Spreading the Gosel Of Faith: Not Works!

But from those who seem

to be something -- whatever they were,

it makes no difference to me; God shows

personal favoritism to no man -- for those

who seem to be something added nothing to me.

But on the contrary, when they saw that the

Gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed

to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter

(for He who work effectively in Peter for the

apostleship to the circumcised also worked

effectively in me toward the Gentiles),

and when James, Cephas, and John,

who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace

that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas

the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to

the Gentiles and they do the circumcised.

They desired only that we should remember the poor,

the very thing which I also was eager to do.

Galatians 2:6 -- 10

            The apostles of Jesus Christ were not only satisfied with the doctrine preached by Paul, they also saw the divine power attending him, both in preaching and in working miracles.  Paul was enabled to work extra ordinary miracles in confirmation of his doctrine.  We read this when we studied second Corinthians: "Truly the signs of a possible were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds" (2 Corinthians 12 -- 12).  When Paul had come to the city of Ephesus in finding some disciples there he asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit even if they had even heard of the Holy Spirit.  Paul even spoke to them in regards to baptism and all ball they were baptized by John that when they heard about the baptism of the Holy Spirit in of Jesus Christ they became baptized by Paul in the name of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit came upon them.  Further reading will lead us to a very controversial part of this narrative: "Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left him and the evil spirits went out of them" (Acts 19:11 -- 12).  We see often that there are those and have been for quite some time preachers selling handkerchiefs, special oils, and other items to be purchased that have some sort of special powers.  Is this scriptural?  Do these verses give warrant for those preachers to sell these items and acclaim that they are special and not be in contradiction to Scripture?  Jesus Christ gave His apostles power against unclean spirits and against all manner of sickness: "And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sicknesses and all kinds of disease" (Matthew 10:1).  What we never find in Scripture is that power which Jesus Christ gave to His apostles, and that included Paul, giving that power to any one else.  You cannot find that in Scripture.  We find accordingly that those to whom Paul sent relief, had it in both cases; for the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out from them.  Both of which were significant other great design and blessed effects of the Gospel, to heal spiritual diseases, and to free the souls of men from the power and dominion of Satan.  Now comes this question in regard to the articles such as handkerchiefs, and aprons.  My first question would be: how many handkerchiefs did Paul have and how many aprons did he have?  Looking at the dress of the people of that day I have to examine whether or not they even carried handkerchiefs, and how many aprons today where one time.  The Greek word for apron is an article of clothing that was half girding was why we say apron, for was a narrow apron, or Lenin covering worn by a workman and servants.  The Greek word that we translate as handkerchiefs does refer to a towel that would be used for wiping the perspiration from the face and also as a head covering for the dead, when translated as napkin and can also be used for anything that would conceal money.  So, we must take a hard look at this and use our common sense because the Scripture does not tell us that Paul would wipe his forehead with many different handkerchiefs and then give them to people to be passed out to them.  Nor are we told that he read said undressed himself of his apron and then to pass out these aprons as though they had some sort of special power.  Are we to understand this narrative because articles of clothing cannot convey virtue from anyone not even Paul, rather they were mere tokens of the almighty power of God.  How many were used in this way, how many were passed out for this work?  We do not know before is not important for is to know what is important for us to know that God was pleased to confirm the teaching of these holy men of old, and that includes Paul, that if their hearers will leave them not, they might believe the works.  Doubtless the bestowing of these extraordinary powers was to convince the enemy and the blasphemer.  There are very few instances in Scripture in regards to miracles unless for the purpose of establishing some new doctrine, or confirming the authority of some messenger of God.  Therefore there is no analogy between the miracles of the Bible, and those modern so-called miracles, that after careful and solemn investigation, are to be attributed rather to the powerful effects of religious excitement.  We find it is found upon those who are seeking for such ardent temperament and excitement, than it is to any derivation from those laws which nature had received from nature's God.  Do not be misled into such unwarranted practices for Paul spoke of them only as attributed to prove that he was the apostle as it was for Jesus to prove that he was the promise Messiah.  Paul what about preaching the gospel and this is what we are to do as well.

Let them give glory to the LORD,

and declare His praise in the coastland.

                                    Isaiah 42: 12

God will hold your hand

Richard L. Crumb 

Establishing Our Faith By God's Word

Then after fourteen years I went up again

to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also

took Titus with me.  And I went up

by revelation, and communicated to them

that possible which I preach among the Gentiles,

but privately to those who wear a reputation,

lest by any means I might run, or had run,

in vain. 

Galatians 2: 1 -- 2

            Paul continues to prove the divine authority of his doctrine in his mission, also by James, Peter, and John's acknowledging him and Barnabas, as apostles to the Gentiles, and the receiving of Titus who was a great end to the Christian communion.  Paul did not seek approval of his doctrine because he was uncertain and doctrines, but because it was being slandered in that slander was that he was teaching something different than the apostle Peter preached.  From the beginning of Christianity, there were differences between the Christians, those who were Jews, and those who were Gentiles.  Those hearings desire to retain, at least in some part, the ceremonial law given by Moses.  Paul is now telling this narrative in regards to another trip that he had taken earlier, some fourteen years earlier after his conversion.  We can see from the life of Paul, after his conversion, that he had no dependence upon the other apostles being he was so long absent from them and was preaching Christianity.  Paul came to Jerusalem with Barnabas and Titus.  The question about circumcision was a major question among these early Christians, therefore all give the account of Titus: "Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.  And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the Gospel might continue with you" (Galatians 2:3 -- 5). Now, I must speak about the fact that Paul went to Jerusalem by means of revelation.  As we study the life of Paul we find that God revealed himself in special ways to Paul to aid him in his ministry to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles.  There are those, such as, the Bethel School of the Supernatural, and other churches to follow in similar manner, that God continues to bring special revelation outside of His Scripture and we are not to question whether their revelation is of God or not.  We have no reason to expect this, yet we should endeavor to see our way made plain, and to commit ourselves to the guidance of Providence.  How do we do this?  That may make this clear and simple for we are never told that God would give to us any form of special revelation outside of what he has had written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  Therefore, we get our guidance as we apply the Scriptures to our lives and by this the Holy Spirit has a way to guide us, therefore, are revelation is complete: "But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part we'll be done away" (1 Corinthians 13: 10). The word in Greek: τέλειον, can be used a person is, or a physical development, to be fully grown more mature and of things that are complete or perfect and here in his Scripture is referring to the complete revelation of God's will in ways, whether in the completed scriptures or in the hereafter.  Therefore, we look at the context determined which is the correct understanding, and we find Paul speaking in regards to babes and the people as a babes speak as a babe and understood as a babe but when a person becomes mature or a man those things are put away.  So not as a man that perfect thing is now available to impart to a person what is to be known and has revealed so that we know the will of God.  Yes, we will know more fully when we enter into heaven but until that time we have all that God has revealed to us in that perfect thing which he inspired to be written and formed together as a book, the Bible.  There is no need to second-guess what a person is thinking about in regards to some sort of revelation and we can examine what that person speaks about his revelation to see whether or not Scripture is contradicted or not.  We are to judge the actions of others some would say that we are not to judge and the course, in any way shape or form for we are to keep the congregation clean and we do this by these written word.  In Paul's day they did not have a complete written word as we do today is found in our Bible so there was only understanding in part and only in trying with good preaching and teaching could people come to know the will of God and how to live their lives.  Don't get caught up by those who teach and other Gospel which is not a Gospel at all.  Paul ensures us that he would not even submit one hour to those kinds of people who are teaching that other Gospel which is not the Gospel.  The same goes for you and I we must be on guard for seeking comes to us in sheep clothing and is a minister of light and to deceive us to follow after what we think is scriptural when in fact it is not.  We have a responsibility to ourselves and to others who study God's Word and to come to the truth of what God's Word actually says and not just what a man says.  Often that means we must confirm with mature Christians but even then we are to examine what they are saying in light of Scripture.  Trust the word of God and by doing so you cannot go wrong.

Teach me, O LORD, the way of

            Your statutes,

and I shall keep it to the end.

            Give me understanding,

and I shall keep your That law;

            indeed, I shall observe it

with my whole heart.  Make me walk

            in the path of Your commandments,

for I delight in it.

                                    Psalm 119: number 33 -- 35

May God's Word be established in you

Richard L. Crumb

Hearing The Call Of God

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem

to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days.

But I saw none of the other apostles except James,

the Lord’s brother.  (Now concerning the things

which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.)

Afterward I went into the regions of Syria ends Cilicia.

And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea

which were in Christ.  But they were hearing only,

"He who formerly persecuted us now preaches

the faith which he once tried to destroy."

And they glorified God in me.

Galatians 1: 18 -- 24

            This journey into the Arabian area that is mentioned here and it is not shown in the book of Acts, shows that there existed no correspondence between the various writers.  Yet, we find that this book, Galatians, exhibits many coincidences with the book of Acts, and the zeal of Paul that he had for the Jewish religion, is persecuting Christians, and then his journey to Damascus after his first visit to Jerusalem.  Paul's residence was in Antioch, also was the residence of some of the apostles at Jerusalem.  There are some who purport that there was collusion between the writers of the Bible so that they were attempting to get their stories straight, black, as we study the Bible we find that this collusion never occurred.  Each writer wrote, as the Holy Spirit inspired each Bible writer to write: no collusion.  Paul states that he was wonderfully turned from the error of his ways.  And brought to the knowledge and faith of Jesus Christ, and then appointed to the office of apostle showing that God separated him to this work and in time this change in him cause him to pursue the divine purpose for which he was appointed to do by God.  Is this event, or case of Paul, peculiar?  Yes!  It was peculiar in both the suddenness and in the greatness of the change in him, and also in the manner how it was effective, like Christ personal appearance to him, and then Paul's immediate operation to preach Jesus Christ, upon him.  There is something to tell us that we must understand: if Christ is not revealed to us to avail that it has not happened, that is, if Christ is not also revealed in us.  Paul's conversion seemed to have the pleasure of God to bring him to the knowledge of Christ and his Gospel, and this by special in immediate revelation.  Paul not only embraced Christ Himself, but preached them to others, so that he was both a Christian and an apostle by revelation.  The question before us is: it's Jesus Christ being revealed in us, in all that we do, what we say, and how we interact with others, especially those of the Christian faith?  When Christ is revealed in us, that revelation of Christ in us is shown by our obedience.  When God calls us by his grace, we are to do as Paul did, and that is not to go and consult men for advice and direction as to whether or not Christ is been revealed in us.  If Christ is revealed in us we show that revelation as stated by our obedience and this does not require us to go and find some sort of advice and direction. Does this mean that we never go and get advice? No! But, and this is important, listen to what may be said, and then compare this with Scripture. Far too many Christians today followed men rather than following the clear and plain words of God in His scripture.  God has revealed Himself to us in Scripture so we are without excuse if we are not being obedient to what He has revealed.  Paul did not need for someone to approve him a as though he was not converted to Christianity and then to receive instructions or four key from them, no, Paul went into Arabia, as a retirement to every proper place for receiving divine revelation, or to preach the gospel there.  When God reveals himself to you and this is done by means of God leading you to scriptures tell that you His will.  Then you can study them for yourself, find out what God commands and demands.  Then to go to Him in prayer quietly and privately not for personal doctrine but to allow the Holy Spirit to guide you as you study His word.  There are those running about seeking for personal revelation outside of Scripture.  I've spoken to many of them backed go to the Bethel school of the Supernatural.  Where I find that they go about speaking about God personally revealing things to them as special revelation from God, and far too often, they don't go about spreading the gospel but some sort of unknown revelation to others that they are the only ones who are knowing what God revealed in this outside of Scripture.  Also far too often, they don't even carry the Bible.  So how do we know then that Paul who received his personal revelation from Jesus Christ was nothing more than some sort of mental gymnastics leading him to be able to teach a different doctrine.  Well, all one has to do is examine what he just Christ taught, the doctrine that Jesus Christ taught, and we'll find that Paul talked to say doctrine that agrees with all that Christ had taught on earth.  What a matter of thanksgiving and joy it was to the churches of Christ, when they heard that Paul no longer persecuted them, but, had now become one of them and was now teaching the gospel.  They gloried in the fact of God's grace shown in the life of Paul.  This glory, their glorification of God was for His power and mercy in saving such a person, also for all the service to His people.  The question then is begging us to have an answer: "is this true of you?"  My prayer that it is and as we study this book, we will find what God requires not only of all his people but for you and me personally.

Because he has set his love upon Me,

            therefore I will deliver him;

I will set him high, because he has known My name.

            He shall call upon Me, and I will answer them;

I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.

            With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.

                                    Psalm 91: 14 -- 16

May God's mercy be upon you

Richard L. Crumb