from the death he commissioned Peter to feed his lambs and sheep and take care of his flock. Jesus was no longer on earth to do this so he commissioned Peter or gave the authority to Peter to watch over his flock and to feed his flock the bread of life. Remember Jesus said in John 6:35 – I am the bread of life. In the Lord’s Prayer Matthew 6:11 – we ask the Lord give us today our daily bread (bread) meaning the word of God. In Matthew 4:4 – Jesus said man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Remember Jesus is the word of God made manifest into flesh, when we eat his body and drink his blood we do this in remembrance of Jesus, Jesus being the bread of life, he who comes to me will never go hungry (body of Christ) and he who believes in me will never go thirsty (blood of Christ). The bread and the water symbolize our remembrance of Jesus Christ that he is the bread of life and that we will never go hungry or thirsty if we consume his body and drink his blood for what we are really consuming is the word of God. In John 1:1 – In the beginning was the word and the word was with God. John 1:14 – And the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We are not literally eating Christ body and blood but the word of God. We are saying when we eat communion that we are willing to stand as witness that we are Christians, followers of Christ, the word of God manifest into flesh. One other important thing to note that at the time all of this was going on the Roman Empire was in control of most of the known world at the time they were in control of all of Israel, Greece, obviously Italy, etc. The Romans had soldiers called centurions stationed everywhere within the empire. The Roman Catholic church could therefore be found anywhere within the Roman empire, not just Rome and not just Italy, but everywhere and anywhere that was under the control and authority of Rome. The bottom line when selecting a church is to select one the preaches the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. I love you my Lord Jesus Christ, I love my wife. I will follow you and obey your commandments. I accept you as my Lord and savior; I will pray continuously and profess your name in word, deed and thought. My Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give me this day my daily bread, forgive my sins as I forgive others of their sins, lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from all evil. Amen.