To Live For Jesus Christ Is Everlasting Gain

What then?  Only that in every way,

whether in pretense or in truth,

Christ is preached;

and in this I rejoice,

yes, and will rejoice.

Philippians 1: 18

            We must not forget Paul was writing as a prisoner in Rome and speaking of the offense of the cross, he shows that his suffering were reconcilable to the wisdom and goodness of God.  News apparently had reached him in regards to several of the churches and some of the schismatic problems, and false teaching problems that were occurring in the churches especially in his absence.  It is interesting to note that for some, Paul's imprisonment cause them to fall away and teach another gospel and for others it caused them to be more bold to preach, and then to supply his lack of service to the Church.  The opening Scripture must be taken in context for these taken as a single proof text than the proof is not true rather it is false.  What do I mean?  Some would take this to say that what does a matter whether or not a person teaches absolute truth or has other opinions even though those opinions are not warranted in Scripture but Christ is preached, so it's okay.  Is this what Paul is saying?  Paul was not addressing here heresy.  Paul was addressing those who were preaching out of selfish ambition and due to that selfish ambition there preaching was not sincere and fully warranted a Scripture.  This preaching while preaching about Jesus Christ was yet utterly detestable, abominable, and needed to be addressed because they were preaching out of envy and contention and this was not bringing the congregants to a place whereby they were showing love that is the love of Jesus Christ.  It is when the truth is not being taught whereby people are led astray even though the name Jesus Christ is being preached.  Paul was being very generous here and very admirable for he did rejoice that Christ was preached even though the purposes towards him were unkind.  And this is the context in which the Scripture is to be found: "For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boulders as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death" (Philippians 1:19 -- 20).  The preaching of Jesus Christ is and should be the joy of all, especially a joy in regards to His kingdom among men.  Brothers and sisters, the kingdom of God already exists, and you are in the kingdom of God if you have been elected by God to be one of His children.  And you know that you are one of the elected because your whole attitude and life turns towards God and His son Jesus Christ and the development of a relationship with Jesus Christ.  When preaching is being taught by truth then there is a tendency to the good for many people, therefore we ought to rejoice especially when the preaching is exegetical and authentic and warranted by Scripture.  Paul, and we also, should be able to say what Paul said: "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what shall I choose I cannot tell.  For I am hard -- pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.  Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you" (Philippians 1: 21 -- 24).  Most Christians have heard and can recite verse 21, but my question is very important and that is, is that Scripture true about you or is it just words?  Paul was willing to endure any abasement or suffering for the honor of Jesus Christ.  Are you willing to endure any abasement or suffering for Jesus Christ?  Salvation is yours, this salvation is also sure, no one can take you out of my hand said Jesus Christ, you are legally in heaven now, and all this is due by the supply of the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ and should be a major part of your prayer and thanksgiving is for this appointment.  Prayer of the people is a way in which to bring a supply of the Holy Spirit to the ministers, to ourselves, to others in the congregation, whether it be local or far away, to strengthen them for any suffering they may be having to endure for the preaching of the Gospel.  You see our responsibility is not to be successful in this life, it is not also to accumulate many things as though this is a forever life and you cannot see that it is temporal.  Our responsibility is to do well in what ever we do and this at the same time to be demonstrating and manifesting to the world either by actions or word the Gospel.  Is it because other people who are not elected can choose salvation, no!  It is too those who we do not know who are a child of God and yet living outside of God and need to return to him and they may be you one of those who are following those who are very eloquent speakers and yet are doing so out of envy and self ambition causing you or others to also to have self ambition.  Return to the truth! Paul was strengthening the Philippians church so that Christ might be magnified whether by him until his death or by Christians were ever they may be especially in this letter to the Philippians.  That letters for you as well.  Remember this: all who wish to live is to live for Christ also holds this fact true that for Christians to die will be gain, not a temporary gain, rather an ever lasting gain.  Death is a great loss to the carnal, worldly man; he loses all his earthly comforts and all his hopes; but to a true believer it is again, Ford is the end of all his weakness and misery, and the perfecting his comforts, and accomplishments of his hopes; it delivers him from all the evils of life and brings to the possession of the chief good.  

Inasmuch as there is none like You, O LORD

            (You are great, and Your name is great in might).

Who would not fear You, O King of the nations?

            for this is Your rightful due.

For among all the wise men of the nations,

            and all their kingdom,

there is none like You.

                                    Jeremiah 10: 6 -- 7

Give time for God

Richard L. Crumb

A Missing Element: Church Discipline

Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife,

and some from goodwill: the former preach Christ

from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing

to add affliction to my chains; but the latter

out of love, knowing that I am appointed

for the defense of the Gospel.

Philippians 1: 15 -- 17

            Apparently Paul was being spoken about in a bad way for some as we have learned in other letters questioned his apostleship and his ministry and this often due to his former life that was arresting and harming Christians.  Paul had met Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, spent time for many years learning the Gospel and then taking the Gospel to the Gentiles but never did leave himself away from the original apostles of Jesus Christ.  Now, he speaks about those who are preaching about Jesus Christ and at the same time speaking bad against him, and that they were speaking out of some sort of envy and strife.  How often, and maybe you have been the blunt of rejection even though you had converted to the Lord Jesus Christ and were in every way attempting to live according to His commandments and yet you were still being judged by your former life?  Some people never see what they don't want to see and only see what they do want to see.  For you, continue to grow in your sanctification for the Lord Jesus Christ and complete your mission here on earth and that mission is to spread the gospel for why you were left on earth accept to take the Gospel to your world about the Lord Jesus Christ, is this not what Jesus commanded?  Yes!  How often do we see preachers, especially those on television, not all who are on television, but those who have grown wealthy and have a selfish ambition preaching with a lack of sincerity?  For Paul they were trying to add affliction to him while he was in prison.  Authentic preachers and leaders of the church preached out of love, and that love is for the Lord Jesus Christ and that love in his extended to you.  For Paul there were those who loved him, and understood his mission and did not look back at his former way of life knowing that he was appointed to defend the Gospel.  You also have been appointed to defend the Gospel (1 Peter 3:15).  When a church leader preaches out of selfish ambition and not sincerity looking to have some sort of personal gain or to only preying upon the Church that destroys the unity of the Church then other things also are affected in the church loses its authority and ability to help others grow in their sanctification.

            The one thing that is missing in most churches is church discipline.  This is a major problem and is also the thrust and theme of my new book that I am writing in regards to authentic Christianity versus Cultural Christianity.  How did the church go so far wrong from that which is plainly written in God's Word?  We can look back and say well this came from the Enlightenment, or from the Second Great Awakening, and we can even point to certain preachers who preached a form of liberal Christianity, and even go so far as to say well people were spreading all over the United States therefore there was a loss in regards to good teaching and they wouldn't be far from wrong.  With all of that we still have a problem and that problem is a lack of church discipline.  Holiness, like unity and catholicity (not Roman Catholicism), or universality, is the essential mark of the Church of Christ, who is Himself the One holy Savior of all men.  That is the foundation for Christianity and the words of Jesus and those words inspired by God for men to write to the churches are also to be applied in our day.  It is true, and this is not a copout, this growth in Holiness has yet to be perfected and actualized in the church today and is subject to gradual growth with many obstructions and lapses.  The church, that is you, has to pass through a process of sanctification, and that sanctification will not be complete until the second coming of Jesus Christ.  The apostles of Jesus Christ, those 12 men, never claimed his sinless perfection of character, and they felt themselves to be afflicted with many infirmities, and in constant need of forgiveness and purification.

            We cannot expect perfect moral purity in our churches as people come into our church from all walks of life, with all different types of backgrounds and are in need of instruction and aid to grow In Authentic Christian Faith.  There is a need to grow in virtue and piety, and to give warnings against unfaithfulness and apostasy, and even to reprove those corrupt practices that may come into the church even though they are believers.  Sins must be it addressed and often as we saw when we studied Corinthian's Paul had to review the carnal spirit that was in the church and had influenced and invaded the lives of Christians there, this morbid desire for wisdom, participation in the idolatrous feast of the heathens, and the tendency to uncleanness, and a scandalous profanation of the holy supper.  The facts are this there is a need for discipline and the church to defend yourself from the offenders.  Even though the churches of a process of self purification, it is the insertion and the assertion of a Holiness and moral dignity that needs to be shown in the church.  The offender has merited punishment and also has merited a means of repentance and reform.  You see, the ultimate end of the Church of Christ is the salvation of souls.  Paul has written some of the severest form of church discipline to be delivered to the backslider: "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit maybes they in the day of the Lord Jesus.  Your glory is not good.  Do you not know that leaven leavens the whole lump?  Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened.  For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us" (1 Corinthians 5: 4 -- 7).  To show how serious this is Paul goes on to write: "I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people.  Yet I certainly did not mean with sexually immoral people of this world, or with that cover just, or extortion or, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.  But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner -- not even to eat with such a person" (1 Corinthians 5: 9 -- 11). 

            Brothers and sisters who holds the priority in your life?  Is it Jesus Christ and those harsh words or is it some sort of soft agape love allowing for sinners to remain in your church who have not repented?  Will you be wrong in your Christian faith and keep your congregations pure?

Let the priests, who minister to the LORD,

            weep between the porch and the altar;

let them say, ‘Spare Your people, O LORD,

            and do not give Your heritage to reproach,

that the nations should rule over them, why should they

            say among the peoples ‘Where is their God?’

                                    Joel 2: 17

Love sometimes must be tough

Richard L. Crumb

Church Government For Our Edification And Protection

But I want you to know, brethren,

that the things which happened to me

have actually turned out for the furtherance

of the Gospel, so that it has become evident

to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest,

that my chains are in Christ; and most

of the brethren in the Lord, having become

confident by my chains, are much more bold

to speak the word without fear.

Philippians 1: 12 -- 14

            The growth of the Church from its beginning faced much persecution and problems even when the Roman government allowed Christianity to be only a part of Judaism.  Yet, many of the congregations throughout the Middle Eastern world faced local persecution at a level that some of us have never had to experience.  Paul was in prison because he asked to go to Rome and while there he was imprisoned and in time was sentenced to die.  For what?  Because he was a Christian?  The emperors of Rome starting with Augustus who brought a Roman peace and was lost by subsequent violent Roman emperors who detested anything that would bring any type of disharmony to Rome.  Nero was one of the worst and most of us know the story of him.  Paul in his preaching and teaching before going to Rome sent many men and to the various congregations to establish leadership for this leadership would become necessary to fend off the harshness of persecution that we congregations may have to face.  Furthermore, there was the problem that existed in that culture and world whereby many women were now widows, and they couldn't just run off to the local grocery store that had plenty of food so hunger was also a problem.  This then required a form of leadership that would not only preach the truth of God's Word, that is, the Gospel, but also had been and women who would care for the individuals within their congregations and at times even send "care packages" to other congregations.  We see this by the gifts that were sent to the congregation in Jerusalem.  The Presbyters cannot handle all the things that needed to be handled themselves therefore from the very beginning deacons and deaconesses were set as the helpers for a congregation and they first appeared in the Church of Jerusalem a whereby there was seven in number and this can be seen in The Book of Acts 6 where this is mentioned.  This is not something new for any precedent from the synagogue who also had those who were in charge of the collection and distribution of alms.  Here in Philippi the deacons took their rank after the presbyters and addressed with them in Paul's epistle.  The deacons, and this according to the narrative in Acts, was that they were to minister at the cable in the daily love feast and to attend to the wants of the poor and the sick.  This is something to think about, the primitive churches were charitable societies, taking care of the widows, and orphans, dispensing hospitality to strangers, and relieving the needs of the poor.  This is a pro active effort and if this is not being done in your church pro actively within it needs to change to become pro active.  We may not be facing the same harshness that the early church faced here in America but we still have those who are in need and we are to care for them.  Not doesn't just start and end with the deacons or deaconesses, it begins with you for you are responsible to ensure that there are enough things and money to care for those of us in your congregations and if possible to send gifts, money, to others who are also in need.  You may be doing this now by sending money to missionaries and this is very good and necessary for the role of each of us is to bring the Gospel to the world and this requires a cost and we were to pay that cost.

            Pastoral care of souls would naturally attach naturally to aid those in poverty and sickness and is well of course, to edify by instruction and consolation.  Therefore, the presbyters, or bishops, or deacons and deaconesses must be living a faith that is exemplary and the conduct that is of Christ for they are also the qualifications for the office of deacons as well as presbyters.  And post-apostolic times, when the bishop was raised above the press picture and the press picture became priest, the deacon was regarded as also was the Levite and was regarded for his primary function was to care of the poor.  This function of assisting also became in function to aid in the public worship and the administration of the sacraments, and also during this time especially, with this work being done aided in as a stepping stone to the office of Presbyter or Bishop.  But deaconesses, or female helpers at similar charge of the poor and sick in the female portion of the Church and in this place within the congregations they can exercise their peculiar gifts of self-denying charity and devotion to the welfare of the Church.  Paul does mention Phoebe as a Deaconess of the Church in Cenchrae, a port of Corinth.  This work of Deaconess is, or female helpers, in some churches as office does not exist --- really seem to be a problem in aiding those female congregants that need help in that help his best exercised by another female.  In fact, no mail person in the church, whether it be a pastor, a deacon, or whomever, should give counsel privately to a woman without a number one woman being present.  This avoids a problem that could become a major problem with this is not followed.  The Church was set up with a government to aid the spread of the gospel and to a others in the congregations.  Anything other than this is outside of scriptural warrant.

            Praise God for He knew all this was going to be necessary and has provided all this for our growth in knowledge of Him, for our protection, and to meet our needs as they become necessary.  It is the body of believers, that which we call the church, that should be the focal point of our lives.

You made known to them Your holy Sabbath,

            and commanded them precepts, statutes and laws,

by the hand of Moses Your servant.  You gave them bread

            from heaven for their hunger, and brought them water out of the rock for their thirst, and told them 

           to go in to possess the land which you had 

sworn to give them.

                                    Nehemiah 9:14 – 15

Jehovah God our provider

Richard L. Crumb

Church Leadership: A Provision From God

For God is my witness, how greatly I long for

you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

And this I pray, let your love may abound

still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,

that you may approve the things that are excellent,

that you may be sincere and without offense

till the day of Christ, being filled with the

fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ,

to the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 1:8 -- 11

            From the beginning of the second century, that is, from Ignatius onward, but your terms Presbyter and Bishop denote and distinguish two offices.  The bishop was regarded as head of the congregation and surrounded by a council of Presbyters, and then became the head of a diocese and successor of the apostles.  The episcopate grew out of the presidency of the presbytery, in other words, the episcopate was formed, not out of some apostolic order by localization, but out of the presbytery by elevation; and the title, which was originally common to all, came to be appropriate to be the one who is chief among them.  This was to be a safeguard against any schism that might attempt to influence anyone or any congregation.  And this is the responsibility of the one who is either considered Pastor, Bishop, Elder, and even Deacon and other church positions to protect and serve the congregation.  The bishop, that is the one in charge of the congregation from the inscriptions that we have discovered shows that that bishop had charge of all the funds of the churches, which were largely charitable institutions for the support of Windows and orphans, strangers and travelers, aged and infirm people in an age of extreme riches and extreme poverty.  This was especially true in the world of the early church but it is also true of our age where there are aged and infirm people that need charitable gifts to support them and this must come from those who have riches especially those extreme riches to aid those in extreme poverty.  John told us in his letters that this was so important to be done this love between the brothers and sisters: "And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also" (1 John 4: 21).  Just prior to that verse John spoke: "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  He who does not love does not know God, for God is love....  Beloved, if God so loved us, we got to love one another" (1 John 4: 7 -- 8; 11).  Do not become confused that this is the work of the pastor, or some appointed person to handle the funds in this manner, and then become apathetic in your responsibility to give aid to others for those words are for you.

            The office of the presbyter -- bishops was to teach and to rule the particular congregation committed to their charge.  This is a very important that those who are the leader of a congregation is himself a student of the Bible and especially a student of the original languages and form their sermons from their study of the verses in their original language.  Anything else other than this is merely speculation, putting forth their pre-suppositions and may sound good but it's not really taking the word of God and this is the responsibility of a pastor and any other one who is teaching in the church.  The pastors or presbyter -- Bishop had responsibility for the direction of public worship, the administration of discipline, the care of souls, and the management of church property.  Both appointed by the apostles or their delegates, had the approval of the congregation, or by the congregation itself, which supported them by voluntary contributions.  They receive this responsibility of this office through prayers of the laying on of hands.  Pastors, Presbyter -- Bishops, are not in their office to become rich and wealthy, in fact that may be assigned that they're in that office for things other than to preach the gospel.  They may be using that preaching of some part of the gospel to give some sort of sweetness to their speech so that it's acceptable, but in the end it is only bringing forth false teaching.  There is no claim to apostolic sanction by the Presbyter -- Bishops, unlike some churches who hold to a different doctrine, and while there was a distribution and rotation of office duties the one remaining thing that was most important was their ability to teach.

            Churches grow in size with people coming from all walks of life and are in need to be aided in their spiritual growth and this requires that there be others take up some responsibility to do that teaching.  The Pastor must allow himself time to study and to prepare for exegetical preaching.  At the same time as he studies he must also be in charge to overseas the administration of the church, that is, to inspect what he expects.  Now for those who hold to a doctrine were the men who are the leaders speak of having some sort of apostolic ascendancy does not have the authority of history for the institution of the episcopacy proper cannot be traced to the apostolic age and did not appear until somewhere around the middle of the second century.  But before we move forward in this we must speak about the deacons and deaconesses and then we want to finalize it at least in this time frame church discipline.  So there's much to learn so that we must take time to read and study so that the church is operating for its single function, that is its greatest single function, and that is to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Until the next blog tomorrow remember that those who are in charge have an excellent position and must be a sincere person without offense and being filled with the fruits of righteousness and they are to abound in knowledge and all discernment. What we must do is hold our leaders up in prayer for God answers prayer, and this is a prayer that admits of the will of God.

Come, you children, listen to me;

            I will teach you the fear of the LORD

                        Psalm 34: 11

God's children are provided for

Richard L. Crumb

Church Leadership

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

always in prayer of mine making the request

for you all with joy, for your fellowship

in the Gospel from the first day until now,

being confident of this very thing,

that He who has begun a good work

in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

just as it is right for me to think this of you all,

because I have you in my heart, inasmuch

as both in my chains and in the defense

and confirmation of the Gospel, you all

our partakers with me of grace.

Philippians 1: 3 -- 7

            Friday was a day off for me as I traveled to visit my children so no blog, therefore, we take up this study of the Bible once again as we are now in the book of Philippians.  Before we actually delve into this book we must take time to learn about what it means in regards to church government according to the Scriptures.  Philippians is a good place in which to do this before we actually go verse by verse, and see how those words are appropriate and apply to our lives.  Paul begins this letter, a letter of thanks to the Philippians for their help in his hour of need and also takes time to give them some instruction.  The Philippine Church was undergoing some strife and problems that dealt with how the church was being governed and a loss of unity, a unity of purpose, in attitude, a goal, a loss of labor for Jesus Christ.  Coworkers in the Philippian church were at odds with each other and hindering his work or proclaiming Jesus Christ.  How often does this happen in the church today where congregants are taught to run around tearing pieces of paper and a type of pressure front seeking to pray for people in their healing and other things that seem to be godly but in actuality are only giving them a false sense of godliness.  It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ that needs to be proclaimed.  Furthermore, many people have various forms of church government and all in all, they may not be so bad but are they based upon Scripture?  Church leadership from the beginning of the Christian church existed as can be seen by James being the leader of the Jerusalem church.  Yes, the Jerusalem church was considered to be the headquarters, if I could be so bold to say that, and this due to the fact that it was at Jerusalem were Jesus Christ was slain, and where the apostles lived and worked in traveled from so it was in that role for them to look to Jerusalem.  But there was not to be a Pope!  Unlike the Roman Catholic Church who has skiing their way to become the sole leader of the Christian Church, yes, edition of, Cardinals, and others informs of leadership, but the Pope when he speaks ex Cathedral is said to be saying the very words of Jesus Christ's for he is the vicar of Jesus Christ.  No one is to say that they are the vicar of Jesus Christ.  Just so we understand this: a vicar is a person who is authorized to perform the function of another.  Now this seems to be correct and in some sense,and it is correct for we all who are Christians are to become in the image of Jesus Christ and perform His work  but none of us are to become the one who is the single officer and the sole head person who is speaking as if he was Jesus Christ as does the Pope and his words are not to be disobeyed when spoken ex cathedral.  Leadership in the church has always existed and each congregation had their own leader, Bishop, Presbyter, to lead the church.  The officers of a local congregation were charged with carrying forward in particular places the work begun by the apostles and their delegates.  There were two kinds: Presbyters or Bishops, and Deacons or Helpers.  In time the original apostles of Jesus Christ, those 12 men, died and passed away leaving behind a vacuum that would need to be filled and this was by teaching and training others to fulfill their role as teachers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is necessary that there be officers in the church for the church's preservation and well-being.

            What does it mean these terms Presbyter or Elder, and or Bishop or Overseer?  The New Testament gives us clarity in this area and can joins the two words, Presbyter or Elder, to be speaking about one in the same office.  We can identify these officers from these following facts: they appear always as a plurality or as a college in one and the same congregation, even in smaller cities, as Philippi.  Furthermore, the same officers of the Church of Ephesus are alternately called Presbyter or Bishops, period Paul sends greetings to the bishops and deacons of Philippi, but omits the presbyters because they were included in the first term, as also the plural indicates.  In the Pastoral Epistles were Paul intends to give the qualifications for all church officers, he again mentions only to, bishops and deacons, but uses the terms presbyter afterwards for bishops.  Peter urges the presbyters to tend to the flock of God (1 Peter 5: 1 -- 2).  Therefore there is an interchange of terms that has been continued throughout the books, or letters written, in the early church so we are also to understand that term in the same way.  Therefore there is to be no single soul person who speaks a word of God as the victor of Jesus Christ.  There is to be no lording over the congregants by some leader of the church.  How often we see this abuse and if this occurs in your church this needs to be corrected according to Scripture.  We cannot sit back and say well is wrong, and do nothing, we are also to aid the leaders in keeping the church pure and in unity.  We'll continue this in the up-and-coming blogs.

Turn us back to You, O LORD,

            and we will be restored;

renew our days as of old, unless

            You have utterly rejected us,

and are very angry with us!

                        Lamentations 5: 21 -- 22

Pray for the leaders of your church

Richard L. Crumb

 Paul, and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ,

to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi,

with the bishops and deacons:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1: 1 -- 2

Before we go any further into our study of these letters to the churches it would be good to review and to understand the Christian ministry and its relation to the Christian community.  I'll take some time to review this and for some it may be new information but it will give you a growth in your faith not only for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ put your faith in your local church that is teaching authentic truth of God.  The Christian community has a twofold purpose and the first purpose would be that it exists as a power or principle in this world, but also as an institutional and organized form that is intended to preserve and protect the church.  Remember, you are the church, but called out ones and this protection is for you and is not designed to obstruct you.  Jesus Christ established the visible Church with the apostles and that is that punishment authorize the apostles to be teachers and rulers, and also established to sacred rites, baptism and the holy Communion both are which can be observed till the end of this world.  The authorization to the apostles as rulers and teachers extends to those who would be placed in that position within the church at lest we forget at the same time Jesus Christ did not lay down minute arrangements, rather only the simple and necessary elements of an organization, thereby leaving the details to be shaped by the growing and changing wants of the Church in the various ages to come and within the various countries in which they reside.  You see there are any differences amongst the congregations that are simply that: in differences and are not to be denigrated.  There are also certain elements that are not in different, and it is those that must be maintained amongst the churches and be unity between the churches.  Christianity at least in this respect is a dispensation of the Holy Spirit and differs widely from the Mosaic theocracy because a dispensation of the letter.  Matthew wrote in regards to Jesus Christ establishing authority to the disciples stated: "Assuredly, I say to you, what ever you bind on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven" (Matthew Chapter 18:18).  Jesus showed his establishment also when he spoke to Peter that he would build his church: "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it" (Matthew: 18).  John establishes as a second witness and testimony to this fact: "So Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace to you!  As the father has sent Me, I also send you.’  And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them,’ Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained’" (John 20: 21 -- 23).  As can be seen and shall that the ministerial office was instituted by Jesus Christ before his ascension and that it was solemnly inaugurated upon the first Christian there at Pentecost in this by the pouring out upon them the Holy Spirit. With the power of the Holy Spirit upon them, and that is also true of view, you have the kingly power of Jesus Christ on earth to found, that is to establish, maintain, and extend the church.  This was the command given by Jesus before his ascension: "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1: 8).

            The Ministry includes the preaching of the Gospel, the administration of the sacraments, and church discipline, the power to open and shut the gates of the kingdom of heaven, in other words, to declare to the penitent for forgiveness of sins, and to the unworthy excommunication in the name and by the authority of Jesus Christ.  A side note here: how often does a church actually excommunicate anyone for their sins that they will not repent of and allow them to participate in the church which only brings that church into defilement if not corrected.  The ministers of the Gospel in the eminent sense, servants of God, and, as such, servants of the churches in the noble spirit of self-denying love according to the example of Jesus Christ, for the eternal salvation of the soul's encrusted to their charge.  This unspeakable dignity brings with the corresponding responsibility.  The internal call to the sacred office and the moral qualification for it, must come from the Holy Spirit.  Night here is where many churches today fail; there needs to be through the church that they recognize and ratify through their proper organs that the apostles or ministers or pastors were indeed called immediately by Christ to do the work of the church, a found in the church, as the churches not to sit I apathetically, or lethargic, no they are to be involved to take an active part in all the religious affairs.

            Therefore, those called into the service of ministry are to be personals that were inwardly and outwardly designated by the voice of Jesus Christ and His church, who were to be solemnly set apart and inducted into the ministerial functions by the symbolic act of ordination.  This is done by prayer, and the laying on of hands, in the early church it would've been the apostles and or their representatives as it would be today, conferring upon them this authority and seething to them showing that they have the appropriate spiritual gifts.  Paul begins this latter writing to the bishops and the deacons, and without a doubt men of authority were put into place to guard, to protect, to instruct, through the Word of God those entrusted to them, the church.  They are not called for self aggrandizement, as we so often see in many church leaders today.  They're not there for power, they are not there for money, they are there to be your servant according to the Word of God, nothing more, nothing less.

Moreover you shall select from all the people able men,

            men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such

over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds,

rulers of fifties, and rumors of tens, and let them

judge the people at all times.

                        Exodus 18: 21 – 22a

Praise God for this leadership

Richard L. Crumb

Recognising True Leaders For The Church

 Paul, and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ,

to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi,

with the bishops and deacons:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1: 1 -- 2

Before we go any further into our study of these letters to the churches it would be good to review and to understand the Christian ministry and its relation to the Christian community.  I'll take some time to review this and for some it may be new information but it will give you a growth in your faith not only for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ also to put your faith in your local church that is teaching authentic truth of God.  The Christian community has a twofold purpose and the first purpose would be that it exists as a power or principle in this world, but also as an institutional and organized form that is intended to preserve and protect the church.  Remember, you are the church, the called out ones and this protection is for you and is not designed to obstruct you.  Jesus Christ established the visible Church with the apostles and that is that authorize the apostles to be teachers and rulers, and also established that they are to administer the sacred rites, baptism and the holy Communion both are which will be observed till the end of this world.  The authorization to the apostles as rulers and teachers extends to those who would be placed in that position within the church lest we forget at the same time Jesus Christ did not lay down minute arrangements, rather only the simple and necessary elements of an organization, thereby leaving the details to be shaped by the growing and changing wants of the Church in the various ages to come and within the various countries in which they reside.  You see there are any differences amongst the congregations that are simply that: indifferences and are not to be denigrated.  There are also certain elements that are not indifferent, and it is those that must be maintained amongst the churches and be unity between the churches.  Christianity at least in this respect is a dispensation of the Holy Spirit and differs widely from the Mosaic theocracy because if the dispensation of the letter.  Matthew wrote in regards to Jesus Christ establishing authority to the disciples stated: "Assuredly, I say to you, what ever you bind on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven" (Matthew Chapter 18:18).  Jesus showed His establishment also when He spoke to Peter that He would build His church: "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it" (Matthew: 18).  John establishes as a second witness and testimony to this fact: "So Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace to you!  As the father has sent Me, I also send you.’  And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them,’ Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained’" (John 20: 21 -- 23).  As can be seen that the ministerial office was instituted by Jesus Christ before His ascension and that it was solemnly inaugurated upon the first Christian there at Pentecost in this by the pouring out upon them the Holy Spirit. With the power of the Holy Spirit upon them, and that is also true of view, you have the kingly power of Jesus Christ on earth to bound, that is to establish, maintain, and extend the church.  This was the command given by Jesus before His ascension: "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1: 8).

            The Ministry includes the preaching of the Gospel, the administration of the sacraments, and church discipline, the power to open and shut the gates of the kingdom of heaven, in other words, to declare to the penitent for forgiveness of sins, and to the unworthy excommunication in the name and by the authority of Jesus Christ.  A side note here: how often does a church actually excommunicate anyone for their sins that they will not repent of and allow them to participate in the church which only brings that church into defilement if not corrected? The ministers of the Gospel in the eminent sense are servants of God, and, as such, servants of the churches in the noble spirit of self-denying love according to the example of Jesus Christ, for the eternal salvation of the soul's entrusted to their charge.  This unspeakable dignity brings with the corresponding responsibility.  The internal call to the sacred office and the moral qualification for it, must come from the Holy Spirit.  Right here is where many churches today fail; there needs to be thorough by the church that they recognize and ratify through their proper organs that the apostles or ministers or pastors were indeed called immediately by Christ to do the work of the church.  Found in some churches that this is not true for as members of a church we are not to sit apathetically, or lethargic, no, we are to be involved to take an active part in all the religious affairs.

            Therefore, those called into the service of ministry are to be personals that were inwardly and outwardly designated by the voice of Jesus Christ and His church, who were to be solemnly set apart and inducted into the ministerial functions by the symbolic act of ordination.  This is done by prayer, and the laying on of hands, in the early church it would've been the apostles and or their representatives as it would be today, conferring upon them this authority and seething to them showing that they have the appropriate spiritual gifts.  Paul begins this latter writing to the bishops and the deacons, and without a doubt men of authority were put into place to guard, to protect, to instruct, through the Word of God those entrusted to them, the church.  They are not called for self aggrandizement, as we so often see in many church leaders today.  They're not there for power, they are not there for money, they are there to be your servant according to the Word of God, nothing more, nothing less.

Moreover you shall select from all the people able men,

            men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such

over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds,

rulers of fifties, and rumors of tens, and let them

judge the people at all times.

                        Exodus 18: 21 – 22a

Praise God for this leadership

Richard L. Crumb

The Responsibility Of Church Leaders: And Parishoners

and for me, that utterance may be given to me,

that I may open my mouth boldly

to make known the mystery of the Gospel,

for which I am an ambassador in chains;

that at it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

But that you also may know my affairs

and how I am doing. Tychicus, a beloved brother

and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all

 things known to you; whom are I have sent to you

for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs,

and that he may comfort your hearts.

Peace to the brethren, and love with faith from God the father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in the sincerity.  Amen.

Ephesians 6:19 -- 24

            We have now come to the end of the letter by Paul to the Ephesian church and as we have studied this letter along with the other letters that we have studied come to find that there were many issues that were plaguing the church that needed to be addressed.  What was occurring in Paul's day is also occurring in our day and we have issues that must be addressed to bring purityinto the church and to remove them, the heresies, and false teaching that are misleading many people who love the Lord Jesus Christ.  Finally we need to discuss the office of a presbyter, or as some would call, a pastor, a bishop, a deacon, and deaconesses.  God has set into order the church by means of His appointment and it behooves us to do all things in their proper order, most things that Jesus Christ has commanded us to perform at stated times.  Jesus Christ has set forth offerings that are to be presented, and service to be performed to Him, and this is not some thoughtless or irregularity performnce, rather to be at the appointed times an hours. The question that may be asked: where and by whom He decided these things to be done?  Jesus Christ Himself has fixed this, so that in order all things piously done are done according to His good pleasure, and be acceptable unto Him.  Therefore, those who present their offerings at the appointed time, are accepted, and blessed; that is in so much as they follow the laws of the Lord, then they sin not.  As we would differentiate the order of the church between the leaders, and those who are following, that is, presbyters, and congregants, both, are bound, by the laws that pertain to them.  Every one is to give thanks to God in his own order, living in all good conscience, with all seriousness and in a dignified behavior, and does not go beyond the rule of the ministry that has been prescribed him.  The seriousness of this can be stated in this way that those who do anything beyond that which is agreeable to God's will, are to be chastised and that chastisement may come from the pastors of the church who have been vouchsafed to the congregants to aid us from the danger in which Christians are exposed.

            An example that we have is the order of the ministers in the church and we can look back to the 12 apostles that preached the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ,  God set that Jesus Christ forth, and the apostles set forth Jesus Christ.  The apostles had received their orders and they followed His orders being fully assured by the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the establishment that is to be found in the Word of God, and had the full assurance of the Holy Spirit so that they went forth preaching and proclaiming that the kingdom of God was at hand.  By this preaching to the countries and cities, they appointed from their first fruits of their labors, those having first proved themselves by the Holy Spirit, to be bishops and deacons of those who should afterwards believe.  This is not a new thing that they were accomplishing for many ages before it had been written concerning bishops and deacons.  The Septuagint translated Isaiah 60:17, "“I will give thy rulers in peace, and thy overseers in righteousness.”  It is interesting that the Hebrew word that is translated as magistrates is also the word that is easily translated as governors, and the word for a peace officers are also taskmasters, or as we would say overseers.  The apostles knew, through the Lord Jesus Christ, that there would be strife on account of the office of the episcopate.  Therefore, according to this understanding, it is much as they had obtained this knowledge before asked the appointing anyone to the episcopate, they appointed ministers and then afterwards gave him instructions and those instructions were to continue even after those people died.  Those to be appointed are to be eminent men, and have the consent of the whole Church, as are those who have blamelessly served the flock of Jesus Christ in a humble, peaceable, and disinterested spirit, and for a long time have possessed a good opinion of all, and cannot be justly dismissed from the Ministry from the qualifications.  Unfortunately, not only in the times of the early Bible writers and apostles, even in our day, we can see that some have been removed from the Ministry, even though they had fulfilled their ministry with outgoing behavior and with honor.  What is more unfortunate is those that have been replaced with men who do not meet the requirements of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We have responsibility to guard our congregations.

            Paul ins this letter with sending to the children of God peace, in love with faith and this from God the father and the Lord Jesus Christ and that Grace should be with all of those who love the Lord Jesus Christ with sincerity.  Therefore, let him who has love in Jesus Christ keep the commandments of Jesus Christ.  The height of His love as far as it can extend is unspeakable and it unites us to God.  Love covers a multitude of sins, bears all things, and has long-suffering. Love admits of no schisms: love gives rise to no seditions: love does all things in harmony. By love have all the elect of God been made perfect; without love nothing is well-pleasing to God. In love has the Lord taken us to Himself. On account of the Love he bore us, Jesus Christ our Lord gave His blood for us by the will of God; His flesh for our flesh, and His soul for our souls.

In that day the LORD of host will be

            for a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty

to the remnant of His people, for a spirit of justice to him

            who sits in judgment, and for strength to those

who turned back the battle at the gate.

                        Isaiah 28: 5 -- 6

Praise be to God He has appointed leaders

Richard L. Crumb