Bible Doctrine

How many are the Christians who can quote Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Yet how few are the believers who can quote the 29th verse wherein God informs us just WHAT is this good God is seeking to work in us! I quote: “For whom He foreknew, He also predestinated TO BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

Yes, there is awesome purpose in our being called by God to become members of the Body of Christ. It is not merely to save us from eternal death or even to inherit the splendors of heaven. It goes far beyond that and begins in the here and now! God is literally creating a family of spirit sons (ladies included) – what the Bible calls, “sons of light.” (See Hebrews 12:9; James 1:17; John 12:36; Matthew 5:14-16 and I Corinthians 15:40-42). As sons of light, we are called out of the darkness and misunderstanding of this world. And we are called to walk in holiness and purity in this present physical body so as to be a burning and shining light in whatever generation we happen to be born into. Satan hates this doctrine and truth and blinds countless numbers of believers from seeing it. (That is why every warning to beware of spiritual deception is directed to believers? See I John 4:1; 2 Peter 3:17; James 1:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:3, etc.)

God places teachers in the body of Christ “for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect (spiritually complete, mature) man, TO THE MEASURE OF THE STATURE OF THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST” (Ephesians 4:12-13). Let’s not water that down or try to “interpret” it. Those words mean exactly what they say. It is God’s clearly stated intention to conform or mold YOU into the very spiritual image of Jesus Christ, so that upon our Lord’s return He can be presented with a resplendently pure bride that is “glorious…not having spot (of sin) or wrinkle (of impurity), or any such thing, but that she should be HOLY and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:27). Remember, God has COMMANDED us “Be ye holy; for I am holy” (See I Peter 1:16). Would God give His human followers a commandment He knew good and well could not be obeyed? Peter goes on to say that Jesus Christ “left us an example that you should follow Him, WHO DID NO SIN!” (See I Peter 2:21-22). He further stated that we are to be “dead to sins” and “should live unto righteousness” (See 1 Peter 2:24).

Where do believers get the warped, and frankly satanic, idea that believers cannot break with sin, that sin has been, is now, and ever shall be an insurmountable obstacle for the fully surrendered child of God. (If you, my reader, have used Romans 7 for excusing sin in your Christian life, I urge you to read another of my posted articles entitled “Paul – A Perfected Believer!”)

The apostle Paul says, “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (See Romans 5:1). How can I have peace with God if I keep sinning day in and day out? Sin interrupts our peace with God. Our conscience is bothered. We feel a distance developing between ourselves and God when we sin. A believer is to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4), a life of joy unspeakable and full of glory – not a life of constant defeat and subsequent depression! Paul says that the believer is “made free from sin” (Romans 6:18). The tempter’s power is broken. Finally, I can say “NO!” to the pulls of the flesh.

Paul told the believers at Corinth that the life of Jesus is to be made manifest IN OUR MORTAL FLESH! (See 2 Corinthians 4:11). Satan would have us believe that the flesh is stronger than God’s Holy Spirit and that as long as we are in the flesh we will do the deeds of the flesh. That is a devil’s LIE! “How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:2). Yes, dead to sin NOW. Turn a deaf ear to the preacher that says none of us will be free from sin as long as we live in these physical, fleshly bodies. The deceiver is then saying our death frees us from sin, not Christ’s death. We then become our own savior – not Christ! What a satanic teaching that is!

“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God” (2 Corinthians 3:5). We don’t gain the victory over sin through our own human strength and efforts. GOD gives us the victory via the Holy Spirit. “Now thanks be unto God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:14). Don’t look at your weakness. Look at HIS strength. “Look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen, for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18). “Having therefore these promises dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves (through HIS strength) from ALL filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). God help you to understand is my hope and prayer.

Christ’s servant (Galatians 1:10),

Donald Wiley

The longer I live, and the more times I read the holy scriptures – all of them, from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, the more I realize that Satan is a stark reality, and that he has indeed deceived the whole world (Revelation 12:9), including most professing Christians. He is an absolute master at his craft, working his deceptions with the utmost zeal 24/7. With each passing day I understand more fully why Jesus said, “Narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14). Jesus said at the judgment MANY, not the few, will contend with Him face-to-face that they were indeed His followers, even ordained by Him to preach, and did many wonderful things in His name and with His blessing and help only to hear Him say, “I never knew you!” (Matthew 7:22). Those are some of the most astounding and frankly chilling words Jesus ever spoke during His thirty-three years on this earth! And yet Christian after Christian and preacher after preacher will read those words confident Jesus was speaking of “the other guy” – not them.

We have this life, and this life only, to get it right. And since a single tomorrow is never promised us, this life we enjoy could end at any moment. Over and over again God’s Word emphatically declares that we must abandon all sin in order to really understand the scriptures. Few do so. That is why precious few really understand the scriptures and are so quick to embrace false doctrine and hold to that false way all the days of their human existence. See Daniel 9:13 and 2 Peter 1:5-8 and Colossians 1:21 and Ephesians 4:20-24, etc. Every time a believer sins they give Satan an ever greater toe-hold into their mind and thinking. “SIN NOT…neither give place to the devil” (See Ephesians 4:26-27).

The preacher that says a believer can never really break with sin and obey His Lord, who said, “Go, and sin NO MORE” has been duped by Satan and is unwittingly acting as Satan’s agent.

God help you to understand is my prayer.

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

Donald Wiley

FREED FROM SIN! (Part 3)

The fully surrendered follower of Jesus Christ does not find sin impossible. He finds it unbearable! The convicting work of the Holy Spirit comes quickly into the heart and mind of the fully surrendered child of God. He instantly sees himself as he really is at that moment – a sinner, a rebel, a spiritual failure. Repentance is not something finally achieved some time in the future. It is instant. It is heartfelt. It is genuine. The pathway of holiness is instantly regained, and the chastened believer, chastened only by his conscience is once more at peace with God and enjoys full fellowship with his Lord once more.

Long ago I learned that many believers have little, if any, interest in living holy, blameless lives. Many have bought into the devil’s lie that God already sees them as truly holy. They believe that from the very moment they “accepted” Jesus Christ, or were baptized, all sin was removed from them – even future sins, and that when God looked upon them all He could see was the righteousness of Jesus Christ. And what a doctrine of demons that is. And what a plethora of scriptures one must ignore to entertain that devil’s lie for even a moment!

“But God be thanked that you WERE (past tense) the servants (slaves) of sin, but you have obeyed FROM THE HEART (from the depths of your being) that form of doctrine which was delivered (to) you, being THEN (yes, THEN, when your surrender to the Lord was wholehearted, total, all consuming) made free from sin (the tempter’s power finally broken) you became the servants (slaves) of righteousness” (Romans 6:17-18).

And then follows that KEY verse that unlocks for the reader of the Roman letter the true meaning of what Paul is and is not saying in the 7th chapter of Romans. Notice, Paul says, “I speak AFTER THE MANNER OF MEN (and spiritually defeated men at that), because of the infirmity of YOUR flesh (not Paul’s flesh – THEIR flesh), for as you have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity (sin after sin after sin), even so now yield your members servants to righteousness (utter continual obedience) unto holiness” (Romans 6:19). Even though Paul uses the personal pronoun “I” thirty-three times in Romans 7, he is NOT speaking of his own condition. He has placed himself in the shoes, so to speak, of these defeated Roman believers in order to show them their problem and, also, to show them the only solution to that problem – Jesus Christ AS LORD! (See verse 25 of Romans 7).

One of the most misunderstood texts from the pen of the apostle Paul is the 7th chapter of Romans, especially verses 14 through 24. Here are a few of the surprising statements Paul makes in those verses: “I am carnal, sold under sin” (verse 14), “What I hate, that do I” (verse 15), “Sin dwells in me” (verse 17), “How to perform that which is good I find not” (verse 18), “The good that I would (do), I do not, but the evil which I would not (do), that I do” (verse 19), “When I would do good, evil is present with me” (verse 21), “I see another law in my members…bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members” (verse 23), and, finally, “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (verse 24).

It seems that many who read those plain, clear statements in Romans 7 forget that in the previous chapter, chapter 6, Paul had just made these plain and clear statements, too: “Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? GOD FORBID. (And He DOES forbid sin in the life of the believer). How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (verses 1 and 2). “Our old man (the former YOU) is crucified with Him, that the body of sin MIGHT BE DESTROYED, that henceforth (from the time of conversion forward) we should not serve sin” (verse 6). “He that is dead is freed from sin” (verse 7) – NOT “sold under sin!” “Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin” (verse 11). “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof” (verse 12). “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin, but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God” (verse 13). “For sin shall not have dominion over you” (verse 14). “What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under (the penalty of) the law, but under grace (unmerited favor and forgiveness)? GOD FORBID!” (verse 15). “But God be thanked, that ye WERE (past tense) the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart (from the core and depth of your being) that form of doctrine which was delivered unto you (by none other than Paul himself). Being then MADE FREE FROM SIN, ye became the servants (slaves) of righteousness” (verses 17 and 18).

Remember, Paul said, “I keep under (control) MY body (his own fleshly pulls and appetites), and bring it into subjection (to the Holy Spirit’s leading and control) lest that by any means when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway (from fellowship and union with Jesus Christ).” (See I Corinthians 9:27).

he teaching device of applying the problem or actions of another to his own self was used by Paul more than once. Notice these words in I Corinthians, chapter 4. Paul writes, “And these things, brethren, I have in a figure TRANSFERRED TO MYSELF AND APOLLOS for your sake (in order to teach or show the Corinthian believers) that you might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another” (verse 6). Paul again refers to this same methodology of teaching in chapter 9, writing, “TO THE WEAK BECAME I AS WEAK, that I might gain the weak; I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (verse 22).

Paul had the victory over sin in his own life. Approximately six years before writing the Roman letter, Paul had written the believers at Thessalonica: “You are witnesses, and God also (notice now Paul says God will attest to what he is about to say), how holily and justly and unblamably we behaved ourselves among you that believe” (See 1 Thessalonians 2:10). Paul had long lived a holy, just and blameless life! That is WHY Paul could dogmatically state to both Timothy and Titus that a bishop (spiritual overseer, a pastor) MUST BE BLAMELESS…JUST, HOLY!” (See Titus 1:7-8 and I Timothy 3:1-7). Paul wasn’t a hypocrite, telling these men THEY had to be holy and blameless while he, himself, had to admit that he was “carnal, sold under sin!” How ridiculous that any Bible teacher would even think so!!! Paul well knew that God had said through the Psalmist words long ago, “he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me” (See Psalm 101:6). God is not so hard up for earthly representatives that He will anoint the ungodly to represent Him and speak on His behalf.

In Hebrews 12:14, we read “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” Yet in 2 Corinthians 12 Paul speaks of a man who was caught up to heaven. Most all Bible scholars agree the man Paul speaks of in this text was Paul himself. Then, too, Paul also speaks of seeing Jesus Christ on the Damascus Road. (See Acts 9).

Remember, Peter warned that Paul wrote some things hard to be understood. Some, indeed, think Paul was speaking of his own present condition in Romans 7. After all he DOES use the present tense and uses the personal pronoun “I” in all those statements about sin overcoming him and holding him captive. But they fail to consider the plain, clear VICTORY statements of Romans 6 and 8. They also fail to grasp the true meaning of that 19th verse in Romans 6, wherein Paul says that he is now going to speak “after the manner of men” who have weakness in the flesh. And, further, they fail to consider all the other statements Paul makes in his other epistles about our living dedicated lives of holiness and purity, and how he, himself, led such a life as a shining example of a true minister of Jesus Christ.

That’s not all they forget. Here are a few other statements Paul makes that they obviously overlook when reading Romans 7. Paul wrote the Corinthians: “I know of NOTHING against myself!” (See I Corinthians 4:4). He could search his mind, his heart, and life without one twinge of guilt over unforsaken sin. The New International Version words it this way: “My conscience is clear.”

In writing the Philippian believers, Paul said, as touching the righteousness required in the law, he was blameless. (See Philippians 3:6). He told them that Christ was magnified in HIS body, and that for him to live was for Christ to live anew. (See Philippians 1:20-21). How could Paul seriously exhort the Philippian believers to be “blameless, and harmless, and without rebuke” if he, himself, was ever giving in to the pulls of the flesh? (See Philippians 2:15). Paul would have been a hypocrite!

Paul exhorted the believers at Corinth, “Be ye followers of me even as I also am of Christ” (I Corinthians 11:1), and cried out to the Galatian believers, “Christ LIVES in me!” (See Galatians 2:20). It would be a pathetic joke today for many believers, even many ministers, to make such statements and apply them to their own lives and conduct.

When Paul wrote, “I am carnal, sold under sin” (Romans 7:4), he wasn’t speaking of himself for just a few verses later he wrote, “To be carnally minded IS DEATH” (See Romans 8:6), and “the carnal mind is hostile against God” (See Romans 8:7). Do you really think this apostle was hostile against God??!! Let’s wake up and forget our preconceived ideas for a moment, and yes, we will have to forget much ERROR that has been spoon fed us from the pulpit and from “theologians” who were in gross error in this matter as well as many other matters having to do with what the scriptures actually do teach and reveal.

Jesus Christ lived His life marvelously and victoriously in and through the apostle Paul. Paul wrote the Galatian believers that he was travailing in birth that Christ might be formed in them, too. (See Galatians 4:19). (Is it quite obvious that YOUR pastor is striving diligently week in and week out to see Jesus Christ’s purity of life obviously manifested in YOUR life? How about your pastor’s life?)

The personality Paul speaks of and describes in Romans 7 is “sold under sin” – not freed from sin, as was Paul. All that is said in Romans 7 can fit a true Christian’s experience if he, or she, is not submitted to Christ for deliverance, or who continues to yield the members of their body to various fleshly appetites. Peter wrote that it was cursed spiritual adulterers who could not cease from sin. (See 2 Peter 2:14). Do you think Peter saw his fellow apostle Paul as a cursed spiritual adulterer?? (Come on, pastor, rethink some of your warped theology for the sake of your own spiritual welfare as well as the spiritual welfare of those who look toward you as a spokesperson of divine truth if you are one of the multitudes who believe and have taught that Paul was speaking of his own spiritual condition in Romans 7).

Paul told the Galatian believers it pleased God to reveal His Son in him. (See Galatians 1:15-16). Paul wrote the Corinthians that when he was weak that was when he was actually strong, for that is when he depended most upon the Lord Jesus Christ to give him continued victory over sin or some temptation to err or do evil. (See 2 Corinthians 17:10). In Romans 8:37, Paul affirms that believers are MORE than conquerors through Christ!

Paul urged the Corinthians to bring their every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. (See 2 Corinthians 10:5). Paul was not a hypocrite. He had done the same in his own life years and years before and was continuing to do the same day by day, allowing Jesus Christ to truly live in him!

Paul wrote the Thessalonian believers: “Abstain from all appearance of evil, and the very God of peace sanctify you WHOLLY (completely), and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body (your total person) be preserved BLAMELESS unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (that is, for the rest of their lives). Faithful is He that calls you (to this walk of holiness), WHO ALSO WILL DO IT” (See I Thessalonians 5:22-24). How could he be so sure God would bring these Thessalonian believers into a blameless walk before Him – and, remember, God sees it all? BECAUSE HE HAD BROUGHT PAUL THERE, THAT’S WHY!

Here are a few other scriptures that show absolutely, conclusively that Paul taught absolute holiness of life for the surrendered believer: Romans 8:2, 12 and 37; I Corinthians 10:13; I Corinthians 15:34; 2 Corinthians 4:10-11; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 2 Corinthians 6:16-18 with 2 Corinthians 7:1; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Galatians 1:3-4; Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 1:3-4, 18-19; Ephesians 3:14-21; Ephesians 5:25-27; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians: 1:9-13, 21-23, 28-29; I Thessalonians 4:7; 2 Timothy 2:19 and Titus 2:11-15. How anyone with a thinking mind can read those texts and think Paul himself was a carnal believer, sold under sin is absolute PROOF there is a deceiving spirit called Satan much alive and well and at work on this planet!

Also, bear in mind that “with God nothing shall be impossible” (See Luke 1:37). God is fully able to bring forth holy righteous character in His sons and daughters while they yet live in the flesh on this earth. To say that He cannot do so is to say that it is impossible for God to do what He has declared He will do. God help you to understand!

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

Donald Wiley

Job mentions how Adam COVERED his sin (Job 31:33). And, although verse 21 in Genesis 3 says, “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them,” it does NOT say Adam offered sacrifice. Nothing says an animal’s blood was offered in sacrifice. God killed the animal, not Adam. And it was killed to provide the rebellious pair clothing to cover their nakedness – their outward nakedness, not their inner uncleanness. Abraham is the father of the faithful – not Adam. Adam is never cited as an example of faith, or repentance, or righteousness. Paul reminds us of how we all die because of Adam. (See I Corinthians 15:22). Adam is mentioned seventeen more times after the Genesis account. Never is he placed in a good light. Hebrews 11, the great “hall of faith” chapter, leap frogs over Adam and Eve and begins with their murdered son, Abel. (See Hebrews 11:4).

Oddly enough, the first one mentioned as bringing an offering to the Lord is Cain, the first murderer! (See Genesis 4:3); but his offering was not accepted (verse 5).

You see, when Adam and Eve first stepped out of the Garden of Eden, the human race took its first steps toward Babylon and false religion. They did not move toward the light. They stumbled forth into the darkness. Their posterity’s steps do not steadily climb ever upward. Instead they slide swiftly downward. Mankind quickly loses all true knowledge of God. In less than ten generations “God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (See Genesis 6:5). And, following the flood and the wiping out of that godless society, Noah’s great grandson Nimrod begins building the equally godless kingdom of Babylon. (See Genesis 10:8-10). When Abraham appears on the scene a few generations later it is from a home and people who were idolators serving other gods. (See Joshua 24:2). When the Lord scattered abroad mankind from the base of the tower of Babel “upon the face of all the earth,” He did also “confound the language of all the earth” (See Genesis 11:8-9. Surprisingly, perhaps, this would have added to the confusion. Any true knowledge of God that would have remained would have quickly been either corrupted or extinguished completely. And God not only allowed it, He aided and abetted in it. And for a good and wise reason. Remember, “Known unto God are ALL his works from the beginning of the world” (See Acts 5:8).  Has the Eternal revealed to YOU just what marvelous plan He is working out here on earth???

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

Donald Wiley

* There is but one exception – those redeemed believers who happen to be alive at Christ’s return will never experience death.

From the dawn of human history mankind has sought for, dreamed of, aspired to something better, something more enduring, something eternal! For centuries philosophers and religionists have set forth scores of often conflicting theories as to what life was all about. Even King David of Israel long ago cried out to the God of Israel, “What is man that you are mindful of him?” A good question that! Why should God care about sinful, rebellious, wayward mankind? The answer to that question is also the answer to the question of the ages: “Why was man created in the first place? Why human life?”

Some two thousand years ago God inspired a man to write a lengthy letter that begins to answer the above questions. That letter later became part of the Bible and is today known as the Book of Hebrews. Beginning with chapter 1, verse 1 of that book we read: “God who at sundry (various) times and in divers (different, or diverse) manners spoke in time past unto the fathers (the patriarchs of the Old Testament) by the prophets, has in these last days (the Church Age) spoken unto us (the body of Christ, Christians) by His Son (Jesus Christ), whom He has appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds” (verse 2). (Note: All comments in parentheses are those of the author of this article).

Notice that God the Father has appointed Jesus Christ “heir of all things!” One translation of the Bible reads: “heir of the entire universe!”

I now direct your attention to a verse of scripture that begins to cast some searching light on this matter of mankind’s incredible potential – the very reason for human life, for YOUR existence. Let’s begin reading with the 16th verse of Romans 8: “The Spirit (God’s Holy Spirit) itself bears witness with our (human) spirit that we are the children of God: And if (God’s) children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together” (verse 17). Yes, we will be glorified together with Jesus Christ if we continue with Him: “For even hereunto were you called (it was for this express purpose that God first called you into His great family to begin with): because Christ (our forerunner) also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow in His steps” (I Peter 2:21).

But WHY? Why would God wish for His sons and daughters to suffer? And how? The apostle James answered that question beautifully when he wrote: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into divers (different) temptations (trials and tests), knowing this that the trying of your faith works patience (endurance). But let patience have her perfect (maturing) work, that you may be perfect (spiritually mature and complete) and entire (a well-rounded spiritual personality), wanting nothing (lacking no godly character attribute in your spiritual character and personality)” (James 1:2-4).

The apostle Paul, under inspiration of God, assures all true and obedient followers of Jesus Christ that they are joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, that is, whatever scripture says Christ is heir to is ours also. We will share it with Him to one degree or another! And “he that overcomes (the pulls of the flesh, the evil attractions of the world about him, and the deceptions of Satan the devil) shall inherit ALL THINGS, and I will be His God, and he shall be my son” (See Revelation 21:7). And don’t think God is unable or unwilling to generate as close a relationship between Himself and His sons (and daughters) as is experienced by a loving human parent and their human offspring.

But verse 16 of Romans 8, which we just read, cannot be rightly understood apart from the two verses preceding it. Those verses read as follows: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, THEY (and they ONLY) are the sons (and daughters – children) of God. For you have not received the spirit of bondage (to sin) again to fear (the final wages of sin – death), but you have received the Spirit of adoption (or even better, “sonship”) whereby we cry, ‘Abba (Aramaic term meaning), Father” (verses 14 and 15).

And if you really do have God’s Spirit leading in your life – without which you are not even a child of God – then verse 13 will find fulfillment in your life: “For if you live after the flesh (merely following the pulls and pathway of human nature), you shall die (make no mistake about it), but if you through the Spirit (the only way possible) do mortify (put to death) the deeds of the body (sinful thoughts, speech and actions), you shall live (eternally).” And when this apostle warns you shall die, if habitually following the pulls of the flesh, he means the second death – eternal death – as we will ALL die the first death whether godly or ungodly. The ONLY exception to that rule is those believers yet alive at the time of Christ’s return. They will be changed from mortal to immortal without ever experiencing death! (See I Corinthians 15:51-54 with I Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Now, returning to our passage in Hebrews 1, we read: “Who (Jesus Christ) being the brightness of His (the Father’s) glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power (or “His power-filled word of command”), when He had by Himself purged our sins (having been totally abandoned by the Father while hanging on Calvary as He had become an abomination in God’s sight when taking the sins of the whole human race upon Himself at that moment), sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high (God the Father), being made so much better than the angels (having experienced human life for thirty-three years with all the temptations of the flesh), as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they (the angels)” (verses 3-4).

Being joint-heirs with Christ, we now see that we shall also inherit a better name than the angels, for “are they (the angels) not all (nothing more than) ministering spirits, sent forth to minister (serve, assist, aid, etc.) for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (verse 14). The apostle Paul added something even more astounding to this divine revelation when he wrote: “Do you not know that the saints (overcoming believers) will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters (now, in this life, meaning in the church)? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more things that pertain to this life? (See I Corinthians 6:2-3).

“But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him (and to love God is to obey Him and keep His commandments).’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things (all the scriptures, Hebrew and Greek scriptures), yes, the deep things of God” (See I Corinthians 2:9-10).

“Therefore let no man boast in men, for all things are yours, whether…the world…or things present or things to come – ALL ARE YOURS!” (See I Corinthians 3:21-22). THAT’S what it means to be a joint-heir with Jesus Christ. You become an heir of it all – everything – THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE!!!

“And he who overcomes, and keeps my works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations. He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces (should they rebel) like the potter’s vessel – as I also have received from my Father” (See Revelation 2:26-27). “To Him who overcomes I will grant to sit with me on my throne, as I also overcame and sat down with my Father on His throne” (Revelation 3:21). A throne that rules the entire universe – ALL THINGS! “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one ACCORDING TO HIS WORK” (Revelation 22:12). “He who overcomes shall inherit ALL THINGS, and I will be His God and he shall be My son” (Revelation 21:7).

But our Lord issues a fearful warning to all of His followers: “Behold, I am coming as a thief (without warning). Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his (white) garments (spotless from sins defilement), lest he walk naked (of righteousness) and they see his shame” (Revelation 16:15).

Believers are not “locked in” to a walk of obedience. We can backslide, fail to make the grade, so to speak. We can turn back to the world. (Demas did – see 2 Timothy 4:10). The apostle James warned that to be friend of the world, loving the evil things this world offers up, is to be an enemy of God. (See James 4:4 with I John 2:15-17). Demas became an enemy of God. So did King Solomon. (See I Kings 11). We can, too.

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us (does not appreciate this as being a true statement of fact), because it did not know Him (crucifying Him, thinking Him to be a mere man, a false messiah). Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not yet been revealed (not yet arrived) what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself (by resisting Satan’s deceptions and pulls of the flesh), even as He is pure” (I John 3:1-3).

So WHY human life? It was clearly stated in the very beginning when God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” (See Genesis 1:26). God is bringing many sons and daughters to glory. (See Hebrews 2:10). Human life is phase one of a two-phase process of creation. Phase two begins the moment we are converted, have our past sins forgiven and washed away and have God’s Spirit imparted to us following genuine, life-lasting repentance and baptism. Phase one takes an average of nine months to complete. Phase two takes the remainder of our lives! Phase one can suffer an abortion. Likewise, with phase two. Demas was aborted. Judas was aborted. Solomon, YES SOLOMON, was aborted. (Haven’t you ever read I Kings, Chapter 11 coupled with David’s warning to Solomon given in I Chronicles 28:9?) There is no respect of persons with God. The apostle Peter wrote that “the Father..without respect of persons judges according to every man’s work” (See I Peter 1:17). It doesn’t matter whether your name is Saul or Solomon. Paul warned Timothy: “If we deny Him, HE ALSO WILL DENY US!” (See 2 Timothy 2:11-13). It matters not whether you are a believer, a minister, or an apostle, even a writer of scripture – Solomon was! And Judas is called an apostle in Matthew 10:1-8.

NOTHING outside of you, yourself, can force you out of God’s safekeeping. Only sin committed by YOU can do that. The prophet warns us that our sins can separate us from the Lord our God – sins that are continued, sins we are unwilling to abandon. God does not welcome rebels into His eternal kingdom – and continued sin is rebellion against God. It defiles our garments and can leave us naked, naked of righteousness, naked of forgiveness, naked of an inheritance – and we are but heirs of eternal life at the moment, not yet inheritors. (See I Peter 3:7; Hebrews 1:14; Titus 3:5-7).

“Be not deceived (believer), God is not mocked (you can’t put one over on Him), for whatever a man sows (believer or unbeliever), THAT he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows (present, continual tense) to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season (at Christ’s return and the resurrection) we shall reap (life everlasting) if we faint not (grow weary of following the Lord and throw in the towel)” (See Galatians 6:8-9). Those words were written to BELIEVERS, not to the world at large!

Remember, Jesus warned that many would seek to enter into eternal life and would not be able. They would fail to count the cost. They would not have sufficient commitment to finish the race. (See Luke 14:25-35). They would begin to build only to find they were unable to complete their building. Multitudes are deceived into thinking all they need do is believe Jesus Christ died for them and presto-chango that’s it. It is finished! They think their salvation was completed before Jesus Christ even died or rose again for our justification. Those often quoted words, “It is finished” were uttered from the cross BEFORE Jesus had even died, and he was referring to the completion of all prophetic scriptures that had to be fulfilled, finished, completed, discharged before His death. That is WHY He said, “I thirst.” When they gave Him to drink He then finished fulfilling that last prophetic text from Psalm 69:21, and said “It is finished” and died. He was NOT referring to our salvation having been finished at that moment.

No one is finally and completely saved by Jesus’ death! “But God commends His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. MUCH MORE THEN, being now justified by His (shed) blood, WE SHALL BE SAVED from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies (due to our sins and rebellion), we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, MUCH MORE, being reconciled, WE SHALL BE SAVED BY HIS LIFE” (See Romans 5:8-10). NO ONE is finally and completely saved by Jesus Christ’s death. His death reconciles us to God, justifies us of our past sins. But there is MUCH MORE following that reconciliation for WE SHALL BE SAVED BY HIS LIFE! So says YOUR Bible! A book most believers are woefully ignorant of. It takes Jesus Christ in His capacity of High Priest to bring you, or anyone else, into full salvation. Paul warned: “And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain…And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain, you are yet in your sins” (See I Corinthians 15:14,17).

Those who unwittingly pervert that text in John 19:30, the passage where Christ utters the words, “It is finished,” do the same with many other texts, such as the passage in John 10:27-29, where Jesus says none can “pluck” a believer out of God’s hand. They fail to realize that the Greek word translated “pluck” in that verse is the Greek word for FORCE, and is so translated in Acts 23:10 and other passages. Nothing, no one, not even Satan and all his demons can force a believer out of God’s safekeeping and control. But a believer CAN remove himself from God’s care and control. We are not locked in. “Sealed with the Spirit” does not mean “locked in by the Spirit.” One needs to look at the Greek there also. It means “approved” by the Spirit. God’s gives us His Holy Spirit, approving that our faith and repentance is genuine. See Ephesians 1:13. No scripture even implies that we are locked in to obeying the Lord by being sealed by the Holy Spirit. Paul warns believers we can quench (extinguish) the Spirit from our minds and lives. (See I Thessalonians 5:19). Any one of us can become a Demas, a Solomon, or a Judas.

God’s purpose for human life is that we become like Him, molded and fashioned into His image through process of time finally to be born of him through a resurrection, having been begotten by Him through faith, repentance and baptism. God help us all to understand.

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

Donald Wiley

How few comprehend what it really means to “believe in Jesus Christ.” To believe in Jesus Christ is to believe what He said and to ACT UPON what He said. To believe in Jesus Christ is to believe that He is one’s Lord and then to allow Him to be just that. Jesus asked, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say?” (See Luke 6:46). Immediately after making that statement Jesus warned that if we heard His teaching and failed to obey His teaching we were then building our house without a foundation and such a house would inevitably fall (see verses 47 through 49, Luke 6). It is the false convert who believes all one must do to be saved is believe Jesus Christ died for them. He has no foundation for such a belief. Every Mormon believes that. So does every Roman Catholic. Every professing Christian on earth believes that. That doesn’t mean they have all been granted God’s Holy Spirit and are saved.

Jesus Christ said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (See Matthew 24:35). He warned that “Many are called, but few are chosen.” (See Matthew 22:14). Only the faithful and obedient are chosen. It is to them and them alone God will one day say, “Enter into the joy of thy Lord.”

Many Christians will tell you that much of what Jesus Christ said did pass away, that His words were spoken only to the Jews, only to those of a long since ended and passed away dispensation. I am afraid all such are in for a very rude awakening when they are brought before Jesus Christ at the judgment.

In what is called “the Great Commission” given to His apostles following His resurrection and shortly before His return to heaven, Jesus said, “Go you therefore and teach all nations (America included)……teaching them to observe ALL THINGS whatsoever I have commanded you” (See Matthew 28:19-20). At the very outset of His ministry Jesus delivers what has been called “the Sermon on the Mount.” In that sermon He cites word-for-word two of the Ten Commandments and says, “Whosoever shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven” (See Matthew 5, verses 21, 27 and 19). Those who teach God’s commandments are no longer in force and that Christians are no longer required to obey them might make it into the kingdom of God, but Jesus warned such will be called the least in the kingdom of God. I don’t want to be viewed as one of the least in God’s eternal kingdom. I have been one of the least of men during all of my earthly sojourn. I don’t want to be one of the least for all eternity. And my Master assures my heart I shall not be. I only need stay on the path I am on and allow the Holy Spirit to continue perfecting me and bringing me into ever more greater obedience, and that I am resolved to do.

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

Donald Wiley

The harshest criticism Jesus had for the church in Thyatira was “you permit that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, TO TEACH and to seduce my servants…” (See Revelation 2:18, 20). A prophetess did NOT teach. If she attempted to do so she gave place to the devil and thereby began, however unwittingly, to seduce God’s people. Satan can lead a well-meaning, best-intentioned female believer into gross rebellion against the one she calls “Lord.”

Many do not comprehend the role played by a prophetess in the scriptures, what such a woman did and did not do. First and foremost, let it be fully understood, they did NOT teach or expound the word of God. That was NOT their function. “For THE PRIEST’S lips should keep knowledge, and they (ancient Israel) should seek the law at his mouth for he (the priest – not the prophetess) is the messenger of the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 2:7).

Here follows every mention of a prophetess in the scriptures, both Old and New Testaments:

“And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron (and Moses), took a timbrel (tambourine) in her hand, and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them, ‘Sing ye to the Lord…” (See Exodus 15:20-21).

“And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.” (Judges 4:4).

“So Hilkiah the priest…went unto Huldah the prophetess…and…communed with her” (2 Kings 22:14).

“And I (Isaiah) went unto the prophetess, and she conceived, and bare a son.” (See Isaiah 8:3).

“And there was one Anna, a prophetess” (See Luke 2:36).

“And the same man (Philip) had four daughters, virgins,which did prophesy” (Acts 21:9).

A prophetess was a woman upon whom the Spirit of God moved suddenly, and apparently infrequently. (We have volumes from the prophets, but only a few words from prophetesses, who generally appeared on the scene many centuries apart). They foretold the future, sang songs of Israelite victory, or encouraged Israel. NOT ONCE do we find them teaching the word of God, or expounding the meaning of the scriptures. NONE are pastors, evangelists, bishops or missionaries.

The greatest light and understanding in this matter is afforded us in Paul’s first letter to Timothy. Note well the following:

Paul exhorts Timothy “that you might charge some that they TEACH NO OTHER DOCTRINE” (See I Timothy 1:3). An inspired apostle is about to write doctrinal truths that are never to be set aside, but are valid for all time. First, he affirms that “Christ Jesus our Lord…counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.” (See I Timothy 1:12). Paul wants Timothy to know that he is faithfully representing Jesus Christ in what he is about to say. Going even further, he says, “I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, I speak the truth in Christ and lie not, a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth” (See I Timothy 2:7).

“I speak the truth in Christ,” Paul says. In other words, “what I say is what Christ Himself says in these matters.” Paul tells Timothy, “If you put the brethren in remembrance of these things (the subjects Paul now touches on), you shall be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine…”(See I Timothy 4:6), and “these things command and teach” (verse 11). “Take heed unto yourself, and unto the doctrine; CONTINUE IN THEM, for in doing this you shall both same yourself, and them that hear you” (verse 16).

But HOW LONG was Timothy, and those who heard him – the church – to continue abiding by these doctrines and teachings given by Jesus Christ through the letters of the Apostle Paul? “I give you charge…that you keep this commandment without spot (don’t tamper with the doctrine given), unrebukable, UNTIL THE APPEARING OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST” (See I Timothy 6:13-14).

And just what doctrine, or teaching, did Paul set forth in this first letter to Timothy? “I will that MEN (Greek, “males”) pray everywhere (in all assemblies, large or small)” (See I Timothy 2:8). And what about the women? “Let the woman LEARN IN SILENCE (learn, NOT teach). But I (this apostle faithfully representing Jesus Christ) permit not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man (as that is exactly what she is doing if she attempts to teach a man in spiritual matters), but to be in silence, for Adam was first formed (to guide, instruct, and teach), then Eve. And Adam (the guide and instructor) was not deceived (by Satan), but the woman being deceived was in the transgression (and then turned and instructed Adam to take and eat of the forbidden fruit)” (See I Timothy 2:11-14). Also compare Genesis 3:1-6.

The Greek word that is translated as “usurp authority” in verse 12 is authenteo (pronounced ow-then-TEH’o), and means “to act of one’s self.” When a woman teaches on spiritual matters in the assembly, when teaching men, she is acting on her own authority AND DISOBEYING JESUS CHRIST! So says YOUR Bible. It doesn’t matter how glib she is, or how much scripture she has memorized, or if her husband is present – SHE’S WRONG! It matters not that she might have a polished weekly telecast carried on a thousand television stations around the world – she’s still walking contrary to Jesus Christ’s teaching and instructions. The Holy Spirit will not move, or guide, contrary to Jesus Christ – so guess what spirit is present in such circumstances! Believers are being seduced, nudged deeper into error and carried further away from the truth. (See Revelation 2:18-20 again). And Satan is quite adept at intermingling profound scripture truth with clever and cunning error, so that as one receives the truth they simultaneously swallow a lot of satanic error!

After giving this instruction as to the separate functions of men and women in the assembly of believers, Paul then says,”If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, EVEN THE WORDS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof comes envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain (or success) is godliness, FROM SUCH WITHDRAW YOURSELF” (See I Timothy 6:3-5).

Satan is a master at questioning the Word of God, twisting and perverting the true and intended meaning of something God has said. He will lead one to question “Is that what Jesus or Paul really meant when Paul wrote those words?” “Supposing that gain is godliness,” arguing that a lady preacher’s ability to gain a huge following is proof God is in her ministry. Remember Satan said to Mother Eve, “Has God said?” “Surely you don’t think God really meant he created you out of purely chemical, physical elements when He said ‘Dust thou art, and to dust shalt thou return’, do you? You’re immortal like Him!” The rebel spirit can think of a thousand plausible reasons to ignore or nullify God’s Word.

In writing the Corinthian believers, Paul said, “Let your women KEEP SILENCE in the churches, for it is not permitted unto them to speak (Jesus Christ forbids it), but they are commanded to be under obedience (to their Lord’s command), as also says the law. (See Genesis 3:16). And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home, FOR IT IS A SHAME FOR WOMEN TO SPEAK IN THE CHURCH” (See I Corinthians 14:34-35). And here is a classic example of where Satan introduces a strife with words, arguing that all Paul meant with these words is that women, who sat separated from men in the assembly, were hollering out to their husbands during the service and thereby disrupting the service. Those who introduce that phony argument make women look like childish imbeciles!

Paul then says, “If any man think himself to be a prophet (a spokesman for Jesus Christ), or spiritual (led by the Spirit of God), let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord (not Paul’s personal human opinion), but if any man be ignorant (refusing to be taught by scripture), let him be ignorant” (verses 37 and 38, I Corinthians 14).

Let him remain ignorant? Yes! Why? Because you cannot argue someone into accepting the truth. Those who will not listen to God’s Word will not listen to YOU.

But doesn’t the Bible say, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, THERE IS NEITHER MALE NOR FEMALE, for you are all one in Christ Jesus?” Yes. Paul himself wrote those words in Galatians 3:28. Was Paul contradicting himself, saying one thing to the Corinthians and Timothy, but something entirely different to the Galatians? No, not at all. In this passage written to the Galatians Paul was not discussing the functions of males and females in the assembly. He was talking about the offer of salvation. God will save Jews and Greeks, slaves and free men, men and women. It’s all the same in Christ Jesus. He died for all.

Some argue that Paul was merely bowing to the established custom of the day when he commanded the silence of women in the various assemblies and would not permit them to teach. But Paul says this doctrine was “the words of our Lord Jesus Christ!” (See I Timothy 6:3). He says, “the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord” (See I Corinthians 14:37). Jesus never bows to human custom. NEVER! Every knee is to bow to Him, not vice versa. (See Philippians 2:10).

“He that is of God hears God’s words” (See John 8:47). He doesn’t ignore what Jesus, or Jesus’ apostles or prophets, say. He doesn’t try to explain away or change the obvious meaning of God’s Word.

King Uzziah may have meant well when “he transgressed against the Lord his God, and went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense upon the altar of incense” (See 2 Chronicles 26:14-16). But “Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore (eighty) priests of the Lord that were valiant men. And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, ‘It appertains not unto you, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the Lord, but to the priests the sons of Aaron that are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed, neither shall it be for your honor from the Lord God” (See 2 Chronicles 26:17-18).

King Uzziah evidently thought that God would approve of and bless his eagerness to serve the Lord by offering incense in the temple. But this sacred function was to be performed by priests alone. Not even the king of all Israel – and scripture calls him a king who generally “did that which was right in the sight of the Lord” – not even he was permitted to offer incense. (See 2 Chronicles 26:3-4). And just how did God look upon King Uzziah’s action? “And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him from thence (from the temple); yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the Lord had smitten him. And Uzziah the king was a leper until the day of his death” (See 2 Chronicles 26:20-21).

Paul warns that these Old Testament judgments “are written for OUR admonition” (See I Corinthians 10:11). Paul also writes, “Some men’s (and women’s) sins are open (obvious) beforehand, going before to judgment (plainly judged in the here and now), and some men they follow after (to be judged after Christ’s return)” (See I Timothy 5:24). Just because God doesn’t judge a transgression immediately and openly does not mean a transgression has been overlooked, or will not yet be judged.

Jesus WARNS, “He (or she) that is not with me is against me” (See Luke 11:23).

Where do YOU stand????

In the first chapter of Numbers, verse 51, we read these words: “And when the tabernacle sets forward, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle is to be pitched (erected again), the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that comes near (to offer a helping hand) SHALL BE PUT TO DEATH.”

In the 3rd chapter of Numbers, verse 10, we read these words: “And you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall await on their priest’s office: and the stranger that comes near (attempts to perform any priestly function) SHALL BE PUT TO DEATH.”

God didn’t just limit the priesthood, the priestly office, to males. He narrowed it down drastically to Aaron’s family! You had to be able to trace your ancestry, your lineage directly to Aaron! And God didn’t stop there. The Lord said to Moses, ‘Say to Aaron, for the generations to come none of your descendants who has a defect may come near to offer the food of his God (offer a sacrifice). No man who has ANY (physical) defect may come near (to God’s altar, performing the functions of a priest): no man who is blind or lame, disfigured or deformed; no man with a crippled foot or hand, or who is hunchbacked or dwarfed, or who has any eye defect, or who has festering or running sores or damaged testicles. No descendant of Aaron the priest who has any defect is to come near to present the offerings made to the Lord by fire…Because of his defect, he must not go near the curtain (to enter the tabernacle) or approach the altar, and so desecrate my sanctuary. I AM THE LORD WHO MAKES THEM HOLY.” (See Leviticus 21:16-23, New International Version).

‘I AM THE LORD WHO MAKES THEM HOLY,” says God. God says He, and He alone decides what is right and proper, and acceptable in serving Him. It really doesn’t matter whether it makes any sense to us. Why ban a cross-eyed man from the priesthood? Why ban someone with a limp from the priesthood? Why kill a helpful Israelite who lends a hand in setting up the tabernacle simply because He is not from the tribe of Levi, but from the tribe of Dan or Ephraim? GOD WANTS HUMANITY TO KNOW THAT HE IS GOD, THAT’S WHY! And He warns, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord” (See Isaiah 55:8). If God wanted to limit the priesthood to only green-eyed men standing over six feet in height, He could have done so. He is God, and He wants us to understand that.

And, under the New Covenant, if Jesus Christ through His faithful apostle COMMANDS, “I permit not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence,” the rebel woman who ignores that apostolic COMMAND will answer to the Living Head of the church, Jesus Christ, for her disobedience! It matters not how many deceived humans agree with her.

The rebel mind can come up with many clever human arguments for disobeying God. How many times have I heard the argument, “Well, if God can speak through an ass (see Numbers 22:21-39), He can speak through a woman.” Yes, God can do whatever He wants to do, AND HE CAN FORBID WHATEVER HE WANTS TO FORBID! He can speak through a prophetess, AND HE CAN FORBID A PROPHETESS TO TEACH. And about that talking ass, this miracle occurred on one lone occasion, and the ass was not used of God to teach the scriptures to men, women, or even other asses! The ass taught nothing, but asked Balaam three questions. Any rebel woman who uses this text in Numbers 22 to authorize her disobedience and ignoring of I Corinthians 14:34-40 and I Timothy 2:8-14 but shows herself an expert at twisting the scriptures and perverting divine truth!

Some will point to the fact that in the early New Covenant church Philip the evangelist “had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.” (See Acts 21:9). They use this text to nullify Jesus’ command through Paul, “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection (to Jesus’ command). But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence (in the assembly of the body of Christ)” (See I Timothy 2:11-14). Did these four women teach the body of Christ? NO! Read the text, beginning at verse 8: “And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed and came unto Caesarea, and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven (see Acts 6:1-6), and abode with him. And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle (sash), and bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Ghost, so shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owns this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ And when we heard these things, both we, AND THEY OF THAT PLACE (Philip and his four daughters), besought him not to go up to Jerusalem” (See Acts 21:8-12).

So WHAT did these four women prophesy? They, like Agabus, foretold the future, warning Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. They did NOT preach to the assembly of God’s people, or teach the scriptures, as some would have us to believe. Those rebel women who use the text in Acts 21 to authorize their rebellion against Jesus Christ will someday answer to him for their iniquity.

Those who ignore the fact that Paul said what he wrote were “wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ,” sometimes try to portray him as a woman-hater. They will point out that Paul referred to “silly women” in one of his letters. But few realize that those words are a mistranslation. Here is the verse containing those words from the King James translation of the Bible: “For of this sort are they which creep into houses (Christian assemblies), and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers (various) lusts” (2 Timothy 3:6). The Greek word that is translated as “silly women” in that verse is gunaikarion (pronounced goo-nahee-KAR’-ee-on) and literally means “little women.” It is the diminutive of the Greek word gune (goo-NAY’), or woman. It is NOT a put down or disrespectful term. Paul’s heart went out to these shy, retiring little women. (He wrote the believers at Corinth, “Who is offended, and I burn not?” He meant he burned with indignation at such ill treatment of others). When one looks at the context of this verse a very different picture emerges: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come, for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud…unholy…heady (head strong)…having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. From such turn away, for of this sort are they which creep into (cleverly enter) houses (Christian assemblies), and lead captive (into error) silly (actually, little) women, laden with sins (NOT the women, but these clever imposters are the ones laden down with the sins of covetousness, pride, spiritual rebellion), led away with divers (various) lusts” (See 2 Timothy 3:1-7).

It angered and distressed Paul to learn that these religious charlatans were targeting these simple, uneducated women as easy marks, using them to bolster their own warped egos. “Look how many followers I have got,” they would boast as they added one more unsuspecting female follower to their ranks.

Just because Mary Magdalene was the first person to see the risen Christ and to tell others, “He’s alive!” did not make her an evangelist or teacher in the church of God! That’s an absurd argument, yet I have heard it put forth by those who just simply will not be ruled by scripture.

A bishop, a spiritual overseer, one who presides over a congregation of believers, if married, must be “the husband of one wife…one that rules well his own house…for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?” (See I Timothy 3:1-45).

Women were NEVER considered as candidates for the spiritual overseeing of assemblies. Following Judas’ suicide, “Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (consisting of 120 men AND WOMEN), and said…his bishopric (office) let another take. Wherefore of these MEN (Greek, aner, “MALES”)…must one be ordained to be a witness with us of His resurrection” (See Acts 1:15-22). Even though a woman was the first person to witness His resurrection, Peter, the one to whom Jesus had given the keys to the kingdom, flatly stated that only a male witness could assume Judas’ vacated position as a spiritual overseer and teacher of the Word!

Women in the body of Christ may teach other women. (See Titus 2:3-4). They are also expected to guide their children in the ways of the Lord. (See I Timothy 5:14). But Jesus Christ commands, “Let your women keep silence in the churches (assemblies of believers regardless of where they might be meeting), for it is not permitted unto them to speak (Greek, laleo, “to talk, utter words”), but they are COMMANDED to be under obedience (to Jesus Christ), as also says the law. And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home, for it is a shame for women to speak (Greek, “speak, utter words”) in the church (assembly of believers).” (I Corinthians 14:34-35).

Why couldn’t women even ask questions in the assemblies of believers? Because God knows human nature. A question can easily be followed by a statement, then another, then a citing of scripture followed by instruction or teaching. To nip this in the bud, Jesus inspired Paul to simply declare, “Let them keep silent!”

Paul then sums up his inspired teaching and commands forbidding women to speak in the assembly by saying, “If any man think himself to be a prophet (one of the Lord’s true spokesmen), or spiritual (guided by God’s Spirit), let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD” – not Paul’s personal opinion, but the commandments of the Living Head of the church of God, Jesus Christ!! (See I Corinthians 14:37).

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

Donald Wiley

When Jesus told His disciples, “But pray ye that your flight (from a besieged Jerusalem) be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day” was it because he had no idea the sabbath would shortly be abolished?  (See Matthew 24:20).  The need to flee from Jerusalem was nearly forty years away at the time Jesus made that statement.  Isn’t it quite obvious that the Lord of the sabbath (Mark 2:27-28) knew that the sabbath would still be holy time in 70 A.D. when the Roman armies besieged Jerusalem and slaughtered the Jews by the thousands?

Not only was the sabbath still holy time in 70 A.D., it was still holy time in 700 A.D. as well as 1700 A.D., and 2024 A.D.  It will still be holy time when this writer draws his last breath and when our Lord appears in the heavens with ten thousands of His holy ones.

God have mercy on those who have been deceived into thinking the apostle Paul, or any other human being, had the power to abolish God’s eternal holy sabbath.

God’s holy prophet Isaiah clearly states that the sabbath will still be intact and honored by both Jew and Gentile in the new heavens and new earth.  (See Isaiah 66:22-23).  God help you to understand, and, if you do not, God have mercy on your continued violation of His holy sabbath, the day He Himself calls “a delight.”  (See Isaiah 58:13-14).

Satan’s grip on this old world is becoming stronger and stronger by the hour.  God help you to understand.

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

Donald Wiley

Did you know that the scriptures exhort believers to get angry sometimes? Not all anger is ungodly, you know. The apostle Peter warned us, in writing, that his fellow apostle Paul wrote some things in his epistles that are not that easily understood. (See 2 Peter 3:15-16). Here is a very good example: In Ephesians 4: 31, Paul says, “Let ALL bitterness, and wrath, AND ANGER, and clamor, and evil speaking, BE PUT AWAY FROM YOU, with all malice.” Yet just five verses before that Paul had written, ” BE YE ANGRY, and sin not. Let not the sun go down upon your wrath!” (verse 26, Ephesians 4).

So, which is it, Paul, is it OK to get mad about some things sometimes or are we to avoid all anger at all times in all matters? Let’s look a bit closer at that 26th verse. We will then examine several other Bible texts that throw even more light on this subject. Note well that Paul says clearlly, “Be ye angry, AND SIN NOT!” When a believer’s anger is stirred, or awakened, he is to keep his spirit and emotions in check and not allow this anger to lead to bitterness, evil speech or malice. And he is not to allow his anger to continue very long: “Let not the sun go down upon your wrath,” Paul writes. And Paul’s very next words are, “Neither give place to the devil.” If a believer holds on to his anger, even godly anger, he risks having Satan inspire him to sin in that anger.

Jesus said that “whosoever is angry with his brother WITHOUT A CAUSE shall be in danger of the judgment” clearly implying that believers can have cause sometimes to be angry with a fellow believer, a fellow human being, or even a blood brother. The word “brother” in that text can mean any of those. (See Matthew 5:22). And, note well, Jesus says if we get angry at someone without a just cause we are in danger of being judged by God ourselves! If a believer learns that the choir leader has been leaving notes in his wife’s hymn book to meet him after church as he already has a motel room booked for them, well, friend, I don’t care what kind of convoluted reasoning you use, that believer has every right to get angry even allowing that anger to be evident in the tone of his voice and facial expression. But he is to keep that anger under control. He is not supposed to assault the offender, curse at him, or say something ungodly, or say something he will later regret.

In the 11th chapter of I Samuel, we read of how King Saul had received word that the enemy Ammonites had surrounded a small Jewish village and threatened to put out the right eyes of all the inhabitants of that village. The 6th verse of that same chapter then says, “Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard this news, AND HIS ANGER WAS GREATLY AROUSED.”

Notice well that it is the Spirit of God that arouses this anger in Saul. God inspired Saul to get so mad that he raised an army of many thousands to go and rescue his fellow countrymen.

Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me” (See Matthew 11:29). We are to allow Jesus to show us how to conduct our lives. And He became greatly angry more than once during His earthly sojourn. (See Mark 3:1-5 and John 2:13-17). Followers of Jesus Christ are to get angry themselves from time to time when confronted with sin, unfairness or rank human behavior. But such anger is to be short lived and must be kept in check so as not to lead one into some manner of sin.

Folks, I could go on and on quoting scripture passage after scripture passage, making this a ten-page article. But the above is more than sufficient to show that anger in and of itself is not ungodly. Wise king Solomon said that there was a time to love, and a time to hate” (See Ecclesiastes 3:8). And there is a time to be calm and complacent, and there is a time to be angry, also.

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

Donald Wiley