Hello to all. The following information is posted for your intense consideration. The importance of the King James Version of Holy Scriptures, will become clearer as we continue in our time together. Please compare these verb forms with whatever translation that you are currently using. If your translation is not the KJV, then you should see a significant difference. In future postings, we will explore these differences, as we continue to strive for and achieve "victorious discipleship," in Jesus Christ. Until next time, my beloved brethren, I continue to be:
Your servant and fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus
January 28, 2010
An examination of selected passages from the King James translation of the Holy Scriptures. The specific passages use a present tense verb form in describing our standing in Christ Jesus. This is in stark contrast to most other English translations, which use a past tense verb form in the same passages. As portions of each relevant verse are listed, the particular portion of the text to be examined will be capitalized.
1. Romans 5:5 “… the love of God IS SHED ABROAD …”
“… the Holy Ghost which IS GIVEN …”
2. Romans 6:2 “… we, that ARE DEAD to sin …”
3. Romans 6:4 “… we ARE BURIED with Him …”
4. Romans 6:6 “… our old man IS CRUCIFIED with Him …”
5. Romans 6:7 “… he that IS DEAD is freed …”
6. Romans 6:8 “… if we BE DEAD with Christ …”
7. 1 Cor. 5:7 “… Christ our Passover IS SACRIFICED for us.”
8. 1 Cor. 6:11 “… ye ARE WASHED …”
“… ye ARE SANCTIFIED …”
“… ye ARE JUSTIFIED …”
9. Gal 2:20 “… I AM CRUCIFIED with Christ …”
10. Gal 6:14 “… the world IS CRUCIFIED unto me …”
11. Col 2:11 “… ye ARE CIRCUMCISED with …”
12. Col 2:12 “… BURIED with him …”
“… ye ARE RISEN with him …”
13. Col 3:1 “… If ye then BE RISEN with Christ …”
14. Col 3:3 “… ye ARE DEAD …”
15. 1 John 4:2 “… Jesus Christ IS COME in the flesh …”
16. 1 John 4:3 “… Jesus Christ IS COME in the flesh …”
17. Col 1:29 “…according to His WORKING …” (The verb “working” is changed
to a noun in other translations.)
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
The "mystery" of Jesus: Indwelling and Manifesting
Hello To All:
Let us look again at two passages from the King's Book. 1. "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27 KJV). 2. "Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh." (2 Corinthians 4:10-11 KJV). The first passage takes us right to the indwelling presence of Jesus Christ. The second passage takes us right to the manifesting presence of Jesus Christ. Two of our recent blogs ("Christ in you: the hope of glory;" and "Entry-level versus Victorious Discipleship.") began to examine this great mystery regarding our union with Jesus Christ. A full examination and comprehension of this "mystery," will take some time. It will challenge us. It has the potential to take us deeper and higher then we have ever been. For now, let it be said, that if we only have an awareness of the "indwelling Jesus Christ," we can find ourselves stuck in the pattern of "entry-level discipleship;" and constantly wondering why the victory so often eludes us. If we are to have victory in this life, we must move from "entry-level discipleship" to "victorious discipleship;" and the only way that we can accomplish this move is by comprehending and apprehending the "manifesting" presence of Jesus Christ. Please join me in this journey to victory. Until next time my beloved brethren, I continue to be:
Your servant and fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus
Let us look again at two passages from the King's Book. 1. "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27 KJV). 2. "Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh." (2 Corinthians 4:10-11 KJV). The first passage takes us right to the indwelling presence of Jesus Christ. The second passage takes us right to the manifesting presence of Jesus Christ. Two of our recent blogs ("Christ in you: the hope of glory;" and "Entry-level versus Victorious Discipleship.") began to examine this great mystery regarding our union with Jesus Christ. A full examination and comprehension of this "mystery," will take some time. It will challenge us. It has the potential to take us deeper and higher then we have ever been. For now, let it be said, that if we only have an awareness of the "indwelling Jesus Christ," we can find ourselves stuck in the pattern of "entry-level discipleship;" and constantly wondering why the victory so often eludes us. If we are to have victory in this life, we must move from "entry-level discipleship" to "victorious discipleship;" and the only way that we can accomplish this move is by comprehending and apprehending the "manifesting" presence of Jesus Christ. Please join me in this journey to victory. Until next time my beloved brethren, I continue to be:
Your servant and fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus
Monday, January 25, 2010
"Christ in you: the hope of glory."
Hello To All:
If we are going to be able to comprehend the meaning of: "Christ in you, the hope of glory," then we must be able to comprehend the relationship between the physical realms and the spiritual realms. We learn from the King's Book that God is a Spirit and that His habitation is in the heavens. In one place (Hebrews 4:16 KJV) we are told to "...come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." We could search the physical realms for all of our days; and we will not find the location of the "throne of grace." God's throne is in the heavens; and, as believers, we enter that throne room every time we pray. So, if we pray daily; then, daily, we cross over into the spiritual realms. The point to be made here, is that, as disciples of Jesus Christ, desiring to experience,
"victorious discipleship in Jesus Christ," we need to recognize that we live and move and have our being in both realms. This reality is most evident in the quote from the King's Book: "Christ in you, the hope of glory." Our Lord Jesus Christ has ascended to His Father's throne room and is seated at His right hand. He also serves as our on-going advocate, before our Heavenly Father, in the very throne room, that we are called to "come boldly unto." Thus, Jesus Christ, currently residing in the spiritual realms, comes and also dwells within us, here, in the physical realms. The King's Book refers to this reality as: "...the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints..." (Please read the entire text at: Colossians 1:25-29.) Part of our on-going discussion, will be to examine this "mystery," and its meaning for our lives. Until next time my beloved brethren, I continue to be:
Your servant and fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus
If we are going to be able to comprehend the meaning of: "Christ in you, the hope of glory," then we must be able to comprehend the relationship between the physical realms and the spiritual realms. We learn from the King's Book that God is a Spirit and that His habitation is in the heavens. In one place (Hebrews 4:16 KJV) we are told to "...come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." We could search the physical realms for all of our days; and we will not find the location of the "throne of grace." God's throne is in the heavens; and, as believers, we enter that throne room every time we pray. So, if we pray daily; then, daily, we cross over into the spiritual realms. The point to be made here, is that, as disciples of Jesus Christ, desiring to experience,
"victorious discipleship in Jesus Christ," we need to recognize that we live and move and have our being in both realms. This reality is most evident in the quote from the King's Book: "Christ in you, the hope of glory." Our Lord Jesus Christ has ascended to His Father's throne room and is seated at His right hand. He also serves as our on-going advocate, before our Heavenly Father, in the very throne room, that we are called to "come boldly unto." Thus, Jesus Christ, currently residing in the spiritual realms, comes and also dwells within us, here, in the physical realms. The King's Book refers to this reality as: "...the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints..." (Please read the entire text at: Colossians 1:25-29.) Part of our on-going discussion, will be to examine this "mystery," and its meaning for our lives. Until next time my beloved brethren, I continue to be:
Your servant and fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Prayer meeting update
Hello to all. Just a reminder to those of you who might be in the area. This coming Friday (Jan 22), will be our next prayer meeting. The meeting will be at 7:30 P.M. at the Shawano Senior Center (225 South Main Street, Shawano, Wisconsin). Hope to see you there. Until next time, my beloved brethren, I continue to be:
Your servant and fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus
Your servant and fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Entry-level versus Victorious Discipleship
In Paul's letter, written to the Galatian church, we find these words recorded in chapter three and verse three: "Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" The way of the "Spirit" being contrasted to the way of the "flesh." The Galatians had gotten off track. They were in deep trouble in their walk of faith. They had left the way of the "Spirit;" and Paul was being used, by The Lord our God, to correct them and get them back on track. We often find these contrasted ways in the Kings Book: The flesh and the Spirit. The carnal and the spiritual. The babe and the mature. Walking by sight as opposed to walking by faith. For the purposes of this forum, "entry-level discipleship" can be best understood in the context of the way of the "flesh," the "carnal" way, the way of the "babe" in Christ, and "walking by sight;" and "victorious discipleship" can be best understood in the context of the way of the "Spirit," the "spiritual" way, the way of the "mature" in Christ, and "walking by faith." Our conversion to Jesus Christ is a work of the Holy Spirit. Thus, we begin our journey (just as the Galatians did), "by the Spirit." But, we quickly fall prey to thinking that we must be doing something in response to our conversion. We quickly fall into patterns of doing certain things and not doing certain other things. We become as the Galatians, who, because of their "flesh" walk, were looking to "being perfected by the flesh." In contrast to this, our Lord Jesus Christ, is seeking to move us into an understanding of and submission to the reality, that He is willing to empower us to live rightly and walk in holiness, by allowing Him to do the doing and the not doing. As it is written at Second Corinthinians, chapter four and verse eleven: "For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh." Let us stop being "foolish" like the Galatians. Instead, join with me in allowing Jesus to have His "way" with us! Join with me in walking by, and continuing with: God the Holy Spirit, in and through His Son Jesus Christ. Until next time, my beloved brethren, I continue to be:
Your servant and fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus
Your servant and fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus
Friday, January 8, 2010
Let us repent of our sectarian ways: re-visited!
Hello to all. It is good to have this call to repentance ever before us. If we are to truly know the joy of "victorious discipleship in Jesus Christ," then freedom from our bondage to sectarian perspectives is foundational to our journey. Our path to freedom is repentance of our sinful ways and our on-going conversion to Jesus Christ.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Let us repent of our sectarian ways!
An open letter, from Theophilus, a missionary elder, called, ordained and equipped by our Lord Jesus Christ to serve all of God’s people: to the Church of God scattered across North America – to all who, with me, call upon Jesus Christ for salvation and eternal life.
Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Great God and Saviour. This is the same Jesus who is: “The Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world (Jn 1:29).” Amen.
My brethren - my fellow bond servants: how is it that we have fallen so far? - why are we so filled with division, strife and envy? - how is it that our sectarian views have so readily set one group of us against another? - why are we so quick to embrace the precepts and commandments of men? - rather then the fullness of God’s Word!
The answer lies in our sinful condition – in believing that we are right and everyone else is less right. In our own eyes – we believe we are right (Prov 21:2); and thus we continue in our sinful ways of being set one against the other. May the Lord our God have mercy on us and deliver us from this bondage, this pit of division, into which we have so readily fallen and so willingly promote.
In one place it is recorded (Mk 12:18-27), that a group of the Jewish Sanhedrin, holding to a sectarian view on the resurrection, had come to Jesus to lay their case before Him. Before our Lord corrected them, He first rebuked them by saying: “you are deceived, because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God.” He then proceeded to correct them by revealing the truth of the scriptures. Let me suggest, my most beloved brethren, in a most emphatic way, that we continue in our own sectarian ways because we are “deceived” and “do not know the scriptures or the power of God.”
In another place, it is recorded (1 Cor 3:1-4), that the Corinthian church was called to task for their peculiar sectarian views. Their perspectives had caused them to remain and continue as “babies in Christ” – not ready for the “solid food” of the Word of God. Their condition is likened to that of “typical men.” Earlier in the text (1 Cor 2:14), it is demonstrated, that these “typical men,” these “natural men,” consider the things of the Spirit of God as “foolishness.” They cannot comprehend these deep things of the Spirit of God, because their sectarian views keep them in bondage as “babies in Christ.” Our condition, my brethren, is the same. Our sectarian views have so hindered our ability to understand the Word of God, that we continue as “babies in Christ,” unable to feed and grow from the “solid food” of God’s Word. We continue to be sectarian because we are “babies in Christ” and not fit for “solid food.” Our lack of “solid food” causes us to continue being deceived, because we “do not know the scriptures or the power of God.”
How is it then, that we can escape so great a bondage? It is a simple thing my brethren – we must “repent and believe the gospel.” Jesus says, in one place (Jn 8:32), that if we are “truly His disciples,” we must “continue in His word,” then we “shall know the truth and the truth shall set us free.” Please be reminded, that it is “His Word.” The Word of God is not subject to the peculiar interpretation of a peculiar sectarian idea or viewpoint. The Word of God is subject to Christ and Christ alone!
In one place (Eph 4:1-6), we are reminded of our “calling” to “maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” In every way that we assert our peculiar sectarian views, we violate this command of the Lord our God and we sin in a most grievous way; and we continue as “babies in Christ.” Let us repent my brethren, of our sectarian ways; and let us then be mature Christians, visibly one in Christ. The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you my beloved brethren. Amen.
Your servant and fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Let us repent of our sectarian ways!
An open letter, from Theophilus, a missionary elder, called, ordained and equipped by our Lord Jesus Christ to serve all of God’s people: to the Church of God scattered across North America – to all who, with me, call upon Jesus Christ for salvation and eternal life.
Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Great God and Saviour. This is the same Jesus who is: “The Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world (Jn 1:29).” Amen.
My brethren - my fellow bond servants: how is it that we have fallen so far? - why are we so filled with division, strife and envy? - how is it that our sectarian views have so readily set one group of us against another? - why are we so quick to embrace the precepts and commandments of men? - rather then the fullness of God’s Word!
The answer lies in our sinful condition – in believing that we are right and everyone else is less right. In our own eyes – we believe we are right (Prov 21:2); and thus we continue in our sinful ways of being set one against the other. May the Lord our God have mercy on us and deliver us from this bondage, this pit of division, into which we have so readily fallen and so willingly promote.
In one place it is recorded (Mk 12:18-27), that a group of the Jewish Sanhedrin, holding to a sectarian view on the resurrection, had come to Jesus to lay their case before Him. Before our Lord corrected them, He first rebuked them by saying: “you are deceived, because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God.” He then proceeded to correct them by revealing the truth of the scriptures. Let me suggest, my most beloved brethren, in a most emphatic way, that we continue in our own sectarian ways because we are “deceived” and “do not know the scriptures or the power of God.”
In another place, it is recorded (1 Cor 3:1-4), that the Corinthian church was called to task for their peculiar sectarian views. Their perspectives had caused them to remain and continue as “babies in Christ” – not ready for the “solid food” of the Word of God. Their condition is likened to that of “typical men.” Earlier in the text (1 Cor 2:14), it is demonstrated, that these “typical men,” these “natural men,” consider the things of the Spirit of God as “foolishness.” They cannot comprehend these deep things of the Spirit of God, because their sectarian views keep them in bondage as “babies in Christ.” Our condition, my brethren, is the same. Our sectarian views have so hindered our ability to understand the Word of God, that we continue as “babies in Christ,” unable to feed and grow from the “solid food” of God’s Word. We continue to be sectarian because we are “babies in Christ” and not fit for “solid food.” Our lack of “solid food” causes us to continue being deceived, because we “do not know the scriptures or the power of God.”
How is it then, that we can escape so great a bondage? It is a simple thing my brethren – we must “repent and believe the gospel.” Jesus says, in one place (Jn 8:32), that if we are “truly His disciples,” we must “continue in His word,” then we “shall know the truth and the truth shall set us free.” Please be reminded, that it is “His Word.” The Word of God is not subject to the peculiar interpretation of a peculiar sectarian idea or viewpoint. The Word of God is subject to Christ and Christ alone!
In one place (Eph 4:1-6), we are reminded of our “calling” to “maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” In every way that we assert our peculiar sectarian views, we violate this command of the Lord our God and we sin in a most grievous way; and we continue as “babies in Christ.” Let us repent my brethren, of our sectarian ways; and let us then be mature Christians, visibly one in Christ. The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you my beloved brethren. Amen.
Your servant and fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Discipleship and Salvation
When we lay "The evidence of discipleship" (see post of 12/17/09), along-side "The evidence of salvation" (see post of 12/26/09), it should be very clear to us that to be a disciple of Jesus Christ is to have salvation in Jesus Christ; and that to have salvation in Jesus Christ is to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. The two cannot be separated one from the other. The moment that a person is converted to Jesus Christ, that same person is now a disciple of Jesus Christ. Since all believers are disciples "of" Jesus Christ: why does this forum make the distinction between discipleship "to" Jesus Christ; and discipleship "in" Jesus Christ? For the purposes of this forum, we shall look at discipleship "to Jesus Christ", as entry-level discipleship. We shall look at discipleship "in Jesus Christ", as victorious discipleship. Consider this portion of verses one and two of Hebrews chapter twelve: "...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith..." We are all on a faith journey. That journey begins with our status being "entry-level" disciples; and that journey continues with Jesus ever working to bring us to "victorious discipleship in Jesus Christ." Let us keep "fixing our eyes on Jesus." Until next time, my beloved brethren, I continue to be:
Your servant and fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus
Your servant and fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Prayer meeting update
Hello to all. Our next prayer meeting is this Friday (January 8), at 7:30 P.M. The location is the same: Shawano Senior Center at 225 South Main Street, Shawano, Wisconsin. Hope to see you there. Until next time, my beloved brethren, I continue to be:
Your servant and fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus
Your servant and fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus
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