Dealing With Trials And Tribulations

Blessed be that God and Father

of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of mercies and

God of all comfort, who comforts

us in all our tribulation,

that we may be able to comfort

those who are in any trouble,

with the comfort with which

we ourselves are comforted by God.

2 Corinthians 1: 3: 4

            Paul wrote this letter from Macedonia on his third missionary journey, in order to express his relief and joy at the favorable response of the majority of Corinthian Christians.  Also in this letter Paul finds necessity to defend his apostolic authority for there were still a minor group of people in the church who denied that he had that right.  I believe it would be hopeful to once again understand history, the times in which Paul lived and wrote, as well as those Christians, for it will help us to understand some of the things that Paul wrote.  First and foremost God is to be blessed due to the fact that he sent Jesus Christ and is the Father of all mercies, and comfort, and comforts us in our tribulations.  The city of Corinth had regained its importance and this importance was important to the Roman empire.  Rome would station soldiers in these major cities to ensure that Roman law would be enforced and kept.  The Roman emperors were men of all different ideologies and thoughts about the Roman empire.  Claudius (41 -- 54 A.  D.), known by his name Claudius Nero Germanicus, became emperor, and at this time the Roman Senate was discussing the idea of restoring the Republic for it had become an empire that became morally corrupt, and had many enemies from other nations, and the senate wanted to maintain their powers, but in this case they granted to Claudius all of the Imperial power.  If we would remember that under Augustus came a period called Roman Pax, that is Roman peace, but Claudius did not follow after Augustus. Claudius was dealing with various rebellions one such being the annexation of Britain, and other attempts to dethrone him and even kill him.  A time of much tumult and Claudius had to deal with non-Romans and in Egypt relating to this problem that confronted him may cause for a violent, bloodthirsty, and long-standing dispute between the Greeks and the Jews of Alexandria.  This boiled over to other Jews in other parts of the empire causing in several localities throughout the Roman Empire to cause an uproar and uprising against Jews and especially to the sect of the Jews as they were thought to be, the Christians.  Claudius died in October 54, he was 64 years old, and Nero became the air to the throne with this time was 17 years old.  Nero had been the despair of his grandmother Antonia; she described him as a monster whom nature had started work upon, but failed to complete.  Nero was poor and health, but all the same, there must have been something fundamentally wrong with him: and the diagnosis by some historians was polio, or prenatal encephalitis, multiple sclerosis and congenital cerebral paralysis, and all this gave him a variety of conspicuous disabilities.  Claudius like Augustus, whom he admired tried to blend tradition with innovation.  This was not true for Nero (54 -- 68 A. D.), and this is the time in which Paul lived and as other Christians had to deal with troubles come soulful Paul as he traveled about bringing the Gospel into other parts of the Roman empire.  Not everything about he wrote during his reign was banned for he entertained progressing, liberal feelings, and even there were those who tried to abolish indirect taxes throughout the empire, and to abolish the stationing of praetorian guardsmen in circuses and theaters and to forbid the killing of gladiators and condemned criminals in public spectacles.  But these ideas proved impractical because this meant that direct taxes need to be taken and had to be greatly increased and due to the fact that the brawling in the gladiatorial arenas was supported by the public and to deny this was not forthcoming by the public.  Situations in Rome were taking a turn for the worse especially after the events of the great fire of Rome in A.D., which he blamed upon the Christian community.  This small Christian community there in Rome who he regarded as a dissident group of Jews and burnt many of them alive, and even it is said that the martyrdom of St. Paul and St. Peter were ascribed to these persecutions.  So then Paul in addressing the Corinthian church in this letter reminds of them, and us that God our father is a God of mercy and comfort and will comfort as in all tribulations.  Is this just to give us some sort of comfort so we can sit back and enjoy the mercies of God?  No!  Paul writes: "who comforts us in all our tribulations, (here it is that we must be mindful of) that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God" (vs 4).  We here in the United States do not feel some of the tribulations and terror that comes upon Christians living in other countries where Christianity is condemned and even Christians put to death for their Christian beliefs.  We sort of have a very easy Christianity.  But we do go through tribulations and trials do we not?  Yes!  But as this was recorded first and foremost for the Corinthian Christians, God inspired this letter to be saved and written into the cannon called the Bible for us so that we too can be blessed no matter what trouble comes our way: we can be comforted by God.  This does not mean that God will take away the troubles in trials and tribulations for we have examples of this by Paul and Peter and other Christians who were executed by the horrible emperor Nero.  And even in our times we hear of Christians being killed, beheaded, all for the fact that they are simply Christians.  This is not some story that we read and get some sort of sad emotion over, this is reality, and it is real for all those going through such events that are horrendous, and we have been instructed to bring to them and others who are undergoing such events comfort and help, not to just sit back and wish them, or just pray for them, which is important, but what they need is our support.  This may mean our time, or our money, or even if God has called us to do so to go into those countries bringing the Gospel, and bringing to them all the help that we can.  This is what it means to be an Authentic Christian.  Start at home, then in your congregation, extend to your community, your state, and your nation, then allow this extension to reach into the outermost parts of the world (Acts 2 -- 8).  Paul starts right bringing to the Corinthians and to us praise and go away, and Thanksgiving: let that be something that we bring to our world of influence.

With us says the LORD of hosts:

            " Let your hands be strong,

you who have been hearing in these days

            these words by the mouth of the prophets,

who spoke in the day the foundation was lai d

            for the house of the LORD of hosts,

that the temple might be built.

                                    Zechariah 8: 9

You are the temple of God

Richard L. Crumb

Dealing With Differences Within The Christian Church

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ

by the will of God,

and Timothy our brother.

To the church of God which is at Corinth,

with all the saints who are in all Achaia:

grace to you and peace from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 1: 1 -- 2

            Now that we have completed Paul's first letter to the Corinthian church, we begin to investigate his second letter to them and how what he wrote applies to us in this present age.  Before moving forward, I will address the fact that the possibility of a third letter written by Paul in the Corinthian church which may be alluded to, and yet we have no record of it nor do we know what was written; therefore, that is far as I will address that issue.  Paul wrote this second letter probably from the city of Philippi, about a year after he had written his first letter and we find that the second letter connected to the first letter.  Many of the Corinthian Christians had repented and amended their conduct, but others still adhered to their false teachers.  We find this true today that even after a church, or a pastor, if found to be teaching false doctrines, some will not leave that church, rather they make excuses and reasons why they should stay.  The apostle Paul had delayed his visit in accordance with his unwillingness to treat them with severity, the Corinthians, at least some, charged him with being fickle, even proud, and found him to be unimpressive in appearance and in speech, some even call him to be dishonest and unqualified to be an apostle of Jesus Christ.  I suppose, that we find the same problem in a slightly different manner in many churches today whereby a good-looking pastor, one with eloquence speech, is seen as someone of great saintly authority.  In fact we seem to praise handsomeness and beauty over and above the ability to actually teach true doctrine.  Paul apparently had little of those attributes and some of the Corinthian church condemned him because of this fact.  Even though this was occurring in the Corinthian church, we find Paul in this letter having the same ardent affection toward the disciples at the Corinthian church.  He had the same zeal holding fast to the honor of the Gospel, and having the same boldness in giving Christian reproof.  I find today that many church leaders are unwilling to do that, that is, to be bold, and give Christian reproof when it is needed and by this, they allow sin to remain in their congregations, and so often, they say this is the love of Jesus.  This is far from that fact!

The apostle Paul accounts the reason why he had not come to them as soon as he had promised; and further he declares his sentence against those persons who were incestuous, and even show his happiness for the offender that had repented and says that he or she should be restored to communion within the church.  Paul reminds him that he had preached to them with all sincerity, and faithfulness, that what was inspired by heaven gave him aspiration to stand firm for the truth.  Paul stirs them up to remain in a holy life, and that they should avoid communion with idolaters.  How often this avoided in the present church when a person who excommunicated for their unrepentant sin the church and others will remain in communion with that person when the Bible says not to and Paul reminds them of this fact.  Paul reminds them that they are to continue to contribute for their poor brothers in Judea, and that he defends himself against those personal condemnations imputed to him by false teachers.

As we go through this letter, we will find that the first six chapters are very practical, and then the other chapters relate more to it an immediate reference to the state of the Corinthian church, and have within them many rules of permanent and general application.  What we will find in this letter is an elegant of diction, powers of persuasion, and forcible argument, which are very remarkable.  Furthermore we will find that the apostle Paul has a confidence in the goodness of his comments, and in the power of God to bear him out, and we are to notice his internal testimony, that which was of integrity, but more than that of Divine inspiration.  Paul reminds them that there were miraculous powers assigned to him and by this exhibits proof of the divine origin of Christianity and yet while doing so he does this with displays of humility.  We do not know how this letter affected the Corinthian church but we do know that Paul did as defined in the book of Acts 20 that this is recorded and that while he stayed there he wrote his letter to the Christian Romans.  Looking outside of the Bible and reading the letter from Clement of Rome, although his name is not listed in this letter, we know that it was from him: The letter dates from the late 1st or early 2nd century, and ranks with Didache as one of the earliest — if not the earliest — of extant Christian documents outside the canonical New Testament. 1 Clement was written around the same time as the Book of Revelation, (95 – 97 A.D.). New Testament references include Clement’s admonition to “Take up the epistle of the blessed Paul the Apostle” (xlvii. 1) which was written to this Corinthian audience; a reference which seems to imply written documents available at both Rome and Corinth. Clement also alludes to the first epistle of Paul to the Corinthians and may allude to Paul's epistles to the Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, and Philippians, numerous phrases from the Epistle to the Hebrews, and possible material from Acts, James, and I Peter. In several instances, he asks his readers to “remember” the words of Jesus, although Clement does not attribute these sayings to a specific written account. These New Testament allusions are employed as authoritative sources which strengthen Clement’s arguments to the Corinthian church, but Clement never explicitly refers to them as “Scripture”.[1]

I have set the outlying and the picture for this letter so that we have a start point, and some historical knowledge and other references to show why this letter was considered important and became part of our Biblical canon.  So, we begin in our next blog! 

To whom then will you liken God?

            Or what likeness would you

compare to him?

                        Isaiah 40: 18

The Word of God stands forever

Richard L. Crumb

---

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Epistle_of_Clement; Retrieved from internet: 7/30/2014

Learning How To Be The Image Of Jesus Christ

The churches of Asia greet you.

Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord,

with the church that is in her house.

All the brethren greet you.

Greet one another with a holy kiss.

The salutation with my own hand -- -- Paul's.

If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ,

let him be accursed.

O Lord, come!

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

My love be with you all in Christ Jesus.

Amen.

1 Corinthians 16: 19 -- 24

            We have come to the end of this letter written to the Corinthian church by the apostle Paul.  Paul by necessity had to address some extremely serious practices, and doctrines.  They were not that which he taught.  They were in contradiction to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We are reminded that we must examine all that is said and done in our congregations to ensure that they are not in contradiction to Scripture.  My attempt was to look at Scripture, to address those things that Paul addressed according to Scripture and then to examine myself and my congregation as well as to enable you to do the same.  Paul now sends salutations to the church of Corinth.  We must remember that as Christians we are to be civil and we must find room in our lives to be civil and loving to our brothers and sisters especially those in our congregations.  Our religious beliefs, in Jesus Christ, and our daily walk to be formed into the image of Jesus Christ should drive is to show love.  We must be courteous and obliging in our temper towards all.  Our salutations, our civility, must not be simply mere empty compliments; rather they must carry a real expression of goodwill, and be a recommendation to the divine grace and blessing of God.  If we say we love God, then that love is shown towards our brothers and sisters and we wish to them all the good from the Lord.  Every Christian should in some respect be a Christian church; as I explained in the last blog the Greek word for church that means the called out ones, and you as a Christian are one of those who are called out: therefore you are the church. I think that most Christians would be able to cite this fact: where ever two or three are gathered together in Christ, then Christ is among them, and in this case there is a congregated church.  We are to greet our brothers and sisters with a holy kiss.  This is not in our culture as it in some cultures where when a person is greeted they are kissed on both sides of the cheek; no, but we do have a way to express that holy kiss by looking directly into the eyes of the other, shaking hands with them and if appropriate even to give them a hug.  Are we seeking out those in our congregations to greet them and to show them that they are warmly welcome and that you are glad that they are there with you?  Are you glad that together you are worshiping our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: God?

            Paul does give a very solemn warning: "If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed."  (Verse 22a).  Here is a very familiar and often used Greek word: μαράν άθά: notice that it is two words so let me give you the Greek for full understanding of what Paul wrote: maran atha, or as we write it, Maranatha, speaks of the approaching of divine judgment and these two words are the Greek spelling for two Aramaic words, words that those at which are uttered, a curse that is reinforced by a prayer, that is an idea that is contrary to the intimations conveyed by its use in the early Christian documents.  We must remember it is always context, context, and context, that guides us into the proper translation and we find that the character of the context indicates that the apostle is making a statement rather than expressing a desire or uttering a prayer.  Why it was used find its reason and that it was most probably the current proclamation among the early Christians, as embodying the consummation of their desires and after the resurrection of Jesus Christ Christian views the title of or to Him as applied to God. O Lord, come! This is the way it was used by the early church fathers in their writings. A person who blasphemes Jesus Christ is one who disowns the doctrine of Jesus Christ and condemns his statement that he is a lover of Jesus Christ, for rather it is more about that person's pride of human knowledge and learning, and despises the revealed word of God.

            The apostle Paul dealt plainly with the Corinthian church in this letter and told them of their faults with just severity; but he does this in love and even parts with them in this letter by expressing his love.  This love for them is for Christ's sake.  His heart was with them, and he truly loved them: do we love our brothers and sisters in the same way?  We should cordially love all who were in Jesus Christ and who loves Him in sincerity.  Not that we should love all men, as Jesus Christ instructed us in John chapter 17, but we are to have love for all men and do to them what is it good that is in our power, and what is in our power is the fact that we can take to them the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  This we do as those who are dear to Jesus Christ and loved by Him.  May our love be with all who are in Christ Jesus!  Let us inquire whether all things appear worthless to us, when compared with Christ and His righteousness.  We check to see whether or not we are willing to give up worldly objects when they are in competition to Jesus Christ.  We are not to allow ourselves to remain in any known sin, or to neglect of any known duty.  If we do so and by such inquiries that are faithfully made then we may judge the state of our souls.

Behold, bless the LORD,

            all you servants of the LORD,

who by night stand in the house of the LORD!

            Lift up your hands in the sanctuary,

and bless the LORD.

                                    Psalm 134: 1 -- 2

Stand firm in the Lord

Richard L. Crumb

Learning The Meaning Of Love

Watch, stand fast in the faith,

be brave, be strong.

Let all that you do be done with love.

I urge you, brethren -- -- you know

the household of Stephanas,

that it is the first fruits of Achaia,

and that they have devoted themselves

to the ministry of the saints -- -- that you

also submit to such, and to everyone

who works and labors with us.

I am glad about the coming of Stephanas,

Fortunatus, and Achaicus, for what

was lacking on your part they supplied. 

For they refreshed my spirit and yours.

Therefore acknowledge such men.

1 Corinthians 16: 13 -- 18

            Paul warns the Corinthian church to be on watch and to stand fast in the faith for they were in danger, as we all are as Christians and sometimes that danger is greater at times than at other times and it will manifest itself in various manners.  Jesus also warned us to stand watch: "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming" (Matthew 24:42).  Christians should be so fixed in the faith of the Gospel that they will never desert it or renounce it.  It is by this faith that a person alone will be able to keep his ground when they are faced with temptation.  Paul instructs us as we will find in his next letter: "Not that we have dominion over your faith, but our fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand" (2 Corinthians 1:24).  It is by our faith exercise that a Christian can overcome the world: "For what ever it is born of God overcomes the world.  And this is the victory that has overcome the world -- -- our faith" (1 John 5:4).  We must acknowledge that temptation is tempting us and even at times terrifies us but if we are to maintain our integrity then we must stand in the faith of the Gospel.  Paul in this letter that he wrote to confront many problems within this bustling city of Corinth whereby men and women from all parts of the world came to do business.  And to pass from one city to the other, a city full of prostitutes and false worship, it would require that the Christians stand as men and women of the faith and be strong.  Christians have a special responsibility and that responsibility is to be firm in defending the points of the faith of the Gospel which are at the foundation of sound and practical religion.  This was what was being attacked among the Corinthians and this is what is being attacked in our Christian religion today among many so-called Christian churches.  We can expect that the atheists will attack us!  While we don't expect is that other Christians would attacked us, they often do with their false teaching, false practices, and often heresy.  Our way to handle this fact?  Paul instructs us that we were to seek and to desire the more excellent way?  Yes!  And that way is the way of love!  That love begins in your home with your spouse and your children extended to your neighbors, and more importantly extended into your congregation that you attend.  How often is it that a person does comes to church as though they have a ticket that was numbered on the back by which when it was punched at number 10 they would get some sort of reward!  That will reward for them is more likely that they are being Christian and pleasing God.  They are not!  If you're not caring for the people within your congregation, if you're not taking time to meet and greet not just those whom you know, to be in some sort of "click," and to greet those that are new come to visit; or relatives that have come to be with other relatives within your congregation, then you are not meeting the requirement that we are to show love for our brothers and sisters: "And we have known and believed the love that God has for us.  God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.  Love has been perfected among us in this; that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.  But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.  We love Him because He first loved us.  If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he had not seen?  And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also" (1 John: 16 -- 21).  Over the many years that I have been associated with the church, and I can say that this is from birth, even though I may have wandered for a time, I did come back and what I found is that the church as a whole has become too self-centered and secular.  People come to church and then complaining that the pastor goes a little over time.  There are those who come to church and have never been invited to another brother or sister's home.  We find too many so-called Christians running for the dock to jump on their boat, or to do other things on the Sabbath, and while not all things are bad, what we have seen is the motive that they have for going to church.  Did that person just come to fill an obligation or come to share with other brothers and sisters?  Paul reminds us in the opening verses that in the Christian Corinthian church were devoted people.  There were those who could supply when others could not, they didn't know hold with the tight fist their monies or their time and Paul reminds us that we are to acknowledge them for they were men and women who worked in labor for the Church of God.  Let me remind you, you are the church, for the word church comes from the Greek word: έκκλησία: the called out ones you have been called out by God.  Therefore demonstrate the love of God in all that you do, and even when misunderstood, follow the commands of God and love your brothers and sisters and if necessary than follow what Jesus wrote in Matthew Chapter 18, so that love and harmony remains in your congregation and in your life.

I will praise you got that with my whole heart;

            Before the gods I will sing praises to You.

I will worship toward your holy temple,

            and praise Your name

for Your lovingkindness and Your truth;

            for You have magnified Your word

above all Your name.  In the day when I cried out,

            you answered me, and made me bold

with strength in my soul.

                                    Psalm 138: 1: 3

Show God's love to someone today

Richard L. Crumb

Learning How To Show Our To Love Our Christian Family

Now concerning the collection for the saints,

as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia,

so you must do also:

on the first day of the week let each one of you

lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper,

that there be no collections when I come.

1 Corinthians 16: 1 -- 2

            There are those within the Christian religion who shun Sunday, which is the first day of our week, and hold fast to Saturday, the seventh day, a day in which the Jewish religion held sacred.  The New Testament throughout its writings when it comes to the meeting together of Christians the first day of the week is when they met.  Paul once again informs us that Christians came together on the first day of the week.  Therefore, there should be no shunning, or opposition, to those who hold Sunday as the day Christians gathered together to worship God corporately and to care for one another.  It is proper that those Christians who are meeting together are to set aside charitable collections for the various stresses and poverty of those Christians within their congregation, and even to extend those charitable gifts to other Christians outside of their church.  Paul informs us that it was an order given to the Galatian churches and not some sort of suggestion.  We are to set good examples for other Christians and churches so that they too would be excited in a holy manner to emulate your good works for each other.  God is not requiring from you money that you may need to pay your bills and to care for your own family just so that you can provide some charitable gift to the church.  I know, yes there are some, who teach a prosperity gospel that if you give God will just give you back a hundred fold.  Yes God provides! God does not expect anyone to not care for their bills and obligations when they have the means to do so.  God has given each mature person common sense and we are to use our common sense for why else did God give it to us, therefore, we are not to misuse it.  Every one is to lay aside what he could spare from time to time for charitable purposes and those of us who are rich in world goods, and money, should also be rich in good works: "Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.  Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share" (1 Timothy 6:17 -- 18).  God is pleased to bless their success in their labors and their businesses.  God does not just give when someone is apathetic or not using their common sense properly: "He who has a slack and becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.  The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it" (Proverbs 10: 4; 22).  What argument can be forwarded against such divine revelation and one that should excite us to be charitable to the people and children of God?  What more than to consider all we have is a gift from God?  The metric is this: the more you have, the more you gain by business or labor, the more you have to give charitably for the work of the Lord.  Churches should have set aside monies that can be used for the benefit of those who are in need within the congregation.  If much has been gathered and there then is an ability to give to such things as organizations that are fighting abortion, etc., then they should then have set aside money is enough to do so.  God expects that our beneficence to others should be in proper proportion to the bounty that He has given to us.  It is not wrong to give support any day of the week, but it is especially important that we follow the rule set forth by Paul that this was to be done on the first day of the week.  This is a time for public assembly and public worship to celebrate our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  When we give up our monies, even our kind, then we are showing genuine fruit for our true love to God.  When we do this on the first day of the week when the service is especially a public service then there are those who may be present who are yet to convert to the Lord Jesus Christ will see our good works.  Not works done because we have some sort of command by men, rather works done right from the love of our heart for each other and for our God.  Works of mercy or genuine fruit of our true love for one another and to God and we are to have proper care for our brothers and sisters and the only way this can be done is if we take time to get to know our brothers and sisters.  How often do we go to church and sit in the same pew, to same time, leave, or only spend time with a special group of friends and not take time to greet others?  I'm not saying it's wrong to sit the same pew, no, I'm saying that it's wrong if we don't take time to care for each other in the strangers in our congregation and care for both brothers and sisters who are struggling.  Paul calls this collection a liberality or grace.  And all was by the goodness of God that you or I are able to contribute to others and by the grace of God you have the heart to do it and is given in a free and generous manner, an exercise of grace and of faith in Jesus Christ and of a love for the Saints.  All of this is with a view to the glory of the grace of God, and Grace is a fruit from God and of our evidence of our love for God.  This Sunday we have the opportunity to apply the love of God.  The question: will you do it?

I am a companion of all who fear You,

            and of those who keep Your precepts.

The earth, O LORD, is full of Your mercy;

            teach me Your statutes.

                                    Psalm 119: 63 -- 64

Bestow God's love on your brothers and sisters

Richard L. Crumb

Learning About the Last Day: Is There A Rapture?

Behold, I show you a mystery;

shall not all sleep, but we shall

all the change -- in a moment,

in the twinkling of an eye,

at the last trumpet.

For the trumpet will sound,

and the dead will be raised

incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1 Corinthians 15: 51 -- 52

            My studies as to whether or not there is a rapture of the Church found that there are many passages quoted as to prove that there is a rapture of the church and 1 Corinthians 15: 52 is one of those passages.  This question is one of several questions asked in regards to the resurrection.  One of the questions that people ask is whether, or not the same body and the same atoms, which compose our bodies in this present world, constitute the body that is raised at the final day. Paul before addressing this doctrine tells us that it is a mystery.  We must understand the Greek word: μυστήριον (Strong’s #3466) so that we don't misunderstand what the Greeks understood by our definition of the word mystery.  This Greek word speaks of the idea of silence as it is a derivative of other Greek words that mean to shut the mouth.  In the New Testament this word denotes not mystery as we understand it in our English, rather that which is outside the range of unassisted natural apprehension, and can only be made known by divine revelation, and that revelation is made known by the dispensation and economy of God and His appointed time.  In other words, it is by implication a knowledge that is withheld, at least held until truth is revealed, or are made known, or manifest, or understood: an example: "the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.  To them God will to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1: 26 -- 27).  It will be found among the various Protestant denomination and other church organizations who are promoting a system of prophecy concerning the end times various speculations, and theories.  One such is the historic pre-millennial viewpoint, and the other held by some is the dispensational pre-millennial viewpoint.  When I have studied those viewpoints I've come to find that those theories proposed in regards to the timing of the rapture seem to contradict some passages in the Bible.  Therefore, for one to hold tightly to one viewpoint or the other, one should take time to review the various passages offered to prove their point.  I will not in this blog, at least at this time, attempt to address the various speculations, and theories, for this would take us off the subject that Paul was addressing; that is whether or not there is a resurrection.  But, I will tell you that I have found that Jesus does not come to earth two times, but what I have found is that the resurrection occurs on the Last Day: "This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose and nothing, but should raise it up the last day.  And  this is will of Him who sent Me, that every one who sees the Son and believes in Him may have ever lasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:39 -- 40).  Even Martha when speaking to Jesus because of the death of Lazarus said to Jesus: "Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day" (John 11:24).  Paul is telling the Corinthian church and by extension to us that this mystery, speaking about the resurrection is one of great hope for we who are one of those given to Jesus Christ by God the Father will be change in a moment.  All, that special group of believers, will hear the sound of the trumpet and be raised incorruptible, and this is the last trumpet, and when could there be a last trumpet, only when it is blown on the last day.  There is not too plans, plan A; plan B. there is one plan; and that plan is that Jesus Christ comes for His bride on the Last Day.  So for me I am not looking for what the Bible never speaks about, two comings of Jesus Christ.  No, my hope, which is assured through Scripture, is that Jesus Christ is coming and when He comes I shall be changed in a twinkling of an eye: "for this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on a more county.  So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory" (Isaiah 20 5:8) "O Death, where is your sting?  O Hades, where is your victory" (Hosea 13: 14).  Don't get caught up in all the theories and speculations in regards to the coming of Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ is coming!  This fact should give you such wonderful joy and hope for all of His children now and forever who are eternal beings.  If all we do is look upon this mortal body, this time period, as all there is is really "now" then we are missing the Gospel that tells us that Jesus Christ died upon the cross and by His death all of His children are justified, sanctified.  All have Jesus Christ making eternal intersection for all modes that God the Father has given to Him. Our resurrection is assured! Don't get caught up in the arguments as to whether or not the body will be this or that or will not be this or not be that; for that is a fool’s errand.  The Bible is clear and Paul is making this very clear; we all ready have victory in Jesus Christ; "The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.  But thanks to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15: 56 -- 58).  Need I say more?

Are You not from everlasting,

            O LORD my God, my Holy One?

We shall not die.

                        Habakkuk 1: 12a

God saves!

Richard L. Crumb

Learning About The Promise Of Our Resurrection

As was the man of dust, so also

are those who are made of dust;

and as is the heavenly Man,

so also are those who are heavenly.

And as we have born the image

of the man of dust, we shall also bear

the image of the heavenly Man.

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood

cannot inherit the kingdom of God;

nor does corruption inherent incorruption.

1 Corinthians 15: 48 -- 50

            Before I move forward in this blog I want to remind everyone that the italicized word are italicized because the Greek language used here demands that we supply words indicated by the Greek language in order to have some sense in our English language.  I don't want you to be stumbled over the need for translators to translate in a way that we can understand without doing damage to the Greek language.  Paul in the previous verses has clarified for us that the dead will be resurrected and that there are varieties in the various bodies and works of creation.  Also that God will give to His children glory, true glory, as He has done for the natural He will do for that which is spiritual.  Our bodies now fit for the world in which we live, and our resurrected bodies will fit the celestial realm.  God who created all things out of nothing has the power to do that which He has revealed to us in regard to life after death.  In this present life our bodies are sown and are corruptible, that is, when we die our bodies return to that which we were created from; the dust.  For some who do not desire to believe in the Word of God, or even that there is a God, only see death as annihilation.  They have no hope for any future life, and this is a very fatalistic viewpoint, a worldview that makes cause for them to attempt to live in whatever way they so desire for they fear no recompense.  The question for us is: Do you believe that the Bible is the inspired, infallible, word of God?  The answer to this question determines your worldview, and your worldview determines your theology.  And if your theology is not in line, that is, in harmony with the Word of God, and your belief is in the sure word of God who reveals to us what He desires us to know and believe, then we will do and say things that fit our desires rather than that of God.  God inspired Paul to address this problem in regards to the resurrection, and apparently in the Corinthian church there were some who had fallen prey to the belief that there will be no resurrection.  This demeans God for it also says that the person does not believe that God created from nothing and that He does not have the power to do so in the beginning and does not have the power in the present.  If all we do is look upon our diseases, and the death by which those diseases cause, we will miss that which 

God has revealed to us about our future. The evidence of our human weakness and the state of the body, so that when it is laid in the grave, shows to us how little our power is and our abilities.  God is showing us His power for the believer will be embued with a power that we have no conception about for our bodies are fitted in the present for our low condition and the enjoyment of his life; but believers shall at the resurrection have a body that is purified and fit to perpetually live and made perfect.  When one studies the Bible especially the promises of God what is to be found is that all of the promises of God are fulfilled exactly as they are promised and only those promises that are yet in the future will also be fulfilled exactly as He has revealed.  Our hope is assured and our assurance has its foundation on the true word of God.  The almighty power of God is able to raise His children incorruptible, glorious, lively, spiritual bodies out of the ruin, even in death.  Now we have in the present, corruptible, lifeless, bodies. The first was made out of nothing and then was made from that nothing by means of  matter and produced a variety of beings both in heaven and earth we are assured that to God all things are possible.  Cannot that God who made from nothing all things raise our bodies suited for the state in which He intended for them?  Yes!  Paul has taken time by means of his illustration and comparison that we have natural bodies from the first Adam, and we expect our spiritual body from the second Adam who is Jesus Christ: "Jesus said to her, "I am a resurrection and the life.  He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.  And who ever lived is and believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe this""  (John 11: 25 -- 26)?  John wrote earlier the words of Jesus and those words should add to our hope and our assurance in our resurrection: "For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.  For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will" (John 5:20 -- 21).  We are born in sin and bear the image of Adam who sin, and when we are born again the image we have from our first Adam is now change to the image of the second Adam.  That which is corruptible shall be changed to that which is incorruptible.  All of God's children will rise again and the change.  This presents human body with all of its infirmities and wants cannot enter into the kingdom of God for flesh and blood cannot enter into heaven.  We then must not allow ourselves to so those things that are fleshly provide that we can only read corruption.  We must sow to what we have become by means of our conversion to Jesus Christ, and that is we are now legally in heaven awaiting the day, the last date by which all of God's children will rise with Jesus Christ and live eternally with him in heaven, incorruptible, immortal.  So, let us not squander this time for this time is the time when we as a child of God, His ambassador, have one duty of most importance and that is to spread the gospel.

Through the LORD’S mercies

            we are not consumed,

because His compassion fail not.

they are new every morning;

great is Your faithfulness.

                        Lamentations 3: 22 -- 23

Let us consider our God

Richard L. Crumb

Learning More About The Resurrection

So also is the resurrection of the dead.

The body is sown in corruption,

it is raised in incorruption.

It is sown in dishonor,

it is raised in glory.

It is sown in weakness,

it is raised in power.

It is sown a natural body,

it is raised a spiritual body.

There is a natural body,

and there is a spiritual body.

1 Corinthians 15: 42 -- 44

            Paul in the previous verses has taken the time to teach us that it is God who orders the world according to His dispensation and His economy, for with God nothing is impossible, except that which is not according to His will.  Paul having the necessity to address those who speak against the possibility of man being resurrected is now addressing that there are various bodies with various glory.  And that while some things must die before there is a new life so to this is true with man, for man must die, and as God has given to the plants to regenerate and come alive, so to man will be brought back to life after death.  A person who does not have this hope of life after death is in actuality living a tragic and fatalistic life.  For a person to have such a view allows them to do what ever they feel is right in their own eyes, and are only philanthropic because it makes them feel as though they do have some good within themselves.  This type of fatalistic attitude has led men to do all sorts of horrendous things against other men.  While philanthropy is a good thing in most cases, and we need to be philanthropic, it is the motive that God judges, that is, our hearts.  Paul in writing to the Corinthians and having to address this doctrine, or even this curious doubting, is instructing the Corinthians, that when he first came to them he taught them that God would resurrect His children.  The bodies of the dead, when resurrected, will be fitted for heaven, and as there are various glories in this world there will be a variety of glories among the bodies of the dead in heaven.  Now, if a person does not believe in God, or that God created, then they do not believe that God has the Divine power to raise the dead.  Those doubters question, whether or not, God can form the various people, and not then be able to raise the dead, for they are questioning God, even the very existence of God.  Doubting places us in an unhealthy state physically or emotionally and to overcome that poor physical or emotional health there is a striving and a wanting for thrills.  Those things going on in the Corinthian church, the thrills were replacing their need to just walk as Jesus walked.  God never tells us: "Be spiritual," rather "to walk before Him."  (John 12:35).  Error begets error!  When we are seeking thrills then we will be led to counterfeit the Holy Spirit.  When this occurs our emotional life is led to an inordinance affection and the destruction of morality.  If this occurs in a spiritual spiritual domain so that we insist on getting thrills, and as some so eagerly seek that is to mount up with wings, then the end result is the destruction of spirituality.  The reality of God's presence is not dependent on any one thing.  It is dependent upon the determination to place in the highest priority our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ.  When we place our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, our God in the highest priority in our lives then when we read that we will be resurrected with an incorruptible and immortal body, we believe it, and hold this truth so that our lives become conformed into the image a Jesus Christ as we become one with Him.  Think upon this God has revealed to us our resurrected and immortal life: "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.  There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21: 4).  Paul as this: "And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being."  "The last Adam became a life -- giving spirit.  However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual.  The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven" (1 Corinthians 15 45 -- 47).  When God resurrects His children, the bride of Christ, then shall those resurrected have bodies that are purified and made fit to be perpetual, perfect.  The Almighty power of God who is able to create all things in the first place, so that in the second place is able to raise His children incorruptible, glorious, lively, spiritual bodies, and this He can do from the ruin of death.  For God who can do all things that are possible can raise our bodies suited for that which He intended for them, for God will not be thwarted from His reason for creating in the first place.  God is the author, the Resurrection, the Life, and is the source of all spiritual life and holiness, and is our supply to wait for Him, to believe upon Him by the Holy Spirit.  Think upon this; we will be change in the twinkling of an eye when Jesus Christ comes on the last day to take His bride home with Him.  This being true and how ought we live until that day?

In the LORD all the descendents of Israel

            shall be justified, and shall glory.

                                    Isaiah 45: 25

Today draw near to God

Richard L. Crumb