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Ephesians

As a Christians it is a faithful saying that we truly have been blessed beyond measure. Unfortunately, we can get caught up measuring this "blessedness" by THINGS: material possessions, physical wellness, and good fortune; yet, this is not what I mean, nor what our apostle Paul is talking about when he speaks of the "riches of God's grace". These blessings are completely spiritual in nature and therefore cannot be measured by the physical eye or your bank account, but can by the "eyes of our understanding". One of the numerous blessings we have blessed with is spoken of in Ephesians. Ephesians, as it concerns our edification builds upon the foundation of what Romans-Galatians sets forth; therefore, advanced education and edification is taking place. The blessings spoken of in Ephesians are "heavenly" in nature. Notice, Ephesians 1:3, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in HEAVENLY places in Christ:" Many blessings in Christ have been taught to us before this point in our edification, but a declaration that we have been blessed with "all spiritual blessings" is an issue that ought to thrill our hearts and become the object of our minds as the details of these "spiritual blessings in heavenly places" haven't been spoken of in great detail until now. This issue was briefly mentioned and taught in a specific manner in specific "words" to form a general "understanding" in Romans 8, but not in such intricate, subtil detail as this. Detail which now is the subject matter to fill in gaps and wholes in our minds and provide for a deep affection for these blessings. Just what is the totality of these "spiritual blessings" and why are they "in heavenly places"? What Paul goes on to describe (when truly understood and not dumbed-down and spoken of as a passage to simply extol His worthiness to be praised and deserving of glory, which anyone can simply do with any passage of the Bible) takes those "eyes of understanding" and utilizes them to truly have some intelligence in connection with what is being said which, in turn, produces the extolling of God, BECAUSE of one's understanding of the doctrine set forth in Ephesians 1:3-14. One of these magnificent and grand "blessings" is described in detail verses 8-10, "wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure, which He hath purposed in Himself: that in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him:" Now, much goes into understanding a passage like this, such as Satan's plan of evil to be like the most High and be possessor of heaven and earth which he has done, as well as, God's foretold plan to reconcile the earth and the unforetold plan to reconcile the heaven. He will reconcile the earth through the nation of Israel or believing Israel in the "time to come" and He will reconcile the heavenly places with the body of Christ which you and I are a part of. If you don't understand this basic information then the advanced truths set forth in Ephesians won't effectually work to the measure they are designed; nevertheless, it was always known through "prophecy" that God would reconcile the earth back from Satan's usurpation; however, the mechanical means of reconciling the heavenly places was the not subject matter of "prophecy" this subject was a issue God kept a mystery. In "ages past" it was a mystery, yet He has revealed it to the apostle Paul, now "the mystery of Christ" is not so much what this "spiritual blessing" is describing, but rather what "the mystery of Christ" has ultimately provided, which is the "mystery of His will". Simply, if insight and perception into the privy, eternal counsel of God our Father or the thought of such a thing doesn't excite you, your affection has been misplaced, because this is one of the very things He has blessed us with. Notice, in the riches of His grace, He has "abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence". An opportunity, privilege, and blessing that no one before Paul ever had. The issue of "the mystery of His will" is connected to His "good pleasure" and it should please us as well: to say the least. Again, "the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself" isn't solely in regards to "the mystery of Christ", the revelation that describes the reconciliation of the heavenly places through the instrumentality of the body of Christ, but takes into account a "dispensation". This "dispensation" is called "the fulness of times", describing God will have had fulfilled what He wanted to in the "times" wherein He will implement this "program" or "dispensation". It is in this dispensation, which has never been spoken of until here in Ephesians, where He will put what He will have done in heaven and earth under the imperial headship of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is awe-some in and of itself, yet the design of informing you of such a dispensation is to provoke one to understand how the heaven and the earth will operate together in a capacity never before seen. God's creation has never experienced the heaven and the earth functioning to its full capacity, especially as it has been under "the bondage of corruption" most of its' existence. Yet, God's good pleasure it having these two realms operate in marvelous capacities, which we are to intelligently not only ponder, but realize and understand. It should be noted that there is a large aspect to all this that we will not understand and God will only provide in "the ages to come", yet the basic and fundamental realities of this dispensation He has abounded toward us in and therefore are to be pondered, contemplated, and understood by us. What honor and privilege to have the mind of our Father in Christ regarding His business for the "times" and "ages" after. May we take heed to the exhortation in Colossians 3:2, "set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth". In doing so we can fulfill aspects of Ephesians 5:15-16, "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil." May we not let "the course of the world" and "this present evil world" consume our minds and affections and waste our time, when we can use it to the honor and glory of God's good pleasure. Look Up, Pastor Josh M. Strelecki

"Christ, Who Is Our Life"

Colossians 3:4,

"When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory."

Much is written today in the world regarding having a peaceful and tranquil life. Books upon books for how to live a life with few obstacles, tips regarding how to be happy at work and in your marriage, not to mention the countless "how to" books that range from being a better person to being a better friend, yet without giving up who you really are. They even have the countless books "for dummies": "how to be a husband for dummies", "how to be a wife for dummies", "how to be a friend for dummies", and the list goes on and on. I think there is a "for dummies" book for just about anything and everything at a bookstore, implying we are all dummies.

Christianity has followed suit regarding its' own section of how one can have a "good" or "better" or "best life" now. Health, wealth, and prosperity books that make those who write them healthy, wealthy, and prosperous, but makes those who buy them frustrated, with less money than prior to buying the book, and hopeless. These books provide the same information as the secular books, but include verbiage from the Bible such as God, Jesus, Spirit, money, rich, healing, and gifts. Millions of these books are sold (bought by Christians who are ignorant of "the life in Christ Jesus" they have that effectually works to a degree these books can never reach), all to end at a "good will" store or "half-price books", because they simply don't work.

With all that said although there are countless verses like Colossians 3:4, yet this verse alone in four words explains the Christian life. Your life or our lives as Christians is Christ. The question remains what does that mean? Paul in Colossians chapter 2 explained what it does not mean. It does not mean following "philosophy", "vain deceit", "tradition of men", and "rudiments of the world" (2:8). It does not mean following God "in meats, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days" (2:16). It does not mean getting caught up in the spiritual phenomenon of Christianity "in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind" (2:18); and it is not a life of asceticism for Paul says, "why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (touch not, taste not; handle not; which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh" (2:20b-23). Unfortunately, these are the things that make up churches today. Paul explains these things as "not after Christ", "spoiling", "beguiling", and "not holding the Head (Christ)", yet as most Christians follow and practice these things it produces their Christian 'LIFE'. Their identity, experience, understanding, and knowledge stem from these things. Yet, to follow after these things is not to "walk after Christ", and not have Christ be your life.

The truth of the matter is before you even get to Colossians in Romans-Philippians there has been a "newness of life" described in much detail that makes up Christ and provide for you to be conformed into His image. Paul in Colossians 3:4 states the fact that by the time you get to this verse "Christ" should be "your life" and one day He will appear and because He will appear, "then shall ye also appear with Him in glory." May Christ be our life, so that, we will be presented "holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight" (1:22) when He appears. Is Christ your life?

Look Up,
Pastor J.M. Strelecki

"Man's Response To Wrath"

Man’s response can be quite fascinating. Frankly, the facial, emotional, and verbal responses one can give can be priceless. The expression and emotion of a mother who just gave birth to her child. A response of relief and jubilation clashing together at the same time can oftentimes be manifest with innumerable tears of joy. Astonishment and amazement form on the face of a brand new father. Words cannot be formed to express the excitement the father experiences; a non-verbal response to a situation that demands such expression is at times a very impactful and endearing response, but in other situations manifests guiltiness and lack of understanding. Responses are experienced each day of our existence. We either provide a response, manufactured by our facial expression and words, or either do or say something that provokes, produces, and even sometimes demands a response from someone else. A response is unique; for in watching someone else respond in some manner or form can result in one’s own response. We truly do impact one another even when we might not even know it. A response is not always a ‘good’ response, but a response can also be ‘bad’. A death glare produced by a bent in the brow, jaws locked, lips closed, and eyes penetrating the soul of someone else is a response we might have experienced at one time or another; either as the glarer or glaree. One to three word responses of rejection are another common ‘bad’ response: whatever, yea right, hhmmmm, are you kidding me, huh, uh huh, NO, etc. A ‘bad’ response can even grow into vicious assaults, stubborn negative responses, physical abuse, emotional and verbal abuse, or simply the cold shoulder. Pride and jealousy often are the root problem for these responses.

Unfortunately, when it comes to man’s response to “the gospel of Christ”, all to often, a ‘bad’ response is given. There are many points within the information provided in “the gospel of Christ” that challenge the heart and mind of an unjustified person and at each of these points a ‘bad’ response can result. It is the genius of our heavenly Father and the design of His glorious Word to make you, as an “ambassador for Christ”, fully equipped for such responses. In fact, it is a truth that with the doctrine provided in the opening chapters of Romans our heavenly Father provides for us to deal with any and all responses an unjustified person can give as we make known “the glorious gospel of the blessed God”.

Wrath of God

It should be noted that responses are often interpretated by the context in which they are given. The same goes for the responses the Apostle Paul deals with in Romans 2:1-3:20. The responses given in this portion of scripture stem from what Paul set forth in Romans 1:18-32; to wit, the wrath of God. As Twin Cities Grace Fellowship’s last quarterly explained Romans 1:18-32 provide the full, complete convincement of God’s wrath because of the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. It provides for making an unjustified person aware they are fully worthy of God’s wrath. Romans 2:1-3:20 provide us to handle any response an unjustified person might concoct in order to escape the wrath of God. Essentially, this information reveals man’s self-defense pleas as attempts to escape the judgment of God in connection with their sins. Our heavenly Father provides them for the ambassador in advance, so that, the ambassador is aware of man’s response to God’s wrath before they even appeal to them. Our Father “declares the thought of man” for us in Romans 2:1-3:20, so that, one can functionally respond in truth to the vanity of their escape tactics.


Escape Tactics

When it comes to these responses, these escape tactics, there are only 3 common escape tactics that the flesh can manufacture. In Romans 2:1-11, Paul deals with an unjustified “O, man” who in light of being made aware that God’s wrath is against him seeks to escape it by the tactic of, what we can call, relative or comparative righteousness. In Romans 2:12-17, Paul begins to deal with an unjustified Gentile in regards to them being “without law”. This information teaches the “O, man” we might deal with might possibly seek to give some kind of a extenuating circumstance in their defense as they try to escape the wrath of God. There are two kinds of extenuating circumstances the “O, man” can give, 1) a extenuating circumstance of disadvantage; represented by the Gentile who was “without law”, and 2) a extenuating circumstance of advantage, represented by the so-called Jew who was “in the law”. It is this extenuating circumstance of advantage that Paul explains next in Romans 2:17-29 represented by the so-called Jew. The “O, man” might appeal to some advantage like the so-called Jew in an attempt to escape the wrath of God. It should be noted that none of these escape tactics work; in fact, quite the opposite as Paul properly handles each one, the unjustified “O, man” is found in a position where his “mouth is stopped” and he finds himself truly “without strength”.

The third and final escape tactic that our Apostle Paul deals with is given last in the packet of three, because it is the final desperate attempts of the unjustified “O, man”. In his desperation he seeks to save face by opposing the message (the gospel of Christ) and/or the messenger. This is represented by the Jew to whom “the oracles of God ” were committed. The final escape of the unjustified “O,man” who negatively responds to wrath-consciousness consists of charging God with unrighteousness. The negative responses’ climax is when it takes on the form of blasphemy and slanders the grace of God. Notice this response as Paul actually and practically shares the doctrine of Romans 1-3 in the book of Acts to certain groups of people.

“And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, SOME MOCKED: and others said, ‘We will hear thee again of this matter.”
Acts17:32

“And when they OPPOSED THEMSELVES, AND BLASPHEMED, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, ‘Your blood be upon your own head; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.”
Acts 18:6


Reality & Our Final Response

The ambassador for Christ needs to acknowledge the reality, before he/she sets out to share the gospel of Christ in truth, of facing one of these negative escape tactics. Oftentimes, the ambassador will seek to ‘win one for Christ’ not realizing the potential stubbornness they might face and become real discouraged and be used by the Adversary resulting in he/she ‘throwing in the towel’ or ‘faint’ becoming a dysfunctional weak ambassador. The Adversary will also use these negative responses of an unjustified “O, man” to have the ambassador change the message and make it more palatable, so that, they won’t experience the harshness of the gospel of Christ working effectually in a unjustified person. The result of one changing the message leaves an unjustified person with a false or perverted gospel wherein there is no salvation at all.

When the escape tactics from the wrath of God reach the pinnacle of their negativity by blaspheming God and slandering His grace, the ambassador has reached the end of their ambassadorship and there is one final response to give to have work effectually in the opposer for the ambassador is no longer obligated to continue to share the gospel of Christ with them. The response is given by the Apostle Paul in the doctrine in Romans 3:8. He writes,

“And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) let us do evil, that good may come? WHOSE DAMNATION IS JUST.”

It is these last four words that make-up the final response of the ambassador toward the unjustified person who is negatively opposing “the gospel of Christ” and “the ambassador for Christ”. It is at this point in their negative response, that in view of it “the goodness” of God’s appeal has reached its limit. It is the final proclamation of the damnation spoken of throughout Romans 1-2 which will be their final lot if they do not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as their all-sufficient Saviour. Again, this final response from the ambassador is designed to alert the unjustified person one last time that they are in real jeopardy of receiving the very wrath, judgment, and damnation they are so forcefully denying. This strong statement by the ambassador is designed to shut the mouth of the blasphemer who slanders the grace of God.


Full Prosecution

The Apostle Paul concludes his prosecution of the defenses escape tactics with his closing statement. This statement begins in Romans 3:9 and ends in Romans 3:20. He starts by concluding all men “under sin”. Romans 3:9,
“What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;”
He ends his statement in Romans 3:19-20 saying,

“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

This form of doctrine doesn’t describe the unjustified persons response, but does provide the full prosecution in light of all of the self-defense pleas and escape tactics given. Paul declares they are “under sin” with their “mouth…stopped” and “guilty before God”. The effectual working of God’s Word in Romans 1-3 is designed to accomplish this very end; so that, the need of salvation from the debt and penalty of one’s sins is properly realized and the effectually working of Romans 3:21-26 can do its job.



One Response

When all is said and done, no matter what facial expression is given: glare, stare, frown, or smile; no matter what verbal expression is given: slander, blasphemy, acceptance, or any other negative or positive response, there is only one response that matters. It is a response that the ambassador can not see or feel, because it is the inward response of faith in the gospel of Christ. It can be manifested by someones profession to you; however, the moment one responds to the gospel of Christ God sees it and will forgive that person all their sins , impute Christ’s righteousness to them, and give them eternal life. Although we might face and experience many responses as we preach the gospel, the only response that matters is the one you are not immediately aware of or might never know took place. Our role as ambassadors isn’t to worry about the result or the response, but about co-labouring with our heavenly Father by beseeching others on His behalf to be reconciled unto Him (2 Cor. 5:18-21). We are to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). May we be instant in season and out of season to preach the Word, not change it because of the potential negative responses we might experience, and know that the Word of God effectually works in those we preach the gospel to. The best response one can have is of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as one’s all-sufficient Savior. It is an honor and privilege to share the message that can work such a response, and icing on the cake if those who respond positively to the gospel of Christ through faith in Christ actually share their positive response with us.

Look Up,
Pastor Josh Strelecki

"Light & Darkness"

Being made aware of certain events, details, and other random information is a part of our everyday life. Gaining knowledge and exercising knowledge begins as soon as we wake up in the morning. We do this particularly in specific areas of expertise. In other words, in our jobs, while on the job, and doing business. Most of the time we exercise existing knowledge: certain knowledge we have already gained by education or experience; however, at times our occupation demands further training and education. The companies and businesses we work for take the time to train and educate their employees. This includes an array of things such as how to do your job better, how to do a specific part of your job better, or how to do a new aspect of your job that is being implemented. Simply put, learning and receiving, as well as, exercising knowledge is routine at work and in our lives.
At the moment one trusts Christ as their all-sufficient Savior there is training God our heavenly Father wants them to receive. When one believes Christ died for the debt and penalty of their sins on the Cross our Father wants the believer to be equipped to share the same glorious news that saved them. As our Father begins to train us as “ambassadors for Christ” it could be said, “the eyes of our understanding” begin to be enlightened; in other words, 1) we begin to learn the dark predicament we were in before we trusted in Christ, and 2) the dark predicament the world is still in. In Romans 1-3 our Father equips us to be effectual “ambassadors for Christ” as part of His business and it is in Romans 1:18-32 where we are made aware of the world’s worthiness of God’s wrath. We are made aware “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men” , so that, we can make “men” effectually aware of God’s wrath being against them.

LIGHT
All throughout scripture when God’s “glory” is being expressed and explained it always is manifest by a bright light. In fact Paul writes about this very issue in 1 Tim. 6:16, in context of the Lord Jesus Christ,
“who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen”
God through the express person of Himself, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the image of the invisible God and the brightness of His glory (2 Cor. 4:4; Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3) is “dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto”, that is, no man in Adam with an unrighteous standing before God. Now, the brightness of God’s glory is only the represent manifestation of the glory. His glory consists of His God-ness; the characteristics and attributes of who He is such as His “eternal power and Godhead” (Rom. 1:20).

These characteristics of God that make up His God-ness, especially the two previously mentioned, are the very things that God has made known of Himself to every man. God not only left a fingerprint trail in everyman, but He also manifests the things that can be known of Him “from the creation of the world”, which “are clearly seen”. This is what Paul says in Rom. 1:19-20,

19, “because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.”
20, “For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly see, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”

Simply put, every man can and does understand the “invisible things” of God by the consciousness of Himself that He has placed within everyone, as well as, the creation manifesting and bearing witness to God. Therefore, it can fundamentally be said that mankind knows God. This knowledge is not intimate; however, according to God manifesting the things that can be known of Him it can be said, “mankind knows God.” They know of His “eternal power and Godhead” and thereby “the glory of the uncorruptible God”.

AMBASSADORS
This point of the light of God-consciousness is where we begin to function as “ambassadors for Christ” as we present the “gospel of Christ”. As an ambassador we make men aware of our Sovereigns existence and the testimony of His God-ness from understanding the things that are made in creation. This will be the first point in our presentation of “the gospel of Christ” that will test and challenge the heart and mind of the unjustified. As we present this “truth of God” to them they are left “without excuse” and thereby challenged with the effectual working of God’s Word that is designed to lead them to change their mind. They will respond in one of two ways. If they in the honesty of their heart will respond positively to the light of God-consciousness we then can present the next point that will test their volition. If they decide to respond negatively to the light of God-consciousness and oppose the truth of God it is testimony of God’s wrath being against them.

DARKNESS
Romans 1:18-32 is our Father’s indictment against mankind. It is His substantial evidence that ultimately deserves and warrants just judgment. The nature of this substantial evidence against the world begins when the “course of this world” was charted and catered to by mankind. It was at this time God gave the world over to “the power of darkness” . God consigned the world over to the Adversary, because mankind consigned themselves over to it, by aligning their hearts with the wisdom of this world rendering their hearts foolish. In Romans 1:21, God characterizes mankind’s heart for what it now became, according to the “the power of darkness”;

“because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was DARKENED.” {EMPHASIS ADDED}

Their hearts were darkened and the light of God-consciousness was covered by its’ power. In other words, they “hold the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom. 1:18b). This ultimately led to ungodly and unrighteous conduct and behavior that warrants justice. God uses this case when He consigned the world over to the Adversary due to their compliance with “the power of darkness” as the substantial evidence to prove man’s ungodliness and unrighteousness that deserves God’s wrath. It is this standing and predicament the world is still in today. This world is characterized by being: “vain in their imaginations”, “foolish hearts are darkened”, “professing themselves to be wise, they became fools”, “changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things”, “vile affections”, women changing “the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly”, not retaining “God in their knowledge”, and doing “those things which are not convenient”. This list of man’s offences is on many accounts; yet, there is more. God concludes what is an already lengthy list of “ungodliness and unrighteousness of men” in Rom. 1:29-32. Romans 1:29-32 is the final piece of God’s indictment toward mankind. The strength that these verses give His indictment is remarkable and one would think this is God’s closing statement, but the truth of the matter is, He is just getting started. With the final piece of God’s opening statement it leaves the world and mankind “inexcusable” (Rom. 2:1). Romans 1:29-32,

“Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

The strength of God’s charge toward man’s ungodliness and unrighteousness does not only leave mankind “inexcusable”, but it is also inescapable. The rest of the case is formality and although man will produce tactics to escape the charge, there is no escape of God’s wrath being against them due to their “ungodliness and unrighteousness”.

We truly live in a dark world and to not recognize this as such is to not see the world through God’s eyes. This world and the unjustified men in it need to be delivered from “the power of darkness” and be declared righteous in the sight of God. As an ambassador one of the amazing privileges we have is the nature of the message we are graced with to share.

AMBASSADORS OF LIGHT
“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. 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 Corinthains 4:3-6

It is in this passage that our Father explains in wonderful detail what He does to an unjustified person through the gospel of Christ. As ambassadors this passage explains the honour and granduer to partake in sharing the gospel we are given. And it is in this passage that explains the glorious nature of the gospel. In 2 Cor. 4:6 there is a comparison of the words He spoke during creation that brought light to shine out of darkness to the words He has given us to speak that brings forth light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ to shine in man’s foolish darkened hearts. The glorious gospel of Christ is the light that shines in the hearts that are darkened being consigned to “the power of darkness”. The glorious gospel of Christ is the power of God to change man’s predicament, to satisfy the justice of God against them, to forgive all their sin, to impute His righteousness, and to give an “inheritance of the saints in light (Col. 1:12).”

As we continue in our presentation of the gospel and make unjustified man aware of God’s wrath being against their ungodliness and unrighteousness, Romans 1:18-32 is the passage that is designed to effectually work and challenge their volition in connection with God’s wrath: both the reality and truth of it. At this point they can respond in one of two ways. They can honestly and positively respond to the truth of the wrath of God being against them and change their mind in connection with it, or they can respond negatively. Usually at this point a negative response is formulated through tactics to try and escape the wrath of God. There are only so many excuses the human soul can come up with and our Father in Romans 2 educates us as ambassadors to make us aware of them and also how to respond to each of them. This subject of study will be the content in TCGF next quarterly.

TRAINING
It is a truth that our Father teaches us to co-labour with Him in His business today in the dispensation of the grace of God, by training us and equipping us to effectually share with others as ambassadors, the gospel of Christ; the message that we have believed and are beneficiaries of. As in any business that further educates its’ employees to be effective and efficient, it is expected that the knowledge and education gained will be appreciated, received with zeal, and implemented. May we esteem the training and education we receive in Romans 1-3 as much as God our Father does and thereby appreciate it, receive it with zeal, and implement it to the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Until next time…..Look Up!!!

J. M. Strelecki

Perceiving Romans 6:15

"What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid."

Recently, I have been thoroughly studying "the law". It is unfortunate that on the left side people will say, "good job, when God gave the law it was one of the best things He did!" with zeal and zest I might add. On the right side people will say, "why are you thoroughly studying "the law", don't you know that we are not under it, like the verse says" with zeal and zest as well.

I realized that some justified saints by the time they get to Romans 6:15, are satisfied. I have experienced 3 categories of this satisfaction: 1) They recognize they are justified and do not progress on and turn back unto their carnal lives, 2) They recognize they are justified and immediately go back under the law to try and produce a pleasing life unto God, and the most dangerous of all in my opinion, 3) They recognize they are justified, have zeal and zest for the Cross-work of Calvary; however, go back under the law, yet, more subtlety then group 2. They have a cyclical life of being under the law and being freed by the cross; going under the law and being reminded of the cross; going under the law gaining knowledge of how dreadful of a sinner they are, then are reminded of the cross and are freed again. A process that never seems to end; a form of knowledge, but denying the power thereof. They don't learn they are never to be under the law. Not only does this cycle happen in their lives, but their view of the scriptures becomes veiled. They have justification glasses on when they read the scripture and only see verses that talk about Christ, the cross, being in Him, as verses of their justification. Our Father never stops where they stop, may you and I be like our Father and not stop.

I am not saying, being reminded of the cross; having a zeal and zest for the cross and remembering that Christ paid for your sin, because you were a sinner, is wrong; however, to not progress on in your life in Christ with Him is truly a travesty. I know what Christ did in justifying us is amazing, HE PROVIDED AND GAVE US ETERNAL LIFE, BY PAYING THE DEBT AND PENALTY OF OUR SIN. I know, but what God our Father does through the penmanship of Paul by writing 12 more chapters after Romans 1-4, and 12 other epistles after Romans is to prove and show that on a grand scale and by words and passages on a detailed scale, THAT THE CROSS WAS A MEANS TO AN END. The end being not just eternal life, but functional life, now, that effects our eternal life. An in-depth look at this is not the purpose of me writing, but a basic acknowledgment of what Roman 6:15 is. It is calling justified believers to recognize and should have recognized prior to this point starting in chapter 5.

I have realized that the men and women I am associated with, refer to this verse frequently and rightly so; however, I wonder (especially being an associate pastor, with a heart for saints to have understanding) with consistent, frequent use, if the meaning and proper understanding of this verse has been, not lost, but diminished? I too cannot be excluded from the easiness to pop this verse like spiritual Tylenol (as I heard one pastor say it). It is a easy verse to remember, it is a powerful verse and built into the older English is the grammatical mechanics that make this verse stick in your mind. It is supposed to be all those things; however, God's Word is to work effectually in us, which is a constant, consistent work, not just a spiritual Tylenol that may only have 4-6 hours of strength. I believe it is vital to not only "know" (knowledge) what this verse is saying is important, but "why" (understanding) this verse is saying, what it is saying, is even more important.

So lets get both. This is not a comprehensive look at this verse or its' preceding and following detailed context, but a tool for you to use and my attempt to engage your mind. Our Father calls us to PAY ATTENTION, STUDY, and GAIN WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING from Him.

As mentioned earlier, I have been studying the law and its' purposes'. As I went back in Genesis and Exodus to study out the preceding events of Israel coming to mount Sinai, it was brought to my attention that by the time Israel came to the mount, they were on their last straw of acknowledging something God was teaching them. The LORD by sending the plagues on Egypt was teaching Israel and providing for the uprooting of their heart and mind that they were naturally (because of Abraham) special. The LORD taught this by sending plagues on Egypt; however, the first 3 included the Egyptians and the Israelites. This was to teach them they were no different from the Gentile Egyptians and were not naturally special. The last 7, God "put a division between my people (Israel) and thy (Egyptians) people" (Ex. 8:22). This was to teach them it would only be by God's provision that they would be special.

The 2nd opportunity for Israel to uproot this heart of Jewish natural specialness was through God's provisions up until mount Sinai; which again was to teach them it was God who would have to provide for them, because they were not naturally special.

The 3rd opportunity would be the law. Due to the heart of Israel to think they were naturally special and did not need provisions from the LORD their God; God deliberately and intentionally through Israel's willingness by putting them under the law, put them under the dominion of sin. This last opportunity would be Israel's drawn out lesson consisting of 5 courses (Lev. 26; Deut. 28) to learn what they should have learned in Egypt and before they came to Sinai; however, they failed to recognize their need of God's provision for them; therefore granting themselves the schoolmaster of the law and the very thing the law was designed to produce, an abounding of sin in their members, to again show and teach Israel they were not special. Sin until the law was strong enough to produce death; however, the law was an consistent, constant, contract of extra strength Tylenol that flowed into the members of the members of Israel and made sin abound.

By the way, the heart of natural specialness came to its' acme during the Lord's earthly ministry. It is a heart found in the Pharisee's who thought because they were Abraham's seed, thought they were naturally special, and had natural righteousness/justification. This is what the Lord was up against during His earthly ministry and many of His "sayings" and "teachings" are uprooting this issue by the "words" of His mouth.

With quick, yet proper understanding of the very basic issue of the law, let's take a look at Romans 6:15. Before v. 15, look at v. 14, "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." Again, before we are to have this verse work effectually in us we need to not only know the fact of it, but have understanding of it.
In Romans 6 our Father has moved into discussing sanctification and how we can now serve Him in newness of life. The following correction, reproof, and instruction in righteousness of sanctification doctrine are found in chapters 6-8. These components are what comprise the "ableness" of God's inspired word to thoroughly furnish us as mature men and women of God ("man of God") He has provided for. Therefore, when the reader comes to Romans 6:14, they are receiving reproof and correction on the doctrine of their sanctification in Christ. The issue is the believer is not only justified, but baptized into Christ with a whole new identity: a reality which the believer first learns he/she needs to reckon. Paul begins to teach what system this new identity works off of; the law or grace? What is schooling us, the law or grace?

Our Father before the believer gets to chapter 6, has already discussed in very basic, general terms the purpose of the law.

Romans 3:22b, "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: FOR BY THE LAW IS THE KNOWLEDGE OF SIN."

Romans 4:15, "Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression."

Look at these two verses and the different components of the law and bring that to Romans 6:14-15. Notice quickly the first verse. The believer is in the realm of justification, but that no flesh will be justified in God's sight. No one by their own flesh will be justified in God's sight. In Romans 6 the same can be said of sanctification, no flesh by its' own works can be sanctified in the sight of God. The law provided for self-sanctification; Lev. 11:44,

"For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify YOURSELVES, and ye shall be holy; for I am hold: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."

It is my understanding by the basic understanding you are to have by the time you get to Romans 6:14-15 is that the law is a means of self-sanctification in the flesh, which is contrary to God's intention. Romans 6 actually gives the details of our baptism and the identification of the body of sin being crucified with Christ. This is the reality we are to reckon and the means of our sanctification from the power of sin in our mortal bodies, today. Again, these two components of the law:

1) Gives the knowledge of sin

2) Works wrath
a. Means of serving sin
b. Means of sins dominion......which these (a & b) produce wrath.

Although, sanctified the moment a believer was justified, we begin to learn about it here. Our Father begins to teach, how sin will or will not have dominion over you in your new identity in Christ? He presents it in the positive,

"for sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace."

Notice a few things:
1) "shall not" - potential mode, meaning "sin COULD still have dominion over you; however, due to our new sanctified position in Christ we have the capacity to be something we were never before and that is being "not under the dominion of sin"

2) "for ye ARE NOT under the law" - definitive mode, meaning we "are not" under the law. This isn't a potential thing. In God's provision He took us out from under the law, that our identity in Christ could operate removing us from the dominion of sin; however, practically WE can put ourselves under sins dominion by willfully going back under the law, which is inconsistent to the preceding verses.

3) "but under grace" - "but"= adverse particle: but we ARE under something else, GRACE. Grace, described here still is a gift of God; however, the application of it is extended into the system in which our new identity in Christ will operate. The means in which our Father is going to teach us. Just as the law gave "knowledge" and functioned by "worketh" things, the grace of God gives "knowledge" and functions by "working" certain things. When I say "working" I am not talking about "fruit" or the "product" of grace, although it does, but rather that it operates or functions.

This leads to the verse 15.

"What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid."

Here is some reproof and the next couple verses give some correction. Our Father anticipates the believer's next line of thinking. The first question of 6:1-2 was answered by our new identity and reckoning it so; however, due to verse 14 our Father has opened a whole can of worms, because of the longevity and mastership/dominion of the law over us and by now saying we are no longer under it. The believer will come along and say well if we are not under the operation of the law, then we can sin; however, our Father forbids this thinking and is going to give the mechanics of "graces' operation" to not only destroy sin, but serve God in newness of life and in the spirit. Our Father does this in the rest of chapter 6 and the two following chapters, and truly through the rest of Paul's epistles.

How amazing that not only did our Father justify us through what Christ has done, but He also gave us a new identity by a spiritual baptism in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, so that we could serve Him in newness of life. Not only that, but He provided for the necessary means for that newness of life to function and operate and understood as we should have understood by the time we got to these verses in Romans that, that new life in Christ cannot function under the law, because its' components are of giving the knowledge of sin and working wrath. How wonderful to not only be able to learn these things, but have them work effectually the way our Father designed them to in our inner man.

These verses give the necessary reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness that we need to understand and have God's doctrines work effectually in us. They prove with great certainty that our Father wants us to progress and mature with proper understanding and thankfulness. Our Father has provided not only for justification, but sanctification and as I said before it is a travesty to not only recognize His provision and not take full advantage of it, but also to not properly understand our Father has provided Himself as the means of teaching us to be godly and not have us be under the tutor and governorship of the law. These verses are more than a spiritual medication or cliche's, they are the Word's of the living God that have specific context and meaning that is designed to work effectually in certain parts of our inner man that God also created and has now quickened by the Spirit; to produce a shewing of our members as instruments of righteousness. These verses take believers from step one to step two, they lay the second cornerstone of the foundation of our edification in our inner man, so that, we cannot only have a wonderful foundation, but also BUILD upon that foundation. I am talking about a spiritual building with a correct foundation with the perfect mix of concrete, a wonderful building of each brick laid exactly where it is supposed to, in order to give it the strength, establishment, and stability it was designed to have, and the most glorious capstone of that building in our inner man that in the end could be seen as a inner man conformed to the image of Christ. This is not spiritual jargon, theology, or a time for our pride to get in the way, they are the living Word's of the Living God. Our Father has order, sense and sequence, foreknowledge to know exactly what we need and more than able to provide what we need by His word, He is complex, but not complicated, and has designed His curriculum to teach us with genius and wisdom. He is God, but He is our Father and has specifically provided for Himself to be just that, and for us to be His "sons and daughters".

Look Up,
Josh Strelecki

"To Know Wisdom and Instruction"

As I continue to study out THE issue of "they are the sons of God" and how we are adopted as sons, I have been taken back to the book of Proverbs to see the curriculum God has laid out for His sons to follow. Proverbs is fitting for many reasons, but logically because David writing a book of Proverbs (an educational system of an elder teaching a younger man how to be an elder) to his son Solomon (ch. 1-9) typifies that of God teaching His sons. Although, the doctrine of Proverbs I as a member of the Body of Christ do not follow there's a "table of contents" as it were that is laid out in Proverbs, that I have learned every son goes through. The little I have learned already is amazing and the table of contents can be laid out right on Paul's epistles. The main reason I write is this. Throughout all my study and my former persuasion experience in religion and Calvinism, under Lordship salvation I have never come across or understood this issue of adoption and now that I have I am utterly awed. Every denomination as it gave its' own style of education also sought to deny the flesh in some form or capacity, the attention and desire was always misplaced. There may have been some desire to please God, but always went about it in the wrong way. Again, focus, time, energy, was almost always put on the flesh and how to deny it and stop sinning; however, as I learn more and more about "being a son of God" the very first thing God does within His son is "to know wisdom and instruction". Father wants us to be aware of wisdom and instruction, it is a basic but necessary component to being a son of God. The Father then takes you and explains something about His business that will shock, awe, and amaze you. What He explains reveals that all the allurements and attractions are not to be compared with God as our Father teaching us as His sons. The Father is excited and desires to teach you and this "to know wisdom and instruction" is designed to give you the same desire and excitement in receiving the education from your Father. Our Father doesn't want us focused on the flesh and carnal things, but rather reveals that He is MORE attractive than anything else, and His teaching us as a Father this curriculum with Pauline doctrine is not even to be compared with earthly things. Our Father is truly amazing.

Look Up,
Josh Strelecki

Don't Frustrate The Grace of God

"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."
- Galatians 2:21

Every believer, ones who solely trusts that Christ has died for their sin, was buried, and raised again, ones who believe Christ was delivered for their offences and raised again for their justification (to be declared righteous), and the ones who God's righteousness is not only unto, but the ones on whom it is upon, should know what it is to frustrate the grace of God. The believer understood through faith that they were sinners in need of God's righteousness, that no matter what good or bad they had done they fell short. The believer came to understand that all their attempts through law keeping and service to others was not the means of their righteousness, but that their righteousness would come from a source outside themselves, who is Christ.

It seems all to common among believers today that fruit, service, and law-keeping are the focus in the life of a believer. The issue of righteousness is lost and almost unsettled in the believers life resulting in a proving of their salvation by trying to produce something they never could: righteousness. They put their flesh suits on, hit the religious treadmill, and start working and exercising the flesh all to prove something they received by faith in the first place.

Righteousness never came by law keeping or the flesh and never will for if it did or if it does Christ is dead in vain. If your trying to prove your saved, stay saved, or think your saved by works, by law keeping, by the flesh then Christ is dead in vain. The believer starts out by believing solely in the crosswork of Christ, and they continue believing in the crosswork of Christ, He remains the issue. It is then when Christ is not dead in vain, but rather the reality of Galatians 2:20, is unleashed in the inner man.

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me."

I pray to all those that read that "as ye have received Christ Jesus, so walk ye in Him."

In Him,
Josh

LAW and FLESH

"I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me."
-Romans 7:21

I started yesterday my reading and as I always remind the saints at Twin Cities Grace Fellowship, the epistle to the Romans is jammed-packed and every time I read, something always jumps out: new and/or refreshing. The text is absolutely wonderful. Here are a few of my notes I have made on Romans 7; however, I don't include every verse in this blog.

Romans 7:1- “Death breaks the dominion and obligation of the law”
We are dead to the law so that our position of being dead to sin (chapter 6) can be put into practice. The reason why God had to do that is because the law was not designed to accommodate the deadness to sin. The law was designed to put sin into motion (7:5).

v. 4- God had to make us dead to the law so that we can bring forth fruit unto Him. (Gal. 2:19)
You can’t live unto God under the law, if God has to make you dead to the law so that you can live unto Him, God has to make you dead to the law so that you can bring forth fruit unto Him. Then that means you can’t do it under the law. This is the critical thing that we have to learn and realize the reality of.

v. 5, “For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.”

v. 6, “But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.”
Newness of spirit is little (s) that means a new system of operation and thinking in your human spirit, instead of the letter of the law there. Instead of having that performance system in your mind and thinking that God is going to bless if you do good and curse if you do evil and having fear for your motivation of serving (law contract). Instead of operating out of that thinking, God says we are dead to sin, dead to law, so that we should serve in newness of spirit, Grace thinking, who you are in Christ, and operating out of that.

v. 7, next objection, “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, thou shalt not covet.”

v. 8, “But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.”

Example of v. 8
v. 9, “For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, SIN REVIVED, AND I DIED.”
Nothing wrong with the law, but our assumptions are wrong!!

v. 13, “Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.”

v. 14, “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.” (Heb. 9)

v. 15-25= “Struggle to put His position in Christ under the law.”
The sin he wants to stop he can’t, and the good he wants he can’t.

v. 17, We are to be free from sin and dead to sin. Why then in verse 17, is sin doing anything in us? It comes by the law. The law does not provide the capacity to do the good you wish, but has the flesh operating and sin reviving. Our flesh is dead.

v. 22-23, “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 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.”

***Another law in my members…who wins the war, “and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. ***

v. 24, “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”
He just described functional death and the deliverance is getting yourself from under the law and operating who you are in Christ.

v. 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.”
Reference-chapter 6, in Christ Jesus our Lord we are under grace!!! What we need is a system that doesn’t cater to the flesh because the flesh only serves the law of sin. What we need is a system that doesn’t call upon the flesh and that's what grace does, it's crucifying you in Christ. God puts us under grace, may we not put ourselves under law.

FOUND IN HIM!!!

I am desiring and hoping to write some short articles based off my reading each morning. I won't be writing every morning which was and maybe one day will be my lofty goal; however, intend on writing once or twice a week. My goal, because I enjoy writing, is to share a few thoughts about a particular passage that sticks out in my mind from God's Word that morning. These articles will by no means be exhaustive.

Philippians 3:7-9,

"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:"

This passage has become dear to my heart for several reasons. I quickly want to point out that Philippians is one of Paul's later epistles, written after the Acts period. He writes this epistle form prison. Paul is older and more mature in the faith. Here are some things I enjoy in the passage.

1) Notice verse 7 & 8 are similar and he almost repeats himself.

v. 7, "but what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ."
v. 8a, "yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord:"

Paul said he counted all the things that were gain to him (see verses 4-6) as loss, but notice that HE STILL counts them loss. What does he count them loss for? For Christ, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.

2) His all things that he counts as loss are counted as dung. No explanation needed.

3) My favorite verse out of this passage is verse 9. After many years in ministry and through many years of suffering Paul desire STILL is to be FOUND IN HIM (CHRIST). Paul's life was one of faith and he desired whether the rapture happened or at his death he would be found in Him. Paul although had his position eternally secure in Christ, practically he wanted to be found in that position in Christ. What does it mean to be found in Him?

4) NOT HAVING MINE OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS OF THE LAW. This is a natural bent within mankind. We want to work. We want to work in order to prove something. In Exodus at the giving of the law, before Israel received the commandments they yelled, "all that the Lord commands we will do". Yea right. Are human pride wants to work to show God we can do something or prove something. Paul's attitude was not one of, "now I am saved so I will keep the law", but rather, "I am saved by faith alone in Christ alone I want to continue and be found in that faith". Paul wanted to be found not in his own righteousness which is of the law, but the righteousness that is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. Paul walked by faith and continued to walk by faith not in His own righteousness, but in Christ's.

"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him:"
-Colossians 2:6

May you rest in Christ's righteousness today by faith. I hope you desire to be found in Him and not in yourself. Christ is the issue. Count it all but dung for Christ!!!

Look Up,
Josh Strelecki

"The Word {Wisdom} of God, The Spirit of God, and The Apostle of God" Pt. 1

As I have started to read again 1 Corinthians I remember particularly their carnality. Some preachers say there is no such thing as a carnal Christian. They will say carnality cannot coexist with being a Christian. This is to say a Christian once a Christian never sins. I would agree if they were to say carnality should not coexist with our new life in Christ. This goes into the issue of a believer having two natures which many reject. However, as I read about these carnal Corinthians, Paul first calls them carnal not because of their immoral sin of fornication and glorying in it, or because they are taking other believers to an unbelieving judicial system, but rather because the issue of God's authority is not settle in their midst. They are following men and making men the issue. The flow of Corinthians is absolutely wonderful. In chapter 2 Paul explains how he "came (to them) not with excellency of speech or of wisdom" although he did come with a wisdom, just not with man's wisdom as he explains in verse 4, "and my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:"

Paul compares "with enticing words of man's wisdom" against "in demonstration of the Spirit and of power". I think it very interesting here he does not explain what the man's wisdom is, but rather the delivering of the man's wisdom. There are preachers at Corinth preaching man's wisdom, but because it is man's wisdom they need to use enticing words. Words to draw you in. Paul explains these enticing words elsewhere in his epistles as "vain gangling", "good words and fair speeches", "old wives' fables", "traditions and commandments of men", and many more. They use enticing words to draw, stories to get your attention, excitement to lure you in. Man's wisdom needs a counterpart because they are insufficient in them-self and that counterpart is enticement. Man's wisdom and words are vain and their power source is enticement. Paul here does not reveal the man's wisdom today such as: water baptism, speaking in tongues, law-keeping, covenant theology, calvinism, arminianism; but rather explains the wisdom he (Paul) came to them with which was "in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:" What is the wisdom Paul had that demonstrated the Spirit and power? Paul first explains he does not have man's wisdom with enticing words {which they already had}, but God's Word for the purpose of their "faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." When someone puts faith in the wisdom of God they are trusting an all-sufficient power source. What was this wisdom?

Paul goes on to say in 1 Corinthians 2:6-8,

"howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: but we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."

God's wisdom that Paul came to them which was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power was the wisdom of God that He never before had revealed. It was the wisdom of God in a mystery. This terminology and wisdom is spoken of all through Paul's epistles (i.e. Romans 16:25-26; Eph. 3:1-9; Col. 1:25-26; to list a few). A wisdom hid in the inner counsel of God's own will, a wisdom formed, planned, and with a nature of hidden before the foundation of the world until God Himself decided to reveal it. A wisdom that further revealed not just Christ as Messiah forming the true Israel of God and as King of kings and Lord of lords over all the earth, but of Christ forming the one new man, the church the body of Christ in which He is Head over. A one new man not to reside on the earth and coexist with Israel, but a one new man to reside in the heavenlies and to coexist with Israel within God's universe.

Notice Paul spoke this wisdom "among them that are perfect:" This does not mean sinless perfection, but rather spiritually mature. This "hidden wisdom" no one knew, not the top dogs in the earth including Satan himself as he is also known as the "prince of this world". God ordained this hidden wisdom before the world unto our {Jew and Gentile believers today} glory.

Paul goes on to say if the princes of the world would have known this hidden wisdom they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Was it not Satan motivating those unbelieving Jews to crucify Him! crucify Him!? Was it not Satan who wanted to destroy the seed that was long ago prophesied to crush him? God knew something He would accomplish through the death, burial, and resurrection of His own Son that Satan could never have imagined, nor anyone else. If Satan would have known this hidden wisdom of God he would not have motivated the crucifixion of the Son of God!!! Not only would Christ redeem Israel through His death, shedding His blood for the New Covenant that He will drink anew with them in the kingdom at His 2nd coming, but God also tore down the middle wall of partition (circumcision & law of Moses) between Jew and Gentile by the Cross and Christ's blood is able to redeem and justify all mankind being only imputed to those who believe. Christ's blood is the only means of satisfying the justice of God. This is the wisdom Paul came to them with and I hope you can see it does not need enticing words, but rather the words them-self are within them self POWER. Paul knew all other wisdom beside the hidden wisdom was man's wisdom with enticing words. Paul knew what he came to them with needed not excellency of speech but instead was in demonstration of the Spirit and power. Paul knew what he had was power, power in hidden wisdom, ordain for them unto their glory. Unfortunately these Corinthians could not bear this wisdom, they were not "among them that are perfect", but rather carnal, babes as it were, needing to be fed with milk. They were making men the issue instead of the hidden wisdom God given to them through The Apostle Paul.

Paul lays forth the wisdom he preached, next the Spirit who searched the deep things of God and is revealing them, and lastly is going to explain his authority as The Apostle who first received this wisdom to preach as he serves not as one of their 10,000 instructors, but rather their father who had begotten them through his gospel.

These three God's Word and wisdom revealed by the Spirit given to Paul to be preached is the channel in which we get God's power source today. Next time we'll look at "The Spirit of God".

Look Up,
Josh Strelecki

Mediation on Romans 6:1

As Paul leaves no doubt in the readers mind about our justification in Christ and us inheriting eternal life, righteousness, and grace through faith in that Christ was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification, the question then arises: why not sin, why not continue in sin? The question Paul actually assumes will be asked is, "Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?" This question is actually quite subtle. The question Paul assumes has a purpose clause. Shall we continue in sin, so that, in order for, grace may abound. See it is God's grace that is bringing Him glory, so why not sin in order for grace to abound. This is carnal thinking at its' best, yea at it's worst. The main issue I want to focus on is Paul's answer. He says, "How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" Paul does not start listing off rules and regulations, a list of do's and don'ts, rather Paul gives some information never known before up to this point. Paul says how shall we, how can we live any longer in sin if we are dead to sin. He actually doesn't even place in "if" in the question rather just an "are". We "are dead to sin". Paul doesn't deal with the symptoms of our sin nature; our sins, rather the source, the sin nature itself; our flesh. God has identified us in Christ death and this is the very grounds in which the sin nature loses dominion over us today. Christ death is the means by which sin loses its' power today.

"How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" When we properly know and understand and reckon this fact by faith, the Spirit will work this truth effectually in our Christian walk gaining the right mind to renew daily, answering with Paul, how shall we live any longer therein because we are dead to sin. Praise God for His Word and what Christ has done for us at Calvary. If you are trying to defeat sin today without the death of Christ your attempts are vain, if you are trying to defeat sin by law keeping you are depending on a fleshly means for deliverance from fleshly failure. You are looking for strength from the very source (law) from which you are seeking deliverance. Deliverance comes only from Christ's work at Calvary, set your eyes on Calvary and you in Him. More to come.

Look Up,
Josh Strelecki

"While We Were Yet Sinners"

The work of Christ at Calvary is the source of God's power today. It is a power source that can generate life into a twice dead Gentile today (dead in our sins and the uncircumcision of our flesh ). Christ's work at Calvary is able to save a sinner in while they are yet a sinner. It is not a gospel cliche to, "turn from your sin and then Christ will save you"; for how can one turn from their sin while yet in their sin, while yet a sinner. The gospel is so powerful that while yet a sinner Christ died for us. God has stepped into human history in order to save sinners. It is while you are a sinner that Christ dies for you. It is therefore a great tragedy that so many often share a gospel to turn from one's sin as if they have the power to do so. It is rather blasphemy to think that one can turn from their sin. God has concluded all under sin and fallen short of His glory. How can we then before being saved measure up to His glory to then receive salvation? This is not good news at all, but rather the flesh revealing itself in vain theology of so many scholars and professors today. May we have faith in God's power to save us while yet a sinner. While yet a sinner is the starting point in which God then continues to work His salvation in my life. He justifies (declares righteous) me in His courtroom, He sanctifies (sets apart) me giving me an identity; an atonement with Christ, and glorifies (inheritance in heavenly places) me. God works a complete salvation and at the moment one receives the gospel, how that Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose again from the dead, He starts this work of salvation while yet a sinner and takes you from the lowest of the low to the highest of the high in Christ. To God His salvation is as good as done. May we not diminish the great power of God unto salvation revealed in the gospel.

"But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

Look Up,
Josh Strelecki

Access WhereIn You Stand!!!

Again my apologies for those who read this blog and check it for a new post. My time in blogging is limited, however it is something I desire to continue to do and hopefully will do more often in the future. I pick up where I left off in Romans 5 and what I have called, "Paul's List".

The second "spiritual blessing" that Paul mentions after learning that we are justified by faith by Christ's faith (that is,accomplishing the work of the Cross; the death, burial, and because death could not hold Him and the promise that God would raise Him from the dead, the resurrection) is "we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand." Christ paid our sin debt on the Cross, but was raised, so that He may offer this gift freely to those who would receive it simply and only by faith and no works. The first "spiritual blessing"; "we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Christ is our peace, our peace between Almighty God and us; once sinners. We now have restored fellowship with our Maker, a fellowship that we will touch on more when we talk about our "sonship status" and our "adoption".

Romans 5:2a, By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand"

Paul names the second "spiritual blessing" by again recognizing "by whom" it is that "we have" this "access", whom is, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. This chapter is filled with our identity in Christ, for without His work and what He has accomplished we would be left without justification, let alone any of these "spiritual blessings". It is by Christ that we have access. What is access?

Access in the OT dealt with the priests in the tabernacle/Temple. The priests of Israel only had access unto God and only the High Priest had access into the Holy of Holies, into the very presence of God. Does this mean we are priests today? Frankly we are not priests. The Levitical priesthood was established by the law of Moses in which we are not under today. Paul explains this in chapters 6-8. We are under grace, in fact, we do not need to be priests in order to have access. Most of us today are Gentile sinners and it is in this dispensational and spiritual status that God saves us in, "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:6)." The access we have is given to us by no covenants, but by His grace through faith. Access toward God is something that has been reconciled for us through Christ and is much needed to enjoy the peace that we now have with God our Father. Priests in the OT had to come to the Temple of God for their access, today God resides in the earthen vessel (mortal body) of the believer. Due to this through the Spirit of God our access is unlimited. It is access to enjoy fellowship with no barriers, no sin, no temple, no difference whether a Jew or Gentile today. We are members of the church the Body of Christ established by the grace of God, not priests, but members of Christ's body. This allows the amazing privilege for each member to have unlimited access to God the Father through Jesus Christ our Lord. Access to God is vital to our communion with our Lord and Father; however, this access is not specifically mentioned here, although assumed.

The verse actually states, "by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand". This verse is glorious; the grace that saves us provided through the means of the Cross, the grace that provides for our peace with God the Father, is not grace that we are removed from based upon our performance, but is solely based upon "by whom", that is, CHRIST. It is due to His work at Calvary that our access is unlimited, "access by faith into this grace wherein we stand." What is "this grace"? The previous chapters up to this point in Romans has provided for this answer and Paul sums it up for us in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4,

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and WHEREIN YE STAND; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and taht he was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures:"

The Corinthians were being tossed to and fro by preachers that were really in the snare of Satan. They were teaching that there isn't a ressurection. Paul says if they keep it in memory they will be "saved", not from sin, for they had received and stand in the gospel. They were forgetting and Paul is reminding them trying to lay the foundation he has already established in Romans. "This grace" explained in Romans in which "we stand" is "the gospel" and all it's glorious provisions. It is standing in Christ. He has provided the "full" payment of our sin debt. He has provided His righteousness and credited it to our account. He has provided peace. It is "this grace" wherein we stand. WE STAND IN HIM. It is "this grace" "wherein we stand", but also "have access" to it "by faith". Faith is opposite from works it is an internal response to God's word, it stems from the heart based off the Word of God, and trusts solely in every word of scripture. Faith, since it is internal gives us the freedom no matter what the circumstance to rest in God's provision; in "this grace". It should be a continual thing for if "access" is a "spiritual blessing" it should be one that is greatly taken advantage of. Unfortunately, like the Corinthians one can believe in vain. This does not mean they did not believe, but they don't keep in memory their stand, which causes turmoil both internally and externally.
This instance of Paul talking about our standing is unique. It is just that, our standing; a standing that we did not earn. It is a standing received as it was bought by Christ Jesus. It is a standing that can never be taken away, for it is in Christ and He is RISEN. This is a position. However, in many other passages through Paul's epistles there are exhortations and commands to "stand fast" or "stand". These deal with our condition. They are commands to stand in our standing. We receive our position by faith and we access it by faith. One is our position the other is our condition, this is important to know. The former deals with our justification which once justified it can not be taken away, the latter deals with our sanctification. Utilizing our justification in our every day life and having it impact our inner man, stretching forth to our outer man, and producing the life of Christ.

Romans 5:2a, "By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand,"

We have access and we utilize it by faith. It is access into our standing in Christ and the unlimited provisions of the Cross. My hope and prayer is that we all would utilize and rest in the finish work of the Cross. Believe that ALL your sins are forgiven. You are no longer a sinner, but "accepted in the beloved". We have peace with God. If God's says it, it is true. My plea is for all those who read to take hold of these things and be thankful, for it "redounds unto the glory of God".

God Bless and next time we will look at, Romans 5:2b, "and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

Look Up,
Josh Strelecki

Justified By Faith

I have not written for awhile now, for my time varies in busyness and then busy relaxing. However, I have found a short few minutes to write. Through my weekly reading through first Romans-Philemon and then the rest of the NT writings, Romans as well as all of Gods Word has become dear to my heart. In Romans Paul explains the power of the gospel. The first part of the gospel is the wrath of God and that everyone is deserving. Paul then explains the gospel and how it is redemptive, a propitiation, and serves as justification. Paul explains the Cross no longer as bad news as Peter did in early Acts, but as good news and power. He explains it as a gift to be received by faith. After this Paul goes into detail about faith alone and Abraham. By the end of chapter 4 we understand Christ died for our sins was buried and rose again.

Romans 4:25, "Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification."

God raised Christ from the dead for our justification, to declare those who believe righteous. That is, Christ's righteousness is credited to our account. By the time one gets to Romans 5 one has been taught the preaching of the Cross, the gospel of God's grace, and how one is to receive God's gift. It is through faith one is justified.

Romans 5 starts out by teaching now what the Spirit has done and what God has given to that justified person. It is this reason why I write.

Romans 5:1-2, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

Paul lists 3 things here in the first two verses of chapter five. 1)We have peace with God, 2)We have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, 3)Rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

First, notice the words in verse one before Paul's list. "Therefore being justified by faith", notice the "ed" at the end of "justified". It is past tense, it is a state of "being". One who believes the Cross work of Christ is justified. They have a standing before God not with any righteousness they have done, but of Christ's righteousness. It is done. It is a standing that never changes because it is solely based upon Christ. In fact, Romans 8:34, "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." I quote this because as sure as Christ lives forever so is your state of being as justified, because Christ maketh intercession for you based upon the Cross and it is Christ's perfect faith on the Cross that justifies a believer. The three things Paul lists are results of "therefore being justified by faith". Before I use the rest of this blog to touch on the first of the list, I quickly want to note something. In this chapter and these verses no hint of perseverance to the end in order to be saved is mentioned. Under grace the believer is given everything right up front. This is opposite of Jews in time past and in the future, for they have to hold fast until the end.

"But Christ as a son over His own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." Heb. 3:6

"For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;" Heb. 3:14

"And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:" Heb. 6:11

"Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." 1 Pet. 1:9

"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, e sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;"
1 Pet. 1:13

Jews in early Acts and in the future will have to believe until Christ returns during His second advent, or else they will not receive the grace of God. They receive the end of their faith which is their salvation. This all changed with the raising up of the Apostle Paul. We today, however, receive the gift of grace first the moment we believe.

"That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ." Eph. 1:12

"Therefore being justified by faith", one has as their standing and in their possession numerous spiritual blessings. The first mentioned in Romans 1 is, "we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:"

"We have peace with God", the two parties mentioned are the "justified by faith" and "God". The spiritual blessing is "peace with God". This is a drastic change from what Paul says in Romans 3:19, "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God." Everyone is guilty, but if one believes the gospel, that is, Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day, one is justified by faith and has as their present possession "peace with God". What a fantastic spiritual blessing to have? One that not only works in your heart and soul, but affects your mind and life. What does it mean to have peace with God? It means the wrath written about in chapters 1-3, your wage of sin (Rom. 6:23) has been settled. It is because of Christ payment of your sin debt (redemption) that God not only declares you righteous, but now looks upon you in peace. It is not that God has given you righteousness, but think that it is unfair. Now God because of Christ not only looks on you with peace, but "we have peace with God". Relationship is now welcomed through Christ and much more. God through the work of Christ has provided reconciliation, that is, to restore fellowship with His human creation. He has provided this by the Cross, but those who believe "have" it, we have restored relationship with Christ. Praise God.

"Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh." Eph. 2:15-17

The first "making peace" mentioned in this passage is between Jew and Gentile, but then Paul speaks about "reconcile both unto God" and "having slain the enmity thereby" that is, "by the cross". Then God sent Paul to preach "peace" to the Jew and Gentile. This is what Paul is talking about in Romans 5:1, "peace" was achieved for us on the cross, preached to us through the gospel, and for those that receive it by faith, HAVE IT!!!

As I end I will mention that I will write again on this chapter and especially Paul's list. The first result, yea rather spiritual blessing one "has" after by faith receiving the gospel of grace, the first blessing one pulls out of that gift, is "peace with God". What a glorious blessing to attain and have, not by any works we have done, but solely on Christ. It is to have restored relationship and fellowship with God Almighty the possessor of heaven and earth and that in kindness, love, and grace, because it is Christ that satisfies God the Father. It is Christ, "whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood", God is true to His Word. May you "therefore being justified by faith" take hold of your spiritual blessing in Christ, to "have peace with God" and let that peace rule your mind and heart. It is peace you have, not insecurity, a sense of condemnation, but "peace". May you not "stand fast" in order to get peace, but "stand fast" in it because you "have" it.

Look Up,
Josh Strelecki

Summer Family Bible Conference

Well I returned late last week from Rolling Meadows, IL. This was the place for the week long conference that Grace Impact put on. It started Saturday the 18th, through Thursday the 23rd. The theme this year was, "The Case For Grace". I was reminded daily of the grace of God and how through His Word it works effectually in me. I was reminded of how the grace of God works within me, when at times I get so focused on myself and what I practically can do, not understanding it is "He who works in me".

There were many topics, "The Humility Grace Displays", "Grace and Discipline", "Grace and Gifts", "Grace in the Future Kingdom", etc. Sunday my wife and friend from Twin Cities Grace Fellowship arrived at the Holiday Inn where the conference was being held, to catch the final evening message. Richard Jordan's message was titled, "The Word Grace Delivers" his text being Ephesians 2. His preaching caught my hear as he stood up and proclaimed boldly that he along with most at the conference stood for some things. It was very encouraging as he kindly, yet boldly took a stand for the KJV Bible and it being the final authority, Paul our Apostle whom Christ sent to the Gentiles with the gospel of the grace of God and the mystery of Christ, and lastly rightly dividing the word of truth to recognize the clear divisions in the Bible and that God has two programs within the canon of scripture. It was and is a great blessing to have "fellowship of the mystery" (Eph. 3:9), to have fellowship with likeminded saints.

The other message that really caught my hear was a message by Thomas Bruscha, titled "The Humility Grace Displays", as he spoke mainly on Philippians 2:1-11. This message as he preached the word worked effectually in me. He preached about having the mind of Christ, that the all sufficient, omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotent, did not count it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Thomas spoke about Christ giving up His divine attributes not completely, but at times, for the sake of doing God's will in order to offer salvation to all mankind. He spoke about Christ coming from heavens glory entering into time, being one place at one time, specifically Calvary. I think the one the hit me the most was Jesus Christ learning, Hebrews 5:7-9, "Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared; though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; and being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey;". Christ learned obedience through that which He suffered, the most High God possessor of heaven and earth, learned. It is this Christ who resides in me, it is this Christ that lives through me, it is this Christ who died, was buried, and rose again for my justification and that freely. It was and is and always will be God's Word working in me and motivates my inner man and quickens my mortal body to bring forth fruits of righteousness, not by me, but that are by Jesus Christ.

Father of Glory I thank you for your grace displayed at Calvary. I thank you that you have set forth Christ to be a propitiation (to satisfy your justice) through faith in His blood, and that I am and all who believe can be justified (declared righteous), by your grace through the redemption (payment of sin debt) that is in Christ Jesus. I thank you that because of the faith of Jesus Christ Your righteousness is given freely to all, but upon all them that believe!!! I hope and pray those that may read, would trust the grace of God through faith, that Christ died for their sins, was buried and rose again and that through simple faith in the work that you have done, that cost You Your Son, we may be saved. I hope and pray that they may receive eternal life as a present possession now by the Cross of Christ through faith, and the complete (past, present, future) forgiveness of sins, and an eternal inheritance in the heavenly places. It is truly in Christ. Amen

At-One-Ment Status

Acts 2 Traditionally and Dispensationally Considered

I was reading through Acts and when I reached Acts 2, many thoughts and traditions of my former persuasion came to mind as I read the chapter. Acts 2 is traditionally where the church the Body of Christ begins or starts. It may not be tradition in all denominations or churches, however from the Baptist denomination and the 3 churches I formerly attended it was. I believe Acts 2 is the common place where most churches, denominations, and religions under Christianity find and begin the church the Body of Christ.

I write briefly and draw upon verses, so that we may renew our minds about when the church the Body of Christ began. Who was the first member of the Body of Christ? When did it start form?

I think it important to quickly note exactly what is the Body of Christ and what is it made up of. Quickly let us look at Eph. 2:13-17,

"But now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off are made night by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh."

The both, is the uncircumcised and the circumcised; the Gentile and Jew. The Body of Christ is made up of both Jew and Gentile and the focus is not your race, but Christ and Christ alone. The Body of Christ is individual Jew and Gentiles together in Christ. The middle wall of partition, that law covenant is out of the way, being abolished. God reconciles both in one body. Is this what starts to take place in Acts 2?

As we go through Acts 2, notice the exclusivity of people. Notice the Jewishness of the passage and lastly whom Peter is speaking to.

Acts 2:1, "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place."

When what day was fully come, the day of Pentecost. This was a Jewish feast day. Who is the they? The "they" can be found in chapter 1:13-15. The 11, with the women, and Mary in total about 120. Where are they? They are in Jerusalem.

Now in verses 2-4, we see the prophesied event of the disciples being baptized with the Holy Spirit, that is the Holy Spirit does not dwell in them, but comes upon them. Christ made this known in John chapters 14-16, about Him sending the Comforter, that is the Spirit. It was upon them and would fill them and then just be upon them and then fill them again in certain circumstances. They spoke in tongues.

Acts 2:5, "And there were dwelling at Jerusalem JEWS, devout men, out of every nation under heaven."

Astonishing, Jews from every nation under heaven, came to Jerusalem to celebrate and take fellowship in those feast days. These are devout men and they are dwelling at Jerusalem and notice what happens next.

Acts 2:6, "Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language."

God gives the 120 the Holy Spirit manifesting the languages of the nations. However it is the languages of the nations, it is not the Gentiles that God wants to speak to, but the Jews in those nations that came to Jerusalem. The day of Pentecost a Jewish feast day was not coincidental in God's plan of giving them the Spirit. Every Jew dwelling there that is witnessing this extraordinary event hears in their own language. The response?

Acts 2:7, "And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans?"

They were amazed at what they were witnessing, but most of all what they were hearing and who it was coming from. We know why they marvel, because each Jew can hear them in their own language, but why do they pose the question, "Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans?" (I desire to go into this myself, but read the article below by Keith Blades to get a grasp of why might these Jews be astonished at these Galileans who are manifesting this power.)

Acts 2:8-11, "And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappaddocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phyrgia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God."

All the nations represented and they heard in their own language the wonderful works of God. Now it is here that I can only see why it has become tradition that so many believe the church the Body of Christ began here. Tradition assumes that because the nations are represented here that this means the Body of Christ. We most not add to the Scriptures nor take away. The Jews out of every nation are at Jerusalem, not Gentiles. This must be clearly noted and understood. Yes, the devout Jews spoke the Gentile languages, however they were Jews and God is speaking not to the nations, but to the Jews out of those nations!!!

Acts 2:12-13, "And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine."

May we ask the same question, what meaneth this? Well may we not answer by tradition that this means the beginning of the church the Body of Christ, but may we let Peter answer for us.

Acts 2:14, "But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell in Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:"

Peter stands up, lifts up his voice and announces whom he is speaking to. Who? Men of Judea and all that dwell in Jerusalem. Judea (Judah=2 tribes) and Jerusalem (Israel=10 tribes) are represented here. Notice Peter doesn't say listen to what Christ said while on earth, but he says "hearken to my words". Granted his words are that of the Holy Spirit, but Peter is the main apostle of the circumcision. It is only appropriate as Christ gave Peter the keys to the kingdom, not only for him to stand up with the 11, but that he speaks. He says, "hearken to my words". May we hearken to Peters words as well.

Acts 2:15-16, "For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;"

Peter corrects their thinking, that is, they are not drunk, but what they are witnessing is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel. What is spoken by the prophet Joel, that Peter says it is that they are witnessing. Well Peter filled with the Holy Ghost quotes, Joel 2:28, with a slight change.

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prohesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: and my servants and on my handmaidens i will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prohesy: and I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the hearth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come: and it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Now compare with Joel 2:28-32

"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the hand maids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the lORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call."

Peter quotes Joel, but not saying that what those Jews are hearing and experiencing is a "new day" or a "new thing" such as, the Body of Christ, the one new man. In fact, he is speaking to Jews only warning them that what they are seeing is the manifestation of the Spirit upon the believers in the LAST DAYS. It is the last days Peter is in and referencing to and warning the Jews to repent (to change your mind), that is, change their mind about Jesus of Nazareth that He is the King of Israel and He is coming back. Peter is telling them to call upon the name of the Lord Jesus, because what is next after the manifestation of the Spirit is wrath, that is, "And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come." The next event on God's prophetic time schedule was His wrath, "the times of restitution of all things" (Acts. 3:21). God's restitution was next and Peter was warning them, telling those Jews that they crucified their Messiah and that He was going to stand and take vengeance and consummate His wrath at His second coming.

I pose two questions. When did this wrath take place? Did it happen, Peter said it was next? Did he lie? Why do so many institutions, churches, and schools hold to the church the Body of Christ, the one NEW man beginning in Acts 2 at the day of Pentecost? The setting is completely Jewish, on a Jewish feast day, at Jerusalem, speaking about the prophecy of Joel, the 12 (representing the 12 tribes of Israel)preaching about what was happening and what was going to happen, that is, the time of Jacob's trouble.

The church the Body of Christ started with an unexpected return of the Lord Jesus Christ to one man, the apostle Paul. Jesus Christ instead of pouring out His wrath and proceeding with God's prophetic time clock put on hold His wrath and did endure and is enduring with longsuffering to show and dispense His matchless grace. God saved Saul who became Paul (a man who was a born Jew, but a Roman citizen, both Jew and Gentile in one body) to send him to the Gentiles with the unsearchable riches of Christ, riches that God had not made known since the world began, but in His timing has made them manifest. The Body of Christ started the apostle Paul in Acts 9, him being the first member of the one new man, that he might be a pattern to show forth God's longsuffering for those who should after Paul believe that Christ died for their sins, was buried and rose again.

Folks, it is by God's grace that He is holding back His wrath and saving sinners, however this dispensation, that is this administration of God's grace was never promised nor is it given a time when it will end. God's wrath was next when Peter spoke and although on hold it is next after God ends the dispensation of grace. If no one has ever loved you enough to ask you where you would spend eternity if you died today, let me ask you. Where would you spend eternity? If you don't know for sure, you can know. God sent His Son the Lord Jesus Christ to die for your sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day. It is by His grace through your faith plus NO works that He will freely give you the complete forgiveness of sins; past, present, and future. Christ was delivered up for this purpose to be able to forgive sins and was raised again for justification, that's God's able right because of the sacrifice of His Son to give you His righteousness, a perfect position, standing and identity before Him. It is by His grace that today at this moment you can know for sure where you would spend eternity, that is in heaven. God does all the saving you do all the being saved, won't you trust Him today, never to be separated from the love of Christ. It is a gift. You don't have to pray a prayer, be water baptized, nothing, it is by grace through faith, just simply put your trust in Christ's work alone to save you.