If God Changes Not...Why Does The Church?*

We will see that the Word of God assures us that neither God, nor His Word, changes. It is true and constant. However, we see so much coming out of the Church today that is not part of scripture, and runs in contradiction to it. Hebrews 13:8-9 says, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats which have not profited them that have been occupied therein." Church doctrines and the whittling away of scripture have both been done to reflect modern custom, rather than the eternal truth of God's Word. Paul wrote to those in the Church to examine themselves, as to whether they are in the faith - to prove ourselves in this. (2 Cor. 13:5-6). To leave the faith that is based upon the Word of God is to be a reprobate regarding the faith. "Now I pray to God that ye do not evil...For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth." (v. 8). Jesus told us that scripture cannot be broken. It is evident that evil is around us as we see instances of senseless murders every week. The Devil is going to be in Hell, and he wants us in Hell with him. Remain in the faith and do not do evil. Paul wrote that just because we have received the gift of grace from God through His Son, it does not mean that we can continue to sin. "God forbid.", he wrote (Rom. 6:1-2). Continuing to sin undermines the salvation of Christ for us, which says that we died with Him, and we are raised with Him. But the dead do not sin! "How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin." (v. 2-7). John wrote that if we confess our sin, He is faithful to forgive and cleanse us of our sin. If we deny our sin, the truth is not in us (1 Jn. 1:9). Death has no more dominion over Christ. He died unto sin once, and He lives unto God, and this is our truth also, as we remain in Him (v. 9-11). "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof." (v. 12). Again Paul repeated for us not to continue in sin because of the grace we have received (v. 15). "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (v. 23). By joining Christ in His death and resurrection, we were made free from sin, and we became servants of righteousness (v. 18). So why is the Church saying that the meaning of sin has changed, and is no longer sin? It doesn't matter what anyone says, no matter who they are in importance, if the Word of God says it is sin then it is sin. Neither God, nor His Word, have changed. David sinned but the Lord said of him that he was "a man after God's own heart". God said this because David repented of his sin, and sought cleansing and renewal from God (see Ps. 51). The free gift from God is available, but men accept it or reject it by their free will choice. Paul assured the believers: "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Cor. 6:8-11). In the time of the flood, men's hearts were evil continually, and God repented that He had created man. However, Noah found grace with God. Sodom and Gomorrah were completely burned because of their sin, but Lot and his family were delivered out of that judgment. Abraham interceded, and we can wonder if the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah would have been different if Abraham had interceded beyond the presence of tem righteous in the cities. Jude, the brother of Jesus, and the brother of James the Apostle, wrote about the gift of being sanctified, preserved and called in Jesus Christ. He urged the saints to earnestly contend for the faith which had been delivered to them (v. 1-2). It becomes necessary to contend for the faith, because the faith comes under attack. Jude warned that there were those present that have crept in while we are unaware: "..who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." (v. 4). These are of the same rebelliousness as the angels who left their first estate and habitation, who are condemned in chains and darkness. It is the same rebellion as Sodom and Gomorrah, who gave themselves over to fornication and strange flesh, and who suffered the vengeance of eternal fire as an example for us. It is of the same rebelliousness that led to the destruction of Israelites in the wilderness for their unbelief after their miraculous deliverance from Egypt by God. (v. 5-7). It is the same error that led Cain, Balaam, and Korah to follow the way of greediness. It is the same kind of men who attack the faith in Christ then and now. However, as Enoch prophesied, these are the same that will experience judgment when Christ appears with His saints (v. 14-15). There are murmurers, complainers, mockers, as prophesied for the last times, which are led by their lusts, not having the Spirit of God: "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." (v. 20-21). God is able to keep us from falling, in order to present us faultless to Himself (v. 24-25). The Prophet Malachi wrote of how God was sending His Messenger to be a Purifier and Refiner of His people, even as gold and silver go through a refinement process. His people were guilty of robbing Him in tithes and offerings, and speaking against Him, saying that it was not worth keeping God's ordinances, when the wicked continue, and even profit, without punishment (Mal. 3:1-15). However, for those who fear the Lord, and gather together to speak of Him to one another, "...a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him." (v. 16-17). Malachi warned that the day was coming that will burn as an oven, burning up all that do wickedly. "But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked..." (Mal. 4:1-6, excerpt). God is not willing that any should perish. What makes the Church think that they can do well by changing the Word and Everlasting Covenant of God? God changes not, so why does the Church? *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 7/10/2022 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 endtimeschool, also on Facebook.

What Will It Take?*

As we see events throughout this country and the world taking place, my question is: "What will it take?" What will it take for the Church to be that called out assembly of God's people in these last days. Jesus described the events that would usher in the end of the eage to His disciples. He warned first, "Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and shall deceive many." (Mt. 24:4-5). Jesus continued, "And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars...For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places." (v. 6-7). We are seeing thev=se things now. Jesus also said that because iniquity would abound, "the love of many shall wax cold". (v. 12). As we see wickedness and sin increase, we respond like the way of the world. Prayer overthrows wickedness. Are we praying continually? Jesus told the parable of the unjust judge (Luke 18:1-8). The judge feared neither God nor man. Yet a widow woman sought him to avenge her against her adversary. He decided to help her in order to avoid her wearying him with her continual petitions. Jesus told His listeners, "Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (v. 6-8). Even the world understands and has confidence in how persistent requests achieve action. However, Jesus wondered if the people of God have enough faith to be in prayer before God continually until His response is given to them. Immediately after, Jesus told a parable about those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, but despised others. Many churches believe that they are right, but the Word says that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. The scriptures, especially Isaiah 53, tell about the Messiah who took away our sins. What will it tke for the Church to turn to their Savior in repentance, and in prayer for others? Scripture tells us to pray, and don't faint - not vain prayers, but prayers from our hearts. Peter wrote to the Church in order to stir up their pure minds, to remember the words of the prophets and the commandments of the apostles (2 Pet. 3:1-2). Are our minds washed pure and renewed in the Word of God? Are we living up to the designation as the called out assembly of God? Peter said that this is knowledge that would be necessary in the last days (v. 3). This steadfastness of knowledge in the Word of God that transforms the mind also stands against what Peter prophesied as coming: the scoffers who ridicule the idea that God's judgment is coming. These same scoffers willfully disregard the fact that God previously judged the whole world by flood (v. 3-6). The next judgment coming, however, will be by fire, rather than water. God's timing, Peter said, is not the same as man's. To God, one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years is as one day, and we are in the third day, in terms of thousands of years. The LORD waits as long as possible to execute judgment in order to give man every chance to repent: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (v. 9). Peter warns that this knowledge should have an impact on what kind of life we choose to lead. Some Christians have the appearance of Christians, but their words and ways do not. Where is the Church? The Book of Revelation mentions the importance of the prayers of believers: "...four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sung a new song saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we should reign on the earth." (Rev. 5:8-10). We are made kings and priests unto God by the same blood of the Lamb that saved us from sin and death. The called-out assembly of God is from every kindred, tongue, and nation. There are none that are excluded. In Revelation 7, a great multitude in white robes is identified as having come out of great tribulation (v. 9-14). Their robes were made white, not by their own righteousness, but having been washed in the blood of the Lamb. Do we consider ourselves more righteous than them? While we are not appointed to the wrath of God, we are in the beginning of tribulation now, and will experience more of it. This is an opportunity given for prayer and repentance. Revelation 9 speaks about those who did not take the opportunity to repent throughout the plagues: "And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see , nor hear, nor walk: neither repented of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts." (Rev. 9:20-21). We are in a time when men reject repentance. However, there will come a moment when time runs out: "And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer." (Rev. 10:5-6). Where is the Church, and what will it take for the Church to walk in the calling of God? The signs of the end are around us, and God requires us to pray, take the Gospel to others, repent, and make up the hedge for our nation and for souls. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 1/9/2022 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, and endtimeschool.com.