Epistle of First Corinthians III

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I'll just review a little bit of 1-Cor.; 1-Corinthians 1:1: "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, called by the will of God…" It's important to understand that, because there were others going around saying that they were also apostles.

We'll see when we get to 2-Cor. there are false apostles, false Christs, and then when were all done I want to show what happened to Paul's churches and the ministry. I think you'll be astounded. He makes one statement in 2-Tim. That all the churches in Asia 'left him.' It ended up with only Paul, Mark and Luke—that was it out of all that he did. We have seen how that when Paul came in to start the churches, he started in the synagogues and literally split the synagogues down the middle. The Jews hated him. Here he's trying to reinforce and emphasize that he is a called apostle of Jesus Christ.

"…by the will of God… [It wasn't that he set himself up for it. Obviously, knowing his history and so forth.] …and Sosthenes our brother to the Church of God…" (vs 1-2)—'ekklesia'—called—'kletos'—out ones; so the 'kle' part has the same meaning. That's why it is the assembly of called out ones. That's what the Church means. That's why it has been said that a church is not a building. Church is, and constitutes, the group of people that God has called. Remember what Jesus said, 'Wherever two or three are gathered in my name there I am in the midst of you.' That's very comforting to know.

I think going down through the history of the Church, we're going to find that there were many, many little groups, like we are here; just a little group. Not the great preponderance of political power that we see today.

"…and it has the same that is in Corinth, the called saints who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus…" (vs 1-2). That's what makes a person a saint—made Holy. The saints should really be called 'the Holy ones.'

Paul is saying he is a called apostle of God, then he's saying to the Church, the group of selected called Holy ones in Corinth. That makes a great deal of difference when you understand how God views us, how God looks at us. If we keep in mind how God looks at us that way, then we can also deal with each other on a much better level if we always keep that in mind. Therefore, from a ministerial point of view, church members do not become a political base for a minister to exercise power over. These are not his people, this is not the ministers' church. These are God's people and the minister is the steward. He's given the responsibility, but these are God's people; they're called of God!

What did Jesus say about coming to the Father? 'No man can come to Me except the Father draw him.' Then He also said, 'No man can come to the Father except through Me.' When we understand that the group of the called out ones are those that God has called, and we keep that in mind, everything is a whole lot better—isn't it? We don't put it on the human level and the human terms. We put it in the terms that God has put it; and keep that in mind that they are of God!

When there are problems within the Church—there are going to problems and difficulties come along—Paul is saying 'you are called out saints' or 'called out Holy ones.'

"…together with all those in every place who are calling on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours… [notice how he starts out here; he always emphasizes first]: …Grace…" (vs 2-3). What is the grace of God? The umbrella like relationship that we have with God—which covers our entire life—

• through which flows the love of God to us through His Holy Spirit
• back to God through His Holy Spirit
• out to the brethren through His Holy Spirit

The grace of God puts us into what kind of relationship with God? Blameless! Why do we need the grace of God? Does that mean through the grace of God that we can come to God at any time? Yes! That is true!

Under the Old Covenant it was an arms-length religion and only the high priest could come into the Holy Place once a year. Just to follow up on that, let's go to Hebrews 10 and let's see that very thing, which is a very, very important, dynamic and powerful thing for us to understand.

• if we have God's Holy Spirit—which we do
• if we are called of God—which we are
• if God loves us—which He does
• if God is there ready to forgive our sin if we confess them—which He is

Then we have the access to God anytime! That is a tremendous and fantastic privilege that only those who are called of God have. Other people can reach God, but they don't have that instant contact like we do because of the grace of God.

Hebrews 10:17—it's talking about the New Covenant: "'And their sins and lawlessness I will not remember ever again.' Now, where remission of these is, it is no longer necessary to offer sacrifices for sin" (vs 17-18). You don't have to go offer it, comparing it with animal sacrifices.

Verse 4: "Because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins."

Verse 19: "Therefore, brethren, having confidence to enter into the true Holiest by the blood of Jesus…. [At any time! That's what the grace of God does for us as well as forgiving our sins. We have that relationship, that access, God's Spirit. It's really fantastic, it's tremendous.] …having confidence to enter into the true Holiest by the blood of Jesus." That's not some Holy Place on earth. That's not the Holy of Holies in a temple. That is the Holiest place in the temple in heaven at the throne of God! That's a wonderful thing!

Next time you get all down or depressed—which you probably will just because of human nature—remember this right here: that you have instant access. We have instant access to God at anytime, anyplace, anywhere! That is absolutely a marvelous thing!

Verse 20: "By a new and living way, which He consecrated for us through the veil (that is, His flesh), and having a great High Priest over the house of God, let us approach God with a true heart, with full conviction of faith, our hearts having been purified from a wicked conscience, and our bodies having been washed with pure water. Let us hold fast without wavering to the hope that we profess…" (vs 20-23). Going back and forth; firm, solid.

It's drawing an analogy that our heart has been converted. That's another way of saying our heart has been converted so that we don't have an evil conscience.

Verse 23: "Let us hold fast without wavering to the hope that we profess, for He Who promised is faithful; and let us be concerned about one another, and be stirring up one another unto love and good works" (vs 23-24).

Too many times brethren provoke each other to fight and cause problems. We can provoke each other to love and good works if we always remember that God is the One Who has called. That way then, you can put the nice shield of God around us and that gives us the assurance.

Verse 25: "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, even as some are accustomed to do; but rather, encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near."

1-Corinthians 1:3: "Grace and peace…" This peace is in reference to no longer being at war with God through wicked works in your mind. When WWII came to an end there was a great celebration and there was peace. When there is peace with one sinner who repents there is 'rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents' because there is peace with God.

When you are on peace terms with God—which you are through Jesus Christ—and living in God's grace, you have that continuous access to God; always, continuously. That is a tremendous thing. If you are not at peace, but you're at war with God—with a carnal mind and the enmity listed in Rom 8—is the same root word as enemy. It's spelled in English the same way: 'enmity'; 'enemy'; 'enemies.'

"…be to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always concerning you, for the grace of God that has been given to you in… [Greek: 'en'—within] …Christ Jesus… [obviously, as long as you are with Christ] …and that you have been spiritually enriched in Him… [within] (notice the things you are enriched in): …in everything, in all discourse… [speaking] …and knowledge… [that's one of the things we're to grow in—we are to grow in the grace and the  knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ] …according as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you" (vs 3-6).

We're going to cover today about the testimony of Christ. What is the testimony of Christ.

Verse 7: "So that you do not lack even one spiritual gift while you are awaiting the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ."

When we get through with 1-Cor. 2 we're going to talk a little bit more about the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. I'll try and cover the doctrine that a lot of the Protestants have about the rapture. This word testimony is the same word for the book of Revelation.

Verse 8: "Who will also strengthen you to the end that you may be unimpeachable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by Whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord" (vs 8-9).
Let's cover about the testimony of God and Jesus Christ. This thought carries forward into 1-Cor. 2; there's an interesting thing that is here.

1-Corinthians 2:1: "And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with superiority of speech or wisdom, in proclaiming the testimony of God to you."
It says over here in 1-Corinthians 1:6: "…the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you."

• What is the testimony of God?
• What is the testimony of Jesus Christ?

First of all, let's understand what a testimony is. A testimony—or to witness—is to verify in front of. When you have a courtroom you call witnesses and they testify and they verify what was said or what was done. There is a testimony of God the Father. There is a testimony of Jesus Christ confirmed in us—within! Within US!—which is important to understand.

What was Testified of God the Father?

 We'll go back to a very basic Scripture. What is the greatest testimony of God the Father? It's a very basic Scripture, but this is the testimony of God the Father and we will see there's another testimony of God the Father—more parts to it.

John 3:16: "For God so loved the world… [that's a testimony to God. God loves the world! He is testifying this that God does love the world.] (How does God love the world?): …that He gave His only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish, but may have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world that He might judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him" (vs 16-17). That is the testimony of God.

Wherever Paul preached and he testified of the Gospel, that's what he testified. He went to Mars Hill and said, 'I bring to you God Who created the heavens and the earth. Then he gave the sermon. Then God the Father talks about His Son Jesus Christ Whom He raised from the death. He gave the testimony of God!

Matthew 17—here's also another testimony of God the Father. In this case recorded in God the Father's very own words. He did not speak this Himself, because Jesus said of God the Father, 'No man has seen God at any time or heard His voice.' No one! So, these are the words of God the Father conveyed to us by what is called hear a voice.

Matthew 17:1: "And after six days, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and his brother John, and brought them up into a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His face shined as the sun, and His garments became white as the light. Then behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah talking with Him. And Peter answered and said to Jesus, 'Lord, it is good for us to be here. If You desire, let us make three tabernacles here: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.' While he was speaking, a bright cloud suddenly overshadowed them; and behold, a voice out of the cloud said… [here is the verbal testimony of God the Father]: …'This is My Son, the Beloved, in Whom I delight. Listen to Him!'" (vs 1-5). That is the testimony of God! These are His own words! The testimony of God the Father is what He Himself did in sending Jesus Christ for our redemption.

2-Corinthians 5:18: "And all things are from God, Who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation; which is, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself…" (vs 18-19). Note John 14. Remember when Philip came and said, 'Show us the Father.' Jesus said, 'Do you believe that I am in the Father and the Father in Me?' This is part of the testimony of God that God the Father through His Holy Spirit was in Christ.

"…not imputing their trespasses to them; and He has entrusted to us this message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ; and God, as it were, is exhorting you through us…." (vs 19-20). What does an ambassador do? He represents! How does he represent? Brings the message or the words of the one he is representing! He does not represent himself. A true ambassador does not represent himself.

If you're an ambassador of a king, you say, 'I come in the name of the king, and the king says…' If he's questioned and someone responds and says to the ambassador, 'What do you think?' His answer should be, 'I am here to bring you the message of the king, not what I think.'

That's how ambassadors for Christ should be. What should they speak? It's referring to whom? To the ministers! What should they speak? The words of Christ! Then you can tie in many, many Scriptures that go along with that.

"…We beseech you on behalf of Christ…" (v 20). That's pretty powerful statement—isn't it? That is a powerful statement when you look at it! The only way you can handle it is that you must speak the words of God. Otherwise you take the prerogative being in God's place.

I could put it this way: brethren, God is beseeching you through me. I'm not saying that is the case. I hope it is. I truly believe it is. As a minister what am I to do? Convey to you the words of God! That clarifies a whole lot of things—doesn't it?

""…We beseech you on behalf of Christ, 'Be reconciled to God.' For He made Him Who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (vs 20-21). That one section of Scriptures is so absolutely powerful. I'm convinced we have a whole lot more to learn in that. It keeps everything in perspective.

If there's one thing you've got to say of the Apostle Paul, he never lost perspective of God. He never did. In the long run it cost him, because he didn't please people. Remember what he wrote the Galatians? If I please men I won't please God!

This is part of the testimony of God the Father. That God the Father was in Christ Jesus, reconciling the world to Himself! That will be according to God's plan and time-schedule. It's not yet done, obviously.

Here's another part of God the Father to us, 1-John 3. As you can see, many of these Scriptures are some that we have gone over in the past. What it's put into that perspective is the testimony of God.

• What did God give us?
• What is the basis of His testimony?
• His whole Word, that is true!
• What is the testimony that God has given to us, personally?
• Those things that come directly from God the Father!

I'm sure that there are others we can bring in, but these are the key things that I found to be of paramount importance.

1-John 3:1: "Behold! What glorious love the Father has given to us, that we should be called the children of God!…. [That's part of the testimony or the witness of God within us!] …For this very reason, the world does not know us because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are the children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be; but we know that when He is manifested, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him exactly as He is" (vs 1-3).

Here's one other testimony of God the Father. A testimony is close to the promises of God. But there are also testimonies that if you don't repent you're going to die. That's a testimony, too.

Revelation 21:7: "The one who overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son." God has testified that that's what will be!

What is the Testimony of Jesus Christ?

There is a difference between the testimony of God the Father and the testimony of Jesus Christ. We have it defined for us:

Revelation 19:10: "And I [John] fell at his feet to worship him. Then he said to me, 'See that you do not do this! I am a fellow servant of yours, and of your brethren, who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.'" That's part of it, not all of it—the spirit of prophecy, meaning the understanding of prophecy. Especially in this case, you're getting down to the end.

• Where does that spirit of prophecy come from? Jesus Christ!
• When a person prophesys, what do they do? You speak for Christ!

There are going to be two witnesses. The word for 'witness' and 'testify' are the same. If you testify, you witness—same Greek word. So, the two witnesses are going to be witnessing for God. That's going to be powerful. And whoever the two witnesses are, that's going to be pretty powerful. That's going to be awfully heady stuff. They're going to have to really be put through the meat-grinder, so to speak, in order to be used of God.

Remember what God did to Moses to make Him fit to lead the children of Israel? Sent him out to Sinai for 40 years to lead a group of sheep around! I don't know what's going to happen to the two witnesses, but in order to be the 'two olive trees' alongside the candlestick, they're going to have to be really put through it.

Here's a testimony and you prophesy against them; this is why we have to have it in us! Matthew 10:16: "Behold, I am sending you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues… [We read what they did to the Apostle Paul.] …and you shall also be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a witness to them and to the Gentiles" (vs 16-18).

If the testimony of Christ is the spirit of prophecy—which it is—when people are brought—for what they believe—to the magistrates, we're to take out our little notes, have our little notebook handy, have our little speech all ready. NO!

Verse 19: "Now, when they deliver you up, do not be anxious about how or what you should speak; for in that hour it shall be given to you what you shall speak." That is the clearest spirit of prophecy you could ever have. In that instant, God will give that to you to prophesy against them. There's also the aspect of the spirit of prophecy.

Understanding prophecies that are written in the Bible, but here this kind of prophesying is the speaking kind of prophecy—the spirit of prophecy!

Verse 20: "For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaks in you." I guess many times we go around and we have all these mental boxing contests in our mind: if I were this; if I were that. That is not what God wants you to say. That's why you have to be close to God. That's why you have to have the Spirit of God and have it in you and working so that if and when that time ever comes, God will inspire you.

It happened in a little way with my wife. She went down to the shopping mall in Salinas. All she did was to go down and do some shopping. Someone came up behind her whom we knew years ago, and now she's in the Assemblies of Yahweh. My wife gave her a testimony you wouldn't believe. This other woman tried to push Yahwehism down my wife's throat and she just laid it out, let her have it. She did such a good job, you couldn't believe it! She didn't have her typed sheet with her Yahweh speech. You have to have in the mind with God's Spirit.

Revelation 12:17: "Then the dragon was furious with the woman and went to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."

1-Corinthians 1:6: "According as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you." What is the spirit of prophecy but Jesus in us?

Revelation 1:5: "And from Jesus Christ, the faithful Witness…" To testify, witness, or witness unto being a martyr—'marturia' is the verb form, and 'maturion' is the testimony noun form.

Jesus is the faithful and true witness! So, if we have the witness of Jesus Christ in us, or the testimony of Christ in us, it's going to be faithful and it's going to be of Christ.

Verse 9: "I, John, who am also your brother and joint partaker in the tribulation and in the kingdom and endurance of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos because of the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ." You've heard it said by people, 'We've heard His testimony.' If you have the testimony of Christ, that means you testify about Christ.

Revelation 3:14: "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans, write: These things says the Amen, the faithful and true Witness [martyr], the Beginner of the creation of God." Jesus was the Beginning, the Firstborn from the dead of those who enter into the Kingdom of God through the resurrection. We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus. So, He's the beginning of the creation of God for those who are resurrected.

Since Jesus was the martyr, since Jesus was the sacrifice, part of the testimony of Jesus Christ is: Romans 8:3: "For what was impossible for the law to do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, having sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh." That is part of the testimony of Jesus Christ. He conquered sin!

John 16:33: "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation. But be courageous! I have overcome the world." That's part of the testimony of Jesus Christ. He conquered sin!

We're talking about the death of Christ as Jesus' own testimony. That was quite a testimony, that God came to the earth in the flesh and was that sacrifice for all human beings. Hebrews 9 is talking about when Moses instituted the first covenant in what is called a testament! A testament is the written testimony. We have the New Covenant—which is the New Testament—which is the testimony of Jesus.

Hebrews 9:20: "Saying, 'This is the blood of the covenant that God has ordained for you.' And in the same manner, he sprinkled with blood the tabernacle, too, and all the vessels of service. Now almost all things are purified with blood according to the law, and without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. Therefore, it was indeed obligatory for the patterns of the heavenly things to be purified with the blood of these animals" (vs 20-23). What were the things that were in heaven? The tabernacle was patterned after the things that were in heaven!

"…but the things in heaven themselves with superior sacrifices than these" (v 23)—that is the sacrifices of the blood of bulls and goats.

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Verse 24: "For Christ has not entered into the Holy places made by human hands… [one that is made on the earth] …which are mere copies… [pattern or figure] …of the true… [which are in heaven] …rather, He has entered into heaven itself, now to appear… [that's part of the testimony of Jesus] …in the presence of God for us." Think about that, and let that sink in! That is a magnificent verse. Jesus is appearing before God on our behalf!

Verse 25: "Not that he should offer Himself many times, even as the high priest enters into the Holy of Holies year by year with the blood of others; for then it would have been necessary for Him to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now, once and for all, in the consummation of the ages, He has been manifested for the purpose of removing sin through His sacrifice of Himself" (vs 25-26). That's part of the testimony of Jesus Christ, the sacrifice of Himself!

Let's see how that becomes a part of us. Remember, it is the testimony of Christ that was confirmed in us! Here is how that is applied to us that we bear it in us. We have the Spirit of God, and Rom. 6:3 explains the whole process, that we bear that within us through the operation of baptism.

Roman 6:3: "Or are you ignorant that we, as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus, were baptized into His death?" That helps us grasp much more of the significance of our calling. The death of Jesus Christ has been applied to us.

Verse 4: "Therefore, we were buried with Him through the baptism into the death…" That's a tremendous statement, brethren. We can read this and, oh yes, that's nice, that's lovely, this symbolism of the whole thing is great and marvelous. But let's look at the literal application that Christ gives to us.

We are buried with Him by baptism "…into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, in the same way, we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been conjoined together in the likeness of His death, so also shall we be in the likeness of His resurrection" (vs 4-5). Notice how many of these Scriptures that talk about the death of Christ and then the resurrection all the way through. That's part of the testimony that is in us!

Verse 6: "Knowing this, that our old man was co-crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be destroyed, so that we might no longer be enslaved to sin." All of that is part of the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Colossian 1:27: "To whom God did will to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." That is also part of the testimony of Christ: Christ is in you!

I can truly say that all the years I've been a minister, I have studied these Scriptures an awful lot. But I tell you, the impact of this is just really been coming to me about the fact of Christ in us! It helps so much more, especially knowing the grace of God and understanding. It helps so much more.

 The more that we grasp this, and the more that we understand it—I won't say it's easier to overcome; in a sense it is—from the point of view that once we realize that it's Christ in us, and we ask God to do the things in us—we have our part to add to it—but before to overcome was something like this: 'God, help me to overcome.' And the greatest effort was on our part in overcoming. Rather, Christ in me will overcome. There's a vast difference. One I'm relying on myself and saying, 'God help me.' The other one, I'm relying on Christ and drawing on that power of God, "…which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

1-Timothy 2:4: "Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the Truth." It kind of sounds like God is going to force those to be saved who don't want to be saved. But in the Greek it means Who desires; Who wishes that all men be saved.

Verse 5: "For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men—the man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony of which is to be preached in its appointed times" (vs 5-6). Again, that is the testimony that He gave Himself as a ransom.

1-John 5—here is how all of this works together. There is a witness of the Holy Spirit, or a testimony. Remember, Jesus said, 'I will send the Holy Spirit and it will testify of Me. It will testify of things to come.'

1-John 5:6 puts it all together: "This is He Who came by water and blood—Jesus the Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that bears witness… [testimony] …because the Spirit is the Truth" (vs 6-7). Verse 7 is the one that was added by the Catholics about the 9th Century A.D.

Verse 8: "For there are three that bear witness… [to bring testimony] …on the earth: the Spirit, and the water, and the blood; and these three witness unto the one Truth." What are they agreeing to? The sacrifice of Jesus Christ! The death of Jesus for the forgiveness of sin!

Verse 9: "If we accept the witness of men, the witness of God is superior. For this is the witness of God, which He has witnessed concerning His Son…. [We already read of that testimony—didn't we?] … The one who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself…" (vs 9-10). Of course, we know that belief is because you are converted, you have God's Spirit, because you truly believe it the very core of your being.

"…the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar because he has not believed in the witness… [record] ….that God has witnessed concerning His Son. And this is the witness: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. The one who has the Son has eternal life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have eternal life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God in order that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God" (vs 10-13). That's part of the witness and testimony of Jesus Christ.

Here's another part of the witness and testimony of Jesus Christ, John 7:4—when he was going up to the Feast of Tabernacles and His disciples said 'You go on up' and "…reveal Yourself to the world.' For neither did His brothers believe in Him. Therefore, Jesus said to them, 'My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you; but it hates Me because I testify concerning it…'" (vs 4-7). That's part of the testimony of Jesus Christ:

• part of it is the spirit of prophecy
• part of it is the testimony confirmed in us of the sacrifice of Christ, the death and the resurrection
• part of it is the testimony "……that its… [the world] …works are evil" (v 7).

In other words, this world is wicked! If a person is going to preach the Gospel, what are they going to preach? If they're going to preach and be inspired, they must preach:

• Christ crucified

—that's what Paul said—

• reconciliation
• conversion
• a warning to the world

That's all part of the testimony of Christ. There's one other thing that the testimony of Christ does for us.

Romans 8:14: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God… [It's the Spirit of God that testifies, because the Spirit is Truth (1-John 5:9)] …these are the sons of God. Now, you have not received a spirit of bondage again unto fear, but you have received the Spirit of sonship, whereby we call out, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit itself bears witness… [that's the same word as testifies] …conjointly with our own spirit, testifying that we are the children of God" (vs 14-16). That's what the testimony of Jesus Christ is and how it works!

I haven't told you anything really new—have I? But we have learned something out of the Bible from an entirely different perspective of something that we knew about already. This helps clarify it even more in my mind. I'm finding the more that I'm brought back—each one of these things brings me back to some of the basic Scriptures in the Bible—to them, the more that I learn out of them. To me, that's just absolutely thrilling!

When I went through and studied this, and when I really understood this and went through it, it was just like there was a surge of power in my mind. It wasn't any great, fantastic thing, but there was just this surge of power and joy in my mind that I know has got have come from God's Holy Spirit in understanding this one thing. Forgive me for being a little excited about it. That really was fantastic in going through it, and I'm sure there are many, many more things we can tie in with it.

I want to cover just one other aspect here in 1-Corinthians 1:18: "For to those who are perishing, the preaching of the cross is foolishness; but to us who are being saved… [the process of salvation] …it is the power of God." There are three parts to salvation:

• have been saved
• are being saved
• shall be saved

Ephesians 2—have been saved. That's why many of the Baptists believe that 'once saved, always saved'—past tense. You are saved, which they believe means:

• yes, I accept Jesus
• yes, I give the sinner's prayer
• yes, I ask Jesus to come into my heart
• yes, I am saved
• yes, I am born again

That's just a summary of what the Protestants believe. If you do that, you can never be lost, because you have been saved. Ephesians 2—vs 1-3 talks about how that Satan is the 'prince of the power of the air' and we've all been 'children of disobedience.'

Ephesians 2:4: "But God, Who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, has made us alive together with Christ. (For you have been saved by grace.)" (vs 4-5). In this particular sense it means in the past tense, an accomplished fact.

But, what have you been saved from?—past tense accomplished fact. Satan the devil and this world! That's what you have been saved from! We still have our human nature—don't we? We still are being saved.

Verse 6: "And He has raised us up together and has caused us to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages that are coming He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this especially is not of your own selves; it is the gift of God, not of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto the good works that God ordained beforehand in order that we might walk in them" (vs 6-10).

•  We have been saved from Satan
• We have been saved from the world

Have we been saved from our human nature? We are being saved from our human nature IF we remain in the faith. We shall be saved at the resurrection.

1-Corinthians 15:1: "Now I am declaring to you, brethren, the same Gospel that I proclaimed to you, which you also received, and in which you are now standing…. [The Gospel was preached and you are standing in that Gospel] …by which you are also being saved… [Obviously through Christ!] …if you are holding fast the words that I proclaimed to you; otherwise you have believed in vain" (vs 1-2). That talks about the salvation and you shall be saved.

• we have been saved
• we are being saved
• we shall be saved

I hope it's helpful for you when we study verse-by-verse and get right and follow it right through and take each of these little sub-topics.

1-Corinthians 1:26: "For you see your calling, brethren, that there are not many who are wise according to the flesh, not many who are powerful, not many who are high-born among you. Rather, God has chosen the foolish things of the world…" (vs 26-27). Just for your information: called and chosen come from the same verb.

"…God has chosen the foolish things of the world, so that He might put to shame those who are wise… [If you've ever wondered why God has called you, here's the answer] …and God has chosen the weak things of the world so that He might put to shame the strong things. And the low-born of the world, and the despised has God chosen—even the things that are counted as nothing—in order that He might bring to nothing the things that are" (vs 27-28). That's really going to be quite a challenge—isn't it? That's going to be quite a thing! Talk about turning the world upside down. When Jesus returns, He's going to turn this world upside down and give to us the reins of the Kingdom of God! That's all contained there in that statement.

Verse 29: "So that no flesh might glory in His presence…. [No one is going to say how great they are to God!] …But you are of Him in Christ Jesus… [you are in Christ Jesus] (here is what God has done for us through Christ): …Who was made to us wisdom… [If you know the Word of God, you're wiser than the wisest men on earth.] …from God—even righteousness…" (vs 29-30). We all know the righteousness of God; that we are given the righteousness of Jesus Christ in us! He has made our righteousness. The more I think on that, the more astounding that is. Talk about a free gift that is astounding!

"…and sanctification, and redemption" (v 30). Redemption means to buy back again. We're all sold under sin. When you redeem, you buy back. God is the only One Who can buy us back. We have been paid for by Jesus Christ.

Verse 31: "So that, as it is written, 'The one who glories, let him glory in the Lord.'"—rather than boasting on how good he or she is; just glory in the Lord.

I talked to someone on the phone and he brought up where do all of these things come from anyway. They all come from God! Let's just thank God and rejoice in what God has done and how God is doing it. That is the whole key of unlocking the Bible and understanding God's Word: completely trust and rely in God, and it will be there!

Next time we will have a short subtopic on redemption, and then we will get into 1-Cor. 2, and then the revelation of Christ. Not just the book of Revelation, but there is a revealing of Christ to us that God does, which is really very inspiring in itself.

All Scriptures from The Holy Bible in Its Original Order, A Faithful Version by Fred R. Coulter

Scriptural References:

• 1-Corinthians 1:1-3
• Hebrews 10:17-18, 4, 19-25
• 1 Corinthians 1:3-9
• 1 Corinthians 2:1
• 1 Corinthians 1:6
• John 3:16-17
• Matthew 17:1-5
• 2 Corinthians 5:18-21
• 1 John 3:1-3
• Revelation 21:7
• Revelation 19:10
• Matthew 10:16-20
• Revelation 2:17
• 1 Corinthians 1:6
• Revelation 1:5, 9
• Revelation 3:14
• Romans 8:3
• John 16:33
• Hebrews 9:20-26
• Romans 6:3-6
• Colossians 1:27
• 1 Timothy 2:4-6
• 1 John 5:6-13
• John 7:4-7
• Romans 8:14-16
• 1 Corinthians 1:18
• Ephesians 2:4-10
• 1 Corinthians 15:1-2
• 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• 2 Timothy
• John 14
• Ephesians 2:1-3

FRC:bo
Transcribed: 2-18-13