Belonging To The Church Of The Firstborn

But ye are come unto mount Sion,

and unto the city of the living God,

the heavenly Jerusalem, and to 

an innumerable company of angels,

to the general assembly and church

of the firstborn, which are written 

in heaven, and to God the Judge of all,

and to the spirits of just men made 

perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of 

the new covenant , and to the blood of 

sprinkling, that speaketh better things 

that of Abel.

Hebrews 12:22-24

     I am back to continue where we left off to continue to grow our faith as we come to understand the Scriptures and how to apply them in our lives. If anything my faith has been tested in many ways and still there are more tests that I must do to bring me back to health. The cancer seems to be gone and I will continue to be under examination from time to time to ensure that it has not returned. Twelve hours of surgery played havoc on my body but in time my strength will return. Until them I and you have work to do to make our selves ready to give an answer as to our faith to anyone who may ask.

     Who or what is this "mount Sion?" It is the gospel Church, and is the heavenly Jerusalem in opposition to Mount Sinai which tendeth to bondage whereas the New Jerusalem is free from such bondage: "Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is,and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all" (Galatians 4:24-26). A note: Agar is the Hebrew word for Hagar the concubine of Abraham. 

     God has taken up residence in the Gospel Church therefore the Church is the emblem of heaven. If a Church is not teaching the Gospel and is teaching a liberal cultural form of Christianity it is doubtful that that Church is an emblem of the heavenly Jerusalem. If God is not ruling, guiding, sanctifying, and comforting the Church then those Churches are leading people away from the Church of the Firstborn. It is the Gospel that draws men to salvation, and this ministry must take first place above all other things a Church might be doing. God speaks to us by prayer and by prayer heaven is revealed to us that it is our inheritance and we come to have clearer views about the will of God. God does not speak anything different than what He has revealed and inspired men to record for us. 

     When the Church of the Firstborn, Jesus Christ, we come into the company of angels who themselves are of the same family of God with all the saints, under the same head, employed in the same work. They minister to believers for their good. There is communion with all of God's children, angels, saints wherever they reside and by faith we commune with them to fulfill the spreading of the Gospel so all may hear the word of God and receive faith (Romans 10:17). Keeping a tight reign on our wills, we seek to walk in the way of holiness, coming to the same rest and victory. 

     Life has its many hurtful and harmful circumstances that all must face in some manner. Keeping our faith strong and Scriptural will allow is to not only be led by God through these circumstances our lives will display the Gospel, our witness will prove to all that what we say is what is true of us. 

Be not rash with they mouth,

     and let not thine heart be

hasty to utter any thing before

     God: for God is in heaven, 

and thou upon the earth: therefore

    let they words by few.

                    Ecclesiastes 5:2

Walk the talk: Be blessed by God

Richard L. Crumb