June 2015 • The Christian Culture Center Blog

The Supreme Court Has Overextended It’s Reach

Posted on June 29, 2015 by Admin Posted in Christ in Culture 1 Comment

It’s my humble opinion that the Supreme Court overextended it’s reach in it’s decision granting rights to gay couples to marry. It would have been fine if they defined the union as a civil union or gave it a different name other than that already defined in the Bible. Instead of doing that, they stole and changed the definition of a faith-based word, “Marriage.” It’s a clear example of man attempting to change God’s order of things to determine what is right in man’s own eyes. Let me be clear that the Creator of the heavens and the earth has not and will not accept this new definition of the word “marriage.” This Supreme Court decision is a direct slap to faith-based communities and is perilous to our national independence.

Let’s remind ourselves of what the Bible teaches about marriage.

Genesis 1: 21-24 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

23 And Adam said, This [is] now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was takenout of Man.

24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

There is no room for questioning God’s definition of marriage. God made a woman out of genetic material from Adam and gave her to him to be his wife. A “husband” and a “wife” is requisite for marriage. God obviously did not make another man, he made a woman.

Let’s see what God’s perfect law of righteousness (which means that which is “right” in God’s mind) says about homosexuality.

Leviticus 18:22, “You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.”1
Leviticus 20:13, “If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltness is upon them.”
1 Corinthians 6:9-10, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
Romans 1:26-28, “For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. 28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper.”

Again the Word of God makes it abundantly clear that lesbianism and homosexuality is unnatural and against God’s order. When Jesus returns he will set up his kingdom in Jerusalem and it is his law that will extend throughout the earth. In that day there will be no “gay” marriage and no leniency for it. But today, God’s Word means little to those in power and they do what they want for political expediency.

The Supreme Court has Overstepped Their Bounds

It is a sad day in America when the Supreme Court oversteps their commissioned purpose and writes or re-writes law to agree with a political agenda. The word “Marriage” is defined in the Bible, not the constitution. The Supreme Court has redefined what the word “marriage” means by applying their own interpretation of it which is in direct contradiction to the written Word of God. There is no question the Supreme Court overstepped its bounds. It has done this a number of times recently; twice with the Obamacare legislation. In both Obamacare cases, the law was rewritten to make it constitutional when it clearly was not. Overstepping their authority, the Supreme Court has shown it no longer upholds the constitution of the United States.

Marriage is a faith-based word defined by the Bible. It still means the joining of a man and a woman in the Bible and will remain that way in God’s eyes.

The Fallout Is Coming

So what about faith-based groups who perform marriage ceremonies for couples in the United States? How are we supposed to keep true to our solemn beliefs when the law of the land says otherwise? I predict a huge fallout is coming as the more militant homosexuals and lesbians go to faith-based practitioners and demand marriage ceremonies knowing they will be refused. Will pastors and priests be forced to provide marriage services to lesbians and gays or will bey be able to refuse? Watch the lawsuits begin. Watch 501C3′s be revoked. But most sadly of all, watch faith based groups recapitulate and roll over so they can “stay within the law” thinking God will approve of their actions.

I fear a terrible fallout is coming and since the Supreme Court is the highest court in the land, there is no recourse other than cessation. This is a terrible time in U.S. history and there is no turning back. The law has been made and it will be upheld. Faith-based groups have been spat upon and so have faith-based businesses. There is no legal remedy in sight.

I pray that God’s true servants will stay true to the Word of God “no matter what.” Let’s have the same attitude as the apostles did when they were told not to do what God wanted them to do.

Acts 5:25-29 Someone came and reported to them, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple complex and teaching the people.” 26 Then the commander went with the temple police and brought them in without force, because they were afraid the people might stone them. 27 After they brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin, and the high priest asked, 28 “Didn’t we strictly order you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to bring this man’s blood on us! ”

29 But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men…”

Keep in mind that they were in prison, on trial when they said this. That is boldness. That is conviction. That is upholding the Word of God no matter what anyone says whether it be the government or not.

Stand Strong in the Lord and in the Power of His Might

Brethren, our very existence is now at stake. We have to stand for what is right in God’s eyes which we have seen very clearly at the beginning of this post. I encourage you to not cower, not draw back and not feign from the task set before us. God is with us and will vindicate us no matter what things appear to be in this world. Do not give up. Do not doubt God. Stand strong with the power of His might in Christ Jesus.

Churches Seek to Boost Security After Charleston Massacre

Posted on June 22, 2015 by Admin Posted in Christ in Culture Leave a comment

Churches around the country are looking to bolster church security in the wake of the Charleston massacre. We live in a very unstable time with threats from ISIS, attacks from white supremacists, plotting from radical pro-LGBT groups as well as pro-abortion activists. If you don’t have a security plan in place at your church, it would be wise to raise the subject at your next meeting. We’d like to believe we live in peaceful times but the evidence is contrary and these sort of attacks, I’m afraid to say, will probably increase in the near future.

Our hearts go out the the families and friends of the nine people killed last Wednesday. It’s a shame that in the United States of America we are little more protected than in a middle eastern country. People in North Carolina have responded with love and not hate. They have responded with mercy and not judgement, even forgiving the assailant. No matter what the devil does, Christians just stand stronger.

The stand-in pastor at the Charleston church said, “The doors of the church are open,” the Rev. Norvel Goff declared. “No evildoer, no demon in hell or on Earth can close the doors of God’s church.”

Didn’t Jesus say that the gates of hell couldn’t prevail against the church? Of course he did. The church still stands. We will not be deterred at all by violent acts such as this.

To encourage church committees to look into better security for their churches, I thought it would be good to print some statistics about violence in faith-based institutions. Have a look and then Google “church security” for more information.

MINISTRY VIOLENCE STATISTICS

Deadly Force Incidents (DFI’s) at Faith-Based Organizations in the United States (includes abductions [& attempts], attacks, suspicious deaths, suicides & deadly force intervention / protection)
DATA CURRENT for time period 1/1/1999 through 2/15/15	NUM	%
TOTAL DFI’s (Deadly Force Incidents)	971
NUMBER OF (Homicides) DFI’s WHERE THE “ATTACK RESULTED IN DEATH OF OTHERS” (ARDO)	335	34.50%

Total known (generally accepted as known) attack triggers	769
Domestic Spillover (Domestic relationship violence that found it’s way onto ministry property and resulted in a DFI)	131	17.04%
Personal Conflict (disagreement between 2 or more non-domestic-related people that erupted into a DFI)	97	12.61%
Robbery	191	24.84%
Gang related (Gang or potential gang related that included drugs are in drugs category). It is reasonable to assume many of the PC and robbery cases were gang-related as well, but cannot be confirmed	80	10.40%
Confirmed drug related	19	2.47%
Confirmed mental illness	84	10.92%
Religious Bias (against any form of religion)	47	6.11%
Random and other (including rare triggers)	120	15.60%

Number of DFI’s occurring based upon the TOP 3 known single issue triggers – (Domestic Violence, Personal conflict and robbery)	419	54.49%

Total incident weapons known (some attacks had more than one weapon)	1003	%
Gun	576	57.43%
Knife (or other stabbing weapon)	168	16.75%
Auto	43	4.29%
Explosives (includes Molotov Cocktails)	57	5.68%
Other (poison, beating, hanging, fire, various objects)	159	15.85%

Victim Statistics (not including suicide or attacker KIA)
Total killed and injured	1011
Killed	430	42.53%
Injured	581	57.47%
Male victims (killed)	277	64.42%
Female victims (killed)	153	35.58%

Aggressor Statistics
Total known (even if known only by description) aggressors	977
Male	894	91.50%
Female	83	8.50%
Affiliated (member, past member, employee, volunteer) with ministry	222	22.72%

Incident Statistics
Occurred inside the building	295	30.73%
Occurred outside on ministry property or activity location	665	69.27%
Occurred during event	375	39.52%
Occurred in off hours	574	60.48%
Single attacker	565	72.53%
Multiple attackers	214	27.47%

Total deadly force incident stats by year
Year	Total deaths (Homicide, suicide, unsolved suspicious and aggressors killed in action)	Total Incidents
1999	22	10
2000	9	6
2001	4	6
2002	11	9
2003	12	9
2004	3	4
2005	19	10
2006	30	27
2007	39	41
2008	50	64
2009	54	108
2010	51	102
2011	50	107
2012	76	139
2013	45	132
2014	74	176
2015	11	21
TOTAL DEADLY FORCE DEATHS and INCIDENTS SINCE 1/01/1999	549	971

Source: http://www.carlchinn.com/Church_Security_Concepts.html

What in the World is Happening to Christianity? Trends Are Alarming

Posted on June 17, 2015 by Admin Posted in Christ in Culture Leave a comment

Christianity is changing around the world, especially in the United States. I came across an excellent article on the subject this morning and wanted to share it with you. Full credit is given below the article. Please read it and thoughtfully consider what you can do to help direct Christians on the right path.

Despite what many think, the church in America is not dying (and no serious researcher thinks that). However, there are some challenges and changes to be considered.

When we consider missiology, part of the discipline includes considering how churches relate to their culture. Since we live in changing times, it’s worth thinking through what current cultural changes mean for future church engagement of that culture.

Here are four trends that are already evident, but will become even more important in days to come:

1. The word “Christian” will become less used and more clear. There are three broad categories that make up the approximately 75 percent of Americans who refer to themselves as Christians. I wrote about this earlier in The State of the Church In America: Hint: It’s Not Dying, but it is worth keeping in our minds moving forward. The fact is that not everyone who uses the word “Christian” is using it the same way.

Cultural Christians, about 25 percent of the U.S. population, are simply those who, when asked, say they are a Christian rather than say they are an atheist or Jewish. They are “Christian” for no other reason than they are from America and don’t consider themselves something else.

The second type is what I call a congregational Christian. They account for roughly another 25 percent of the population. This person generally does not really have a deep commitment, but they will refer to themselves as a Christian because they have some loose connection to a church—perhaps through a family member, maybe an infant baptism, or some holiday attendance.

Convictional Christians, also about 25 percent of the population, are those people who self-identify as Christian who orient their life around their faith in Christ. This includes a wide range of what Christian is—not just evangelicals, for example. It means someone says they are a Christian and it is meaningful to them.

So, what’s the trend?

Well, first, the trend is that less people are calling themselves Christians and those who are will take it more seriously. In other words, cultural and congregational Christians, or the “squishy middle,” is collapsing while convictional Christians are staying relatively steady.

In the future, the word Christian will mean more to those who would be considered convictional Christians. However, it will mean—and will be used—less to those who were nominal Christians in the first place. The word will be less used and more clear.

2. The nominals will increasingly become nones. Basically, type one (cultural) and two (congregational) are what we would generally call nominal Christians. Nominal comes from the Latin, meaning “name” or “name only.” A growing number of people are name only Christians. They claim “Christianity” for survey reasons, but rarely attend church or give any consistent consideration to their faith identification.

They’re simply calling themselves Christians because that’s who they consider themselves to be, not because of any life change or ongoing commitment. Those types of Christians, about half of the population now, will become a minority in a few decades.

We are now experiencing a collapse of nominalism.

It is fair to say we are now experiencing a collapse of nominalism. Many of these who have been labeling themselves as Christians are starting to feel free to be honest about their religious affiliation, or lack thereof. The “Nones,” those who give say they have no religious preference, could potentially represent as many as half of the population in the next 20 to 30 years—it’s already over 30% among college students (with a third of college students still being religious).

The nominal Christians in the squishy middle (cultural and congregational Christians) are becoming those who now answer “none of the above” on religious surveys. In other words, the “nominals are becoming the nones.”

As the Nones rise in their number, Christian influence on culture will begin to wane. The minority of Christians in a culture will begin to feel even more like a minority when more nominals become Nones. As people no longer claim to be Christians, Christianity will be further marginalized, which should change the way we think about engaging culture.

3. Christians will increasingly change cultural tactics. The next 20 years are going to be a challenge for convictional Christians and churches in many places. We will be engaging in cultural conversations often as the minority we truly are. Those who aggressively fight this as a culture war will find it hard to reach people. Instead of being seen as those who are seeking to engage and serve people in the culture, Christians will be seen as an enemy. That’s not to say there are not important causes to engage—there are—but how we engage is almost as important as that we engage.

In biblical terms, we may experience what it means to be salt and light in the midst of an adversarial culture.

As the Nones rise in their number, Christian influence on culture will begin to wane.

In response, we should look to two groups of people from the Bible, which I profiled in Creating an Assessment Culture By Being of Berea and Issachar. We must hold the Word of God in high authority as the Berean Christians did in Acts 17:11. Christians must become seriously committed to Scripture and the Gospel in every aspect of our lives. We should also wisely discern the present culture and strategize how to best glorify God.

“From the Issacharites, who understand the times and knew what Israel should do” (1 Chronicles 12:32).

I desire for the church and Christians to be examining the Scriptures daily to know the Word of God and also to know the times, the context, and the Spirit’s wisdom to address the culture with the Good News.

As I see it, some Christians will go down fighting. Other Christians, will go on loving. But either way, convictional Christians will increasingly see they are not the moral majority and will advocate less for the legislation or traditional values and be more focused on protecting religious liberty.

There are ways to stand for the good, advocate for cultural realities that engender human flourishing, and do so in a loving way. That’s the future convictional Christians need.

4. More robust churches will result from the death of nominalism. The next 20 years are going to be a challenge for convictional Christians and churches in many places.

It is beginning to cost something to be a Christian in America—not as much as in many places in the world or in much of history, but more than it used to. And, as living for Christ costs more in our culture, it will mean more in our context.

Churches that are preaching the Gospel and are focusing on biblical truths are going to become more clearly distinct from the culture around them. The end result? Robust Christian communities are going to get stronger.

These gospel-preaching churches will have members who are more, not less, committed and these committed churches will have less nominal Christians in the years to come. Christianity will become more of a minority in culture, but more refined, more biblical, and more missional churches will be the result.

Article Source: http://www.charismanews.com/culture/44114-4-trends-in-christianity-that-could-scare-you-according-to-ed-stetzer

The outlook for Christianity in the western world is that congregations will continue to get smaller but tighter, and that the “cost” of being a Christian is going up sharply. In this politically correct environment we live in, it seems that everything except Christianity is being recognized and accepted. It will soon become readily apparent who are the real Christians because nominal Christians will stop saying they are Christian to avoid repercussions. What a shame it is for the greatest nation on Earth — which was only great because it allowed the free movement of Christianity to thrive — to abandon it’s principles and solid foundation only to replace it with lies and aberrations that defy common sense let alone facts.

It’s time for real Christians to take a long hard look at what’s going on and to get active in preserving our rights as Christians to assemble and to live and speak God’s Word with all boldness no matter what the cost. Stand up Christians; stand up now or we will lose our rights to live what God calls a godly life.

The Secret Revealed (Download These Notes)

Posted on June 11, 2015 by Admin Posted in Christ in Culture Leave a comment

Over the past three posts I’ve attempted to set forth the truth about the secret that God held secret for ages and for generations but revealed to the apostle Paul. It’s no longer a secret, God has revealed it. Today I want to offer you a summary of what this secret is all about because God no longer wants it to remain a secret. If your church doesn’t teach the secret in its fullness, please download this report and give it to your leadership and ask for their feedback. Of course I’m always happy to help where there are questions on what the secret is about or how to apply the truths it reveals.

Click here to Download The Secret Revealed

Click here to Download The Secret PowerPoint Presentation

Cultural Implications of the Revealed Secret

Posted on June 5, 2015 by Admin Posted in Christ in Culture Leave a comment

In the past two posts, I’ve attempted to set forth the truth that we now live in a period of time called the Grace Administration and that the revelation given to the Christian Church supersedes all previous revelation. The body of instruction given to the Christian Church is contained in what I call the Seven Church Epistles which are Romans through II Thessalonians. Now I’d like to set forth some of the most obvious differences between the Law Administration and the Grace Administration so we can rest firmly in that which God has given us. I’ll discuss the cultural implications to our adherence to the doctrine in the seven church epistles as well.

Law vs. Grace

Israel was given the law and were told if they could do all the things written in the law, they would be righteous before God. Herein is the fault with the law. Let’s read it from Romans.

Romans 3:19-20 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

Galatians 3:23-25 Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.

So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.

The law was given to show that nobody, not one single person, could attain the righteousness of God by their own doing. Therefore the law was given to condemn all mankind of their unrighteousness and to show them they needed salvation provided solely by God. This salvation which all the Old Testament prophets spoke of was through the sacrifice of God’s only begotten Son, the seed of the woman, Jesus.

The fault with the law was not the law itself. The law is the righteousness of God. The fault was on behalf of the people to whom it was given. They could not ‘keep’ the law. Each person would fail at some point, showing their inherited unrighteousness and alienation from God.

Grace on the other hand is all of God’s doing and leaves nothing up to mankind. There are those who think that because they believe in Jesus, they are saved. Not so. Yes, they are saved if they believe in Jesus but the salvation is granted by God purely through God’s grace through the faith of Jesus Christ given to the believer unconditionally by God. When you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead, you are brought “unto salvation” and “unto righteousness.” (Romans 10:9) When you believe, God reaches over that barrier between you and Him and grants you salvation freely. What I’m trying to say is that it’s not your believing that saves you, but God. Your believing only brings you to the point of salvation. God has to bridge that gap for you which He graciously does. He gives you faith, and that is not of yourself, it is the gift of God.

Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

This puts the onus on God, not us. God is solely responsible for saving us through faith and it is God who gives that faith to those He has chosen. The law taught people they needed a savior; grace bestows salvation upon those who accept God’s sacrifice of His Son which pays for their sin and sins.

Believe to the End to Be Saved vs. Believe and Be Saved

Perhaps the most stark of the differences between the old covenant and the new is when a person is saved. When you read the Old Testament and the gospels (which are technically in the Old Testament because they complete the fulfillment of the law by Jesus), as well as the book of Revelation (after the Christian church has been taken off the planet), you read things like…

Matthew 25:1-13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Matthew 25;1013 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Contrast those verses with verses in the 7 church epistles.

Romans 10:9 If you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.

Ephesians 1:12-14 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Can you see the difference? When we believe during the Grace Administration, we are immediately saved. There is no language in the seven church epistles that say we have to endure to the end to be saved. In fact, the opposite is emphatically stated.

The Two Allotments (Inheritances)

Israel was promised physical blessings. They were promised a nation that would rule all nations on earth. If they obeyed God and did all the things in the law, God would bless them, their fields, give them children, and provide all manner of abundance for them in the physical realm.

The Christian Church has a different inheritance. We are given citizenship in heaven and we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Philippians 3:20,21 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

The “prosperity gospel” attempts to give Christians what was promised to Israel. This may sound like a good option, if it were even an option, because it showers us with physical blessings as we walk with God. While that may sound great, and while it is something we may greatly desire, that is not our lot. We have a different destination and therefore we have different blessings. Our lot is “the celestials” or “the heavens” as KJV and other modern translations put it. The Christian Church does not inherit Jersuslam, we inherit heaven. The bodies we receive when our Lord Jesus returns are celestial in nature, not earthly. The bodies Israel and her proselytes receive at the First Resurrection are immortal but are such that matches earthly dominion.

Cultural Implications of the Revelation of the Secret

The lesson here is to get very specific on what applies to you during the Grace Administration in which we live. Don’t try to appropriate Israel’s blessings to yourself. You have so much more. And while we cannot now fully perceive the vastness of our heavenly allotment, we can indeed begin to walk in it right now and experience some of those blessings. Am I saying God won’t make you rich? No, I’m not saying that at all. I’m saying your inheritance is different. You should not be looking for earthly blessings but rather you should be exploring and walking in your heavenly blessings. Don’t sacrifice more for less.

When you firmly understand your heavenly calling in the Grace Administration, you will no longer want to apply the lesser blessings to yourself. My exhortation is to study the 7 church epistles so you know them backward and forward so you can understand what God has given to you and what God expects of you in this period of time He calls the Grace Administration. Apply what is written to you in the seven church epistles, not that which concerns Israel in the gospels and elsewhere in the Bible.

Christians are not here to take over the world for Jesus. Our dominion is not of this world. We are here to help God by doing those works which he has foreordained for us to walk in, which is to build upon the foundation the first centiry apostles and prophets laid down, which is the gospel of the secret — the one body of Christ with Christ the Head and we the members of his body. We don’t live in the vine and the branches era, but in the Hand and members of his body era. Be sure to make that distinction when you read and apply God’s Word and you will be more attuned to God’s will for your life.

The Church Compared to Israel — Part II The Vine and Branches vs. the One Body

Posted on June 3, 2015 by Admin Posted in Christ in Culture Leave a comment

In my last post (http://christianculturecenter.com/christian-church-compared-congregation-israel/) I introduced the truth that the congregation of Israel is different than the Church of Jesus Christ that began on the day of Pentecost. Today I want to give a clear example that shows the differences between these two groups of believers.

The Disciples of Christ in the Gospels

Jesus Christ was sent to the circumcision specifically, not to the entire world. This is apparent in Jesus’ discourse with the Samaritan women who requested help from him.

Matthew 15:24 He (Jesus) answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

Through his mercy and grace, Jesus helped the Samaritan woman after explaining who he was actually sent to serve and save. Here are a few more verses that corroborates this.

Matthew 10?5,6 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them saying, Go ye not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go ye rather unto The Lost Sheep Of The House Of Israel.

Romans 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:

When Israel rejected their Savior and King, God opened it up for everyone. This is why and how the church we are part of came into existence. The church we are part of was a secret which was never revealed in the Old Testament or the gospels (which are still technically the Old Testament). It’s crucial to understand that the Word of God is talking about two distinct groups of people when speaking about pre-Pentecost believers and post-Pentecost believers.

God uses two different analogies to describe these two congregations. In the gospels, Jesus speaks of the vine and the branches.

John 15:1-8 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

I just love the truths presented in this section of John 15, and I always thought it applies to me. But now I realize it does not. What analogy does God use for the congregation I am part of? It’s completely different. Meet the Head and the members of his body.

The Head and Body of Christ

I Corinthians 12:12-27 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.

For we were all baptized by^c one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.

And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.

If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?

But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.

If they were all one part, where would the body be?

As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”

On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty,

while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it,

so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.

If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

What’s the Difference?

Now that I’ve presented the two analogies exactly as they appear in God’s Word, can you see any differences between them? Well, let’s see…

Have you ever severed an arm or a leg off? a finger? your nose? a toe? Christians are members of Christ’s own body. Do you think he’ll be severing any parts of his own body off? Of course not.

But what about branches. Can a branch be severed off a vine? Very easily. The vine will grow another branch. Bodies don’t grow more limbs. You might say, it’s a supernatural body so if Christ cuts off a member he can grow another one.” That’s taking the analogy too far. Christ would never harm his own body, end of debate. But vines need pruning all the time and unproductive branches need to be cut off entirely to save the life of the plant.

The main difference between these two analogies is the permanence of being a member of Christ’s body as opposed to the conditional membership in the congregation of Israel. By not separating these two groups, countless errors have been introduced into Christianity that could have been and must be avoided.

In summary, the seven church epistles, Romans through II Thessalonians, contain the entire body of doctrine for the Grace administration in which we live. These epistles contain the doctrine, reproof and correction we need in our present administration so we can be pleasing to God and serve His Word of truth and each other in the body of Christ. Do not apply what is written to Israel to yourself in the Christian church. Lay hold on what God has provided for you in the Grace Administration, contained in the 7 church epistles.

The Christian Church Compared to the Congregation of Israel

Posted on June 2, 2015 by Admin Posted in Christ in Culture Leave a comment

When a new convert comes into Christianity, which book in the Bible are they most often exhorted to read? It’s the gospel of John of course. If it’s not that it’s Matthew or all four gospels that are recommended. It’s not wrong to encourage people to read and study any book in the Bible, but with so much doctrinal disarray in Christendom, proper distinctions are rarely made between the Church of Jesus Christ and the congregation of Israel. Without this distinction, nothing but confusion and error results in the belief and practical application of Biblical doctrine.

Not all of the Bible is Written to Christians

This statement might alarm some of you who are unfamiliar with the different groups and administrational periods set forth in God’s Word, so let me explain what I mean when I say that not all the Bible is written to Christians.

Certainly the entirety of God’s Word is what it says it is, God’s Word to mankind. We can learn so much from every book in the Bible that the world cannot contain all that we could write in discussing it. That very claim is made in Bible about Jesus’ life.

John 2031 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

We need to learn all of God’s Word if we want the complete picture of what God wants us to know. But understanding it requires us to recognize which groups different parts of the Bible refer to. The best way I’ve heard this explained is in this way.

Suppose I wrote a letter to someone I know named Tim. In that letter I invite Tim and his entire family to a dinner at my house. I address the letter and it gets delivered — not to Tim — but to Tim’s next door neighbor. Even though it’s got Tim’s name on it, the reader skips over that, opens the letter and sees the invitation. Happily, the man informs his family that they are invited to dinner at my house that weekend.

When this neighbor of Tim’s shows up at my door with his family, I’m dumbfounded. “We are here for dinner!” announces the would-be guest. I say, “Sorry sir, but I invited Tim and his family to dinner, not you.” The would-be-guest leaves disappointed and hungry, all because he failed to recognize who the letter he opened was addressed to.

Now in real life, I probably would have let the neighbor and his family in, especially seeing that the people invited never got my letter. What would I do with all that food? I know I’m nowhere near as merciful and gracious as God is, but God has set down some rules and He follows them to every jot at tittle.

We can learn a lot from the Bible, no matter who it’s talking about or to, just as long as we recognize who it is talking about or speaking directly to. There are only certain parts of the Bible written to Christians in our day and time. We live in what the Bible calls “The administration of the grace of God.” This administration started on the day of Pentecost and ends with Christ’s return for the church prior to the unfolding of events recorded mainly in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

The entire Old Testament is addressed, or concerns, Israel. There are many principles and truths that cross different administrations, such as loving God and loving your neighbor as yourself, but most everything else just concerns the people who live in the period of time the Bible is addressing at that time.

The Four Gospels Complete the Old Testament

Even though there is a sheet of paper between the last verse of the book of Malachi and the first verse of Matthew with the words, “New Testament” written on it, the gospels themselves complete the law which is the old covenant or testament. Jesus fulfills the law in the gospels, therefore the gospels should logically be placed in the Old Testament. Most scholars are aware of this and agree fully with this point. There is no logic behind placing the gospels in the New Testament because Jesus had to die, be resurrected and ascend into heaven before the new covenant went into force. The word testament means covenant. The New Testament began on the day of Pentecost and extends through the period we are living in right up to and including Christ’s return for his church.

Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the law. The book of Acts records the birth of the Christian church in Acts chapter 2:1-4 which started the Grace Administration in which we live. The book of Acts goes on to chronicle the events that happened during the transition of God’s plan from the administration of the Law into the administration of Grace. But what books do we Christians read and study to know what applies to us and to know what God has given us and expects from us? That’s the key questions Christians need to ask.

The Seven Church Epistles are Written Specifically to Christians in This Day and Time

The Pauline epistles, also called the 7 church epistles, are the full course of instruction from our Lord Jesus Christ for Christians in this Grace Administration. These epistles are always found in the same order in all the known manuscripts and they follow a pattern when read and understood in that order. Here’s how they are arranged.

II Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

The pattern is doctrine, reproof and correction.

Structure of the Seven Church Epistles

Romans — Doctrinal, our legal position in Christ

I and II Corinthians — Reproof of practical error from the failure to adhere to the doctrine in Romans

Galatians — Correction , steering people back to the truth in Romans

Ephesians — Doctrinal, our allotment in Christ

Philippians — Reproof of practical error for not heeding the doctrine in Ephesians

Colossians — Correction, steering people back to the truth in Ephesians

I and II Thessalonians — Doctrine, concerning the Lord’s return for and with his church

If you read the seven church epistles in this light, you will gain much more understanding of what God is revealing to the church

The next post I do will continue this discussion to compare what is written in the gospels to Israel to what is written to the church in these seven church epistles.