"The general assembly and church of the firstborn"

Hello To All:

In our last essay, it was indicated that, in this essay, we would seek to answer the question regarding what is the "this" that we are supposed to "do." That last essay was posted on June 27th of this year; and between then and now, I have been waiting on the Lord Jesus Christ for the appropriate time for the answering of the question, regarding the "this" of what we are supposed to "do."  The time is still not at hand.

For those of you who are regular readers of this blog (currently there are brethren from 57 countries visiting this blog and the list is growing), this pause should not surprise you. On November 2, 2011, a series of essays regarding the principal that "I am crucified with Christ," was begun. After nine essays, that series was interrupted by the need to examine something else that would be essential to our continuing the "crucified" series. Thus, on February 20, 2012, a series of essays regarding "Ye are the temple of God," was begun. Nine essays later, that series was interrupted by our current series regarding "Do we believe God?" So far, there have been ten essays posted in this current series; and it is time for another interruption. And, along this journey there were other essays posted, providing insights that were and are essential to the journey. Can we say thank you Jesus?

I ask you to join with me in thanking our Lord Jesus Christ, for these interruptions, because the journey towards "victorious discipleship in Jesus Christ," demands that we go ever deeper into our understanding of the fullness of who God is, and what this means for our lives: both now and for eternity.

Returning then, to our current topic: "The general assembly and church of the firstborn." We must ask ourselves: what is the reason for this interruption in the series: "Do we believe God?" The answer is all about context - that ever important foundation for understanding the truth of the King's Book.  We cannot adequately describe, nor begin to understand the fullness of the "this" that we are to "do," without first understanding the fullness of the context where the doing takes place. That "doing" takes place in: "The general assembly and church of the firstborn." Apart from "the general assembly and church of the firstborn," the "this," that we are to "do," cannot be done!

Let us turn to the King's Book and the text from which our title, for this essay, comes. We find written at Hebrews 12: 22-24:

(22) "But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,"
(23) "To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,"
(24) "And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel."

The first thing that should get our attention, is the first that is written: "But ye are come!" The "ye" that "are come," is a very exclusive group of people. Please carefully consider the following: "Ye are come unto mount Sion" - "Ye are come ... "unto the city of the living God" - "Ye are come unto" ... "the heavenly Jerusalem" - "Ye are come unto" ... "an innumerable company of angels" - "Ye are come unto" ... "the general assembly" - "Ye are come unto" ... "the church of the firstborn" - "Ye are come" ... "which are written in heaven" - "Ye are come" ..."to God the Judge of all" - "Ye are come" ... "to the spirits of just men made perfect" - "Ye are come" ... "to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant" - "Ye are come" ... "to the blood of sprinkling."

Let us take a second look.  But ye are come unto: mount Sion - the city of the living God - the heavenly Jerusalem - the company of angels - the general assembly - the church of the firstborn - being written in heaven - God the Judge of all - the spirits of just men made perfect - to Jesus - to the mediator of the new covenant - to the blood of sprinkling. This list, should remove from our minds, any possible consideration of some sort of universalist theology that claims that all will ultimately be saved. My beloved, if you are thinking this way, then you need to take a closer look at your own standing with Jesus of Nazareth, who is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Only those who belong to Jesus, can make the claim to being part of the exclusive group, who are described in our text as being the "Ye" who "are come."

When next we meet, we shall take a closer look at the characteristics and defining qualities of: "The general assembly and church of the firstborn."

Until next time, my beloved brethren, in Christ Jesus, I continue to be:

Your servant and your fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus