"The Unity Of The Faith"

Hello To All:

Every journey has a beginning. Our lives are often filled with multiple journeys. For those of us who are converted to Jesus Christ, all of these journeys take place on "the narrow way" that leads to life. Our service to God, our family life, our work, our friendships, our service to others and our leisure time (if we are able to find any), all involve a journey; and every journey has a beginning - a point in the historical time line that can be recalled and recognized as that beginning, peculiar to a specific journey.

On December 5, 2009, our journey through this blog began. I do not travel this road alone. It began with our Lord Jesus Christ and myself. Along the way, many thousands have joined us. As of this writing, those thousands come from 66 countries, in every part of the world. In one country, located in central Europe, every indication suggests that a revival has begun; and that revival is directly related to the work that our Lord Jesus Christ is doing through the journey of this blog. Victorious discipleship is having a world-wide impact. Thank you Jesus.

Every journey also has markers, points of significance. These points help us to recognize the journey. There was a time before the significant event; and then there is the time after the event; so it is with the journey of this blog. Today (October 11, 2013) is one of those significant events; a marker that will change and impact my life in ways that I cannot, yet, comprehend. Please pray for me, my beloved.

The impetus for beginning this blog, was related to the letter titled: "Let us repent of our sectarian ways" (first posted on December 6, 2009). Our Lord Jesus Christ had compelled me to write this letter. Once written, I needed to find a way to get the message delivered to its intended audience, the western church, specifically, the western church in North America. Thus, this blog was set up and the journey began. There have been a number of significant events, along the way; each of them having an impact on myself; and, hopefully, on you, my beloved brethren.

The significance of today is related to our title for this essay: "The Unity Of The Faith." The western church is a house divided; and in many instances, it is a house divided against itself. Open the telephone book of any American city and you can find large numbers of churches listed; all claiming to know the truth; and each of them competing with the others. In all of my years, as a disciple of Jesus Christ, I have never visited a church that was willing to consider the possibility that they were in error in some way. As the King's Book says: "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes..." (Proverbs 21:2).  The text ends with a truth that should get our attention: "But the Lord pondereth the hearts."

We cannot hide our errors, our sins, from the Lord our God. He "pondereth" our hearts. God knows our deepest secrets. Jesus, on the night that He was betrayed, prayed that we would all be one (see John chapter 17).  In the spiritual realms we are one by virtue of our identity as the "body of Christ." In the physical realms, we are, especially in the west, a house that is very divided against itself. This does not surprise God; and He does have a plan. The King's Book often speaks of God's intent for a visibly united church. Please turn with me to Ephesians chapter four, where we find written (verses 1-6):

(1) "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,"
(2) "With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;"
(3) "Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
(4) "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;"
(5) "One Lord, one faith, one baptism,"
(6) "One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."

There are two things that immediately catch my attention, in this text. First is the many occurrences of the word "One." God is "One," and everything He does, with regards to His church, is done in the context of: "One." The second reality is that we have a "vocation" (verse one), whereby we are to be: "Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (verse three).  Being "one," is not forced on us; we are to work at  this oneness. This is not easy work. Christ tells us that apart from Him we can do nothing. But it is also written that: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Thank you Jesus.

God has not divided His church - we have. But, God will restore His church; and He will do this through our willing participation. Our Lord Jesus Christ will not force us to be visibly one - but, He will empower us to be visibly one. Can we say thank you Jesus? Amen and Amen and Amen.

Returning to Ephesians chapter four, we find written at verses 11-16:

(11) "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;"
(12) "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:"
(13) "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:"
(14) "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;"
(15) "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:"
(16) "From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."

Please notice the indicators of this journey that we are so much a part of: "The perfecting of the saints" - "The work of the ministry" - "The edifying of the body of Christ" - "Till we all come" - "The unity of the faith" - "The knowledge of the Son of God" - "Unto a perfect man" - "Unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" - "No more children" - "No more...tossed to and fro" - "No more...carried about with every wind of doctrine" - "Speaking the truth in love" - "Grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ" - "The effectual working...of every part" - "Maketh increase of the body" - "The edifying of itself in love."

There are many places, in the King's Book, where His plan to restore the visible unity of His church are revealed. The above is just one of them. But, let us be clear on this one thing: God intends to bring us to a place in the historical time-line where our spiritual oneness, as the body of Christ, will be manifested in the physical realms with the visible unity of  God's church. Christ's prayer, in John chapter 17, that we would all be one, will be answered.  I encourage you to search the scriptures, looking for our Lord Jesus Christ to guide and direct your own journey with the empowering help of His Holy Spirit, that you might see the fullness of the truth of this great work that the Lord our God intends to do, in these last days.

One of the major obstacles, to our visible unity, is the burden of the institutional church. Every institutional perspective believes it is the one that has the truth (please take another look at the letter titled: "Let us repent of our sectarian ways"); and this institutional sin finds its way into virtually every western local assembly. We are children being tossed to and fro. We are carried about with every wind of doctrine. We are adrift in an ocean of perspectives, where "every way of a man is right in his own eyes." We keep looking for the truth. We keep expecting and hoping to find it; but, more often then not, we are looking for affirmation of what we, personally believe to be the truth. We continue to be: "children" - "tossed to and fro" - "carried about with every wind of doctrine."

How can we escape from so great a turmoil? How can we find our bearings while we are adrift in this ocean of competing perspectives?

The first part of this letter, mentioned that this essay would be one of those significant events - a watershed moment - perhaps even an epiphany - a moment when all things become clear - a beginning for finding our answers to the above questions - a way to escape the turmoil - a place to find our bearings.

When our Lord Jesus Christ compelled me to start this journey, with this blog, it began with one purpose: a way to get a letter to its intended audience. But, very quickly, it soon became apparent that Jesus had many purposes in mind. Thus, as soon as the blog was created, it was made clear to me that one of His intentions was to use the blog for the purposes of training up victorious disciples. Can we say thank you Jesus? Then came the trip to Haiti and its life changing events. Then came almost a year of silence and the life changing effects of that year. Then came my departure from the institutional church and its life changing events. And the journey continues - always with significant markers along the way.

About a year ago, our Lord Jesus Christ made me deeply aware of another of His purposes for this blog. That awareness caused me to recognize that this day would come. I must confess to you, my beloved, that I have not always looked forward, with eagerness to this day. Even as the redeemed children of God, we do not always and eagerly embrace change - especially change that will clearly and dramatically affect our lives.
Prior to today, our Lord Jesus Christ has permitted me and blessed me with a great deal of obscurity. I am out of the public eye. I have been empowered by my Lord Jesus Christ to quietly serve Him in diverse places. There are very few people who really know who Elder Theophilus is. Personally, I like it that way. That is going to change. The change comes with the posting of this essay. Please pray for me.

Earlier it was mentioned that God intends to make us visibly one. This blog is one of His tools for accomplishing that objective, that the Son Jesus Christ prayed for. The writing and posting of this essay, marks the completion of volume one of: "A Theological Handbook For A Visibly United End Times Church." The full title of this book, will be: "Can We See The Trees?" The sub-title is: "A Theological Handbook For A Visibly United End Times Church: Volume One."

Well - the time is hand - the work is done - at least this part of it. As soon as I post this essay, the announcement of God's intentions will be made; and this great work of our Lord Jesus Christ, to visibly unite His church will go forward. Thank you Jesus.

I will not be pursuing the publication of this work. My continuing task is to write. God has made it clear that He will take care of the publishing. Volume two will begin after the first of the year. God has set me free from the writing for a time; but, now that the moment is at hand; I am at peace. I look forward to volume two and this continuing work of training up "Victorious Disciples In Jesus Christ." Amen and Amen and Amen.

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

Your servant and your fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus