|
This book of the bible is frequently and
erroneously
referred to as the start of "The Church, The Body of Christ".
99.44% of fundamental, bible-believing teachers and pastors
embrace this falsity as truth! The fact is, The Book of Acts is
primarily about the unbelief of Israel and God's postponement of
her program.
            
|
Click here to
contact LMM
For though
I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for
necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I
preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing
willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a
dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the
gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge,
that I abuse not my power in the gospel. - 1
Corinthians 9:16-18
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
REMEMBER,
THE FOUR SYNOPTIC GOSPEL ACCOUNTS OF THE EARTHLY MINISTRY OF JESUS
CHRIST WERE WRITTEN
TO
ISRAEL UNDER THE LAW:
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
| |
|
SINCE
PROPHECY IS SUCH A HOT TOPIC THESE DAYS, DID YOU EVER WONDER WHAT THE
TRIBULATION SAINTS WILL STUDY AFTER THE BODY OF CHRIST IS RAPTURED?
Doctrine
for
The
Tribulation Saints after the rapture of the Body of Christ:
Here Israel is now back at the forefront under the law against the
imminent judgment and earthly return of The Messiah, Jesus Christ.
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
1 For this cause I Paul, the
prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2 If ye have heard of
the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to
you-ward: 3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the
mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye
read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5
Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as
it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the
Spirit; 6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the
same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the
grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his
power. 8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is
this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the
unsearchable riches of Christ; 9 And to make all men see what is
the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the
world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus
Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and
powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the
manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose
which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12 In whom we have
boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. 13
Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my
tribulations for you, which is your glory -
Ephesians 3:1-13
|
LIGHT FOR
THE SOUL
by Cornelius R. Stam
A Christian believer talking to an atheistic evolutionist one
time, took his watch out of his pocket, noted the time and put
it back in again, saying to his friend: “This is a wonderful
watch; never misses a second. I never have to do anything to it,
yet it keeps perfect time.”
“What make is it?” asked the evolutionist. “Oh, no make,” was
the reply. “Well who manufactured it?” “Oh, no one. It just put
itself together somehow.”
“Nonsense!” said the atheist. “A watch can’t just come into
existence. Somebody had to manufacture it.”
“That’s true,” replied the Christian, “yet you expect me to
believe that this vast universe with its billions of planets and
stars, all revolving in perfect order, just came about by
itself; that it has no Designer, no Creator, and no one to keep
it running. Isn’t that nonsense!”
According to the Bible God holds the pagan world responsible for
its idolatry and declares: “They are without excuse” (Rom. 1:20)
because all that the heathen witness about God every day calls
for their worship and praise and thanksgiving (Rom. 1:20,21).
But they have not had this attitude. They have denied and
rejected God and, as St. Paul says, they “became vain in their
imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened” (Ver. 21).
It was thus that pagan idolatry, the worship of the creation,
rather than the Creator (Ver. 25) had its beginning.
All this is very much like what we read in Ephesians 4:17,18
where God exhorts His people not to live like “the Gentiles,” in
“the vanity [shallowness] of their mind, having the
understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God
through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness
of their heart.”
Not very complimentary, is it? But it does reflect the condition
of the human heart without God and apart from faith in Christ
our Savior. It explains why the world, with all its increased
technical knowledge is worse off than ever.
How wonderful to know that “God, who commanded the light to
shine out of darkness,” can give light and joy and blessing to
the simplest soul who places his faith in Christ, who died for
our sins! (See II Cor. 4:3-6; Acts 16:31; I Cor. 15:3,4).
A view from behind the
tracks....
I have
always been fascinated by our railways and with the recent surge
in oil prices I began taking the train to work to offset the
wear and tear on my aging automobiles. I also wanted to make a
stand against gasoline companies who feel that it's a bargain to
pay $2.75 a gallon for gas after a period of falling prices. This experiment has gone
pretty good I might add. But without bashing the New Jersey
Transit Authority for their inability to adhere to their own
schedules I'll stop here and just accept that nothing is perfect
and that you have to give and take sometimes.
However,
the purpose of this article is not to discuss the failure
of our train, subway and commuting infrastructure friends it is
instead meant to discuss the failure of mankind despite his
biggest accomplishments. Many scientists have cured diseases,
brought us breakthroughs in physics and we have even been able to
put a man on the moon as well as orbit shuttles around the earth
on a regular basis!
One day
during my commute to work, I thought about the many
accomplishments mankind has been able to create but before I
became too proud to think further upon this topic, I took notice
of the
images along the railroad tracks across the landscapes of my
travels.
Without
being an expert on the subject, I noticed that with this
particular line the route itself is somewhat hidden or "off the
beaten path". Because of this, trash, junk, broken
automobiles...you name it ...are intermittently strewn across
the sides and embankments near the railway. In some sections of
where the tracks run, there are nice homes while in other
sections their disrepair and poverty almost seems to be hidden
from society intentionally.
After a
few more days of taking notice of this, I thought further about
the dead trees, weeds and broken branches amidst pockets of
lively trees along the tracks and began to reflect hat this was
not what God had in mind for us and that what I was
really witnessing was a result of the curse on mankind because of
Adam's transgression.
12 Wherefore, as by
one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so
death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13 (For
until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when
there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to
Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude
of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to
come. 15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For
if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace
of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus
Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16 And not as it was by one
that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to
condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto
justification. 17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by
one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the
gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
-
Romans
5:12-17
In a sense, I guess I
had a first hand experience of the "groaning and travailing" of
sufferings of this present time friends. I realized that for all
of man's accomplishments and accolades, one does not need to
look very far at his failures.... especially from the view
behind the tracks.
18 For I
reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy
to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19
For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the
manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made
subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath
subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also
shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the
glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the
whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until
now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the
firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within
ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of
our body.
-
Romans
8:18-23
You don't realize how much you
miss him, until you read and remember some of the stuff he said
and stood for.
Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004)
was the 40th President of the United States and served from 1981
through 1989.
The following are quotes
from our 40th president that I received in an email from a good
friend....
"Here's my strategy on
the Cold War: We win, they lose."
"The most
terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the
government and I'm here to help."
"The trouble with
our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant: It's just that
they know so much that isn't so."
"Of the four wars
in my lifetime none came about because the U.S. was too strong."
"I have wondered
at times about what the Ten Commandment's would have looked like
if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress."
"The taxpayer:
That's someone who works for the federal government but doesn't
have to take the civil service examination."
"Government is
like a baby: An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end
and no sense of responsibility at the other."
"The nearest thing to
eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a government
program."
"I've laid down the law, though, to everyone from now on about
anything that happens: no matter what time it is, wake me, even
if it's in the middle of a Cabinet meeting."
"It has been said
that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned
that it bears a striking resemblance to the first."
"Government's view of
the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it
moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops
moving, subsidize it."
"Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed there are many
rewards, if you disgrace yourself you can always write a book."
"No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so
formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.
"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will
be a nation gone under."
But when the
fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman,
made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we
might receive the adoption of sons. -
Galatians
2:4,5
5 Now the end of
the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good
conscience, and of faith unfeigned: 6 From which some having swerved
have turned aside unto vain jangling; 7 Desiring to be teachers of the
law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
-
1 Timothy
1:5,7
|
Today's World News
Book of The Month Club:
The following is
an excellent story which has its roots in the lineage of Jesus Christ.
It is one of two books of the bible (Esther is the other) in which woman
is the principle character in the book. Ruth's son is the grandfather of
David.
Ruth 1
1 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was
a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to
sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. 2
And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi,
and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of
Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued
there. 3 And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her
two sons. 4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of
the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled
there about ten years. 5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them;
and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband. 6 Then she arose
with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of
Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had
visited his people in giving them bread. 7 Wherefore she went forth out
of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and
they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah. 8 And Naomi said
unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house:
the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with
me. 9 The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house
of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice,
and wept. 10 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee
unto thy people. 11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will
ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be
your husbands? 12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too
old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have
an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; 13 Would ye tarry
for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having
husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that
the hand of the LORD is gone out against me. 14 And they lifted up their
voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth
clave unto her. 15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back
unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from
following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou
lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my
God: 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the
LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. 18
When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she
left speaking unto her. 19 So they two went until they came to
Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that
all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi? 20 And
she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty
hath dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went out full and the LORD hath
brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD
hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? 22 So
Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her,
which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in
the beginning of barley harvest.
Ruth 2
1 And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of
the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz. 2 And Ruth the Moabitess
said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn
after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go,
my daughter. 3 And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after
the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging
unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech. 4 And, behold, Boaz came
from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And
they answered him, The LORD bless thee. 5 Then said Boaz unto his
servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? 6 And the
servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the
Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab: 7
And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers
among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning
until now, that she tarried a little in the house. 8 Then said Boaz unto
Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field,
neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens: 9 Let thine
eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I
not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou
art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men
have drawn. 10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the
ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that
thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? 11 And Boaz
answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou
hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and
how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy
nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.
12 The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the
LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust. 13 Then
she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast
comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine
handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens. 14 And
Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread,
and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and
he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and
left. 15 And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young
men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not:
16 And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave
them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not. 17 So she gleaned in
the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was
about an ephah of barley. 18 And she took it up, and went into the city:
and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth,
and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed. 19 And her
mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where
wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she
shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's
name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz. 20 And Naomi said unto her
daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his
kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man
is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen. 21 And Ruth the
Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young
men, until they have ended all my harvest. 22 And Naomi said unto Ruth
her daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his
maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field. 23 So she kept fast
by the
maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat
harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law.
Ruth 3
1 Then Naomi her
mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for
thee, that it may be well with
thee? 2 And now is not Boaz of
our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley
to night in the threshingfloor. 3 Wash thyself therefore, and anoint
thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but
make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and
drinking. 4 And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark
the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his
feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do. 5 And
she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do. 6 And she
went down unto the floor, and did according
to all that her mother in law bade her. 7 And when Boaz had eaten and
drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the
heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her
down. 8 And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and
turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. 9 And he said, Who
art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore
thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman. 10 And he
said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed
more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou
followedst not young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter,
fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of
my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman. 12 And now it is
true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than
I. 13 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will
perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's
part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I
do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the
morning. 14 And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up
before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a
woman came into the floor. 15 Also he said, Bring the vail that thou
hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six
measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city. 16
And when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who art thou, my
daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her. 17 And she
said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not
empty unto thy mother in law. 18 Then said she, Sit still, my daughter,
until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in
rest, until he have finished the thing this day.
Ruth 4
1 Then went Boaz
up to the gate, and sat him down there: and,
behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho,
such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat
down. 2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye
down here. And they sat down. 3 And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi,
that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land,
which was our brother Elimelech's: 4 And I thought to advertise thee,
saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my
people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem
it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside
thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it. 5 Then said
Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy
it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the
name of the dead upon his inheritance. 6 And the kinsman said, I cannot
redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my
right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it. 7 Now this was the manner in
former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for
to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his
neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel. 8 Therefore the kinsman
said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe. 9 And Boaz
said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this
day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was
Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi. 10 Moreover Ruth the
Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise
up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead
be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place:
ye are witnesses this day. 11 And all the people that were in the gate,
and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is
come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the
house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in
Bethlehem: 12 And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar
bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this
young woman. 13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he
went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son. 14
And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left
thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.
15 And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of
thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is
better to thee than seven sons, hath born him. 16 And Naomi took the
child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it. 17 And the
women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to
Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the
father of David. 18 Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez
begat Hezron, 19 And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab, 20 And
Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon, 21 And Salmon begat
Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed, 22 And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat
David.
21 And Salmon
begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed, 22 And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat
David. - Ruth
4:21,22
|
COFFEE
CORNER
Hymn's That Fell With Satan
"I SURRENDER ALL"
I
suspect when most readers begin to glance at
this article they will automatically assume that the
thrust of this review will condemn rock & roll songs,
hip-hop or other alternative secular music. No
 matter
what music we listen to we should examine it's content
and context before making any judgments. I have
found that what would be considered "head-banging"
music by most people (or by spiritual leaders) actually
provides more doctrine and truth then some of the
cherished foundational church hymns.
Please
note that several of the hymns that we will be looking
at were written around the civil war or decades ago.
Please note this review is not meant to undermine the
difficult times of our country's past or discredit the
character of the authors but instead to simply study
the doctrinal content behind the songs!
Many of the
hymn's we will explore were considered favorites by
those who have moved
onto glory while other's are
accepted as revered favorites. The problem here is that
although they may appear romantic, heartwarming and
sentimental, they contain no doctrinal basis!
I
thought long and hard about what to call this particular
article so I listed some of the other titles that came
to mind but I am sure you get the picture!
Satan would have us only consider songs written by famous rock groups
to be on this list due to the filth and content
contained in them. Although they appear to be
obvious choices, they must be avoided. Man does not need
Satan's help in this regard for he is depraved in his
own way. Blaming the devil for man's sin was already
done in the garden beloved. But in all fairness; listen to the
words friends. I have heard outstanding rock & roll songs
and country songs that have factual, spiritual life
lessons in them. Just like "religion" many
are led to believe that since anything is labeled
Christian (including music choices) it must be good.
It is my prayer that you will read this article with an
open mind while yielding to the Holy Spirit as a good Berean searching the scriptures to see if those
things be so"!
This particular hymn was a favorite of mine until I
fully understood the riches of God's grace through
Christ Jesus. Through my sin and the flesh, I have
nothing to bring to the table and there is certainly
nothing that I can surrender to God friends. In the
hymnal and under
the heading "Commitment and Consecration" let us
put the words of this song to the test of grace-centered
doctrine....
"I SURRENDER ALL" -
Text: Judson W. Van De Venter, (1855-1939); Music:
Winfield S. Weeden, (1847-1908).
All to Jesus I
surrender,
All to him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.
(Refrain)
I surrender all,
I surrender all,
All to thee my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.
All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at His I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken,
Take me Jesus, take me now.
(Refrain)
All to Jesus I surrender,
Make me Savior wholly Thine;
May Thy Holy Spirit fill me,
May I know Thy power divine.
(Refrain)
All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me.
(Refrain)
In the first stanza of the hymn "I
Surrender All", we sing praises about how we
surrender to Him. In fact, we did nothing for God
and did not need to surrender anything to Him
since committing, promising or surrendering anything
to Christ is empty and vain at best. The only thing that
Jesus Christ will accept from us is to simply believe on
Him and His merits accomplished at Calvary. Yet, the
hymn implies again that we would have something worthy
to give to God; such as worldly pleasures as noted in
the second stanza.
Continuing on in the first set of lyrics, we read about
the love and trust we will give to Him and while
being in His presence daily, we will live before Him.
The completion of this set of words leads into the
"refrain" of the old-time hymn, again stating that
believers will surrender all to The Blessed Savior.
I
am certain that the intent is meant to be spiritual and
honest, but doctrinal speaking mankind, believer and
unbelief alike, is not trustworthy. Paul tell us in
Romans
3:21-28
that
the righteousness of God without the law has been reveled to
us which is by faith in Christ.
21
But now the righteousness of God without the law is
manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of
Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe:
for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and
come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified
freely by his grace through the redemption that is in
Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a
propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare
his
righteousness for the remission of sins that are past,
through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at
this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and
the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27 Where
is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works?
Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude
that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of
the law.
Verse 23 of Romans chapter three tells us
that ALL have sinned and come short of
the glory of God! The context of that verse tells us
that not only did we miss the mark, but we continue to
miss the mark! We cannot rehabilitate this sinful
flesh.....We cannot surrender anything to God since it
was Christ Jesus who surrendered His life for us!
3 But
I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve
through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted
from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that
cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not
preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have
not received, or another gospel, which ye have not
accepted, ye might well bear with him. -
2 Corinthians 11:3,4
Each stanza starts with "I surrender" and follows
with a list of things we say we will do. In stanza
two, it tells us that we will humbly bow at His
feet and forsake all worldly pleasures. Whether or not
this verse is meant to describe a commitment made to God
prior to salvation is not clear but we certainly
cannot forsake all worldly pleasures before or after
salvation and if I am truly honest with myself my
desire is to do the opposite of what the second stanza
says! However, I am not in bad company here....
15
For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that
do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do
that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it
is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin
that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is,
in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is
present with me; but how to perform that which is good I
find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the
evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I
would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that
dwelleth in me. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would
do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in
the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see
another law in my members, warring against the law of my
mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin
which is in my members. -
Romans 7:15-23
"We cannot surrender anything to God since it was
Christ Jesus who surrendered His life for us!"
Thankfully, the apostle Paul, saved some 30 years after
his marvelous book of Romans, gave us our only hope as
it pertains to this issue of sin and our attraction to
it....
24 O
wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the
body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ
our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law
of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. -
Romans 7:24-25
In the third and fourth stanza's of the
hymn "I Surrender All", the writer asks God to
"be wholly
his" and asks for a complete filling of the Holy
Spirit. He again states what he will give and
pleads to receive God's power and blessings. This
erroneous belief is taught by many pastors and Sunday
school teachers. Friends, please remember this...
-
We have
all of God we are ever going to have at the
moment we take Him at His word concerning the
finished work of His Son at Calvary!
-
We have
all of the Holy Spirit we will ever need once we
believe that Jesus Christ's death, burial and
resurrection resulted in our glorious justification
(taking on the very righteousness of Christ
himself)!
-
Lastly, the
apostle Paul tells us that we have ALL
spiritual blessings in heavenly places in
Ephesians 1:3 before launching into a vast array
of blessings due to our oneness with Christ!
It is sad that the writer of this hymn did not fully
understand His
unchanging position in Jesus Christ. I know this article
and series
may irritate and even anger many people but celebrating
this hymn only encourages believers to pray, beg and
plead for less than what God would have for us
through
 Christ
Jesus! Life in Christ is much more than being saved from
the debt and penalty of sins
and it is the one thing that Satan can confuse
believers on!
I
hope readers found this article encouraging and that as
good Bereans, we will learn to apply doctrine to
the romantic hymn's of old as we rightly divide God's
truths....
Let the Son of God
provide the power through His Spirit to sustain us!
|
been revoked".
Joe
knew that this could be a major problem in that he would not be able
to get his work completed without access to area XYZ! However, after
further review of the e-mail, the man quickly discovered that he was
not the intended recipient but instead "copied" or "cc'd" as a
reference only! As it turns out, a collogue of his was the man who lost
his access! Joe, as the superintendent of area XYZ, simply needed to
be aware of this. For a brief moment, Joe confused his TO
mail with his CC mail. Not understanding that distinction for
those brief seconds after reading the message caused severe anxiety for
Joe until he realized the message was indeed TO someone else!
In a much similar example, when
we
read the bible, identifying our TO
mail is very important lest
we make the same fundamental mistake as the person above. Without
understanding the distinction between our "to" mail and our
"cc" or our "reference only" mail, believers inadvertently
"read themselves" into areas of the bible that God did not intend.
The result when this happens: confusion!
(see
