Saint Peter and His Keys

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Pastor J. C. O'Hair

THE VERY RIGHT REVEREND SIMON PETER D. D. PHD., BISHOP OF ROME

Doubtless you have heard of Saint Peter; but you must not believe all that you have heard about him. He is not here to defend himself against all these false reports, so it seems unfair to take advantage of him during his absence. He is still living and he is coming back to earth some day. Now this is not a false report. This is the truth.

It is safe to estimate that 250 million people have heard something about Simon Peter during the last 100 years, and far more than one billion people have heard of him since that day about 1900 years ago when Andrew introduced him to Messiah the Christ. The story of his life is today printed in more than 900 languages.

Peter has been accused of being the first pope of Rome. He has been written up as the Fisherman Philosopher. By millions bearing the name of Christ he has been worshipped as a great saint who stands guard at the door of Heaven. Millions of jokes have been told by the ungodly concerning those who have gone up to Saint Peter for reward in Heaven or judgment in hell. To many of these he is in the class with Santa Claus. To the superstitious, religious multitudes it is very difficult to make the true Simon Peter known; for they do not want him stripped of his mythical ecclesiastical priestly garments. They will take no chance of losing their Romish fiction and superstition, which are so precious to them. They will not even read what Simon Peter writes about himself in their own Bible.

For any one who really desires to rid the story of Simon Peter of falsehood and fiction, there is first-hand information, and it will do your soul good to get acquainted with this intensely human character; not a myth, but a real-to-goodness natural man, just like the rest of us, who came in contact with a Supernatural Power that transformed his life.

You will not read the story of an intellectual star. Simon was not a leading scholar of his day. He was not a politician of influence. He was not an outstanding business man. He was in no way classed with the wise, mighty, noble or rich. On the contrary; he was just a plain ordinary, unlettered man of his day. By nature he may have been a bit unusual in some respects, but yet he was not what the world would call a strong character. He might have been described as a vacillating, impetuous blunderer, with plenty of zeal and self-confidence. There was in him the mixture of courage and fear. As already stated, he was intensely human; but withal an interesting personality.

As an old man, Peter, in writing of God, mentioned Him as the “God of all Grace.” I Peter 5:10. He needed just such a God. So do we. Peter had not forgotten that moment when, recognizing that God of all Grace in human form, he had cried out, “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man.” But instead of complying with Simon’s demand, that Saviour said: “Come unto me and I will give you rest.”

This sinful man did become Saint Peter; for every sinner who obeys this gracious call immediately becomes a Saint. But when Peter wrote his last word, he called him self Simon Peter and addressed his epistle, “to them that have obtained like precious faith”. II Peter 1:1. Let us gather a few facts from the Bible concerning Simon, who was surnamed Peter.

Acts 10:5.

We have already learned that Simon was introduced to Jesus by his brother Andrew. John 1:41 and 42. “And he brought him to Jesus.”

That was a big day’s work for Andrew. It was more than that for Simon. In addition to the Scriptures we have quoted above, quite often we find this expression; “Peter said”—Sometimes Peter said some very wise things. At other times it seems it was difficult for him to obey James 1:19, “Wherefore my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak.”

But when we read his epistles we receive messages from a gentle, loving servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, faithful unto death. “Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me.” II Peter 1:13 and 14.

As we read in the third and fourth Chapters of Acts, we learn that Peter and John remained partners—fishing together—for the Lord. They were pillars of the Jewish church. Galatians. 2:9.

Peter and John were Galilean Jews, who had the unique experience of living in two different dispensations. They lived under the Old Testament, or “Law” age: and then under the New Testament Dispensation of Grace, as well as during those several years of transition during the earthly ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, whom Peter declared was a man, approved of God, in the midst of Israel. Acts 2:22 and 23.

Some years after Simon Peter had seen the Lord Jesus ascend through the clouds, he made this confession, “Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation.” Acts 10:28.

And at a later date, Paul said to Peter; “If thou being a Jew.” Galatians 2:14.

So Simon Bar-jona son of Jonas was a Jew. He was brought to Jesus by his brother Andrew, John 1:41. Andrew introduced Jesus as Israel’s long-looked-for Messiah. This Messiah was to bring national redemption to Israel, and take the throne of David as King of the Jews. But instead, He was put to death on a cross and went back to Heaven in a glorified body.

Peter was intimately associated with Christ during all of His public ministry, and just before the Saviour ascended to Heaven, Peter’s last question was, “Wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” Acts 1:6.

Simon Peter had more than a Jewish interest in the restoration of the Kingdom to his nation. He had a selfish interest, or perhaps we should say, a personal interest; for the Lord had plainly told him that in that Kingdom age, he would, be sitting with the other eleven apostles, on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Matthew 19:28.

Most assuredly Simon Peter is still living and is coming back to this earth to share the earthly glory of Israel’s Messiah. He certainly should have been concerned as to when the Messiah was going to occupy David’s throne and establish his reign of righteousness, peace and glory.

When Peter asked the question, “Wilt thou at this time the Kingdom to Israel,” he had not the faintest conception of God’s program to postpone the establishment of that Kingdom until He spent nineteen centuries visiting the nations and electing a company to constitute the Body of Christ.

The revelation of this program came to the Apostles of Christ on the installment plan. It is true that Christ had said to Simon Peter—“Upon this Rock I will build my Church”. Matthew 16:18. But concerning the Body of Christ, into which both Jews and Gentiles were to be baptized by one Spirit, Peter was wholly ignorant; not only before he received Holy Spirit baptism, but for some years thereafter. The Church, or Body of Christ, was a mystery until the revelation was sent down from Heaven by the risen Christ to and through the Apostle to the Gentiles, Paul.

After Peter received the Holy Spirit, who was to guide him into all truth, he preached to the Jews concerning the resurrection of Christ in this language: “Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.”

Acts 5:29. We note two facts concerning this message; the first is, that Peter never proposed to forgive their sins; and the second, he had nothing to offer to the Gentiles. Several years before this the Prince and Saviour had said to Peter, “Go not into the way of the Gentiles.” Matthew 10:5: Peter was still obeying this command, because the risen Lord was not yet ready to open the door to the Gentiles.

In this Chapter of Acts, we have the record of another message of Peter to Israel, the children of the prophets and the covenants—“Unto you first, God, having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his (your) iniquities. Acts 3:25 and 26

This was a message—for a nation—Israel. They were told in this message to repent and bring Christ back from Heaven. To establish His Messianic Kingdom. Acts 3:19 to 21. The Holy Spirit gave this message though a Spirit-filled and Spirit-led messenger.

This was the message of first importance, a message concerning the Kingdom of Heavens. Already individual Jews had been added to the church. Acts 2:47 And more were to be added to the Lord. Acts 5:14. But the nation was appealed to. There were at that time in Jerusalem devout Jews from every nation under Heaven; and associated with them were the Temple priests and officials of authority. Acts 2:5.

But still no offer of salvation is made to the Gentiles. Some day, in the future, Israel is going to repent and God is going to send Christ back to take the throne of David, restore the Kingdom to Israel, and bring about the restitution of all things. Following this national repentance, and the return of Israel’s Messiah to earth, salvation will be sent to the Gentile nations in the gospel of the Kingdom. Peter knew the Old Testament Scriptures as to this program; but he did not know that within a few years God would do a new thing and he himself would be preaching to a Gentile household; to begin that new thing. It was not lawful for Peter to come unto one of another nation, but after his experience with God on the housetop, as recorded in the tenth Chapter of Acts, he perceived that God was no longer a respecter of, persons and preached to Cornelius words whereby he and his house were to be saved. Acts 10:34, Acts 11:14 and 15.

At first Peter was condemned by the believing Jews for giving this message to the Gentiles seven years after the resurrection of Christ. Acts 11:1 to 17. But after his detailed explanation of God’s instructions from Heaven, “They held their peace and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.” Acts 11:18.

This was certainly something new for Peter and the other Jewish Christians. Here is the beginning of a new program. “Also to the Gentiles” God was now beginning to visit the Gentiles to take out from them a people for His name before He would restore the Kingdom to Israel. Acts 15:14 to 18.

He was going now to send salvation to the Gentiles to provoke Israel to jealousy. Romans 11:11.

God knew all this from the beginning of the world. Acts 15:18. It was hid in God. Ephesians 3:9. It was not made known unto the sons of men, in other ages. Ephesians 3:5. It was hid in God from men.

Christ did not make known to Peter the mystery among the Gentiles. This was Paul’s ministry. Peter preached to the first Gentile family. That was his task.

Peter was one of the twelve apostles, Paul was not. Peter and the eleven remained at Jerusalem. Acts 8:1.

The Book of Acts covered a period of thirty years from the resurrection of Christ until Paul pronounced God’s judgment of blindness upon Israel. Acts 28:25 to 27. To Paul, the Lord said; “Get thee out of Jerusalem.” Acts 22:18. He kept Peter in Jerusalem. He said to Paul: “I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles”. Acts 22:21.

The gospel of the circumcision (the Jew) was committed to Peter. Galatians 2:9. Peter agreed with Paul that Paul should go to the Gentiles and Peter would go to the Jews. Galatians 2:9.

In this early history—the Book of Acts—we have no record that Peter preached to any one outside of the land of the Jews. We have no record that he preached to any Gentiles other than the household of Cornelius. We do have the record that he was sent to the Jews. We have no record in Acts that any of the eleven apostles, associated with Peter, preached to a single Gentile. They all remained at Jerusalem until after “Body” truth was revealed to Paul.

When Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, there were present some visiting Jews from Rome. Acts 2:10. But Peter never went to Rome. It was Paul who wrote to the Romans, and later visited Rome; where he died. Paul, by no means, preached to the Gentiles at Rome what Peter preached twenty five years before at Jerusalem. The believing Gentiles at Rome were justified without a cause. They received what uncircumcised Abram received without the deeds of the law; the righteousness of God by faith. Romans 4:3 to 11.

The true Church of God at Rome in the first century believed in God’s truth in the Epistle to the Romans—but the Roman Catholic Church has drifted far away from the Gospel of grace contained in that Epistle.

Well, what has this to do with Simon Peter? He has been accused of having something to do with the establishment of the present Church of Rome. Their claim is, that the papal authority has been handed down from Peter and that the present pope is on St. Peter’s throne by the process of apostolic succession. The holy see is the seat of Peter, the first bishop of Rome. This brings us to the consideration of Simon Peter’s keys.

There is only one case of apostolic succession in the Bible; Matthias succeeded Judas. Acts 1:21 to 26.

Certainly Peter had no God-given authority over the Gentile churches. Therefore, it is not Scriptural to say that Paul succeeded Peter in authority. But it is Scriptural to say that, Paul received from Christ in Heaven, a commission, a message, a ministry that superseded the message and ministry committed unto Peter by Christ. Paul received his authority from Heaven without conferring with those who were apostles before him. Galatians 1:12 and 1:17. Both Peter and Paul had their Christ-given authority and ministry. Each of them faithfully performed his duty. Peter is not mentioned in the Book of Acts after the fifteenth Chapter. Paul is mentioned more than one hundred times. As Kingdom truth wanes and Church truth is gradually revealed, Peter is withdrawn from the prominent place and Paul becomes the outstanding servant of Christ.

In their clash at Antioch, Paul withstood Peter to the face because Peter was to be blamed. Galatians 2:11.

If we had to depend upon the messages of Peter for Church truth, our knowledge of that truth would be indeed limited. We may rest assured, therefore, if the Lord did not reveal Church truth through Peter, He certainly is not building His Church upon Peter. And we may also rest assured that when Peter shall occupy one of the twelve thrones, judging Israel in the coming Kingdom age, Paul will not be there. Paul was the Church Apostle. Peter was God’s Kingdom messenger to Israel. To Peter were committed the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. The mystery of the Body of Christ and the Keys of the Kingdom are by no means the same.

This brings us to consider these questions; just how or when did Peter and the eleven use the keys and what relation did the twelve apostles sustain to or in the Body of Christ. After His resurrection Christ appeared to His apostles and said “Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained.” John 20:23.

This authority was not given to Peter alone but to all of the disciples. They constituted the Church in embryo. Christ is working through His Church today to remit sins and loose on earth. The disciples of Christ plant and water so that God will give the increase. “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? Romans 10:14.

It doesn’t say “without a priest”. A priest presents man to God. That is the work of Christ. A preacher presents God to man. Every Christian should preach. And the humblest uneducated untrained babe in Christ can forgive sins just like Peter and Paul did. This is the way Peter did it:

ACTS 10:43

“To Him (Jesus) all the prophets witness, that through His Name, whosoever believeth on Him shall receive remission of sins.”

See how Peter forgave sins? He preached Christ as the sin-bearer. It was Peter who wrote concerning this sinbearer, “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree.” I Peter 2:24.

“Whosoever believeth on Him”, said Peter, “shall receive remission of sins.” See how Peter remitted sins? Paul did it in the same way. Acts 13:39. A 12 year old Christian boy can do it in the same way. It is Christ who is to grant forgiveness of sins. Acts 5:31.

Peter declares that Christ is the Stone upon which the Church is built. Acts 4:11, I Peter 2:7

To Simon Christ said: “Thou art Peter and upon this Petra I will build my Church” Matthew 16:17. The Church is not built upon Peter; but upon Christ. Whosoever will make Simon’s confession will immediately become a member of Christ’s Church. Without holy water or any other religious rite. The Church is not the door to Christ and salvation. Christ is the door. He who has Christ has salvation and not religion. He is in the true Church, the One Body, of which Christ in Heaven is the One and only Head.

In the first seven chapters of Acts Peter and the eleven are the representatives of the risen Lord with Divine authority. They are using the keys, the “Kingdom of the Heavens” keys. They are preaching concerning David’s throne, and the Messianic Kingdom, to Israel. They will have authority in connection with Israel when this Kingdom shall be established at the Coming of Christ. Matthew 19:28.

Some years later read what Paul had to say about them:

GALATIANS 2:6

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:

Then Paul withstood Peter to the face, because he was to be blamed. Galatians 2:11 to 14.

But like Jacob, the clever, scheming, intensely human, selfish servant of God finally became the gentle, unselfish, righteous Israel, in his old age, so Peter came to the place of real victory, as the calm gentle, lovable, writer of two epistles. His last word was concerning his beloved brother Paul, whose epistles Peter read, II Peter 3:15 and 16. Surely Peter came to understand as you and I should in the reading of Paul’ epistles, that Paul was Christ’s apostle to the Church and final human authority by whom truth concerning the Body of Christ was given Paul never worked under Peter’s keys. Galatians 1:12, 17 to 23; Galatians 2:2.

And anyone who will carefully read the New Testament Scriptures will be assured that Peter was never a Roman Pope, that he never forgave sins, that he never prayed to Mary, that he never preached Purgatory, that he was never a Christian priest, that he never had a building called a cathedral, that he never wore ecclesiastical garments, that he never claimed that bread and wine could be turned into the body and blood of Christ; that he never prayed for the dead, that be never had silver and gold, that he was never called “Reverend Peter”, “Father Peter”.

Read his own words in I Peter 5:1 to 7.

Peace On Earth

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Pastor J. C. O'Hair

In the following Scriptures which we present concerning “Peace on Earth,” to the superficial student of the Word of God there may seem to appear one of the supposed-to-be contradictions of the Bible.

To ignore the principle of dispensational divisions in Bible study is a serious blunder. Imaginary contradictions will be one of the unprofitable results of this serious blunder. But now for the three verses

Luke 2:14

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth PEACE, good will toward man.”

Luke 12:5

“Suppose ye that I am come to give PEACE on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division.”

Revelation 6:4

“And there went out another horse that was red; and power was given to him that sat thereon to take PEACE from the earth, and that they should kill one another; and there was given unto him a great sword.”

More than thirty years after the angels brought to the shepherds that heavenly message concerning earthly Peace in connection with the birth of Christ the Lord in the City of David, it was that Christ who spake these words:

“Think not that I am come to send Peace on earth: I came not to send Peace, but a sword.” Matthew 10:34. Does it not here appear on the surface that one statement of the Bible plainly contradicts the other? But we shall see by rightly dividing the Word of truth that this seeming contradiction will disappear. Both declarations are from the unerring Spirit of truth. Just before Christ left this earth to go back to Heaven by the way of Calvary, He said to His disciples: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.” John 14:27. Now this Peace was not a universal guarantee. It was by no means pledged to Christ’s own nation, Israel. His Peace was left with as many as had received Him by faith, who had thereby become the children of God. “Therefore being justified by faith we have Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1. Peace during the “Church” dispensation is for the individual disciple of Christ. World Peace belongs to a different age; namely the “Kingdom” age. The “Prince of Peace” age.

Just before the same Christ shall come again to be King over all the earth, the selfsufficient Christless rulers of this world shall say: “Peace and safety then sudden destruction cometh upon them; and they shall not escape.” I Thessalonians 5:3. It is then that the rider of the red horse shall make his appearance for a great time of blood-shed, with his great sword. He shall take Peace from the earth.

Before this “war” horseman shall take Peace from the earth, the Lord Jesus Christ shall take from this earth every individual who has by faith in Him entered the spiritual Kingdom of God, which is righteousness, Peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.

After the days of His indignation, during which God will scourge rebellious humanity, because they know Him not and obey not the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, the government will be transferred to the shoulder of the Prince of Peace.

Let us read together that glorious prophecy found in Isaiah 9:6 and 7:

“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 forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”

Surely no King with any such titles has ever occupied an earthly throne. The Person described in this prophecy is to be the unique combination of Deity and humanity. He is to be the only one of His class; therefore, called Wonderful; a child and mighty God.

The prophecy concerning such an one is in itself wonderful. The fulfillment of the prophecy will be even more wonderful. Almighty God is to be born as a child. He is to be the Prince of Peace, a Governor. He is to be an heir to the throne of David. He is to enjoy a peaceful reign; that is, a reign of uninterrupted, ever increasing, never ending peace. The seat of government is to be David’s throne. David’s throne was an earthly, visible, material throne. That throne is now fallen down; but David’s Lord is coming to build it again. Read that promise in Acts 15:16. These words of Isaiah’s prophecy should banish any doubt that you may have as to its literal fulfillment; “The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this.” Certainly the Lord of Hosts is able to perform anything and everything that He undertakes to perform.

This peaceful reign is to be here on this earth. When? When the Prince of Peace shall be occupying the throne of David. The world is now enjoying comparative Peace in some parts; but as David’s throne is now vacant and the Prince of Peace is now absent, we have no assurance of uninterrupted Peace in any part of this earth. It is altogether too uncertain. In Luke 19:12 this Prince of Peace pictured Himself as a Nobleman. He said, “A certain Nobleman went into a far country to receive for Himself a kingdom, and to return.”

Now we know this Wonderful Prince of Peace has already visited this earth. Yes, the Son has been given. The Child has been born. You are familiar with the story of the Birth of the Holy Child born of the Virgin Mary. About seven hundred years before she gave birth to that Holy Child, which was conceived by the Holy Spirit, God spake by the pen of Micah, the Prophet, in these words:

“Out of thee, Bethlehem, shall He come forth unto me that is to be ruler (or governor) in Israel; whose goings forth have been from, of old, from everlasting.” Micah 5:2.

Christ came as a fulfiller of this prophecy. Matthew 2:6. Some, with Nathaniel, said unto this Divine-human Governor; “Thou art the King of Israel.” But for the most part, His nation cried; “We will not have this man to reign over us.” “Away with Him, Crucify Him.” “He came unto His own and His own received Him not.” Surely He was despised and rejected; the man of sorrows, acquainted with grief; even the grief of Gethsemane, the crown of thorns and the Cross of Calvary. In His humiliation and sorrow He fulfilled the fifty-third Chapter of Isaiah as Israel’s suffering Messiah.

According to God’s more sure Word of prophecy, there will be no world Peace as long as David’s throne is unoccupied.

Now let us turn to Luke’s record and read the account of the birth of the Child, “Wonderful”. According to Luke 2:4 to 11, He was born in the city of David, of the house of David, the son of Mary, the Son of God, the Seed of David. And according to Luke 1:32, this Holy Child Jesus was born to occupy the throne of David. There is not the slightest suggestion in Luke 1:32 and 33 that Jesus was born to be the Head of the Church. No, He was born to reign over the house of Jacob for ever. He was likewise raised from the dead to occupy the throne of David. Acts 2:30 and 31.

Christ is now the glorified God-man in Heaven. Now He is the invisible Head. He reigns over His spiritual house, which is His Body. In so doing, He is not fulfilling this declaration by Gabriel: “He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever.” The Body of Christ is not the house of Jacob. Neither is the individual human heart, that is surrendered to Christ, the throne of David. Every individual who permits the Lord Jesus Christ to reign in his or her heart is conscious of the indwelling Peace of God. But the “Peace on earth”, as announced by the angels of the Lord to the shepherds who were keeping their flocks by night, is the Peace that was prophesied in Isaiah 9:6 and 7, the never-ending Peace of the Prince of Peace sitting on the throne of David.

The Wonderful Child of Isaiah’s prophecy has been born. He was God manifest in the flesh. But the prophecy of Isaiah concerning the glorious reign of the Prince of Peace is still unfulfilled.

In that same prophecy or Isaiah we find many references to that glorious reign of Peace on this earth; such as the second Chapter, the eleventh Chapter and the four closing Chapters.

Christ was born as King of the Jews. He was the Seed of David, born to occupy the throne of David. He did not fulfill, at His first advent, this prophecy: “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.” Jeremiah 23:5. “They shall serve the Lord their God, and David their King, Whom I will raise up unto them.” Jeremiah 30:9.Read also Jeremiah 33:21 to 26—Amos 9:11 to 14. Read also Ezekiel 34:23 and 24 Ezekiel 37:21 to 28 and be assured that the kingdom and throne of David are going to be restored.

“Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their King; and shall fear; the Lord and His goodness in the latter days.” Hosea 3:5.

The Peace of the world must begin with the Peace of Jerusalem. The Prince of Peace came to Jerusalem nineteen hundred years ago and offered Peace to the inhabitants of that city of the Great King. His own people cried, “We have no King but Caesar.” Because they knew not, they crucified the Lord of Glory. Instead of crowning Jesus as their King, Israel crowned Him with thorns. Instead of welcoming Him to David’s throne, they nailed Him to a tree. Before this final, murderous deed, their King had perceived the wickedness of their evil hearts and had gradually withdrawn His offer to the nation. With the mutual rejection of Israel and their Messiah, came His announcement of the postponement of their Messianic Kingdom, which included the postponement of world Peace. There also came the declaration of division instead of Peace. Notice these three significant words; “For from henceforth” Luke 12:52.

“Suppose ye that I am come to give Peace on earth? I tell you, Nay, but rather division:— For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three,” etc. Luke 12:51 and 53.

Certainly this condition prevails in this year, 1931, A.D., and the earth does not yet enjoy even household Peace, while at the same time, optimistic Religious and Political Rulers are promising World Peace.

The rejected Prince of Peace, made Peace by the blood of His cross. Colossians 1:20. This Peace is available for any one and every one who will have it by faith; but Alas! the people of the twentieth century are like the Jews of the first century. The Jews would not then receive their Messiah and King and the masses today will not receive the same Christ as Saviour and Lord. And God declares there is no Peace for the wicked.

Ere long Peace will be taken from this earth for a short time and then poor blind suffering Israel will realize and confess their awful sin. Then with open hearts they will welcome their Divine Deliverer who shall come out of Zion to save them from the hands of their enemies. Then they shall see Him and know Him as the King of Glory, sitting upon His throne on the holy hill of Zion, they shall know Him to be the same Messiah who suffered when they pierced His hands and feet. “The sufferings of Christ and the Glory that should follow.” I Peter 1:11.

Oh, think of the folly of the Postmillennialists’ interpretation of the Word of God, confusing Israel’s Kingdom and their earthly promises, with the Church or Body of Christ with her heavenly promises. The Church will not usher in the millennium Kingdom. While the Kingdom of Heaven is in abeyance, the Church is being called out. Before the Kingdom shall be established on earth the Church shall be caught up. Peace will come when the King of Glory comes to earth. Christ on earth 1900 years ago preached to Israel “Repent the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” “The Kingdom of Heaven will be at hand again soon and then universal Peace. But this is the “Church” age. Salvation by grace for individual sinners. With this salvation Peace with God and the Peace of God.

The Divorce Question

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Pastor J. C. O'Hair

Mark 10:2 to 12

And the Pharisees came to Him, and asked Him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? Tempting Him. And He answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you? And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away. And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife. And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. And in the house His disciples asked Him again of the same matter. And He saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

Deuteronomy 24:1 to 2

When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her; then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife.

Leviticus 21:14

A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or an harlot, these shall he not take; but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife.

Leviticus 22:13

But if the priest’s daughter be a widow, or divorced and have no child, and is returned unto her father’s house, as in her youth, she shall eat of her father’s meat; but there shall no stranger eat thereof.

Numbers 30:9

But every vow of a widow, and of her that is divorced wherewith they have bound their souls, shall stand against her.

Matthew 5:31 and 32

It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

Matthew 19:3 to 12

The Pharisees also came unto Him, tempting Him, and saying unto Him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And He answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female. And said, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. They say unto Him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. His disciples say unto Him, if the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. For their are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and their are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

Romans 7:1 to 4

Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? For the woman which hath a husband is bound by the law so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adultress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adultress, though she be married to another man. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the Body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

I Corinthians 7:2

Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

I Corinthians 7:10 and 11

And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

I Corinthians 7:12 and 13

But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. And the woman which hath a husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

I Corinthians 7:14 and 15

For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

Will the Church Go Through the Tribulation?

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Pastor J. C. O'Hair

This question should be of interest to every individual belonging to some church organization. To many minds the meaning of the word “Church” is too indefinite; therefore it might clarify the question to ask in this way: “Will those who are members of the Body of Christ be on earth during the Great Tribulation”?

Some church members might reply, “We have not so much as heard whether there is to be a Great Tribulation.” Or you might belong to that large class who have a faint recollection of having read or heard something about it in the Bible, but never paid very much attention to it. In other words, you may be too much occupied with other things to be worrying your soul, or troubling your mind with Bible prophecies.

On the other hand there are many who seem to be conscious that this present civilization is rushing on at a tremendous speed to some unhappy climax.

Among this number are found those whose “hearts are failing them for fear of those things which are coming on the earth,” according to the forewarning of Christ many years ago.

Some years after this Christ had gone back to Heaven by the way of Calvary, He spake to His Church by His holy apostle concerning the climax of this present social order in these words:

“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” I Thessalonians 5:2 and 3. And then He adds “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief.” I Thessalonians 5:4.

Surely there is the suggestion of the collapse of civilization in this sudden destruction in connection with the day of the Lord. But these words of warning are mentioned immediately following words for the comfort of the Lord’s people.

The Lord Himself is to descend from Heaven, at which time every living Christian is to be caught up to meet Him in the air. The dead in Christ, shall first be raised and meet the living ones and this united company is to ever be with the Lord. I Thessalonians 4:13 and 18.

In connection with the advent of the Lord Jesus Christ, sudden destruction is to come upon those who know not God. His appearing for this terrible judgment is like the coming of a thief in the night. This judgment is not for saved ones. It is for those who obey not the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Just before He went to the cross, the Lord Jesus Christ spake this warning to His disciples, “Therefore, be ye also ready for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh”. Matthew 24:44. This Chapter opens with the question of these disciples, “What shall be the sign of Thy coming, and the end of the world?” Matthew 24:3.

In the verses which follow, the question is answered “The sign of Christ’s coming” and “the end of the age.”

In Matthew 24:20 the Lord instructs His people to pray that their flight be not on the sabbath day.

As the sabbath day belongs to Israel, and not to the Body of Christ, then we may be sure that Christ, in this discourse, is referring to that period of distress called in Jeremiah 30:7, the “time of Jacob’s trouble”. Carefully read Jeremiah 30:1 to 11. In the seventh verse you will note that Jacob is to be saved out of the time of trouble, that is, out of the horrors and intense sufferings of the Great Tribulation.

“Except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” Matthew 24:22.

The “elect” here refers to Israel. They are to be again elected, because they are beloved for the sake of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Romans 11:28. God’s Covenant with these fathers includes also the covenant with David, in which there is the guarantee of the reestablishment of His Throne and Kingdom.

It may be that some have gone to the extreme in teaching that the twenty-fourth Chapter of Matthew refers to Israel all the way through, and has no reference whatsoever to the Church of this age. But on the other hand, those have more seriously blundered who have used these words of Christ to prove His Church is to pass through the tribulation. Matthew is not the book that gives the course and culmination of the Church.

With respect to the doctrine of the Second Coming of Christ, there are two general divisions in the Church, namely: the “Postmillennialists” and the “Premillennialists”. The “Premillennialists” are subdivided into the “Post-Tribulation Premillennialists” and the Pre- Tribulation Premillennialists” and the “Partial Rapture Premillennialists” and several other varieties.

The doctrine of the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ must be studied like all other Bible subjects, in the light of progressive Scriptural revelation. To properly understand the twenty-fourth Chapter of Matthew, that Chapter must be studied in the light of “Church” or “Body” truth. The Apostle Paul is the messenger of the risen Christ to give the truth to and concerning the Church which is His Body.

In the Book of Matthew, the emphasis, so far as the Second Coming of Christ is concerned, is primarily and principally in connection with the establishment of the Messianic Kingdom on the earth.

This is also true after the resurrection of Christ in Peter’s Pentecostal discourse recorded in the second Chapter of Acts. There he plainly declared that Christ was resurrected to occupy David’s earthly throne. In the closing verses of the third Chapter he stated that Christ would be sent back to Israel when they repented, to bring about the restitution of all things.

Several years later this same Peter, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, further developed the Coming of Christ to take David’s throne, by declaring a newly discovered truth; that before this Messianic Kingdom would be established the Lord would visit the Gentiles for an elect company. Acts 15:14 to 18.

But even here it had not been revealed that after God had gathered out this full company, and before His Son would return to rebuild again the Tabernacle of David, the members of the out-gathered company would rise to meet the Lord in the air.

Progressive Revelation is a principle that cannot be ignored. As the Church was a mystery unknown to God’s people or servants while Christ was on earth, He did not go into the details of the rapture of the Church. The general truth as to His appearing is set forth in the four gospel records.

Strictly speaking, the rapture of the Church is not the Second Coming of Christ. Between the moment Christ comes for His Church and the day that He shall come to save His earthly nation, the Great Tribulation will be on the earth.

Israel will be saved out of “the Great Hour of Temptation” which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth”. The Church shall be saved from it. It is one thing to be saved out of it—It will certainly be a more blessed experience to be saved from it; that is, to escape such wrath, such unbearable judgment, such sorrow and distress. This is the promise to the Church of Philadelphia. Revelation 3:10.

Those who are Christ’s shall be made alive at His Coming—“They that are Christ’s at His Coming”. I Corinthians 15:23. Not some of those who have fallen asleep in Christ shall put on incorruptible bodies at His Coming; shall rise to meet Him in the air; but all of them. Not some of the Body of Christ, shall be raptured at His Coming; but every single member. The Lord will not take His Church home to Glory on the installment plan.

Certainly God did not withhold His terrific judgment from Sodom and Gomorrah until Lot left the scene, because Lot was a consecrated, Spirit-filled “wise virgin”. He was anything but that. Be he was righteous and we have these words from the heart and lips of our Lord in His message concerning His return from Heaven: “But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from Heaven and destroyed them all.” Luke 17:29.

Sudden destruction came. When? After Lot was led out by God.

Sudden destruction is coming upon this ungodly age; a time of intense suffering for apostate Israel and apostate Christendom, with all of their false prophets and deluded victims. When? After God has called every saved one to meet Him in the air. If the “Foolish virgins” of Matthew 25:1 to 13 had ever been saved, the Lord would not have said, “I know you not” or “I knew you not.” He knows all His sheep.

To be sure there shall be Tribulation saints. “And He said unto me, These are they which come out of the Great Tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Revelation 7:14. Note the company of Israelites in Revelation 7:4 and the company of all nations in Revelation 7:9.

These Tribulation saints most certainly are not to be included in the number who are to be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, according to I Thessalonians 4:13 to 18, and most assuredly they will not be saved from the great hour of temptation.

In the sixth Chapter of the Book of Revelation we have the beginning of the Great Tribulation. In the fourth and fifth Chapters we learn that before the book of judgment is opened the Church will be safe in Heaven with the Lord.

I am not a “Pre-Tribulation Premillennialist” merely because I want to be; but because I am quite sure God’s Word plainly teaches that neither all nor part of the Body of Christ will pass through or into the awful time of distress of nations which will take place on this earth in that period of time between the secret rapture of the Church and the Coming of the Lord to establish His Millennial Kingdom of righteousness and peace.

Here is a warning to Israel and the Gentiles:

“Watch, therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that is the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.” Matthew 24:42 and 43.

Should A Christian Keep the Sabbath?

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Pastor J. C. O'Hair

The Bible is God’s Word? What saith these Scriptures concerning the Christian Sabbath? Nothing. Concerning Israel’s Sabbath the Scripture speaks: Israel failed under the law. God abolished the Old Covenant.

It is because of this that the Son of God said to this same people: “My Father worketh hitherto and I work.” John 5:17. It is because of His bleeding work in Gethsemane and on Calvary when He drank the cup and cried, “it is finished,” that He can still say with authority, “Come unto me and I will give you rest.” The Lord Jesus Christ is the Lord of the Sabbath day. Sabbath means rest. The only rest any sinner can find is Christ: “For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His.” Hebrews 4:10. God in creation rested in a perfect work of creation. The Lord Jesus Christ after he had died and abolished death sat down at the right hand of God. Israel found no rest under the law; only condemnation and wrath. It was their school-master to bring them to Christ that they might be justified by faith Galatians 3:24. The schoolmaster was not the ceremonial law alone but the moral law. The next verse states that the believer is no longer under a schoolmaster; which plainly confirms the declaration of God in another verse: “For ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Romans 6:14.

On the Sabbath Israel was to cease from works. But before the Sabbath was ever given to Israel, Abraham entered into God’s rest by faith which was reckoned to him for righteousness. When does the New Testament saint cease from His works? Not on the Sabbath day either the first or the seventh; but the moment he enters by faith into Christ and receives rest and eternal life. He then and there receives not a portion of land and earthly prosperity in Canaan, but heavenly citizenship in the Body of Christ. He does not worship in Jerusalem, but is blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies, and is raised up to sit together in the heavenlies with Christ Jesus. The first day of the week is not the Christian Sabbath. Nor has the Christian anything to do with the seventh day Sabbath except to ignore it; for the Saviour by whom the believer is crucified to the law and also dead to the law, was dead on the Sabbath day and arose on the first day of the week to begin a New Covenant. “Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.” Hebrews 8:13. Christ is the believer’s only Sabbath. We do not rest on a day, but in a Person.

God said to His earthly people, that which He has never said to His heavenly people: “It is a sign between me and you throughout your generations.” Exodus 31:13. “The children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel.” Exodus 31:17.

The Sabbath was not a sign between God and Abraham; for he had no Sabbath day. It is not a sign between God and the Body of Christ. The Body of Christ is not Israel any more than Jerusalem is heaven. Those who claim to be Christians and Israel should carefully read Romans 11:25: “A blindness in part is happened to Israel.”

There could not be a universal Sabbath, with morning in one part of the earth while it is evening in another.

Israel had a Sabbath, but no rest. The New Testament saint has rest, but no Sabbath. The Sabbath-keepers nailed Jesus to the cross. They had murder in their hearts several times because this great Benefactor wanted to heal one of God’s suffering creatures on the Sabbath day. How can a loving God rest when the whole creation is travailing in pain. Sabbath-keepers are austere, critical and never filled with the Spirit. They prefer to be Levites with the stones to kill the offender for gathering sticks on the Sabbath. But this is true legalism. Levites, stones and death go with the Sabbath. You cannot have one without the other.

The Apostle to the Gentiles, Paul, mentions in his epistle several of the commandments, but he never instructed a Gentile believer to observe the seventh day. His statement concerning the matter is this:

“One man esteemeth one day above another; another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day to the Lord, he doth not regard it.” Romans 14:6 and 7. Read also Colossians 2:16. Let no man judge concerning Israel’s days.

ISRAEL’S SABBATH BELONGED TO THE LAW DISPENSATION WHICH WAS A TEMPORARY COVENANT

“Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made.” Galatians 3:19.

“What the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son, . . .” Romans 8:3. Christ is the Seed.

I once attended a Seventh Day Adventist convention where there was a large gathering of these deceived people. There was a genuine religious atmosphere, much resembling the camp of Israel with its Judaism rather than the spiritual blessings which attend a gathering of members of the Church of Christ.

I found myself suddenly plunged in to an argument with two of their amateur preachers and presently surrounded by a crowd of their followers. When the crowd perceived that their two champions were being routed by the bombardment of God’s Word, one of their number hastened to the auditorium for their Goliath, and with him came another crowd.

In this human circle the debate continued and the big chief seemed overjoyed at the opportunity of exposing the stupidity of one who would dare challenge the scriptural validity of his religion. With little difficulty he willingly and readily answered from the Bible a number of question which I put to him very rapidly. Then said I, “you seem to know your Bible quite well: will you please explain to this audience Galatians 3:19?” “Certainly,” said he, “just as soon as I read it.” Then he read: “Wherefore serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made.”

He was silent for some moments; not so quick to answer as before. I said, “we are waiting for the explanation.” “Well,” said he, “let’s have your explanation.” I said, “this is the first time you have asked this, and I have been leading you up to this question.” A few more silent moments and turning of the leaves. I turned to the people and said, “will any of his disciples volunteer to explain the verse in his stead?” More silence. The preacher looked me and said, “we are waiting for your explanation.” I said, “I know you do not understand that verse of Scripture, for if you did, and were honest, you would leave and denounce Seventh Day Adventism immediately.” He gave up so far as an explanation is concerned.

Much of Galatians has to do with the ceremonial law of Israel; but the verses immediately connected with Galatians 3:19 have to do with the moral law. So when God asks of the Christian. “Wherefore serveth the law.” He is referring to the law given at Sinai on the tables of stone. For it was this law that was added because of transgressions. I said to the Adventist preacher, please explain what the law was added to. But neither he nor any member of that circle knew.

I said, “if the law was added, it was unknown to man, before it was added, or in the Bible language, before it entered that the offense might abound.” “It was added till.” Till something happened. That something has happened Therefore the Law; covenant was a temporary covenant, and has served the purpose for which God intended it.

It was added to the gospel which God preached in His covenant with Abraham. It was added till Jesus Christ broke down the middle-wall of partition between Israel and the Gentile on Calvary’s cross. Ephesians 2:15.

Before the law, God preached the gospel to Abraham. Galatians 3:8. The covenant was by promise and the law did not and cannot disannul it. Galatians 3:17. The fourth chapter of Romans shows the relation of the law to the Abrahamic covenant fulfilled in the One who was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification.

We praise God for the privilege of one day in seven, the first day of the week, which we can devote wholly special worship, rest and service. But the first day of the week is not the Sabbath any more than the Body of Christ is Israel. We are sure the first day of the week was a day of special privilege and rejoicing with the apostolic church.

Should A Christian Tithe?

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Pastor J. C. O'Hair

“Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase.” . . .

Proverbs 3:9.

Giving unto the Lord is not only the blessed privilege of the child of God; but it is his duty. Yea, the Christian can honour the Lord with his substance, if he will give unto the Lord his very best, willingly and cheerfully.

“The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the Lord thy God” . . . Exodus 23:19.

“And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the first fruits of the corn, wine and oil and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly. And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the Lord their God and laid them by heaps” . . . II Chronicles 31:5 and 6.

Thus we see that God’s command to His Old Testament people was to give the first, the best and one-tenth. To His New Testament saints, He says, “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as Go hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come” . . . I Corinthians 16:2.

God not only wants the first and best from His children, but he wants it given willingly, cheerfully, systematically and regularly.

“Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord; whatsoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the Lord, gold and silver and brass” . . . Exodus 35:5.

“And they came every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing” . . . Exodus 35:21.

“For God loveth a cheerful giver” . . . II Corinthians 9:7. “Therefore He says, “He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudingly, or of necessity.” . . . 9:6 and 7.

With Israel, giving was a part of their worship and was, an expression of gratitude to Jehovah for the many gifts He had bestowed upon them . . . Nehemiah 10:35 and 36. If they gave unto the Lord for what He did for them, what should the Christian do? The gifts that God bestowed upon Israel are not to be compared with His Divine gifts which are ours in this day of His marvelous grace:

“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? . . . Romans 8:32.

“Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Christ” . . . Ephesians 1:3.

“Heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ” . . . Romans 8:17.

The Christian’s resources in Christ Jesus are unlimited Some Christians are like a man whose vault is filled to capacity with riches, but the vault-door is locked and he has lost and forgotten the combination. Here is the Christian’s combination to his riches in Christ Jesus: “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” . . . John 15:7.

When I was in business down south I went to the home of a very rich man to secure from him the release of a forty thousand dollar mortgage which he held on the property our company had purchased from him. What home it was! It looked to be the home of some poverty stricken owner. There sat the rich man clad in trousers that were cheap and that had seen better days, a well-worn soiled shirt, and a jacket which matched the other garments. He sat at a table and before him was a scanty meal which he had prepared himself. The furnishings were very cheap and ordinary. In an adjoining room an unskilled laborer was hanging some paper which the rich man boasted he had picked up for six cents a roll on the bargain counter. He was quite proud of his purchase. His fortune was well up in six figures and every cent that came in was hoarded up. He had no relatives to whom he could leave his money, and his chief joy was in accumulating his wealth. He knew not how to enjoy the use of it. He had all the marks of a pauper.

How like this man are so many Christians; acting like paupers when they are joint-heirs with Jesus Christ to all of God’s great riches.

“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?” . . . Matthew 7:11.

From the very moment the sinner gives himself to Jesus Christ and in exchange receives from God the gift of eternal life through that Christ, the mutual giving should continue. God is always ready to give and always ready to receive the humblest gift from His child when given in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ; even a cup of cold water . . . Matthew 10:42.

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him” . . . Colossians 3:17.

“That thine alms may be in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret Himself shall reward thee openly.” . . . Matthew 6:4.

Because the glories of our Lord Jesus Christ are indescribable, and the value of His offering and sacrifice incomparable, the Christian says, “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift” . . . II Corinthians 9:15.

Because of this priceless gift, the child is not his own; he is bought with a price. . . . I Corinthians 6:20. Not with silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Jesus Christ . . . I Peter 1:18 and 19. Therefore the Christian belongs to God, body, soul and spirit. Everything that he has belongs to God.

The old miser that I met down south may be dead by this time. If not, he will be within a few short years, and then God will say, “Then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” . . . Luke 12:20.

The richest land-owner is but a tenant; for every inch of this planet belongs to the Lord. “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.” Man may temporarily possess control and improve it, but when his spirit goes to God which gave it and his body back to the dust, another tenant will hold it till death loosens his grip.

Therefore God says, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through not, steal.” . . . Matthew 6:19 and 20.

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” . . . Matthew 6:21. Surely the Christian’s treasure and treasurer is the Lord Jesus Christ who is now at God’s right hand in heaven, and that is where his heart should be.

God does not ask a sinner to give, for the sinner has no treasure in heaven. His destiny is eternal separation from heaven. Before he gives anything to God he must first receive a gift from God, the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

“Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing” . . . I Corinthians 13:3. Love is the fruit of the Spirit, whom the world cannot receive . . . John 14:17.

Gifts to God must be from God’s redeemed people. Many sinners are far more benevolent and generous than are God’s saints, but quite often these sinners are trying to buy favor and standing with God, which cannot be purchased with gold and silver. Doing humanitarian works is not laying up treasures in heaven unless the doer’s name is first written in heaven. We must first give ourselves to God. . . . II Corinthians 8:5.

“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord” . . . Proverbs 19:17.

“But whoso hath this world’s goods, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” . . . I John 3:17.

Israel brought to God the blind for sacrifice, and the lame and sick. They offered polluted bread upon His altar . . . Malachi 1:7 and 8. Therefore God said, “Ye have robbed me: Ye are cursed with a curse” . . . Malachi 3:8 and 10.

Just think of a child of God robbing his Father and yet the Church of God is filled with such robbers, who are robbing God of time, talents and money.

God does not expect any Christian to give above his ability: “For if there first be a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.” . . . II Corinthians 8:12.

Remember the poor widow and her two mites and the commendation of the Lord. Mark 12:42.

God has ordained that those who are set apart by the Holy Spirit for special ministry are to be supported by the liberality of the saints. “The labourer is worthy of his hire” . . . Luke 10:7.

“The firstlings of our herds and our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our God.” . . . Nehemiah 10:35 and 36.

“Let him that is taught in the Word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.” . . . Galatians 6:6. Not only for the support of the ministry of God’s Word, but to the necessity of the saints who are in need, are Christians exhorted to give:

“Distributing to the necessity of saints, given to hospitality” . . . Romans 12:13. . . . I Timothy 6:18.

It is hard to understand how any saint of God can hoard up his wealth with more than a half billion heathen yet un-evangelized, and scores of missionaries ready to go when the money is forthcoming; and with thousands of poor saints, widows and orphans all about us.

As to how much any New Testament saint should give, no specific amount is laid down, and to say, “tithe,” might tend to make a legalist out of a Christian, which is contrary to the will of God. But surely no consecrated Christian will give any less than Israel was required to give under the law, and moreover Abraham gave one-tenth before the law was added. Hebrews 7:2 and 4.

Most Christians do not take God into consideration in the spending of their money, and very few of them know much about the real joy of sacrificial giving. Every Christian should give to the Lord’s work prayerfully, systematically and cheerfully, and certainly there is no objection to making one-tenth of your income your minimum.

Can A Christian Lose Salvation?

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Pastor J. C. O'Hair

Quite often a pastor or Bible-teacher is asked the question; “Do you believe in eternal security?”, or “Do you believe, once in grace, always in grace?”, or “Do you believe that the Christian can lose salvation?

Now let us ask the question. Is it possible for a Christian to lose eternal life? In the eighth chapter of Romans we read these words; “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified; and whom He justified, them He also glorified.

So we learn by reading these several verses, that the believer was predestinated, that he has been called, justified and glorified. It is God who foreknew, who predestined, who has called, justified and glorified the believer. Therefore, the three questions that follow: “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect.” “Who is he that condemneth.” “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? In the first verse of this eighth chapter of Romans, we read, “there is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus”; and the chapter closes with these words: “I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” In the sixth chapter of Romans, the twenty-third verse, we read; “The free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Now first of all, as Christians, we are all agreed that eternal life is the free gift of God; that we are not saved by works of righteousness which we have done. According to God’s Word, He saves us, not by works, not of works lest any man should boast, it is the gift of God. What is the gift of God? Eternal life. What kind of life is the gift of God?. Eternal life. Christ is our life and Christ is the eternal life. I John 5:20.

This eternal Christ in his wonderful prayer recorded in John 17:3 said; “this is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.” In John 17:2 Christ said: “And thou hast given Him power over all things that He should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given Him.” The believer has been given to Christ by God the Father and the Son gives eternal life. As the Saviour closed his prayer, these words He uttered recorded in John 17:24: “Father, I will that they also whom thou has given me be with me where I am that they may behold by glory.” Now, so far as I am personally concerned, I am positive that the Father will hear this prayer of His beloved Son in behalf of every believer who has been born from above.

This same thought is expressed by Christ in John 6:37: “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” Every one included in Romans 8:29 shall come unto Christ, and every one predestinated to be conformed to the image of God’s Son, will be called, will be justified, will be glorified; and not one single one of them will be cast out by Jesus Christ.

This wonderful eternal Saviour said to His disciples in John 10:28: “And I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” This to me is conclusive proof that the believer in Christ is eternally secure.

The believer is kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. I Peter 1:5. The believer is confident of this very thing that He that hath begun a good work in him will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6. The believer knows that he is sealed with the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30. The believer knows that he has a strong consolation, because he has fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before him, which hope is an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil, whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.” Hebrews 6:18 to 20.

The believer should take God at His Word; for when God says “they shall never perish,” God means exactly what He says. When Christ says, “I give unto them eternal life,” Christ means exactly what He says. Eternal life is age-abiding life, and if the justified sinner, believing on the Lord Jesus Christ should lose his salvation, or his life, after ten or twelve years, certainly that life which he had received was not eternal life. There is no such thing as temporary eternal life. Eternal life is eternal. Eternal life is the free gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Now if the believer has to do something to hold on to that eternal life after he receives it, if he must in any way work for God in order to hold that eternal life, then is he not paying for the eternal life after he receives it? What is the difference between paying for something before you receive it and after you receive it? In either event, certainly it is not a gift. God’s gift is a free gift, “not of works lest any man should boast”. It is the free gift of God. In Romans 3:24 we find these words, being declared righteous without a cause by God’s grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Here God plainly tells us that the believing sinner is declared righteous without a cause. In the same Epistle to the Romans, we read that he is declared righteous without the deeds of the law and without works; wholly and solely on the principle of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

So many people who deny the believer’s eternal security in Christ confuse the believer’s standing with the believer’s state. The very moment a sinner believes on the Lord Jesus Christ, with the heart believes unto righteousness he is completely, wholly and eternally justified from all things and he stands in the sight of God as though he had never committed a sin, accepted in the Beloved, complete in Christ, and God declares: “there is therefore, now no condemnation”.

The Holy Spirit beseeches the justified one to present His body a living sacrifice; to walk in the Spirit and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof; to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith he is called; to abstain from the very appearances of evil. But the believer is saved, not by presenting his body a living sacrifice, not by walking; but by believing in what Jesus Christ did once for all when He put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. The believer’s standing is just as perfect before God the moment he is really born again as it will be ten billion years after he has reached heaven. The believer’s standing is always perfect. The believer’s state is always imperfect. But it should be his determination, his desire; yea, a longing desire to moment by moment yield his members as instruments of righteousness unto God, that he might grow in grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. He should forget the things which are behind and press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. He should add to his faith, virtue, self control, godliness brotherly love. But he is not justified because of what he adds. Neither does the rapidity with which he grows in grace have anything to do with his standing. That standing is determined once for all when he believes on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us turn to the tenth chapter of the Book of Hebrews. What is the difference there set forth between the sacrifices of the Old Testament and the sacrifice of God’s only begotten and well beloved Son, Who appeared once in the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. In making the comparison, in Hebrews 10:2, the writer says, if the Old Testament sacrifices could have made the comers thereunto perfect then would they not have ceased to be offered because that the worshipper once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. The believer on the Lord Jesus Christ is once purged and therefore in the presence of God, so far as his standing is concerned, he has no more conscience of sin. In Hebrews 10:18 we find another “no more”; “Where remission. of these is, there is no more offering for sin.” No more conscience of sin. No more offering for sin. In Hebrews 10:17 another glorious no more. “There sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” The explanation of this is found in Hebrews 10:10 to 14. Let us read Hebrews 10:10. “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, once.” Not only was the body of Jesus Christ offered but once; but it is true that the believer is positionally sanctified through this offering once for all. Now in Hebrews 10:14: “For by one offering He has perfected forever them that are sanctified.” Now will you believe what God says by one offering he has perfected forever them that are sanctified. Forever. Forever. God’s Word so declares.

But some one asks: “How about Hebrews 10:26?” Well, what about it? Let us read it: “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.” Nine out of ten people read into that verse something that is not there. They read into it; “there remaineth no more forgiveness for sin.” Now that’s altogether different. God is explaining to these Jews who wanted to go back to the ceremony and ritual of Judaism the difference between the sacrifices of the Old Testament and the once-for-all sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. And so far as that one great all-sufficient sacrifice is concerned, unconditionally, it can be said, “there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin”. God plainly teaches that the believer has only to believe once on the finish work of the Lord Jesus Christ and be born from above. And as no one can be born of an earthly parent more than once, even so it is true that no sinner can be saved, or can be born of God more than once.

Christ entered in once with His blood, having obtain eternal redemption for us. Hebrews 9:12.

Certainly there is forgiveness promised to the saints of God who sin.

According to I John 2:1 and 2, if the believer sins he has an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. Christ on the cross was the propitiation for the sins of the whole world. At the right hand of God He is the believer’s Intercessor, High Priest and Advocate. Jesus Christ died on the cross to establish our relationship, as the children of God, once for all. He now ever lives at God’s right hand to make intercession for us, and to maintain our fellowship Therefore we have uttermost salvation. We must not confuse the believer’s relationship, with the believer’s fellowship, any more than we should confuse in the Book of Leviticus and Exodus, Israel’s union and communion with God. Union is one thing, Communion is another thing. Communion is impossible without union. Relationship is one thing. Fellowship is another thing. Many children of God have lost the joy of their salvation. It is one thing to lose the joy of salvation, it is quite a different thing to lose salvation—which is impossible. They shall never perish.

Now regardless of what your idea or opinion may be, does not the Word of God teach plainly that the believer is sanctified once-for-all through faith in the one offering of Jesus Christ who bare our sins in his own body on the tree?

But some one says, “how about the backsliders as set forth in the sixth chapter of Hebrews?” We shall consider the backsliders. But is there anything about the backslider in the sixth chapter of Hebrews? Let us read beginning with Hebrews 6:4: “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good Word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” If they shall fall away. Who are the “they” here referred to? If the reference is to backsliders, then the statement follows “It is impossible to renew them again unto repentance.” Is it true that a backslider cannot come back to God, through Jesus Christ? We’re all willing to admit that for any person who has once been, a Christian, and backslides, there is hope if he will repent and confess his sin. But here is the statement if he falls away, it is impossible to renew him again unto repentance.” God is here teaching the very opposite of the common interpretation given to these verses. He is teaching the all sufficiency of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ and is trying to teach the Hebrews—not the Gentiles of that day—that it would be impossible to fall away if they have once been renewed by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In other words this portion of God’s Word is given to give the believer assurance instead of fear. It is the antidote for those who would add the Mass to the finished work of Christ.

The word backslider is not used in the New Testament Scriptures. But in writing to the Corinthians, the Apostle refers to three classes in Corinth: “The natural man,” unsaved; “The spiritual man, walking in the will of God;” “The carnal man, who was a saved man, but not walking in the Spirit.” Sad to say, some who live in the Spirit do not walk in the Spirit, but rather in the flesh.

It was to these Corinthians that the Apostle wrote in I Corinthians 11:32, when believers are judged they are chastened of the Lord that they should not be condemned with the world. God chastens carnal Christians, but God can never condemn any kind of a Christian with the world; because there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. In I Corinthians 6:7, you will read of some carnal Christians who were walking and behaving like sinners. “There is utterly a fault among you;” and the word fault should be translated sin. There is utterly a sin among you. I Corinthians 6:7: “ye do wrong and defraud your brethren”. Any Christian who will defraud another Christian is doing wrong and he is sinning.

Nevertheless we see, in I Corinthians 6:19, that these Corinthians defrauders were temples of the Holy Spirit. In I Corinthians 6:11, we read concerning these faulty, defrauding Christians, that they were washed, that they were sanctified and that they were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. To their shame we say that such behaviour was altogether unbecoming a sanctified Christian. Nevertheless, the fact remains that these sanctified, justified saints were defrauding one another. Some of them had to be delivered to the devil for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit might be saved in the day of Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 5:5. For they should not be condemned with the world. John 3:18.

But how about those who are referred to in II Peter 2:20, “If after they have escaped the pollution’s of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.” And it goes on to say, the dog is turned again to his own vomit and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. These are solemn words of warning, as are also the words found in I Corinthians 9:27; “I keep under my body and bring it into subjection; lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” In this last verse, the apostle is not talking about salvation, he is talking about rewards, prize for runners in a race. Peter’s Epistle refers is to false teachers who shall bring the damnable heresy denying the Lord. God refers to them, in the Epistle of Jude, as sensual, not having the Spirit as those who reject both the Deity of Christ and salvation through the shed blood. Most assuredly, they were not true believers, not saved ones.”

Then some one asks “how about Revelation 3:5?” “I will not blot out their names from the book of Life.” They infer that this means that God had blotted out the names of some that had already been written in that book. No where in Church truth do we find the reference to any one whose name was once written in the book of life and then blotted out.

A preacher came to me once with an open Bible, opened at the sixth of Hebrews, and said: “Sir, I had an experience just like this. I was a Christian in my early manhood, and I fell away.” He said, “If I had died in my sin, I would have been eternally lost.” “But,” I said, “How about it now?” “Oh,” he said, “I’ve confessed my sin and have come back.” Then I said, “You should point to some other portion of God’s Word; because this says if you fall away it is impossible to renew you and you’ve been renewed. Therefore, this Scripture is either incorrect, or it does not refer to your case.” Then I asked him “Is it not a fact that any back-slidden Christian can come back to God? But how.” “There is but one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.” “If the back-slidden Christian comes back to God through Christ does he come through Christ dying on the cross, or through Christ as the believer’s Representative in heaven, appearing in the presence of God for us.” Hebrews 9:24. He said, “he comes back through Christ at the right hand of God.” “Then I said, “Can you show me in the scriptures that Christ is representing unsaved unbelievers in heaven? Christ is the believer’s Advocate. John 17:24.

Fallen from grace; is an expression used in Galatians 5:4. Whosoever, is justified by the law is fallen from grace. The reference here is not to the Christian who goes back to sin and loses his salvation.

The parable of the Vine and Branches, in John 15, should be read in the light of Romans 11 where we learn that Israel the natural branches were cut off that the wild olive tree, the Gentiles might be grafted in, contrary to nature. The Saviour does not say in the John 15 , that one who is a member of the Body of Christ can afterwards be lost. The only sensible way to study the Scriptures is to study Scripture in the light of Scriptures. The Vine and Branches should be read in the light of I Corinthians 3. Notice . I Corinthians 3:15 “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire.” Why is it that those who use the parable of the Vine and Branches against eternal security do not include John 15:16?

Somebody then asks the question, “How about the case of Judas?” Well what about it? There is not the slightest suggestion that Judas was ever a saved man. The Lord said when He chose His twelve apostles, He chose one who was a devil. He was a devil when he was chosen, and he was a devil when he betrayed Christ, and he was a devil when he committed suicide and went to his own place.

The Bible teaches that both Jews and Gentiles who believe, are baptized by one Spirit into one Body, I Corinthians 12:13. There is one Body, one Spirit and one baptism. Ephesians 4:1 to 5. There is no salvation in this dispensation outside of the Body of Christ. If a believer could lose his place in the Body of Christ by losing his salvation, he could not get back into that Body again. There is one baptism.

There’s a blessed doctrine taught in the Word of God, which is quite offensive to many Christians; the doctrine of election, or foreordination. For instance, we read in Acts 13:48, “as many as were ordained to eternal life, believed.” God very clearly teaches then, that every believer is ordained to eternal life and every one who is ordained to eternal life will believe. Now, for my own part, I am quite sure that when we reach heaven we shall find that not one who was foreordained to eternal life will be missing; and there will not be one there in the Body of Christ who was not foreordained.

We must remember that this is based upon foreknowledge and God’s foreknowledge of an event does not relieve the individual of his or her responsibility. God’s message is still, “whosoever will may come.” But because we cannot reconcile the whosoever message with the doctrine of foreordination, we should not be hostile toward God’s truth. We were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:1 to 3. Whom God foreknew, He predestinated, He called, He justified, He glorified. Therefore, no one can condemn the believer. No one can separate us from the love of Christ, which is in Christ Jesus.

Then you ask the question, will not believers take advantage of such a doctrine? I challenge you to search the records, and see if the Christians who teach the eternal security of the believer have not been just as consecrated as those who teach “the falling from grace doctrine.”

Those who oppose the believer’s eternal security in Christ sometimes tell of some individual who has made the statement, “I can commit any sin I choose, because I am eternally saved and cannot lose my salvation.” Personally, I never heard any individual make any such statement. “If any man be in Christ, there is a new creation, old things are passed away and all things are become new.” The fruit of that new creation is the desire on the part of the individual to love righteousness and hate iniquity. If that is not the individuals desire and testimony, it may be seriously doubted whether or not he has ever been saved.

All Christians have the same relationship and the same standing before God. But no two Christians have just the same experience in their walk, in their state. Some are more yielded more consecrated than others. Some have refused to make the full surrender to Christ as Lord, diligently seeking every day to walk in the center of His will. Sad to say, some who are in the Spirit walk in the flesh; some have their affections set up on the things of this world. Some compromise with sin. Others might be graded somewhere between the compromisers and the fully surrendered ones. But we have this assurance, the Lord knoweth them that are His.

The question was once asked, “What must I do to be saved?” The answer was not do; but believe. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. Suppose we should ask the question, “What must I do to keep my salvation or eternal life?” Again the answer is not do; for God has only one standard of doing in the Bible, and that is a perfect standard. “Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law to do them.” Galatians 3:10. If any Christian could lose his salvation, because of failure to meet the perfect demands of this perfect law, all Christians would be lost.

Good works can never be the root of the believer’s salvation either at the time he is saved, or thereafter. Good works are always the fruit. The believer is God’s workmanship in Christ Jesus—“unto good works that God hath before ordained that he should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:9 and 10.

Every Christian should seek to please the risen Lord by a consecrated separated life, walking in the Spirit, fulfilling the righteousness of the law and day by day manifesting the fruit of the Spirit. The believer is ever and always kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, and not through good works. Faith is the victory that overcometh the world. Faith is the gift of God and cometh through hearing the Word of God. The secret of true victory, happiness and joy, is a moment by moment yielding, submitting presenting to God and obedience to the leadership of the Holy Spirit, continually recognizing the Lordship of the Saviour

God which cannot lie promised us eternal life before the world began. Eternal-life is received by the believer once for all and not on the installment plan. So we shall rest in his gracious promise and be confident of this very thing that he that begun. a good work in us will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ.

Should Christians Seek Holiness in the Second Blessing?

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Pastor J. C. O'Hair

No doubt, you have heard a “Holiness” sermon preached from Hebrews 12:14. Generally the preacher changes the verse and reads his text thus: “Without holiness, no man shall see the Lord.” This is the equivalent of saying, “Without Christ, no man shall see the Lord.” God very clearly shows us that He has made Christ Jesus to be our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. I Corinthians 1:30.

It is equally true, “Without righteousness, no man shall see the Lord.” God has said that no unrighteous man shall enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus Christ is the believer’s righteousness. It is equally true, “Without redemption, no man shall see the Lord,” God has made Jesus Christ to be the believer’s redemption. It was Christ Himself who said, “Except a man be born from above he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” Therefore, “Without regeneration, no man shall see the Lord.”

Every regenerated man is a redeemed man. Every redeemed man has had imputed to him the righteousness of God. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. I John 5:1. No man is born of God because he is holy. The believer is born of God because he believes something very definite. He believes that Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, was made sin in his behalf when He died on the cross of Calvary. And God says, ‘‘With the heart man believeth unto righteousness.” It is also true that with the heart man believeth unto regeneration; or man believeth unto redemption. It is likewise true that with the heart man believeth unto holiness. There are some who would lead us to believe that holiness means sinless perfection; that is, that the Christian should be not only perfect in his standing before God, but perfect in his conduct or state. “Hagiasmos” is the Greek word translated, sometimes, “holiness;” sometimes, “sanctification;” the same Greek word. Just as the same Greek word—the adjective—is sometimes translated “sanctified,” sometimes translated, “holy.”

In I Corinthians 7:14, we read, “The unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband.” Certainly this does not mean that the unbelieving husband or the unbelieving wife is without sin. Christ was led by Satan to the holy temple in the holy city. He was taken to Jerusalem. Jerusalem was called by God, “The Holy City,” that is, “The Sanctified city.” Most assuredly, that did not mean that Jerusalem was without sin; for in the Book of Revelation, Jerusalem is called “Sodom,” because of the great sin of that city.

Now let us read concerning the sanctified Corinthians, in I Corinthians 6:11: “Ye are washed, but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” This Epistle is addressed, “To them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus,” I Corinthians 1:2. Referring to this sixth chapter, verse eleven, let us note the order: First, ye are washed; then, ye are sanctified; then, ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. We notice here that “sanctified” is mentioned before “justified”; and yet there are many so-called Bible-teachers who insist that the believer can never be sanctified until he has first been justified. God has the order here as He has the order in I Corinthians 1:30; sanctification before justification and redemption.

Presently we shall see that justified, sanctified believers can be and should be resanctified. But we have God’s order in these two verses. Now let us turn again to II Thessalonians 2:13 and read: “God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” The sinner believes God’s truth, and when he believes God’s truth, he is sanctified by the Holy Spirit, unto salvation. Jesus Christ said in John 6:44, “No man can come unto me except my Father in Heaven draw Him, and I will raise Him up the last day.” The believing sinner is by the Holy Spirit convicted of sin (rejecting Christ) and when he believes, he is drawn by the Holy Spirit to Christ to be saved. Thus we see that sanctification precedes salvation. As we said, we shall presently refer to progressive sanctification, an experience of spiritual growth in the life of the saved one.

Let us go back to the sanctified Corinthians. In the sixth chapter, to which we referred, we read, in the nineteenth verse: “Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, which is in you which ye have of God, that ye are not your own.” We see them that they were temples of the Holy Spirit; that is, the Holy Spirit was dwelling within them. And yet notice what the Lord says to these sanctified temples of the Holy Spirit in the seventh verse of the sixth chapter; “There is utterly a sin among you.” Verse seven; “Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.” God here shows us that the sanctified Corinthians were sinning. They were doing wrong: they were defrauding. “They walked as men.” Verse three, chapter three. They were yet carnal, although sanctified Corinthians. The apostle was speaking to their shame. Sinning sanctified Church members.

Paul wrote an epistle to another group of Christians, located at Ephesus, and he addressed that epistle, “To the saints which are at Ephesus.” “To the saints.” In the fifth chapter of the epistle, in the third and fourth verses, we read these words: “But fornication and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints. Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking nor jesting which are not convenient; but rather giving of thanks.” Why did the apostle deem it necessary to tell saints not to engage in these sinful habits? Simply because he knew that there was the possibility. Certainly he knew other saints who had been guilty of these immoral habits. Now let us consider these two expressions: “To the saints,” “As becometh saints.” In other words, “Becoming saints,” “Becometh saints.” How does a sinner become a saint? What conduct becometh a saint? No one becomes a saint by behaving.

To these Ephesians, read what Paul writes in the second chapter. In verses one to three, he gives a black picture of their past history. But God is rich in mercy. “By grace are ye saved through faith, that not of yourselves it is the gift of God, not of works.” These Ephesians did not become saints because of their good works. They became saints by grace, and that is the only way in which any sinner can become a saint.We read in that sixth chapter of Corinthians how these Corinthians were washed and sanctified and justified. But in the preceding verses we read what they had been before they were washed and made saints. The human material out of which God makes saints is described in verses nine and ten. A saint is a sinner saved by grace, and is no more of a saint after he has lived thirty years as a consecrated Christian, than he is when first saved.

Now every saint should behave as becometh a saint; but the individual is a saint because he has believed the gospel of his salvation. On believing the gospel of his salvation, the sinner is sealed with the Holy Spirit; the earnest of his inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, Ephesians 1:13 and 14. In the King James Edition of the Bible, we have a very unfortunate translation of Ephesians 1:13. It should read, “In whom we also trusted after that we heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation, in whom also, believing ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.” The expression in the King James version translated, “after that ye believed,” is simply the participle of the Greek verb, to believe. The word is “Pisteusantes.” It is the equivalent of our participle, “believing.” or perhaps a better translation, “on believing.” It certainly means when or at the time they believed. In other words, “on believing the gospel of salvation,” these Ephesian saints were sealed with the Holy Spirit. In the fourth chapter, the thirtieth verse of this epistle, we are told that the Ephesian saints were sealed unto the day of redemption. In that verse they are told not to grieve the Holy Spirit. Why should it be necessary for God to tell a saint not to grieve the Holy Spirit? Because there was more than the possibility or the probability. It is still a fact that the great majority of God’s saints do truly grieve the Holy Spirit. Every one of the Ephesian saints was sealed with the Holy Spirit, but not every one was always filled with the Holy Spirit. They were instructed in the fifth chapter and the eighteenth verse to be filled with the Holy Spirit. It is one thing to be sealed when saved unto the day of redemption with the Holy Spirit; it is another thing, day by day, to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

This brings us to the consideration of another Scripture which so often has been corrupted by the so-called “Holiness” or “Second Blessing” preacher, namely; Acts 19:1 to 5. There we read in the second verse, Paul’s question to certain Jewish disciples who had received from Apollos, or some other teacher, the message of John the Baptist, which was not up to date. The question Paul asked of the Jewish disciples of John at Ephesus was; “Have ye received the Holy Spirit since ye believed?” Now, we have here another very unfortunate translation of the Greek; because we have in this verse the very same Greek participle that we have in Ephesians 1:13. What Paul really asked, “On believing, (Pisteusntes) received ye the Holy Spirit?” They said, “we have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Spirit”. You will remember that John the Baptist said, “I baptize you with water, but Christ shall baptize you with, or in, the Holy Spirit.” These disciples at Ephesus had not heard whether the Holy Spirit had been given. According to Ephesians 1:13 and 14, some of the Ephesians, on believing, were sealed with the Holy Spirit; while these Ephesian disciples, in Acts, on believing did not receive the Holy Spirit. It was because the two groups at Ephesus received and believed entirely different messages. Nobody received the Holy Spirit by believing in the message of John, the Baptist;— baptism unto repentance for Israel.”

Every saved one immediately receives the Holy Spirit. In Galatians 3:13 and 14, we are told that Christ died on the cross to deliver Israel from the curse of the law, and that the believing Gentiles might receive the Holy Spirit. We read in Hebrews 13:12: “Therefore, Jesus, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood suffered without the gate.” In other words, by His finished work on the cross, when Jesus Christ suffered without the gate, believing sinners are made saints through His blood. We have the same thought in I Peter 1:2, “Elect, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit and to obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.”

The very moment a sinner is washed in the blood of Jesus Christ, his experience is that which is set forth in Colossians 1:14: “In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” In the verse just preceding we read, “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son, or the Son of His Love.” Thus we see that when the sinner is redeemed through the blood of Christ, he is translated from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of the Son of God’s Love. “According to I Corinthians 12:13, when saved the believer is baptized in the Holy Spirit, into the Body of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The believer is in the world, but not of the world. He is sanctified. Sanctified means either, separated by God, or separated unto God; very often both meanings are included, that is “separated by God unto God.” Unless an individual has been separated by God unto God, he shall not see God. Therefore, “without sanctification no man shall see the Lord.” But let us not forget that Jesus Christ is our sanctification and if we have Him we have holiness because we have a Holy Saviour living within; and the indwelling Holy Spirit. Some preachers tell Christians if they do not seek holiness they will lose their salvation.

The Holy Spirit is the earnest, or the assurance, of the believer’s acceptance by God. II Corinthians 1:22. “He hath also sealed us and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” We emphasize those three words, “in our hearts;” because there are some very foolish religious leaders who would seduce people into fanaticism, and they are sometimes successful. This they do by teaching that the sinner is justified when he believes the Gospel and receives Christ. At that time the Holy Spirit is with him. But in order to have the Holy Spirit within, he must experience a second work of grace. He must be sanctified. Some of them call this, “the second blessing.” Some call it, “the baptism the Holy Spirit.” They support their false teaching by misunderstanding Ephesians 1:13. They say, “after that ye believed,” means subsequent to and separate from salvation, or they use the expression found in Acts 19:2, “Since ye believed.” “Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?” They invariably refer to the experience of twelve apostles quoting John 14:17. In this verse, we find recorded the words of the Lord Jesus before he went to Calvary. He said to his disciples, concerning the Holy Spirit. “Ye know Him for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you.” And because the Holy Spirit was with them before he dwelt within them, they tell us that we must have a similar experience. However, they forget to read John 7:39 in which the Lord plainly declared that the Holy Spirit was not yet given because Christ was not yet glorified. In other words, these disciples of Jesus who were saved during days of His flesh were saved in the dispensation of the Son of Man, under the Old Covenant; before the dispensation of the Holy Spirit was ushered in.

John was that disciple whom the Lord loved; and truly if anyone could have had the Holy Spirit within while Christ was on the earth, John would have enjoyed that experience. But John had to wait more than three years after he saved to receive the Holy Spirit; for the simple reason that the Holy Spirit was not yet given. These men were saved before Jesus Christ died on the cross, and in order to have an experience as they had, we too would have to receive our salvation in the same dispensation in which they were saved, that is, in those days when Jesus of Nazareth was a man in the midst of Israel; made under the law, a minister of circumcision. This is altogether impossible. So their experiences cannot be duplicated.

By referring to Acts 11:14 to 17, we learn that Cornelius, the Gentile, received the Holy Spirit when he heard the words whereby he was to be saved. At the time he was saved he received the Holy Spirit. So far as any Gentile believer in the Body of Christ is concerned, there is not single Scripture that supports the teaching of the second blessing or the second work of grace.

If you will carefully read Exodus 3:5, Exodus 16:23, Exodus 29:29, Leviticus 27:30, you will learn of holy ground, holy Sabbath, holy garments, and holy tithes. In Exodus 13:2, you may read of a sanctified or holy beast. In Genesis 2:3 we are told God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it. He set it apart. The Hebrew word, “Qodesh” means separated, or set apart by God or for God. Israel was a sanctified nation. But they had to be re-sanctified for service many times.

Now so far as the ‘baptism of the Holy Spirit’ is concerned, this expression is not used in the Bible. In the first chapter of John, in, the first chapter of Mark, in the third chapter of Matthew, and in the third chapter of Luke, John the Baptist declares that Christ will baptize His disciples in or with the Holy Spirit. The same thought is used by the risen Christ in Acts 1:5, “Ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days hence.” Referring to this promise, Peter, in Acts 11:14 to 17, said that he remembered these words of the Lord when the Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius the Gentile. The only other Scripture in the New Testament in which Holy Spirit baptism is mentioned, is I Corinthians 12:13. There the reference is to the operation of the Holy Spirit by which the believer is placed in the Body of Christ. This one baptism takes place once for all, when the believer receives Jesus Christ, at which time he is born of the Spirit There is but one Spirit and one baptism, Ephesians 4:4 to 7. Therefore, Holy Spirit Baptism is never the future experience of any Christian. Every individual, who is saved, is saved because of the work of the Holy Spirit and at time he is saved by the Holy Spirit, the same Holy Spirit has His part in placing him in the true Church of Jesus Christ. The believer receives the earnest of the Holy Spirit within, once-for-all, the very moment he is saved. He likewise receives, once-for-all, the sealing and the anointing, as well as the baptism.

But, there are many infillings of the Holy Spirit.

Now we call your attention to II Corinthians 7:11. Again these Corinthians are addressed as saints, “Having therefore, these promises dearly beloved, let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” And read a similar verse, I Thessalonians 5:23, “And the very God of peace, sanctify you wholly; and I pray God that your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Here God is calling the believer to a holy life, to a life of separation and consecration. By reading the sixth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, we learn that every believer is positionally and potentially dead to sin because of the death and resurrection of Christ and the believer’s identification with that resurrected Christ. As we read that chapter we learn how God would have the believer, who is positionally and potentially dead to sin, to actually live as one risen from the dead with Christ, by reckoning himself dead unto sin and alive unto righteousness; that is by yielding himself moment by moment unto God as one alive from the dead.

The moment the believer is saved, as a new born babe, he is to desire the sincere milk of the Word that he may grow thereby. I Peter 2:1. The believer is instructed to add certain things to his faith. He is told to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord would have him present his body a living sacrifice. But he is not saved or positionally sanctified because of what he does or does not as a believer but because he is a believer.

The Lord Jesus Christ, in John, 17:17, prayed for His disciples and said, “Father, sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth.” Surely they had already been sanctified, so far as their standing before God was concerned. Their names had been written in heaven. But now the Saviour is praying that they should not be defiled by the world; that they might not compromise; that they might be kept from the evil one; that they might not live in sin; but that each of them might live a yielded and a separated life. He is still praying that same prayer for you and me. The believer is instructed by God to love not the world, neither the things of the world; to keep himself unspotted from the world; to be not conformed to the world. Every disciple of Christ should put on the whole armor of God that he might stand against the wiles of the evil one. God’s desire for every one of His children, is that he or she might abstain from the very appearances of evil and be a shining light in the; midst of a wicked and perverse generation. These things are written unto you that ye sin not. Confess your faults (sins) one to another.

For the proper development of the physical man some laws or rules must be observed. The individual must have the proper food, good water, good air, proper exercise and sufficient rest. The neglect or sacrifice of any one of these five things will hinder physical development and growth. Likewise in the spiritual realm, there are spiritual rules.

So far as union is concerned, every believer maintains the same relationship to God, but the communion is something different. The Christian, or believer, will be filled with the Holy Spirit; that is, he will be Christ-like and truly Spiritual, just in the degree that he is occupied with God’s spiritual program, in the proportion that he appropriates the unlimited resources which God has placed at his disposal.

First of all let us be assured that every believer is blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ. These are on deposit immediately. Ephesians 1:1 to 3. Therefore, no believer, who is thus blessed with all spiritual blessings, needs a second blessing. But what he does need, is the wisdom and the faith to appropriate and utilize the all spiritual blessings which are in Christ for every believer.

Here are the rules for the proper spiritual development and growth of the believer:

1. He must be a prayerful earnest reader and student of God’s Holy Word.

2. He must be faithful in prayer and intercession.

3. He must engage in the true worship of God, remembering that the believer is a holy priest as well as a royal priest. Mary was occupied with Christ. Martha was occupied for Christ. Before any Christian can be acceptably and fruitfully occupied for Christ, he must be occupied with Christ.

4. Then God has instructed his saints; “Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together.”

5. Finally, the Christian is called to be an ambassador and a witness, faithful in giving out his testimony, as well as in ministering to suffering humanity—this is often called practical Christianity. He must therefore be continuously engaged in Christian service, service for Christ.

We might go forward in fifty different meetings, for the second blessing, or the baptism of the Holy Spirit; but unless we observe these five essential spiritual principles, we shall never grow in grace nor be filled with the Holy Spirit. Sanctification is positional, progressive and prospective. Every believer should grow more Christ like every day and remain in such a spiritual attitude that he can be re-sanctified for every service to which he is called by the Holy Spirit. But no faithful and obedient child of God will ever cease to be conscious of His imperfections, failures and faults.

In closing we call your attention to Hebrews 10:10 and Hebrews 10:14 and ask you to believe God’s Word. We quote: “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all,” “By one offering, He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

God has made Jesus Christ to be our holiness. Is He yours? If so, you are holy. And blessed be His name, as the believer grows in grace and in the knowledge of this wonderful Saviour, he can be and should be re-sanctified for every service, separated by the Lord unto the Lord, vessels meet for the Master’s use. “Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.”

Our calling is a three-fold calling; unto salvation; unto separation; unto service. And if the Holy Spirit today should call you, a Christian, to fully yield yourself to Him after years of indecision and indifference, praise the Lord for such a whole-hearted surrender. But do not preach some unscriptural “Sanctification” or “Holiness” theory because of your new experience and joy.

Unsearchable Riches

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Pastor J. C. O'Hair

The Dispensational Stir

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Pastor J. C. O'Hair

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