[Biblemat] HILLIARD BULLETIN (A) for August 2008
GLClair at aol.com
GLClair at aol.com
Fri Aug 1 09:04:04 CDT 2008
On-Line Edition - HILLIARD BULLETIN
Published 2 times each month by the church of Christ
4840 Cemetery Road – P.O. Box 96
Hilliard, Ohio 43026
Phone: (614) 876-4089
Preacher & Editor: Garreth L. Clair
Phone: (614) 850-7252
Email: _glclair at aol.com_ (mailto:glclair at aol.com)
==================================================================
Volume 10 Number 8 (A)
August 2008
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“THE SCHEME OF REDEMPTION”
Number 2 - Editorial …
Read the last issue lead article (Hilliard Bulletin - Volume 10 – July
2008); “FINDING TRUE RELIGION”
The plan from the Godhead from the beginning was to make it possible for man
to thrive on the earth physically and for man to seek God and find him on
his own initiative (i.e. freely choose to serve God). This was the very nature
of the sermon by Paul to the Epicurean and Stoic Philosophers at Athens. Paul
told them, cf.
Acts 17:16-30,
16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within
him as he beheld the city full of idols.
17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with Jews and the devout persons and in
the marketplace every day with them that met him.
18 And certain also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him.
And some said, What would this babbler say? others, He seemeth to be a
setter forth of strange gods: because he preached Jesus and the resurrection.
19 And they took hold of him, and brought him unto the Areopagus, saying,
May we know what this new teaching is, which is spoken by thee?
20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know
therefore what these things mean.
21(Now all the Athenians and the strangers sojourning there spent their time
in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing.)
22 And Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus, and said, Ye men of Athens,
in all things, I perceive that ye are very religious.
23 For as I passed along, and observed the objects of
your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, TO AN UNKNOWN
GOD. What therefore ye worship in ignorance, this I set forth unto you.
24 The God that made the world and all things therein, he, being Lord of
heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25 neither is he served by men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing
he himself giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
26 and he made of one every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the
earth, having determined (their) appointed seasons, and the bounds of their
habitation;
27 that they should seek God, if haply they might feel after him and find
him, though he is not far from each one of us:
28 for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain even of your
own poets have said, For we
are also his offspring.
29 Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead
is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and device of man.
30 The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth
men that they should all everywhere repent:” (ASV)
GOD CHOSE TO SEND HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO BECOME A SACRIFICE FOR SIN;
John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
(ASV)
2 Thess 2:13,
“13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always
for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, for that God chose you from the
beginning unto salvation in
sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:”
Titus 2:11-14, “11 For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to
all men, 12 instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and
worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present
world; 13 looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great
God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 who gave himself for us, that he might
redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people for his own
possession, zealous of good works.” (ASV)
1 Peter 1:9-12, “9 receiving the end of your faith, (even) the salvation of
(your) souls. 10 Concerning which salvation the prophets sought and searched
diligently, who prophesied of the grace that (should come) unto you: 11
searching what (time) or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in
them did point unto, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and
the glories that should follow them. 12 To whom it was revealed, that not
unto themselves, but unto you, did they minister these things, which now have
been announced unto you through them that preached the gospel unto you by the
Holy Spirit sent forth from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.”
(ASV)
As we can see from the previous references the plan of God was designed and
carried out according to a long ranged plan after Adam and Eve sinned. Their
sin brought about God’s pr-planned event that finally came to fruition in
Jerusalem at approximately 33 BCE; at that time Jesus Christ was tried, falsely
convicted, and crucified for the sins of mankind and to complete the plan
arranged by the Godhead before the foundation of the universe was laid – cf.
John 17:24
“Father, I desire that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I
am, that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst
me before the foundation of the world.” (ASV)
Eph 1:3-5, “3 Blessed (be) the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly (places) in
Christ:
4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we
should be holy and without blemish before him in love: 5 having foreordained us
unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the
good pleasure of his will,” (ASV)
1 Peter 1:18-21, “18 knowing that ye were redeemed, not with corruptible
things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your
fathers; 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb without spot, (even the
blood) of Christ: 20 who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the
world, but was manifested at the end of times
for your sake, 21 who through him are believers in
God, that raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; so that your faith
and hope might be in God.”
ALL MANKIND PRIOR TO JESUS DEATH AND RESURRECTION WERE LOST:
Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David, Solomon, and all the Gentile people were
without salvation until Jesus shed his precious blood on the cross of Calvary for
the sins of man from Adam to the sounding of the trumpet of God at the last
day cf. - Romans 3:9-22, “9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no
wise: for we before laid to the charge both of Jews and Greeks, that they are
all under sin ;10 as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one; 11
There is none that understandeth, There is none that seeketh after God; 12 They
have all turned aside, they are together become unprofitable; There is none
that doeth good, no, not, so much as one: 13 Their throat is an open
sepulcher; With their tongues they have used deceit: The poison of asps is under
their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are
swift to shed blood;
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways;
17 And the way of peace have they not known:
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
19 Now we know that what things sever the law saith, it speaketh to them
that are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may
be brought under the judgment of God: 20 because by the works of the law shall
no flesh be justified in his sight; for through the law (cometh) the
knowledge of sin. 21 But now apart from the law a righteousness of God hath been
manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 even the
righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ unto all them that believe; for there
is no distinction.” (ASV)
THE FAITHFUL UNDER THE PATRIARCHAL DISPENSATION AND THE LAW OF MOSES
DISPENSATION WERE SAVED FROM SIN BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST:
Hebrews 9:8-29: “ 8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the
holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet
standing: 9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were
offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service
perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; 10 Which stood only in meats and
drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the
time of reformation. 11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to
come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is
to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves,
but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained
eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the
ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of
the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal
Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead
works to serve the living God? 15 And for this cause he is the mediator of
the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the
transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive
the promise of eternal inheritance. 16 For where a testament is, there must
also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is of
force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the
testator liveth. 18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without
blood. 19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according
to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet
wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, 20 Saying,
This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. 21
Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the
ministry. 22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and
without shedding of blood is no remission.
23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens
should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better
sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made
with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to
appear in the presence of God for us: 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself
often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood
of others; 26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of
the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away
sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to
die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the
sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time
without sin unto salvati
When we seek God’s plan for man’s
salvation from sin we find that the Bible reveals a clear chronological plan
to bring about the opportunity for all mankind to be saved from sin – thus
being reunited with the Godhead from which the sins of Adam and Eve severed
centuries ago. That plan is referred to by commentators, as God’s Plan of
Salvation. The plan to which we refer is not man’s plan but is a plan revealed by
God through the Written Word (i.e. the Bible) which cannot be wrong but is
the only true way of breaking down the wall of sin between man and God.
God’s plan of salvation for man under the current dispensation, (i.e. the
Christian) which replaced the previous religious arrangements ordained of God
and had its beginning at
Acts 2:1-47; Study this passage well, for it tells of the establishment of
the Lord’s Church. For the first time in history the gospel of Christ was
preached; people were told what to do about their sins; 3,000 Jews were baptized
becoming the first congregation of Christians located in Jerusalem about 33
CE. You will also notice if you read and study this 2nd Chapter of Acts at
verse 47 the text says that Christ continues to add those being saved to that
church. Indeed Christ is still adding the saved people to the church of
Christ cf. Acts 2:47, “praising God, and having favor with all the people. And
the Lord added to them day by day those that were saved.” (ASV)
THAT PLAN OF SALVATION THAT BRINGS THE Salvation TO MAN TODAY INCLUDES FIVE
ITEMS. PLEASE NOTICE THE PLAN OF GOD FOR MAN’S SALVATION REVEALED:
Hearing the gospel:
Romans 10:17, “So belief (cometh) of hearing, and hearing by the word of
Christ.” (ASV)
Believing:
Mark 16:15-16, “15 and he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and
preach the gospel to the whole creation. 16 He that believeth and is baptized
shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.”
Repenting of sins:
Luke 13:3, “I tell you, nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all in like
manner perish.” (ASV)
Acts 2:38, “38 And Peter (said) unto them,
Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto
the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
” (ASV)
Confess Christ as God’s Son:Romans 10:9-10, “9 because if thou shall confess
with thy mouth Jesus
(as) Lord, and shall believethy heart that God raised him from the dead,
thou shall be saved: 10 for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and
with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (ASV)
Be Baptized:
Acts 2:38, “And Peter (said) unto them, Repent ye,
and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the
remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (ASV)
Galatians 3:26-27, “26 for ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ
Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ.”
(ASV)
Baptism is “for remission of sins”
Baptism is a burial and a resurrection in water:
(Scriptural Baptism is not sprinkling nor is it a pouring of water upon a
person)
TEMPORAL SALVATION:
Salvation from sin in the present life is accomplished whenever one
believes, repents, confesses Jesus Christ as God’s Son, and are baptized in water for
the remission of sins. The process affords to a person God’s forgiveness of
all sin to that point in time. After the Christian is converted; Jesus Christ
adds them to the Body of Christ – cf. Acts 2:47, “Praising God, and having
favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as
should be saved.” (KJV)
After a new born (i.e. reborn – converted to Christ) Christian begins their
life in service to God they are to continue to be faithful servants in the
Lord’s Church. To be faithful the Christian must live according to the Lord’s
directions for the remainder of their life in order to be acceptable in the
judgment –
cf. Phil 2:10-15, “10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of
things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that
every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God
the Father. 12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my
presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and
to do of his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without murmurings and
disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke,
in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights
in the world;” (KJV)
When the trumpet of God sounds and all that are in the graves hear his voice
and come forth – cf. 1 Thess 4:16, “For the Lord himself shall descend
from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump
of God: and the
dead in Christ shall rise first:” (KJV)
Heb 10:30-31, 30 “For we know him that hath said,
Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again,
The Lord shall judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the
hands of the living God.” (KJV)
2 Tim 4:8, “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me
only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” (KJV
)
John 12:48, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one
that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the
last day.” (KJV)
1 Cor 15:52, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump:
for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and
we shall be changed.” (KJV)
THE FINAL REWARD:
After a life of faithful service, the Christian will die, go to the grave,
await the resurrection, be assigned to heaven and spend eternity in the
presence of God and all the saved from all ages: from Adam to the entrance welcome
by the Lord to Heaven – cf.
Matt 10:28, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill
the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in
hell.” (KJV)
Revelation 2:10, “Fear none of those things which thou shall suffer: behold,
the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye
shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give
thee a crown of life.” (KJV)
Rev 22:12-14, “12 and, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to
give every man according as his work shall be. 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the
beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14 blessed are they that do his
commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in
through the gates into the city.” (KJV)
ON-LINE EDITION
Hilliard Bulletin – (A) August 2008
_glclair at aol.com_ (mailto:glclair at aol.com)
Issue A for August, 2008
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