May 2023 "Dearly Beloved" Articles
Dearly Beloved 05/31/23 Redemption and More Redemption
Redemption and More Redemption
Dearly beloved of God, our redemption began with the new birth and the forgiveness of our sins by the riches of His grace which He has abounded to us.
There is more redemption to come on the day of redemption when the Lord Jesus Christ returns to gather together those that he purchased with his life.
The Lord Jesus Christ will redeem the dead in Christ, and transfigure their corruptible bodies so that they are like his glorious body. He will transfigure the living ones from being mortal to being immortal, and they will have glorious bodies like his glorious body.
We will be caught up together in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
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Dearly Beloved 05/29/23 Jesus Christ Sent the Promise of the Father
Jesus Christ Sent the Promise of the Father
Dearly beloved of God, on the Feast of Pentecost following the Lord Jesus Christ's ascension into the heavens, and seating at God’s right side, the Apostle Peter said by revelation, “Repent [which means to change your mind], and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the holy spirit.” Acts 2:38
Before his ascension into heaven Jesus Christ told his apostles that they were to wait for the promise of the Father, which he said they had heard from him.
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Dearly Beloved 05/28/23 The Integrity of God's Word
The Integrity of God’s Word
Dearly beloved of God, after God delivered Israel by His miraculous power from their bondage in Egypt, He made a covenant with them to be their God, and that they would be His people.
God gave them His Word in the form of the Law. The people agreed to keep the covenant God made with them, and walk with Him, but Israel failed to keep the covenant soon afterwards.
God told them at Kadesh Barnea to go up because He had given them land, but they did not go up at His Word. Instead of believing what He said, they sent spies into the land and they believed their evil report, instead of believing what God said.
They wandered in the wilderness for forty years because of their unbelief. Only Joshua and Caleb of that generation, who believed God at His Word went up and entered the promised land.
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Dearly Beloved 05/25/23 The Word of God Will Interpret Itself
The Word of God Will Interpret Itself
Dearly beloved of God, the Word of God interprets itself in the verse, the context, or where it has been used before. Matthew 22 is a record that interprets itself in the context.
What was Jesus Christ talking about in verse 32, when he said, “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living”?
I once heard this verse quoted at a funeral to say that the person in the casket was not dead, but alive in heaven because God is the God of the living. Is that what this verse is saying? If we read this verse in its context it will interpret itself.
Matthew 22 records a time when the Sadducees tried to trap Jesus Christ by quoting Deuteronomy 25:5, and then raising a hypothetical question regarding the resurrection of the dead, of which they did not believe.
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Dearly Beloved 05/22/23 Lesson Seven: How to Receive the Things of God
Lesson Seven: How to Receive the Things of God
Dearly beloved of God, we must come to the position of recognizing the integrity of the Word of God. He said what He meant, and He meant what He said. The Word of God reveals what is available to us from God.
Next, we must learn how we can receive what God has made available to us. What does the Word of God reveal about this?
Hebrews 11:6 ASV
And without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.
What is “faith?” “Faith” is the Greek noun, pistis. The verb form is pisteuo, which means, “to believe.” Even though these two words come from the same root in the Greek, you cannot tell it from the English translation.
The word “faith” means the same as the word “believe.” Faith or believing is to have trust and confidence in the information that God reveals to us, therefore we act upon it.
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Dearly Beloved 05/22/23 Lesson Six: The Origin of the Word of God
Lesson Six: The Origin of the Word of God
Dearly beloved of God, since people communicate with words, God communicated to people with His Word. The Bible is the revealed Word of God, and it reveals His Will.
All Scripture is God-breathed, and it is profitable. God gave His Word to holy men of God by revelation, and they wrote it down at His direction. It did not come by the will of man.
Exodus 17: 14
And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua….
Where did Moses get this information? God spoke to Him, and He told Moses to write it down, so he did.
Exodus 24: 3, 4, 8
3 And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do.
4 And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD….
8 And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the People, and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.”
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Dearly Beloved 05/20/20 Lesson Five: How Does All Scripture Interpret Itself?
Lesson Five: How Does All Scripture Interpret Itself?
Dearly beloved of God, since the Word of God is not of any private interpretation we must allow the Word of God to interpret itself. How does it interpret itself? It interprets itself in the verse, the context, or how it has been used before.
First, the Word of God interprets itself in the verse.
Within the verse we must consider the words used and their Biblical usage.
We must also consider figures of speech used in the verse. The Holy Spirit uses figures of speech by divine design to draw our attention to what He is saying by saying it in an unusual way.
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Dearly Beloved 05/19/20 Lesson Four: Workmen of the Word of God
Lesson Four: Workmen of the Word of God
Dearly beloved of God, God is Spirit. God has given us His Word so that we have a point of contact with Him in the senses realm. His Word expresses His Will.
God revealed His Word so that we do not have to imagine or guess about spiritual matters. The Word of God is a permanent record of the Will of God in writing.
All Scripture is God-breathed. It came by revelation from God Himself. The Word of God is God’s Word. Since it is His Word we should recognize the integrity of His Word, and allow Him to speak for Himself without adding, subtracting, changing, or coloring what He says.
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Dearly Beloved 05/18/23 Living in God's Love and Peace
Living in God’s Love and Peace
Dearly beloved of God, when John baptized Jesus the holy spirit descended upon him, and there came a voice from heaven saying, “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”
Ephesians 1:6
To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved:
God our Father made us accepted in the Beloved, the Christ.
“Accepted” is the Greek word, charitoo, which means to show grace, to highly favor. We are highly favored in Christ, the Beloved One. It is only used here and in Luke 1:28 where the angel greets Mary, “Hail, thou art highly favored, the Lord is with thee….”
“Beloved” is the Greek word, agapetos. It is translated as beloved, dearly beloved, well beloved, dear, etc.
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Dearly Beloved 05/17/23 Lesson Three: The Contact Between God and Man
Lesson Three: The Contact Between God and Man
Dearly beloved of God, the Scriptures are the revealed Word and Will of God. The Word of God puts us in contact with God, Who is Spirit. To know God we must know the revealed Word of God.
Jeremiah 2:13
For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
God was speaking to His people, and He said that they had committed two evils.
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Dearly Beloved 05/16/23 Lesson Two: The Integrity of God's Word
Lesson Two: The Integrity of God’s Word
Dearly beloved of God, the Word of God is the only authority for truth concerning spiritual matters. God does not want us ignorant about spiritual matters so He informs us about them with His Word.
The Word of God reveals the truth about Who God is. It reveals the truth about who Jesus Christ is.
The Word of God reveals the truth about salvation. It reveals the truth about the gift of holy spirit that He has given to His children, and the manifestations of the spirit.
The Word of God reveals the truth about who we are in Christ, and what is ours because of his accomplishments.
God's Word reveals the truth about our hope in Christ. It reveals the truth concerning the state of death, and who and when the dead will be made alive.
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Dearly Beloved 05/15/23 Lesson One
Lesson One
Dearly beloved of God, is there a reference we can trust for truth today?
If you listen to the news you would think that we are living in an alternate universe. Evil is called good, and good is called evil. They cannot even define what a woman is. The world is insane. In spite of the devilishness of our times there is a reference for truth we can trust for truth.
II Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
Well, this statement is either the truth, or it is a lie. When the Lord Jesus Christ was tempted by the devil he responded, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4
Jesus Christ believed the truth of the Word of God. He said we are to live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. As his followers we should have the same attitude towards the Word of God as he had.
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Dearly Beloved 05/13/23 The Good Pleasure of God's Will
The Good Pleasure of God’s Will
Dearly beloved of God, the greatest revelation God ever gave man is recorded in the book of Ephesians. The revelation addresses God’s heart concerning the accomplished work of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Church.
As we read these words from God in Ephesians 1, take note of the words “according to.” These words set forth the standard by which God accomplished His purpose in Christ. It is not only what He did in Christ, but how He did these things. They reveal His attitude.
Ephesians 1:3-5
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption [sonship] of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
What was the standard by which God determined these things in Christ? He determined them “according to the good pleasure of His Will.”
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Dearly Beloved 05/12/23 Exclusive Privileged Membership
Exclusive Privileged Membership
Dearly beloved of God, because of the new birth every Christian has exclusive and privileged membership in the Church, which is the body of Christ.
This membership is not by bloodline, nor by genealogical birthright, not by race, nor by legal adherence. This membership is in Christ, and the result of his accomplishments in his suffering, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and seating in the heavenly realm, and our association with him in the new birth.
The Church, which is the body of Christ is not an earthly organization, it is a heavenly one. Christ is the head of the Church, which is the body of Christ, and they are members in particular.
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Dearly Beloved 05/11/23 Living in the Realm of the Miraculous
Living in the Realm of the Miraculous
Dearly beloved of God, if we were to take the miraculous out of Christianity all we are left with is man made religion.
Christianity is what God accomplished in His Son Jesus Christ, and who He made us in him. It is what God has done, not us.
John 3:15 and 16
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
We are mortal beings. To receive eternal life is miraculous. Christianity is God’s love for us in Christ Jesus. He so loved us that He gave His only begotten Son for us so that we could have eternal life.
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Dearly Beloved 05/09/23 Not Only, But All
Not Only, But All
Dearly beloved of God, it would have been great if we had only been saved and reconciled to God. It would have been wonderful if we had just been given access to God as our Father by the spirit of sonship, but God our Father has blessed us in Christ with even more than this.
Ephesians 1:3 Working Translation: Copyright 2006 by Walter J. Cummins. All rights reserved.
3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm,
God’s blessing us in Christ encompasses all that Jesus Christ accomplished in his death, resurrection, ascension, and seating in the heavenly realm. God planned and determined ahead of time that we were to be united with Christ in his accomplishments.
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Dearly Beloved 05/08/23 From Coming Short to Obtaining
From Coming Short to Obtaining
Dearly beloved of God, thank God for the grace He has shown us in Christ Jesus our Lord. All of us were dead in sins, without God, and without hope. We all came short of the glory of God, but then God showed us His great love with which He loved us. He demonstrated that love to us by extending His grace and mercy to us in Christ.
Salvation is within the grasp of every person. It is not by our earthly birth rite, or by our works, or by our self worthiness; it is ours in Christ by the grace of God. If anyone confesses Jesus as Lord, and believes that God raised him from the dead, they shall be saved.
At that moment they are born again of the spirit from God, and they become a child of God, an heir of God, and a joint heir with Christ. From then on we have the hope of the glory of God.
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Dearly Beloved 05/07/23 The Goodness of God
The Goodness of God
Dearly beloved of God, God our Father is only good toward us. He would have all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. The goodness of God leads a person to repentance.
Romans 8:28 Nestle-Aland Greek-English New Testament
We know that in everything God works for good with those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
It was the good pleasure of His Will to bless us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm. He loves His children, and we are highly favored in His sight.
Our adversary the Devil, who is also called Satan, is evil, and there is no good in him. His will is death, sickness, oppression, darkness, poverty, and destruction. He is the thief that comes but for to steal, to kill, and to destroy.
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Dearly Beloved 05/05/23 The Father Rewards Openly
The Father Rewards Openly
Dearly beloved of God, Jesus Christ talked to his followers about prayer in Matthew 6. Prayer is between God and the individual seeking Him.
He said, “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”
Throughout God’s Word we read of people that prayed to God, and He rewarded them openly. He provided healing for the incurable, babies for the barren, healing for the broken hearted, guidance in order to carry out God’s Will, instructions in battle for victory, sustenance in times of famine, deliverance from pursuing enemies, counsel about running a country, and much more, and He answered their prayers by His almighty power in spite of impossible circumstances confronting them.
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Dearly Beloved 05/04/23 The Cure for Self-Doubt
The Cure for Self-Doubt
Dearly beloved of God, there are two ways we can look at things. We can look at ourselves in Christ and in his accomplishments, and live rejoicing and giving thanks for what he has done, or we can look at ourselves as the old man in the flesh, and live a life of disappointing misery and regret for what we have not done.
We are who we are in Christ by the grace of God. What do we have that we did not receive? Nothing. Everything from the new birth to our hope of receiving the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ is by the riches of God’s grace to us in Christ Jesus.
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Dearly Beloved 05/02/23 True Intel
True Intel
Dearly beloved of God, God has revealed true intel to His children concerning the plan of the ages which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. Had the adversary, and those of his kingdom known what He had in mind, he would never have crucified the Lord Jesus Christ.
What do we know?
God put all things in subjection under the Lord Jesus Christ’s feet. He did not leave anything that was not put under him. “At the present time, however, we do not yet see “all things” subjected to him. Notwithstanding, we do see Jesus crowned with glory and honor, who was briefly made lower than the [spirit] messengers for the suffering of death so that he, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.” Hebrews 2:8b, 9
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Dearly Beloved 05/01/23 The Treasure is There
The Treasure is There
Dearly beloved of God, the Word of God reveals the Will of God. It says what it means, and it means what it says. God’s Word reveals His wisdom.
God gave His Word as our source for the truth; as our reference for learning concerning spiritual matters. The Word of God is God speaking.
God revealed His Word in writing so that we have a permanent record of the truth. God stands behind His Word, and He is able and willing to perform it.
Under the Old Covenant God gave Israel the law of Moses. Under the New Covenant He has revealed His Will to the Church in the Church Epistles. These epistles reveal the wisdom of God concerning Christ and what he accomplished.