Tag: Meat

Commandments

Do Not Give what is Holy to Dogs

Peter

 

Do Not Cast Your Pearls Before Swine

We are given a tremendous blessing and a great honor, all by God’s grace, to be the stewards of the oracles of God. The oracles of God are the Lord’s treasures, His joy, which are also the pearls of great price that are the Father’s Holy Commandments. We share and speak the oracles with one another, edifying, strengthening, and washing one another’s feet.

1Pe 4:10  As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 

We are given this blessing and gift to become the witnesses of the Lord and thereby spread the message and love of the Gospel. Our mission is to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and bring them into the sheep pen.

Mat 10:5  These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 

Mat 10:6  But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 

Mat 10:7  And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 

The blessing comes upon few in this age, as many are called and only a few are chosen. Our anointing of God carries a great responsibility that is fulfilled by obeying all the Lord’s Commandments. The Commandment is to be selective and discriminating in who we share the holy things. It is disobedience to share the holy things and give the treasures of God out to those not prepared to receive them.

Mat 7:6  Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. 

If we disobey the Commandment, the Commandments are trampled by the carnal reasonings of those the Lord has blinded and made deaf. In time, they turn and rend us, which means to argue and engage in debate over the holy things.  We can lose our peace and descend into the spiritual violence that is carnal reasoning.  We redeem the time wisely and do not waste it with those whom the Lord has not shown mercy.

2Ti 2:23  But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

Tit 3:9  But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. 
Tit 3:10  A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; 

Only those whom the Father gives to the Lord are prepared to hear our words and receive the Gospel. Those not given the gift of faith and its accompanying ears to hear do not hear our words as they are not of God.

Joh 10:26  But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 

Joh 10:27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 

Mar 4:23  If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

We obey the divisions the Lord makes in separating us as a holy people and do not serve the holy things to those the Lord has not made ready.

Heb 13:10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. 

We discern with whom we are gathered and obey the Commandments on when and when not to speak. Preaching the Gospel and doctrines of Jesus Christ is laying hands on people, which imparts God’s wisdom and understanding to those prepared to hear. The key is that they have been prepared beforehand. As the Lord’s ministers, we have a duty and the Commandment to validate this before we lay hands on them.  Those claiming Christ’s name is no assurance that one has been prepared, as only a few are chosen and prepared in this age.

1Ti 5:22  Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure. 

Eze 12:2  Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house. 

Being wise as serpents requires discernment of the situation and determining whether the person before us has been prepared by the Lord to hear and receive the Gospel. Christ does not engage with those to whom the Father has not ordained to be given mercy.

Mat 13:13  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 

Mat 13:14  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 

The practical way to obey this Commandment is to always answer those who ask about the hope of Jesus Christ that lives in us. We answer them, giving a little and wait to see if it is received before giving more. We are always ready to share and to give the Gospel to all who ask in sincerity.

1Pe 3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 

The Lord opens the door that allows those so ordained to come to Him, meaning the Commandments. We wait on the Lord to open the door and show us those He has prepared to hear. It is the Lord’s work; He causes it.

2Co 2:12  Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord

Joh 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 

Psa 10:17  LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear: 

Our instructions being sent to preach the Gospel command us to first enquire and determine who is worthy, meaning prepared of the Lord to hear. If the house is not worthy, we depart and do not cast our pearls and holy things.    The litmus test is to test and see who has ears to hear and eyes to see. If anyone argues with us or wants to debate the Gospel, they are not worthy, and we are commanded to shake off their carnal reasonings, the dust off our feet, and depart that house. If the house is worthy, we share the peace of Jesus Christ, the Living Commandments with that house.

Mat 10:11  And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. 

Mat 10:12  And when ye come into an house, salute it. 

Mat 10:13  And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. 

Mat 10:14  And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. 

The laws about food from the Old Testament symbolize the Commandments regarding whom we eat spiritually and to whom we do not. Those who gobble down their spiritual food without considering it are likened unto swine. Swine eat both the clean and the unclean, and the Lord’s people only eat the unleavened and undefiled bread of sincerity and truth. A little bit of leaven spoils the whole lump. Eating the clean and unclean is fornication. The same is having relations apart from Christ, and we are commanded that we not eat with those who the Lord has not prepared to eat His Gospel.

Lev 11:7  And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. 

Lev 11:8  Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you. 

1Co 5:11  But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 

Likewise, those who do violence to the meat, tearing and ripping it, symbolize those who add their carnal reasonings to the Commandments, and thus show they are spiritual dogs, likened unto ravenous birds. To such we do not cast our precious meat of the Gospel.

Deu 14:11  Of all clean birds ye shall eat. 

Deu 14:12  But these are they of which ye shall not eat: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, 

Dogs and swine alike eat virtually anything with little regard for care and inspection. It is true in the natural and the spiritual. Ultimately, those who eat like dogs or swine return to their carnality, and the waters in which they abide are muddied by their carnal reasonings, and the Commandments are corrupted. Many who began well fall away back into their carnality and the reasonings of their flesh.

2Pe 2:21  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 

2Pe 2:22  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

The kingdom of God is not about eating and drinking but of peace and joy abiding in the Commandments, that is, the Holy Spirit. Thus, we are given many instructions and admonitions to be careful about how and with whom we eat so as not to corrupt ourselves by poor eating habits.  Abide in the Living Christ and do not be entangled again in the bondage of flesh.

Act 15:29  That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. 

Php 3:2  Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 

Articles

Abstaining from Meat Offered to Idols

Peter

Being a Faithful Witness of the Lord

We thank you, Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, for our many trials, which provide us opportunities to exercise our faith and learn to discern good from evil. May our eyes be opened to see and remain watchful for the snares of the world’s idols that are everywhere in these last days.

We are commanded to abstain from idols and not to eat meat that is offered in sacrifice to them. These are spiritual terms we come to understand so we may walk perfectly before our Lord. Our abstaining from such activity was the key instruction in the Apostle’s letter to the Gentiles on how to conduct themselves in the faith.

Act 15:28  For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 

Act 15:29  That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. 

Before addressing the specific Scriptures that gave rise to the questions regarding idols and eating meat offered unto them, let us lay the foundation for what an idol and meat represent and what is meant by the meat being sacrificed or offered unto an idol.

What is Meat?

Meat is knowledge and what we believe, be it positive or negative. In the negative sense, as in this discussion, meat offered unto idols is knowledge apart from the Commandments. The Commandments are the knowledge of God, the meat of Jesus Christ that keeps us from destruction and brings salvation.

Joh 6:27  Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. 

Eating the meat of the world’s knowledge can be many things, any interest or topic, but by default, it is all carnal dialogue and conversation with the Lord’s Commandments absent. This dialogue is knowledge that, in and of itself, is neither good nor bad. The mature in the faith are taking heed of our eating worldly meat, especially when in the presence of others, our brethren, whom we care for and always seek to edify and show by example how we are to walk.

1Co 8:8  But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. 

1Co 8:9  But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. 

As the people of God, we love our brothers and seek their welfare ahead of our own. A weaker brother could see us partaking of the knowledge of idols, and it is a poor witness for Christ to those young in the faith seeking to come out and be separate.

1Co 8:10  For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; 

1Co 8:11  And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 

What is an idol?

An idol is anything in our thoughtlife [heavens] or on our earth [our walk] that we esteem highly. It is our thoughts, our beliefs that drive our meditations and our deeds.  We make an image of these idols, elevating them above the Commandments, and thus we worship them rather than God. We are forbidden to serve any other god or bow down to them, but only the Lord. We sacrifice and bow to an idol when we obey the idol rather than the Commandments.

Exo 20:3  Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 

Exo 20:4  Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 

Exo 20:5  Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 

Perhaps the most famous idol is the golden calf made by Israel during their journey to the Promised Land. While Moses was away, they quickly turned aside from the Commandments, making an idol from their treasures, and worshipped it, despite being commanded not to do so. So it is today, as men make idols of many things that are highly esteemed in the world.

Exo 32:8  They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molded calf, and worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!’

We are admonished to take heed to abstain from idols throughout the Scriptures lest we fail to learn the lesson of Israel in the flesh and die in the wilderness. There is no life found in any idol; only Christ gives life. Anything but the Commandments is falsehood, and the pursuit of riches and knowledge allure men into this state of spiritual death.

Jer 51:17  Every man is brutish by his knowledge; every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them. 

After entering the Promised Land, the snare of idols remains, and if one does not take heed, we are easily turned back to idols rather than obeying the Commandments.

Jdg 2:17  And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so. 

The spirit of Satan is the spirit of the carnal mind that tempts us through the lusts that live in our flesh to make many idols and seek our own glory, bowing down to Satan, versus obeying the Commandments. The temptations of Christ are our temptations that the faithful turn away from, so we do not worship any other god.

Mat 4:10  Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.  

1Jn 5:21  Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. 

Those in the faith are commanded to flee from idolatry and be circumspect in how and what they eat. Creating and worshipping idols satisfies and keeps alive our fleshly desires. We keep the Commandments and do not provoke the Lord to jealousy. We eat the Commandments that are the Body of Christ and drink of His Blood by laying down our lives for each other.

1Co 10:14  Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. 

1Co 10:15  I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. 

1Co 10:16  The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 

Those in Christ are free, as the Truth has been given to us and now lives in us, and thus we have liberty to eat of the knowledge of idols. Eating meat sacrificed to idols is engaging in conversation, activity, and communion about worldly and carnal things that are not of Christ. Those in the faith are able to eat this knowledge, taking the spoils as the Gospel has been revealed unto us, and another man’s false god does not sway us. We, however, ask no questions.

1Co 8:4  As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. 

1Co 8:5  For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 

1Co 8:6  But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. 

Not every man has our knowledge of God; the mystery of the Gospel is hidden from their eyes. The Lord’s people sacrifice and bow only to the one true God by striving to obey the Commandments, which include being separated from the gods of this world. As a new creation, we eat differently than the world, thus the Commandment is to purge out the old food from our feasts and replace it with Christ. When we come together to break bread and eat at the Lord’s table in our assemblies, we are not doing it with those who are fornicators, or covetous, all of which is idolatry. This leaven entering in defiles the Lord’s table and corrupts us; and the Commandment is to separate from them.

1Co 5:8  Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 

1Co 5:9  I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 

1Co 5:10  Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 

1Co 5:11  But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 

Some young in faith, now with knowledge of idols and the Commandments, continue to eat the meat that is offered to an idol and thus remain weak and defiled. Their growth in Christ, in the Commandments, is stunted when they continue to consume meat that is offered unto idols.

1Co 8:7  Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. 

The mature man of Christ has put to death the lusts of the flesh and any desires that exalt themselves against the Commandments. No place is given for an idol to take root or remain in our hearts and minds. We eat the meat of someone else’s idols but are circumspect not to be overtaken by any.

1Co 6:12  All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any

Col 3:5  Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 

Paul’s primary point of 1Cor 10 is to remind us of the destruction that came upon ancient Israel when they strayed from the Commandments and went back a whoring after idols they created from their own carnal reasoning. Those being saved keep their minds on the Lord and separate from fellowship with devils that are the lies, doctrines and beliefs contrary to the Commandments. We keep the table and food of the Lord pure and undefiled and diligently guard our gates.

1Co 10:18  Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? 

1Co 10:19  What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? 

1Co 10:20  But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. 

1Co 10:21  Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils. 

1Co 10:22  Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? 

Having been set free from the law of ordinances and now being justified by the faith of Christ living in us, we are free to go to worldly feasts and markets, but know it is not expedient to do so. We are cautious and on guard. We minimise our interactions and avoid further entanglement by asking no questions about the meat being offered and the idol to which it is offered. We ask no questions for their sake and instead follow the example of Christ and obey the Commandments. We are considered strange for not engaging in these worldly dissipations, but that is our appointment as the Lord’s witnesses.

1Co 10:23  All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. 

1Co 10:24  Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth. 

1Co 10:25  Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: 

1Co 10:26  For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof. 

1Co 10:27  If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. 

When faith is come, we are the Lord’s witnesses and the light unto the world. Our interactions with everyone the Lord puts in our path are an opportunity and a test for us to be a witness for Christ, a witness to His Commandments.

Isa 43:10  Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. 

It is within the precious few saints that the power of Christ dwells, and the greater works are being performed now and in the age to come. We die for others as Christ died for us, meaning we put the welfare of our fellow brothers and sisters above our own.

When it is made known to us that the meat being offered is sacrificed to an idol, we refrain from partaking, and we do not eat of it. We instead witness for Christ and do not bring the one true God down to the level of the world’s idols. Knowing the knowledge and conversation is offered unto an idol, if we then eat of it, we are sinning against the Lord and potentially harming a weaker brother who sees us. We refrain from eating this meat and exit the conversation, the gathering, or whatever the circumstance is of the meat being offered. God’s people do not partake of open idolatry.

1Co 10:28  But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof: 

1Co 10:29  Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience? 

We are free to eat the meat even knowing it is sacrificed to idols, but do not do it when it has been expressly revealed that it is offered unto an idol that is a false god. Why? Because when it is made known that the meat is offered to an idol, we become partakers of their idolatry. We make a stand and witness for Christ. Our partaking of this meat offered unto idols is sin and harms weaker brothers who have a weak conscience by virtue of their youth.

Rather than partake of this meat, we flee from evil and the open practice of idolatry. We do not eat in deference to others to be a witness for Christ and not create any obstacle that can delay or hinder a brother from coming to the knowledge of the Truth. Those with the Promise know there is but one true God, so the idols of men and the world are nothing to us, and thus we are not harmed by hearing of this conversation. We take every opportunity to set the example and give no reason for a brother to sin.

Christ tells us to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Whatever we do, eating meat or not eating meat, we do it all for the glory of God to be revealed in ourselves and others. By not eating, we are doing it for the glory of God, not to delay the weaker brother from coming to the knowledge of the truth and obeying God. We are setting an example by our behaviour. If we engage in the same dissipations and gobble down the world’s meat that is contrary to the Commandments, we become a stumbling block for our brother. Instead, we bring glory to God and refrain from eating the meat of their carnal reasonings. We seek the spiritual profit, the salvation, of our brothers and eat not. We seek the profit of others that we may save some of them who see and hear our conversation.

1Co 10:31  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 

1Co 10:32  Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 

1Co 10:33  Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

Those in the faith of Christ are now a living sacrifice for Christ. The life we live is no longer our own, as we have been redeemed to Christ. We lay down our lives and do what we need to do to bring forth the glory of God in all men. This includes not partaking of eating meat sacrificed to idols, where it is made known by those who eat. By openly partaking of this meat, we give a poor witness, so we do not eat of it so as not to cause our brother to stumble.

1Co 8:12  But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. 

1Co 8:13  Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. 

We provide some high-level examples of situations in which we are not to eat meat offered to idols. We are keeping it brief, consistent with the Commandment not to ask questions or stir up lust for the sake of our brethren. Seek the Lord when you have these questions or ask a brother in private for counsel.

One day, we may find ourselves unexpectedly at a celebration of a special day the world holds in high esteem. The Lord’s people do not partake of this meat by excusing themselves and not participating in the rituals of their sacrifice. We do not attend pagan festivals to be a better witness for Christ. Called out from the world, we refrain from eating of this knowledge and its conversation.

Attending church services where the truth is not found is eating meat sacrificed unto the idol of a false Jesus.  We come out of orthodox churches completely, as our participation creates an obstacle for others to draw near to the Living Gospel and begin to worship in Spirit and in Truth.

If a weaker brother tempts us by rationalising sin in the moment, we do not partake of it but rebuke them and stand for Christ. One may tempt us by saying, “I know we should not do this, but let’s do it anyway.” In such an example, the lusts of the flesh, disobedience are exalted to an idol above the keeping of Christ’s Commandments. We do not participate in this conversation, but we stand for Christ as faithful witnesses. A typical example by which many stumble is the Commandment not to gossip and speak evil of another man.

Another example is holding onto a false doctrine despite knowing the truth. An example of a false doctrine being idolised is when the idol of man’s definition of love conflicts with Godly love. It is painful and difficult to separate from brethren when commanded, despite the clear Commandments regarding antichrists and false brethren. To the natural man, this seems unloving, but to those in the faith, it is the Power of God separating the wheat from the tares and the sheep from the goats, and is confirmation that we are in the Lord’s hands. We please Christ rather than men, and this is done by obeying the Commands and not bowing down to an idol.

Lastly, there are a variety of worldly interests that, if not kept in subjection, can become idols. Pursuing these things distracts us from our focus on Christ. We do not squander our precious time but redeem it wisely.

Final Exhortations

Idolatry is everywhere, so we never fully escape it. We learn to walk the narrow road, navigating around it and not becoming snared in its deception and allure to our flesh.  We are free to eat the meat that the world makes into idols, but are watchful and careful to avoid making them into idols ourselves. The Lord’s people are separated from these idols, and we lose our desire to touch the unclean.

2Co 6:16  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 

2Co 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 

When we come together as a Body to eat of the things of the Lord, our table cannot be mixed. We cannot eat at the Lord’s table at the same time we are eating at the table of devils, which is the table of idols. If we do not obey these Commandments, we become sick, weak, and fall asleep to the Commandments. We watch what we eat carefully and also guard our assemblies, so they do not become a feast where the meat of idols is mixed into our breaking of the Lord’s Bread and the meat of the Gospel.

1Co 11:29  For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 

1Co 11:30  For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

The Lord is long-suffering and patient with us to grow into maturity and put away all of these idols. The Lord does not tolerate the strong from teaching and seducing others to commit such fornication that is idolatry. Obey the Commandments, casting out the Jezebel Spirit within and without ourselves, keeping oneself pure.

Rev 2:20  Notwithstanding, I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 

May these words encourage us to be vigilant like Gideon’s army and always be watching and ready for the enemy to appear. Those who become the army of God do not bow down on their knees to any idols. Soldiers for Christ do not mindlessly take things in; they remain alert and ready for the temptations that are promised to come.

Jdg 7:5  So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink. 

Jdg 7:6  And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water. 

We thank the Lord for raising the questions that led to this article. May all be edified and learn to be alert and discern the situation, choosing good over the evil of the world.

Letters

Receiving the Promise

Peter

The Promise = Salvation is Come

The Two Types of Faith

We thank God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, praying for His mercy and grace to come to all who profess His name.

Receiving the Promise of Jesus Christ, the living and indwelling Spirit of the Lord and our Heavenly Father, is the pivotal event and consummation of our walk with the Lord.  This is the second coming of Jesus Christ to every man for salvation apart from sin.  Receiving the Promise is not the end of the race, but it enters us into the Living Truth and not the dead letter of the law.  A new day dawns,  known as the day of the Lord, when Christ, the day star,  arises and is resurrected in our hearts.  Nobody knows the day or hour the Promise comes except the Father.

Mar 13:32  But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. 

Mar 13:33  Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 

We are to watch and pray always, waiting for the Lord, the Promise of the indwelling Holy Spirit to come.  We all believe we get there with the first coming of Christ, when we hear His prophets’ words, such as John the Baptist.  This is just our baptism of John; it is not the Promise that is to come.

The Lord Himself first used the phrase “the Promise” when He, the resurrected Christ, came to the disciples who did not yet believe fully in the resurrection.  This event is a parable.

Luk 24:36  And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 

Luk 24:37  But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 

Luk 24:38  And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? 

Luk 24:39  Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. 

Luk 24:40  And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. 

Luk 24:41  And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? 

Those of us who receive the Promise become the resurrected Christ in the world, and as this example shows, we are doubted as well.  The way one comes to see the truth and receive the Promise is when we, the resurrected Christ, share the Gospel with them.  This is eating the meat of the Gospel [the Father, the Understanding], that is, the piece of fish.  The communion of Jesus Christ is not only the meat but is also the breaking of the bread of Christ, who is the Wisdom.

Pro 4:4  He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. 
Pro 4:5  Get wisdom, get understanding: [the Promise] forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 

Christ asks the disciples for the meat, asking for the understanding of the Gospel.  We are to give it to all who ask of us, and by doing so, the true understanding of the Scriptures is given to those who eat with us.

Joh 4:31  In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. 
Joh 4:32  But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. 
Joh 4:33  Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? 
Joh 4:34  Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. 

It is only by eating the Lord’s supper, the meat and the bread that are understanding and wisdom, that one comes to understand the Scriptures as both the Father and the Living [resurrected] Christ are revealed in our hearts and minds.  This parable gives us a big witness and confirmation.

Luk 24:42  And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish [the meat or the understanding of the Gospel], and of a honeycomb [sweet taste of the Gospel being opened unto us]

Luk 24:43  And he took it, and did eat before them. 

Luk 24:44  And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 

Luk 24:45  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 

Luk 24:46  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 

Luk 24:47  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 

Luk 24:48  And ye are witnesses of these things. 

Luk 24:49  And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. 

Those in whom Christ is resurrected, having the Promise, are Christ in this world, and it is through “the Christ” that understanding of the Scriptures is given in due time as we partake often of the Lord’s communion.  The Lord ends the parable about the Promise, the resurrected Christ coming to our inward parts, by commanding them to tarry together in Jerusalem until the power of His Promise comes from the Father.  Here is a second witness just before the Ascension into heaven.

Act 1:4  And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 

Act 1:5  For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. 

Peter’s speech at the first Pentecost reveals the first receipt of the Promise.

Act 2:33  Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 

The reason for writing this letter is to encourage everyone to wait on the Promise and to help you understand that all the past experiences were not wasted.  As it is revealed unto us that we had not yet arrived and only had the Baptism of John,  carnal minds and weak faith can fail us, and one can be discouraged.  But be of good cheer because none of it is wasted, and it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the Promise, which is giving you the Kingdom.  Keep seeking the Promise, the things and power of the Lord, and have faith, it shall come.

Luk 12:31  But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. 

Luk 12:32  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 

All of our prior time, walking in the shadow of the true Promise, still being under the law and not knowing it, is used to prepare us for the eventual coming of the Promise into our hearts.  The Promise is the Spirit of the Living God, Christ, who is Wisdom and the Father who is Understanding.  We get both when the Promise is given.

Joh 14:20  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 

Joh 14:21  He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 

Now we have the Living Commandments, the Spirit of the Father and Christ within our hearts, and everything is being made new.  We are able, with the power given unto us, to obey the commandments.  All the greater works of God are given to us, not in the shadow as in John’s Baptism, but in the fullness of the power of God.  We are now given a measure of the faith OF Christ. With that faith comes the fullness of God’s mercy, peace, and glory to take root in us, the Temple of God.  When the Promise comes, we are now Born Again into the Living Hope.  The man-child has come forth, Christ has been formed in us, and now we are being taught of God.

Joh 6:45  It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

This is the anointing, Christ in us, the Hope of Glory, that has sprung forth and is teaching us all things in regards to righteousness and judgment.

1Jn 2:27  But the anointing [The Promise] which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. 

The Promise does not come to us when we are young; it comes when we are older and have walked with the Lord a good way.  The Promise is what carries us over the finish line, taking us where flesh would not want to go.

Joh 21:18  Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 

Joh 21:19  This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” 

We do not worry about others and concern ourselves, and compare ourselves.  We just follow Him.  We now understand why the Lord told Peter not to worry about when John would get the Promise and for Peter to focus on just following the Lord.

Joh 21:21  Peter seeing him [Apostle John] saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? 

Joh 21:22  Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. 

Joh 21:23  Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? 

We all go astray into deception until the Lord comes to us the first time and begins to draw us to Him, the truth.  We walk a long way getting cleaned up with the first baptism of John, being washed of the many lies and false doctrines.  Up to the time of the Promise coming at best, we have the Baptism of John and remain separated from the Living Christ, not having the Spirit and knowing Jesus Christ in the letter, meaning in the flesh.  There is nothing wrong with this; all things are ours to fulfil, and it is ordained we live them out.  We have no control over the time set by the father before the world was even formed.  Thus, we learn patience and many other things while we tarry for Christ, the Promise to come.

It can be difficult for us to accept that we have previously walked in many deceptions, deceiving, and being deceived.  Yet we know man shall live by every word, and deception and ignorance are very much part of the journey.

Job 12:16  With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his. 

2Ti 4:3  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 

2Ti 4:4  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 

We are all deceivers and being deceived when we do not know of the Promise and profess not that Jesus Christ has manifested in our flesh with His second coming for salvation.

1Jn 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 

First, having only the shadow, we have a form of godliness but do not possess the needed power of God for salvation.  We struggle mightily to overcome in the strength of our own faith.

It is all the Lord’s work as we are mere clay in His hands.  Again, none of it is wasted as all things are used to prepare us for the true coming of the Lord into our heaven [mind] and unto our earth [our walk and deeds].  To have the Living Christ and the power unto salvation, we must be born again by hearing and receiving the Gospel.  This is why we now preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified with the focus on the commandments in all our teachings.

Joh 3:5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water [John baptism] and of the Spirit [Christ Baptism], he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 

Joh 3:6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 

Joh 3:7  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again

All the major gifts of God, in Spirit and Truth, only come when the Promise comes.  We have a version of them in John’s Baptism, but they are not the fullness.  Those versions are of the letter and not the true power unto salvation.  We need not be sad or angry about this, as all of our prior time is used in preparing us, just as John prophesied, as Christ gave him the words to speak.  The one coming after John is the true one, the real power that is the Living Gospel.

Luk 3:3  And he [John] came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; 

Luk 3:4  As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 

We are being prepared as the Bride with John’s baptism.  We are being cleaned with the water of the true word, the commandments.  Christ is coming for His virgin wife, and there is no lie or guile in a chaste virgin.  When the marriage comes, the Promises come, and this is the fire of the Word now dwelling in our members.  This is salvation is come.

Mat 3:11  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 

Mat 3:12  Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. 

The commandments we learn and eat daily in our meditation and studies is our preparation.   A day of preparation always preceded the sacrifice of the passover.  We are being prepared by the Baptism of John to become a living sacrifice.

Act 13:25  And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose. 

Act 13:26  Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. 

The baptism of John, learning the commandments that all the prophets spoke, draws us near and prepares us for the Promise to come.  With John, we are learning knowledge of salvation, the commandments coming to life.  Yet we wait or tarry for the power, the Promise to come.

Luk 1:76  And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; 

Luk 1:77  To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, 

The covenant of the Promise was first given to Abram.  Abram did not actually get it, as the Spirit was not yet given.  The Lord’s new covenant is the Promise, meaning that the Living Word comes and makes us into kings and exceedingly fruitful in the promised land.  We get a new name when the Promise comes.

Gen 17:4  As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. 

Gen 17:5  Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. 

Gen 17:6  And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. 

Gen 17:7  And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. 

Gen 17:8  And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. 

How Christ Comes with the Promise

The Promise is the Lord coming, and He comes with the angels that proclaim the Gospel.  Those first given the Promise are the angels who then bring it to others by preaching the Gospel.  The Cherubims guard the way to the tree of life that is the Promise of the Living Commandments.  Those who receive it in this age shall never taste death; we shall never die even when we depart these clay vessels.  Believe you this?

Mat 16:27  For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. 

Mat 16:28  Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. 

It is the angels of the Lord, those first brought through the door that the Lord uses to gather in the Elect when the time comes.

Mat 24:31  And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 

The tares are gathered up and burned when the angels preach the Gospel, which brings forth the righteousness of Jesus Christ to those who receive it.

Mat 13:40  As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this age. 

Mat 13:41  The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 

Mat 13:43  Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. 

Faith IN Christ versus the Faith OF Christ:

Those who hear Christ or any of His prophets [John the Baptist] speaking the Word of truth come to believe.  Faith comes by hearing.  The faith we first get is our own faith; this is where we all start.  This faith is convincing and does make many changes in our lives.  Many who heard John or heard Christ in the flesh believed, but this is not the Promise.  This faith does good things, but it is not the power.  It is not the measure of the Lord’s faith. All these examples are of one coming to believe, having their own faith.

Luk 7:29  And all the people that heard him [Jesus], and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. 

Luk 7:30  But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. 

Joh 7:31  And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?

Some reject the words of the prophets and do not even receive the baptism of John, remaining in total spiritual darkness. Here are more witnesses to those who hear first coming to their own faith, that is not the faith OF Christ.

Joh 4:40  So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. 

Joh 4:41  And many more believed because of his own word;

Joh 12:11  Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus. 

The Jews who “believed on Christ” had faith, but they are still of their father the devil, as all of us are, until the Promise comes and with it the power unto salvation.

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 

Christ speaks of the power and call to holiness, and the believing Jews begin to argue with Christ, thinking they already have what He is talking about.  It results in Christ bluntly telling them, they are not yet of the true God and are yet carnal in their faith and understanding.  They have not tasted of the heavenly manna yet, only eating of Moses’s manna, which is the letter and not the Living Spirit.  They have not yet the Promise of the Spirit of the Living God.

Joh 8:43  Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 

Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 

Joh 8:45  And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. 

Preachers of the Gospel suffer the same response today when speaking with Jews who believe in Jesus Christ.  This first faith of Christ is not the true faith; it is only the shadow of the true faith.  The faith that saves us is a gift from God and is none of our own doing.

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 

Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast. 

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 

The True Saving Faith

When Christ comes to make His abode in us, we are given a measure of His Faith that is the Promise.  This is an earnest deposit of the Living Spirit.

Rom 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 

Rom 12:4  For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 

Before we get this measure of His Faith, we only have our own, which serves its purpose in drawing us near.  Yet we are not justified by our works, and striving without the indwelling power. We need to wait and tarry until true faith, His faith, comes, and then we are being justified.

Gal 2:16  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith OF Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith OF Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

The righteousness that comes by Christ’s faith comes by way of the Promise, which is given to us as a gift.  It is not of ourselves.

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith OF Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

The true Living Faith is a gift that comes when Christ comes with the Promise.  Peter called this the living or lively hope.  It is not the faith in Christ; it is His faith as we now have Jesus Christ resurrected from the dead and living within us in the temple of God.  The two faiths are totally different.

1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 

When this happens, our Pentecost has come in the Father’s time.  If we do not yet have this, we must wait in the same way all the Apostles, even Paul and Apollos, and all those in the New Testament had to wait.  It will come, and then we will be raised up and quickened by the Power of the Living God.  Paul wrote to the Ephesians who had been quickened by the Promise coming.

Eph 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 

Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 

Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 

Eph 2:7  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 

Anyone who has received the Promise has no pride or boast, as it is truly a gift, and those to whom it is given know that with every fiber of their being.  All our prior work and knowledge turns into dung in an instant.  We now look to the Living Lord, the author and finisher of our faith, to finish the work.

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.  Our ability to see and hear the true Living Word of God is a miracle the Lord performs in opening our eyes and ears in His mercy.  Thus, we fully understand that He chooses us; we do not choose Him. When we think we already have something, we no longer seek it.  The Lord is found by those who seek Him not; it is all to His glory and credit.

Rom 10:20  But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. 

The Promise, His Faith, is coming to all called by His Name. We just need to wait for it.  This is the patience and tribulation of all the saints.

Salvation is the Promise Coming:

 The Scriptures are primarily written to those who have already received the Promise.  This is because the Lord speaks of things that are not yet as if they already were.  This principle is throughout the Scriptures in the things being spoken.

Rom 4:17  As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations, before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 

This way of the Lord hides the truth from us, until He purposes to reveal it to us.  The Lord is faithful to reveal the true Living Gospel to those so ordained before the world was formed.

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 

Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 

Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. 

When the Promise comes and we are endued with power from on high, salvation has come to our house.  When the Lord comes, there is a short war, a quick work on the earth, as Satan is cast out of our heaven. This is the work of the Living Christ, the Promise who is much stronger than the devil that is in this world.

With the Promise, salvation has come to the house of the Lord.  We now have the strength and power to overcome our sin.

Rev 12:7  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 

Rev 12:8  And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 

Rev 12:9  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 

Rev 12:10  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 

The race is not over, but salvation, the power of God, is now in us.  We overcome the devil now out of our heaven [mind], but very much still on our earth by being dead to the world and its god.  We love not our life until we enter into the rest of the Living Commandments, being dead to the world.  We are being crucified with Christ.

Rev 12:11  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. [we make our graves with the wicked, being dead to the world]

Rev 12:12  Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” 

We now rejoice as we dwell in heaven with the Lord, remaining vigilant till we depart these clay vessels.  Before we depart, we overcome and become a mighty angel who stands on the earth and the sea [Rev 10:5], having dominion over our bodies and actions. This is Christ in us and we give the Gospel to others who take and eat of it.

Salvation, receiving THE PROMISE, is the most essential promise of the Lord.  He is the saviour and is saving every one of His created children on the timeline of the Father.  Believe it!

 All the promises of God are contained in this ONE PROMISE that we wait and hope for until it comes.   The key promises of faith, mercy, grace, peace, and glory are all contained in the one PROMISE.  The Lord is merciful and opens eyes and reveals these simple yet deep truths of His Promise.  It is through His grace and our resting in His peace, being filled with His glory, that we are being saved.  Hallelujah!

Letters

The Jerusalem Council and the Four Instructions

Peter

Acts 15 – The Apostles’ Letter  

As the Gospel spread in the early church [and we are early in the spread of the Gospel in our generation], there arose much disputing regarding the topic of circumcision and specifically whether or not the Gentiles were required to be circumcised.  This council of the Apostles and the resulting letter are important parables that contain instructions for all of us, both Jew and Gentile, who have Christ.  Understanding these instructions, which are commandments, confirms the Scriptures and guides our walk in the truth.

Joh 4:24  God is Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and in truth. 

The snare of seeking knowledge that is covetousness is far greater than we first understood.  This Gospel of the commandments is despised by the carnally minded who rather seek to make a name for themselves and bring glory to themselves, having many possessions.  Seeking riches apart from the true gold of the Lord is one of our most frequent warnings, as the snare is so alluring to all flesh.  We are admonished not to seek those riches in the parable of the rich young ruler and have a score of warnings about false teachers, antichrists, and even in the pronouncement of woes to the Pharisees and lawyers.  Knowledge gives power to and exalts the flesh.

Mat 23:5  But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments

Arguing over circumcision and uncircumcision [not the foreskin cutting but the need for the knowledge] is a hotly debated topic among the Apostles of Jesus Christ in every generation.  These debates shown to us in the Scriptures are words we also live by in our appointed time.    Paul preached the Gospel, meaning the commandments, and put the focus on being a new creation in everything he did.  Yet those who had come to Christ after searching the Scriptures for many years, symbolizing the Jews, disputed with him about the importance and need for the circumcision of knowledge.

Act 15:1  And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

Act 15:2  When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

These Scriptures here in the Acts of the Apostles are here to remind us that we experience the same as a time comes when we are confronted for preaching the Gospel by those teaching the circumcision of knowledge.  It is written in our book to fulfill this, so we best be prepared.

Paul and Barnabas work their way back to Jerusalem to confer with the other Apostles.  The sway of the circumcision done by man’s knowledge is so strong that even some Pharisees who believed confronted the Apostles on this falsehood.  Thus, the council of Acts 15 was initiated with much dissension.

Act 15:5  But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

Act 15:6  And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

There are benefits to possessing the knowledge of the circumcision done by the hands of men, as was discussed in the last letter.  It can be useful for the ministry of the Gospel, especially in reaching other Jews with a similar background in the Old Testament Scriptures.  Yet as we have learned, all that we studied over many years did nothing to change our hearts; we were still beasts at heart without overcoming.  Just the outside of the cup was a little cleaner than the heathens in this world.

Why would a Gentile convert who now believes in the living commandments and the real power unto salvation be put under the same yoke we once laboured?  Why not just teach them to obey the commandments that now live in their hearts?  The answer is clear, and there is no room for debate.

Gal 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Joh 1:17  For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Rom 10:4  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

After much disputing, Peter rose and spoke the truth.

Act 15:7  And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

Act 15:8  And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

Act 15:9  And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. [the indwelling commandments]

Nothing is to be added to or taken away from the commandments. Just doing them is how one is saved from their sins, and this is not works; this is the power of God working inside us unto salvation. A works-based salvation is doing it the Moses way, and getting circumcised with all the knowledge and thinking that makes us holy. Christ, the living Word of commandments, is the only way, the truth, and the life.

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father [the holy commandments], but by me.

Entering into the commandments is entering into Christ, which is the rest that remains to be found for the people of God.  There is no yoke or anything else required.

Act 15:10  Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

Act 15:11  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Salvation comes as our hearts are being made new by the grace of God that is correcting us by the indwelling Spirit of the living commandments.  Our days of eating and drinking and getting drunk on knowledge served their purposes for those of us who are spiritual Jews.  Yet this work to try to circumcise ourselves by our own hands is not necessary for the Gentiles to be saved.  All that matters is a new creation.

Gal 6:15  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

Gal 6:16  And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

New hearts are being established not with the meat of knowledge but by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, working mightily in the Temple of God.  We now eat Christ’s body and drink of His blood by the daily communion and intimacy of the indwelling commandments.

1Co 11:26  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

Many “Jews” remain outside the true faith, doing many sacrifices, serving the tabernacle, but they cannot enter and eat at the altar where those in the Spirit of Christ dwell and eat.  Those outside the living commandments chase more knowledge and are ever learning but are not able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Heb 13:9  Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

Heb 13:10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

After Peter spoke, the Apostle James spoke, showing how the Scriptures foretell this new understanding that the circumcision of knowledge by learning Moses and the law was not required.  James was the first to suggest the four instructions that should be given to the Gentiles.

Act 15:14  Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

Act 15:15  And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

Act 15:16  After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

Act 15:17  That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

Act 15:18  Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

Act 15:19  Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

Act 15:20  But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

This pleased the Apostles, and all agreed to send men to preach the Gospel and provide a letter proving that the issue of this circumcision was now settled.  The letter gives instructions regarding abstaining from four necessary actions which defile our walk and leaven our spiritual food [the commands] in Christ.  These four abstentions are the whole of our instructions on how we walk out the Gospel and eat the Lord’s Supper.  Here is the letter released to the church, and the instructions for believers today.

Act 15:23  The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

Act 15:24  Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

Act 15:25  It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

Act 15:26  Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Act 15:27  We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

Act 15:28  For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

Act 15:29  That ye abstain from meats offered to idols,  and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

This council and the resulting letter are a parable of instructions on righteousness in a hidden tongue.  None of them are literal actions, and none of them are new commandments that we do not already know.  Yet seeing them again in the light of these simple instructions should solidify one’s faith to know they are the blessed of God.

These four instructions are the whole of our instructions.  What they say in a parable is that we are to obey ALL of the Commandments.  Our instructions on walking by faith are not complicated.  How we walk and how we eat in the Kingdom of God is to DO the Commandments.

Ecc 12:13  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 

The Apostle’s instructions say nothing about physically eating or drinking, as these phrases and the instructions are parables of what and how we are to think and act.   We need to keep ourselves set apart and clean from the ways of the world and examine our ways to ensure we do not stray off the highway of holiness.  Many stumble, not taking heed of these instructions, and as a result, bring damnation to themselves, becoming spiritually sick, and some even die.

1Co 11:27  Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

1Co 11:28  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

1Co 11:29  For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

1Co 11:30  For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

Abstaining from meats offered to idols: There is only one true God, the Lord, and His Father.  Meat is our spiritual sustenance, our thought life, said another way.  We are commanded to abstain from eating meat offered to idols.   Pursuing the lust of riches, be it physical or spiritual knowledge, we pollute ourselves and create idols that compete for our affection, which is to be solely on the Lord’s commandments.  This covetousness is idolatry.

Col 3:5  Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil desires, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

Engaging in worldly conversation and activities is vanity and can easily tempt us to sin, speak evil of others, and judge according to the flesh.  What we say and how we say it are very important, as we do not want to fall into temptation or tempt others with our speech.  We are to take our eating of the Lord’s supper and the Holy Commandments very seriously.  Being slothful and undisciplined turns us into idolaters and makes light of the serious things of God.

1Co 10:7  Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

Partaking of this “meat” is engaging in carnal dialogue and is eating meat offered to idols. A great example in play in the world today is the snare and pollution of political conversation.  We cannot avoid this altogether lest we be taken out of this world [1Co 5:10], yet if we find ourselves in such a “meat market”, we are to ask no questions and just listen.

1Co 10:25  Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:

1Co 10:26  For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.

1Co 10:27  If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. 

Doing this is very hard, but it is possible with God.  Our calling is very high, and the Lord is truly separating a remnant unto himself, being holy and without blame.  The carnally minded world is always going to seek to engage us and thereby tempt us by asking us to eat their sacrifices unto their idols.  Christ showed us the way and answered not when the Pharisees tempted Him.

Mat 27:12  And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

Joh 8:6  This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

Abstaining from blood:  We do not eat the Word of God where there is still life in it.  Blood sustains life in a flesh body, and we are only to eat what is dead.  We sin when we take into our hearts [eat] anything that is not dead, meaning it still has blood, the life force in it.  This has always been the Lord’s command, as we see in the first covenant made with Noah after the great flood.  If we eat blood, we are abiding in spiritual death [carnal mindedness] and are cut off from the living.

Gen 9:3  Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

Gen 9:4  But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.

Gen 9:5  And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man. 

Spiritually speaking this is engaging in carnal reasoning, judging in the flesh and not resting solely on the commandments.  This keeps the old man alive who is dead while he lives. That life must be lost, poured out on the earth to become acceptable to God.

Lev 17:14  For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.

The accusing and excusing mindset of the carnal mind [serpent’s mind] is how we kill ourselves and our brothers in Spirit and eat blood.  This is the merchandising of Babylon, trading in the souls of men [Eze 28:16] as the corrupt cherub.

We are to give our brethren the commandments to eat and just do them, which is the love of God.  We are to do no violence. Violence in the Spirit is engaging under the accusing and excusing law for the lawless, which is the carnal mind and the bread of the devil.  Abstaining from blood is how we partake of the Lord’s supper and walk being led by the living bread of life, the holy commandments.

Deu 12:16  Only ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water.

Deu 12:27  And thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood, upon the altar of the LORD thy God: and the blood of thy sacrifices shall be poured out upon the altar of the LORD thy God, and thou shalt eat the flesh.

We are the soldiers in Christ’s army, and are commanded to do no violence, nor falsely accuse, both of which are eating blood.  Carnal thoughts, accuse/excuse, up and down, running to and fro on the earth is doing violence to the Word of God we eat.  We are to take all such thoughts captive to the obedience of the commandments and rest from these carnal labours.  Standing on the simplicity of the commands is doing no violence.

Luk 3:14  And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages [the living commandments in our heart].

Christ showed us the way we are to follow.  He made His grave with the wicked, meaning He laid his life down and did not contend with them in carnal arguments and reasonings.  He did NO violence, and NO deceit was found in His mouth.

Isa 53:9  And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

We can judge the fruit but not the man, or else we are false accusers, which is eating blood.  Christ and His Christ come to save the world, not to judge the world.  The world judges in the flesh, we are to be judging righteous judgment, which is abstaining from eating blood.

Joh 8:15  Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.

Mat 7:1  Judge not, that ye be not judged.

Before Christ comes to us and the living commandments take root in our heart, all try to enter the kingdom of heaven by engaging in this violence [accuse/excuse] that is eating of blood in Spirit.

Mat 11:12  And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

This is incredibly difficult to do and we can only do it with the power of God, the Gospel leading us into all righteousness.  When we pervert the Gospel to take away the suffering required to abstain from all of the world’s carnality and foolish talking, we are eating with blood and not judging righteously.  As living sacrifices unto the Lord, we are to reckon ourselves already dead as we ONLY eat the body of Christ, which is the commandments dwelling in our heart.  Anything still alive is eating blood.

Col 3:3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

When Christ the living commandments take root in our hearts by the power of His Spirit, then violence is no more heard in our land but only salvation.  Christ the power of the Gospel is come!.

Isa 60:18  Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.

Abstaining from strangled meat: The meat of the Word is Jesus Christ and Him within us crucified.  This is the only meat we are to eat.  The meat of Jesus Christ is to do the commandments.  That is what having the faith of Christ means.  We know not of this meat until the Spirit comes to us and makes its abode with us.

Joh 4:32  But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.

Joh 4:34  Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

Strangled meat is suffocated meat, meaning there was no shedding of blood in the killing of the sacrifice.  Such spiritual meat is defiled as it means there is no cross, no suffering, representing another false Gospel.  Eating this kind of meat does not take away our sins, and there is no overcoming.

Lev 17:11  For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement [forgiveness] for the soul.

Heb 9:22  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Strangled meat is killed by choking the air out of the animal.  In the spiritual realm, this is choking out the Spirit of Christ from the meat.  The result is that we are turned over to the lust of the flesh without the power of the living Spirit of commandments to keep us on the straight path.  This meat turns the grace of God into lasciviousness.  Many meat peddlers sell this meat to those who fail to examine the food they eat in their heaven.   We are to beware and abstain from partaking with them.

Jud 1:4  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Without the shedding of blood and by choking out the Spirit from our sacrifice, there is no nutritional value from eating this meat, and it defiles us before the Lord.  It is not an acceptable sacrifice; it is the way of the world.

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

The meat that those in the Gospel eat requires that the blood be poured out on the altar of God in our hearts.  This is the suffering, the loss, the laying down of our lives.  We eat Christ’s body and not strangled meat.

1Jn 3:16  Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Abstain from fornication:  Spiritual fornication is where we meditate on carnal thoughts and are led astray by such reasonings and justifications of the serpent’s carnal mind.  We are to take all thoughts captive to the obedience of the living commandments to avoid fornication.   We saw in our study of Phinehas that the fornication of Israel with the Midianite women resulted in a plague on Israel, and many died.  The Lord is a jealous God.

1Co 10:8  Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

We live in a carnal world, full of spiritual fornication. We have to fight the fight of faith and immediately shut down the fornicating speech that comes out of our mouth or into our minds.

2Co 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

2Co 10:4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

We need to be careful about how we eat the Lord’s supper.  It is necessary, as the Apostle’s letter establishes, that we abstain from fornication.  It is a grievous sin for us to keep out of the Lord’s temple and in our communion with one another.  We cannot be joined to a harlot and claim to be one with the Lord.  We sin against our own Body [within and without] when we commit fornication.

1Co 6:15  Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.

1Co 6:16  What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

1Co 6:17  But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

1Co 6:18  Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

We are to separate from fornicators that sleep with the wife of the devil [father’s wife], as we see in 1 Corinthians 5.  Godly love is withdrawing from all that fail to abstain from these four necessary things until and unless the Lord grants them repentance.  Living in the world, we cannot completely avoid keeping company with those who practice these things.  However, we are commanded not to share our spiritual food with them.

1Co 5:9  I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:

1Co 5:10  Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.

1Co 5:11  But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

A little leaven does leaven the whole lump.  We cannot be intimate with our Lord, His Word, His commandments, or with His Christ while we are fornicating or eating with those who do.  If we belong to Christ, He owns us as we have been redeemed for a price.  We are to glorify Him in all our thoughts and behavior.

1Co 6:19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

1Co 6:20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

The Apostle’s letter agrees with all the instructions given throughout their epistles.  The focus of one’s thoughts and speech is always on the commandments, that is, the doctrine of Christ.  The Lord’s will is our sanctification by His Body and Blood.  This is only done by way of the living commandments dwelling in us as we become a living sacrifice, He in us and we in Him.  Nothing else is to be added or taken away.  Our meat and drink is the pure and undefiled holy commandments of the Father now given to us in power.

We are to take heed to these instructions.  Those in the Spirit are being taught of God to abstain from these fleshly and worldly lusts.  Obeying the commandments is to abstain from 1) idols, 2) fornication, 3) blood, and 4) strangled meat, and it is by our obedience that we are making our calling and election sure.

1Th 4:2  For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

1Th 4:3  For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

1Th 4:4  That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

Let us obey the Lord and only eat and partake of those things which are clean.  What we put into our hearts and minds comes back out and defiles a man.  May His will be done in our lives.

A subsequent article was written that spoke in more depth to the Commandments regarding eating meat that is sacrificed or offered unto idols.  That post is here: Eating Meat Sacrificed Unto Idols