Becoming A Living Gospel With And For Jesus Christ

I give thee charge in the sight of God,

who quickeneth all things,

and before Christ Jesus, who before

Pontius Pilate witnessed a good

confession; that thou keep this 

commandment without spot,

unrebukeable, until appearance

of our Lord Jesus Christ;

which in His time He shall shew,

who is the blessed and only 

Potentate, the King of kings, 

and Lord of lords; who only

hath immortality, dwelling in 

the light which no man can 

approach unto; whom no man

hath seen, nor can see: to whom

be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

1Timothy 6:13-16

 

     Paul is not giving to Timothy and to us, suggestions. He is giving by means of inspiration from the Holy Spirit commandments, you and I are be charged to keep those commandments. The English word, "quicken" may not be fully understood as we do not use that word often in everyday speech, so, the Greek word is a formulation of two Greek word, "life," and "to make," so literally it is a making life, to revitalize, to impart life, and this God did at creation. God made alive all things, therefore our life is tied to God so keeping His commandments is only doing what God deserves from all people. Some will not keep His commandments, or say, "I am a good person, I am moral, I am good, I do not go out of my way to harm people, etc." All the goodness of the world and $2.75 will get you coffee at a coffee house. You cannot be good enough, you cannot do any work that will make cause for God not to judge you a sinner. You are already judged a sinner! No person is good enough not to think bad thoughts, to be lusting at times, to do some harm to others even if that person does not know they did this harm. God came to earth to die for sin, and then applies that propitiationary sacrifice to whom ever He so desires, according to His will, and purpose. Some will quote John 3:16 as though this verse means that anyone will be saved all they have to do is believe, and yes, belief is necessary, but John 3:16 the word in English is "believes", so notice the "s" at the end of the word. This is a good translation for the Greek is a present tense participle, and the "s" at the end of "believe" makes it a present tense verb, so it is "anyone presently believing, and has nothing much to do about the future, only that Authentic Christians are presently, at all times, believing and show that belief by keeping the commandments of God who created life, you!

     There are some Churches, i.e., the Seventh Day Adventist for one, who from the Millerites a former group of people who had views of the Christian life that were not founded upon the Gospel, rather much about the "end times." If one was to listen for a time to such a denomination as listed above you will hear much about the "end times," and the Old Testament Law and apply that law to this present time. They keep Saturday as the Sabbath for all Christians to keep, must keep, if they are faithful to the Old Testament Law. Jesus came and said, "it is finished." Yes, His work of propitiation was done, and by this finished work the old covenant to keep certain festivals, days, that pointed to Him were done away with and a New Covenant was not put into place. It is not by keeping the Law, which is a system of works, it is obedience to the Mosaic Law that was never done away with, and those health requirements were not done away with, they did not point to Jesus. In fact those health laws are followed by medical personal at this present time. Not always in the same manner but in like manner and with the new medicines improvement on those laws were made effective to heal and cure people even today. 

     Those who follow the theology of the "New Revelation Movement," the "Dominion Theology Movement," and "Soso Movement," are doing a "works" type of theology that is not Scriptural. It is legalism disguised as the way to truth. It is not! Only Jesus is the way to truth. 

     No one can see God at anytime and live! No one can approach God for He is Light. Light is how energy moves, on the rays of light, and that light to keep all things alive must come from a light that cannot diminish. That Light is God, not that Light is God, but God is Light, and by this Light all things exist and move. Your life is held in the hands of God, and by His immutable, and everlasting power and Light you may live your life until you die a death that sin caused. But God is immutable, His purpose is immutable, no one can stop God to complete His purpose. Sin brought death: Jesus Christ came to bring life and this He did by dying on the cross. You and I have not to add anything more: that is the Gospel, and it is this Gospel that brings life, a change in life, to change a person from the inside/out so that that person may bring glory and honor to God. 

     Remember, you cannot be good enough. Your goodness is goodness as seen by God the Father through the Son and your obedience to the Son, Jesus Christ. Work out your salvation making your election sure, and all works you do, do it with God, and Jesus Christ, not for Him, but with Him. Your time on earth is short, and your responsibility as an Authentic Christian is to present the Gospel in your daily living, and in special times that you present the Gospel directly to others. You are not saved by works, you are saved by grace and that not of yourselves. 

 

Thou, O LORD, remaineth forever;

     thy throne from generation to generation.

Wherefore doest thou forget us forever, 

    and forsake for so long a time?

Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we

    shall be turned new our days as of old.

                         Lamentations 5:19-21 

 

Walk in the Light as did Jesus

 

Richard L. Crumb

Setting Forth A True Example Of Christianity

Let no man despise thy youth;

but be thou an example of the

believers, in word, in conversation,

in charity, in spirit, in faith, 

in purity. till I come, give attendance

to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

1Timothy 4:12-13

     The words written by Paul to Timothy has an immediate application for Timothy, but, as does the Bible, what is written for an immediate situation or person, may, and often does have application for all children of God. Timothy was to be an example of true Christianity, and by extension, we who are Authentic Christians are to set forth an example according to Scripture. 

     I wrote earlier about the Sozo Movement and feel the need to expand upon this heresy. Taken from the website for Bethel Church here in Redding and their School of the Supernatural, some things you should know for this same teaching is to be found in other Churches: (I have for delineation from what I write and what others have written have italicized and made the font bold): 

 SO, WHAT IS SOZO?

The Sozo ministry is a unique inner healing and deliverance ministry in which the main aim is to get to the root of those things hindering your personal connection with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Thus with a healed connection with Father, Son and Holy Spirit you can walk in the destiny to which you have been called.

• Sozo is an inner healing/deliverance ministry
• Sozo is simple, fast, Spirit led and effective
• Sozo finds issues in minutes instead of years

Sozo helps heal your relationship with God to enable you to fulfill your destiny
 
The SOZO ministry is a unique inner healing and deliverance ministry in which the main aim is to get to the root of those things hindering your personal connection with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There are six tools that the SOZO team uses:

• Father Ladder
• Four Doors
• Presenting Jesus
• The Wall
• Trigger Mechanisms (Advanced Tool)
• Divine Editing (Advanced Tool)

By using these tools and following the Holy Spirit, wounds are healed, strongholds broken, truth revealed, and “doors” closed.
 Works and money are always at the core and this teaching by this so-called Christian Church,or other Churches using this method of teaching and is no different from any profit making business:
 Why a suggested donation?

The Sozo staff are independent contractors and are not Bethel Church staff.

What about donations for church members?

Church members have the same "suggested donation". Be aware to not bow under the spirit of entitlement. Pray against it long before you begin sessions and release a spirit of generosity over your church and ministry.

Here is what the Bible actually teaches:

We are saved by God's work,
not by good works

 Not on the basis of deeds - Literally "not out of works" - placed first in the sentence for emphasis.
Spurgeon comments...
This is a very practical Epistle. See how closely Paul keeps to the doctrines of grace. He is never like Mr. Legality, he never teaches that we are to be saved by works; but, being saved by the grace of God alone, and being made heirs according to the hope of eternal life, we are then, out of gratitude to God, to abound in everything that is good, and holy, and kind, and after the mind of Christ
Many of the modern translations (including the generally more literal NAS) ignore the important original Greek word order. The first word in Greek is "not" (absolute negation).

 The gospel emphatically denies the possibility of attaining salvation by human effort or merit.

SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS

Horatius Bonar writes that...

Ritualism, or externalism, or traditionalism are all different forms of self-righteousness; man's self-invented ways of pleasing or appeasing God, or paying for admittance into heaven. These forms of self-righteousness are a human apparatus for procuring God's pardon. They are the means by which the performer of them hopes to win God's favor—perhaps, also, man's praise—most certainly, his own esteem.
Every act, or performance, or ceremony, which honors self, exalts self, or gives prominence to self—is an accursed thing. It is an abomination in the sight of God—however religious, or sacred, or solemn, or devout, it may seem to man.
It is to self-righteousness in some form or other, that man is always tending. Man attempts to make up for this badness, or to cover it over, by works, and devotions, and ceremonies. All this is pure self-righteousness.
The religion of self-righteousness in our day consists of works, feelings, fancies, music, rites, festivals, fasts, gestures, postures, garments. It is something which gratifies self; which pleases the natural man; which makes a man think well of himself; which gives a man something to do or to feel in order to earn pardon and merit heaven. Pride, religious pride, is  at the root. Ritualism is man's expression of rejection of Christ. It was self-righteous religion which crucified the Son of God. All human rites and ceremonies are man's ways of getting rid of Christ. What can all these things do? Can they save? Can religious postures save? Can religious garments save? Can religious candles save? Can religious music save? Can religious architecture save? Can religious cathedrals save? No! They lead away from Jesus! They make void the cross, and trample on His blood! (Paying for admittance into heaven)
     This was said better than what I could have said, but the bottom line is to become informed so that you will not be deluded and duped into a heresy that may sound truthful but at its core is Satanic. Run from this!
  
then answered the LORD unto Job
   out of the whirlwind and said,
Gird up thy loins now like a man:
    I will demand of thee, and declare
thou unto me. Wilt thou also disannul 
    My judgment? wilt thou condemn Me,
that thou mayest be righteous? Hast thou
    an arm like God? canst thou thunder
with a voice like Him?
                 Job 40:6-9

Work with God: not for Him

Richard L. Crumb

The Golden Rule For True Spirituality

But refuse profane and old wives fables,

and exercise thyself rather unto

godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth

little: but godliness is profitable unto

all things, having promise of the life

that now is, and of that which is to come.

this is a faithful saying and worthy of all 

acceptance. For therefore we both

labour and suffer reproach, because 

we trust in the living God, who is the

Savior of all men, specially of those

that believe. These things command

and teach.

1Timothy 4:7-11

     The golden rule for understanding spiritually is not intellect, but obedience. Do you want insight into what Jesus Christ teaches? You can only get it by obedience. It is not wrong to have and use intellect, we are designed and built to use our intellect, and intellectual darkness comes by ignorance and spiritual darkness comes because of something we do not intend to obey. When you receive a word from God you are instantly put to the test over it. We disobey when we do not follow what God has brought to our attention that needs and deserves our action according to God's word. When Jesus Christ brings a thing home to you by His word, don't shrink from it or shirk it. Are you willing to risk it all, being though fanatical? You must obey what God tells you. God's purpose is that you and I are to depend on Him, on His power, now! God's training is for now, not presently. His purpose is for this minute, not for something in the future. We must come to the realization that obedience is the end, therefore each moment is precious. 

     The Apostle Peter writes: "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to you faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge" (2Peter 1:5). Peter then adds: "But there were false prophets also among he people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even deny the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not" (2Peter 2:1-3). 

     I shall continue with another heresy that has infected the Church causing delusion among many professing Christians. You may not hear of these heresies but they are present and often under names: i.e., Dominion Doctrine, New Revelation Doctrine, Watchman Doctrine, Second Baptism, Supernatural Doctrine, and more. Here is one that you may not have heard of and yet is present in some Churches and denominations: The Soso Doctrine, or Movement. Soso is the English Word for the Greek word:  σώ̣ζω: to save, to deliver, or to protect. Sounds innocent enough, but is it? These new names: i.e., The Emergent Church, the Five Fold Ministries, and more and nothing more than heresy, even more than just liberal Christianity, even though that philosophy is part and parcel of these heresies. 

     Background is always necessary to be able to understand whether or not a particular doctrine being promoted has Scriptural warrant or not. These New Mystics as they are known are the authors of their heretical views and it is necessary to be warned of them and to be able to avoid them and to understand them, and to defend you faith against them. The Azusa Street Revival may be the beginning in modern times but the 60's, and 70's and the Jesus Movement may be the results of that earlier teaching. Followers of Chuck Smith and John Wimber were leaders and in the forefront of this Movement. Furthermore, if one remembers, the Viet Nam war and the hippies who were and are a confused generation reacted against government and even long established Church Doctrine and this spilled over into the long established denominations. God doses at His Will cause miracles to occur, wrought forth by the Holy Spirit, and yet miracles can be counterfeited convincing those who are not grounded in the Word of god to learn and do these miraculous things by following some method(s) or formulas. They teach that Supernatural gifts can be taught. There is an attack against righteousness which is Satan's method to destroy the works of God (2Corinthians 11:13-15). In time Chuck Smith of the Calvary Chapel separated from John Wimber because he focused on doing things orderly and John Wimber on the Supernatural miracles and what he called: "doing stuff." John Wimber and the Miracles of Toronto, (a study of good importance), aligned with the Vineyard movement where no limitation were put upon any metaphysical manifestations, no matter how unruly. After this so-called outpouring of the Holy Spirit the former hippies grew up with families of their own, should they continue to follow the "old" doctrines of the Church, or, should they continue in the metaphysical experience? One way, as they thought, would lead them to a dead orthodoxy, and the other would lead them to a nerver-ending quest for power. 

      For Authentic Christians walk a narrow balanced road to keep in Authentic Christian Faith once delivered by inspiration to the Church. These New Mystics do not hold to the final inspiration of the Word of God and look for a new revelation, that is, the Bible is not the finished work of God for His church. These New Mystics do not follow the pattern set forth in God's word and sets forth for Satan to form a guide that tickle peoples ears and hold to a psuedo doctrine about the Holy Spirit. 

     I will give more in the next blogs so that you can prepare to defend you faith once delivered to the saints. 

If my people, which are called

    by my name, shall humble

themselves, and pray, and seek

    my face, and turn from their

wicked ways; then will I hear

    from heaven, and will forgive

their sin, and will heal their land.

                2Chronicles 7:14

Turn, today turn, from all heresy

Richard L. Crumb

Training By The Truth Of God's Word: Not Man's Theology

For every creature of God is good,

and nothing to be refused, if it

be received with thanksgiving: for 

if it is sanctified by the word of God

and prayer. If thou put the brethren

in remembrance of these things,

thou shalt be a good minister

of Jesus Christ, nourished up in

the words of faith and of good

doctrine, whereunto thou hast

attained.

1Timothy 4:4-6

     I missed two blogs for I went to Gold Beach, Oregon for a weekend trip and a ride up the Rogue River Mail Boat. Great time although had to spend Sunday night in Ashland, Oregon, due to a flat tire and no tire shop open until Monday. Made the best of it, for this was a good getaway trip. Saw the miracles of God, after the Great Flood, the way things were shaped, and how many different varieties of plants, and flowers were growing, and the sea, with its crashing waves, and with good friends. God had to destroy the old preflood world, but He left with us wonderful and majestic things for all people to enjoy. Yes, we have to fight heresy, and false teachings, but we also must enjoy God's creation, take time to visit, to see, to enjoy. God is great and some relaxation makes the body renew and be rejuvenated to continue to live for Him, and to bring the Gospel to our world. 

      Last blog I gave some information in regards to the doctrine that has infected many Churches and denominations and I could write a book about this false doctrine. I feel the need to continue some more about this doctrine for it comes to the Church under several different names but one false heretic teaching. 

     Brainwashing is a methodical way of changing a person's view about almost anything, and we see this in some advertising, some educational teaching as in Common Core, a teaching designed to change children into new thought. This brainwashing is like the old saying, "the best way to eat and elephant is one bite at a time." This is how it is done, destroy in bits and parts what a person has come to know, add each time a bit more and more of what change is trying to be accomplished. Those weak in faith, and in knowledge of the truth are easily brainwashed, but this does not leave out those who have gone to Universities, to theological schools, for often the brainwashing had begun in those institutions. Create a problem and then offer a solution, a sales technique long used to make a sale. Here is what was written by Barbara Aho and Tim Aho, Watch Unto Prayer, their ministry, teach heresy:

 

"Modern Prophets have received “new revelations” of the end-time which, until now, have not been understood by the Church.  Truly, a “New Breed” of Apostles and Prophets is being raised up who will assume their end-time role of leading the Church to take dominion and to execute God’s judgments in the world. Vineyard Ministries Apostle, Jack Deere, believes that the two witnesses in Revelation 11 may very well be Kansas City Prophets, Paul Cain and Bob Jones. (1)  Says Paul Cain:

“God is raising up a new standard, a new banner if you will, that’s going to radically change the expression, the understanding of Christianity in our generation…God has invited us to have a role in establishing this NEW ORDER of Christianity…God is offering to this generation something He has never offered to any other generation… Beware lest OLD ORDER brethren rob you and steal this hope from you! (2)

Bob Jones has received special revelation about this new hope:

“I have called the best of every blood line in earth unto this generation…I have elected to bring them forth in this generation…THE ELECT GENERATION…even the bloodline of Paul…of David…of Peter, James and John…They will even be superior to them in heart, stature and love for me’…Your children will possess the spirit without measure…They will move into things of the supernatural that no one has ever moved in before…coming into the DIVINE NATURE of Jesus Christ…a Church that has reached the full maturity of the GODMAN! This generation…is going to see the beginning of this WORLD WIDE NEW ORDER.”(3)

Are you having difficulty discerning or receiving this “new revelation”? Then perhaps you have been interpreting your Bible in the “old way” — comparing Scripture with Scripture, studying diligently to account for every jot and tittle and being careful to rightly divide the Word of truth.  If this describes you, then you belong to the “Old Generation” which will not enter in to “possess the land” in the Latter Rain Revival.  You may even be a member of a denominational church with its dogmatic confession of faith and statement of doctrine. These legalistic forms will be relics of the past in the up and coming “Postdenominational Church.”  Paul Cain advises that you “dump all that carnal stuff” (doctrine) and listen to what the “spirit” is saying to the churches through the Latter Rain Prophets and Apostles, who are dispensing many “new, sacred truths.”

Now, back to your Bible study.  In your Bible you will want to change the book of “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” to “The Manifestation of the Sons of God.”  That’s right, we are not to be looking for the “coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering unto Him.”  Nope. That would be an “escapist mentality” to be repented of at once if we would be Overcomers.  Instead, we should be looking forward to the glorification of the Corporate Church, which will become perfect and immortal here on earth before the Second Coming.  In fact, as Jesus comes “spiritually and invisibly” to His Church, He will actually “incarnate” the Corporate Body and reveal Himself to the world through miraculous signs and wonders performed by the “Manifest Sons of God.”

Italics mine and the red markings to emphasize this heresy, and there is much more. In Redding we have the School of the Supernatural following this teaching under the name of "New Revelations," Miracles, etc., all taking the unwise, untaught to believe what is not the Gospel, but, another gospel. Paul is making this very clear: we are to follow, for that is the Greek word translated "attained," in fact the Greek is "which thou hast closely followed." There is no "New Revelation," only the words inspired by the Holy Spirit to be written and providentially preserved. There are those who teach do not do this or that, or do this or that, only this teaching does not have Scriptural warrant. Sounds good, to the untrained, to the ignorant, but for those who are truly seeking the truth: follow the Bible and do not add anything to it, for to do so is to say that God did not reveal all that man needs to glorify Him. 

     RUN FROM HERESY!

For the congregation of hypocrites

    shall be desolate, and fire shall

consume the tabernacles of bribery.

    They conceive mischief, and bring

forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit.

                      Job 15:34-35

Follow True Gospel: Not man's speculation

Richard L. Crumb

The Latter Rain Movement: Truth Or Lies?

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly,

that in the latter times some shall

depart from the faith, giving heed

to seducing spirits, and doctrines

of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy;

having their conscience seared with

a hot iron; forbidding to marry, 

and commanding abstain from meats,

which God hath created to be

received with thanksgiving of them

which believe and know the truth.

1Timothy 4:1-3

     Paul expressively states that the "Spirit" speaks and then gives what the Spirit speaks. Therefore, we ought to take time to investigate and examine the words of the Spirit. Before I begin writing about a doctrine that may seem obscure for too many Church leaders will speak words laced with sugar but will not address false teachings. This leaves the congregants only knowing some things good, but does not lead them to be able to know how to defend their faith. Paul was not afraid to tell the truth about that which is only hypocrisy and seducing spirits, so, we should not be afraid to do the same thing using his inspired words from the Spirit to guide us so that we do not fall into being seduced, to have departed from the faith. Many have fallen and are fallen, have departed from the faith: will you learn so to be able to properly address this hypocrisy? These doctrines are doctrines of the devil. These doctrines are lies! 

     Can you think of a religious group that teach celibacy? Do you know of those who claim that it is godly to be celibate? The Roman Catholic Church comes to my mind. How about a religious group that teaches that it is wrong to eat meat? The Seventh Day Adventist comes to my mind. How can they believe they are in the will of God when Paul wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, in fact says that these words are from the Spirit? This is lies, this is hypocrisy, and this is departing from the faith, teaching doctrines of the devil. 

     Now, for this doctrine you may have heard something about but know little about it and how you are to understand whether or not this doctrine is of the devil. This doctrine is: The Latter Rain Movement. There are some Scriptures used to promote this doctrine: "Be glad then, ye  children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God; for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month" (Joel 2:28). 

     Over 50 years ago, William Branham, George Warnock, Paul Cain and others attempted to introduce Latter Rain/Manifest Sons of God teachings into the Pentecostal movement. In 1949, however, the Assemblies of God officially rejected the Latter Rain/ Manifest Sons of God doctrine as “heresy.” The cult went underground but surfaced again in the 1960’s as the Manchild Company. Disregarding the Assemblies of God decision, Paul Cain, the Kansas City Prophets and Vineyard Ministries have subsequently reintroduced and successfully established this false doctrine in the Pentecostal churches.

The Latter Rain/Manifest Sons of God doctrine “involved a man-child elite group of Overcomers taking dominion over all nations and reigning in the heavenlies while overseeing drastic judgment on all who remained in the ‘old generation’ — i.e., the denominational churches! The Latter-Rain teachings promised a Second Pentecost outpouring to empower this elite group, and to incarnate the Christ within them to the degree that they will become perfect and invincible, even to the overthrow of heavenly powers.” Today, few recall the controversy surrounding Latter Rain/Manifest Sons of God doctrines fifty years ago and their repudiation by the Church. Of necessity, they are now camouflaged and Christians must have an accurate understanding of Scripture to discern these counterfeit winds of doctrine. Charismatic churches are well-established in Latter Rain doctrine and Evangelical churches are currently being indoctrinated via numerous parachurch organizations and movements. Latter Rain teachings include: Kingdom Now/Dominion Theology, Progressive Revelation, Revival/Harvest, Joel’s Army, Replacement Theology, Post-Millennial Eschatology, Signs and Wonders, Territorial Warfare, Ecumenism, Restoration of Apostles and Prophets, Jubilee/Feast of Tabernacles, and the Post-denominational Church.

      Latter Rain doctrine is a modern version of the classic heresy of Gnosticism, which taught that a spiritual elite possessed “hidden knowledge” of the divine realm which placed their personal revelations, spiritual experiences, and private interpretation of Scripture above the ordinary revelation of God’s Word. In Latter Rain doctrine, Pentecost was the “former rain” or outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the Church must yet receive a second Holy Spirit visitation. At this time, the Sons of God will be glorified and manifested to all as they establish the Kingdom on earth before Jesus Christ returns bodily. Latter Rain prophets are now preparing multitudes for this transformation.

      To defend their unbiblical exposition of many doctrines, Latter Rain prophets and apostles claim that “new” teachings, prophecies and interpretations of Scripture are progressively being unveiled which have heretofore not been revealed to the Church. Even though such visions, prophecies and revelations are unsupported by the Word of God, they are nonetheless canonized as doctrine because they were accompanied by spiritual experiences. However, Hebrews 1:1,2 states, “God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son.” Since Jesus Christ is the Word of God, I Corinthians 14:29 contains the provision that all prophecy in the church be tested and judged by its conformity to Scripture. Isaiah 8:20 declares, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”

     I will bring out more about this Movement for it has infected many denominations and many Churches seducing people to believe a lie. We need to prepare ourselves to defend the faith given to by the Holy Spirit, not some "new revelation" which is only doctrines of the devil.

Thus saith the LORD, keep ye

     judgment, and do justice:

 for my salvation is near to come, 

    and my righteousness to be 

revealed.

                 Isaiah 56:1

Be watchful: The devil is roaming

Richard L. Crumb

The True Manifestation of God In The Flesh

These things write I unto thee,

hoping to come unto thee shortly:

but if I tarry long, that thou 

mayest know how thou oughtest

to behave theyself in the house 

of God, the pillar are ground of 

the truth. And without controversy

great is the mystery of godliness:

God was manifest in the flesh, 

justified in the Spirit, seen of angels,

 preached unto the Gentiles,

believed on in the world,

received up into glory.

1Timothy 3:14-16

     Paul writes this most important doctrinal truth: "God was manifest in the flesh" (vs. 16). Note: God was not "manifested" in the flesh, rather "was manifest" in the flesh. The Greek was translated appropriately here: έφανερώθη: third person singular, aorist 1, indicative passive: In the passive voice it means "to be manifested" it looks toward the persons to whom it the revelation is made. God, was manifested in the flesh, singular, it was God justified in the Spirit, it was God who was received up into Glory, and as God in the flesh was seen even of angels. The Critical Text, the one that is used by the NIV, ESV, ASV, NASB, do not have the word "God" was manifested in the flesh, rather: "Who," "Which," or "he," and investigating the variants in this verse shows that the translators used Codex D a very difficult and obscure reading: The Latin text is not the Vulgate, nor yet the Old Latin, which it resembles more closely. It seems to be an independent translation of the Greek that faces it, though the fact that it contains two thousand variations from its accompanying Greek text have led some to doubt this; the Latin text that represents the support of the Vulgate and a part of the Old Latin tradition for a reading, and 88 pc (paucity): a few manuscripts, other that those explicitly mentioned for a given reading, which differ from the Majority text. The other readings that read "God" are many, too many to cite here but an interesting note is that "D2" has the word or God. The external evidence supports the use of the word "God." This might help you to understand why I do not support any Bible that uses the Critical Text for their translation.

     Paul desires to come to see Timothy and until then he instructs Timothy how to conduct himself, not only as in his local Church, but also as an evangelist. Timothy is warned not to substitute what he was taught with another mystery, another Gospel. Paul is not just talking about the local Ephesian Church, but for the Church worldwide, therefore the use of "house of God," rather than the Church of God. 

     May we also glory in the mystery of God, the mystery of godliness, and show its efficacy in our lives. God was manifested in the flesh, to take away our sins by the payment of our debt to Him we could not pay. God was manifested in the flesh to redeem us from all iniquity, and to purify us unto Himself, a peculiar people, we are not our own, we have been bought by a price, therefore while live in this world we are not of this world. We show the fruits of this redeeming, this purifying, by zealous good works, faith is shown by our works, works do not save us, but shows the world what we believe and that we have the Spirit of God in ourselves. These glorious truths, engrave them on your hearts, by an Authentic Christian with Authentic Christian Faith. Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

When I say into the wicked,

     O wicked man, thou shalt

surely die; if thou dost not 

    speak to warn the wicked 

from their way, that wicked

    man shall die in his iniquity;

but his blood will I require

    at thine hand.

                 Ezekiel 33:8

Be a warning lighthouse

Richard L. Crumb

The Requirement Of Boldness And The Mystery Of The Faith

Likewise must the deacons be grave, 

not doubletongued, not given to

much wine, not greedy of filthy

lucre; holding the mystery of 

the faith in a pure conscience,

and let these also first be proved;

the let them uses the office of a

deacon, being found blameless.

evens so must their wives be grave,

not slandereres, sober, faithful

in all things. Let the deacons be 

the husbands of one wife, and ruling

their own houses well. For they

that have used the office of a 

deacon well purchase to themselves

a good degree, and great boldness

in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

1Timothy 3:8-13

     Paul has outlined the order of the Church in regards to its governing body. Paul has covered the responsibility of husbands, wives, children, overseers, deacons, and we call this the economy of the Church the rubric for governing the Church for thrifty management, frugality in the dispensing  of expenditures, or the consumption of money. Furthermore this economy is intended for the dispensing or regulating the parts of the Church keeping it an organized system according to Scripture. I wonder how this is excused when we have so-called ministers of a church that flaunt their wealth, to live as kings, in luxury while at the same time asking people to give as much as they can to the Church, and/or missions. It is not that they do not give, many do, but this is a guise, for they live as some Monarch in castles while the people that need this money go wanting. This is not governing the Church economically.

     In the book of Acts we find deacons being appointed to aid the Church: "Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business" (Acts 6:3). Deacons were appointed to distribute the charity of the Church, and to manage its secular concerns. We find even pastors and evangelists among those who are to tend to the business of the Church. Paul outlined the requirements a person must meet before being and after having been chosen to be a deacon. In (vs. 9) Paul gives this important requirement: they must be proven to be such as required. Last blog I used the word "vetted," as this is a more common term in this era, but they must be tested for how else could they show that they meet the requirements? Deacons as well as any other leader of the Church must hod to the mystery of the faith. If we can fully understand the truth about God then there is no mystery, but in faith assured through His written word we can and they must also hold fast to the mystery of the faith. One such aspect of this is and it is the most important aspect of the mystery of the faith: God came to earth to die, not the Godhead, but God in flesh through His wisdom clothed in flesh, to live as a man sinless, and then die to pay the debt owed to Himself and then by this paid debt God could now apply to those He calls and enables to have eternal life. In pure conscience a person can hold fast to this mystery of God. Deacons, and all Authentic Christians are to be bold, especially those governing the Church. To be bold requires action and exercise of boldness. Not to come to Church, sit in the pew, hear a sermon and then go home and live as though you never heard or came to Church. Boldness requires a person to be bold and that boldness is to live a holy life, to take the message of this mystery of God to the world, your world, and beyond in ways that you are able. The trust given to deacons is that they would lead in ways and areas by which the Church can intentionally take this message of God to others, they are to be proven to be able to do so, and to participate in this exercise. Deacons and overseers, elders, must be leaders in more than repairing the Church, to the cleaning of the Church, to the management of finances of the Church, they are to be leaders who are bold taking this message, leading others to take this message of truth to others. 

     Wives, what a privilege you have, to be a helpmate for you husband as he leads the family, the Church. Wives have a deep responsibility to not be slanderers, gossipers, carrying stories that are not proven to be true to those who really are not participants. If a wive, or husband, or any other Christian has a grievance against another Jesus laid out the way to handle the problem (Matthew 18). 

     Husbands are to have one wife! Does this mean that a deacon must be married? No! But if a deacon wants to be married he must marry one woman. What if a man is divorced? If he remarries is is disqualified to be a deacon? Possibly, for he is to be proven to be a man who holds the truth and has not given reason to be disqualified due to divorce. If he remarries and is proven trustworthy, then the rule is: One wife! Husbands are to rule the house and have their children in control, and children are to obey their parent(s). 

     All this so that the office of deacon is faithfully discharged. A deacon who meets and exercises his office faithfully will not be cause for others to have facts or truth to slander him or the Church. Deacons are to have courage as they boldly, officiate the Church holding fast to the mystery of the faith.

For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they 

     should rejoice over me: when my foot

slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.

                                    Psalm 38:16

Hold fast to the Mystery of God

Richard L. Crumb

Keeping The Church Pure And Undefiled

...not a novice, lest being lifted up

with pride he fall into the 

condemnation of the devil.

moreover he must have a good

report of hem which are without; 

lest he fall into reproach and 

the snare of the devil.

1Timothy 3:6-7

     This business of selecting an overseer is not to be taken lightly. An examination, or as is said often today, vetted, he must be vetted to ensure that he is a man of God and not a heretic wrapped in a veil of Christianity. Heretics quote Scripture, they will point back to someone, often an obscure writer who writes vaguely of their own doctrine and then use this to prove their false doctrine. Those who are not familiar with the truth of Scripture will often agree with such heresy as promulgated thinking that this person(s) have found a better, or more "right" way. Heretics use this veil of obscurity, attaching to it the word "Christianity" deluded many people to follow after their teaching. These heretics have no fear of setting before others the poisoned cup of heresy, and due to their godlessness fan the embers and do all to remove or eliminate the memory of those saints who taught the truth of the Gospel, and in doing so attempt to defame Authentic Christians. For an example of heresy being set forth as truth are the Jehovah Witness (for one such group) who from the foundation of this organization use the King James Bible for their teachings, but as time went on their doctrine became more Arian, they needed to have a different Gospel that would align with their doctrines: they found this in the Critical Text, which in fact there is not single Critical Text, that text as set forth by Wescott and Hort, and is used for their New World Translation because the words of that text, even without their many add-ons, and removal of words, it aligns with their doctrine so, in 1950 they wrote their Bible using this text. It was revised in 1961 and is the revision used by them today. This text used by them with their changes in the translation seems to be Christian, is it not the same text used by the NIV, ESV, ASV, NASVB? Yes! Although those texts do not have the changes of the Jehovah Witnesses, that text does not hold Jesus up in a high position. 

     Just because a person says he or she, or some organization is "Christian" does not make them an Authentic Christian. An overseer must meet the doctrine of Scripture set forth by the inspired writers of the Bible. When we do not take action against such disrespectful and heretical teachings then we are acting as did Ham, the son of Noah. Ham failed to cover the nakedness of Noah and even spread what he did to others. Ham had a filial responsibility and did not use it properly and he then deserved punishment. Sin if not irradicated spreads its harmful and heretical teaching to others, especially to those who will come into the future and be taught by them. Ham beget Canaan, who was the father of the Canaanites, who fought vigorously against the Hebrews, were known by the sinful living. Noah's two sons, Shem and Japheth walked into Noah's tent backward and covered Noah. When Noah awoke he cursed Canaan, ad blessed Shem and Japheth (Genesis 9:20-27). 

     We ought, with great fear, to dread the sin of altered and polluted faith, a crime from which we are deterred and by this deterrent, this rush to do what we should not do, we will act as did Ham and forget who we are and who we are to act as Authentic Christians. We will do wrong things and often to our peril, now, and in the coming age. Paul expressly warns us of this problem: "How quickly you are being changed from Him who called you to Christ's grace. to a different glad tidings, which is not another, but there are some who trouble you, and desire to pervert the glad tidings of Christ" (Galatians 1:6-7). Many do this perversion for financial gain, other for the celebrity status it gives them, all in all, it is wrong and the leaders of the Church, even those who not called to be leaders must ensure that the one chosen to oversee, meets the authentic requirements of Scripture. 

    This may be a tough assignment, but it is necessary if one is to remain true to God, keeping His Church pure and not defiled by those dogs who would do so. 

And the LORD looked upon him,  and said,

     "Go in this they might, and thou shalt

save Israel from the hand of the Midianites:

    have not I sent thee?"

                  Judges 6:14

Surely the Lord will be with you

Richard L. Crumb

Church Leadership: Who! What Qualifications!

This is a true saying, if a man desires

the office of a bishop, he desireth

a good work. A bishop then must be 

blameless, the husband of one wife,

vigilant, sober, of good behavior,

given to hospitality, apt to teach;

not given to wine, no striker, not

greedy of filthy lucre; but patient,

not a brawler, not covetous; 

one hat ruleth well his own

house, having his children in

subjection with all gravity; 

(for if a man know not how to rule 

his own house, how shall he

take care of the Church of God)?

1Timothy 3:1-5

     The previous blogs are either seen as good advice from the Bible or seen as something improper according to the culture we now live in, and make all kinds of reasons for not obeying the simple word of God, plainly written. The final note on this is that when man, the husband, wife, and children are following the word of God, applying that in their lives, life will be good even in its hard times, for they will come and the Bible is the only source in which to find a solution. My dad's theology, and mine: If the Bible says do it: do it! If the Bible say not to do it: Don't do it! How much plainer can this be? People want to add to the Bible according to their own views and those views are not necessarily according to Scripture and are excuses given for reasons why they will not simply do what the Bible says to do. When people hold fast to views outside of Scripture then heresy is the result: history testifies to this fact.

     Paul now turns his attention to Church leaders and give a sound advice as to who should be a Church leader and when a Church leader is not following these inspired words that leader must no longer lead. A man, not a woman, remember they can teach but not to teach in the place of a man, and men this imposes upon you to teach, to do things that are necessary: i.e., go to the mission field, teach Sunday School, and allow the women to aid you in your pursuit to bring the Gospel to others. Women have an important role in this for they bring that which man cannot bring, at least well, and that is a form of motherhood that is so often needed to those in hurtful situations. I remember as a child when I was hurt, I ran to mother, I called out to my mother, rarely did I do this for my father. It was that I did not love my father, I did, but mother's touch is a special touch that only mothers, women have and we need that in the Church, in life. Women are so important in the Church and as a Church leader a place for them to use their motherhood skills, and other womanly skills must be made accessible. 

     Do you desire the office of a bishop? Good! You desire well! The word translated Bishop is English, the Greek 

word: ὲπισκοτηˆς: to look upon, we get the English word to "scope" from  σκοτηˆς, and the meaning is "overseer" and this brings to light the true meaning of a Church leader, he must oversee the Church in all its aspects. Yes, he has help from elders, deacons, deaconesses, and others for he is not to be the only one concerned about the Church. Too many people just show up on Sunday, hear either or both, the sermon or Sunday School lesson, and then sing some songs, say "hi" to some, and then leave until the next Sunday. Well, is this your Church? Do you have a responsibility towards your Church? If so, then be involved, as much as you can, but do not make excuses for not doing something. Too many Christians live this life for success, joy, entertainment, all good if use to bring glory to God, but not to be used as an excuse for not being involved in your Church. 

     Paul then lists the qualifications for an overseer of the Church and that list is in the opening verses. First step for those desiring to be an overseer of the Church starts at home. Paul makes it clear if a person cannot rule, that is, to oversee his own household, then how can that person be able to oversee the Church? He cannot! Judge yourself, are you a drunk? Do you drink too much alcohol, especially in places, bars, etc., where people can see you drink to intoxication, not falling over drunk but are drinking to the point that you are not in total control of yourself? If so, then how can that be a witness for God? It can't! Do you sneek a peek at online pornography, a problem that is large due to its being able to be done in secrecy. How about your children? Do you allow them to look like the world, multi-colored hair like some "hippy" or worldly person? Do you allow them to wander the halls of a shopping mall? Do you give them money that they have not earned, or need? Do you yell at your spouse, and often in the hearing of your children? Or do you live a quiet and peaceable life, overseeing your household in the admonition of the Lord? 

     This is serious business and far too often just because a man has a degree from some Theological Seminary they are appointed to be a Church's overseer and they are not "vetted." Remember: Paul did not say that an overseer must have a theological degree, never mentioned, it is good that they do, but from what Seminary do they have their degree? A liberal Seminary, taught by liberal professors, and then come to your Church with liberal theology? Or should the Church examine each man desiring to be an overseer? Yes! This requires that those doing the examination have themselves studied, prayed, and in the role as one who makes decisions as who will be an overseer they will not allow anyone, just because they desire to be an overseer to be an overseer. 

     Serious? Yes! It will take you to be knowledgeable about the Bible's requirements for an oversee and to see that this is the case for whomever will be your overseer. Your spouse, your children, others in the congregation will be affected by an overseer. This is serious business!

But if the watchman see the sword come,

     and blow not the trumpet, and the

people be not warned: if the sword come,

    and take any person from among them,

he is taken away in his iniquity: but his 

     blood will I require at the watchman's

hand. So thou, O son of man, I have set

    thee a watchman unto the house of 

Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word

    at my mouth, and warn them from me.

                              Ezekiel 33:6-7

Prepare Your Hearts For Worship

Richard L. Crumb