A Theological Handbook: Volume Two

"These all died in faith ...... and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." (A portion of Hebrews 11:13).


Hello To All:

It is good to be back. The time of rest from the writing was welcomed. But, I am eager to be back at it; and the Lord our God, has assured me, that the time is at hand for our journey, together, to continue. Can we say thank you Jesus? Amen and Amen and Amen!

Our last essay (please see: "The Unity Of The Faith"), posted on October 11, 2013, concluded with the proclamation of one of God's purposes for this blog.  This blog is one of God's tools for accomplishing His goal of a visibly united end times church. Our last essay concluded "Volume One," of this work.

With this posting, we begin "Volume Two," of this great work, which is the work of Jesus of Nazareth, who is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. The full title of this work is: "I Have Seen The Enemy - And He Is Us," (please see essay, of the same title, posted in December of 2011 and  December of 2012).  The sub-title is: "A Theological Handbook For A Visibly United End Times Church: Volume Two."

Our opening text, is a very good place for us to begin this next phase of our journey towards: "Victorious Discipleship In Jesus Christ." Please note that our text clearly states that: "THESE ALL DIED IN FAITH" (emphasis added by me). Hebrews chapter eleven is often referred to as the "faith" chapter. It provides us with a detailed testimony regarding the many who have gone before us; some of them named, but many only known by their faith.  But, one of the things that they all had in common, was this: they "all died in faith."

Another of things, that they had in common, was their confession that: "THEY WERE STRANGERS AND PILGRIMS ON THE EARTH," (emphasis added by me). Their common faith and their recognition that the earth was not their home, set them apart from all that the world, of their time, was.  Their faith and their confessed uniqueness was totally devoid of any institutional or denominational influence. Their total allegiance was to our Creator, to The Lord our God; and to Him alone.  This full measure of commitment to God alone, has been lost to the western church. Our allegiance is divided; and thus, our house is divided. The Lord our God, intends to end this division. Can we say thank you Jesus? Amen and Amen and Amen!

Let me ask you this, my beloved brethren? Do you recognize the uniqueness of the faith that God has blessed us with? Do you understand that the faith is not our own; but, rather, it is a gift from God, that can only come to us in and through Jesus Christ? Do you recognize how wrong it is for any institutional or denominational structure to claim that true faith can only be found in their church?

It is my most fervent prayer that you have said yes to all of the above questions. We are eternally one because of Jesus Christ. We cannot be visibly one, without an exclusive devotion to Jesus Christ. This level of exclusive devotion, requires that we also seek God, just as those who have gone before us have done, for the power to confess, that we are: "STRANGERS AND PILGRIMS ON THE EARTH."

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

Your servant and your fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus