Passing On The Vision

PASSING ON THE VISION   11/17/2000

"Churches of Christ are short on Christian love, forgiveness, and vision for the future." Do you believe this statement is true?

Notice what Jacob did in Genesis 30:37-43. "Then he set up these peeled branches by the watering trough so Laban's flocks would see them...all of their offspring were streaked, speckled and spotted." God was responding to Jacob's prayer.

A visionary church stays on course, clearly knowing and communicating the vision God has for the whole body for the long term. The vision goes beyond the present leaders to a visionary people! [Eph. 4:12-16]

"It is better to get ten men to work - than to try to do the work of ten men." Have the vision, but it will take others to fulfill this vision. A vision shared stirs others and gives them something to believe God for. Leaders equip others to operate within the vision. But, not all the vision comes from the leaders. People are drawn to the local church by the Holy Spirit - either to be saved (obey the gospel) or to help fulfill the vision of the local church. We want to see others saved and made followers of Jesus Christ [Matt. 28:18-20].

When members share about a visionary church to others, they are sharing about a movement that will outlast a man or a woman. Note 2 Timothy 1:5; 2:1-2; 3:14-15.

1) A visionary church moves ahead. People are not attracted to sterile and lifeless forms, but to that which is life-giving and relational. Where there is relationship and spiritual life, there will be a natural numerical growth. The old proverb: "You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar" is still true. The honey is the Doing & Dying & Rising Again of Jesus Christ [Rev. 10:8-11].

2) A visionary church grows leaders. Nehemiah went for a ride one evening to inspect the walls of Jerusalem [Nehemian 2:12]. The following day he recruited priests, goldsmiths, rulers, merchants, families and farmers. It wasn't about numbers or a perfect wall. It was about instilling vision and working together in relationship for a common goal.

3) A visionary church is kingdom-minded. We believe the kingdom did come on Pentecost (Acts 2) and did spread to cover the world (Daniel 2:44). A visionary church is concerned beyond the local community to a vision of the World conquered for Jesus! People are not a means to an end - but they are God's greatest love! "God so loved the world..."

4) A visionary church is authentic. "New cars smell new for only a short time, and then the newness wears off." Promotion attracts the latest church-hoppers, but prayer breeds close-knit relationships that experience spiritual vitality and a church of substance. People are attracted to God's love manifested through relationships with people. God's love is authentic! Note Romans 5:5; 1 John 7-21.

"Older is not always better" [Luke 5:39]. The "new wine" of the Gospel must always be our first priority. If the "old wine" of the past is not working for you, perhaps you need to "reload" the original program of the Book of Acts and drink deeply from the springs of living water. The reality of the Holy Spirit in people's lives was evident. Acts 2:42-47 describe the process of relationship in a church with vision. "Praising God and enjoying the good will of all the people." You must decide where you fit according to your own spiritual values and build accordingly.

A NEW PENTECOST

A NEW PENTECOST 2

 Pentecost ushered in God’s Kingdom, filling the earth.  But we continually need fresh refillings of our cup of life.  Note Acts 4:31-33.  A NEW Pentecost would be a new refurbishing of the Kingdom/church.  This would be a return to the church of the Acts of the Apostles.  It was with the power of God that the disciples reached all the world with the gospel of Christ.  Perhaps the church in recent years has had “amnesia” about The Holy Spirit.

[Campbell spoke of Jehovah the Father, Jehovah the Son, Jehovah the Holy Spirit (in The Christian System) – emphasizing the Oneness of God yet the revelation of His divine diversity.]

 “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”  1 Cor 13:13

 “For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.”  Gal 5:5-6

WHY  DO  YOU  HOPE

Stand up and praise the Lord your God!

Praise Him forever and ever!
Let everyone praise His glorious name,
although no human praise
can ever be great enough.

The long history of the church is filled

with the wonders of God The Holy Spirit.
Who would dare to say that the love
and resourcefulness
of God were exhausted?

I believe in the surprises

of God The Holy Spirit.
The ways of His Providence
are by nature surprising.

We are not prisoners of "fate,"

nor of the gloomy predictions
of sociologists
and those who peer into the future.

We must therefore be ready

to expect
the unexpected
from God!

It is time for a Christian Revolution               

    From time to time God-The-Holy-Spirit shakes our world and produces revival, renewal, and spiritual awakening.  People repent and seek to be right with God.  Lives are cleaned up and morality thrives.  Righteousness becomes a virtue.  The fruit of The Spirit becomes real in the community of the faithful.  HE - The Spirit - proves to the world that they are wrong about sin, and about what is right, and about God's judgment.  (“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” John 16:7-11). 

We believe He produces in the Christian such things as Christian love (Romans 5:1-5), holy joy (“For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,” 1 Thess 1:5-6; “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 13:52), and fruitful Christian life (“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Gal 5:22-23

    The church is faced with a sense of pessimism and defeat.   Even Christians spread gloom, even though this is the contradiction of everything they would be expected to believe.  But a real Christian is a man/woman of hope.  Apostle Peter went so far as to say that a disciple of Christ should always have an answer ready for people who inquire about hope (But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;”  1 Peter 3:15).  Hope is an essential part of our very being.  But just now in some circles hope has drawn criticism from those who see it as just a “tranquilizer” to divert our attention from our problems

    Christianity means hope!  We must take hold of hope and restore it to its rightful place in our thinking.  Hope is real, from God, and relies on God.  Hope makes a mockery of our weighty statistics, our probability charts, our forecasts of the future.   “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, says the LORD” (Isaiah 55:8). 

    Hope is the servant of God, the “Master of the impossible” who draws straight with crooked lines (compare Isaiah 45:2-3).  Hope is the “daughter” of the God who cannot be pigeonholed and who knows how to turn obstacles into servants to do His will.

    Some are distressed that they cannot recognize the church of their childhood (as they think they remember it).  Be of courage!  God the Holy Spirit is at work deep within the heart of His church.  He is the living hope for the future.  He is breathing into the church a fresh youthfulness.  He wishes to draw us close to Himself.

    We read the Book of Acts, which might be called “The Acts of The Holy Spirit.”  We relive in our minds the time when the disciples were in the upper room, 120 of them,  the apostles and the Seventy, along with several women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers, who had not been believers before (Acts 1:14).  We pray: “Renew Your wonders, O Lord, in this our day give us a new Pentecost.”

    By the power of the Gospel, He - The Spirit - makes the church grow (“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.” 1 Cor 3:6-7)

    “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”  2 Cor 3:5-6

  “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.”  John 16:8-11).  We must look to The Spirit beyond men and their limitations.  We must open a few windows in the upper room and allow the first breeze of springtime to come in to us.  Paul warned that while some have the form, they deny the power (2 Timothy 3:5).  And Christianity is about power.  “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”  2 Tim 1:7

    The Holy Spirit has ways and means of renewing the church.  The Spirit, suddenly and without warning, releases a gulfstream of graces through the action of some believer (saint), who towers over the others.  Churches of Christ honor Campbell, father & son, Stone, Scott, Smith, and others who led the “restoration movement” to recover [refurbish] the Ancient Order of things.  Many whose names we do not know have also played a vital role as witnesses to the presence of The Holy Spirit within the church in moments of crisis and opportunity.

    Faith teaches us that suffering is the seed of life.  It is perfectly normal, then, that the sufferings of the church today should give rise to great hope.  No day was so filled with hope, as we look back, as the Friday before the Crucifixion.  When Jesus was lifted up on the cross, He won the victory over death, hell, and the grave.  And so as someone wrote: “It is a happy time for the church when she is sustained by nothing other than God.”  Another wrote: “The hour of suffering is the hour of God.  The situation is hopeless: this, then, is the hour for hoping. . . When we have reasons for hoping then we rely on those reasons. . . We should rely not on reasons, but on a promise - a promise given by God. . . We must admit that we are lost, surrender ourselves as lost, and praise the Lord who saves us.”  Desperation – yet CONFIDENCE IN THE LORD!

    Each new crisis teaches us that we are living at a turning point in the history of the church.  God The Holy Spirit is continually revealing, to a degree unknown before, a mystery of death and resurrection.  Now, and always, it is the time to listen to “what the Spirit is saying to the churches” (Revelation 2:29).  He is telling us, it seems, to carry out the very necessary reform and renewal of the church.  The church will always be needing spiritual awakening.  As someone said: “The church must grow from the inside out.”  Paul the Apostle wrote: "Therefore He says: Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light."  Eph. 5:14.  see Acts 26:18; 2Cor. 4:6; Heb. 6:4; 10:32.

   

TRANSFIGURATION

The Transfiguration of Christ

“Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.” Mark 9:2-4 (NKJV)

The Transfiguration of Christ is the high point of His public ministry. His Baptism is its starting point, and His Ascension its end. Moreover, this glorious event has been related in detail by Matthew (17:1-6), Mark (9:1-8), and Luke (9:28-36), while Peter (2 Peter 1:16-18) and John (1:14), two of the privileged witnesses, hint at it.

About a week after His sojourn in Cæsarea Philippi, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them to a high mountain apart, where He was transfigured before their ravished eyes. Matthew and Mark explain the true meaning of the word by adding "his face did shine as the sun: and his garments became white as snow," or "as light," according to the Greek text.

This dazzling brightness which shone from His whole Body was produced by an interior shining of His Divinity. False Judaism had rejected the Messiah, and now true Judaism, represented by Moses and Elijah, the Law and the Prophets, recognized and worshipped Him, while for the second time God the Father proclaimed Him His only-begotten and well-loved Son. By this glorious manifestation the Divine Master, who had just foretold His Passion to the Apostles (Matthew 16:21), and who spoke with Moses and Elijah of the trials which awaited Him at Jerusalem (Luke 9:30-31), strengthened Jesus for His death, and the faith of his three friends and prepared them for the terrible struggle of which they were to be witnesses in Gethsemane, by giving them a foretaste of the glory and heavenly delights to which we attain by suffering.

"Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying:
"You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth." Rev 5:8-10

O God, You revealed to chosen witnesses Your dearly loved Son, wonderfully transfigured, in raiment white and glistening: Mercifully grant that we, being delivered from the confusion of this world, may by faith see King Jesus in His beauty; Father, Son, Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. [from an old prayer]

Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. . . . And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!" Luke 9:28-35

Peter, James, and John, seem to be the inner circle of those closest to Jesus. These three men were eyewitnesses of the Divine Glory of this One who was the Son of Man. This confirmed the Messiahship of Christ which Peter had declared. Mark tells us: .As they looked on, a change came over Jesus, and His clothes became shining white -- whiter than anyone in the world could wash them.. This is symbolic of the supernatural, and of the Divinity of Jesus the Christ. (We also have a share in this as well, see 1 John 3:1-2. “For we shall see Him as He is.” 2 Peter 1:4 “Partakers of the divine nature.”)

"Finally, the Holy Trinity is manifest here, for Christ is transfigured (Matt. 17:2), the Father speaks from heaven testifying to Jesus' divine Sonship (Matt. 17:5), and the Spirit is present in the form of the dazzling light surrounding Christ's Person, overshadowing the whole mountain." Walerstedt

"For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 2 Peter 1:16-17

Compare: “But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" Jesus said, "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?" And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.” Mark 14:61-64

Blessed are You, mighty God of light,
for Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus stood Transfigured on the mountain,
and none comprehends His majesty,
Whose splendor stuns all waking souls.
Your light transcends the brightness of a thousand suns!
For Jesus is the Chosen One,
Your beloved Son called by name,
the living hope of every nation.
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world.
Lamb of God, take away my sin.
Grant me life eternal!
For these and all Your mercies, I praise You:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: Blessed be God for ever!
[from an old prayer]

PS: “Antichrist” is anyone who does not confess that the Son of God became Man [flesh & blood] while remaining God. 1 John 4:1-4.

PREACHING CHRIST

WE PREACH CHRIST!!!

Gospel Meetings used to be called Protracted Meetings in the 1940s, and were called Revivals by many. These are times of evangelistic outreach, lifting up and honoring Christ Jesus and letting His light of truth shine. "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not." John 1:9-10 (KJV)

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this." Isaiah 9:6-7 (KJV)

"For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him." Heb 1:5-6 (KJV)

"According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. " 1 Cor 3:10-11 (KJV)

In the year of 1794, on August 4th, Rice Haggard stood in the meeting at Old Lebanon Church, Surry County, Virginia, with a New Testament in his hand, and said: "Brethren, this [New Testament] is a sufficient rule of faith and practice. And by it we are told that the disciples were called Christians. And I move that henceforth and forever the followers of Christ be known as Christians simply." This proved to be the beginning of the "Stone-Campbell Movement" in America. [The Lord's Church dates from Pentecost.]

Salvation unites the believer with Christ. Said Stone: "We urged upon the sinner to believe now, and receive salvation...No previous qualification was required, or necessary, in order to believe in Jesus, and come to Him - that if they were sinners, this was their divine warrant to believe in Him and to come to Him for salvation...When we first began to preach these things, the people appeared as just awakened from the sleep of ages - they seemed to see for the first time that they were responsible beings, and that a refusal to use the means appointed [for salvation] was a damning sin."
Walter Scott, who came to be thought of as The Evangelist used the "five-finger exercise" to help people remember: Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Remission of sins, Gift of the Holy Spirit." These were man's response to God's offer of salvation. Christ is preached: His Death and Resurrection. Sinners are to believe in Christ, repent of sins, and be baptized into Christ for remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit [Acts 2:38]. With this message, Scott led thousands each year [in the 1800's] to "obey the gospel."
Unity is a command of Christ. In 1832, Stone and Campbell joined the right hand of fellowship. Stone wrote in 1833: "How vain are all human attempts to unite a bundle of twigs together, so as to make them grow together and bear fruit. They must first be united with the living stock, and receive its sap and spirit, before they can ever be united with one another. The members of the body cannot live unless by union with its head - nor can members of the church live united, unless first united with Christ The Living Head. His Spirit is the bond of union. Men have devised many plans to unite Christians - all in vain. There is but one effectual plan, which is, that all be united with Christ and walk in Him."
We "stand on the shoulders" of those who have gone before us. Their work of faith is very important to us. Read Paul's teaching in 1 Cor. 15:1-8; Titus 2:11-14; 3:3-8; Col. 2:11-14.

GOD IN THREE PERSONS

GOD IN THREE PERSONS - FATHER, SON, SPIRIT

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee:
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty,
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity.
[original first verse of song #238]

"It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Mark 1:9-11

"The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, 'After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.' I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water." And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God." John 1:29-34

John had been preaching and baptizing for some six months, when we see Jesus come to be baptized also. Mark shows us Jesus apparently waiting in line like everybody else, and with everybody else. A strange way for the Messiah to enter the stage of history! The "Sinless One" shows he is willing to be a part of sinful humanity (compare Heb. 2:14-18). The visible form of the Spirit was probably for the benefit of the people there (compare John 12:30). The key to what took place at the baptism of Jesus is found in these words by Robert Brinsmead. “A thing cannot be a new covenant sign or seal if Christ as God did not give it. Neither can it be God’s sign or seal if Christ as man did not also accept it from God and give God thanks for it.” The baptism of Jesus set the pattern for him to be the first among many brothers and sisters (Rom. 8:29). We learn that this event was to be the mark of identification to show the one who was the Messiah (see John 1:29-34). In the same way, Christian baptism can be viewed as a mark of identification in which the Holy Spirit "seals" us to God (Eph. 1:13-14). God voiced his approval of Christ Jesus in a way which all those present could hear (Mark 1:11; 9:7; John 12:28). So it was Jesus the Christ, the Logos [WORD] as a human being, who came both with the water of his baptism and the blood of his death (1 John 5:6).


THE MINISTRY OF THE KINGDOM, The Holy Spirit. Jesus’ ministry did not begin until He received His “anointing” as Messiah—the empowering that came through the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Him (Mark 1:10). Though conceived and born by the Spirit’s power (Luke 1:35) and sinless His whole lifetime (John 8:46), He did not attempt ministry without the Spirit’s power. He insisted John baptize Him, not for repentance, but because He knew the Holy Spirit would come upon Him at that time (Matt. 3:13–17). From that time, He is led of the Spirit (Mark 1:12) and moves into ministry— declaring the presence of God’s kingdom and manifesting its miracles, signs, and wonders (Luke 4:14, 15; Matt. 4:23–25). This pathway points each believer to the need for power, if kingdom ministry is to be advanced through us—His church. Like Him, we, too, are “born of the Spirit” (John 3:5-6). Though obviously, our spiritual birth is not as His biological virgin birth, the point remains. Spiritual rebirth saves, but spiritual endowment is needed for ministering in kingdom power. Similarly, our justification in Christ—(being declared sinless, 2 Cor. 5:21)—does not qualify for kingdom power in ministry. In His incarnation Jesus’ Person and perfection exceeded ours in every way, yet Jesus still acknowledged the need for His own receiving of the power of the Holy Spirit to pursue His ministry. What more needs to be said? Let each of us personally hear His command: “Receive the Holy Spirit!” (John 20:22). [compare Matt. 18:18–35; Luke 4:1; 9:1-2; 11:13]

"The Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob," Says the Lord. "As for Me," says the Lord, "this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants' descendants," says the Lord, "from this time and forevermore."
Isaiah 59:20-21; Romans 11:26

Without The Holy Spirit God is far away.

WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

Creation is resurrected and groans with the Kingdom - Romans 8:19-23

The Risen Christ is there Romans 8:11; 2 Cor 4:14

The Gospel is the power of life Romans 1:16-17

The Church shows forth the life of the Trinity 2 Cor 13:14

Authority is a liberating service Gal 5:1

Mission is a Pentecost Acts 2:38-39

Worship is both memorial and anticipation 1 Cor 11:26

Human action is harmonized with God Romans 14:17

Jesus said: Behold I come quickly. Rev 22:12

RECEIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT

A. Campbell could emphasize the Oneness of God while recognizing the triune nature of God revealed in the Scriptures. He wrote in The Christian System of: "Jehovah the Father, Jehovah the Son, Jehovah the Holy Spirit."

Compare this from J.W.McGarvey in his Original Commentary On Acts.

Acts XIX: 1–7. Having sketched briefly the visit of Apollos to Ephesus, and thus prepared the way for an account of Paul's labors in the same city, the historian now reaches the point for which he had so hurriedly passed over the apostle's journey from Antioch through Galatia and Phrygia and around to Ephesus. The appointment which he left in Ephesus, as he passed through on his way to Jerusalem, is now to be fulfilled. (1) “Now while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul, having passed through the upper districts, came to Ephesus, and finding certain disciples, (2) said to them, Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed? But they said to him, We have not so much as heard that the Holy Spirit is given. (3) He said to them, Into what, then, were you immersed? They said, Into John's immersion. (4) Then Paul said, John indeed immersed with the immersion of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on him who would come after him, that is, on the Christ Jesus. (5) And when they heard this they were immersed into the name of the Lord Jesus. (6) And when Paul laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. (7) All the men were about twelve.”

This passage is valuable chiefly because it shows how the apostles dealt with parties who, at that time, were immersed with John's immersion. This, no doubt, was Luke's object in introducing it. In order to understand the case, it is necessary to keep distinctly in view the facts stated of the parties previous to and subsequent to their immersion by Paul. They are called disciples, and were known as such when Paul found them; for it is said “he found certain disciples.” They were disciples, not of John, but of Jesus; for the uniform currency of the term disciple, throughout Acts, requires us to so understand it. This is further evident from Paul's question, “Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?” The term believed evidently refers to Jesus as its object. They were known, then, as disciples of Jesus, and were so recognized by Paul.

Up to the moment of his conversation with them, Paul knew nothing of any irregularity in their obedience; for this was made known, to his surprise, during the conversation. When, therefore, he asked the question, “Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?” he could not have referred to that gift of the Spirit which all disciples receive; for he would take this for granted, from the fact that they were disciples. He must, then, have had reference to the miraculous gift, which some disciples did not receive.

It is inconceivable that these disciples were ignorant of the existence of the Holy Spirit, hence a literal rendering of their reply, “We have not so much as heard that there is a Holy Spirit,” would convey a false idea. The supplement given is necessary to complete the sense, as it is in John 7:39, where it is said, “The Holy Spirit was not yet, because Jesus was not yet risen.” The term given must be supplied, in the latter case, in order to avoid the denial of the existence of the Spirit previous to the resurrection; and, in the former, to avoid the declaration of an ignorance on the part of these men inconsistent with the fact that they were disciples.

This answer at once revealed to Paul that there was some irregularity in their religious history; for no one could be properly discipled without learning that the Holy Spirit was to be given. He at once perceived, too, that the irregularity must have been connected with their immersion; for he inquires, “Into what, then, were you immersed?” If the gift of the Spirit had no connection with immersion, this inquiry would have been inapposite, and Paul would not have propounded it. But the apostles taught as Peter did on the day of Pentecost, when he said, “Repent and be immersed, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” It is only on the supposition that Paul knew this to be the universal teaching of rightly-informed brethren, that he inferred something wrong about their immersion, from their ignorance of the gift of the Holy Spirit. This supposition, however, which is a necessary, not an optional one, makes the whole matter very plain. Paul's first question had reference to the miraculous gift of the Spirit; but when they said they knew not that the Holy Spirit was given, he saw that they were ignorant of even the ordinary gift, which is promised to all who repent and are immersed, and that they were immersed without proper instruction.

Their reply, that they were immersed into John's immersion, relieved the case of all obscurity, and Paul then understood it perfectly. He explained, that John's immersion was one of repentance, to be followed by faith in the Messiah when he should come. Those immersed by him believed that the Messiah was coming; but they did not, until after their immersion, believe that Jesus was the Messiah, nor did they have a promise of the Holy Spirit. They were not, therefore, immersed into the name of Jesus or that of the Holy Spirit. This is further evident from the fact that Paul commanded these twelve to be “immersed into the name of the Lord Jesus,” which the authority of the commission requires us to understand as equivalent to the expression, “into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” These points of defect, however, were not peculiar to the immersion of the twelve, but attached also to that of the twelve apostles, the hundred and twenty disciples, and the five hundred who saw Jesus together in Galilee after the resurrection, none of whom were reimmersed. What, then, led to the immersion of these parties? If their immersion had taken place, like that of all the others just named, while John's immersion was still an existing institution, no reason could be given for their reimmersion. This, then, forces us to the conclusion that they had been immersed with John's immersion after it had ceased to be administered by divine authority. Apollos had been recently preaching this obsolete immersion in Ephesus, and these persons may have been immersed by him. If so, they submitted to an institution which had been abrogated more than twenty years, and this was the defect that led to their reimmersion. The general conclusion, from all the premises, is this: that persons who were immersed with John's immersion, while it was in lawful existence, were received into the Church of Christ without reimmersion. But persons who were thus immersed, after the introduction of apostolic immersion, were reimmersed. The reason why Apollos was not reimmersed as well as the twelve, was, doubtless, because, like the apostles and the other original disciples, he was immersed during the ministry of John.
—Acts of the Apostles

Certainly the Book of Acts shows "Pentecost" as ongoing and continual.

Interview with B.W.Stone

An interview between Elder Barton W. Stone and the Christian Ledger.
"Jesus says: Yes! I'm on my way! I'll be there soon!" R.D.Ice 3-24-06

Certainly life was much different on the frontier in Kentucky when the Cane Ridge Revival took place. Our Restoration Movement was just beginning. The language and the customs were not the same. If we could have been there we would have been shocked by some things, but impressed that this was a work of God because lives changed. Communions (annual three- to-five-day meetings climaxed with the Lord's Supper) gathered people in the dozens, maybe the hundreds. Friday, August 6, 1801, wagons and carriages bounced along narrow Kentucky roads, kicking up dust and excitement as hundreds of men, women, and children pressed toward Cane Ridge, a church about 20 miles west of Lexington, the state capital at that time. They hungered to partake in what everyone felt was sure to be an extraordinary "Communion." At this Cane Ridge Communion, though, sometimes 20,000 people swirled about the grounds -watching, praying, preaching, weeping, groaning, falling. Though some stood at the edges and mocked, most left marveling at the wondrous hand of God. The power of this Revival was the engine that drove the "restoration."

If time travel were an option, an interview with Stone might sound something like the following.

Ledger: Brother Stone, now that you have spent a few days in our 21st Century, what surprises you most about our culture?

Stone: I am speechless! I can't believe people can talk on what they call telephones while they drive self- propelled vehicles called cars. And $3.99 for a cup of coffee at, what is it, Starbucks. Americans seem too busy. No time at all for prayer.

Ledger: Now that you have visited some of our large churches and watched our Christian television programs, what do you think about the state of Christianity today?

Stone: (There is an awkward pause while he fidgets with his hat. He says nothing.)

Ledger: We can come back to that question later. Meanwhile, tell us what it was like at the Great Revival at Cane Ridge.

Stone: (He regains some composure.) The services at Cane Ridge ran almost continuously. Preachers were preaching in various parts of the area. Seeking souls were crying out to God almost any hour of the day or night. "Men and brethren what shall we do?" This went on for days. The people came to meet God.

The Revival at Cane Ridge did not depend upon human leaders. God broke hearts with the gospel, shaking strong men and women, then putting them back together again, for His glory. It was a tremendous changing process. Pride and the lust of the flesh and things that had seemed so important and just general boredom with the world could not survive there! Ledger: That is quite a contrast with what we see in our churches today. In 2006 we like our preachers to be celebrities.

Stone: (Another long pause.) We did not even have a platform or pulpit in the beginning. All were on the same level. The preachers were servants in the true meaning of the word. We did not honor men for their advantage in means or education, but rather for their God-given gifts.

Ledger: American Christianity today is big. We like BIG! We are reaching millions with our television programs, our Web sites and huge churches. Doesn't that excite you?

Stone: (He strokes his beard and fidgets with his hat again. No answer.)

Ledger: This is awkward. I'm not enjoying this interview.

Stone: At Cane Ridge, the rich and educated were the same as the poor and ignorant, and found a much harder death to die. We only recognized God. All were equal before Him.

Ledger: How did you end up at Cane Ridge?

Stone: In the winter of 1796 I came from Virginia to Cane Ridge on a preaching tour and stayed a year. Then I came back in 1798 to be the preacher at the Cane Ridge and Concord Churches. But I sensed that God was about to do great things there in the wilderness.

Ledger: Why did God choose you to lead the Cane Ridge Revival?

Stone: A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Like Paul I hear God saying: "My strength is made perfect in weakness." Evidently the Lord found there a company of people through whom He could have the right-of-way. The time had come.

The Revival was like fire in dry stubble driven by the wind. All felt its influence more or less. It silenced contention and promoted unity for a while. It had to be of God, for lives were changed! People confessed Christ, quit their sin and began to be righteous and holy.

Ledger: So we need more humility and prayer today?

Stone: Paul said it was God who gave the increase. The prayer life is needed much more than even church-buildings or organizations. These are often a substitute for the other. At Cane Ridge we all lifted one voice to God and asked Him to do great things! We prayed to the Lord of the harvest! And souls were born into the kingdom through prayer! It was like the great Day of Pentecost all over again! We told them just what Peter said on that day in Acts ch 2.

And the effects did continue for some time. Revival swept across the nation. An utterly lawless community was transformed into a God-fearing one. But some men trying to save their own tottering ark put unholy hands on it. Yet God is able to use even our wrath to praise Himself, as the Psalmist wrote. Like Paul, I want to know HIM and the Power of His Resurrection! And I remember how the Lord promised the church at Philadelphia an open door and that no man can shut it! So I am still hopeful.

About 1844 I wrote: "We have been too long engaged with defending ourselves, rather than the truth as it is in Jesus. Let us trust our little selves with the Lord; and rest not, till by faith in the promised Spirit and by incessant prayer we receive and be filled with it, like they were of old in the ancient order of things."

Ledger: So then you would pray for Revival, Renewal, and Spiritual Awakening.

Stone: Exactly. In 1833 I wrote in my Christian Messenger paper: "How vain are all human attempts to unite a bundle of twigs together, so as to make them grow together and bear fruit! They must first be united with the living stock, and receive its sap and spirit, before they can ever be united with each other. So must we be first united with Christ, and receive his Spirit, before we can ever be in spirit united with one another. The members of the body cannot live unless by union with the head—nor can the members of the church be united, unless first united with Christ, the living head. His Spirit is the bond of union. Men have devised many plans to unite Christians - all are vain. There is but one effectual plan, which is, that all be united with Christ and walk in him."

Again: "When in heart we believe and obey the gospel, God gives us his holy, quickening Spirit; he gives us salvation, and eternal life--In this Spirit we feel a tender concern for sinners, and are led to plead with them, and pray for them. They see our good works, and from conviction are led to glorify God--they see the light of Zion, and flow to it--they see the union of Christians, and are by this means led to believe in Jesus unto salvation and eternal life. God has ordained that the unbelieving world are to be saved by the means of this truth, shining in his church on earth.

Ledger: May the Lord bless you Elder Stone. History records this comment about you. "Bro. D. T. Morton (his physician) remarked to him, 'Father Stone, you have been much persecuted on account of the peculiarities of your teaching. Are you willing to die in the faith you have so long taught to others?' He replied, 'I am. During my long life, I may have had some errors on minor points, but in the main, I conscientiously believe I have taught the truth, and have tried to live what I have preached to others. But it is not by works of righteousness that I have done, but according to his mercy he saved me, by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, which he shed on me abundantly through Jesus Christ. It is of grace, it is all of grace.'”

[The Christian Ledger © is an Internet paper by Rhoderick D. Ice.]

A House of Prayer

A House of Prayer For All People

"Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations." Isaiah 56:7; Matt 21:10-14


1. God has called all Nations to come to Him.

"And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;" Acts 17:26-27

a) the spiritual Body of Christ.

"And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd." John 10:16

"Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh--who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands-- that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." Eph 2:11-13


b) the spiritual Harvest.

"After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" Rev 7:9-10


c) God spoke through the prophets.

"And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: 'After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up; So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the Lord who does all these things.'" Acts 15:15-17; Amos 9:11-12


d) God dwells in His church through the Holy Spirit.

"And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God." Rev 21:3

"in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." Eph 2:22

"They shall be My people, and I will be their God; then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them." Jeremiah 32:38-39; compare Hebrews 8:7-13

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen." 2 Cor 13:14


"And is it possible that a man shall be a partaker with the Holy Ghost, and not know it! that he shall be full of light and love, and not know it! that he shall have the spirit of adoption, by which he can cry, Abba! Father! and yet know nothing of his relationship to God, but by inference from indirect proofs! In a word, that he shall have the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost with him, and all the while know nothing certain of the grace, as to his portion in it; feel nothing warming from the love, as to its part in him; and nothing energetic from the communion, as to his participation in the gifts and graces of this Divine energy!" —Adam Clarke's Commentary


"Oh Lord our God, You are at all times and in every hour worshipped and given glory. Glory to You - Father, Son, Holy Spirit - as You have revealed Yourself to us. You are long-suffering with us, merciful and compassionate. You love the just and show mercy to the sinners. You call the whole world to salvation through Your promise of good things to come. O Lord, in this hour receive our prayers and direct our lives according to Your commandments. Sanctify our souls, purify our bodies, correct our thoughts, cleanse our minds, deliver us from tribulation, from evil, and from distress. Surround us with Your love and mercy. May we all come to the unity of the Faith and to full knowledge of Your amazing grace. For You are blessed unto the ages of ages. Through Christ the Name above all names, Amen." [from an old prayer]


Oh Lord, bless this house we meet in and bless each of us who meet here. Bless our families. Cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Bless us and make us a blessing to everyone we meet. Fill our lives with good works which will bring glory to You. May the Light of Christ shine in us and through us. May Your kingdom fill the earth! Through Christ, Amen.

PENTECOST

Today is the Anniversary of Pentecost June 12, 2011

While the term “Holy Spirit” in only used three times in the Old Testament, God’s Spirit is mentioned 389 times. Coincidentally the Holy Spirit is mentioned 379 times in the New Testament. In the Old Testament God’s Spirit goes out and empowers people to do mighty deeds for God and His people.


Pentecost was Jewish Thanksgiving.
Jerusalem was jammed full of religious Jews
who had come from all over the world.
They heard this roaring of wild wind blasts,
and a huge crowd formed,
all wide-eyed and open-mouthed,
everyone running into some disciple
who was talking in his own language
of the wonderful works of God.


1. The Church needs POWER.

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:8

a) "But it was all-important that they should receive the necessary power: hence Jesus adds, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.” The power here promised is not authority, for this he had given them in the commission; but it is that miraculous power to know all the truth, and work miracles in proof of their mission, which he had promised them before his death. He says to them, virtually, It is not for you to know the time at which I will establish my kingdom, but you shall receive power to inaugurate it on earth when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. This is an additional proof that the kingdom was inaugurated on the day of Pentecost." —Acts of the Apostles (McGarvey)

b) JESUS is to be proclaimed to the whole world!

At least 15 different languages and dialects were spoken at Pentecost. The gospel would be carried by those who were converted to all these places. The way would be prepared for the labors of the disciples there. When the Jerusalem church was scattered, "But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went." Acts 8:4 (NLT)

c) Jesus said: "And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven." Matt 8:11

d) Malachi prophesied: "For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to My name, And a pure offering; For My name shall be great among the nations," Says the Lord of hosts." Mal 1:11

e) Isaiah spoke of the Nations. "For I know their works and their thoughts. It shall be that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come and see My glory. I will set a sign among them; and those among them who escape I will send to the nations: to Tarshish and Pul and Lud, who draw the bow, and Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands afar off who have not heard My fame nor seen My glory. And they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles. Then they shall bring all your brethren for an offering to the Lord out of all nations, on horses and in chariots and in litters, on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem," says the Lord, "as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord." Isaiah 66:18-20


2. Worship GOD As He Really Is.

"Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." John 4:21-24

"That is, men must offer a worship corresponding with the nature and attributes of God."—Four-Fold Gospel (McGarvey)

"God was about to be revealed as the Father of all believers in every nation. The spirit or the soul of man, as influenced by the Holy Spirit, must worship God, and have communion with Him."—Matthew Henry

"God is Spirit, and only by the power of His Spirit can people worship Him as he really is." (GNB)

Spiritual worship can be offered anywhere. But as “faith without actions is useless,” it is just as true that we express our worship through our actions. But it is God Himself who grants us the power to worship Him. Jude wrote: "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." Jude 1:20-21

"And because you are sons [and daughters], God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" Gal 4:6

"The Lord is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works. The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them." Psalms 145:17-19

FIRE EVANGELISM

F.I.R.E. Evangelism


Preachers in those olden days were filled with holy flame,
Preaching for the souls of men and not for worldly fame.
Under such old-fashioned preaching, people did obey,
And the Lord did save them in the good old-fashioned way.
[from a song by R.E.Winsett]

The disciples waited in Jerusalem for power from on high before they began their mission to win the world for Christ.

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:8

"And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen." Mark 16:20

"They went forth, and preached everywhere. Acts of the Apostles is the history of their preaching. It should be studied to see how the Apostles understood and preached the Commission of the Lord. The Commission of Christ is to His Church; its field is the world; its work is to preach the gospel; its congregation embraces every creature; its offer is a free and full salvation; the conditions of salvation are faith in Christ, and obedience to Him; the consequence of rejecting Christ's salvation is eternal condemnation." —People's New Testament, Johnson's Notes


1. FAITH in Jesus the Christ.

"And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name." John 20:30-31

"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" 1 John 5:4-5


2. INTERCESSION in Prayer

"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications (petitions), prayers, intercessions (requests), and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." 1 Tim 2:1-4

"Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak." Col 4:2-4


3. REVOLUTION in Christ

'But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too." Acts 17:6

"Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth--to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people-- saying with a loud voice, "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water." Rev 14:6-7

The GOSPEL is that God has Acted In Jesus Christ to save the world and that everyone is called to Come to Him and be saved! (listen to Paul in 1 Cor. 15.)

“It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.'
Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.” John 6:45; Isaiah 54:13


4. EVANGELISM Around The World

I know I have salvation, through Christ the Lord divine,
Because I feel His presence, within this heart of mine.
It made me oh so happy, I want the world to know,
I'm living my religion; I'll tell where-e'er I go!
[from a song by A.J.Showalter Col 1:27]

“To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Col 1:27

"For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." Acts 4:20

"Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city." And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them." Acts 18:9-11

"Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord." Acts 11:22-24

The Wrong End

TAKING HOLD OF THE WRONG END


There's a GOD standing at heaven's door,
And HE's looking this universe o'er;
And HE sees each mortal with a searching eye,
You can't do wrong and get by.
[from song by R.E.Winsett]


1. Will God really forgive our sins?

Recent headlines have focused on some who got caught when their sins found them out. God is very much aware of what we do. But HE is also a GOD who forgives sin.

"But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out."
Numbers 32:23

"He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us." Psalms 103:10-12


a) Some are currently debating: How much sin can be in our lives and we still be saved? I believe this is taking hold of the wrong end. We go by what the Bible actually says. And John the Apostle already dealt with this question.

"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us." 1 John 1:7-10


b) We are told to pray for one another's forgiveness.

"If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death." 1 John 5:16-17

Alford (Greek Testament) says the "sin unto death" is an appreciable ACT of sin, namely, the denying Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of God (in contrast to confessing this truth, 1John 5:1,5; 1 John 2:19,22; 1 John 4:2,3; 1 John 5:10). This is what some were doing in blaspheming the Holy Spirit, Matt. 12:31.


2. Christ in you the hope of glory.

"To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." Col 1:27-28

"To the saints he would reveal the glory of the mystery. The glory of the mystery is Christ in you. Christ dwelling in the saved and filling their hearts with the hope of glory. Every man. Note that this is repeated three times in the verse. The apostle impresses the fact that the gospel is not for a few favored ones, but for every one. In all wisdom. In every form of wisdom. Perfect. We should all aim at perfection; the apostle aims to bring all to this ideal. The high ideal is before, for which we all should aim. However, he whose sins are all blotted out will be counted perfect in the great day." —People's New Testament (Johnson's Notes).


a) Satan cast down.

"Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down." Rev 12:10


b) Christ bears the sins of many.

"And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation." Hebrews 9:27-28


There is one thing I can boast of, salvation from the fall,
I'm an heir to wealth in glory, my Father owns it all.
That's why I'm shouting happy and go at His command,
For I want to be ready to meet Him in glory land!
[from a song by R.E.Winsett]


"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."
Romans 8:1-4 (NKJV)


"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" Romans 8:31-35 (NKJV)

"Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world. I approach Your throne with confidence, where there is grace for my need. Take away my sin and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. "

LEAD, KINDLY L;IGHT

LEAD, KINDLY LIGHT
song #358 in Praise For The Lord

"Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God." Job 37:14

1. Closure

a) We are commanded to rejoice ever more. We are to Sing and be happy! But there are times of darkness and sadness. Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus, even when He knew He was about to raise him from the dead. John Henry Newman was a leader in the English Church in the 19th Century. He had made a trip to Rome. As he returned his ship was stalled by a calm (no wind to fill the sails). As he waited in the darkness and gloom of the ship, he wrote this song in 1833.

Lead, kindly light, amid the encircling gloom,
lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet, I do not ask to see
The distant scene, one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou
shoulst lead me on!
I loved to choose and see my path; but
now lead Thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years!

So long Thy power hath blest me, sure
it still will lead me on.
O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent,
till the night is gone.
And with the morn those angel faces smile, which I
Have loved long since, and lost awhile!

Meantime, along the narrow rugged path,
Thyself has trod,
Lead, Savior, lead me home in childlike faith,
home to my God.
To rest forever after earthly strife
In the calm light of everlasting life.

b) Illness. (Rob Lacey, an English preacher-musician wrote as he was dying from bladder cancer.)

Why me? Why not him, or her?
Did God shuffle and shift?
Did He hear my cries?
Lord, how can I move on?
I don't see any open door.
I crawl through the valley of cancer.
I know YOU know the answer.
And the battle won't rattle me.
YOU are around, and I've found
there's something about Your empathy,
Your symphony of sympathy
that comforts me
You are with me.
YOU COMFORT ME.

2. Moving On

a) Like it or not, we all hit this type of place in our journey of faith. Many of God’s people are not schooled in the art of moving on. We spend a lot of our time stuck, living in the past, never able to move beyond what happened yesterday. We’re unskilled at navigating new beginnings.

God said to Abraham, "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you." Gen 12:1 (NKJV)

We see this pattern demonstrated time and again in the lives of God’s choice servants. They are required to let go of the old and step out in faith toward the new.

It is foolish on our part to believe that nothing in life will ever change. Everything changes! Our characters develop, our personalities blossom, our attitudes change, and unfortunately, our bodies grow older.

The definition of the word “closure” is “to bring something to a close; to bring to an end, to resolve and finalize it in your thinking, to move beyond.” It’s the act of resolving to let something go. Most often, closure is a decision; it’s an act of the human will. Sometimes it is easy, at other times grueling. More often than not, it is purely an act of faith; ACT and let feelings catch up with you later.

Many who are struggling with a decision to move on in life will battle day in and day out with the turmoil of weighing the pros and cons of life’s decisions. Uncomfortable, but actually a part of the process of life. It forces us to fully examine our decisions in light of good judgment. Is it possible the Lord is saying to you, “You have mourned long enough”? Could it be that you need closure in an area of your life? Undoubtedly, God wants to take you into something new. Are you ready for it?

"But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple. Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; Make Your way straight before my face." Psalms 5:7-8 (NKJV)

WEAR YOUR BLESSINGS WELL

WEAR YOUR BLESSING WELL - FROM GOD

Look at the Bible promises. Follow the cross references. See what the Bible says. The New Testament is rooted in the Old Testament promises and prophecies.

"Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it." Malachi 3:10; Proverbs 3:9-10; 2 Cor 9:6-11


1. There is a time when we should weep and howl (when we do wrong, James 5:1-6). But there is also a time to SHOUT WITH JOY (when the Lord blesses us)!

Not a vow of poverty.

"Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches--Feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You, And say, "Who is the Lord?" Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God." Proverbs30:8-9

Not status.

"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."
1 Peter 5:6-7

Not what others will say.

"And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." John 1:46


2. God rewards faith.

"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." Phil 2:12-13

"Therefore, because of Christ's sacrifice, we are to take hold of what God offers, accepting His grace, and working toward becoming mature in Christ. Note the cooperation: we work out our own salvation (v 12) while it is God who works in us to do His will (v 13)." Wallenstedt

a) Rahab. Great-great. . .grandmother of King David.

"By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace." Heb 11:30-31

God is much more tolerant and forgiving than we are.

"and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities--Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons," Luke 8:2

"Jesus said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you." Matt 21:31

"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!" Romans 11:33

b) Ruth. Great-grandmother of King David. A Moabite, one of the people cursed by God. (Deuteronomy 23:3)

"But Ruth said: "Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God." Ruth 1:16

c) Bathsheba. Daughter of Ammiel 1 Chronicles 3:5. (Eliam 2 Samuel 11:3) Her grandfather was Ahithophel the Gilonite (2 Sam 23:34), David's wise counselor (II Sam 15:12).

"Bathsheba is said by Jewish tradition to have composed and recited Proverbs 31 by way of admonition or reproof to her son Solomon on his marriage with Pharaoh's daughter. The rabbins describe her as a woman of vast information and a highly-cultivated mind, to whose education Solomon owed much of his wisdom and reputation, and even a great part of the practical philosophy embodied in his Proverbs." McClintock & Strong Cyclopedia.

Two of her sons: Solomon, Nathan, are in the lineage of Christ.

SAVED - NEVER SAVED

ALWAYS SAVED? NEVER SAVED? R.D.Ice

Evangelist Jack Exum told of speaking to a preacher. "You believe once saved - always saved. Wrong." The preacher answered: "You Church of Christ folk believe once saved - NEVER saved. Wrong!"

“If the statement ‘You are saved by grace 100 percent’ means Christ paid 100 percent of the debt we owe because we are sinners, then the statement is true. Christ’s shed blood was essential for payment of our debt. We pay zero percent. On the cross Christ made this free gift accessible to us.’” Clinton Hardin in the Gospel Advocate, Feb. 2000. [He went on to emphasize Christian living.]

Certainly this is scriptural. It is the finished work of Christ-on-the-cross that provided a perfect righteousness that dealt with sin once and for all. Paul said : “the righteousness which is from God by faith” [Phil. 3:9]. In the Bible we learn that the response which God requires is faith, not works which we might perform. Notice Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-5. Paul says: “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior appeared...”

“Joe Doaks came forward and confessed his faith in Christ. The preacher immediately took him to the baptistry and immersed him for remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit, as Acts 2:38 says. But as he came out of the baptistery, he had a fatal heart attack and fell dead.”

Was he saved? He died before doing any good works. He trusted and he obeyed the gospel. Would this be enough to ensure his salvation? If so, what are the ramifications of this?


BECAUSE WE ARE SAVED, we give ourselves as living sacrifices, Romans 12:1-2. Since we are new in Christ, 2 Cor. 5:17, we live as new people. It is possible to “fall away,” otherwise the warnings would mean nothing. But it is not necessary for us to reject Christ. The devil cannot make us do it. If we do disbelieve the promises (Hebrews 10:29) we put our soul at terrible danger. Yet we believe that God raised Christ Jesus from the dead (don’t we believe this)? [The Incarnation made the Cross & Resurrection possible.]

Note Paul in 2 Thessalonians 3:15. “Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.” He said this of some who were “disorderly” [who lived lazy lives and did nothing but meddle in other people’s business].

“Believing is the real issue, not security.”
Romans 8:14-17; 10:8-11; 1 John 2:12-14; 5:4-5.

“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” [1 John 5:13]

And how bold and free we are
in His Presence, freely asking
according to His Will,
knowing that He is listening
and what we have asked for
is as good as done.
God knew what He was doing
from the very beginning.
He decided to shape the lives
of those who love Him
according to the life of His Son.
That’s why we can be so sure
that in every detail of our lives,
our love can be used by God to
work into something good.
[Romans 5:1-5; 8:26-29]

John 10:28-29 “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My Father’s hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.”

Jude 24-25 “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever, Amen.”

Our God can keep you on your feet,
standing tall in His presence,
fresh and celebrating this most holy faith,
praying in the Holy Spirit (Jude 20),
staying right at the center of God’s love.
Keep your arms open and outstretched,
ready for the mercy of our Master,
the Lord Jesus Christ!
This is the unending life - real life!

Romans 14:1-4 “Receive the one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.”

Welcome with open arms fellow believers,
who don’t see things as you do.
And don’t jump all over them
when they seem to make a mistake.
Both we and they are guests
at Christ’s table, and it would be rude
to criticize what we or they
ate or didn’t eat. After all,
God invited us both to Christ’s table.

Phil. 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Eph. 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

We sing: "Trust & obey, for there's no other way."

Does God Really Hate Us

Does God Really Hate Us?

[This was my sermon in response to the shooting at Tucson.]

Jesus is God-The-Eternal-Word who came into our world of Time as one of us - flesh & blood, skin & bones. He came to show us Who God Is. John the Apostle wrote: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." John 3:16-17 (NKJV) Jesus taught us: "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." Matt 5:44-45 (NKJV)

A medical doctor said: “Death is the yardstick which measures us all.” Because our personal death is certain, we reorganize our priorities. And we also do our best to hang on to life. Since we know our time is limited, we work to make the best use of it.

The shooting at Tucson should never have happened. But it did, and so do many other terrible things. Jesus spoke in Matt. 24 of wars and calamities. God knows what He is doing. In what seems despair, men and women are making choices, choosing to help, or wringing their hands.

John the Apostle wrote: “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” Rev 3:10


1. Times of trial and testing.

a) “Or did God ever try to go and take for Himself a nation from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord Himself is God; there is none other besides Him.” Deut 4:34-35

Although the faithful will not be spared from sufferings, persecution, and martyrdom, they will be sustained and supported so as to persevere in their faithfulness. God intends us to know good and evil, to experience difficulties and to learn and grow into His Image.

“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” James 1:12

“Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,” Phil 2:14-15


2. God uses the wrath of man to praise Himself.

“Surely the wrath of man shall praise You; With the remainder of wrath You shall gird Yourself.” Psalms 76:10

God has set up our world in such a complex and integrated way that even what seems to be evil may produce good. God is God and we cannot defeat His Purpose. But He wants us to turn to Him in love. And He gives us the ability to do this (Romans 5:1-5).

We shake our heads at the Picketers intruding in the sorrow of Tucson. They shout of God’s hatred for the world! Satan tries to convince us that God is our enemy. Sometimes Christians so emphasize sin & guilt that they lose sight of God's goodness and mercy (Romans 2:4).

Yet as Paul the Apostle wrote: “For there must also be factions (heresies KJV) among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.” 1 Cor 11:19. Our reaction to extremism causes us to rethink what we think we believe.

“Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!” Matt 18:7

What sorrow awaits the world, because the dark side of the world tempts people to sin. Satan is a roaring lion. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.


3. God’s Answer.

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:14-15

“But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” 1 Cor 15:20-22

What good is Christianity without the Resurrection - both Christ’s and ours? His death would do us no good without it. What use is forgiveness if we remained dead? His disciples were transformed by His Resurrection; and this they preached above all. On ‘Easter’ morning Christians sing: “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and bestowing life upon those in the tombs.”

The resurrection body which we will have then is the fulfillment of what God intends for our present body. “And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.” 1 Cor 15:49

Johnson's Notes (The People's New Testament) says: "When we are raised to heaven we shall have spiritual bodies like Christ's, not like the body he received from Mary, but the glorious body in which he appears to saints and angels on high. Do we ask what body we shall have? It shall be like Christ's glorious body. See Phil 3:21."

Note how Paul the Apostle speaks of this. "For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."
2 Cor 5:1-10 (NKJV)

Celebrating the KJV 400 Years

KING JAMES VERSION of 1611
R. D. Ice

2011 is the 400th anniversary of the KJV auhorized by King James of England. The Queen of England made an announcement of this. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12079065

"Over 400 years ago King James VI of Scotland inherited the throne of England at a time when the Christian church was deeply divided. Here at Hampton Court in 1604, he convened a conference of churchmen of all shades of opinion to discuss the future of Christianity in this country. The king agreed to commission a new translation of the bible that was acceptable to all parties. This was to become the King James, or Authorized, Bible, which next year will be exactly four centuries old. Acknowledged as a masterpiece of English prose and the most vivid translation of the scriptures, the glorious language of this bible has survived the turbulence of history and given many of us the most widely recognised and beautiful descriptions of the birth of Jesus Christ which we celebrate today. The King James Bible was a major co-operative endeavour that required the efforts of dozens of the day's leading scholars. The whole enterprise was guided by an interest in reaching agreement for the wider benefit of the Christian church, and to bring harmony to the kingdoms of England and Scotland."

We believe that the Translators of the Version of 1611 were faithful Christians. A. Campbell also believed they were Christians. He accepted the KJV as the inspired word of God. His argument with them was based on the changes in the English language since their work. [Some use the NKJV for study because of these changes.]

AN APOLOGY FOR A NEW TRANSLATION A. Campbell

"A living language is continually changing. Like the fashions and customs in apparel, words and phrases, at one time current and fashionable, in a century or two, come to have a signification very different from that which was once attached to them: nay, some are known to convey ideas not only different from, but contrary to, their first signification. And were it not for books and parchments, which preserve from one generation to another, the language of the dead; and transmit from father to son the words and sentences of past times; it is not improbable that, in one generation, a living language would undergo as many mutations, and admit of as many innovations as it now does in two or three hundred years."

"We have, in writing, all the Hebrew and Greek that is necessary to perpetuate to the end of time, all the ideas which the Spirit of God has communicated to the world; and these languages, being dead, have long since ceased to change. The meaning of the words used by the sacred penman, is fixed and immutable; which it could not have been, had these languages continued to have been spoken."

"But this constant mutation in a living language will probably render new translations, or corrections of old translations, necessary every two or three hundred years. For although the English tongue may have changed less during the last two hundred years than it ever did in the same lapse of time; yet the changes which have taken place since the reign of James I do now render a new translation necessary. For if the King's translators had given a translation every way faithful and correct, in the language then spoken in Britain, the changes in the English language which have since been introduced, would render that translation in many instances incorrect." The Sacred Writings, 1826, A. Campbell


The KJV translators (or revisers) lived in a different time and a different culture. Their personal world-view was "gloomy" due to the world in which they lived. They wrote and spoke in the English language of Tyndale, 16th Century. Tyndale's translation of 1526 inspired the great translations to follow, including the Great Bible of 1539, the Geneva Bible of 1560, the Bishop's Bible of 1568 (and others).

King James wanted a "standard" Translation to be used by all the English churches. He instructed: "The ordinary Bible read in the Church, commonly called the Bishop's Bible, to be followed, and as little altered as the Truth of the original will permit."

The original KJV 1611 was published in Black Letters (Old English), and included the Books of the Apocrypha. It also contained an introduction by the Translators, and a justification for their work. They said: "We are so far off from condemning any of their labors that travailed before us in this kind, either in this land or beyond sea, either in King Henry's time, or King Edward's...or Queen Elizabeth's of ever renowned memory, that we acknowledge them to have been raised up of God, for the building and furnishing of his Church, and that they deserve to be had of us and of posterity in everlasting remembrance." You can read about this online at:
http://m2.aol.com/AVBibleTAB/av/KJVpre.htm
http://m2.aol.com/avbibletab/av/dedicat.htm

The Version commissioned by King James of England first came from the printing press in 1611 AD. It contained all the Apocrypha as well as the Old and New Testaments. It reflects the language spoken in Britain in the previous century, since it is a revision of the work of Tyndale circa 1525 AD. Because we use the same words, but with new and very different meanings, it is difficult to realize that as early as 1770, Benjamin Franklin said that people had ceased to read the Bible [the KJV] because they could not understand it. While the words were the same, the meanings were so different in places.

Dan Hedges wrote in Ministries Today, J/A 1999. “The paraphrases that are popular and not-so-popular also have their place. Who can question the value of how The Living Bible translation got an entire generation of frustrated King James nonreaders into daily devotional reading? The new paraphrases help us meet this need.” Even if you violently disagree with what he said, this is a present challenge. Just now The Book NLT is being aggressively promoted by Walmart and others, and will continue to face us. The standard is the original Bible in the Ancient languages. What does it say???

The original KJV was printed in the Old English typeface. The alphabet was different. "i" and "j" were different forms of the same letter, as were "u" and "v". The Name of God was given as "Iehouah" [Iehoua]. Current editions of the KJV have been revised and the spelling changed. [Some editions have English spelling and some American spelling.]

Here is my example of the language difference. "I decided to go on a journey to the Camp Ground. I packed my utensils and my tabernacle into my car, taking along my dog. Arriving there, I set the dog free, and set about unpacking my gear. First, I unpacked my tabernacle and set it up. I was planning to stay the night and would need a spot for slumber. Then I gathered sticks and soon had a fire going. I filled the pot with water and set it over the fire. I shaved herbs into the pot: carrots, potatoes, some corns of barley, cumin, garlic, and finally a lump of kine flesh. I seethed it and in time had a mess of pottage. At this point I shrilled for the dog, and he came bounding from the distance. After doing the necessary things, we enjoyed our feast."

Campbell championed a new version, "The Living Oracles," by James McKnight, Phillip Doddridge, and George Campbell, which had been revised by himself. He published this new version in 1826. It reflected the English spoken by the American people of Scotch-Irish ancestry in Campbell's day. This is the Version which Campbell used to spark the "restoration" movement in our USA. It was used almost exclusively until the time of the Civil War. http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/oracles4th/oracles4th.html

Here is the "Lord's Prayer" [Luke 11:2-4] as it appears in some different "versions."

KJV of 1611. This is the original spelling. "Our Father which art in heauen, Hallowed be thy Name, Thy kingdome come, Thy will be done as in heauen, so in earth. Giue vs day by day our dayly bread. And forgiue vs our sinnes: for we also forgiue euery one that is indebted to vs. And lead us not into temptation, but deliuer vs from euill."

Campbell's Living Oracles. "Father, thy name be hallowed; thy Reign come; give us each day our daily bread; and forgive us our sins, for even we forgive all who offend us; and lead us not into temptation." [Note: the corrected Greek Text omits “deliver us from the evil one," and that Campbell followed this corrected Greek text."]

American Standard Version 1901. "Father, Hallowed by thy name. Thy kingdom come. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we ourselves also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And bring us not into temptation." [Note the ASV follows the NU Greek text.]

New KJV 1983. "Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one."

CEV Basic English. "Father, help us to honor your name. Come and set up your kingdom. Give us each day the food we need. Forgive our sins, as we forgive everyone who has done wrong to us. And keep us from being tempted."

J. W. McGarvey said, at the Missouri Christian Lectures, 1883: "The Canterbury revision of the New Testament should now totally supplant the King James Version, not only because it is a great improvement as a version, but because it is the only representative in English of the corrected Greek text. A man is not safe in venturing upon the exegesis of a single passage by the aid of the old version until he shall have compared it with the new; and rather than be continually making these comparisons, it is better to at once adopt the new into exclusive use."

We know the Canterbury revision as the American Standard Version of 1901. Johnson's Notes (The People's New Testament) has the [English] Canterbury revision in the margin. The Gospel Advocate Commentaries use the American Standard Version as their basic text.

"Black English," has recently been in the news, and some would make it become a separate language. The ABS recently published Luke in Gullah (Sea Island Creole). Here is the Lord's Prayer in that language [a variant of English]. "We Papa een heaben, leh ebrybody hona you nyame cause you da holy. We pray dat soon you gwine rule oba all ob we. Wasoneba ting you da want, leh um be een dis wol, same like e be dey en heaben. Gee we de food wa we need dis day yah an ebry day. Fagibe we fa de bad ting we da do. Cause we da fagibe dem people wa do bad ta we. Leh we don't habe haad test wen Satan try we. Keep we from ebil."

Another variant of "Black English" comes from New Guinea, and is called "Neo-Melanisian." Here is the Lord's Prayer. "Papa, nem bilong yu em i mas i stap holi. Kingdom bilong yu em i mas i kam. Kaikai bilong mipela inap long de, em yu givim mipela long olgeta de. Lusim sin bilong mipela. Mipela tu i lusim sin bilong olgeta man i bin mekim rong long mipela. Yu no bringim mipela long samting bilong traim mipela."

Campbell cited the instructions of King James to his translators as the reason certain words are not translated, but transliterated. He wrote of these instructions in his "Christian Baptist” paper. These may also be found in McClintock & Strong's Cyclopedia.

For the better ordering of the proceedings of the translators, his Majesty recommended the following rules to them, to be very carefully observed: -

1. The ordinary Bible, read in the church, commonly called the Bishop's Bible, to be followed, and as little altered as the original will permit.

2. The names of the prophets and the holy writers, with the other names in the text, to be retained, as near as may be, according as they are vulgarly [commonly] used.

3. The old ecclesiastical words to be kept; as the word church, not to be translated congregation, etc.

4. When any word hath divers significations, that to be kept which has been most commonly used by the most eminent, being agreeable to the propriety of the place, and the analogy of faith.

[Campbell includes the instructions through #14.]

Campbell comments: "It is evident from third of the King's instructions to the translators, that he forbade them to translate the old ecclesiastical words; and in rule fourth he commands, that when any word hath divers significations, they should retain that in their translation which has been most commonly used by the most eminent fathers, being agreeable to the propriety of the place and the analogy of faith."

"Let it be particularly noticed, that among those words called consecrated ecclesiastical words, and which were forbidden by the king to be translated into English, are the words baptism and baptize.... and gives the word church not to be translated congregation with an & as a specimen of these words....When Tyndal[e] issued his translation of the Bible, because he had in it disregarded the words which the clergy esteemed sacred, they condemned it. He had, for instance, changed charity into love; church into congregation; priest into senior; grace into favor; confession into knowledge; penance into repentance; and a contrite heart into a troubled heart....For instance, the word church, he said, was, by the popish clergy, appropriated to themselves; [whereas, of right it was common to all the whole congregation of them that believe in Christ." [from Campbell's The Christian Baptist, Vol. 1, 1824]

There was a Church of the Jews in the wilderness [Acts 7:38] which was the congregation of the saved containing every Jewish person. The Church of the Lord is likewise one spiritual-congregation containing every saved person who is in Jesus Christ - One Body, One Kingdom, One Temple built of Living Stones. And so Campbell understood [cf. The Lunenburg Letter].


The original KJV contained The Prayer of Manasseh.

"Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers that spake to him in the name of the LORD God of Israel, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel. His prayer also, and how God was intreated of him, and all his sin, and histrespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up groves and graven images, before he was humbled: behold, they are written among the sayings of the seers." 2 Chron 33:18-19

The Prayer of Manasseh
or
The Prayer of Manasses King of Judah

Chapter 1
1 O Lord, Almighty God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of their righteous seed;[2] who hast made heaven and earth, with all the ornament thereof;[3] who hast bound the sea by the word of thy commandment; who hast shut up the deep, and sealed it by thy terrible and glorious name;[4] whom all men fear, and tremble before thy power;[5] for the majesty of thy glory cannot be borne, and thine angry threatening toward sinners is importable:[6] but thy merciful promise is unmeasurable and unsearchable;[7] for thou art the most high Lord, of great compassion, longsuffering, very merciful, and repentest of the evils of men. Thou, O Lord, according to thy great goodness hast promised repentance and forgiveness to them that have sinned against thee: and of thine infinite mercies hast appointed repentance unto sinners, that they may be saved.[8] Thou therefore, O Lord, that art the God of the just, hast not appointed repentance to the just, as to Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, which have not sinned against thee; but thou hast appointed repentance unto me that am a sinner:[9] for I have sinned above the number of the sands of the sea. My transgressions, O Lord, are multiplied: my transgressions are multiplied, and I am not worthy to behold and see the height of heaven for the multitude of mine iniquities.[10] I am bowed down with many iron bands, that I cannot life up mine head, neither have any release: for I have provoked thy wrath, and done evil before thee: I did not thy will, neither kept I thy commandments: I have set up abominations, and have multiplied offences.[11] Now therefore I bow the knee of mine heart, beseeching thee of grace.[12] I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I acknowledge mine iniquities:[13] wherefore, I humbly beseech thee, forgive me, O Lord, forgive me, and destroy me not with mine iniquites. Be not angry with me for ever, by reserving evil for me; neither condemn me to the lower parts of the earth. For thou art the God, even the God of them that repent;[14] and in me thou wilt shew all thy goodness: for thou wilt save me, that am unworthy, according to thy great mercy.[15] Therefore I will praise thee for ever all the days of my life: for all the powers of the heavens do praise thee, and thine is the glory for ever and ever. Amen. Man 6:1-15 (KJVApocrypha)