Think Not*

Jesus said: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill..." (Mt. 5:17-18). The word "Think" used in this verse is the Greek word nomizo, meaning "to hold by custom or usage". How many customary practices within the Church are not based on the truth of scripture, but are based upon errant teachings handed down over generations? Various teachers and writers in church history basically introduced the idea that the God of the Old Testament was different than the God of the New Testament, wrongly setting a division between the Old Testament as Law, and the New Testament as grace.. Other heresies like this, in addition to anti-Semitic doctrines, were part of Church history, and have been carried down to today. The prophet Hosea brought a correction from the LORD for His people. The LORD said that there was "no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land." (Hos. 4:1). Because of this lack of knowledge, and rejection of knowledge, His people are destroyed. Since the priests had rejected knowledge, He would reject them, adding: "...seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame." (v. 6-7). The law of God was never meant to be forgotten, but incorporated into the hearts of His people. In fact, the apostles taught about Jesus Christ, His death, and resurrection, through the law and the prophets in the early foundational years of the Church. The apostle Paul, who eventually wrote much of the New Testament, is recorded as doing this many times. As Paul traveled to Corinth, he reasoned with both the Jews and the Greeks in the synagogue every sabbath, and being pressed in spirit, testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ (Acts 18:4-5). When his teaching was rejected in the synagogue, he told the Jews there that their blood was on their own heads, and he brought the Gospel to the Gentiles on the other side of the city. The house in which he was staying was right next to another synagogue: "And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized." (v. 6-8). A vision from the Lord one night assured Paul: "Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city." (v. 9-10). For 1 1/2 years, Paul taught the word of God, which at that time did not include the New Testament, which was not yet written, but the "Old" Testament only. He was falsely accused by some Jews of teaching "contrary to the law", but the deputy of Achaia, Gallio, rejected their complaints, saying that he was no judge over such matters (v. 12-17). Another teacher of the Gospel at that time, Apollos, who was preaching Jesus based upon the baptism of John, was taken aside and shown by those who had been with Paul the more perfect way to present the Gospel. He then began teaching from the Torah scriptures: "...he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ." (v. 25-28). On another occasion, Paul appeared before the apostle James and the elders of the church in Jerusalem, where he declared before them "the things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry" (Acts 21:17-19). They glorified God, and testified that there were many thousands of Jews who were believers in Christ, and continued to also be zealous for the law. The elders informed Paul that there were rumors that Paul was teaching the Jews who were living among the Gentiles to forsake the commandments of the law of Moses. Because of this, the apostles in Jerusalem advised him to practice a cleansing in the temple with four other men, so that "all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law." (v. 20-24). James and the elders had no doubt that Paul did indeed observe and teach by the law of Moses, and his act of purification in the temple would assure the other Jews of the same (v. 26). However, the accusations from the Jews came against him again, not based upon fact, but upon a lie, and a false assumption: "Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place." (Acts 21:27-29). Paul began to speak to his accusers in their language, Hebrew, because he was accused of being an Egyptian (v. 38, 40). To this crowd, Paul identified himself as he spoke still in the Hebrew language: "I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus...yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous towards God, as ye all are this day." Acts 22:1-3). Paul told the crowd how he had been one who persecuted, even to death, those who believed in Christ (v. 4). However, Paul saqid, he then had an encounter with a glorious Jesus while on his way to arrest believers in another city. Jesus spoke to Paul from heaven, and that moment changed his life, as well as having been temporarily blinded by the light of Christ's glory. A devout Jewish believer who walked according to the law, healed Paul of the blindness and told him: "The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men...be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (v. 6-16). Later, Paul was brought before the Sanhedrin council, the same religious council that had condemned Jesus a few years before, and began speaking to them quoting the law of Moses (Acts 23:1-5). He was then brought before Festus and King Agrippa to be questioned, based on accusations made by the Jews regarding their law. Paul again had an opportunity before these political leaders to open the law and the prophets, and the revelation from them of Jesus as the Messiah. He explained how he lived as a Pharisee, in the strictest sect of the Jewish religion: "And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come...Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? "(Acts 26:1-8). As Paul said, the promise of resurrection from the dead had always been part of the promise made to the fathers, and it was always part of the service of the twelves tribes of Israel before God. Paul said that Jesus Christ and His resurrection was what the prophets and Moses did say would come (v. 22). He wasn't preaching against the law and the prophets, but from the law and the prophets. Festus told Paul that he must be mad from all of his study and learning. Paul assured Festus that he was not, and that he knew that Festus was already aware of these things that had been going on before his face. It was not hidden from him (v. 24-25). To King Agrippa, Paul said: "King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." Paul said that he wished that all who heard him that day would be as he was in faith in Christ, except for the chains with which he was bound (v. 27-29). Even as Paul continued to be held under house arrest for two years in Rome, "...he expounded and testified to the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning to evening." (Acts 28:23). Some who came to hear him believed, and some didn't, which, Paul said, also fulfilled the prophets (v. 25-27). Paul explained the rejection by some of the Gospel taught through the law and prophets this way: "...their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away." (2 Cor. 3:14-16). Paul said that it is the Holy Spirit that frees man to see: "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (v. 17-18). When we see the connection, by the Holy Spirit, of Christ, the law and the prophets, a blindness is lifted from us, and we not only see His glory, but we are changed in degrees of glory as well. Those who are lost are blinded by the spirit of this world, in order to prevent them from being able to see the light of the Gospel of glory, which is the image of Christ, and by that light be changed. "For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Ccor. 4:3-6). As Paul spoke to the Corinthians about seeing the face of Jesus Christ, he must have been speaking to a people who had seen that face. There is historical evidence that the Shroud of Turin, with the image of the crucified Christ supernaturally imposed upon it, was seen throughout the large area throughout which Paul preached. As we understand what Paul preached from the law and the prophets, we know that he was not preaching legalism, but the fulfillment of both by Christ, as Jesus also taught. If we have asked Jesus into our hearts, then the law and the prophets must also reside in our hearts, as God always intended for His people. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 1/15/23 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, theshroudofturin.org, and END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook. You can also get a free ebook titled "The Shroud of Turin- A Perfect Summary" at www.The ShroudofTurin.org/freebook.

Called To Be Christians*

There is great turmoil troubling our nation at this time. A question was brought to mind recently for the Body of Christ: If you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? The term "Christian" was first used in the New Testament. Barnabas sought out Paul to minister to the new believers in Antioch: "And when he found him (Paul), he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to psss, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people, and the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." (Acts 11:26). The term used here is "called" Christians. Being called generates from a divine direction by God Himself. Many view the Law of Moses to be legalistic, harsh, and not part of a Christian's walk. However, the Law had a purpose, which we will see. It's purpose was to bring us closer to God, as our source of righteousness, and as our measure of justice. Jesus was asked about the Law by a religious lawyer in order to tempt Him and test Him. Jesus brought forth this revelation instead when asked which is the great commandment: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Mt. 22:34-40). Not only is the Law summed up in these two commandments, but all of the writings of the prophets as well! The Law is designed to bring us to love God above all else, and to love our neighbor. As told in the parable of the good Samaritan, our neighbor also includes those of a different race, ethnicity, or religious practice. Scripture says that all men are of one blood, and descended from Noah and his family, the survivors of the flood. One of those prophets, Micah, delivered this Word from the LORD: "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God." (Micah 6:8) The commandments of God were fulfilled by Christ, and meant to identify us: "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commndments: and his commandments are not grievous." (1 Jn. 5:2-3). Jesus broke the Law done even further when He said: "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." (Mt. 7:12). We recently saw a violent mob crash into the Capitol building in Washington, D.C.. Some of those in the mob were carrying political banners, but some were carrying Christian flags. People were killed, crushed, and had to run for their lives. Is this what those who are called to be Christians are supposed to be doing and representing? Jesus said, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." (Mt. 7:21). Jesus told us that we would know those who are genuine in the faith and those who are not, by their fruit, and we were to beware of those who bring forth evil fruit. He said, "A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire." (v. 18-19). Do not be caught up with those who have corrupt minds. In the same Spirit that Jesus taught about the good tree that brings forth good fruit, Paul wrote in Galatians 5 about the fruit of the Spirit of God. The fruit of the Spirit is listed as: "...love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, tempernce: against such there is no law." (Gal. 5:22-23). There is no law against this precious fruit of the Spirit because, as Paul wrote earlier in this chapter: "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." (v. 14). In the next chapter of Galatians, Paul urges us to restore a fallen brother in the spirit of meekness, and to bear one another's burdens, "and so fulfill the law of Christ...And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due seaon we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." (Gal. 6:1-2, 9-10). As for "doing good" especilly to those of the household of faith, we are not to forget the teacher who teaches us, with whom we are to share all good things (v. 6). Another prophet, Isaiah, brought forth our responsibility to undo the burdens of others, to let the oppressed go free, to bring into our homes the poor who have been cast out of theirs, to feed the hungry, and clothe the naked (Isa. 58:6-7). Jesus spoke the same thing about a King who said: "I was hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me." The hearers of these statements will ask the King (Jesus) when they did these things for Him. Jesus, the King, will answer them: "Verily, I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Mt. 25:34-44). This is from the pararable of the separation of the sheep and the goats when the Son comes in His glory. The sheep who did all of these things for their needy brethren will be the inheritors of the Kingdom. To those who did not, the goats, the Son will say, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." (v. 41). The goats would have done all of these loving things for Christ, Himself, but they refused to see that doing these things for the least of the brethren, is the same as doing them for Christ. This is the fulfillment of all the Law and the prophets. This is the fulfillment of the law of Christ. Considering all of these things, I ask again, if you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 1/31/21 message to the Church. To contact: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705, or email to Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com Also, you cn find us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimesschool.com