The statement of our Lord Jesus Christ, recorded in John 5:24, should certainly give assurance to any one whose trust is in the Word of God, whose hope is in the redemptive work of God’s only begotten Son. God said: “this is My beloved Son: hear ye Him”. Now hear Him:

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24.

The believer has eternal life. The believer shall not come into judgment. The believer has passed out of death into life.

Most certainly God wants believers to have a positive “know so” salvation, the real assurance of salvation. Hear God’s own Word:

“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the Son of God.” I John 5: 13 The Greek word, translated “know” is “iedo” and the other definition in the Greek dictionary is “perceive” and “to be sure”. Can you not see then that God wants you to know, “to be sure”, that you have eternal life; because you believe unto the salvation of your soul. You did not obtain your salvation by earning it or by laboring for it. Neither do you retain it because you are paying for it with your good works.

Eternal life is God’s free gift to the believing sinner. The believing sinner is not saved because he is worthy; but because he believes. He believes God and he believes that Jesus Christ is God’s Worthy One. Christ, on the tree, suffered for sins once, the just for the unjust that He might bring us to God. I Peter 3:18. It is Christ’s work, and not ours, that brings us to God. Christ’s work was a perfect work. “God, which cannot lie, promised us eternal life before the world began.” Titus 1:2. Not according to our works but according to His grace and purpose which was given us in Christ Jesus.” II Timothy 1:9. Christ’s perfect work makes sinners perfect and complete. Hebrews 10:14. Colossians 2:10. Reverently speaking, God can do nothing but save the sinner who comes to Him by the way of His Son by the way of His cross.

“If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the God of this age hath blinded the minds of them that believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, Who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” II Corinthians 4:3 and 4.

The god of this age is very clever. He is called “Satan”, that “old devil”, who has deceived the whole world. Revelation 12:11. This is the crime with which he is charged. We are warned against him. He is like a roaring lion walking about seeking whom he may devour. In Eden he beguiled Eve through his subtlety. We are not to be ignorant of his devices. II Corinthians 11:3; II Corinthians 2:20; Ephesians 6:11. We are told that he is transformed into an angel of light, that he has religious servants who are ministers of righteousness, and, who do their work by imitating the servants of Christ. II Corinthians 11:13 to 15.

There are millions of religious people, identified with some Satanic cult, who have a peace that is not genuine, who have a false security, a hopeless hope, but withal complacent and completely satisfied with their delusion. They are headed, with all their religion, for the sorrows of the second death. They have done the very thing that God’s Word declares leads to that fearful vengeance described in Hebrews 10:25 to 30. They have treated Christ’s shed blood as an unholy thing and have despised the grace of God. This is the sure way to God’s vengeance. God’s grace is available and altogether sufficient for sinners. Christ’s shed blood is the only way to eternal life, the sinner’s only hope, God’s only remedy for sin. Remember, God’s controversy with fallen humanity is sin and death. Christ put away sin by dying and then He abolished death.

Thus we see that this great adversary deludes millions of religious people and gives to them a sense of security, corrupting their minds from the simplicity that is “in Christ”. He causes them to so misinterpret and so misapply the plain teaching of the Word of God, that they reject the gospel of the grace of God and redemption through the shed blood of the Son of God, following the fallacy of some self-appointed religious prophet for whom the followers claim special inspiration, visions or revelations. These different false prophets differ much in their various interpretations, but each claims to have the true Bible religion and the sure way to the Bible heaven, and the peace of God, while enroute to their final reward.

Think of the multitude in Christian Science, Unity, New Thought, Modernism, Unitarianism, Russellism, Mormonism and other “isms”; twice dead, plucked up by the roots, calmed into the sleep of death by the devil’s religious opiate, which is something far more serious than “another gospel”, “the perverted gospel”, in the days of Paul. Galatians 1:6 to 10. The messengers, who give forth this message of death, use Christian phraseology and corrupt the Christian’s Bible, to carry on their soul-damning work; for their master is transformed into an angel of light. II Corinthians 11:13 to 15.

Let us never minimize or discount the work of Satan.

While the devil gives this false security to these lost religious victims, he fills the hearts of many truly redeemed sinners, God’s own children, with doubt and fear, and sometimes with despair. They trust much in their feelings or in their religious activities and experiences. wondering whether they will really reach heaven. They sum up their good works to see if the total is enough to keep them in God’s favor or get them into God’s heaven. Others strive for sinless perfection, agonizing to reach a state of holiness that will fit them for glory. Many of the redeemed of the Lord hesitate to say, “I know I am saved.” To them that would be presumptuous or boasting. They are not properly taught in God’s Word. No true believer will glory in himself or in his works or worthiness. The Bible-taught child of God has no confidence in the flesh. He should endeavor, sincerely, every day, to give the Lord the very best service that is possible, by His grace; but he will not depend upon that faithful service for his eternal security.

The immediate response to this in the heart and mind of the great majority of Christians is, “how absurd to ask such a ridiculous question.” But we present the question for more than a moment’s consideration and for more than your own private and personal opinion. There are many practices in churches today which may seem right in the eyes of all people but which do not have the Divine sanction of the Word of God.

We are perhaps familiar with the theological controversies that have taken place from time to time during the past two or three centuries in America and Europe between the “Hyper- Calvinists” and the “Arminians”, “Irresistible Grace” versus “Free Will”. The “Irresistible Grace” theologians have been frequently called “Fatalists”, because they have taught that the omniscient God, knowing the end from the beginning, has not only foreknown the eternal destiny of every member of the human race, but He has arbitrarily predestinated and foreordained that some should be the vessels of His wrath. They quote in support of this teaching Romans 9:22 with other scriptures such as Ephesians 1:4, II Timothy 1:9 and Titus 1:2.

I was preaching the Gospel for ten days in a southern town. I was asked to call on a prominent business man, who had made it a practice to criticize and condemn every evangelist, as well as the local pastors, who had proclaimed a “whosoever” message. He was especially bitter and sarcastic in his denunciation of what he called the high-pressure tactics and cunning tricks of the professional evangelists. If he had the right to be the judge in such matters, perhaps some of his criticisms were just. There are many who are quite sure that these so-called professional evangelists have done much harm to the Lord’s work by substituting carnal schemes, clever methods and a compromise message for a spiritual, Scriptural method and for God’s pure Gospel of grace. How many times have we heard the statement, “professional evangelists have killed evangelism”. The only thing that can kill true evangelism is for the servants of the Lord to cease to proclaim the pure evangel or cease to get to the sinners with that saving message.

When I called on the “critic” I found him to be quite a theologian, and from his own theological point of view quite a student of Scriptures. He told me that his father for many years was a Primitive Baptist preacher. He was quite sure that his father belonged to the elect; but he had serious doubt as to his own spiritual welfare. Then he added, “my own deep concern can never alter the foreordained decree of God. If God knows that I am predestined to be a vessel of wrath, all of your preaching and all my anxiety and emotional desires and struggles will not change God’s mind. If I am ordained to be numbered with the elect, God knows all about it and He will yet call and justify me.” Romans 8:29 and 30; Acts 13:48. All my appeal to the Scriptures to show him the responsibility of man was in vain. When I left him he said, “perhaps when you come again I will be numbered with the elect.” I asked him if he would have assurance, if and when God should elect him to eternal life. He was quite positive that he would.

This man was also quite positive that Christ died for the elect; and he was also of the opinion that the number was not only strictly limited, but limited a very small percentage of the human race.

In recent years there has been quite a revival of Universalism in the religious movements of Charles T. Russell and Judge Rutherford known as “Jehovah’s Witnesses” alias “International Bible Students”, alias “Millennial Dawnism”. They have worked out a salvation scheme to refute all the arguments and counteract all the evil influences of the “limited atonement” theologians. Along the same line we now find the literature of the “Universal Reconciliationalists”, claiming by Colossians 1:20 and a few other disconnected Scriptures that the atonement (reconciliation) by Christ on the cross was so unlimited that all humanity will finally be reconciled to God; and perhaps Satan also and the fallen angels. Those of us who are somewhat familiar with this movement know what it has done to the evangelistic zeal of preachers who have been caught in its grip.

Several years ago I was an eye-witness of the wreck of a spiritual assembly of the Lord produced by a “limited atonement” preacher who viciously denounced, as servants of Satan, every evangelist and pastor who preached what he called a “whosoever Gospel.” He was a very clever juggler of the Scriptures, and won for the defense of his “election” hobby a sufficient number of the leaders in the assembly to control the work. About seventy per cent of the believers withdrew and were scattered. There was no longer a sane, spiritual testimony given out by the believers left behind: It is needless to add that missionary zeal died out and soul-saving ceased in that assembly. But here is an interesting fact: One of the believers, who withdrew from the assembly to which we have just referred, ascertained from those who remained with the “election” preacher that, without a single exception, one hundred per cent of them, as well as the preacher himself, had been saved by hearing and responding to what they called the “whosoever Gospel”.

Mr. Moody related an experience with one of his critics who protested against his emotional urge and his prolonged appeal to sinners to accept Christ. He asked “how do you know they have been elected?” He proceeded to preach “predestination” and “foreordination” to Mr. Moody. Mr. Moody very graciously replied to the man with this statement, “I feel quite sure if by chance a sinner, who had not been elected, should believe the Gospel, should respond to his invitation and receive Christ, that God will forgive me for my blunder.”

Perhaps you have heard of the evangelist who had preached several nights about the death of the Lord Jesus, in sincerity and with deep devotion, describing the sufferings and sacrifice of the eternal Christ, saw no visible effects upon his audience. Then, with much pathos in his voice, he related a story. It was the unsuccessful attempt of a father to save a drowning dog, a pet of his little son, who looked on the scene with tearful eyes and pleading cries. As the evangelist pictured the last death struggle of the dog, he observed that there were but few dry eyes in the audience. A number responded to his invitation. Later on in the meetings he reminded them that not one had shed a tear when he had described the death of the Son of God on the cross, but most of them cried over the drowning dog.

It is rather unfortunate that in many meetings the success of an evangelist and the amount of his pay-check depend upon the number of hands that are raised in the meetings. This is rather a temptation. Many men of God fall into the trap and are not altogether honest in their invitations; they make them so broad and so general that a larger number may respond and give to the evangelist his coveted record.

It is interesting to compare God’s assurances to Paul and Paul’s appeals, recorded in the Book of Acts. God assured Paul that he would reach Rome: yet Paul solicited human aid and appealed to Caesar. Acts 23:11, Acts 23:17. “I appeal unto Caesar.” Acts 25:11. Again: “Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar; and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.” Acts 27:24. “I exhort you to be of good cheer; for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve.” Acts 27:22 and 23. Paul is sure to reach Rome. All aboard the sinking vessel are sure to reach land in safety. It is an assured fact. But hear the word: “Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.” Acts 27:31. We can never remove the human element from salvation Compare Ephesians 1:4 and 5 with Colossians 1:23:

“According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will Ephesians 1:4 and 5. If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled. and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaves; whereof I Paul am made a minister.” Colossians 1:23.

As to the sinner’s responsibility in the matter of salvation, it is clearly set forth in Romans 10:8 to 13, “the word of faith his heart”, “believe and confess”, “call upon the name of the Lord. And the preacher’s responsibility is set forth in the verses that immediately follow; Romans 10:14 and 15. The preacher will be held responsible for withholding or proclaiming the saving Gospel. Read carefully II Corinthians 5:11 as to why believers should persuade unbelievers.

There is no Scripture limiting the ambassador of Christ to a private interview with a sinner. Whether private or public every Christian worker should believe John 6:44 and John 6:37:

“No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:44. “All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 3:37

The Christian worker should make no attempt to do the work of God or the Holy Spirit.

“And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment; Of sin, because they believe not on Me.” John 16:8 and 9. “I (Paul) have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.” I Corinthians 3:6 to 8.

The sinner’s salvation is accomplished according to II Thessalonians 2:13: “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.”

But the true servant of the Lord will never forget Romans 10:14, 15:

“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? at how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.”

In the light of the foregoing Scriptures no servant of the Lord will allow himself to be put in bondage by the dictation of theological critics; but will look to the Holy Spirit and God’s Word for direction, and give God’s invitation to sinners privately or publicly, just as frequently as the opportunity is at hand.

In the last written message of the Apostle Paul, he declared that for him and for all that loved the Lord’s appearing, there was laid up a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, would give in THAT DAY. II Timothy 4:8. In that same last message Paul wrote, “the Lord is able to keep “my deposit” against THAT DAY. II Timothy 1:12. Again, in verse eighteen of the first chapter, “the Lord grant unto Onesiphorus that he may find mercy of the Lord in THAT DAY.

Now the question: “What day is THAT DAY?” Paul wrote to the assembly where Timothy had ministered’ “ye are sealed unto the DAY of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30. What is to take place on the DAY of redemption is declared in Philippians 3:20 and 21: “Our citizenship is in the heavenlies: from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our body of humiliation that it may be fashioned like unto His body of glory.” And, in another Epistle, written about the same time, Paul wrote, that believers were “looking for that blessed hope, the glorious appearing (epiphaneia epiphaino-brightness) of the great God and Saviour Jesus Christ. Titus 2:13. And in still another Epistle: “When Christ, Who is our life, shall appear (phaino) -shine), then shall ye also (phaino)-shine) with Him in glory.” Colossians 3:4. This word “appear” comes from the same Greek word “phos” from which the word “phosphorescent” is derived.

In the First Epistle of John the believer is exhorted not to be ashamed before Him at His coming (parousia)presence) when He shall appear (phaneroo) shining). I John 2:28. “When He shall appear (phaneroo), we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is”. I John 3:2. This was the blessed hope of the believers to whom John wrote. I John 3:3.

IS THE HOPE OF JOHN 3:2 THE HOPE OF TITUS 2:3?

We are asking this question because God’s people are being disturbed by a new teaching that these two hopes were entirely different hopes. The student of the Word of God is instructed to distinguish between things that differ. Philippians 1:10. And if these hopes are entirely different hopes, we desire to distinguish between them.

Because John wrote, “it is the last time,” it, is the opinion of those who differentiate: between these hopes, that John was referring to the coming of Jesus Christ, the same coming of Jesus Christ mentioned in Matthew 24:37, the “parousia” (presence) of the Son of man. They declare that this hope was the hope of the Corinthians, Galatians and Thessalonians, but not the hope of the Ephesians, Colossians, and Philippians. They opine that the hope of the Body of Christ is not the coming of Jesus Christ; that the glorious appearing of the Great God, our Saviour Jesus Christ, has no reference to the coming of Jesus Christ. They furthermore claim that there is not the slightest suggestion of any coming of Jesus Christ in Philippians 3:20 and 21: “our body fashioned unto His own body of glory” or in Colossians 3:3 and 4, “appearing with Him in glory when He appears in glory.” When the “Acts” period closed, a new church began, the Body of Christ, with a new calling and new hope.

Surely this teaching is rather disconcerting to Christians who have been led into the “premillennialism” taught by most Fundamentalists. It has been difficult enough to oppose organized “postmillennialism” and make as much progress in dispensationalism as has been made by teachers who have propagated, what might be called, “Plymouth Brethren premillennialism”, the doctrine of the imminent return of the Lord; the teaching that in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, the Lord shall descend with the shout and the trump, at which time the dead in Christ shall be raised and we which are alive and remain shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and ever be with Him. I Thessalonians 4:13 to 18; I Corinthians 15:51 to 54.

Now it is rather a radical departure from this standardized premillennialism to the teaching of other premillennialists today: that I Thessalonians 4:13 to 18 and I Corinthians 15:23 and I Corinthians 15:51 to 53, describing the rapture of the (Church of God, speak of the parousia (presence) of the Lord Jesus Christ. These scriptures refer to the second coming of the Son of man to save “tribulation” saints. The Greek word “`parousia” is used in I Thessalonians 2:19; 3:13; 5:23; II Thessalonians 2:1; James 5:7 and 8; I Corinthians 15:23: also in Matthew 24:27 and 24:37 and 39.

Much of God’s glorious truth, down through the Christian centuries, has been buried beneath man-made church creeds and traditions of apostate leaders, and the recovery of Body truth has met with much bitter religious opposition. Therefore it has been slow, tedious work, a very difficult task and, in many respects, a most unpleasant one. Because of these facts, Bereans are not primarily interested in whether a teaching is disconcerting to some Christians or by them considered, radical. The all important question is, “is the teaching the rightly divided Word of truth?” Is the blessed hope of Titus 2:13 and Philippians 3:20 and 2,1 altogether different from the rapture of I Thessalonians 4:13 to 18?

Then we ask several questions: “Is it rightly dividing the Word of truth to teach that the last trump of I Corinthians 15:52 is the seventh (or last) trumpet of Revelation 13:15, and therefore, the rapture of I Corinthians 15:51 to 53 is the rapture of the “tribulation” saints and not the rapture of the Body of Christ? Because there is also a trump in Matthew 24:31 and I Thessalonians 4:16, is that proof positive that in these two chapters we have the record of the rapture of the same “tribulation” saints mentioned in Revelation and I Corinthians 15:51 to 53? This is part of the Scriptural evidence offered by certain Premillenarians in support of this new dispensationalism. We state again that according to their exegesis, the hope of members of the church of God, mentioned in the Book of Acts, I and II Thessalonians, I and II Corinthians, Galatians and Romans, (Epistles written during the “Acts” period) was I Thessalonians 4:13 to 18 and I Corinthians 15:51 to 53, a hope different from the blessed hope of Titus 2:13 and Philippians 3:20 and 21. This blessed hope is the hope of members of the Body of Christ in Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Titus and II Timothy (Epistles written after the “Acts” period closed), and our hope. If I Thessalonians 4:13 to 18 is our hope the Body of Christ is headed for the “great tribulation”.

In I Timothy 6:14 Paul instructed his son, Timothy, to keep the commandment until the “appearing (epi-phaino), of our Lord Jesus Christ. I Timothy 6:14. But it is claimed that the hope in the Epistle is rather uncertain, as the date of this Epistle is uncertain, whether before or after Acts 28:25 to 28. However, the same appearing (epi-phaino) is mentioned in II Timothy 4:1. And, according to this verse, the Lord Jesus Christ is to judge the living and the dead at His appearing. This is not “parousia”. The judgment of saints, according to I Corinthians 4:5 and II Corinthians 5:10, they claim is at Christ’s “parousia” and not His “Epiphinaea”.

Much importance in support of this new “premillennialism” is attached to the words of I Corinthians 7:29, “the time is short” and the words of Romans 16:20, “the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly”. If Corinthian saints were instructed not to bear children, because the time was short, and if Paul later wrote that women should marry and bear children, in I Timothy 5:14, the dispensation in which the saints of Corinth lived, came suddenly to an end, and immediately after the close of the “Acts” period a new dispensation, with an entirely new calling and hope began with the historical beginning of the Body of Christ after God’s judgment upon Israel. Acts 28:25 to 28. According to this separating of Paul’s Epistles, the “till He come”, in connection with the Lord’s Supper, spoke of the coming of I Thessalonians 4:13 to 18, and, inasmuch as God postponed that coming and Israel’s tribulation, the believer’s obligation to remember the Lord at His table was canceled with the beginning of a new Church, the Body of Ephesians 1:19 to 22; Ephesians 3:6 and Colossians 1:24 to 27. The expounders of this “new premillennialism” are divided as to whether the church members of Paul’s pre-prison Epistles, who lived beyond the close of the “Acts” period, became members of the later “Body” Church. But they are sure that those “Church of God” members who died before the close of the “Acts” period, died outside of the Body of Christ. They will be raised at the last trump with “tribulation” saints.

Inasmuch as you will have to meet this new teaching, would ask that you hear with as much patience as possible another fine point of distinction. The saints of the “Acts” period had a “celestial”’ hope; the New Jerusalem of Revelation 21:2 to 10. The saints of the “Post-Acts” period had a “super-celestial” hope. This latter is the hope of the Church today; our hope. The celestial” hope is supported by “mother Jerusalem” of Galatians 4:26 and “father Abraham” of Romans 4:16. Abraham was looking for a city whose builder was God. The “Acts” Church of God members were Abraham’s seed. Members of the Body of Christ are not. That city is to be the New Jerusalem of Revelation 21:1 to 10. The Body of Christ is seated in the upperheavenlies with Christ, far above, waiting to appear with Him in glory and will never reach that heavenly city. Of course if this teaching is Scripturally correct, Israel, and not the Body, is Christ’s Bride.

If this teaching is fantastic, unscriptural, speculation, the corrective is not the ridicule and condemnation; but II Timothy 2:15. It is no more ridiculous than is the inconsistency of the majority of other accepted premillenarians, who, in one message, tell about the noble and spiritual saints, servants of the Lord in generations past, who were Scriptural premillenarians, and in the next message prove that the Lord is soon to appear because of the activities of Stalin, Hitler, Mussolini and even Roosevelt, with his new deal. If these dictators had to be, before the Lord could come, the noble saints of other ages were not Scriptural; they were deceived. “Political “sign” teachers and “date-fixers” have done much harm to the “premillennial” teaching. There should be no doubt in the mind of any intelligent, spiritual, careful student of the Scriptures, that a radical change took place with God’s judgment upon Israel pronounced in Acts 28:25 to 28. There are high and glorious truths in connection with the Body of Christ revealed in Paul’s Epistles, written after that pronouncement. In his prison epistles we find truth concerning the unsearchable riches of Christ, the dispensation of the mystery, the heavenly calling of believers identified with the glorified Christ, the seven-fold unity of the Spirit, the believer’s conflict, etc., not found prior to that time.

But the question is, were the saints of the “Acts” period waiting for a day of redemption different from that day for which the saints of the “Post-Acts” period waited? Romans 8:23 and Ephesians 4:30.

The word, “coming” in I Corinthians 1:8 is still another Greek word (apokalupsis)- disclosure or revelation. So, according to the teachers of the “new premillennialism”, the Corinthian saints were waiting for the “apokalupsis”, the “erkomai” (I Corinthians 11:26), the “parousia”. They claim that the Epistle of John was written before the close of the “Acts” period, and therefore the believers addressed were waiting for the same coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The saints of the “Post-Acts” period were not looking for any coming of the Lord Jesus. The blessed hope must not be considered a “coming”. The majority of these teachers teach that the hope of the “Acts” saints is the “anastasis” (resurrection from the dead); that the hope of the “Post-Acts” saints is “exanastasis”, used but once in the Bible. Philippians 3:11, “The resurrection out from among the dead.” They hesitate to designate this as a rapture. In fact, most of these teachers are reluctant to offer any Scriptural proof as to just how members of the Body of Christ are going to reach glory without death. Some of them are now teaching two raptures; the Body of Christ is to be called on high and then the tribulation and then the last trump of I Thessalonians 4:13 to 18.

THE DAY OF JESUS CHRIST

Perhaps we will find the refutation of the arguments of the preachers of this “new premillennialism” by comparing Philippians 1:6 and 10 and Philippians 2:16 with I Corinthians 1:8; I Corinthians 3:13; I Corinthians 5:5; I Corinthians 4:5; II Corinthians 1:14; I Thessalonians 5:2 and II Thessalonians 2:2 and 3. Were not the saints of Corinth and Thessalonica waiting for the same day as were the saints of Philippi? Paul preached in Corinth after he preached in Philippi. The church at Philippi existed before the church at Corinth. Compare Acts 16 with Acts 18. Was not Paul waiting for the same day of Christ, both before and after Acts 28? Let us read Philippians 1:6; Philippians 1:10; Philippians 2:16.

“Being confident of this very thing, that, He Which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”.

“That ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ”.

“That I may rejoice in the day of Christ”.

These Philippians were to be kept until the day of Christ and were to look to that day for their reward. Is not the day of Christ dependent upon the coming of Christ? The Corinthian saints were to be confirmed unto the end and look to the day of our Lord Jesus Christ for their rewards. I Corinthians 1:7 and 8. They were waiting for the same day, the appearing of Christ to judge the living, as well as the dead. II Corinthians 5:10; II Timothy 4:1.

Now I Corinthians 1:8; I Corinthians 5:5; and II Corinthians 1:14.

“Who shall confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ?”

“The Spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord (Jesus omitted in some manuscripts). “That we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.”

Now I Timothy 6:14:

“That thou keep this commandment without spot, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Paul was to be preserved unto His heavenly kingdom, which was to be at His appearing, to judge. II Timothy 4:1 and 18. Who are the living who are to be judged at the “epi-phaino” of the Lord Jesus Christ?Compare II Corinthians 5:10 with Colossians 3:24 and 25.

Acts 2:20 speaks of the notable day of the Lord. Surely this notable day of the Lord has to do with the coming of Christ for Israel. The Greek word translated notable is “epiphanes”, which is the Greek word expressing Christ’s appearing, the blessed hope of the Church which is His Body.

Christians know more about Simon Peter than they do about the other Simeon. In Acts 15:14 Simon Peter is called “Simeon”.

The record of the other Simeon is found in Luke 2:25 to 35. It is a very interesting story. Read it prayerfully and spiritually.

“And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was upon him.” “And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.”

More than sixty years after Simeon held the holy Child Jesus in his arms and said, “Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy Word” (Luke 2:29), the aged Simeon wrote:

“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 tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.”

“Moreover I will endeavor that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.” II Peter 1:13 to 15.

How long the first Simeon lived after the Lord had revealed that He would remain alive until Christ was born, it is not stated. But it is quite certain the second Simeon lived at least thirty years after the words of the Lord Jesus spoken after His resurrection: “Verily, verily I say unto thee, When thou wast young thou girdedst thyself, and walkest whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake He, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He saith unto him, Follow Me.”

The first Simeon lived to see the Lord’s Christ. The second Simeon lived to see many mighty workings of the Lord, beginning anew with His message to Israel on the day of Pentecost and ending with his second epistle, which closed with this reference to the Apostle Paul: “in all his epistles speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood.” II Peter 3:16. Paul spoke and wrote some things that had never been revealed when the first Simeon lived and they are too hard for most Christians even today.

Perhaps we might be wondering if these two Simeons are now together. There are some Christians who seem to get great consolation and blessing trying to prove that God’s saints are not in a conscious state while they are absent from their bodies and waiting for the day of redemption, the day when they will receive their resurrection bodies. But Stephen surely departed to be with the Lord when he said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Simon Peter said, “I must put off this tabernacle.” The “I” put off this tabernacle and the “I” departed to be with Christ. This is also what Paul meant in Philippians 1:23.

Surely both of these Simeons will be among those who belong to Christ and who will be made alive at His coming. I Corinthians 15:23. This wonderful resurrection chapter has no reference to that spiritual life experienced by God’s saints before they reach their graves: “you hath He made alive, who were dead.” Ephesians 2:1 to 6.

But we are told by our Premillenarian Bible teachers that, although both of these Simeons ministered in the same city to the same people (Israel), they will not be found in the same group of redeemed people in the ages to come; because Simon Peter died as a member of the Church, which is the Body of Christ, which they teach had its historical beginning on the day of Pentecost, whereas the other Simeon died as an Israelite, waiting for the Kingdom, some years before the Body began on the day of Pentecost. This teaching is worthy of prayerful, serious consideration and real Scriptural investigation. It means that these two Israelites died in different dispensations and departed this life with entirely different hopes. Let us see what light we can get by looking into the Word.

The first Simeon had undoubtedly died some years before the second Simeon was led to Christ by his brother Andrew, before Simon said, “depart from me for I am a sinful man.” The first Simeon was an especially blessed Israelite, because the Holy Spirit was upon him for a special message concerning Christ and the prophecy that many in Israel would fall and rise again. Luke 2:34. John the Baptist had been born and was to turn many of the children of Israel to Christ. Luke 1:16. The second Simeon was likewise an especially blessed Israelite: “blessed art thou Simon Barjona.” The Lord committed to him the keys of the kingdom of the heavens and was mighty in him to the apostleship of Israelites. Matthew 16:16 to 19. Galatians 2:7 to 9. Beginning anew his ministry on the day of Pentecost, Simon Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit. Just when the gospel of the circumcision was committed unto Simon Peter for Israel we may not be sure; but we know that he was sent to the Twelve Tribes while Christ was in the midst of Israel in their land. Matthew 10:5 to 8. He was instructed to go not to Gentiles. And we know that his message on the day of Pentecost, addressed to devout Jews from every nation under heaven, was for all the house of Israel. Acts 2:5 and Acts 2:36. The “afar off” people of Acts 2:39 were the Israelites of Daniel 9:7. And we know that Simon Peter’s messages, during the first nine chapters of Acts, were addressed to Israel, unto whom the Lord sent Peter to say that Christ had been exalted to be Israel’s Prince and Saviour and give repentance and forgiveness to Israel. Acts 5:29 to 32. And we know that for many years after Christ had thus been exalted, it was not lawful for Simon to preach unto Gentiles. Acts 10:28. It was by the mouth of Simon Peter that many of the children of Israel, as foretold by the first Simeon, were turned to Christ. Acts 2:1 and Acts 4:4. Acts 5:14. Acts 6:7. But they preached to Jews only. Acts 11:19.

Both Simeons were in Jerusalem and ministered in Israel’s temple. Luke 2:27. Luke 24:53. Acts 5:42. The first Simeon was waiting for the consolation of Israel, the kingdom restored to Israel, Israel’s deliverance from the hands of their enemies. Luke 1:67 to 77. Luke 1:29 to 33. Luke 2:25. The second Simeon was promised a high place in that kingdom. Luke 22:28 to 30. He asked the risen Christ if He would at once restore the kingdom to Israel. Acts 1:6. Then it was by his mouth that God offered to send Christ back from heaven to Jerusalem and Israel, to establish the kingdom, for which the first Simeon was waiting, if Israel’s rulers would repent. Acts 3:14 to 21. On that day of Pentecost Simeon had given God’s word to Israel that Christ had been raised from the dead in fulfillment of David’s prophecy to take David’s throne. Simon Peter is to have a reigning seat in the kingdom for which the first Simeon was waiting. Matthew 19:28. He is to sit and eat with Israel’s Messiah in the same kingdom for which Simeon waited.

Now the question comes to our minds, just what place will the first Simeon occupy in the coming kingdom of the heavens? If he died outside of the Body of Christ and Simon Peter died as a member of Christ’s Body, which began with this key used in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, then these two Simeons will be separated in the millennium. Will the Body of Christ and Paul be seated with the Twelve Apostles, judging the Twelve Tribes when the Son of man shall come to reign? How is it that Peter will be there and not Paul, and both of them members of the same Body?

According to some teachers the two Simeons will meet again in the New Jerusalem of Revelation 21:2, after the millennium. Is this intelligent Bible study or is it speculation? It is regrettable that all earnest Christians cannot agree on these things. But already you have asked the question, how can Simon Peter have a throne reigning over the Twelve Tribes during the millennium and still be a member of the Body of Christ, seated with Christ in the heavenlies, and waiting to appear with Him in glory? And will not the first Simeon be with the Twelve Tribes and therefore in Simon Peter’s company?

Those who have Simon Peter unlocking the doors to the Body of Christ on the day of Pentecost try to forget that he is to sit on a throne with Christ the King reigning over Israel. They prefer not to be asked to explain Luke 22:18 and 30 and Matthew 19:28. They must begin Paul’s dispensation of grace and the dispensation of the mystery on the day of Pentecost and cut the Twelve Apostles off from John the Baptist, Simeon, and other Israelites who died before Pentecost, and raise them up to sit with Christ in the heavenlies on the day of Pentecost. If, in Acts 3:14 to 21, there is a real bonafide offer from God to Israel to send Christ to establish in their midst the kingdom foretold in Daniel 2:44 and 45, and proclaimed at hand by Christ in Matthew 4:17, then we are confronted with this problem. According to those who have the Body of Christ begin on the day of Pentecost, the 3000 Israelites saved on the day of Pentecost, then and there became members of that Body and were then and there raised up and seated in the heavenlies in Christ, according to Ephesians 2:6 and Ephesians 1:19 to 22. These teachers acknowledge that membership in the Body of Christ is far more desirable than a place under the King in the Kingdom.

Now if Peter was in the Body with the 3000, how could he have, conscientiously and sincerely, with Divine authority, offered the King’s return and the kingdom to Israel, when he was already eternally saved as a member of the Body and neither he, nor any of the other 2999, could have stepped out of the Body and have had a place in the offered kingdom? Moreover, he would have told the Israelites to again reject the kingdom and get something better, a place in the Body of Christ. Carefully read Acts 3:14 to 21 and, you will be convinced that no man of God was ever more sincere than was Simon Peter, as God’s mouthpiece, offering the kingdom to Israel. It is equally as difficult to prove that the Body of Ephesians 1:19 to 22 and Colossians 1:24 to 27 began, historically, on the day of Pentecost, as to prove that it did not. The many who believe that Pentecost was the birthday of that Church believe it because others have believed it. It is generally believed among Fundamentalists by implication or inference, rather than proved by rightly dividing the Word of truth. It cannot be proved by the word “Church”, translated from the Greek “ecclesia”, for this word is found more than sixty times in the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament Scriptures. There was no more difference between the Church of God on and before Pentecost than there was between the Church of God in the early chapters of Acts and the Body of Christ in Ephesians and Colossians.

But according to the general teaching among Fundamentalists of the “Plymouth Brethren” school of interpretation the following statements are taught to be Divine truth and Scriptural facts:

1. The Church, which is Christ’s Body mentioned in Ephesians 1:17 to 22, Ephesians 3:1 to 11 and Colossians 1:21 to 26 was unknown to any of Israel’s Old Testament prophets and was not mentioned by any of them.
2. By the mouth of Peter, God, in Act. 3:14 to 25, made a definite, bona fide offer to send Christ back from heaven to establish the kingdom reign of Christ on earth, proclaimed by John the Baptist, Christ and the Twelve, in Matthew, beginning with the restoration of the kingdom to Israel, in fulfillment of the prophecies of Moses, Samuel and all of Israel’s prophets. Acts 3:22 to 25,
3. The Church of Ephesians 1:19 to 22 and Colossians 1:21 to 27 had its historic beginning on Israel’s feast of Pentecost, fifty days after the resurrection of Christ.

Our answer is, if statements 1 and 2 are Scriptural facts, statement 3 is contrary to fact, because all that occurred on the day of Pentecost was in fulfillment of prophecy; so also was the kingdom of Acts 3:19 to 25; so also was the out-gathering of Gentiles, mentioned in Acts 15:13 to 17. We must conclude that the Body of Christ was either the subject of prophecy, or that it did not begin on the day of Pentecost.

But back to the two deaths. We have two puzzling questions:

1. If the first Simeon was waiting for and expecting a real, literal, earthly kingdom, with the Lord’s Christ on David’s throne, in accordance with Luke 1:30 to 33 and Israel’s deliverance, in accordance with Luke 1:67 to 77, why should he want to die in peace rather than to remain alive and have a place in Christ’s kingdom of peace, in fulfillment of Isaiah 9:6 and 7?
2. If, in accordance with John 21:18 and 19, the second Simeon had to live to an old age and then be put to death, how could there have been either the probability, or the possibility, of the acceptance of the offered kingdom in Acts 3:14 to 21, when Simon Peter was not yet an old man; and surely he would not have been put to death if the millennium reign of Christ had been established by Christ’s return from heaven.

Quite frequently there is reference made in the Bible to a people who are “far off”. Sometimes the reference is to a “spiritual distance”, and sometimes to a “geographical distance”. Generally the geographical distance refers to the location of the people with reference to Jerusalem. And because God’s mercyseat was located in Jerusalem, sometimes their spiritual distance is likewise determined by their location with respect to Jerusalem where God was worshipped in the temple. The woman at the well said to Christ, “ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” Christ replied, “we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews”. John 4:19 and 21. God had said to Israel: “there will I meet with you and commune with you from above the mercyseat.” Exodus 25:22. How different from the scene at Sinai when the ten commandments were given: “and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood “afar of”. Exodus 20:18. “They could not endure that which was commanded”. Hebrews 12:20. Certainly the Lord Jesus was not saying to the man who stated the great commandments that that man was not far from salvation because he almost kept the law. Mark 12:34. “Far off” is as near spiritually as the law of commandments ever brought any sinner to God. The law worketh wrath. Romans 4:15. Christ made peace by the blood of His cross. Colossians 1:20.

“For He is our peace”. “And came and preached peace to you which were “afar off; and them that were nigh.” “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:14 and 17 and 13.

From these verses we learn that at the time Paul was preaching the gospel of the grace of God, Israel was mentioned as “nigh” and the Gentiles, as aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, were “far off”. Most of them were also “far off” from Jerusalem; for the Saviour met Paul in the Jerusalem temple and said, “I will send you far hence to the Gentiles.” Acts 22:17 to 21. But particular reference is made in Ephesians 2:13 to the Gentiles’ spiritual distance from God. How far away from God they were is told in the first two chapters of Romans.

What an awful description! What a terrible condition! What a perilous predicament! God had given them up. They were alienated from the life of God; in the world without God, having no hope; dead in trespasses and sins. Ephesians 4:18. Ephesians 2:13. When God gave up the Gentiles centuries before Christ, He chose Israel. But that Nation was a miserable failure; their history one of sin, shame and disgrace, with the blood of prophets and the murder of the Son of God upon their heads. That Son prayed on the cross for Israel’s forgiveness, and God stretched forth His hand all day long to that disobedient and gainsaying people until they filled up their sins and God’s wrath came upon them to the uttermost. I Thessalonians 2:16. To provoke that Nation to jealousy the rejected Messiah sent the most religious Jew He could find to Gentiles with the gospel of grace, to tell Gentile sinners that they could be declared righteous and receive eternal life without obeying Moses or observing any of Israel’s religious ceremonies. “The word is nigh to thee, even in thy mouth and in thy heart. But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:8 and 9.

Paul’s message from the risen Christ for Gentiles “far off” was so different from the message Christ gave to the Twelve, while He was Jesus of Nazareth in the midst of Israel. They were sent to Israel only, with signs, and with a message concerning the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 10:5 to 8. Paul’s message was so different from the message of Peter and the Eleven in the first chapters of Acts. Paul never preached to any Gentile Acts 2:38: “Repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” That is not the gospel of the grace of God for Gentiles. There was grace in the message: but it was for devout Jews from every Nation under heaven, for “ye men of Israel”; for “all the house of Israel”. Acts 2:5; Acts 2:22; and Acts 2:36.

But how about Acts 2:39? “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are “afar off”, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Here is where we may see the great blunder of getting the “geographical distance” of people confused with the spiritual distance. Let us remember that the Israelites in Jerusalem, on the day of Pentecost, were from every nation under heaven. With respect to Jerusalem there were Israelites from “afar off” and those who are nigh. God had made promises by the holy prophets concerning these Israelites.

Here is one of the promises: “O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto Thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither Thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against Thee”. Daniel 9:7. Again: “I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal them.” Isaiah 57:19. Again: “He that is far off shall die of the pestilence: and he that is near shall fall by the sword; and he that remaineth and is besieged shall die by the famine: thus will I accomplish My fury upon them.” Ezekiel 6:12. Again: “And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the Lord, and ye shall know that the Lord of Hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass if ye will diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.” Zechariah 6:15. Again: “Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; and, ye that are near, acknowledge My might.” Isaiah 33:13. Again: “Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord God: Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.” Ezekiel 11:16. Again: “Those that be near, and those that be far from thee, shall mock thee, which art infamous and much vexed.” Ezekiel 22:5.

When Peter was preaching to the Twelve Tribes on the day of Pentecost, it was not lawful for him to go to Gentiles. Acts 10:28. The first matter of importance was what all the house of Israel was going to do about the testimony of the Twelve and the witness of the Holy Spirit, sent in fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy concerning the Messiahship of Jesus. God had raised Him from the dead in fulfillment of David’s prophecy, to reign on David’s throne. Would the Nation repent? God had exalted the Prince of Life, whom Israel had killed, to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. Would Israel repent?

This Israelitish message of repentance and kingdom restitution was not Paul’s ministry of reconciliation. While John the Baptist, Jesus of Nazareth and the Twelve had preached to Israel before the Saviour’s rejection and death, they had called Israel to baptism unto repentance for the remission of sins, because Israel’s promised kingdom was at hand. Matthew 3:2 to 12. Matthew 4:17. Matthew 10:7. Note the commission, ministry and message to Israel after the death of Christ; a call to Israel to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins. When Paul preached to Gentiles they received the Holy Spirit when they heard the gospel of their salvation, the unmixed gospel of grace. Ephesians 1:13. Galatians 3:13 and 14.

For many years, as Paul preached the “grace” gospel to Gentile sinners, he reasoned with Israel, out of Israel’s Scriptures, that Jesus was the Messiah and warned them of the impending judgment. Christ had pronounced that judgment in Luke 21:20 to 24. Jerusalem would be destroyed. Israel would be scattered all over the earth. And hear this awful judgment: “But when the King heard thereof, He was wroth: and sent forth His armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.” Matthew 22:7.

This terrible penalty was withheld until God gave His Nation another opportunity. Jerusalem and the temple stood. Israel was given favor with Rome during their years of grace, more than thirty-five years. Some years after Christ died God, by the mouth of Paul, warned Israel. Acts 13:40. All of those years they were addressed as “brethren”. Their “all day long” came to an ends with the awful destruction of Jerusalem about 69 or 70 A.D. Romans 10:21. Israel today is still where Christ said they would be. Jerusalem is still where Christ said it would be. Luke 21:20 to 24. We quote Isaiah 6:12: “And the Lord have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land.”

This is the day of Gentile favor, the dispensation of the grace of God and the dispensation of the mystery. Ephesians 3:1 to 11. Israel has forfeited every special privilege or priority right and must come in without any circumcision advantage or any religious reputation or preference, on the same grounds as the poor lost condemned Gentile and be saved by grace alone.” “And came and preached peace to you which were afar off and to them that were nigh”. Ephesians 2:17. Quite significant that the “afar off” people are mentioned before the “nigh” people. This should be compared with Romans 1:16; Acts 3:25 and Acts 13:46.

All that is required to bring any kind of sinner to God is His grace and the precious blood of Christ. The necessary faith will be given for the appropriation of the grace and shed blood to any kind of a sinner who is willing to be saved.

Because of centuries of Christian influence it is not easy for Gentiles today to realize their predicament as set forth in Ephesians 2:12 and Ephesians 4:18 and Ephesians 2:1 to 3. But it is wonderful to know that the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men; that, therefore, salvation is as free as the air we breathe and may be received by any convicted sinner in any place at any time.

After this day of grace God will deal again with Israel. Some of them will be in and around Jerusalem; most of them will, be afar off. We quote several prophecies: Isaiah 43:5 and 6, “Fear not: for I am with thee I will bring thy seed from the east and gather them from the west. I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring My sons from far, and My daughters from the ends of the earth”. Jeremiah 30:10: “Therefore fear thou not, O My servant Jacob, saith the Lord, neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the hand of their captivity: and Jacob shall return and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid.” Isaiah 60:4: “Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged: because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.” Isaiah 60:9: “Surely the Isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the Lord thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because He hath glorified thee.” Micah 4:3: “And He shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”

We have God’s more sure word of prophecy that Israel will be established again in their own land; the tabernacle of David will be built again and the true King David will be Wonderful, Prince of Peace, reigning on David’s throne, with the government upon His shoulder.

Then there will be the fulfillment of kingdom Gentile salvation for the Isles “afar off” and the nations that shall come to worship the Lord. Isaiah 66:19 to 24.

Hear God’s question asked five centuries before Christ. It is up to date. “Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God “afar off?” Jeremiah 23:23. And hear the answer: “That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us: for in Him we live, and move, and have our being; ascertain also of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring.”

But let us remember, even as near as God is, there is only one way to Him. That way is Christ. John 14:6. Brought nigh by Christ’s blood. Ephesians 2:17. Draw nigh to God by the better hope. Hebrews 7:19. By the blood of Christ draw nigh in full assurance of faith. Hebrews 10:22.

How nigh are believers who are members of the Body of Christ? They are in Christ. Christ is in them. They are dead, buried, raised, risen and seated in the heavenlies in Him, in an unending, inseparable union with the glorified Christ; accepted in Him and complete in Him; and therefore, nothing above or below can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Only perfect human beings are fit for the presence of the holy God, and only perfect human beings will come in to the realization of that hope which is laid up in heaven.

Hear the commandment of the Lord Jesus Christ to Israel and the instructions of the same Lord, by the pen of the Apostle Paul, to the saved Gentiles

“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your heavenly Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48.

“That ye may stand perfect and complete in all of the will of God.” Colossians 4:12.

The perfect God will not lower His high and holy standard to the level of even the very best that the most respectable, moral, upright, charitable and benevolent man can do. By nature man is in a pitiful spiritual predicament. He is born with a disease that knows no human cure. This disease is universal, according to God’s pronouncement: “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” “there is none righteous: no not one.” God has a supernatural remedy for this disease and unless His remedy is appropriated and applied, every case will prove fatal, resulting in a death that is far worse than physical death. All who miss heaven will not miss the second death.

Most men and women are so absorbed in the temporal things that are seen that they spend but little time in serious meditation and consideration of their spiritual responsibility to the true and living God. God is the judge of all the earth and He solemnly declares that every one of us shall give an account of himself to God. He also declares in clear, unmistakable language that no unrighteous man shall enter the kingdom of God.

Here then we see our great problem: we are all unrighteous and no unrighteous man shall enter the kingdom of God. God is the great Physician. He has thoroughly diagnosed our case and given us a clear record of that diagnosis. But he has done much more. He has prescribed an absolute cure and, at the greatest possible cost to Himself, He has provided that remedy. So far as the charges are concerned, He has put the price within the reach of the poorest of the poor. Yes, with no human scheme, philosophy or remedy available, the Almighty God has proved that He is the God of all grace and He has revealed to sinful humanity His own Divine way of making an imperfect man perfect.

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12. There are many self-righteous, conceited, deceived human beings who are willing to be religious and even tell God that they are religious and quite decent: somewhat different from the average run of sinners. They present their self-righteousness to God as a substitute for His plan: “being ignorant of God’s righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness they have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God which is by faith.”

God has given His well beloved Son to pay the penalty for sin. The wages of sin is death. In the shadow of the cross the Son of God said: “now is the judgment of this world”. John 12:31. By His death, propitiation for the sins of the whole world was provided. “Whosoever will,” is God’s most gracious invitation. It was by the grace of God that Jesus Christ tasted death for every man. The free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God, in His Book, declares that He can be just and the justifier of every one who believes in Christ. While true justice knows no mercy, God can be both just and, merciful; because Christ the Just died for the unjust that He might bring us to God. Read it in God’s Book, and believe it with all your heart. It is good news. Romans 3:24 to 28. I Peter 3:18.

Now we are beginning to see how we can be perfect. Perfection must be the work of God and not of man. Man’s work was the law. Under that perfect work man was an absolute failure. “The law made nothing perfect; but the bringing in of a better hope did.” Hebrews 7:16. The “better hope” did. Did what? Made something perfect. Then surely we shall not be satisfied until we find that better hope. Think of such a better hope that can make an imperfect sinner perfect. Here’s the better hope

“By the which will we are sanctified by the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once-forall; and by one offering He hath PERFECTED forever them that are sanctified.” Hebrews 10:10 and 14.

Blessed good news! “He hath perfected forever.” “By the one offering!” Surely the Father was more than well pleased with that one offering of His Son on the cross. When we go by faith to that cross we find, everything we need to take away our guilt and to fix us up for God’s presence and blessing. “Perfected forever?” “Too good to believe”, you say? But it is no good unless you do believe.

Then God declares that He wants every man to be taught in all wisdom: “that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” Colossians 1:28.

Then God wants every man to present himself, his body, as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God and to be transformed by the renewing of his mind that he may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Colossians 1:28, Romans 12:1 to 3. Then, by the pen of James, God adds: “By works was faith made perfect.” James 2:22.

And the noblest of all saints, the most obedient and faithful of all Christians said: “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect.” Philippians 3:12.

But before we are disturbed or discouraged by this statement we should read Philippians 3:15, and all of the context: “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded.” Certainly there seems here to be a contradiction, for in one verse the great apostle seems to be striving for perfection, while in the other verse he already had perfection. Surely Paul was neither dissatisfied with his standing in Christ nor labouring for sinless perfection.

When we carefully and prayerfully study God’s Word, we see that there is a great difference between the believer’s perfect standing in Christ and the believer’s state of sinless perfection. In Christ the believer is without condemnation before God. In Christ he is made accepted. In Christ he is complete. No one can lay anything to the charge of God’s elect. No one or no thing can separate the believer from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. The babe in Christ, like the most matured spiritual saint, has a perfect standing before God. It is because he is in Christ. The justified sinner stands in the presence of God as though he had never committed a sin. By one offering forever perfected. It is all of grace and all by grace.

Then, as to the believer’s state: his behaviour, his walk, his conduct, his service. Does he ever reach the state of sinless perfection? The believer is a new creature in Christ Jesus. His old man has been crucified; and he has received a new nature, a Divine nature. The new man is created in true holiness and righteousness after the image of Him who created him. Colossians 3:10, Ephesians 4:24, Romans 6:6. Here are three very interesting questions in the sixth chapter of Romans

“Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” “Shall we sin because we are not under the law, but under grace?” “How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein?”

The answer to the first question is, “certainly not.” The answer to the third question requires much searching of the Scriptures.

When we have done our best we are only unprofitable servants and we never reach the spiritual state when we do not want to confess, “Lord we have done the things that we should not have done and we have left undone the things that we should have done.” We can fall short of perfection by leaving things undone just the same as we can by doing what we should not have done.

The believer is told how to walk, how to run the race, how to look, how to pray, how to yield, how to submit, how to resist, how to study the Word, how to be sober and vigilant, how to put on the whole armour of God, how to confess, how to serve, how to worship, how to witness, how to grow, how to obey, how to love, how to endure, how to suffer and how to rejoice.

We are reminded that Christ, the captain of our salvation, was made perfect through suffering. Hebrews 2:10. And by the pen of Peter we have these words: “The God of all grace, Who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” I Peter 5:10. And we are assured that the God of peace, Who raised Christ from the dead, can make us perfect in every good work. Hebrews 13:20 and 21.

The mighty power of God that raised Christ from the dead is to usward. Ephesians 1:18 to 22. God is able to make all grace abound toward us for every good work. II Corinthians 8:9. God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” Ephesians 3:20. “My God shall supply all of your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus, Philipians 4:19.

The true child of God knows that he has from God no license to sin; but he also knows that he does miss God’s high and holy mark; and he is always conscious of imperfections No believer ever reaches a state of sinless perfection on this earth, but he is presented in God’s Book with no lower standard to adopt. His heart’s desire is to measure up to the highest spiritual standard that is possible by the grace of God, knowing that perfect love casteth out all fear.

PERFECTION IN DOCTRINE

Then the Bible speaks several times of perfect doctrine, and, surely, every Christian should be established in this perfection, as far as it is possible in this dispensation. The Bible declares that “strong meat” belongeth to them that are of “full age”. Hebrews 5:14. “Full age” is the same Greek word translated “perfect”. “Strong meat belongeth to then that are perfect”; and the very next verse, Hebrews 6:1, says “let us go on to perfection”. Not perfection in conduct, but on with the revelation of truth, from the first principles given to Israel to the highest truth given from the risen Christ to the Apostle Paul.

Let us not forget that Christ chose Paul to bring to completion the Word of God with the Mystery. Colossians 1:24 to 27. Certainly on from the word spoken to Israel to the revelation of the Mystery, through Paul, is progressive revelation: “On to perfection”. This should convince any Christian of the folly of the slogan of the Modernist: “Back to Jesus”, or, “give me the program of Jesus”, or, the folly of red-lettering the words that Jesus spoke to Israel. Not “back to Jesus”; but “on with the risen Christ’s revelations to the Body of Christ.” All Scripture was given on the installment plan. There is progressive revelation from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22. Then and there it ceases.

Neither would we have such counterfeit Christian movements as the Pentecostalists, if we go on to perfection with Christ and Paul instead of “back to Pentecost”, with Peter and the Eleven. These Twelve were ministers of the circumcision with the gospel of the circumcision. Galatians 2:7 to 9.

Moreover, we must carry this progressive revelation and perfection of doctrine beyond the thirty years covered by the Book of Acts; for in I Corinthians 13:8 to 13, written a few years before Acts closed, we are specifically instructed in this very thing. Certain things, which are spoken of as childhood, or “that which is in part”, had their rightful place in the Church program before “Acts” closed, before Israel was set aside (Acts 28:25 to 28). But they were to be done away as the Church moved on to perfection. “Till we all come in the unity of the faith unto a perfect man”. “No more children, tossed to and fro”. Ephesians 4:13 and 14. “When I became a man I put away childish things”. I Corinthians 13:11. “When that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. I Corinthians 13:10.

The word “perfect”, translated “teileios”, from “teleo”, to accomplish, to end, to complete, to finish, to fill up. “Tello”to set out for a certain goal. “Teleo” is the word Christ cried out on the cross, “finished”.

“Pleroo” is also translated “complete”, “end”, “fulfill”, to “perfect”. This is the word used in Colossians 1:25, wherein Paul writes that Christ chose him to finish the Word of God. And, as Christ on the cross cried “Teleo”, after He said, “I must finish the work”, “I have finished the work”, so Paul said, “I must finish my course with joy.” Acts 20:24, and finally, “I have finished (teleo) my course.” II Timothy 4:7.

For your eternal redemption rest in simple trust in the finished work of Christ. Then by the grace of God give Him your very best.