Bible Doctrine

There’s an old song that says, “You’re going to miss me when I’m gone.” But, thanks be to God, the date for resurrection morn is circled on God’s calendar. There is going to be “a great getting up morning,” as another old hymn puts it. Scripture calls it “the blessed hope.”

If one reads the New Testament very slowly and carefully, they will find that the blessed hope is NOT the hope that we will go to heaven when we die but that we will be resurrected from the dead when Christ returns. I fear many believers do not read their New Testaments slowly and carefully. They merely parrot one another, saying what their illustrious leaders and scholars have said, speaking “the party line” of their particular denomination. Oh, of course, they have a scripture here and a scripture there that they think supports their viewpoint, but they have a plethora of scriptures they overlook – scriptures that cast an entirely different light on their beliefs. That great fund of knowledge contained in the Hebrew scriptures (the “Old” Testament) is ignored. After all, it is the “OLD” Testament, isn’t it? And something that is “old” is fairly useless, isn’t it?

When the apostle John wrote “every man that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as He is pure,” (I John 3:3) the context shows that the hope he speaks of is the hope of being resurrected in an incorruptible, immortal spirit body when Jesus Christ returns! “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that WHEN HE SHALL APPEAR (yes, then at that time) we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is” (I John 3:2).

Peter wrote, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (yes, THE GOD and Father of Jesus Christ), which according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (I Peter 1:3). And Paul concurs, writing, “But if the Spirit of Him that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken (bring back to life) your mortal bodies (but then made immortal and incorruptible) by His Spirit that dwells in you” (Romans 8:11). Yes, that is the believer’s blessed hope, that we will be raised from the dead at Christ’s return. King David saw his resurrection as the believer’s blessed hope, “for David speaks concerning Him (Jesus Christ), I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for He is on my right hand that I should not be moved. Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad: moreover also my flesh shall rest (in the grave) IN HOPE, because thou wilt not leave my soul (his life) in hell (Hades, the grave), neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life, thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance (when resurrected)” (Acts 2:25-28). Peter then says, “Men and brethren let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that HE IS BOTH DEAD AND BURIED, and his sepulchre (tomb) is with us unto this day…for David is not ascended into the heavens!” (See Acts 2:29 and 34). David, like all other redeemed children of God, is awaiting a resurrection to life. Peter declared, “He’s not yet in heaven!” If King David is not in heaven folks better rethink just what Jesus said to the thief on the cross when He assured him he would see Christ in paradise! (See Luke 23:39-43).

I would suggest that one read the 15th chapter of I Corinthians very slowly and carefully, paying extremely close attention to verses 12 through 58. Herein the apostle Paul ties a believer’s hope of living again to a resurrection, not as a soul flitting off to heaven at the moment of death. He states clearly that if there is no resurrection to come, then there is no hope, that death then ends all. And he reveals that there is no intermediate state of life in any form or fashion between the time one dies and the day of their resurrection. The dead are dead! Really, is that all that surprising?

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

Daniil Kharitonov is a young Russian classical pianist and has “the gift.” But that “gift” had to be applied and exercised. No classical pianist memorizes and beautifully plays a symphonic work, consisting of tens of thousands of notes, without practicing many long hours a day, every day, for many months and even years.

All who are truly in Christ Jesus, who have truly been converted and given the Holy Spirit, must do the same. That “gift” has to be applied and exercised in our lives. We must GROW in grace, knowledge and the walk of righteousness by faith. We must learn to resist the pulls of the flesh, the temptation to think, say, or do anything the Word of God condemns. We must apply ourselves to godliness and cease making excuses for our failures. The apostle Paul says we must “awake to righteousness,” that is we must realize what righteousness truly is – the absence of sin in our lives. All too many believers are conditioned by a false ministry to permit daily sin in their lives – even told that they are prideful and deceived if they think for a moment that they can depart from sin!!!

Paul said, “I can do ALL THINGS through Christ who strengthens me!” Don’t sell Jesus Christ short. He died not only to pay the penalty for our sins but also to FREE US from our sins. But it is “according to our faith!” Satan knows if he can convince a believer that they must sin daily then they WILL sin daily. Jesus cautioned us to have no thoughts of anxiety concerning tomorrow. Tomorrow is not promised us. Sufficient for today are the cares we will face. I am not to be troubled as to whether Jesus can keep me from sin tomorrow, or all through the rest of the week, or this month, or throughout the remainder of this year. I am to be concerned only with the waking hours of TODAY. Is God powerful enough to keep me free from sin for the next few hours – until I fall asleep at the close of the day? THAT’S all I need concern myself with. Don’t sell God the Father, Jesus Christ and the powerful Holy Spirit short! Together they are totally sufficient to keep us from sin for a few hours. Tomorrow believe the same thing, and the day after that, and the day after that, and soon you will come to find at the close of the day you have no sin to confess. Please believe this for it is so.

Christ’s Aged Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

God provides for His redeemed sons and daughters through the ministry of His firstborn Son Jesus Christ.  “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  (Matthew 11:28).  God’s provisions through Jesus Christ are sufficient for any need the faithful redeemed might have as He has many immortal spirit assistants to aid Him in His ministering and serving the redeemed children of God.  “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation.”  (See Hebrews 1:14). These provisions are so magnificent that scripture refers to them as  “so great salvation.”  (See Hebrews 2:3).  “We have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God” (See Hebrews 4:14).  “Let us come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).  All too many misconstrue the meaning of that verse, thinking it says, “Let us come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may find FORGIVENESS, and find grace in the time of need.”  The context shows that the writer is actually saying the Lord will extend to us help in time of need of help so that we can resist any temptation to sin!  That is the tremendous provision God extends to His redeemed sons and daughters.

“The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…has blessed us with ALL spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).  That is what God has provided for us – all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ!  Therefore “we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ!” (See Ephesians 1:12).  As with Job, God should be able to  point us out to Satan and say, “Have you considered my servant (your name), one that fears God and shuns evil?”

God has provided us with His Holy Spirit, that power by which He made the worlds.  And through that Spirit “there has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above that you are able to bear, but will with the temptation also make a way of escape that you may be able to bear it” without ever giving in and sinning!” (See I Corinthians 10:13).

Yes, God is our Provider, providing us with much more than most realize.  “But thanks be to God which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (I Corinthians 15:57-58).  Our Lord not only provides us with forgiveness of our sins when confessed and abandoned, but also with the power to shun and avoid all sin.  Thanks be to God!

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

Most people accept carelessly what they are taught from childhood. And, coming into maturity, they accept that which they have repeatedly heard, read or been taught. Mormon boys and girls make good Mormon teenagers, who, in turn, make excellent Mormon parents. Of course, you can insert “Baptist,” “Methodist,” “Lutheran,” “Roman Catholic,” etc., actually any denominational stripe or color you wish. The overwhelming majority of humanity continue to go along with their peers, or whatever religious authority figures they may have in their realm of existence, usually without question. Humans have a rather curious habit of ASSUMING we are right in whatever we have come to believe, especially if most every human we come into close contact with believe as we do. And many, if not most, will vigorously and often emotionally defend their religious convictions.

A student in Germany studying world history is instructed in one version of World War I and II, but a history student in America or Russia is taught a somewhat different version. And sometimes that difference can be staggering! Likewise with seminary or Bible college students. A Baptist college student is taught a whole set of different doctrines than is taught at the nearby Pentecostal college or Roman Catholic seminary.

It is far more difficult to Unlearn an erroneous supposed truth than it is to learn a new truth. Of course, what may be a “new” truth to one is an ages old truth to others. The Baptist KNOWS that he has plenty of scripture to back him up on his “once saved, always saved” doctrine. Likewise, the Presbyterian KNOWS he has plenty of scripture supporting his stand on election and predestination. The Pentecostal preacher has no doubt he sees and understands the truth regarding the baptism of the Holy Ghost with “tongues” as a sign thereof.

Why, in general, are people in Thailand Buddhist; those in Italy, France and Spain Catholic; those in the Arab world Islamic? Primarily, of course, because they and those around them grew up being taught, and automatically accepting, those faiths. To expect one of them to discover the truth (hidden from them and also contrary to the teachings of childhood and adulthood that engulfed them) would seem to be expecting the impossible. Why do most people believe the things they believe? Few, indeed, ever stop to ask themselves in retrospect how they came to accept the beliefs that have found acceptance and firm belief in their minds.

Besides being Creator of all that exists, and Ruler over that creation, God is also mankind’s Educator, who reveals knowledge beyond and outside the scope of human ability to discover and know on its own. But, in order to attain that knowledge and to come to know the truth in spiritual matters, one MUST be teachable. The Baptist, the Episcopalian, and the Mennonite, as well as any other “religious” personality must come to grips with the FACT that, being human, they can embrace error while fervently believing they have and know the truth in any given area. Pride must give way to humility before error can give way to truth. And disobedience must give way to obedience “that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand Thy (God’s) truth” (See Daniel 9:13). I urge you to think on these things carefully.

Christ’s Aged Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

Many scriptures speak of how God uses the weather to both discipline as well as rescue nations.  Many decisive battles, battles that actually decided the outcome of great wars, have been decided by the weather.  Nations have been rescued from defeat by the enemy when weather intervened and changed the course of battle.  But God also both disciplines nations and warns nations by devastating, life-threatening weather.  Those who spurn God’s Word and the counsel contained therein just see weather as no more than natural phenomena, taking no heed to its warning.  And, again I say, you ain’t seen nothing yet.  Even godless Muslim nations are going to be able to recognize God’s hand of discipline raised against America.  This, of course, will embolden them to believe that God is then on THEIR side.  ISIS supporters use such arguments to gain recruits from what were once known as “Christian” nations.  They point to America’s same-sex marriages and transgender approval as proof America indeed needs to be utterly destroyed. 

One’s safety is to be found only in total submission to Jesus Christ.  Those who fail to bow to His LORDship will be in jeopardy of being harmed or killed in a variety of ways – weather, terrorist attacks, lone racist atrocities, etc., etc., etc.   A mere generation ago, during the days of Roosevelt and Truman, the very idea of same-sex marriage and changing one’s gender would have been seen as utterly satanic, godless, incredible, unbelievable.

Moral corruption is a fast growing cancer that proceeds from Stage I to Stage IV with unbelievable speed.  And once Satan gets a toe-hold in a society his ability to move and destroy progresses faster than human mind can conceive.  Don’t look for ISIS to be stopped.  Only genuine, wholehearted repentance and turning to God in abject surrender and faith would do the job.  And I don’t see that as very likely.  Again I say, fasten your seatbelts for we are in for a very rough ride. 

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

If one reads the Book of Malachi, the last book in the Old Testament, one thing should become crystal clear; God is saying, “I am not so hard up for worship that I will accept second or third-rate obedience from the sons and daughters of Adam.  My name is dreadful among the nations.  I am the giver of life and the conqueror of death.  From the rising of the sun, even to the going down of the same my name shall be great among the nations.  Bring to me a pure offering.  Bring to me your best.  I am God and there is none else.”

Malachi is the book wherein God declares, “I am the Lord.  I do not change.”  (See Malachi 3:6).  And Malachi is the book wherein God declares, “Return to me, and I will return to you.” (verse 7, same chapter).  And it is Malachi that reveals to us that God has a book of remembrance written before Him, evidently by a recording angel, and in that book it is noted who has reverenced God, speaking to one another of the things of God and who have meditated upon God and His Word.  (See Malachi 3:16).  And God declares “They shall be mine on the day that I make them my jewels, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.”  (verse 17, same chapter).

I couldn’t care less if my name is on a street sign, a school, or some public building.  Name your cities, and towns, and villages for presidents and kings.  Just write my name in God’s Book of Remembrance.  With that I will be more than satisfied, for this present world is going to be cleansed by fire and all the works that are in it will be burned up, but God’s Book of Remembrance will endure throughout the ages.  I want my name in that book.  I want my name in God’s social register, not man’s.  And I do not want it blotted out.  Someday I would like to approach an angel, have him take me to that book and then point to my name, saying, “There it is!”  I want your name to be there, too.

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall come forth unto me (He) that is to be ruler in Israel, WHOSE GOING FORTH (on other missions on behalf of the Most High God), have been from of old, FROM EVERLASTING (throughout all of eternity past)” (See Micah 5:2).

That quote from the prophet Micah speaks of Jesus Christ and His human birth in Bethlehem, but notice that the text says that this was not the first and only mission Jesus Christ performed for God the Father.  It plainly says that Jesus had been sent forth on such missions “from of old, from everlasting!”

The Bible doesn’t tell the full story, folks.  We are only given a short, highly condensed history of God and His works in the Bible.  God is eternal.  He existed throughout all of eternity past.  He is a super-intelligent, creative being.  Do not even think earth and mankind was God’s first exercise in creating.  He was creating trillions of ages before He ever said, “Let us make man in our image….”

To say what awaits the obedient and faithful redeemed, when we enter into the spirit realm following our resurrection, will be mind-boggling is a gross understatement.  We will see and be part of something no human mind can conceive of or would ever dream possible.  You don’t want to miss it.  God promises to reward His faithful servants.  A word to the wise….

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

The human brain, or actually mind, is like a large sponge. It absorbs, and generally retains, whatever is poured into it. Information, ideas, facts, etc., enter the brain through our five senses: touch, taste, smell, hearing and sight. The Chinese mind absorbs and retains information, ideas, facts far different than the Italian or Muslim mind. Yet these three minds, as well as all other minds (be they Russian, American or some other nationality) generally accept such information, ideas, facts, etc., as true, by and large retaining their input all of their life. A Mormon child, like the Roman Catholic child or Muslim child, generally accepts the teachings and beliefs fed into the mind without question. With the passing of years and decades the belief system that is thus absorbed is reinforced again and again so that the mind becomes “made up,” you might say. The human mind, or sponge, unlike an actual sponge rarely has its contents squeezed out. Hence, a Mormon child grows into a Mormon adult and is still a Mormon when life reaches its close seven or eight decades later. Of course, the same holds true for the Roman Catholic, the Baptist, the Amish, or whatever religious persuasion you might care to name.

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The human mind is never a blank slate. Even a ten or twelve year old child has had much written on that slate long before they reach their teenage years. In most all cases, like the blackboard in a school classroom, much of what is written on that slate desperately needs to be erased before more is written on that slate. Tragically, little is erased but remains on the blackboard of the mind as a person passes through life. Each day more and more is written on that blackboard. If what is later heard or seen differs remarkably from what is already written on the blackboard, it is usually forgotten rather quickly and is not allowed to remain on that slate, but is quickly erased and forgotten. This, again, helps explain why a Baptist youth remains a Baptist all of his life. An atheist youth, likewise, generally will remain an atheist until their dying day. Accepting evolution as true in the formative years, the evolutionist remains such all the days of their human existence.

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One can clean the slate of the mind and squeeze out of the sponge of the mind that which is erroneous and unreasonable, but it is not easily done or accomplished. One of the hardest things one will ever do is to forget something they have learned as the truth, replacing such error with the actual truth. May your Creator grant you the wisdom to comprehend, understand and accept what you have just read, for, I assure you, absolute truth CAN be known and understood. Falsehood and error can be recognized as such. The actual truth usually proves to be a shocker to those who have never once contemplated the foregoing. God help you to understand is my prayer.

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Christ’s Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

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Donald Wiley

Many pastors inform their congregations that they are the bride of Christ when, in truth, they should be warning their congregations that many of them may well bear a greater resemblance to a spiritual bride of Frankenstein! “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him (the Lord God omnipotent), for the marriage of the Lamb is come, AND HIS WIFE HAS MADE HERSELF READY” (See Revelation 19:7).

Notice that the bride has made herself ready to be married to the Lamb. And, folks, this goes far, far beyond one’s just believing Jesus died so they could be pardoned of all their sins. There is a passage of scripture in the 5th chapter of Ephesians that helps us understand just how those who comprise the bride of Christ have made themselves ready to be married to the Lord at the time of His return – not at the moment they die. Here is that passage:

“Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it (and He did not plead with the Father to remove that “cup” from Him) that He might SANCTIFY AND CLEANSE IT with the washing of water by the word (or, “the washing of the water of the word”) that He might present it unto Himself a glorious church, not having spot (of sin), or wrinkle (of doctrinal error), or any such thing, BUT THAT IT SHOULD BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLEMISH (each member having the character of a Zacharias or Elisabeth, parents of John the Baptist)” (See Ephesians 5:25-27 with Luke 1:5-6). Those thinking themselves to be in the bride of Christ need to fit the description given in the two passages I have just mentioned. If they don’t see themselves therein, they need to realize they aren’t going to be in the bride of Christ. They may well be heirs of eternal life, but they will not comprise the bride of Christ. I speak to you the word of the Lord and you can take it or leave it.

But Paul goes on in that 5th chapter of Ephesians to say something even more astounding: “For this cause shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, AND THEY TWO SHALL BE ONE FLESH. THIS IS A GREAT MYSTERY, BUT I SPEAK CONCERNING CHRIST AND THE CHURCH” (Ephesians 5:31-32).

Through Paul, the Lord speaks again on this matter: “Wherefore, my brethren, you also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ, (it’s penalty – the death penalty having been paid for you by the Lord) that you should be married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead, THAT WE SHOULD BRING FORTH FRUIT UNTO GOD” (Romans 7:4). The “fruit” that is brought forth in a marriage ARE CHILDREN! Those who comprise the bride of Christ and are then married to Christ will bring forth fruit unto God by their concerted efforts resulting in the producing of millions, even billions, of offspring. THAT is when God is going to set His hand to save the world. READ AND BELIEVE THE PROPHETS.   Don’t buy hook, line and sinker the watered down error filled doctrines and teachings of men and women who don’t know the truth.

Our Lord speaks again through Paul: “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, LET US CLEANSE OURSELVES from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit PERFECTING HOLINESS in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). This is HOW the bride makes herself ready to be married to her Lord! This is the doctrine pastors need to preach to their congregations.  They need to preach the undiluted pure Word of God to their congregations.   Many are going to see an angry Lord when they appear before Him in judgment. I feel sorry for them as they are in for the surprise of a lifetime.

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley