If We Continue

Chapter Two

Let us return to our basic scripture to see how we can receive any more wisdom regarding how to avoid becoming a fool.

Romans 1:23-25

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

It is, therefore, not true that man did not have an opportunity to hear the Word of the Lord. It is the responsibility of the fathers of the race to pass the righteousness of God down to each generation. It is the man who is charged with carrying and maintaining the seed of his race. He is responsible for the disposition of his offspring. Remember Job offered sacrifices unto the Lord under the presumption that his children might have sinned against the Lord.

If the fathers of the race refused or neglected to pass the knowledge of the Creator down to their generations then it is not up to God to preserve man’s seed.

Colossians 1:16

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

All things were made by and for the Lord. Those who reject the Lord are not worthy of His gift of life. Therefore, He has made it clear that all who are not found in His Son Jesus are not for His pleasure. He created man after the good pleasure of His own will. He created him to stand before Him in love. If man refuses to accept God’s gift of life, then he is not for God and is only good for burning.

Hebrews 6:8

But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

If we continue in the Faith, we can see the intent of the Father even better as it is also for the good pleasure of His will that we know all things that pertain to life and godliness.

Colossians 1:17-23

17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

At some point the Church has to take its head out of the sand. It is a giant who has fallen asleep in the wake of a storm. Furthermore, the Church cannot even imagine that a great percentage of the Body is on its way to Hell at this time. Beloved, I know this is a very bold statement and may even seem to be judgmental, however, if holiness is the way to God and the mind of Christ is the only way to obtain true holiness, then for I am certainly not being judgmental but merely stating the consequences of disobedience.

THE APOSTLES’ DOCTRINE . . .

The Bible is very plain in guiding us in the paths of righteousness. The Lord did not leave us to the whims of men.

Acts 2:42

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ was first preached by His disciples. These were men who were chosen and trained to carry this great Word. But it was more than just a word. It is a life.

I John 1:1-7

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

2(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

These were the men whom God used to set the boundaries of the Gospel in the earth. They were the messengers of God who established and commissioned the Kingdom of God in the earth.

Romans 14:17

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

In Christ Jesus is the fullness of the Kingdom. St. Matthew 12:28: But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. In Him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily. The preaching of the mind of Christ is profoundly necessary if the Body is going to escape destruction. To engage in the fantasies of man’s doctrines

and perceptions is to allow the mind to wander away from The Truth. This aids in the lack of discipline of the flesh. Therefore, the mind must be trained to be content with present Truth. I know this sounds like a fairy tale because for so long we were not challenged in the ways of the old common faith. Now the Lord has found Himself a people who have an ear for what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

LOVE IS THE FAITH

Christ is the Kingdom. All righteousness, joy and peace are found in His life. It is His mind that is acceptable unto God. This is the place of rest for the soul. At salvation, we were given the mind of Christ. I could go through all the attributes of the mind of Christ, but I think that the Apostle Paul illustrates it very well in his writings to the Roman Church.

Romans 13:10

Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

The Faith established by Jesus is love. The love of Christ must be manifested through us towards our neighbors if we are to please God. Because we try to perceive a thing through the eyes of the flesh, the Church has presented many variations of love. However, that which is acceptable unto God is found in Christ.Love must be the love of the scripture or it is not love. It is important for us to see how God views love as well as His commandment for us to walk in it.

Romans 14:12-13

12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

Paul here gives us the criteria by which we are to judge whether or not we are in the Faith. Love is expressed in our relationships with one another. Christ died that we all might be saved. Paul admonishes us not to become a stumbling block to anyone for whom Christ gave His life.

Instead of judging our brother, we should rather judge our disposition in his life. What is it that we have contributed to his development in Christ or his demise in the flesh? Next, Paul gives us an example of what this really means.

Romans 14:14-15

14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

To continue in that thing that weakens another is not an act of love. If we are indeed aware that our actions defile the weak conscience of another, then we should not allow ourselves to indulge in such. We are our brother’s keeper.

Romans 15:1-3

1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.

3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

In simple terms, we are not to consider ourselves, but what it is the Lord wants us to do. We have been given the responsibility of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, so it is essential for us to develop the discipline needed to further this Gospel. We cannot be selfish in our walk and yet please our Father or reconcile man to Him. We must suffer the flesh to be under submission to do only that which is expedient and nothing less.

Romans 14:19-23

19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.

21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

The Body of Christ reveals its deficiencies in compassion and consideration by their lack of discipline and love when we do things that may not be sinful but are viewed as sinful in the presence of the weak. This can cause a severe stumbling block.

If a brother follows our actions and partakes in an offense to his conscience (due to his weakness) then he is a partaker in damnation. He is condemned by his own conscience and is considered outside of the boundaries of the Faith because he did not remain true to his conscience.

I John 3:20-21

20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

Had the conscience been fully educated or brought to maturity, the same action would not be an offense. However, in the interim, we are charged with not creating the offense, as it is sin to the one who esteems it as sin or is doubtful or shaky in his conscience.

The conscience of a Son of God has been purged of sin and will no longer relax if it even suspects something might be sinful. It will not speculate on matters it has not learned. He needs more information from his Master before he can approve of an action of which he is uncertain. We must allow the righteousness of God to be established in one another. To push others or ourselves past the dictates of the conscience is an offense that defiles it and takes us outside the faith and into eternal damnation. Let us walk in the love of Christ towards one another. One good way to judge is to always consider your neighbor before considering yourself.

Romans 15:4-7

4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of the Faith. Therefore, all the fullness of the Faith is found in Him. It is His life that is the boundaries of the Faith. If we want to make it to glory, we must maintain our walk in Him. It is time for us to seek the Lord fervently and consistently so that all controversy of the soul is resolved. We cannot continue in the Faith without being rooted and grounded. Steadfastness is essential to obtaining the mark of the high calling, which is found only in Christ Jesus.