Compared to our Message Today

The sin issue
By Byron Sessoms - DadeCityBible Fellowship

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Preaching The Grace Of God
From The King James Bible – Dispensationally Delivered
Berean Bible Church – Edgewater, Florida – Doug Dodd s.b.g. - Pastor

And God said, "...... and tell the children of Israel; Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel." Exodus 19:3b-6.

God had made a covenant or an agreement with the house of Israel. God said, if you keep my commandments I will bless you. If on the other hand, you don’t, I will curse you. See Deuteronomy 27:26 and 28:1-2.

And the people said, Exodus 19:8: "And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD."

God had said if you will keep my covenant you will be my people and I will be your God. All the people answered with one voice and said, "All that the LORD hath spoken we will do." As time progressed, what happened between God and his chosen people? Did Israel keep their agreement?

Jeremiah 3:8: "And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also."

Daniel 9:10-11: "Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him."

Malachi 3:6-9: "For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation."

God’s chosen people had gone astray. Is it any wonder that Jesus referred to them as the "lost sheep of the house of Israel" in Matthew 15:24? Our God is a mighty God, a merciful God, and even a forgiving God, but even he can be pushed so far and then it is too late.

God reminded Israel many, many times about their agreement. He said, "turn back to me and keep my laws." The time came when Israel would not repent, and God set national Israel aside. See Jeremiah 3:8-14. God’s message for Israel was repent and turn back to me. Notice Jeremiah 3:12. Only admit that they had sinned!

Jeremiah 3:13: "Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD." 4:14: "O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?"

Nehemiah 1:5-9: "And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned. We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses. Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations: But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there."

God required Israel to repent ( to change their mind), to acknowledge or admit that they had sinned; broken their agreement. God was willing to forgive them and honor the Abrahamic Covenant; to bless them with physical, earthly blessings. If they did not repent, he would continue to curse them. Notice carefully these verses.

God said, Leviticus 26:40-46: "If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me; And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land. The land also shall be left of them, and shall enjoy her Sabbaths, while she lieth desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity: because, even because they despised my judgments, and because their soul abhorred my statutes. And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the LORD their God. But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen, that I might be their God: I am the LORD. These are the statutes and judgments and laws, which the LORD made between him and the children of Israelin mount Sinai by the hand of Moses."

What did God mean by confess? Did God want the nation of Israel to confess or name each individual sin? Could a person remember every sin they’ve committed, even in one day? No, not hardly. God wanted Israel to admit that they had broken their agreement.

God had also said to confess the sin of your fathers. Is this individual sin also? Could a man possibly know what sin his father had committed? Again, no. God was dealing with Israel as a nation, a group, a church, or as Jesus said, the house of Israel. This indicates a group effort. As in the days of Moses, the people spoke with one voice. Exodus 19:8.

As we proceed ahead in time, the message becomes more clear. And God said, Malachi 3:1: "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts." 4:5-6: "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."

And so God sent John the Baptist. John came in the spirit of Elijah, to preach God’s message of repentance to Israel. See Matthew 11:12-14. Matthew 3:1-3: "In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight."    

Mark 1:4-5: "John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins."

Acts 13:23-24: "Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus: When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel."

John 1: 31: "And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water."

And so God sends his Son. Matthew 9:35-36: "And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd." See also Ezekiel 34.

John 12:49: "For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak."

Matthew 15:24: "But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

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

Mark 1:14-15: "Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."

And so Israelrepented not, but rather demanded the death of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Matthew 11:20: "Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:" This response happened just as God had said in prophecy, and in this parable. Matthew 21:35-38: "And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance."

Jesus had said all manner of sin against him would be forgiven, and he asked God to forgive Israel for what they had done. Matthew 12:31-32: "Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come."

Luke 23:34: "Then said Jesus , Father, forgive them ; for they know not what they do."( NOTE: WE MUST REMEMBER , JESUS MADE A CLEAR DISTINCTION BETWEEN HIMSELF & THE HOLY SPIRIT. IN THIS PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE , MATT. 12: 31-32 ONE DOES NOT AFFECT THE OUTCOME OF THE OTHER . JESUS RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT AFTER BEING BAPTIZED BY JOHN AND WAS FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT ONLY UNTIL HIS FINAL MOMENTS ON THE CROSS. JESUS SAID, MY GOD,MY GOD,WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME? THE ANSWER IS QUITE SIMPLY THAT GOD CANNOT BEAR SIN! HE COULD NOT BE A PART OF THE CROSS WORK ITSELF. BY UNDERSTANDING THIS, WE CAN CLEARLY SEE THE DIFFERENCE. )

I THINK THAT , SOMETIMES WE FORGET, OR SIMPLY FAIL TO REALIZE, THAT THE BIBLE SAYS. "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins." HEB.10:4, YET THE NATION OF ISRAEL MADE ANIMAL SACRIFICES FOR ALMOST 2000 YRS. IT’S NOT REALLY HARD TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT WAS NECESSARY FOR JESUS TO COME AND DIE ON THE CROSS TO PAY ISRAEL’S SIN DEBT. THE BLOOD OF ANIMALS SIMPLY WAS NOT SUFFICIENT . JESUS’ SACRIFICE WAS THAT ONCE AND FOR ALL, PERFECT SACRIFICE TO GOD. COULD GOD REFUSE THE SHED BLOOD OF HIS OWN SON? NO, HE COULD NOT. GOD ACCEPTED HIS SACRIFICE AND WAS WILLING TO FORGIVE THEM; BECAUSE, AFTER ALL, THEY KNEW NOT WHAT THEY WERE DOING. GOD USED THEIR BLINDNESS TO ACCOMPLISH THAT ONE GREAT PAYMENT FOR SIN. THE TRUTH IS THAT JESUS’ BLOOD ACTUALLY PAID FOR ISRAEL’S SIN SO THAT THEY COULD HAVE THEIR PROMISED KINGDOM. GOD HAD ONLY SAID, REPENT ISRAEL, REPENT BEFORE IT’S TO LATE.

And so prophecy continued just as it was supposed to, see Luke 24:44-49.

Last of all, God sends the Holy Spirit to Israel just as he had promised. See God’s promise in Ezekiel 36:22-28, Luke 24:49, and John 14:26. Again, God’s message was, for one last time, repent!    

Acts 2:22a: "Ye men of Israel, hear these words;" 36-39: "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." Even so Israel repented not.

Notice carefully these verses.

Acts 3:14: "But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;"

Acts 7:51: "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye."

Matthew 12:32: "And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come."

And so Israelrepented not.

But rather the Religious Leaders of the House of Israel ( THE CHIEF PRIESTS ) assembled together a great persecution against the ministry of the Holy Spirit and against the Church which was at Jerusalem , so the word of God was preached to none but the Jews only.

Acts 8:1: " And Saul was consenting unto his death . And at that time there was a great persecution against the church at Jerusalem ; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria except the apostles.’’

Acts 11:19: " Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only."

We now know and understand that religious Israel refused to repent. God chooses to set her aside.

Romans 11:11: "I say then, Have stumbled that they should fall? God forbid : but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy."

We realize at this point in time God interrupts Israel’s program and starts the dispensation of grace ; something brand new called the church the body of Christ.

This is the one new man as Ephesians 2:15 states.

As Romans 11:11 states, Israel has fallen and been aside. One day God will once again resume Israel’s prophetic program, and the 12 Apostles will continue their Kingdom ministry. See Matt. 10:23, 24:14 .

As we move ahead in time, we begin to see some things taught by the Apostles that not only affects the believing remnant of Israel , but affects the Gentiles as well. Remember the Little flock?

Luke 12:32: "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

God had a small group of Jewish believers called out of religious Israel .He had chosen twelve Apostles , one to represent each one the twelve tribes of the House of Israel. The head Apostles were Peter , James and John.

In Acts 8:1 we have found that there was a great persecution against the Church which was at Jerusalem and these believers were all scattered abroad. ( EXCEPT THE TWELVE APOSTLES ). Moving ahead in time we find the apostles meeting in Jerusalem for a very important conference. A meeting in which God through the Holy Spirit separates the Apostles for the work of the ministry.

Galatians 2:6-9: "But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me: But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision."

God confined the ministry of Paul and Barnabas to the "heathen" (THE GENTILES). ( NOTE: GENTILES ARE CALLED MEMBERS OF THE UNCIRCUMCISION. AS THE JEWS ARE CALLED MEMBERS OF THE CIRCUMCISION.)

God now sends Peter, James, and John to the Jews only, ( THE CIRCUMCISION ), to preach the Gospel of the circumcision. Is this really the case? To whom do these Apostles address in their ministry and in their Letters? Notice carefully these verses.

Remember Exodus 19:5-6: "Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel."

And Peter said in 1 Peter 2:9-12: "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. ( Remember Luke 12:32: ) v11"Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation."

Here we find the Apostle Peter not only quoting but teaching Gods promise to Israel. Peter said " ye are the chosen generation.". Who are the chosen generation, the royal Priesthood? It can only be the believing remnant of the House of Israel. The little flock!

Remember Acts 8:1 and Acts 11:19. Acts 8:1: "And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Acts 11:19: "Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only."

The apostle James said in James 1:1: "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting."

WHO ARE THE 12 TRIBES? ARE THERE 12 TRIBES OF GENTILES? NO

What about the apostle John? Who did HE address ?

Rev. 1:5-6: "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

(Are we KINGS & PRIESTS of the LORD? NO , NOT HARDLY.) Notice carefully as we continue.

2 John 1:1: "The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;"

WHO IS THE ELECT LADY? OR THE CHOSENLADY?

Let us look at just a couple of verses to see how God addressed Israel and his relationship with them in the Old Testament.

Ezekiel 5:5-6: "Thus saith the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her. And she hath changed my judgments into wickedness more than the nations, and my statutes more than the countries that are round about her: for they have refused my judgments and my statutes, they have not walked in them."

Jeremiah 3:8: "And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also."

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

Who does the "our sins" apply to? Clearly the Apostles who are led by the HOLY SPIRIT are addressing the believing remnant of the House of Israel. What then is the message God has for Israel ?

Remember Jesus commanded the 12 APOSTLES to go into all the world teaching them to observe ALL THE THINGS WHATSOEVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU! SEE Matthew 28:20.

Because of great religious persecution PETER, JAMES and JOHN never made it. But rather GOD confined their ministry to the LITTLE FLOCK, the believing remnant of Israel.

Jesus gave one great commandment for them to follow, to TEACH ALL THE COMMANDMENTS. (Which the 12 Apostles did as their doctrine in their letters clearly teach.)

SEE THESE CHAPTERS AND VERSES. JAMES 2:8-11, 5: 15,16.

1 Peter 1:1,16, 1 Peter 2: 4-5, 17, 5 : 1-4, 1 John 1:9, 2:1-7, 2:18,24-25, 3:4,11,25, 5:2, 16, 2 John 1:1,5-6,9, 3 John.1:6-7.

NOTE: One must remember concerning the ABRAHAMIC COVENANT & THE LAW, God said ye will keep it forever. See Deut. 4:33-40 and 29:24-29. 2 Chronicles. 2 v 4, Exodus 12v 14,17, and Gen. 17: 9-14.

Even in the earthly ministry of Jesus, Jesus taught the Law and prophecy. Jesus said in Matt. 5:17: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.".

By understanding Israel’s program, we can better understand our program of grace today. True Israel still looks forward to having their sins forgiven. Acts 3:19-26: "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren,

like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities."

What is God’s message for Gentiles or nations today? 1Corinthians 14:37: "If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord."

Romans 11:13: "For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:"

God had chosen a new apostle, an apostle which he would now send to be a light to the gentiles! See also Acts 9:15. , Acts 13:46-48: "Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed."

Our message today is that Christ died for our sins! See 1 Corinthians 15:1-3.

One must remember that Israel has fallen and been set aside; Israel’s prophetic program is now on hold. God is now beginning something completely new and different today. The church today is the body of Christ. See Colossians 1:24. It is the one new man. See also Ephesians 2:13-16, Ephesians 4:24. (Something completely new and different.)

There is now no division made; all are one in the body of Christ. Galatians 3:28: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."

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

Romans 6:14: "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace."

Titus 2:11-13: "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;"

We live and operate today under the grace system, not the Mosaic law. We have eternal life as a free gift. (without works.) Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

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

We have forgiveness of all sins: past, present, and future.

Colossians 2:13: "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;"

Ephesians 4:32: "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

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

Colossians 1:14: "In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:"

Colossians 3:13: "Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."

Jesus’ forgiveness is complete. The Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for every sin we were ever going to commit. This total sacrifice was total payment; once for all. See Hebrews 10:10.

We are complete in Christ. There is absolutely nothing lacking! Colossians 2:10: "And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:"

God’s grace is all-sufficient. Again, there is nothing lacking. 2Corinthians 12:9: "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Finally, we have all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. God is free to give us all things. Ephesians 1:3: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:"

Romans 8:32: "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"

Ephesians 2:11-13: "Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye 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 ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ."

God had chosen his worst enemy to become the apostle of the gentiles. God had counted Paul faithful to put him into the ministry. 1Timothy 1:12: "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;"

Since God chose Paul, and counted him faithful, maybe we should do the same. Paul said that the things I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. He also tells us to ‘follow me’ as I am of Christ. See 1Corinthians 14:37, 4:16, 11:1.

Philippians 3:17: "Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample."

1 Corinthians 3:10: "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."

By studying God’s word, and rightly dividing the scriptures, we can understand not only Israel’s program, but also what God is doing today.

2Timothy 2:15: "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Amen.

 

To Contact Byron Sessoms By Email: ssess01@aol.com