To: 31,475 subscribers, Church of God teaching. His 11^th month, Sh’vat 17, 5,781. 1/30/21

     We don’t know God’s whole purpose: to keep His church family, ‘whose foundation is His Prophets, Apostles and Himself the Corner Stone encouraged and keep the faith is one. ‘Jesus revealed, and had His apostle John write about more plagues on disobedient people particularly, but not all believers are exempt. At Revelations 11: He reveals through John that two witnesses will deliver His message to the world, and afterward; (Rev 11:15; Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.) Always study the whole.

     Jesus shares how He plans though Matthew, at 1:17; (So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to Christ, fourteen generations.)

    Jesus gave three apostles a glimpse of His coming kingdom. (Luke 9:28-36; Now about eight days after these sayings, Jesus took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up the mountain to pray. As He was praying, the appearance of His face was transformed, and His clothes became very bright, a brilliant white. Then two men, Moses and Elijah, began talking with Him. They appeared in glorious splendor and spoke about His departure that He was about to carry out at Jerusalem. Now Peter and those with him were quite sleepy, but as they became fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with him. Then as the men were starting to leave, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three shelters, one for You and one for Moses and one for Elijah” — not knowing what he was saying. As he was saying this, a cloud came, overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. Then a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, My Chosen One. Listen to Him!” After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. So they kept silent and told no one at that time anything of what they had seen.)

    See Peter’s review of their experience at 2Peter 1:16-21. At Exodus 34: The same Jesus revealed His same glory to Moses. He’s our coming King, Resurrection, Savior, Redeemer, Deliverer, Mediator, and He inspired Paul’s writing regarding the resurrection at Corinthians 15.

    (1Cor 15:56-58; The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! So then, dear brothers and sisters; be firm. Do not be moved! Always be outstanding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.)

      Believers in Jesus are mindful of being firm to the end; (1Peter 5:8-11; our enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour. Resist him, strong in your faith, because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are enduring the same kinds of suffering. And, after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who CALLED you to His eternal glory in Christ will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To Him belongs the power forever. Amen.)

    Jesus had Jeremiah write about leaders who were saying, ‘obeying God was burdensome,’ and tells of their punishment. A major revelation is to know God the Father and God the Son are the same yesterday, today and forever; know weekly and annual Sabbaths are perpetual, know the fleshly mind is vulnerable to divisionary teachers with agendas, who themselves teach what seems right to their fleshly minds, as Catholicism, and most Protestants do regarding a Sabbath change. These use a part of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians for support.

    (1Cor 16:1-4; With regard to the collection for the Saints, please follow the directions that I gave to the churches of Galatia: to the extent that, On the first day of the week, each of you should set aside some income and save it to the extent God has blessed you, so that a collection will not have to be made when I come. Then, when I arrive, I will send those whom you approve with letters of explanation to carry your gift to Jerusalem. And if it seems advisable that I should go also, they will go with me.)

      Why set ASIDE gifts on the first day of the week? Only so, ‘there be no collection when I come.’ NOT to keep the first day holy! NOT to teach on that day more than others! But do work of collecting in advance. Why do fleshly minded unbelievers want to find reasons NOT to be obedient? They teach it’s burdensome. Remember Paul wrote; ‘because of calloused minds people would not understand.’ Why would the God that said, ‘I change not’ authorize a Sabbath change?

     We just studied, ‘you have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself the cornerstone? ‘In him the whole building, being joined together grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.’ Eph 2:20-22)

     Consider why the divisionary Satan deceived Moslems into setting aside the sixth day, and Christendom set aside the first day? He had no trouble finding many opponents to Jesus’ truth.

Jesus’ apostles kept the annual Sabbaths.

    (1Cor 16:5-9; But I, will come to you after I have gone through Macedonia, for I will be going through Macedonia and perhaps I will stay with you, or even spend the winter, so that you can send me on my journey, wherever I go. For I do not want to see you now in passing, since I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord allows. But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, because a door of great opportunity stands wide open for me, but there are many opponents.)

     The apostles and Believers had many opponents! and we have more than a few in this age. Why remain in Ephesus until Pentecost? God’s people were mindful of His weekly and annual Sabbaths.

     (1Cor 16:12-14; With regard to our brother Apollos; I strongly encouraged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was simply not his intention to come now. He will come when he has the opportunity. Stay alert, stand firm in the faith, show courage, be strong. Everything you do should be done in love.) Remember 1Corinthians 13? It’s worth a re-study, and we should obey because we love God.

    (1Cor 16:15-21; Now, brothers and sisters, you know about the household of Stephanus, that as the first converts of Achaia they devoted themselves to ministry for the Saints. I urge you also to submit to people like this, and to everyone who cooperates in the work and labors hard. I was glad about the arrival of Stephanus, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, because they have supplied the fellowship with you that I lacked. For, they refreshed my spirit and yours. So then, recognize people like this. The churches in the province of Asia send greetings to you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, with the church that meets in their house. All the brothers and sisters send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. I, Paul, send this greeting with my own hand.)

      Paul was the most traveled apostle we have on record.  Remember ‘God’s Church is where two or three believers are gathered.’

     (1Cor 16:22-24; Let anyone who has no love for the Lord be accursed. Our Lord, come! The grace of, the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus.)

     Unbelievers who attempt to make Christendom their religion, attempt to make it fit their thinking. Call it the Cain syndrome, because he’s the first on record that did what seemed right: probably thinking it to burdensome to obey. Maybe thinking God should yield to his thinking.

Consider Jesus’ prayer to the Father on behalf of His followers.

       (John 17:6-8; I have REVEALED Your name to the men you gave Me out of the world. They belonged to You, and You gave them to Me, and they have OBEYED YOUR WORD. Now they understand that everything you have given Me comes from You, because I have given them the Words You have given Me. They accepted them and really understand that I came from You, and they believed that You sent Me.)

     We should know truth is revealed, gifted from above. We understand and reject people’s fleshly pride, that leads to their boasting. We boast only in Him. Understand, ‘this agnostic age takes pride in saying we know nothing.’ To know spiritual things sounds prideful to them, but people can’t deny what’s revealed. When God’s truth is revealed, believers obey in the spirit of love.

     (John 17:9-10; I am praying on behalf of them. I am NOT praying on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those You have given Me, because they belong to You. Everything I have belongs to You, and everything You have belongs to Me, and I have been glorified by them.)

    Jesus isn’t praying for people who desire being little gods to themselves; ‘those known to be hardened unbelievers.’

     (John 17:11; I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them safe in Your name that You have given Me, so that they may be ONE just as we are ONE.)

       Jesus may have been physically with them at that moment, but spiritually, He was no longer in the world. His followers are One with Him and God the Father; meaning,’ they strive to think as Jesus.’ See Phil 2:3.
(John 17:12-13; When I was with them I kept them safe and watched over them in Your Name that You have given Me. Not one of them was lost except the one destined for destruction, so that the scripture could be fulfilled. But now I am coming to You, and I am saying these things in the world, so they may experience My joy completed in themselves.)

       THAT JOY is experienced when people are gifted to believe IN. Let’s review the difference in, ‘believing that, and believing IN.’ Believers IN are One, accept the whole word of God as His truth, and practice as Jesus did. Unbelievers think, ‘there’s a god who condones divisionary tangents.’

     (John 17:14-19; I, have given them Your Word, and the world has HATED them, because they do not BELONG to the world, just as I do NOT belong to the world. I am not asking You to take them out of the world, but that you KEEP them safe from the evil one. They do not BELONG to the world just as I do not belong to the world. Set them apart in the truth; Your Word is truth. Just as You sent Me into the world, so I sent them into the world.  And I set Myself apart on their behalf, so that they too may be truly set apart)

      Believers are in, but not of the world. Their inner mindset and heart’s desire is to live His Way now; while looking forward to His coming kingdom being established. There is no other Truth Way.

 T0: 31,426 subscribers of God’s Church, teaching. His 11^th Mo. Sh’Vat 14, 5,781, 1/27/21

    It really shouldn’t matter to believer about the timing of Jesus’ return. Speculation isn’t a bad thing if we don’t attempt to teach it as truth. God does give indications as to the approximate time. Jesus’ apostle Peter tells us; (2Pet 3:8; Now, dear friends, do not let this one thing escape your notice, that a single day is like a thousand years with the Lord and a thousand years are like a single day.) ADDITIONALLY; The seventh day Sabbath rest from normal activities foreshadows the one thousand year millennium. 

     Jesus’ apostle Paul tells us that the Jews are entrusted with the oracles of God. Oracles mean: ‘wise sayings, prophecies etc.’ We are sure that includes God’s calendar, and its year about 5,781 from Adam.

    (Rom 3:1-8; Therefore what advantage does the Jew have, or what is the value of circumcision? Actually, there are many advantages. First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.

   What then? If some did not believe, does their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God? Absolutely not! Let God be proven true, and every human being shown up as a liar, just as it is written: “so that you will be justified in your words and will prevail when you are judged.” But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking in human terms.) Absolutely not! For otherwise how could God judge the world?

   For if by my lie the truth of God enhances His glory, why am I still actually being judged as a sinner?  And why not say, “Let us do evil so that good may come of it”? (as some who slander us allege that we say. Their condemnation is deserved!)

    A Google search mostly agrees, some clergy types make speculations.

    From Google: The Bible is very precise about the amount of time that has passed since Adam and Eve. Adam was 130 years old when Eve gave birth to Seth, from whom everyone is descended today (Gen. 5:3.) Genealogy continues with similar precision down to the time of Abraham in the early pages of Genesis, and is picked up from time to time throughout the Bible.

    There are only a couple of places of uncertainty along the way, and only amount to a few years difference. As a result, most calculations of the time since Adam and Eve are at a bit more than 6,000 years, which puts them a bit earlier than 4,000 BC. The classic computation by Archbishop Ussher was 4,004 BC. The writer of this Google piece uses a more recently available data, indicating 4,115 BC. However, the rabbis calculate the date of Adam’s creation at 3,760 BC. The Jewish calendar date is,5,781. There’s more but this should suffice. If the Septuagint is correct, Adam and Eve would be 6,540 old years old on the Roman calendar year 2021.

      New subscribers may like knowing; I have a purely edited Paper Back at Amazon. It’s written for group study, and chronicles Peter and Paul’s travels, teachings, supporting text, some commentary, and my personal mini bible index. (Book is titled: “Jesus’ Good News, as revealed to Peter and Paul.” By James Nelson) 

      ( Holy and Almighty God: Thank You for preserving the holy scriptures, showing our unworthiness; that we’re born with a lawless sin nature, that we were going the way that seemed right to our fleshly inherited nature, until You opened our understanding. Thanks for the point in time, when You intervened to reveal Yourself and Your Holy Son, Jesus. For leading us from the way of death to the way of Life, make us thankful, and to praise You in Jesus’ nature. AMEN)

       Most religion folks are law abiding and practice good citizenship. Good as long as they aren’t teaching philosophy as truth, with personal agendas. Most choose the religion of their parents, and or in close proximity. The many follow an impressive charismatic person. Such choices are fleshly, and fit comfort zones to making people content with themselves. The difference?

       Followers of Jesus are a chosen people, gifted with desire to know Him intimately, and as He’s manifested in Holy Scripture. They aren’t chosen because of good works, or personal deeds, otherwise could boast of ‘saved by works.’ Jesus’ apostle Paul explains the awesomeness of God’s choosing.

     (Ephesians 2:1-3: And although you, were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you formerly lived according to this world’s present path, according to the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the ruler of the spirit that is now energizing the sons of disobedience, among whom all of us also formerly lived out our lives in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath even as the rest.)

     Ruler of the kingdom of the air is Satan. All lived according to what seemed right, before truth was revealed; normally through God’s Word, spoken or written.

     (Eph 2:4-10; But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even though we were dead in transgressions, “made us alive together with Christ – by grace you are saved!” and He raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, to demonstrate in the coming ages the surpassing wealth of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are His workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works, that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.)

Praise God for His awesomeness and foreknowledge of all things.

     Judaism and Islamist voice respect for people of the book, meaning the old testament. They deny Jesus as the Son of God, and Creator who came to save and died for the remission of sins. All worldly religions are deceived by Satan, to believe in some form of ‘immortality at birth.’ Differing from God’s scriptural teaching, which is, ‘immortality gifted through Jesus.’ That is  through Jesus, and by His saving grace. Understanding this mystery is hidden from the world, until God’s appointed time to reveal Himself.

    (Mark 4:10-12; When Jesus was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parables. Jesus said to them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those outside, everything is in parables, so that although they look they may look but not see, and although they hear they may hear but not understand, so they may not repent and be forgiven.)

Long time previously Jesus had inspired Isaiah to write.

     (Isaiah 6:9-10; God said, Go and tell these people: ‘Listen continually, but don’t understand! Look continually, but don’t perceive!’ Make the hearts of these people calloused; make their ears deaf and their eyes blind! Otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, their hearts might understand and they might repent and be healed.)

     Jesus’ teaching through Mark and Isaiah don’t fit fleshy logic does it? The natural mind prefers to think, I can choose whether or not to believe. This principle in how God characterized Himself. It is all about His awesomeness, planning, timing, and advance choosing. Paul explained to the called out Romans and all gifted to understand.

     (Romans 11:25-27; For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: A partial hardening has happened to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion; He will remove ungodliness from Jacob. And this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.)

    ALL ISRAEL will be resurrected! Study Ezekiel 37: and Isaiah 35: for starters. All believers IN Jesus are spiritual Israelites.

     (Romans 16:16:25-27; Now to Him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that had been kept secret for long ages, but now is disclosed, and through the prophetic scriptures has been made known to all the nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith – to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be glory forever! Amen.”)

    Paul’s prophetic words, as are many prophecies, speak to the future as if done, because of God’s absoluteness in future planning. God’s Ways aren’t made known to all nations just yet. When? Study Revelations 11:

Now back to the revelations chapter Jesus reveals through Paul, teaching that all die through Adam and all to be made alive through Jesus.

     Let’s review: (1Cor 15:20-23; But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also came through a man. For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; then when Christ comes, those who belong to Him.) (NOTE: Jesus had Paul jump from the first resurrection to the millennia’s end.)

     (1Cor 15:24-26; Then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when He has brought to an end all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be eliminated is death. For He, has put everything in subjection under His feet. But when it says, ‘everything’ has been put in subjection, it is clear that this does not include the One, who put everything in subjection to Him “Jesus. And when all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will be subjected to the One who subjected everything to Him, so that God may be all in all.) Re-study; John 1:1-5, Colossians 1:15-20. Heb 1:1-4 and Genesis 1:

   To: 31,410 subscribers to, In home Churches of God; His view teaching. His 11^th month, Sh’vat 12, 5,781. 1/25/21

    According to Google in excess of 80,000 died from the flu, winters of 2017, 2018. People accepted plagues without flair. So called science and governments were not hipping up fear as today; is it that they’ve learned, fleshly minded people desire the worship of heroes who offer protection from disease? They’ve made Dr. Fauci a hero; he’s even more rigorously followed that professing Christians follow Jesus. If Jesus was followed as Fauci; we’d have no Corona’ 19 in our land. (Funny that no one is dying from the flu this year.) Did vaccines eradicate it? Fear is causing more harm than Corona’ 19.

    I posted the above on face book, knowing it would get little attention. In part because fleshly people love their comfort zones, and humanity’s nature mimics regardless of heritage. Superstitions are the foundational bindings of religion and politics, and causes fear and hatred: particularly political and religious, without consideration of how opinions originate. Political arenas expressing hatred for one another, and the hero worship helps causes the spread of communist and authoritarian regimes.      

     Think about what people would be without God’s revealing knowledge. (1) People would lord over the weaker even more, and form enslaving bureaucracies. (2) Even more imaginary gods would be invented with evolving laws resulting in demonic divisions, hatred and wars. (3) Imaginary gods would be given even more credit for winning conflicts. (4) All people would become gods to selves, deciding what’s right, wrong, good and evil. (5) Satan would cause even more chaos, confusion, and animalistic life styles. Thank God for a few called out believers.

     Israel’s failures are recorded for our benefit. They digressed to this world’s system of things when God released them from His directly rule. Professing Christianity is traveling down the same path, thinking God isn’t aware. They point to fleshly education’s increase, scientific advancement, and say all things continue as they were from the beginning of time. Thinking like Cain they say, ‘surely we’re pleasing God.’ Characterizations are that of Satan’s synagogues; NOT Christ Like. Who could possibly think these denominations calling themselves Christian are Christ like?

     Common sense was lost when higher education began teaching against creation. (The fact that we have a capacity for learning, gain knowledge, and have inventive skills unlike other breathing critters, should prove we’re a special creation.) A majority of our so called educated don’t like facts. Admitting facts would diminish fleshly people’s desire to be, ‘little gods to themselves, and make imaginary gods to fit their imagination.’

    Acknowledging our Creator is to believe in His righteousness, His laws, and plans for our future. Know He punishes disobedience, and decrees what’s sin. His righteousness makes the way for our saving, establishing order for His people, ‘His church.’ Jesus’ faith gifted to His apostle Paul led him to teach, that Jesus’ church is built on the foundation of the apostles, prophets and Himself the Cornerstone. (Eph 2:20-22; On that Cornerstone the whole building is being joined as it grows into a holy temple in the Lord, whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.)

     Now back to Paul’s first letter to God’s Church at Corinth, explaining how God’s order is handed down to His people. It’s Godly love on display through His people. Study the whole before coming to conclusions.

     (1Corinthians 14:33-36; As in all the churches of the Saints, the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak. Rather, let them be in submissive, as in fact the law says. If they want to find out about something, they should ask their husbands at home, because it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church. Did the word of God begin with you, or did it come to you alone?)

      Reference to; ‘they’re not permitted to speak.’ Consider Paul’s teaching at chapter 11:2-16; where women are permission to pray or prophesy in the church. Paul did not intend silence to mean or prohibit women from speaking in the assembly, ‘but does mean;’ (authoritative teaching roles aren’t allowed as Paul indicated to Timothy.) (See 1Timothy 2: and Genesis 2:18. Paul’s continuance in chapter 14, sheds balanced light; ‘anyone means male or female, and prophesy means to teach.’

     (1Cor 14:37-40; If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person he should acknowledge that what I write to you is the Lord’s command. If someone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. So then, brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid anyone from speaking in tongues. And do everything in a decent and orderly manner.)

       (PROVE all things, hold fast to that which is good. 1Thess 5:21.) Study the whole and be convinced in our own minds regarding all things, knowing that scripture interprets scripture, and a fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. (See Psalms 111:10) An obedient attitude toward the Lord is the fundamental principle for Godly living; all who carry out His precepts acquire good moral insight, and receive praise forever. Jesus’ apostle Peter puts this in perspective.

     (2Peter 1:19-21; Moreover, we possess the prophetic word as an altogether reliable thing. You do well if you pay attention to this as you would to a light shining in a murky place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you do well if you recognize this: No prophecy of scripture ever comes about by the prophet’s own imagination, for no prophecy was ever borne of human impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.)

    (Until the day dawn and the morning star rises in your hearts. MEANING? Let us be prayerfully patient in and about all things. Truth is revealed to each called out person in God’s timing. (Rather than debate; we should wait on revelation, wait and see that spiritual mentality is worth its price.)

    (1Cor 15:1-11; Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel that I preached to you, that you received and on which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message I preached to you – unless you believed in vain. For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received – that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the THIRD day according to the scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all as though to one born at the wrong time, He appeared to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me has not been in vain. In fact, I worked harder than all of them – yet not I, but the grace of God with me. Whether then it was I or they, this is the way we preach and this is the way you believed.)

      Unless you believe in vain? Apparently it’s possible to believe as fleshly Pharisees did. (Remember the many, believe that, while FEW believe IN. Meditate on this difference. Believing IN is by revelation and changes one’s outlook -life. Believing in is knowing, ‘God’s is, One Way’ and have a yielding spirit to His Way.

      (1Cor 15:12-19; Now if Christ is being preached AS raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is futile and your faith is empty. Also, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified against God that HE raised Christ from the dead, when in reality He did not raise Him, if indeed the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is useless; you are still in your sins. Furthermore, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. For, if only in this life we have hope in Christ, we should be pitied more than anyone.)

     Most denominations skip over this resurrection doctrine, preferring to teach a, all are born immortal doctrine. That is; ‘all live forever someplace doctrine.’ Satan led Balaam the Egyptians, and all pagans to believe some form of that lie. (See Gen 3) Christians believe God resurrected Jesus, and that the dead who believed IN Jesus will be in His first resurrection. Believe physical resurrections, judgment, and a second death is planned. (See Revelations 2;11, 20:6, 20:14 & 21:8)

    (1Cor 15:20-24; “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also came through a man. For just as in Adam ALL DIE, so also in Christ ALL WILL BE MADE ALIVE. But each in his own order: Christ, the first fruits; then when Christ comes, those who belong to Him. Then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when He has brought to an end all rule and all authority and power.)

        Believers IN are called is to believe God, overcome the devil’s temptations, and our inherited nature. Jesus revealed these things to John, and is now revealing them to His people. Study Rev 3:12-13, & 21:1-4. It’s all planned; God is the architect of His creation, knowing the beginning and end.

To: 31,388 subscribers to, In home Churches of God’s teaching. His 11^th month, Sh’vat 10, 5,781. 1/23/21

    Jesus’ apostles stressed freedom in Jesus for all recipients of The Holy Spirit of Truth. Recipients aren’t under the guardian, but the law of Jesus. His gifted faith makes each at one with Him, God the Father, and one another; yet like Paul servants of all. (Review 1Cor 9:19-23 & 2:1-5)

     Heavenly Father: help our un-beliefs, make us mindful of Your righteousness and help us know Your laws are for our benefit, and make us mindful of where contentions of Your Way come from. We ask in Jesus’ holy name, and gifted nature. AMEN.

     We each personally deserve eternal death, because we’re born in sin. Previous to God’s supernaturally opening minds, each practiced what seemed right to the fleshly mind inherited from Adam. That fleshly nature must be changed to Jesus‘ spiritual nature to inherit eternal life through Him. Thank God when He reveals our sin nature and gifts a desire to know His holy ways. Through the Father’s revealing His characteristics through Jesus’ life and deeds, comes the desire to know Him intimately. Through gifted belief IN Jesus a new nature is inherited. It’s the miracle described by Jesus as, ‘being born from above.’ Through revealed knowledge of Jesus’ deity we’re no longer our own, but bought with the price of His shed blood. Jesus’ apostles wrote to a people with a changed nature.

     (1Corinthians 12:27-31; Now, you are Christ’s body and each of you are members of it. And God has PLACED in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, gifts of healing, helps, gifts of leadership, different kinds of tongues. Not all are apostles, are they? Not all are prophets, are they? Not all are teachers, are they? Not all perform miracles, do they? Not all have gifts of healing, do they? Not all speak in tongues, do they? Not all interpret, do they? But you should be eager for the greater gifts.) Consider scriptural parallels.

     Jesus selected twelve apostles: New Jerusalem’s twelve foundations are named for these. The wall of the city has twelve gates: on them are the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. See Rev 21:14. Ask, what need is there for other apostles? Why another foundation? What could others add to what’s been given, except perhaps to fulfill Jesus’ words through Isaiah?

     (Isa 8:19-20; They will say to you, “Seek oracles at the pits used to conjure up underworld spirits, from the magicians who chirp and mutter incantations. Should people not seek oracles from their gods, by asking the dead about the destiny of the living?” Then you must recall the Lord’s instructions and the prophetic testimony of what would happen. Certainly they say such things because their minds are spiritually darkened.)

    God the Father and God the Son are One in love, thought, purpose and planning. There is One Church of God and He puts people of His choice in its membership - family.

     People NOT called and God not revealed to through Jesus, teach an agenda message from their or another’s imagination. It is blind leading the blind. Believers IN Jesus ‘as He’s manifested to be in the Holy Scriptures’ are believers because He’s spiritual reveled. To know the chief Corner Stone, ‘JESUS’ and know, His twelve apostles are the foundation is revelation. Through this gifted knowledge, ‘faith belief in Jesus makes people At One with Him and one another.’ Other apostles aren’t likely, since New Jerusalem’s foundations were pre-planned and named for Jesus’ selected twelve. Paul shared the following with the Ephesians and all Jesus’.

     (Eph 2:19-22; So then you are no longer foreigners and non-citizens, but you are fellow citizens with the Saints and members of God’s household, because you have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the Cornerstone. In Him the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.)

    Believers in Jesus become temples of God’s spirit by the Father’s choosing, and built according to His pleasure. The key to it all is, ‘Godly Love gifted to the mind.’ Then Jesus’ characteristics and His holy commandments are loved.

    (1Cor 12:31; And now I will show you a way that is beyond comparison.) We have added ‘Godly’ before ‘love’ in the next two chapters demonstrating the superiority of God’s gifted love in people.

    (1Cor 13:1-13; If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but I do not have ’Godly’ love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and have all faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have ’Godly’ love, I am nothing. If I give away everything I own, and if I give over my body in order to boast, but do not have ‘Godly’ love, I receive no benefit. ‘Godly’ Love is patient, ’Godly’ love is kind, it is not envious. ‘Godly’ Love does not brag, it is not puffed up. It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful. It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. ‘Godly’ Love never ends.

    But if there are prophecies, they will be set aside, if there are tongues, they will cease, if there is knowledge, it will be set aside. For, we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when what is perfect comes, the partial will be set aside. When I was a child, I talked like a child I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. But when I became an adult, I set aside childish ways. For now we see in a mirror indirectly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope, and ‘Godly’ love. But the greatest of these is ‘Godly’ love.)

    The above is known as the love chapter. These characteristics define our Shepherd, Jesus. Believers IN Him are being spirit led to prayerfully develop Godly love and characteristics. Hopefully we examine ourselves regularly, ask that our sins be revealed, and desire proof of all things in Jesus.

     (1Cor 14:1-5; Pursue ‘Godly’ love and be eager for the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy, for the one speaking in an unknown tongue does not speak to people but to God, for no one understands; he is speaking mysteries by the Spirit. But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and consolation. The one who speaks in an unknown tongue builds himself up, but the one who prophesies builds the church up. I wish you all spoke in tongues, but even more, that you would prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be strengthened.)

    Why would a person desire to speak in a languages not understood? Does NOT our Creator know our minds? So regardless of the tongue, our thoughts are no mystery to Him. PROPHESY in the context of these verses, ‘means to teach, in order to strengthen others.’ The spirit of self control has priority.

    (1Cor 14:6-12; Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I help you unless I speak to you with a revelation or with knowledge or prophecy or teaching? It is similar for lifeless things that make a sound, like a flute or harp. Unless they make a distinction in the notes, how can what is played on the flute or harp be understood? If, for example, the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will get ready for battle? It is the same for you. If you do not speak clearly with your tongue, how will anyone know what is being said? For, you will be speaking into the air. There are probably many kinds of languages in the world, and none is without meaning. If then I do not know the meaning of a language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. It is the same with you. Since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, seek to abound in order to strengthen the church.)

    Some back then and now seek to have evidence of a manifestation of the spirit, attempt to conjure up evidence by means other than gifted believing IN faith.

    Jesus defined the Holy Spirit’s characteristics to Nicodemus as; ‘that by which we are born from above and likened to the wind.’

     (John 3:5-8; Jesus answered, I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must all be born from above.’ The wind blows wherever it will, and you hear the sound it makes, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.)

      God’s spirit cannot be conjured up, nor be personally taken in at will. God’s spirit is gifted by grace to those He chooses.

   T0: 31,356 subscribers to teaching of, God’s View Churches, His 11^th Mo. Sh’Vat 7, 5,781, 1/20/21

   God set aside the seventh day, ‘for His created people, made in His image and likeness, so they’d rest from normal labor, remembering their temporary residence on earth in the flesh, created from dust, and to dust return until resurrected for judgment. Feast of Booths, ‘Tabernacles’ was set aside to remind Israel of this. (God gave laws, ‘ten commandments particularly’, to His people to be their guardians until they’d be made spiritually, ‘at One with Him.’ He made The Way to that ‘At One Ment’ through Jesus’ gifted faith, to believe in Him, and His shed blood for the remission of their lawless nature, ‘sins.’ (All pre-planned, even before Adam’s creation, that through God the Son’s life, eternal life would be gifted to His chosen believers.) The Seventh day was set aside after Jesus finished re-creating a chaotic earth, and all living things, including mankind in His image and likeness. (See Genesis 1)

    (Gen 2:1-3; The heavens and the earth were completed with everything that was in them. By the seventh day God finished the work that He had been doing, and He ceased on the seventh day all the work that He had been doing. God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it He ceased all the work that He had been doing in creation.) Study the whole.

The shrewd divisive devil was looking on.

     (Gen 3:1-5; Now the serpent was more shrewd than any of the wild animals that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Is it really true that God said, ‘You must not eat from any tree of the orchard’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit from the trees of the orchard; but concerning the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the orchard God said, ‘You must not eat from it, and you must not touch it, or else you will die.’ ” The serpent said to the woman, “Surely you will not die,  for God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will open and you will be like divine beings who know good and evil.”) Always study the whole.

    Obviously Satan is calling God a liar, while appealing to Eve’s desire to be divine, and choose for self what’s right, wrong, good and evil, rather than looking to God.

     The Lord God, ‘Jesus’ chose a set aside time to worship through making a blood sacrifice. (Gen 4:3-7; At the designated time, Cain brought some of the fruit of the ground for an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought some of the firstborn of his flock — even the fattest of them. The LORD was pleased with Abel and his offering, but with Cain and his offering He was not pleased. So Cain became very angry, and his expression was downcast. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and your expression downcast? Is it not true that if you do what is right, you will be fine? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. It desires to dominate you, but you must subdue it.”)

     Subduing the lawlessness that wants to dominate is the right way. People inherited from Adam and Eve, the Cain like mentality that wants to decide for self: which is lawless and amounts to being little gods to self.

    Observances of Sabbaths is also set aside to point the way for humbly respecting God’s command, one and only truth. Seemingly Annual Sabbaths and festivals were set aside and came to light after Israel was delivered from Egypt. Israel was to annually review and keep that Passover night in Egypt when, through Moses, Jesus had them put blood of a sheep or goat over their door so the death angel would pass over. This fifteenth day of God’s first month was humbly kept by Jesus, keeping that Passover looked forward to His shed blood and death for the remission of sins with His apostles. Worshipers of Jesus have kept, and will keep the Passover throughout eternity to remember how their sins are remitted.

    (John 13:1-20; Just before the Passover feast, Jesus knew that His time had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He now loved them to the very end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, that he should betray Jesus. Because Jesus knew that the Father had handed all things over to Him, and that He had come from God and was going back to God, He got up from the meal, removed His outer clothes, took a towel and tied it around Himself.  He poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel he had wrapped around Himself. Then He came to Simon Peter. Peter said to Him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not understand what I am doing now, but you will understand after these things.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with Me.”  Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head!” Jesus replied, “The one who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not every one of you.” (For Jesus knew the one who was going to betray Him. For this reason He said, “Not every one of you is clean.”) So when Jesus had washed their feet and put His outer clothing back on, He took His place at the table again and said to them, “Do you understand what I have done for you? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and do so correctly, for that is what I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you too ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example; you should do just as I have done for you. I tell you the solemn truth, the slave is not greater than his master, nor is the one who is sent as a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand these things, you will be blessed if you do them. “What I am saying does not refer to all of you. I know the ones I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture, ‘The one who eats My bread has turned against Me.’ (Quote from Psalms 41:9) I am telling you this now, before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe that I am He. I tell you the solemn truth, whoever accepts the one I send accepts Me, and whoever accepts Me accepts the One who sent Me.)

      Jesus loves His creation, including unbelieving people that practice what’s lawlessness in His view. Even the whole world. (John 3:16; For this is the way God loved the world: He gave His One and only Son, so that everyone who believes IN Him will not perish but have eternal life.)

    (The Greek word ἀπόλλυμι (apollumi) ‘Parish’ can mean either, to be lost, to perish or be destroyed, depending on the context.

Godly Love

       God’s love isn’t animalistic, nor as a fleshly person’s love for a mate, children, family etc. Our love, the likes inherited from Adam is generally self serving. Some people don’t even cultivate animalistic love. Godly love is only gifted through the imputation of His spirit, which gives recipients the same mental outlook as Jesus’. It’s the nature inherited from Adam people need to repent of, ‘through Jesus’ faith turn from, and be rid of?’ Remember Jesus told Peter ‘if I don’t wash you, you have no part with Me.’

    If not cultivated through love and training, the nature we inherited takes the turn described below, but called out followers of Jesus are washed.

    (1Cor 6:9-11; Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, practicing homosexuals, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, the verbally abusive, and swindlers will not inherit the kingdom of God. Some of you once lived this way. But you, were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.) compare with Rev 21:8)

    Called out people gifted to Believe IN Jesus, are sanctified ‘set aside’ and justified in the nature of the Lord Jesus Christ; the spirit of God our Father. The washed are obedient to Jesus, as He’s manifest to be in His Holy Scriptures. Not as fleshly individuals in denominational groupings, whose love is more akin to animalistic. Paul now speaks of ‘we’ as in ‘we Jesus’ apostles.’

      (2Cor 10:2-7; Now I ask that when I am present, I may not have to be bold with the confidence that (I expect) I will dare to use against some who consider us to be behaving according to human standards. For though we live as human beings, we do not wage war according to human standards, for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, but are made powerful by God for tearing down strongholds. We tear down arguments and every arrogant obstacle that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey Christ. We are also ready to punish every act of disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete. You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident of belongs to Christ, he should reflect on this again: Just as he himself belongs to Christ, so too do we.)

    We repeat, God’s called out people believe IN every ‘original’ word that proceeds from Him. We should make no assumption, insert opinions and agenda’s, but compare scripture to scripture, to prove all things. Realize it’s in mankind’s nature to dominate, make merchandise of others, and take advantage of the naïve. War against such people, and be mindful that the called of God recognize truth, because He spiritually opens their minds. We’re called to present His truth willingly, without pay or fanfare.  

       To: 31,303 In Home Churches of God. His 11th month, Sh’vat 4, 5,981. 1/17/21

     With God’s family order in mind, consider Jesus’ mindset toward His Father’s authority, and what ours should be.

    (Philippians 2:5-8; You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, who though He existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. He humbled Himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross!)

    When people decide for selves what’s right, wrong, good and evil, they’re attempting to usurp God’s authority: it’s a human nature condition that must ultimately be repented of. Through pro-creation we each inherited the nature of Adam that desires, ‘deciding for ourselves.’ That’s Idolatry in God’s view because we’re His creation, and only He has that authority, deciding in such a way is a worship of self, attempting to make ourselves little gods.

     The spiritually created Satan took a totally different attitude than Jesus. He thought to make himself equal with his Creator. (Review Phil 2:5-8) The point; we inherited Adam’s self serving procreated nature, influenced by Satan as he did Eve, that nature must be turned from in order to be adopted as Sons, and be gifted with eternal life through Jesus’ gifted faith.

     God put in His created people a part of Himself, a consciousness of mind, of wills, ability to love, plan, create, train, and procreate in His and our likeness.

    People differ from animals in that they can only live by their God created instinct, and are basically made for people’s use. Domestic types can be trained in various ways; wild ones to a much lesser and unpredictable degrees. We can’t find one evolution of species actively going on in this age. The first flood and Jesus’ re-creation of life forms ended the so called pre-historic creatures.

        (Our Creator also sustains His creation’s order; planetary movements,

         this earth’s core, sea level, air current and containment limitations.

         People are made for God’s loving and ultimate family purpose.) 

     The Holy Scriptures reveal God’s pre-planned family increase. When He created Adam and Eve in His image and likeness, with procreation of children in mind, with His, and people’s likeness, His ultimate purpose was to increase His spiritual family. Additionally, God gave His governing laws designed for His created, ‘in His image and likeness beings.’ Laws to live by: for people’s good; and to be people’s guardians. God was mindful that through His gifting people the ability to procreate, Adam’s nature would carry forward his lawless nature, ‘which is sin leading to eternal death.’ That inherited nature in people desires to go the way that seems right to the mind, which is eternal death unless turned from though Jesus’ gifted faith, life and sacrificial blood for the remission of lawlessness, ‘sin.’ It’s The Way, God the Father made to inherit a spiritual loving oneness with Himself, ‘through His Creator Son, and our Savior Jesus.’ The only Way to eternal life, is Jesus’ gifted faith imputed to the mind. God the Father made His Son and Creator, Jesus’ shed blood, the way, as the prophesied Lamb of God, who’d takes away the sins of the world. Jesus willingly took the stripes for our healing, suffered, shed His blood, and died so believer’s in Him could have their sins remitted.

    He had His prophets tell and prophesy long before about His being the Lamb of God, that would humbly and willingly die, so sins could be forgiven, and thus inherit eternal life.

        (God put in His created people the need to overcome the inherited

          from Adam sin nature, and grow in grace and knowledge of Himself.

        His ultimate purpose; to grow a people to be spiritually at one with

         Himself, through sacrificing His Creator Son, so all who believed in

          Him could be forgiven of their sins, be family, and inherit eternal life.)

     The objective for fleshly people is to overcome the lawless inherited sin nature and Satan’s temptations by believing in God’s word as Jesus did in the flesh. The Father allowed Jesus to be tempted in a manner similar to our temptations. Spiritually minded Jesus set the fleshly example by resisting the devil as we’re commanded to do. The devil knew Jesus from long before, knew the Holy Scriptures, and knew he’s being allowed to be the god of this age, until a set time.

    (Matthew 4:1-11; Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After He fasted forty days and forty nights He was famished. The Tempter came and said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.” But He answered, “It is written, ‘Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. ” (Quote from Deut 8:3) Then, the devil took Him to the holy city, had Him stand on the highest point of the temple, and said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written, ‘He will command His angels concerning You‘ and ‘with their hands they will lift you up, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” (Quote from Psalms 91:12) Jesus said to him, “Once again it is written: ‘You are not to put the Lord your God to the test.’ (Quote from Deut 6:16) Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their grandeur. And he said to Him, “I will give you all these things if you throw Yourself to the ground and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘You are to worship the Lord your God and serve only Him.” (Quote from Deut 6:13) Then the devil left Him, and angels came and began ministering to His needs.)

     Satan attempts to distort God’s truth in many ways, primarily regarding things pointing to His planning. Many professing believers celebrate pagan holidays in direct opposition to God’s commands. Jesus said, such people never knew Him.

    (John 8:23-30; Jesus replied, “You people are from below; I am from above. You people are from this world; I am not from this world. Thus I told you that you will die in your sins. For, unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus replied, “What I have told you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge about you, but the Father who sent Me is truthful, and the things I have heard from Him I speak to the world.” (They did not understand that He was telling them about His Father.) Then Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak just what the Father taught Me. And the One who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, because I always do those things that please Him.” While He was saying these things, many people believed in Him.) Before this Jesus had told the people how they judge.

     (John 8:15-20; You people judge by outward appearances; I do not judge anyone. But if I judge, My evaluation is accurate, because I am not alone when I judge, but I and the Father who sent Me do so together It is (in your law that the testimony of two men is true. I testify about Myself and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.” Then they began asking Him, “Who is your father?” Jesus answered, “You do not know either Me or My Father. If you knew Me you would know My Father too.) (Jesus spoke these words near the offering box while He was teaching in the temple courts. No one seized Him because His time had not yet come.”) The reason Jesus gives for His evaluation being accurate is, “I and the Father who sent Me evaluate together.”

     We repeat certain text of scripture often for the benefit of new readers. Study Jesus’ revelations about His and God the Father’s deity. (See John 1:1-5, Heb 1:1-4, Colossians 1:15-20 and Genesis 1) Proclaiming truths to unbelieving people causes disdain. Jesus, His prophets and apostles caused much upheaval, while teaching against politically expediencies.  

     Jesus was the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Moses. He’s the spokesman that said; “let there be light.” It was the Lord God ’Jesus’ that delivered Israel through Moses. His people were not to learn the ways of the neighboring pagans. However they did, and so were scattered as promised. Today’s professing denominational minded people say in regard to celebrating pagan times, “we aren’t worshiping, it’s just for fun.” However they can’t excuse why they male pagan times more important than God’s set aside times, for His set aside people.

       God’s Sabbaths are holy to Himself and His chosen people. They look back and forward to His plan for our and the world’s saving. Burdensome times to people who love this world’s system of things but not for His people. Burdensome to people whose priorities are, traditions of men. The following recommended scripture is a glimpse at what God’s Sabbaths are about, and not intended to be all in all. Review God’s Word at Leviticus 23: for a summation of His and His people’s Sabbaths.   

To: In home churches of God, His 11^th month, Sh’vat 1, 5,781. 1/14/21

    Jesus’ apostle Paul stressed his freedom in Jesus; as all recipients of His Holy Spirit of Truth may do. Paul and Holy Spirit recipients aren’t under the law because Jesus’ indwelling faith spirit making each at one with Him, one another, and yet like Paul servants of all. 

    (1Cor 9:19-23; For since I am free from all I can make myself a slave to all, in order to gain even more people. To the Jews I became like a Jew to gain the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) to gain those under the law. To those free from the law I became like one free from the law (though I am not free from God’s law but under the law of Christ) to gain those free from the law. To the weak I became weak in order to gain the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that by all means I may save some. I do all these things because of the gospel, so that I can be a participant in it.) Paul isn’t saying; he personally saves or gives salvation, but by being diplomatic, he may cause some to listen, ‘understand’ and believe.

    Personal commitments, promises and pledges are important to people’s conscience. Dwell on that! To an Israelite schooled in keeping the law, Paul didn’t dwell on changing him. Paul understood; (a person believing IN the reason Jesus came and died, would grow in grace and knowledge of God. To those not accustomed to keeping the law in Israelite fashion, Paul didn’t dwell on pressuring a change for the same reason. Let’s re-visit chapter two of this letter to discern Paul’s humbleness and clarification.

    (1Corinthians 2:1-5; When I came to you; brothers and sisters, I did not come with superior eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed the testimony of God. For, I decided to be concerned about nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and with much trembling. My conversation and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not be based on human wisdom but on the power of God.)

    Denominations are opposite; they want parishioners to believe in their theology above all else. That’s why we dwell on particular scriptures, and repeat often, so it’s understood that Jesus’ Good News is our total aim. Believing that people grows when they practice Jesus’ commands.

    Jesus’ teaching through Paul concentrates on, (1) Jesus’ love, (2) God’s calling for His purposes, (3) walking in Jesus’ Light, (4) believing IN Jesus as He is manifested; Re-creator, Creator, Redeemer, Mediator, the resurrection, and coming king of kings, (5) knowing through Jesus eternal life is gifted.

    To the Philippians Paul wrote; (So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence, for the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort – for the sake of His good pleasure – is God. Phil 2:12-13.)

     When gifted with a desire to be obedient to Jesus’ commands, we’re made to be at one with God the Father and God the Son, knowing that desire came from above. That desire is a gift and calling. We need to know; ‘if we love God it’s because He loved us individually first.’

    Think of the awesomeness of such grace and mercy. So, let’s examine ourselves in His Light, asking; ‘do I have the desire to prove all things and grow in the grace and knowledge of God?’ Do I have a desire like Jesus’ apostle Paul did? Our Christian life of overcoming is likened to running a race.

     (1Cor 9:23-27; I do all these things because of the gospel, so that I can be a participant in it. Do you not know that all the runners in a stadium compete, but only one receives the prize? So run to win. Each competitor must exercise self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. So I do not run uncertainly or box like one who hits only air. Instead I subdue my body and make it my slave, so that after preaching to others I myself will not be disqualified.)

     How should we spiritually subdue our bodies? Practice self control of the mind. Even in situations where people around us are practicing worldly entertainments, we can subdue our minds by being instant in prayer. 

    Paul’s regard and understanding of our inherited nature is beyond most of ours. He knew fleshly minded people liked making others merchandise, by telling them what to do; when in reality most don’t do what’s recommended to others. Politicians and teachers of religion are good examples. Though writing to mixed congregation, mostly gentiles, Paul referred to ancestors as, ‘our fathers.’ Why? The God of Israel is the only true God and all followers of Jesus become spiritual Israelites. All Christians are heirs with faithful Abraham!  

     Righteous in God’s View people are miraculously made Family, revealing His righteous nature and giving the desire to be AT ONE with Him. Each were going, ’living’ the way that seemed right to themselves before His spiritual revelations,  and living according to the dictates of that inherited from Adam fleshly nature. We can’t become members of God’s family, nor be righteous in His view, ‘by personal choice.’ Let’s review Jesus teachings through Paul and John.   

    (1Cor 6:9-11; Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, practicing homosexuals, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, the verbally abusive, and swindlers will not inherit the kingdom of God. Some of you once lived this way. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.) Jesus reveals same overcoming need through John, adding the result if not repented of.

      (Rev  21:7-8; The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My Son. But to the cowards, unbelievers, detestable persons, murderers, the sexually immoral, and those who practice magic spells, idol worshipers, and all those who lie, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. That is the second death.)

     Unbelievers include people attempting to understand spiritual things, from within their fleshly nature and other’s theology. It’s the reason professing Christians are in denominational movements. God refers to each, as idolaters and spiritual adulterers. That is, ‘people claiming to be brides of Christ while in fact serving gods of their imagination.’

     Speaking of self evaluation from last study; grading one’s self on a one to ten scale. Think on efforts people put into idolatrous pagan practices, worshiping gods of their imagination, according to what seems right to their fleshly nature. Such oppose efforts to obey all Jesus’ commands. Over and over Jesus speaks of, the Way, the Truth, and the Light. Yet professing Christians condones many ways that make light of scripture, theorizing we’re all trying to get to the same place.

     After Jesus’ resurrection and before His ascension; His apostles were joyfully surprised when He was waiting, ‘to give their commission and open their minds to understand the scriptures.’

    (Luke 24:41-49; And while they still could not believe it (because of their joy and were amazed, He said to them, Do you have anything here to eat? So they gave Him a piece of broiled fish, He took and ate it in front of them.) Then He said to them, these are My words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about Me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled. Then He opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures, and said to them, ‘Thus it stands written that the Christ would suffer and would rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. But stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’) Jesus’ promises are rooted in Jeremiah 31:31 and Ezekiel 36:26.

      Prophecies fulfilled in Jesus’ life and the traditions He established through His apostles are foundations for God’s family, ‘His church.’ In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he was dealing with people who had went back to immoral practices. His mission was to teach Believing IN Jesus people how to maintain purity in Christ, and keep God’s churches pure. Recognizing the connection of God’s planned authority in family order was one of these. Another was to keep people practicing Jesus’ Way, expect His return, judgment, keep His set aside weekly and annual Sabbaths that foreshadow His planning. Now back to Jesus’ teaching through His apostle Paul.

    (1Cor 11:2-3; I praise you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions just as I passed them on to you. But I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.)

     Jesus was begotten ‘fathered’ by the spirit of God and as such, ‘in the flesh’ He inherited the nature of God. Likewise when people are made Christ Like by the imputation of His spirit, they inherit the God family nature. Likewise God set the order of authority for family units, particularly people to whom God reveals Himself. Christians joyfully submits to the authority of Christ through God the Father.

     T0: God’s In Resident Churches, His 10^th Mo. Tivet 28, 5,781,  1/12/21

    Fleshly speaking, it’s natural that Christians don’t consider their heritage ‘Israelite,’ Until the God of Israel reveals Himself. All people live and practice the way that seems right to themselves. Paul taught it.

     (1Cor 10:1-4; For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they were all drinking from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.) All Israel was immersed in water and the care of Jesus.

      Israelites leaving Egypt were immersed in water when crossing the sea; water banked on each side and a heavy mist or cloud was over them. All were baptized unto Moses as directed by, ‘The Rock’ Jesus Christ.’ This foreshadowing the burial of the old self, and symbolic of a new life. That spiritual leading Rock, ’Jesus’ was teaching Moses and the Israelites, ‘the way to betterment.’ Immersion foreshadowed the new covenant physical baptism, instituted by Jesus through John the Baptist and so much more, our spiritual immersion and clothing in Jesus.)

    (1Cor 10:5-6; But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were cut down in the wilderness. These things happened as examples for us, so that we will not crave evil things as they did.)

    All that happened with Israel looked forward to this age. Paul wrote to the Hebrews. “After God spoke long ago in various portions and in various ways to our ancestors through the prophets, in these last days He has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He created the world.” Heb 1:1-2) COMPARE with John 1:1-5 and Col 1:15-20.        May we each be careful, not to twist His Word. May we grow in His grace and knowledge as He leads? Things that are an abomination to Jesus Christ from the time of creation, are to His followers. Times Jesus Christ made holy are holy to Christ like people.

    Heavenly Father: Make us mindful of the loving peace You have planned for all who are gifted with Godly love, in this age and in Your millennial age to come. We praise and thank You for Your righteousness and love, In Jesus name we pray. AMEN

    Idolatry can be things we’re overly concerned about, traditions we prioritize, objects looked to for blessings, things in awe of and things we think we own.

    Jesus recommended we evaluate ourselves in His Light. We could evaluate ourselves by use of a, ‘one to ten scale’ in determining priorities. For many, sports would scale a nine or ten, and the sports page would be priority reading. Likewise preparations for travel, purchasing annual tickets, tail gating parties etc. Other things are prioritized in similar fashion.

. Many idolize Hollywood; it’s actresses and actors, by emulating life practices, styles, fashions etc. While many others look to pastors, preachers, statues and church attendance in respectful awe, expecting blessings for their efforts. We should each ask ourselves, “what do I idolize?”         

      Considering the Israelites in Moses’ day: Jesus inspired His apostle Paul to addressed this subject.

     (1 Cor 10:7-13; “So do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” (Quote from Exodus 32:6) And let us not be immoral, as some of them were, and twenty-three thousand died in a single day. And let us not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by snakes. And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel. These things happened to them as examples and were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come. So let the one who thinks he is standing be careful that he does not fall. (13) No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.”)

        Love for one another and God has waxed cold in this latter age. Believers IN God are mindful of and appreciative of these Israelite examples that helps us be better servants. What a wonderful promise in verse 13. (With trials God will also provide a way out so we may endure.) Paul is thinking of the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. Which season is set aside for evaluating ourselves, our fleshly nature’s pulls and putting sin out from our life practices.

      (1Cor 10:14-16; “So then, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. I am speaking to thoughtful people. Consider what I say. (16) Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread that we break a sharing in the body of Christ?”) The Passover cup “wine” symbolizes Jesus’ shed blood, the breaking and eating the bread, “His broken body.”

      (1Cor 10:17-22; “Because there is one bread, we, ’followers of Jesus’ who are many are one body, for we all share the one bread. (18) Look at the people of Israel. Are not those who eat the sacrifices partners in the altar? Am I saying that idols or food sacrificed to them amount to anything? No, I mean that what the pagans sacrifice is to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons. (21) You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot take part in the table of the Lord and the table of demons. (22) Or are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we really stronger than He is?”)

      God’s people, “His church” is one body. A people looking to the same Shepherd. Unbelievers look to a Jesus of their imagination, “a Jesus they think authorized a Sabbath change and a pagan calendar. NOT the Jesus manifested in these pages.

      (Matt 24:3-5; “As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, His disciples came to Him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus answered them, “Watch out that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many.”)

       NOW, the end of this age began when Jesus’ ascended! People groups divide the ages differently. Basically the ages consist of, (“Pre flood” “from flood to Abraham” “from Abraham to Jesus’ earthly ministry” “from Jesus’ ascension to His millennial reign” and “Jesus’ millennial reign to New Jerusalem coming down.” I don’t know that we can refer to the time after New Jerusalem’s coming down as an age.

      A short TIME after Jesus’ ascension, the wolves in sheep clothing began teaching a Jesus of their particular imaginations. We see that result all around us.

      (1Cor 10:23-24; “Everything is lawful,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is lawful,” but not everything builds others up. Do not seek your own good, but the good of the other person.”)

       This statement defines love. We must remember who Paul is writing to, “Believers IN - Christians.” SO, what’s the two greatest commandments? “Love God with your whole heart and love your neighbor as yourself.” If this love is gifted to our being “hearts” we don’t need a guardian law. The first four commandments are schoolmasters teaching people how to show love toward God. The last six are schoolmasters teaching people how to love neighbors. (NOW, unbelievers - non-Christians DO NEED and must be under the law.) Otherwise chaos would be rampant. Paul explained to the Galatians Believers IN - Christians.

      (Gal 3:23-29; “Now before “Jesus’” faith came we “Christians” were held in custody under the law, being kept as prisoners until the coming faith would be revealed. Thus the law had become our guardian until Christ, so that we could be declared righteous by faith. (25) But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. (WHY?) (26) For IN Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female – for all of you are One in Christ Jesus. (29) And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise.”)

      Who can SUPPOSE that Jesus needed to be told “do not steal?” Did Jesus need to be told; “love God with Your whole heart?” LIKEWISE Believers IN, living by Jesus’ gifted faith. immersed in and clothed with Jesus don‘t need to be told, “do not steal.” THUS Paul could say “all things are lawful for me.” THEN Paul went on to say, (“but NOT everything builds others up, do not seek your own good, but the good of the other person.”) SEE this gifted imputed love at work in Paul‘s life? Such thinking molded to one’s character and does not allow idolatry! Love becomes a matter of Jesus’ conscience and character growing in His followers! Now see the working of this gifted love characteristic on display.

    (1Cor 10:25-11:1; Eat anything that is sold in the marketplace without questions of conscience, for the earth and its abundance are the Lord’s. If an unbeliever invites you to dinner and you want to go, eat whatever is served without asking questions of conscience. But if someone says to you, this is from a sacrifice, do not eat, because of the one who told you and because of conscience. I do NOT mean yours but the other person’s. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? If I partake with thankfulness, why am I blamed for the food that I give thanks for? So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. Do not give offense to Jews or Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also try to please everyone in all things. I do not seek my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.)

     We should know, unbelievers have all sorts of ways to twist Jesus and His apostles words. Many minds are corrupted by naïve people, even people desiring to be Christians!

     Remember, God’s spirit in us is our teacher. He calls and gives the desire to be obedient, because His love is shed abroad in our hearts.

     (Romans 5:1-5; Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by ‘Jesus’ faith’ we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of God’s glory. Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.) Also why we need a Mediator.

      Rom 5:6-11; For, while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. (For rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person perhaps someone might possibly dare to die.) But God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, because we have now been declared righteous by His blood; we will be saved through Him from God’s wrath. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, how much more, since we have been reconciled, will we be saved by His life? Not only this, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.”)

      Jesus explained, “If you love me, you will obey My commandments. Then I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world CANNOT accept, because it does not see Him or know Him. But you know Him, because He resides with you and will be in you.” John 14;15-17/

     Followers of Jesus do not obey Jesus only from a mind, ‘what is in it for me?’ They’re given the desire to obey because, ‘the love of God is shed abroad in the heart.’ Also see Phil 2:13; “for the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort — for the sake of His good pleasure — is God.”

     Converted believers are temple recipients of God’s spirit, and aren’t comfortable attempting to worship with those who don’t honor all God’s commandments. Jesus inspired His apostle Paul to write 2Coronthians on this subject.

     Why this web blog? God gifted faith normally comes through people’s hearing, ‘understanding’ it’s God’s opening what’s decimated to the mind. Jesus gave His apostles this revelation, ‘we share in hopes of encouraging God’s called to stay, His Way people. To called believers in Jesus’ deeds and sacrifice Paul wrote.  

    (Rom 10:14-17; How are they to call on One they have not believed IN? And how are they to believe IN One they have not heard of? And how are they to hear without someone preaching to them? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How timely is the arrival of those who proclaim the Good News.” But not all have obeyed the Good News, for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” Consequently faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the preached word of Christ.)

     It’s about The Truth being miraculously understood, acted on as in turning from the old fleshly inherited mindset to God’s revealed Way. It’s yielding to God’s Word in awe, and obedience. Spiritually moving from being ‘as a minor to a guardian,’ to being as ‘born again, literally a Son of God. AT ONE relationship with God the Father and God the Son. Paul explains to the called to be Jesus’ followers. 

    (Galatians 4:1-7; Now I mean that the heir, as long as he is a minor, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything. But he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. So also we, when minors were enslaved under the basic forces of the world. But when the appropriate time had come, God sent out His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as Sons with full rights. And because you, are Sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, who calls “Abba! Father.” So you are no longer a slave but a Son and if you are a Son, then you are also heirs with Abraham.) 

     Followers of Jesus are Sons of God now. Born again - fathered to inherit Jesus’ resurrection and eternal life as is Jesus’. A good lesson on this subject is found in Paul’s letter to Philemon; regarding his runaway slave ‘Onesimus.’

    Paul became a mentor to Onesimus, ‘a born again fathered by God child.’ Became Paul’s co-worker, Onesimus yielding to Paul as a guardian. Paul wrote Philemon asking, that Onesimus be freed and saying his faith would be deepened by giving freedom. It’s our example of how we should feel toward a follower of Jesus.

     (Philemon 1:5-22; I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the Saints. I pray that the faith you share with us may deepen your understanding of every blessing that belongs to you in Christ. I have had great joy and encouragement because of your love, for the hearts of the Saints have been refreshed through you, ‘brother.’  So, although I have quite a lot of confidence in Christ and could command you to do what is proper, I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love. I, Paul, an old man and even now a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus; am appealing to you concerning my child, whose spiritual father I have become during my imprisonment, that is, ‘Onesimus’ who was formerly useless to you, but is now useful to you and me. I have sent him (who is my very heart) back to you.

    I wanted to keep him so that he could serve me in your place during my imprisonment for the sake of the gospel. However, without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your good deed would not be out of compulsion, but from your own willingness. For perhaps it was for this reason that he, was separated from you for a little while, so that you would have him back eternally, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a dear brother. He is especially so to me, and even more so to you now, both humanly speaking and in the Lord. Therefore if you regard me as a partner, accept him as you would me.’ Now if he has defrauded you of anything or owes you anything, charge what he owes to me. I, Paul, have written this letter with my own hand: I will repay it.

   I could also mention that you owe me your very self. Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ. Since I was confident that you would obey, I wrote to you, because I knew that you would do even more than what I am asking you to do. At the same time also, prepare a place for me to stay, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given back to you.)

     Paul attempted to see things from spiritual and human perspectives, letter to Philemon and next study’s text in Corinthians are cases in point.  

Jesus’  Good News about His coming kingdom, chapter 3

To: In residence Churches of God. His 10th month, Trivet 25, 5,981. 1/10/21

Apostles’ letters are to Believers IN Jesus, a people converted from their old nature and gifted with a new nature and spiritual insight. NOTE Paul’s cautioned himself about inserting his own opinions. The apostles though the end time Jesus Spoke of was eminent. (1Cor 7:12-16; To the rest I say – ‘I, not the Lord’ – if a brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is happy to live with him, he should not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is happy to live with her, she should not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified because of the wife, and the unbelieving wife because of her husband. Otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy. But if the unbeliever wants a divorce, let it take place. In these circumstances the brother or sister is not bound. God has called you in peace. How do you know wife whether you will bring your husband to salvation? Or how do you know husband, whether you will bring your wife to salvation?)

    God knows all things in advance. A believing person may be with an unbeliever for testing. Growing in God’s grace, knowledge, and  overcoming to the end is the converted person’s goal. In verses below, Paul is speaking of circumcision of heart.

     (1Cor 7:17-19; Nevertheless, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each person, so must he live. I give this sort of direction in all the churches. Was anyone called after being circumcised? He should not try to undo his circumcision. Was anyone called who is uncircumcised? He should not get circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and un-circumcision is nothing. Instead, keeping God’s commandments is what counts.)

     Circumcision always looked forward to God’s spiritually gifted circumcision of heart. God knows each person’s situation in advance. He may wait until a person is in a particular situation before revealing His calling. For example: to live with an unbelieving spouse could be a needed training for God’s purpose.

      Hosea is an example. (Hosea 1:2; When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, He said to him, “Go marry a prostitute who will bear illegitimate children conceived through prostitution, because Israel continually commits spiritual prostitution by turning away from the Lord.”)

    As are Christians, Israel was called to separate from the world, and be God’s peculiar people. When they failed to be obedient, God considered them to be as prostitutes. Hosea was to learn firsthand, how God felt toward His rebellious people.

     (1Cor 7:20-24; Let each one remain in that situation in life, which he was called in. Were you called as a slave? Do not worry about it. But if indeed you are able to be free, make the most of the opportunity. For the one who was called in the Lord as a slave is the Lord’s freedman. In the same way, the one who was called as a free person is Christ’s slave. You were bought with a price. Do not become slaves of men. In whatever situation someone was called, brothers and sisters, let him remain in it with God.)

     Jesus’ point revealed through Paul is that each called individual is for God’s purpose. All Israel’s history is recorded for our learning. Some may need to learn what it’s like to serve as someone’s slave and to make the best of it. An employee may be an instrument God uses to reveal Himself. A converted spouse may be God’s tool in converting the other. When a person is in a position to be a witness for good, it is likely God’s doing. The situation in when God’s call is realized, is where one should witness. Theologians should never attempt to usurp God’s will in a Christian’s life.

    Paul set a good example, saying ‘I am saying not the Lord.’ When certain prophecies are being fulfilled, perhaps Paul’s opinion back then could be a reality.    (1Cor 7:29-31; And I say this, brothers and sisters: The time is short. So then those who have wives should be as those who have none, those with tears like those not weeping, those who rejoice like those not rejoicing, those who buy like those without possessions, those who use the world as though they were not using it to the full. For the present shape of this world is passing away.)

    Times Paul lived were similar to this latter age. It seemed to Paul then, as it now seems to many of us. Jesus’ return is soon, but not yet. God’s holy, seven annual Sabbaths reveal His gifted clue. Though close according to Matthew 24: the person; that man of sin, isn’t revealed just yet, the monetary situation Jesus describes isn’t now. However for the Elect sake God will shorten the time planned.    (Our individual calling has parallels to Israel’s.)  As Israelites were a predestined chosen people of promises, followers of Jesus are predestined by promise and heirs with Abraham. (Galatians 3:29; And, if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise.) Jesus reveals the same through Peter, giving the reason for our calling.

   (1Peter 2:9-12; But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of His own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. You once were not a people, but now you are God’s people. You were shown no mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul and maintain good conduct among the non-Christians, so that though they now malign you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God when He appears.)

     Followers of Jesus are for God’s purpose, they’re not their own. The calling is a selfless loving purpose, the payoff Eternal Life. A calling to Jesus’ faith, believe in Him as the prophets and He proclaimed Himself to be. He’s Savior, Redeemer, Mediator before God the Father, One through whom life is, the Resurrection and coming King of kings. (See John 1:1-5, Colossians 1:15-20 and Hebrews 1: to discern the totality of Jesus’ deity.)

    (Hebrews 13:7-16; Remember your leaders, who spoke God’s message to you; reflect on the outcome of their lives and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever! Do not be carried away by all sorts of strange teachings. For it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not ritual meals, which have never benefited those who participated in them. We have an altar that those who serve in the tabernacle have no right to eat from. For the bodies of those animals whose blood the high priest brings into the sanctuary as an offering for sin are burned outside the camp. Therefore, to sanctify the people by His own blood, Jesus also suffered outside the camp. We must go out to Him, then, outside the camp, bearing the abuse He experienced. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, acknowledging His name. And do not neglect to do good, and to share what you have, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.) As always study the whole.

    Reflect on Joseph, Moses, Joshua and Jesus’ twelve apostles’ lives. Reflect on the fact that Jesus was that Rock leading Israel through Moses and why the Israelites were dispersed to unbelieving pagan nations. Jesus gives us that reason through Moses, so let’s repeat. 

    (Deut 13:3-5; You must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer, for the Lord your God will be TESTING you to see if you LOVE Him with all your mind and being. You must follow the Lord your God and revere only Him; and you must observe His commandments, obey Him, serve Him, and remain loyal to Him. As for that prophet or dreamer, he must be executed because he encouraged rebellion against the Lord your God who brought you from the land of Egypt, redeeming you from that place of slavery and because he has tried to entice you from The Way the Lord your God has commanded you to go.) In this way you must purge out evil from within.)

     What a contrast to the religious confusions in this age. Each individual was enslaved to this world’s system of things before God revealed and redeemed. Those teaching error have an end result as told through Moses.

     Death ends the overcoming time each called believer has. Time in the flesh is testing and overcoming time for each believer. Be mindful, ‘many are called but few chosen in this age.’ Jesus’ words will ultimately be our judge. The last days are foreshadowed by the, seventh of seven annual Sabbaths, ‘the Last Great Day.’ Jesus ordained and kept it, ‘it’s also the eighth day and holy annual Sabbath ending the Feast of Tabernacles.’

    (John 12:47-50; If anyone hears My words and does not obey them, I do not judge him. For I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world. The one who rejects Me and does not accept My words has a judge; The WORD I have spoken will judge each at the last day. For I have not spoken from My own authority, but the Father Himself who sent Me has commanded Me what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His commandment is ETERNAL LIFE. Thus the things I say, I say just as the Father has told Me.)

     A physical resurrection and an opening of the mind awaits many. Many will repent, for having lived the way that seemed right to their fleshly minds, but some will not. (Review 1Corinthians 6:9-11 and Revelations 21:5-8)

     This world’s populations rejected Jesus just as He knew they would. However people have no excuse for not believing, Jesus was sent by His Father to do His will. Jesus’ life is a historical fact, but the denominations refuse to believe IN and lovingly obey His Word. His spiritual truths are revealed to the called, and hidden from the unbelieving populations for His ultimate purpose. Review Jesus’ reason for speaking in parables.

     Jesus said to the Israelites, Have you never read in the scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? For this reason I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. The one who falls on This Stone will be broken to pieces, and the one on whom it falls will be crushed.

    Jesus and His Saints are going to take this world’s governments by force. When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they realized that He was speaking about them. They wanted to arrest Him, but they were afraid of the crowds, because the crowds regarded Him as a prophet. See Matt 21:42-46.

      (Some translations use “capstone” in verse 42, but Cornerstone is accurate because the imagery in Eph 2:20-22 and 1Cor 3:11 indicates the original Greek refers to a cornerstone, not a capstone.) The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone is also used in Ps 118:22-23 and the stone imagery referencing Christ, His suffering and exaltation is common in the New Testament. (See also Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; 1Pet 2:6-8 and Eph 2:20.) The irony, its use in Ps 118:22-23, is that Gentiles and Israelites rejected the coming King.

To: In home churches of God, His 10^th month, Tivet 22, 5,781. 1/8/21

    Converted believers are temple recipients of God’s spirit, and aren’t comfortable attempting to worship with unconverted people. Jesus inspired His apostle Paul to write 2Coronthians on this subject.

    (2Cor 6:14-18; “Do not become partners with those who do not believe, for what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship does light have with darkness? And what agreement does Christ have with Beliar? Or what does a believer share in common with an unbeliever? And what mutual agreement does the temple of God have with idols? (See 1Cor 3:16 also) For, we are the temple of the living God, just as God said, I will live in them and will walk among them, I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Therefore “come out from their midst, and be separate,” says the Lord, “and touch no unclean thing, and I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,” says the All-Powerful Lord.)

    People are easily indoctrinated according to what they’re exposed to, views established by traditions, customs, religions and politics. Youth are more apt to change views according to respect for and credentials of the teacher. A primary biblical example is; hard hearted Israelites were sold on Egyptian indoctrinations to the degree that only Joshua and Caleb believed in Moses’ God, change outlooks, and so were not permitted to cross the Jordan River to the promised lands. Once indoctrinated and one’s comfort zone established people are pretty much locked into it, thus the many denominations. Only God’s calling and revelations can convert. Paul wrote it as followers.

    (1Cor 6:13-14; Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both. The body is NOT for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. Now God indeed raised the Lord and He will raise us by His power.)

   The first resurrection will be Believers in Jesus to spiritual eternal life. Others of Gods choosing and His timing will be in a second and physical resurrection. These too will see God’s Way in action and many will be called to repent from having lived the way that seemed right. By the time New Jerusalem comes down all evil will be destroyed. It’s Jesus and His apostles’ teaching.

    God’s fathering with His begetting spirit is ‘new birth from above’ making each His literal Child, and resurrecting to the likeness of Jesus. 

    (1Cor 6:15-17; Do you not know that your bodies are MEMBERS of Christ? Should I take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you NOT know that anyone who is united with a prostitute is one body with her? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” (Quote from Gen:2:14) But the one united with the Lord is ONE spirit with Him.)

    God’s gifting His spirit makes each recipient AT ONE WITH HIMSELF. Paul’s teaching metaphor is; one called to be a Believer IN, then turns from God’s Way to another way, commits spiritual adultery.

    God’s church is the accumulation of people called to follow Jesus, be the bride of Christ, as in married to, clothed with, and immersed in Jesus’ Way. His Church is likened to, being one flesh, one spirit and mind with Jesus. We need to strive at being loyal because we’re not our own.

     (1Cor 6:18-20; Flee sexual immorality, every sin a person commits is outside of the body, but the immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you NOT know that your body is the TEMPLE of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are NOT your own? For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.)

     The price is Jesus’ suffering, shedding His blood, giving His life. It’s the reasons Jesus had Moses write that the Israelites should not put markings on their flesh, or partake of unclean foods as the gentiles. God does the sanctifying, ‘setting apart’ to make His, a peculiar people different from worldly people.

     Initially Jesus’ apostles were expecting Him to return during their life time. They observed Christianities’ infiltration of unbelievers attempting to change God’s grace, to a methodology of works by which one could be saved. Such teaching was and still most denominational teachings, methods by which individuals are saved by attempting to give their heart to Jesus. The teaching seems to be; ‘one meaningfully saying they believe Jesus lived and died for their sins, gets membership in His kingdom. Such erroneous teaching leaves God’s choosing and calling individuals out of the equation, but fit’s the inherited appeal of people’s fleshly nature.

    Persecutions by Israelites, non-Israelites, governments and warring factions caused Jesus’ apostles to believe His prophecies recorded in Matthew 24: were coming soon. They were correct according to God‘s timing. When Jesus’ revelations were given to John about the man of sin being revealed before this age’s end; obviously Jesus’ message and deity had to be twisted beyond recognition, to a unbelieving materialistic world. Jesus said; ‘false religions would deceive the whole world before His return.’ Even God’s Elect would be deceived if possible. See Matthew 24:24 & Mark 13:22 then review Deuteronomy 13 and 1Cor 5:9-13,

    No difference from the time of Israelites in Moses, Joshua and even through David’s reign, than now; God’s chosen were a set aside people for His purpose then and now. Jesus was the lord God of Israel, their Lord and Rock, leading them, and He’s His church’s Head, Lord, Husband, Savior, Deliverer, Mediator, Resurrection and coming King of Kings. Jesus inspired Paul to write as followers in this regard.

    (1Cor 10:1-4; For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they were all drinking from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.)

    That Rock, Jesus covenanted with Abraham, made perpetual promises that included all his future descendents. That Rock, Jesus, ‘the Testator’ was the One giving Israelites a valid will, ‘covenant,’ died to remit Israel and the world’s sins; sacrificing His life’s blood for the remission of the world’s sin. The Testator’s death voided the old covenant and ushered in a new faith covenant for Spiritual Israelites. Followers of Jesus are heirs with Abraham, spiritual Israelites, and saved through Jesus’ faith imputed to the mind. Let’s review what’s new again.

     (Galatians 3:23-29; Now, before faith came we were held in custody under the law, being kept as prisoners until the coming faith would be revealed. Thus the law had become our guardian until Christ, so that we could be declared righteous by faith.  But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female – for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise.)

     By being called to believing IN all God’s Word through Jesus’ gifted faith people become spiritual Israelites, Christian, ‘Christ Like.’

      God’s set aside times were, and are for His set aside people. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, ‘whose name God changed to Israel,’ were set aside to be a peculiar people to the world and the Lord. It was by promise to Abraham that the Israelites were to be delivered on God’s schedule. After struggling with the Lord, ‘Creator Jesus or His angel manifesting Himself in the flesh.’ Jacob was told: (No longer will your name be Jacob, the man told him, ‘but Israel,’ because you have fought with God and with men and have prevailed.) See Gen 32:28. The word ‘Israel’ means, ‘God fights,’ or ‘God fights for.’ This name replaced the name ‘Jacob,’ and the name is a promise and a call to faith.

    In essence, the Lord is saying that Israel would have victory and receive the promises because God would fight for them. Thus, under the Lord Jesus’ old covenant promise, He made provision for non-Israelites to become Israelite by circumcising the foreskin and practicing God’s commands.

    Through His apostles Jesus revealed to God’s churches, His characteristics and deity from the old covenant text; saying, followers of Him were in fact heirs with Abraham. As were old covenant Israelites, Christians are a set aside, ‘sanctified’ people, ‘spiritual Israelites’ a people God fights for.

    Remembering God’s Sabbaths is an act of loyalty for Jesus’ followers, who realize they’re a set aside people through Him. From the content of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians we see folks were asking Paul about their problems dealing with the frustrations of the times. Conditions in Greece and around Corinth were bad, ‘similar to Sodom and Gomorra.’ Additionally false teachers were confusing God’s called people, leading some from The Way. Paul was of the mind that Jesus’ return was imminent, thus his teaching in chapter 7.

      (1Cor 7:1-6; Now with regard to the issues you wrote about: It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman. But because of immoralities each man should have relations with his own wife and each woman with her own husband. A husband should give to his wife her sexual rights and likewise a wife to her husband. It is not the wife who has the rights to her own body, but the husband. In the same way, it is not the husband who has the rights to his own body, but the wife. Do not deprive each other, except by mutual agreement for a specified time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then resume your relationship, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. I say this as a concession, not as a command. I wish that everyone was as I am. But each has his own gift from God, one this way, another that.)

     In verse 26 of chapter 7, Paul makes his reasoning clear. Because of the impending crisis I think it best for you to remain as you are. Apparently Paul was never married, but understood marital relationships from God’s View. Abstain so you may devote yourself to prayer, is the only reason Paul gives for suggesting they not marry.