The Biblical Understanding Of Death

The Spiritual Understanding Of Death

Book of 2 Corinthians Chapter 5

Each Christian possesses certain knowledge that most all the world is seeking.

We Christians know "What lies in our future"!

In order to understand this, then we need to understand the truth of "death".

In actuality there is a threefold sense of death!

1) The natural death.

The natural death is actually the separation of the soul from our body of flesh.

The body without the spirit is dead:

Jas 2:26  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

2) The spiritual death.

Spiritual death is a soul that has not been "born again" by the Holy Spirit:

Rom 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 

3) And Eternal death.

Eternal death is an everlasting separation of both soul and body from God throughout eternity.

Luk 12:5  But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. 

Let's learn from the Apostle Paul about this thing called life.

*****2Co 5:1  For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 

Paul is referring to what happens when we, that know the Lord Jesus on a personal basis, die a natural death.

Remember Paul is writing to the Church and not to the world!

It is certain that God created us out of the dust of the earth and we live in an earthly vessel, an earthly house.

Well it is just as certain that at death we will live in a building of God, not of earth, but made from heavenly things.

Heavenly things are eternal, so this new body will be an eternal body, a glorified body!

Understand what Paul says, he says God has given us this knowledge so then it is a promise of God that He will certainly keep!

This is not some opinion from some preacher, these are the words of the Holy Spirit!

2Ti 3:16  "All" scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

What did Jesus teach:

Mat 5:8  Blessed are the pure in heart: "for they shall see God". 

BUT, Your heart cannot be pure until you are indwelled by the Holy Spirit!

These things being true, and they are, then Paul is not speaking of our resurrected body we are to receive when we return with Christ.

1Th 4:14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even "so them" also which sleep in Jesus "will God bring with him". 

When we speak of the "Rapture" of the Church, we are most of the time talking about those who are alive and well at the return of Christ.

We should also see here that those that have already experienced a natural death will return with the Lord.

1Th 4:15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord "shall not prevent them which are asleep".
1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together "with them" in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Remember these are the promises of God and those that refute this resurrection are speaking against the Word of God.

1Co 15:12  Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
1Co 15:13  But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
1Co 15:14  And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
1Co 15:15  Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 

When we accept the Word of God, then we are not false witnesses!

There is also scriptural proof of this other body!

Rev 6:11  And "white robes" were given "unto every one of them"; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. 

It should be obvious that you cannot place a white robe on a soul, SO, that soul must be within a body.

It is these who are clothed in those white robes who will return with Jesus Christ! (I Timothy 4:14)

Rev 19:14  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 

You see only Scripture can back up Scripture!

The important thing that we should remember about these things, is that at the very moment of natural death, the believer will be in the arms of God.

Mat 22:32  I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? "God is not the God of the dead, but of the living". 

God does not give us many details of these things but to accept what He gives us in the Scriptures.

It is a fact that God could cause us to exist without bodies if He chose to do so.

It is also a fact that God can give us a temporary body if He chooses to do so, a heavenly body that is also glorified, as are all heavenly things.

We may call these temporary bodies but since they are eternal they are surely a part of our "Glorified Bodies" as promised of God at the "Rapture of the Church".

How we exist at the time after our death and before Christ returns, is really irrelevant and not part of our faith for salvation to occur, therefore not worth any argument.

We should never argue over details that have nothing to do with salvation but we must also stand on the fact that without Jesus, no one can be saved!

Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6  "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus":
Eph 2:7  "That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace" in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 

Who can argue with the Word of God and then say they believe all the Word of God?

How many of us, especially those who are in those old worn out bodies, or those that are riddled with disease, who are not thrilled to know that we will leave these old bodies behind for a brand new body that cannot be corrupted by age or disease or sin or anything else.

In fact we are more like Paul was at this time when he wrote this epistle with the help of the Holy Spirit.

*****2Co 5:2  For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
2Co 5:3  If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 

These bodies of flesh are really weak and disorderly.
These bodies of flesh get weary and tire easily in our Christian warfare.
These bodies of flesh suffer through illnesses and afflictions.
These bodies of flesh are unable to perform many times "when the soul would still be busy for the Lord".

Mar 14:38  Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. "The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak".

To be honest, the battles we have with our own flesh is the greatest hindrance to each believer!

The soul understands these things, "while the flesh fights temptation to do otherwise".

The soul yearns for that heavenly body but also knows, "that this flesh is his housing until God calls him home"! 

Each soul that belongs to the Lord yearns for immortality!

That soul is already eternal and just does not want to stay in a temporary housing, especially one so easy to corrupt!

But we also see that our soul has no desire to be naked even in Heaven, "we will still have a great desire to be sheltered with the things of God".

And we should also realize that without some sort of body we would not be able to worship the Lord!

The truth is, burdens on our Pastor will sometimes become so heavy that he may groan under the weight of it and he may also experience this yearning to go on home to be with the Lord.

*****2Co 5:4  For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 

At some point in our lives, we have all wondered where we came from and what happens after our death.

We can trust in so called scientist who can only guess, as we can ourselves, or we can trust the Word of God which gives us a logical explanation!

The knowledge of life and immortality can only take place through the "Gospel", Jesus Christ Himself the true example!

We saw in Scripture that the Tabernacle, even though it was built to great godly standards, it was still just a tent which is only a temporary housing.

The truth of tents is, they are really for soldiers and pilgrims and God says we are pilgrims on this earth and also soldiers in the army of God!

We also know from Scripture, that the human body was the most perfect of all God's creation.

Psa 139:14  I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. 

But this house is still a house made of earth and still requires a solid foundation to stand, which is not ofthis earth!

Gen 3:19  In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, "and unto dust shalt thou return".

**First: God gives us the great example of raising children so we can learn the truth.

A babe does not feel safe unless it remains as close as possible to it's parents but once they reach a certain age they will try to distance themselves from their parents.

God knows that this is the way of mankind, God knew it would be difficult to always keep His creation close by His side and He could not gives us more power to live because of this thing as we would only then use that power in more sinful ways.

Gen 3:22  And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
Gen 3:23  Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

**Second: When that child has been awaken by the "Gospel" then he or she is made aware of the power of eternal life.

Eph 3:16  That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Eph 3:17  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 

**Third: The "Gospel" makes us realize, through the Holy Spirit, that our body is only temporary because we have a permanent dwelling designed by the Lord to preserve us throughout eternity.

Joh 14:2  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Joh 14:4  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 

It may difficult to make those who are young and so full of life to realize these things, but as they grow older and age they will realize this truth if they have been taught while they were young.

Pro 22:6  Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. 

Only a Loving Father can know all these things!

All these things will become burdens that get heavier and heavier over time and they will weigh us down and our soul will groan within us seeking that permanent housing.

Most of us in this class here today are already experiencing these things!

Our groans are a sure sign we are seeking relief!

See the Word of God even explains our moaning and groaning!

We must understand that even without sin, we will experience great burdens in this life. Sin multiplies these things greatly and takes us further away from God.

1Pe 1:6  Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

Notice that even at this stage of burdens, we are well aware that our soul still needs to be housed and not be naked.

This is the pain and suffering that the unbeliever has no answer for, and most all of the lost die in misery!

When do we groan the most?

1) When we realize that not only are we dieing but the entire world is dieing!

Rom 8:22  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 

2) When we suffer because of others!

Exo 6:5  And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant. 

3) When we need relief but we just do not know what words to use to reach our Father in Heaven!

Rom 8:26  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

4) We also groan when we have that great desire to be housed in that Heavenly made glorified body! (2Corinthians 5:2)

We have realized that there is a big difference between Heaven and Earth. Earthly things are just all temporary!
Heavenly things a permanent!

AND, There will be no groaning in Heaven!

This why God makes His down payment, with the Holy Spirit, the very moment we become a true believer!

*****2Co 5:5  Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
2Co 5:6  Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
2Co 5:7  (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
2Co 5:8  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 

That word "wrought" means that God is making a continuous effort to make us perfect.

God is like a sculptor of clay who has found a big lump and it just takes some time and effort to smooth things back out!

Isa_64:8  But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

Until God calls us home, because He has us ready, it is a continuous work on the part of God to mold us and shape us for His use!

What is sad is, that God spent six days to create our world but it takes our life time to makes us perfect.

You see God speaks and things just appear out of nothing but He will never command us to be perfect!

God shapes us with His personal touch, God seeks a personal relationship!

SO, It is very important to walk with the Lord everyday!

We have to forget what we want and yield to what God wants, this is where we see God's patience with us.

All other creatures fit and adapt to their environment, this is why the Evolution Theory even exist, but all creatures produce after their own kind.

The human on the other hand, is always striving for something else in life and in most of us, sin will fill this gap and we think we have reached our goal but we are deceived by sin.

Life for the human being only becomes a riddle that we just cannot solve!

SO, God solves this problem for us!

It was not worth the work that Jesus Christ did for each of us, "if there was nothing else to life but just a few years!

To guarantee the results of what God has taught us, God gives us the earnest of the Holy Spirit!

You see the Holy Spirit can never die!

So God guarantees our immortality by living within each believer!

AGAIN, These are not idle fables, Paul said he already knew he had a house in Heaven and he was not talking about some building, he was talking about a living, glorified, housing for the soul, still able to worship the Creator and be available and able to be obedient to the Lord.

Obedience is the greatest form of worship!

God has fashioned each believer to undergo an immortal change!

1Co 15:47  The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
1Co 15:48  As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
1Co 15:49  And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 

Each believer becomes a new creature.
Each believer becomes a new man.
Each believer partakes of the divine nature of God Himself.

The Holy Spirit is that pledge that these things are true.
The Holy Spirit shares His knowledge of the truth.
The Holy Spirit gives us confidence in the truth.
The Holy Spirit gives us courage to face the things in this life.
The Holy Spirit teaches us that we may be absent from the Lord today but there will come a time when we will be with Him.

For we walk by "faith" and "not by sight"!

AND, We do not have to trample down our human instincts and yearnings in order to be spiritual!

AND, We certainly do not have to shrink away from death!

It is a fact, that this life we live now will just move on into immortality so that it is not two lives we will live but it is one continuous everlasting life!

We do not live to just die, we live to just move on into immortality!

We will never know death!

It is God's own breath, the Holy Spirit, that allows us to know these truths!

Wherefore we must be ambitious in our faith!

*****2Co 5:9  Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
2Co 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

The one lesson of "judgment" we need to grasp is, that we need to be ambitious in our effort to please our Savior!

Notice Paul includes all the Church, and all the Apostles, including himself and all those that preach the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ.

By speaking to the Church then these are the things that are done "after salvation" for we already know that no amount of works can please God in trying to obtain salvation!

We have already been judged for salvation!

Rom 5:1  Therefore being "justified by faith", we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 

But we will also come face to face with God at the "Judgment Seat Of Christ"!

This judgment is only for believers and no unbeliever will be present at this time!

These are the things "Good" and "Bad" that we have done since joining the family of God.

1) This judgment is certain to take place: "for we must all(all the body of Christ) appear".

2) It is Christ Jesus who will be the judge and He will judge according to the "Gospel"!

Rom 2:16  In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. 

It is at this judgment that we will find out why God has done the things that He did!

3) Since we are indwelled with the Holy Spirit, we will be judged for the things we did while we were in that human body.

**We cannot be judged again for sin, for all our sin before and after salvation has already been forgiven. "Jesus Christ has already paid the price for all sin"!

Eph 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

**At the time of this "judgment" we will already be wearing that beautiful glorified body and we will already have the mind of Christ!

We will certainly understand what is going on!

Rom 8:29  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Rom 8:30  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

**We will be judged for how we were obedient to the work of the Lord after we got saved.

Isa 52:10  The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. 

4) It is at the "Judgment Seat of Christ" where Jesus Himself will determine if we deserve any reward and the degree of that reward. (Good=Gain; Bad=Loss.)

No doubt many of us will be ashamed when we face Jesus!

1Jn 2:28  And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

Knowing these things then our job that we are to be doing, is the ministry of reconciliation.

*****2Co 5:11  Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

The "Gospel" teaches us the great benefits of the believer but it also teaches us the ending for the unbeliever.

God knew we need to see both sides of His reasoning!

That word "terror" means a "terrible fear" but it also means "reverence" or "standing in awe" of the Lord.

We will all, stand in awe of the Lord one day but only those who have rejected the plea of the Lord will then see the terror of the Lord!

God instills these things in everyone who ministers the "Gospel" because we need to know the complete truth!

The truth is, that love of God includes His "terror" to those who reject His Son Christ Jesus!

Paul said he was compelled to preach the "Gospel" because he knew of this fear.
Paul will go on to say that every Pastor must have a genuine heart.
Paul will teach that every Pastor should know the needs of the people.
Paul will teach that he was compelled to preach because of the "Love of God" in all things.

The purpose of every man called to be a Pastor, is to persuade the lost to see the truth of the "Gospel"!

The purpose of every Pastor is to show, "that everyone on the face of this earth is in desperate need of the Savior"!

Rom 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom 5:9  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Rom 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 

There were those in the day of Paul and I believe there are many more today, who refuse to preach the whole truth of the "Gospel".

*****2Co 5:12  For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart. 

Only those who have a genuine heart for the truth of God will be compelled to preach the whole counsel of God.

Many so-called Pastors come into the Church today with great letters of recommendation. Great letters of education from great schools of theology but if they do not have a genuine love for the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ and for all God's created people, then they can never be sincere and it will show in their message.

Every church that has any controversy within it's walls needs to deal with it as quickly as possible, in order to get back to the importance of the "Gospel". This is even more important today!

Even many great theologians have forgotten the importance of the "Gospel"!

Time is actually running out for those who reject the Word of God, "but especially" for those who have never heard the "Gospel"!

What did Jesus say of such men?

Mat 23:27  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men'sbones, and of all uncleanness.
Mat 23:28  Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. 

We all have our place but the importance of the "Gospel" must remain all our priority!

There is only one cause!

*****2Co 5:13  For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.
2Co 5:14  For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
2Co 5:15  And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 

It is the glory of God and the needs of the lost that should compel each of us but for those specifically called of God this thought must be embedded within them!

At one time the Apostle Paul was considered insane just because just because he felt this great need to reach out to the lost.

Act 26:24  And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
Act 26:25  But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.

This world of today wants to silence all our true Pastors because of this same message!

Paul said he may be a fool but he was a fool for the sake of God:

1Pe 4:11  If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Paul said he may be a fool but he was a fool for the sake of the lost:

1Co 9:22  To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 

What is the greatest truth of the "Gospel"?

God would have never come to this earth and poured Himself into a human body just to die in payment for our sins "if we were not all sinners".

There are no perfect human beings!

Php 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Php 2:9  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 

We are fools to think other wise. Had there been some other way or some way by man's own power, the Messiah would never had to die on that cross!

It is this love of God that compelled the Apostle Paul and every true minister of God!

Jesus Christ is the greatest teacher of God's doctrine!
Jesus Christ is the greatest example of how to live a sin-free life!
Jesus Christ is that solid foundation of the Church!

But Paul said it was the great love of Jesus Christ for us all, that compelled him in the ministry!

All mankind died that day on that cross. Jesus died the only death that could reconcile us all back to God!

We should not be fooled this is not teaching universal salvation!

Jesus died so that we should live for Him, "all" who are redeemed by "faith" in this work that the Lord Jesus Christ came to accomplish.

When we believe that Jesus Christ died so that we can live, then that faith counts as our own death and we are reconciled to God!

The Lord Jesus Christ did not die so that we can live to ourselves, "as this defeats the purpose of His death"!

Tit 2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 

Jesus Christ not only died for us but He also arose for us!

Col 3:9  Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
Col 3:10  And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Wherefore (for these reasons)

*****2Co 5:16  Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
2Co 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 

Since we have obtained this life from the dead through His name, then it seems that we have a duty to spend our new life for His honor!

We know that Jesus Christ walked on this earth in human form and was seen by many individuals and even the government of that day.

But these things are pale in recognition when compared to the glory of a new creation by the Holy Spirit.

We are never to lose sight of this higher life promised to all who believe and are alive with Christ in the new life of His resurrection!

Christ has already entered in to His new heavenly life by His resurrection and His ascension and even though we have yet ascended, we have already entered into our heavenly life, we will not see death!

We will close our eyes one day on this earth and open them in Heaven, forever to be with our Lord!

Death is not in our future!

Where as our "old man" was doomed to "judgment" and to be eternally separated from God, our "New Man" is destined to live eternally in the presence of God!

How does this happen? (If any man be in Christ). Many make it hard but salvation only requires our faith!

Old things are passed away and all things become new!

We are alive in Christ when we walk in Christ everyday that remains in this life!

1Jn 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1Jn 5:5  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 

What is reconciliation?

*****2Co 5:18  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
2Co 5:19  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 

The message of the "Gospel" is a message of reconciliation!

We are reconciled when we are "restored" to a personal relationship with God our Creator!

If we can just imagine, whatsoever the Christian can desire is in that phrase "all things".

With one plan of salvation that could not fail, with one price that was more than enough, all mankind are given the possibility of being reconciled with God!

From enemy to friendship, from lost to family, from those who were separated, to those who should have been together from the beginning of time!

By the Lord Jesus Christ, God has removed that wall of sin that was once between us!

Rom 5:6  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Rom 5:7  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
Rom 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

When we sin we are working against God and are actually promoting evil.

So many cannot understand the supreme love of God, who does not live for Himself!

God lives for His created beings!

God gave Himself up by sending His Son to die for us!

The wages of sin are death and it takes a fool to believe that a man who is already dead can do anything to save himself from death!

As sinners, we oppose everything that God stands for, but while we were opposing our righteous God, He executed His plan of salvation while we were still His enemies!

**God is the first person in His plan, so in order to be reconciled we must come to God, in order to change our lives!

God alone has that power!

Only God can give a new birth!

Only God can make a New Creature out of a sinful creature!

No man possesses the power to make this change themselves!

Man cannot "buy" reconciliation because he must "receive" the reconciliation that God has offered freely.

**Jesus Christ is the second person involved in reconciliation.

God has made this thing so simple that all we have to do is "to believe" that Jesus Christ died so that we can be reconciled back to God.

God accepts the death of Christ for the death of all mankind.
God accepts that Jesus bore all our sins to remove the death sentence from mankind.
God accepts the condemnation borne by Christ as the condemnation due to mankind.

All believers are free from sin, so therefore free from the punishment for sin which was death, and eternal separation from God.

Eph 2:16  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 

**It is at this time that the third person, the Holy Spirit, moves into that sinner and seals the deal, to seal His newcovenant with us!

**God then provided those specific called men of God by committing the ministry of reconciliation to them.

*****2Co 5:20  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

We are all to carry the message of the "Gospel" to this lost world but that Pastor, that Missionary, that Evangelist has been given the title of "Ambassador" for Christ.

These are the men God sends specifically.

These men belong to the One who sent them!
These men exist only for the purpose of the One who sent them.
These men possess the authority and the power of the One who sent them.
These men are sent with the message of the One who sent them, word for word!

Their message is to be "be ye reconciled to God".

Those that have some other message, were not sent of God!

Paul wrote:

1Ti 1:12  And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 

Paul was speaking of the ministry of reconciliation.

Paul was speaking in the name of Jesus Christ!

*****2Co 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 

Jesus Christ was absolutely sinless so we can see that "the message of reconciliation" is actually a message of "substitution"!

Jesus Christ was absolutely unstained by sin!

God did not make Christ to be a sinner, "Christ was sent to be identified with mankind"!

Isa 53:12  Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. 

Jesus Christ came to this earth to live a sinless and perfect life, because no one born of Adam could do this thing!

Remember it is not in God's power to be unrighteous!

It is also not in God's power to be unjust!

Christ never broke God's Laws.
Christ never went contrary to the will of God.
Jesus Christ stood before God as the perfect ideal man, the exact pattern of what God had intended all mankind to be!

Jesus Christ was the only "substitute" that could take our place in our own payment for our own sin. and this was absolutely necessary for our own reconciliation.

God loves His Son so much that He will honor anyone who honors His Son!

We can see that salvation is really very simple when we understand the plan of God!

All it requires is our "Faith" in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Questions?

Let's Pray!

Christians Enduring Bad Treatment

Spiritual Power To Endure Unjust Treatment

Book of 2 Corinthians 4


The truth is, if we cannot see this world from a Biblical point of view we will suffer even greater in this world. We need a "Spiritual Perspective" in order to endure our time here and be of use to the Lord who has saved us!

It is a fact that we will suffer for our sins after salvation but the truth is, bad things can happen to good people and good things can happen to bad people that have nothing to do with personal sin.

Most of our own problems come from the choices we make!

Paul will now teach us all more about our personal ministry for the Lord and the ministry of those who are called to preach the "Gospel".

**We will see that our ministry calls for us to be consistent, God does not have a retirement plan!

**We will see that our ministry calls for integrity in it's service.

**We will see that our ministry calls for us to keep the "Gospel" simple.

**We will see that our ministry calls for us to serve Christ above ourselves.

**We will see that our ministry demands the presence of God within us!

**We will see that is is the presence of God that sustains us through all things in this life!

Our life is to be a manifestation of the "Gospel of Jesus Christ"!

*****2Co 4:1  Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

We know that word "therefore" means to look at the previous Scriptures which was last weeks lesson that ended with us doing our best to live in the image of Jesus Christ.

When we have received God's "Grace", which is "God's Riches At Christ Expense", which begins with God's "Mercy", then we have no reason to "faint".

We have no reason to give up!

We have no reason to be weak, we have no reason to be weary, we have no reason to fail!

We must remember God does not reward us for our accomplishments, for that is in His hands, God rewards us for "effort"!

We are not to give up our ministry for any reason, including persecution.

The "Gospel" will always be "Good News" to those who accept it!

The "Gospel" is the only cure for what ails this world. How can we call ourselves Christians, if we do love people enough to tell them of this cure!

Eph 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

So what are the traits of a true Pastor?

*****2Co 4:2  But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

Most pulpits would empty up on the first thing:

**God's ministry demands honesty and integrity! There must be purity in the motives of every man of God!

We are all sinners, including our Pastors but when things are hidden that could cause disgrace to that person or that church or a scandal to either, that person is no being honest in his ministry.

1Ti 3:2  A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

**God's ministry demands our Pastors to walk as Jesus walked. There must be purity in the conduct of our Pastors, they are not to be imposter's who pretend to lead others to Heaven without being prepared themselves.

He is not to walk using or misusing people, or circumstances, or events, all for his own purpose.

Eph 4:1  I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

**God's ministry demands purity in doctrine. The Word of God came from God, it is not to be handled like it came from man and subject to change.

God is the author and God is the authority behind His Words!

Each Pastor is only a spokesperson for God.

God does not intend for His Words to fit into the philosophy of man but be treated as Divine Truth!
God's Word is never to be twisted and turned in order to lead us into false doctrine!

The Pastor is never to add the ideas, the traditions, or the speculations of men to the Word of God.

The Pastor is to preach the whole council of God. Some parts of Scripture are tough to preach and may not set well with those who listen but the Word of God is always true!

These harsh places are to be studied and preached with the same love as those of salvation and the glories of Heaven.

Mat 22:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

Tit 1:9  Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Tit 1:14  Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
Tit 1:15  Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
Tit 1:16  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

**Every Pastor is to be true to the truth of the Word of God!

Mal 2:6  The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.
Mal 2:7  For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

The "Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ" is never to be hidden by words or by actions or confusion!

*****2Co 4:3  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2Co 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

We must be clear on just what is the "Gospel"!

The "Gospel" is the "good news" of God to a lost world!

I think it is "good news" that I know my Creator and my Spiritual Father, but many do not.

Even all of nature will teach us this truth of our Creator!

I think is is "good news" that our Father sent His Son into this world as a man but most see these as just words from a book of fables.

But when it says the God sent His Son into this world to save sinners, then this is certainly "good news"!

1Co 15:1  Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
1Co 15:2  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
1Co 15:3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

1Jn 2:1  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
1Jn 2:2  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
1Jn 2:3  And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
1Jn 2:4  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

This is the "Good News" the "Gospel" of the Lord Jesus Christ!

AND, the "Gospel" is only hid to those who refuse to believe!

Those who are "lost" are those who will perish because they refuse to accept this truth of the Word of God!

These are the ones who are traveling down the wrong road and in the wrong direction, totally opposite from the road that God has shed the light of Jesus upon.

These are all those who have chosen on their own, to travel away from God and therefore they cannot see God because their back is turned toward Him.

BUT, there is also another reason, "the god of this world has blinded the minds of those who believe not the "Gospel".

The god of this world is Satan!

The Scriptures teach us that Satan rules in the minds of the people of this world. Satan is not a figment of imagination, he is a real living person who lives in the spiritual world that surrounds us all.

Satan opposes God and everything God stands for!

Jesus said:

Satan is the "prince of this world".
Satan is the "evil one"
Satan is a murderer, a liar, and the father of all liars.

Paul said:

Satan was the "god of this world"
Satan was the "prince of the power of the air"

Peter said:

Satan was our "adversary".

John said Satan was the Devil.

What these things mean is, that it is Satan's evil nature that rules over this world!

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Satan is able to blind a person's mind more and more as they follow in the ways of this world because Satan appeals to the flesh.

Satan is able to manipulate any government that governs by the laws of man rather than the laws of God.

The reason all these things are true is because our own sin will not prepare us for the truth of the "Gospel".

Our sin has dulled our perception of sin, so sin is just punished by another sin until death comes as we completely separate ourselves from God!

Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The ministry of God requires each and every Pastor to be servants of the Word of God!

*****2Co 4:5  For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

No Pastor can preach Jesus Christ effectively who has not first learned the Spirit of Christ!

The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of complete self-sacrifice!

Php 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Php 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Php 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Php 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

A Pastor does not preach to build himself up in the eyes of man!
A Pastor does not preach, his own ideas, his own thoughts, or his own philosophy!
A Pastor does not preach to impress people, with his abilities, his speech or his leadership qualities!

The true Pastor preaches Jesus Christ and Him alone!
The true Pastor preaches that Jesus Christ is Lord!

And we need to always remember that Christ means the Messiah, the Savior promised by the Living God.

1Ti 2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
1Ti 2:6  Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

A true Pastor is a servant to the Church for Jesus' sake, he is not sent to please man just to lead them to the Savior!

Jesus Christ became our servant and He sacrificed Himself everyday and this He did for all of us!

Php 2:11  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

All these things have happened and will happen because our Creator, our Father in Heaven, commanded it to be so!

*****2Co 4:6  For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

If you haven't figured it out yet, when God speaks things happen!

Gen 1:3  And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

The Apostle Paul says even God's great act of creating light takes a back seat to the glorious light of Christ in our salvation!

Col 3:10  And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

You see it is God who shines in our hearts after salvation:

1Jn 5:1  Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

Salvation then, is seeking the "Glory of God" in the "Face of Jesus Christ".

We then know that the glory of God is in His Son Jesus and that Jesus is the absolute image of God!

Col 2:9  For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Heb 1:1  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Heb 1:2  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Heb 1:3  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

The Pastor that knows all these things and teaches all these things, must also be able to endure the troubles and trials of his profession all his days and it is the same for each saint of God.

*****2Co 4:7  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

It should obvious that no one Pastor has the power to do all these things in his own power. We see our own Pastor experience weariness and fatigue.

We see our own Pastor experience the strain of his work and the pressure in always doing the right thing in the eyes of his flock.

He is sometimes criticized and even opposed especially by this world we live in.

The thing we need to know is that it is the presence of God within him that sustains the Pastor and God will do the same for each child of God!

In verse 6; it is God who gives the light of knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

We are all earthen vessels!

Gen 2:7  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

God moves in to each believer, at the moment of salvation!

Rom 15:13  Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Rom 5:4  And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Rom 5:5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

At the moment of salvation, the presence of God enters into our bodies made of earth, our earthen vessels.

These earthen vessels are weak and worthless until it houses the presence of God.

The power to sustain every Pastor comes from within, because that is where the presence of God dwells!

**This power will convert and transform us into new creatures!

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

**This power makes us new everyday.

Eph 4:24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

**This is the power of the divine nature of God.

2Pe 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

**This is the power to give us abundant life here and throughout eternity.

Joh 10:10  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

1Ti 1:15  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
1Ti 1:16  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

It is God and God alone that is the strength of every child of God.

It is God that lives within each Pastor, and this is his true sustaining strength!

Sometimes our Pastor's troubles come from every direction!

*****2Co 4:8  We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
2Co 4:9  Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
2Co 4:10  Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

It is a fact that our Pastors and even each believer will face all sorts of troubles and difficult situations in this life but it is also a fact that the answer to the relief of these things lies within each of us by the Holy Spirit.

Our Pastors face many outward distresses but as only humans they face the same inward distresses that affect us all.

That word "Troubles" refer to the present situations.

That word "Perplexity" refers to the future.

When Jesus Christ was on the cross, He was forsaken by God and Man.

Mat 27:46  And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

But Jesus says though this happened to Him, it would never happen to those who believed upon Him.

Sure man will eventually forsake every Christian, but the Lord will never forsake us and He is the right hand of the power of God.

Heb 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Heb 1:1  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Heb 1:2  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Heb 1:3  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Many Christians are exposed to death every day and many die but before that last breath leaves that body, they already present with the Lord.

We will certainly be a corpse in this world one way or another, unless the "Rapture" takes place before our death but we will be a corpse that shares the life-giving power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ!

Jesus Christ gave His life for no one could take it from Him. Just as He had the power to give His life, He also had the power to take back His life.

Joh 10:17  Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
Joh 10:18  No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

This is the power of Christ that lies within each of us.

When we go to sleep in this world we will wake up in the glories of Heaven!

But, We should wake up every day willing to die for Jesus Christ!

And, We must die to ourselves to be that one who can serve the Lord!

Luk 9:23  And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Luk 9:24  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

Remember the cross is not a sign of life, it is a sign of "death"!

We may be cast down by this world but we are indestructible at the hands of this world!

Every Pastor will spend the rest of his life wrestling with the forces of evil but the strength that comes from the indwelling Spirit will sustain him if he clings to the Lord!

*****2Co 4:11  For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
2Co 4:12  So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

We have a tendency to forget sometimes that while Christ was and is the Almighty God, He also poured Himself into a body of flesh and physically, Jesus was dying to Himself daily.

It took every fiber of the physical body of Jesus to deliver His message to this lost world.

It is this great message of the Lord that brings life to all those who were once lost!

1Co 6:11  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Jesus Christ set the example for all those that would follow in His footsteps.

The Apostles clearly understood this and all but John were martyrs for the faith.

The Apostle Paul clearly understood these things and lost his head in the end simply for preaching the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ.

Every minister of the "Gospel" is to die daily.

Every minister of the "Gospel" is to die until they reach that point of eternal life.

Paul said he was alive only because the power of Christ's "life" is manifested in each and everyone that knows the Lord in a personal relationship!

Rom 8:10  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Rom 8:11  But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

No matter what we are going through as a child of God, we are never facing death if we have already died to our selves, we are facing a glorious life of eternity with our Lord.

So why do we cling to these lifeless, earthly vessels like they are so special when the true treasure of life lies within and can never die!

Php 3:7  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

The truth is, that every new "Born Again" child of God begins to live in a peace that they could have never known without the Lord, but that Pastor, or that Preacher must continue to die daily in order for others to come to know the Savior.

This is what Paul is saying to all those who are called of God to take His(Jesus) message to all the world.

Both these things happen because of the same "faith".

*****2Co 4:13  We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

When God poured Himself into the flesh of Jesus, He spent all His time bringing the truth of the Word of God.

Jesus Christ sacrificed His body in order that His message reach as many Jews as possible and even some Gentiles.

Jesus Christ died daily that all the world might have life!

Joh 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Every true minister of God is to die daily!

Col 3:3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

And it must be the "Spirit of faith" that sustains each Pastor and all those that minister the Word of God!

When the "Body of Christ" has "faith" and the Pastor has "faith" and they are the same "faith" in the "Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ", then we can have church.

We must speak as we believe!

Psa 116:9  I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
Psa 116:10  "I believed, therefore have I spoken": I was greatly afflicted:

A Pastor can never speak properly if he does not believe the things he says!
The more "faith" in his heart the more energy in his speech!
When a Pastor believes, he is bound to speak that truth!

Politicians speak because they are expected to say something.

God's chosen men speak because they have something to say!

God's truths are the most important message to speak in this world far above all other speech!

God will sustain those He has called upon.

Psa 41:11  By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.
Psa 41:12  And as for me, "thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever".

We should never forget there is no amount of work that get us closer to God but there is one work that we must do and the more the better.

Joh 6:28  Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
Joh 6:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, "that ye believe on him whom he hath sent".

The only work required of God is the work of "believing upon the Lord Jesus Christ"!

*****2Co 4:14  Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
2Co 4:15  For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

The Pastor that cannot believe in the "Rapture" of the Church then is not a true Pastor!

Jesus Christ was raised from the dead by His own power. Though there are those who reject this thing it is a proven fact, established by the things that happened.

The truth of each Pastor and of each believer is that we will be raised up also!

Once this raising has taken place we will all be presented by the Lord to our Father in Heaven.

Joh 5:23  That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
Joh 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Joh 5:25  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

All the struggles the Lord Jesus had, all the struggles Paul had, and all the struggles that God's Pastors and Preachers have, are for one purpose, that each believer can taste the "abundant Grace of God".

It is only these things that can bring our soul to the rest that God has promised!

Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Each Pastor then, is to meet the spiritual needs of each believer and lead these that believe to praise and glorify God!

Paul said this was a serious job.

*****2Co 4:16  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

What is the duality of man?

There is the outward man the flesh, and the inward man, the soul!

The inward man is renewed every day by the power of God through the Holy Spirit and "faith" in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And no matter what we do, the outward man perishes a little everyday and some days allot.

The truth of the Pastor who understands these things is that he will never quit on God!

He will allow nothing to drive him from the ministry God has called him to do!

He feels the presence of God.
He has the "Spirit of faith".
He has the hope of the resurrection.
He knows the needs of the people.
He know his work is for the glory of God!

The outward man is that earthen vessel, that house made of earth, the human flesh, the human body and it will age, wear out, deteriorate, corrupt and die!

The true Pastor knows that his inner man is renewed day by day.

He has been "Born Again".
He has been made alive by Christ Jesus.
He is a new creature.
He is indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
He knows this new hidden man of the heart is not corruptible.

1Pe 3:4  But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

He knows that it is the presence and the power of God that lives within him that sustains him in all things!

Psa 34:19  Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

And above all, it is the hope of glory that sustains the true man of God!

*****2Co 4:17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
2Co 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

The truth is everything we go through while living in these decaying bodies of flesh is light when compared to the eternal weight of our future glory.

In fact many of our afflictions have made us a better persons, we may not want to go back through them again but sometimes we are glad we went through some of these things.

Heb 12:11  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

So even our Pastor, who struggles day by day with afflictions, they to are light when compared to the glory that is coming to them if they remain faithful.

1Pe 5:4  And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

The things that are seen are earthly things whether good or bad, whether refreshing or afflicting, for they are only temporary and of this lifetime.

We must concentrate on the unseen things that only get clearer as we near our end!

Rom 1:20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Those that have the mind of Christ, can brightly behold what the eye cannot see!

Our goal is to spend eternity with God in the New Heavens and the New Earth and see the New City of Jerusalem!

Rev 21:1  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Rev 21:4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

When we wrap our minds around the "Grace" of God, "God's Riches At Christ's Expense", then the things of this earth have no real meaning!

It is the "Work" of God, and the "Purpose" of God that is the only real thing in this life! Amen

Questions?

Let's Pray!

Christian Liberty

Liberty No One Can Take Away

Book of 2 Corinthians 3


Today the Christian is considered more of a legalist than a believer.

Christians are looked on as just a people trying to force their will upon others.

These things are simply not true of the true Christian!

We can be sure that there are certainly legalist who may or may not be Christians but the commandments of God are not about legalism the Word of God is about proclaiming "freedom"!

We may be loosing our freedoms here in America but the freedom gained from loving the Lord is a freedom that we cannot lose.

This is a freedom that "No One Can Take Away"!

*****2Co 3:1  Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?

We know that from time to time a church must seek a new Pastor and in doing so they will have to consider the credentials of that person.

Paul says that a new minister's first credentials should never be letters of commendation from himself or from others.

We should remember:
Paul had been accused of arrogance.
Paul had been accused of making himself better than others.
Paul had been accused of distorting the Word of God.
Paul had been accused of saying that it was only he who preached the truth.

Remember Paul had already said his ministry was based on a true calling of God!
And Paul had already said the main credential for a Pastor was what he "preached" the Word of God!

2Co 2:17  For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

1) Then the first qualification of the Pastor is that he preach the whole council of God and never corrupt the Word of God.

There had been some men who had come to the church at Corinth with great letters of recommendation but all they done was to dispute the Apostle Paul.

No one is qualified for the ministry of God just because someone else says they are!

There are many things that mean so much more than that!

2) The next qualification of the Pastor is, "does does he really care for God's Church".

*****2Co 3:2  Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:

An epistle is essentially a letter. Paul considered these "born again" Corinthians as his personal letter of recommendation.

These people were written on the heart of the Apostle Paul.

Anyone who knew Paul, knew how much he cared for this church. They were very dear to him!

So we also see that people who have changed lives, are far more important than letters!

It was these people who were the proof that Paul was an Apostle of Jesus Christ.

3) The greatest accomplishment for any Pastor is that his ministry bears fruit!

The greatest commendation for Paul was the changes lives of the people in Corinth and their testimony.

The testimony of this church before the world was Paul's greatest letter of commendation.

1Co 1:6  Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
1Co 1:7  So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

1Co 9:2  If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

Each believer that steps outside the doors of the church and witnesses for the Lord is a special letter of recommendation for his Pastor!

The public and those who knew him, will see the difference of that changed life!

*****2Co 3:3  Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

When we accept the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ, then His words are written in the fleshy tables of our heart, by the Holy Spirit.

Remember it is the Holy Spirit that inspired all the Word of God!

2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

It is the Holy Spirit who is then  the writer of all Scripture!

It is the Holy Spirit who writes the words of Christ in our hearts!

1Co_6:11  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

The Apostle Paul is saying it is this process of salvation that is much more important than any letter of recommendation by any human!

These are the things that should matter to any church seeking a Pastor!

These are the things that should stand out when a Christian walks out into the world!

A Pastor's greatest recommendation is the changed lives of people he has led to the Lord!

Every believer is said to be read of all men and this is all our challenge that Jesus is our example of how to walk in this world.

1Pe_2:21  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

Being led by the Holy Spirit!

Rom_8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

And then walk in "faith"!

*****2Co 3:4  And "such trust" have we through Christ to God-ward:
2Co 3:5  Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

Another recommendation that should be recognized is that Pastor will hold himself accountable to God.

If that person is looking to man for his help and his reward, then he is not a true Pastor called of God!

If he is called by Christ then Christ will provide his needs. His sufficiency is of God!

He knows he has no power to change the heart of a believer.
He knows he does not have the power to give life to any person.
He knows that the assurance and security and the care of that person, these things are of God.
He knows that he cannot impart the Holy Spirit to anyone, the Holy Spirit does His own work!
He knows that salvation comes at the expense of Jesus Christ.

Only Christ can qualify any Pastor, Preacher or Missionary to share the Word of God!

The phrase "God-ward" means that this man knows that he serves God, he serves before God, and God will certainly inspect his work!

John the Baptist also clearly understood these facts!

Joh 3:27  John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

It is God that enables us all!

*****2Co 3:6  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

We must remember what Jesus said at the Lord's Supper.

Mat 26:26  And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
Mat 26:27  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
Mat 26:28  For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Every can called of God is to be a minister of this New Testament, this New Covenant.

The Old Covenant was written on tables of stone.

**The New Covenant must be written of the fleshy tables of the heart of each individual!

The Old Covenant brought death. The "wages of sin are death".

**The New Covenant brings life. The "gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ".

A covenant is an agreement made between two parties, a contract drawn up between two people.

In the Old Testament God dealt with man through the law, but now God deals with each of us through the Holy Spirit.

In other words, today God deals with each individual in a personal relationship.

No one can share God's presence by God's Spirit unless God allows this to happen!

It is God who has allowed this to happen, which is why the New Covenant is far superior to the Old Covenant!

A personal relationship is far better than any relationship from a distance!

Joh 14:26  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

The laws of man and the Laws of the Old Covenant were written of paper, stone, or wood
and therefore external.

The New Covenant is written on the heart of the believer and is therefore internal!

The Holy Spirit gives life and returns us to the relationship of mankind before the sin of Adam.

Col 3:10  And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Col 3:11  Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

The Believer is therefore "innocent" just as Adam was "innocent" before sin entered into him.

We are again wrapped up in God and the things of God!

Mat 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

If the Old Covenant is considered glorious by some, then the New Covenant must be considered even more glorious by all!

*****2Co 3:7  But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
2Co 3:8  How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?

There is no doubt that those 10 commandments written on stone tablets let all of us know what God considers to be sin and the "wages of sin is death" which means a complete separation from God throughout eternity.

The actual intent of those commandments were then to teach us repentance!

**Those laws have some glory because they were given to Moses and actually written the first time by the hand of God.

God's glory shone in the face of Moses.

Exo 33:20  And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.
Exo 33:21  And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:
Exo 33:22  And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:
Exo 33:23  And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.

**Those commandments were glorious in that they revealed the nature of a Holy and Righteous God.

We can only approach God in this same way!

Exo 34:6  And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
Exo 34:7  Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

**Those laws are glorious because they show all the world the great need of salvation!

Rom 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

The glory of God was so bright upon Moses face, that the children of Israel could not look upon his face but this glory was to be done away with because it was only temporary.

The glory on the face of Moses faded in a short time!

The glory of the Old Covenant was only a temporary arrangement between God and man!

No one could keep all the law, all their lifetime and with just one failure came the sentence of death!

The New Covenant is much more glorious because of the ministration of the Holy Spirit!

Joh_6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Rom_8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Gal 6:8  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

The Old Covenant brought only condemnation.

*****2Co 3:9  For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
2Co 3:10  For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

The Old Covenant brought "condemnation"!

The New Covenant brings "righteousness"!

These things are as far apart as the East is to the West.

2Pe 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

By comparing the New Covenant to the Old Covenant we see that in actuality the Old Covenant really had no glory at all!

The Old Covenant then actually brings a curse to all who try to live by it!

Gal 3:10  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

There is no one who has ever lived that have obeyed all the law all the time of their life!

So God had made these things to be only temporary!

*****2Co 3:11  For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

The truth of the perfect relationship with God is that if we desire to have a personal relationship with our God we must invite God's Spirit into our hearts and our lives and that can only be done by asking the Lord Jesus Christ in believing faith.

BUT, Those that cannot trust in the Triune God can have no part of Him!

This is the God of the Bible!

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Eph 2:18  For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Eph 2:19  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

All those seeking some other way to reach our Father in Heaven will never find one!

The point of all these Scriptures of the Apostle Paul is to prove that a true Pastor will not serve the Old Covenant but he will serve the New Covenant of Jesus Christ.

Eph 2:18  For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Eph 2:19  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Eph 2:21  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

It is the knowledge of these things that give us the hope that in truth is reality!

*****2Co 3:12  Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
2Co 3:13  And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
2Co 3:14  But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.

Many people ask, well what was the "spiritual" of the vail on Moses face.

The Old Covenant spoke with a veiled meaning but the New Covenant speaks clearly, is bold, and is plain in it's meaning, because the New Covenant is given by the Holy Spirit!

1Co 2:12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1Co 2:13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

We must notice that the people withdrew from the glory of God until Moses placed that veil upon his face. "They could not look to the end of that which is abolished".

Even today all those who are lost and even many of those who say they are Christian cannot look to the end of that which God abolished!

Some of these are certainly legalist.

Many still work and work to keep the law, believing all the time that they are earning the favor and the acceptance of God, but this is impossible!

We all at one time were blinded to the intent of the Law and many still are today, including most all Jews.

The Law was given to show us that man will always come up short of the "Glory" of God.
The Law was given to show us that man will always come up short of the "perfection" of God!
The Law was given to show the world that no one, absolutely no one, could keep those laws all their lifetime and that we all desperately are in need of a Savior who could keep the Law!
The Law was given to reveal the nature of God's Glory and God's Perfection!

In truth that veil was not covering their eyes, "it was covering their hearts"!

*****2Co 3:15  But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
2Co 3:16  Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

Not just in Moses time. Not just in Paul's time, but even today when the Old Testament is read, those that still follow the law are still blinded to the truth.

The true purpose of the Law is still hidden!

In fact the purpose of the entire Old Testament is to point this world toward Jesus Christ.

The Old Testament still holds great importance to everyone:

2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

We just cannot linger in the Old Testament but we must move on into the New Testament. Notice the message of Jesus:

Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Joh 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

The Catholic Church say that it was established by the Apostle Peter and what does Peter say?

Why then do they add to the "Doctrine of Peter"?

Act 10:43  To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Act 10:44  While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

Peter said the Old Testament was a witness for Jesus Christ and whoever placed their "faith" in Jesus Christ would be relieved of the burden of all those old Laws!

Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Testament!

The New Testament is written in the heart of the believer by the Holy Spirit!

If your heart is occupied by God, it will be noticed by all others!

This is where the freedom of the Christian comes from!

Joh 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Our "freedom" and our "liberty" come from the Holy Trinity, the Triune God!

*****2Co 3:17  Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

We should be clear, the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit are not the same they are two of the persons in the God-Head with our Father in Heaven being the third.

There is no liberty without the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is Jesus Christ who freed us all from the burden of the Old Testament Laws.
It is the Holy Spirit who writes the New Testament Law into our hearts.
It is our Father in Heaven who forgives our sin!

Gal 4:6  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Gal 4:7  Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Eph 2:21  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Eph 2:22  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

We must never doubt the intention of the Word of God, it is the entire Word of God that will lead us to perfection!

*****2Co 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

We are being changed gradually and we will be changed, this is a continuous operation until we meet the Lord!

We must not be impatient if this process seems slow.
We must not be complacent over our partial transformation which we may feel.
We must never turn our gaze away from the Lord.

Remember Peter walked on the water as it was pavement, until he took his eyes off the Lord!

If the likeness of Jesus Christ is not your intention, then you only have religion but not salvation!

We must be changed into the same image, "from glory to glory" and that can only happen by the Spirit of the Lord!

Free from sin.
Free from the Law.
Free from the bondage of sin.
Free from the power of Satan, which is the fear of death.
Free from corruption.

Free to stand face to face with Jesus Christ!

1Jn_3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

When we stand before the Lord, that is when our own knowledge will increase and we will know all things.

1Co 13:12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
1Co 13:13  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

This is the goal of each and every believer and this is why we are looking for the day we will meet our Lord in the air!

Tit 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Tit 2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Questions?

Let's Pray!