Another Gospel

PLUMBLINE TODAY
Another gospel 

August 12, 2012

by Patricia Hamel

The apostle Paul spoke to the congregations of Galatia saying he was amazed that they had so soon turned to a different gospel.  He said it was not another gospel at all but that there were deceivers troubling them to get them to turn from the Lord. Today also we find there are those who pervert the gospel and preach  another gospel other than the gospel of Christ.  

There are some very basic foundational teachings for those that follow Christ and we cannot and must not sacrifice them to please those that are preaching unity at the expense of the truth.  We must know what we believe so that when someone comes along with doctrines that are not of the Lord we will know the difference.  Paul goes as far as to say, let them be accursed.  Now words like that today would get one in hot water in many churches.  Yet, there are truths in God's word that we must not sacrifice for the sake of unity. 

 

Paul states the gospel that he first heard was not mans gospel but that he received it through the revelation of Jesus Christ.  Truly it is Christ that must reveal himself to man through the drawing of the Holy Spirit.  We are called by the grace of God and it is not anything to do with our goodness but only through the mercy of God.  Paul was called to preach to the Gentiles and really had an experience with the Lord.  He did not immediately talk to men but was with the Lord for three years learning from Him the deep things of God.  He really was Holy Ghost taught and this really changes one.  Too often we think if we are not sitting in a church twenty-four seven that we have not done the right thing when in reality this is far from the truth.

Today what would we do with one who got saved and did not get into church for three years.  The religious of our day would say they were backsliders or unsaved.  On the contrary God was doing a deep and lasting work in Paul's life.  God had called Paul to a specific people at a specific time. God calls the apostle and not man and it is the Lord who will grow him up and as we see with Paul it was a quick growth in the Lord.  This does not mean that God cannot or will not set one with others more mature, spiritual Fathers and Mothers in the faith and mentor them in the Lord.  Having a spiritual Father when it is of the Lord brings much fruit to the life of the one learning and to the spiritual Father also.  We are just stating that we cannot, must not put God in a box for it is we who are ever learning that God is God and we are the sheep of His pasture.  We cannot decide nor judge how God works in the life of another.  Sadly in Christendom today this is not the case and many are judged as backsliders because they are not sitting in the pew on Sunday morning when in essence God has spared them the religious system of this world.

One is aware that many do not and will not ever think this way and to them this kind of talk is just not the Lord.  There are many today that do not sit in the organized structures of man and yet are part of the true church of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Many are hidden ones that the Lord has strategically set aside for His purpose and plans and He is doing a lasting work in their lives, a deep work outside of the religious structures of men for His purposes.  They will march only to His orders and they will come into submission to Jesus and their true brothers and sisters in the Lord submitting to one another in the fear of God.  They are servants of Christ and will not give their allegiance to man, a church board or church membership.  This rocks the thinking of many. 

God called Paul for His purposes and there are those of you who have been called by God.  Many of you feel set aside right now in your small corner but you need to keep seeking the Lord and asking Him to set you where He would have you to be.  We are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together but Jesus did say that where two or three are gathered He was there in the midst of them. At times you may be in a small home group or meeting elsewhere and at times corporately come together with others of like precious faith in a large meeting place to worship the Lord and fellowship together.  Pray for Divine connections and be open to those that He would set you with and do not look at the outward appearance but see the heart.  He does choose the foolish things of this world to confound the wise.  Not mighty or noble are called.  Be open to the God opportunities He puts in your path and walk wisely and take advantage of the opportunities He puts before you. 

Do not despise small beginnings but know it is God that must grow a man or woman up and that you must work out your salvation with fear and trembling.  Pray, seek His face, call on His name with your whole heart and in due time as you walk in humility and learn the lessons from God's school of learning He will raise you up.  Be strengthened daily in His Word and call on the name of the Lord.  Doors of opportunity are there no matter how small and again the Lord is saying, do not despise small beginnings but always abound in the work of the Lord by entering daily into His presence.  You will be blessed as you do take time and have as a foundation your relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ who is the chief cornerstone.  Lean heavily on the rock and in due time you will be changed into His image.  In all ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. 

⁶ I am astounded that you are so quick to remove yourselves from me, the one who called you by the Messiah’s grace, and turn to some other supposedly “Good News,” ⁷ which is not good news at all! What is really happening is that certain people are pestering you and trying to pervert the genuine Good News of the Messiah. ⁸ But even if we — or, for that matter, an angel from heaven! — were to announce to you some so-called “Good News” contrary to the Good News we did announce to you, let him be under a curse forever! ⁹ We said it before, and I say it again: if anyone announces “Good News” contrary to what you received, let him be under a curse forever!  Galatians 1:6 (CJB)

Marriage, One Man, One Woman

Marriage, One Man, One Woman

The church has struggled much on standing up for biblical truth and defending it. The scriptures tells us you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in the contest against sin. Heb. 12:4 (CJB) Jesus was hated and hung on the cross because men could not bear the truth that He spoke and because God had a plan to redeem mankind.  Many times they tried to kill Him and yet until the appointed time He was able to walk through the crowd and out of harm's way. At the appointed time He laid down His life with sacrificial love for all mankind.

Standing as a believer is something that we cannot do in our own strength.  A line is being drawn in the sand where we are having to decide whose side we are on.  Will we stand wholeheartedly for the Word of God amid the storms that are raising their ugly head?  Issues are coming up where we are being challenged to come to a new level of faith and commitment.  Will we keep silent or will we speak the truth in love, calling sin as the Word of God calls it?

In the United States we have heard of the battle over righteousness in believing that marriage is between one man and one woman.  Canada's laws  have already been changed and many have chosen the path that they will follow. How did this very basic fundamental truth about marriage that is basic to our survival as a people come under such erosion by the enemy?  How is it that man cannot see and know that a man and woman made in the image of God were created to marry and procreate and that no other two species except male and female can bring the fruit of the womb. 

²⁷ So God created humankind in his own image; in the image of God he created him:
male and female he created them. ²⁸ God blessed them: God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea, the birds in the air and every living creature that crawls on the earth.” Genesis 1:27 (CJB)

Men are calling good evil and evil good.  As it was in the days of Noah so it will be in the days of the coming of the Son of Man.  The Lord spoke about the condition of men's hearts then and they are the same today.   He is not willing that any should perish but all should come to the truth.  His love for mankind took Him to the cross where He suffered, died and rose again that we might be set free from our sin and that we might come to know Him. 

One day all will give an account of how they lived there lives here on this earth.  Were we holy as He is Holy?  Did we walk in truth and righteousness?  Did we speak the truth in love and stand as that watchman on the wall who was called to speak so that the blood of another would not be on his hands? 

Have you spoken when it is uncomfortable, unpopular and would cost you something dear.  Have you dared to speak the whole counsel when led of the Holy Spirit to do so?  We are living in times like the days of Noah, eating, drinking, getting married and going about business as usual.

We need to take a stand now for what we believe.  Daily the rights of those of precious faith are under attack.  Let Christ in you arise and be fortified in His Word.  We are told that the day will come when all will hate you and we do not like to think about this.  One can feel the spiritual climate changing daily and we need to guard our relationship with Jesus. We are to love the sinner, pray for them, but come out from among them and be separate.  It is only as you live a separated life that you will  have eyes to see and ears to hear what the Spirit of God is saying to the church. 

Recently in sharing that someone was getting married, a person asked the question, "to a man or woman", in jesting.  This shows how the truth of God's word has been rejected to suit the sin of man rather than man allowing God to move on His heart that He might follow Jesus. Taking up our cross daily and following Him is becoming increasingly difficult and unpopular. Yet there is no option for the true follower of Christ.  Let us be willing to daily take up our cross and follow Jesus. 

The word of Adonai came to me: ² “Human being, speak to your people; say to them, ‘Suppose I bring the sword on a country, and the people of that country take one of their men and appoint him their watchman. ³ Now if, upon seeing the sword coming against that country, he blows the shofar and warns the people; ⁴ then, if the sword comes and takes away someone who heard the sound of the shofar but paid no attention to it, the responsibility for that person’s death will be his own — ⁵ he heard the shofar but paid no attention, so the responsibility for his death is his own; whereas if he had paid attention, he would have saved his life. ⁶ But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the shofar, so that the people are not warned; and then the sword comes and takes any one of them, that one is indeed taken away in his guilt, but I will hold the watchman responsible for his death.’

⁷ “Likewise you, human being — I have appointed you as watchman for the house of Isra’el. Therefore, when you hear the word from my mouth, warn them for me. ⁸ When I tell the wicked person, ‘Wicked person, you will certainly die’; and you fail to speak and warn the wicked person to leave his way; then that wicked person will die guilty; and I will hold you responsible for his death. ⁹ On the other hand, if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he doesn’t turn from his way; then he will still die guilty, but you will have saved your own life. Ezekiel 33:1-7 (CJB)