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"To make all men see what is the fellowship of the Mystery."
Ephesians 3:9

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When experience, and tradition replaces Biblical truth, we have abandoned God’s standard. Knowledge can be painful when it corrects us, but it can cost much more to follow falsehood, which by its nature is easy to swallow and soothing to those who refuse the truth.

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Turning Point celebrates 7 years on Joy 1490. Dr. David Jeremiah is the senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, California.  Listen to Turning Point weekdays at 6:30 AM.

Listen Monday - Friday at 2:30 and 6:30 PM. Saturday mornings at 11 AM and Sunday afternoons at 12 noon. Locally, Watch "Understanding Your Bible" with Pastor Steve Atwood on Comcast cable channel 46 @ 8:30 PM on Sunday Nights

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We had studied the Bible on our own for years, long before we got together to start Daily Disciples. We noticed that although many women knew they needed to experience salvation through Jesus Christ they really had no idea they could experience His presence, encouragement, and leading every day. We were frustrated as we looked around because we really couldn’t find a good tool that could help women learn how to apply the Word of God themselves to their daily lives. Join us for a cup of coffee mornings at 7:30.

Rightly Dividing The Word,  Even If It Causes Us To Change. Biblical Truth Not Tradition, Even If It Causes Us To Change. Spiritual Growth Not Stagnation, Even If It Causes Us To Change.
We Must Rightly Divide The Word, Even If It Causes Us To Change.

Thanks for visiting our website. I hope the following articles are helpful. If you have comments on any of the articles I have written or articles written by someone else, please feel free to click on my name below and send me mail. Either myself or someone from our staff will do our best to aide you in rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

Trey Searcy

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Check out these life changing articles:

NIV TEST
TEST YOUR READING SKILLS
BASIC DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN PROPHECY AND THE MYSTERY
THE LIE ABOUT DISPENSATIONALISM
COMPARING PROPHESY VERSUS MYSTERY
WHO IS YOUR APOSTLE?
HOW MANY TIMES SHOULD GOD SAY IT?
THE UNKNOWN CROSS 1
THE UNKNOWN CROSS 2
THE UNKNOWN CROSS 3
RIGHTLY DIVIDING
A CLOSER LOOK AT 2ND & 3RD JOHN
THE MYSTERY
FALSE WAYS TO BE SAVED
SHOULD BELIEVERS TITHE?
WHAT, WHEN, AND WHERE IS THE RAPTURE?
WHO ARE YOU?
WHERE IS THE GOSPEL?
THINGS TO CONSIDER
WHY ALL THE CONFUSION?
ANOTHER REASON FOR CONFUSION
THINGS PAUL COULD NOT DO
CONFESSION
A LOST BELIEVER?
ARE YOU A GRACIST?
DEAD TO THE LAW
LAW AND GRACE
GOD IS GRACIOUS AND THAT FACT IRKS ME!
MUST BELIEVERS TARRY FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT?
CATHOLIC TO CHRISTIAN
RECONCILIATION
THE SOUL AND DEATH
LOOKING IN THE RIGHT PLACE
THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE RIGHTLY DIVIDED

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NIV Test
By Rex L. Cobb

INSTRUCTIONS:

Using the New International Version Bible, answer the following questions to this NIV quiz.

Do not rely on your memory. As the Bible is the final authority, you must take the answer from the Bible verse (not from footnotes but from the text).

 

1. Fill in the missing words in Matthew 5:44. "Love your enemies,__________ them that curse you, ______________ to them that hate you, and pray for them that __________ and persecute you."

    

2. According to Matthew 17:21, what two things are required to cast out this type of demon?

    

3. According to Matthew 18:11, why did Jesus come to earth?

    

4. According to Matthew 27:2, what was Pilate's first name?

    

5. In Matthew 27:35, when the wicked soldiers parted His garments, they were fulfilling the words of the prophet. Copy what the prophet said in Matthew 27:35 from the NIV.

    

6. In Mark 3:15, Jesus gave the apostles power to cast out demons and to: ____________

    

7. According to Mark 7:16, what does a man need to be able to hear?

    

8. According to Luke 7:28, what was John? (teacher, prophet, carpenter, etc.). What is his title or last name?

    

9. In Luke 9:55, what did the disciples not know?

    

10. In Luke 9:56, what did the Son of man not come to do? According to this verse, what did He come to do?

     

11. In Luke 22:14, how many apostles were with Jesus?

     

12. According to Luke 23:38, in what three languages was the superscription written?

     

13. In Luke 24:42, what did they give Jesus to eat with His fish?

     

14. John 3:13 is a very important verse, proving the deity of Christ. According to this verse (as Jesus spoke), where is the Son of man?

     

15. What happened each year as told in John 5:4?

     

16. In John 7:50, what time of day did Nicodemus come to Jesus?

     

17. In Acts 8:37, what is the one requirement for baptism?

     

18. What did Saul ask Jesus in Acts 9:6?

     

19. Write the name of the man mentioned in Acts 15:34.

     

20. Study Acts 24:6-8. What would the Jew have done with Paul? What was the chief captain's name? What did the chief captain command?

     

21. Copy Romans 16:24 word for word from the NIV.

     

22. First Timothy 3:16 is perhaps the greatest verse in the New Testament concerning the deity of Christ. In this verse, who was manifested in the flesh?

     

23. In the second part of First Peter 4:14, how do [they] speak of Christ? And, what do we Christians do?

     

24. Who are the three Persons of the Trinity in First John 5:7?

     

25. Revelation 1:11 is another very important verse that proves the deity of Christ. In the first part of this verse Jesus said, "I am the A______________ and O___________, the _________ and the _______:"

Conclusion: Little space is provided for your answers, but it's much more than needed. If you followed the instructions above, you not only failed the test, you receive a big goose egg.

(Ed. These are all missing in the NIV.) So now what do you think of your "accurate, easy to understand, up to date Bible"?

If you would like to improve your score, and in fact score 100%, you can take this test using the Authorized (King James) Bible.

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Test Your Reading Skills

TEST ONE: Carefully read and compare the following two verses:

 (Mat 19:17 KJV)  And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

 (Gal 5:4 KJV)  Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

Are the two statements the same or different?

If you said different    You are correct!

The bible says, in Romans 3:30 that no flesh can be justified by keeping the commandments. The law gives us the knowledge of sin (what sin is) and served as a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. Today we are not under the law, but under grace. Our teacher today is grace. Grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and to live soberly, righteously and Godly in this present evil world.

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Basic Distinctions Between Prophecy and the Mystery

Way Of Life

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How Many Times Should God Say It?

It is evident in the bible that God went to every possible end to make it known that he put a difference between the nation of Israel and all the other people of the earth in TIME PAST. It is also plain that God went  to every extent possible to make us know that today he is not dealing with Israel, and that Israel is fallen, cast away and "Loammi," or "not God's people," as the prophet Hosea said in Hosea 1:9.

But blindness, in part, has happened to Israel for a reason and for a season. It was so that God could offer salvation to unworthy, rebellious, sinful people like you and I. Not on the basis in which he dealt with Israel in time past, but on the basis of his love, mercy and grace.

In order to make the message of grace known to the world, God called a sinful, hate-filled rebel of a man named Saul of Tarsus, and revealed things to him for us today that were never before known. It is called the "preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery."

It is amazing how little attention religion pays to the fact that just as God put a difference between Israel and all other nations in time past, he has also put a difference between the preaching of the gospel of the Kingdom by the 12 Apostles, and the preaching of the grace salvation message by Paul.

Over and over, the bible repeatedly says that Paul's message was a secret, and kept secret since the world began,  that it was hidden, that it was not made known, and that nobody knew it before Paul.

The message the Lord revealed to Paul beginning on the road to Damascus in Acts chapter nine, and by the abundance of visions and revelations from the Lord that Paul received sits in stark contrast to the conditional, tribulation, endure to the end message of the gospel of the Kingdom, as preached in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and by Peter in the book of Acts.

Today's salvation message was so hidden and unknown, that not only did the Devil not know it, but nobody on the planet knew it or had ever heard of it, or even thought of it. The very fact that people who had once cursed rather than blessed the seed of Abraham could now be saved apart from, and even in spite of the fact that Israel was concluded in unbelief.

So, sometimes you just have to wonder how many times God has to say it. Religion seems to stumble blindly along with their look good, feel good things as if they do not have a clue.

How about you? Have you really searched these things out and studied them? God doesn't do things or say things without a reason, and time and again in ordinary, easy to understand words, God has told us of his love, mercy and grace, and how he wants all men to receive it...free, without cost or obligation, but as a gift, by grace.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Take the time to ponder over these next few verses. There is something very important written in them:

 (Gal 1:11 KJV) But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

 (Gal 1:12 KJV) For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

 Paul's Gospel was KEPT SECRET:

 Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

 Paul's Gospel was HIDDEN:

 1 Corinthians 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

 Paul's Gospel for today was NOT MADE KNOWN:

 Ephesians 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

 Paul's Gospel for today was HID IN GOD:

 Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

 Paul's Gospel for today was A MYSTERY:

Colossians 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

Paul's Gospel for today was UNSEARCHABLE:

 Ephesians 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

 Yes, the Apostle Paul has both a unique ministry from all the other Apostles....and most certainly a unique message...different from that of the others. It was not until Jesus Christ appeared to Paul and gave him this special and unique ministry and message that we were ever told to "rightly divide the word of truth." BUT NOW it is an absolute necessity in order to avoid the religious trap of compromise and confusion which is the lot of most of religion today.

 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

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Who Is Your Apostle?

According to Ephesians 3 we live in what Paul calls the "dispensation of the grace of God". In this "dispensation" God has given us a pattern to follow, this pattern is Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles. The purpose of this Bible study is to help you to distinguish the difference between the 12 Apostles sent to Israel and the one Apostle, Paul, sent to the Gentiles.

Fill in the blank with the Bible answer.

1. To whom were the 12 apostles sent? (Matt. 10:5-6)
2. To whom were the 12 NOT sent? (Matt. 10:5-6)
3. To whom were the 12 apostles sent after the resurrection? (Matt. 28:19)
4. How far did the 12 get in their commission? (Acts 8:1 & 11:19)
5. After the final rejection of Christ by the Jews, to whom was Paul sent? (Acts 22:21)
6. In the following verses, to whom does Paul, guided by the Holy Spirit, say he was sent?

• Romans 11:13
• Galatians 2:7-8
• Ephesians 3:1,2,8
• Colossians 1:25-27
• 1Timothy 2:7
• 2Timothy 1:11

7. Who does Paul say we (Gentiles) are to follow?

• 1Corinthians 4:15-16
• 1Corinthians 11:1
• 1Thessalonians 4:1
• 1Timothy 1:16
• 2 Timothy 1:13, 2:2

Clearly the Word of God teaches that the 12 were sent to the 12 tribes of Israel and Paul to the Gentiles. We follow the Lord Jesus Christ as we follow Paul.

To Follow Jesus We Must Follow Paul Text: 1 Cor 4:15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. 17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

1 Cor 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

Introduction: Paul was a rabble rouser! Paul was disobedient to the Lord! Paul was a renegade! Be careful when you read Paul you can't believe everything he says. Paul was a loose cannon everybody knows that.

THESE are just a few of the accusations I hear in increasing frequency. However, if you read the Pauline epistles these accusations begin to make some sense. Paul was "unorthodox" in his message and methods. His teachings do "contradict" the teachings, in great measure, of the then established "apostleship" of his day. Was Paul a loose cannon? Was he a rabble rouser?

THE answer to these questions is a resounding NO!

Before we accuse the man we need to learn some little known seldom taught bible facts.

FACT ONE: Israel and the ministry to her was being diminished by God. Israel had rejected God the father in the Old Testament when they chose Saul to be their king over God. (strike one) Israel rejected God the son by refusing the king and the kingdom when they crucified the Lord Jesus Christ. (strike two) Israel rejected God the holy spirit in Acts with the stoning of Stephen. (strike three) Consequently, and in accordance to God's eternal plan and purpose he set Israel aside.

Notice: Rom 11:12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness? Israel fell and the world got rich - HOW? The Gentiles would now get salvation - not through Israel - but in spite of them.

Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.

The reason Paul's message sounds different than the "four gospels" is because it is different. Paul is not a rabble rouser he has been given a new and distinct ministry and commission - apart from Israel and her 12 apostles!

FACT TWO: Paul had an "unorthodox" gospel! This is a very easy point to establish but does not get very much pulpit time in contemporary religious establishments. Please notice what Peter - the Christ appointed leader of the 12 (Mat 16:18-19) taught about eternal life.

PETER taught - Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Question: Peter how do I get my sins remitted? Answer: Repent (change your mind about who the Lord Jesus Christ said he was - the King Of Israel) And be water baptized in accordance to John's baptism. (Mark 1:4, Mark 16, Luke 7:30 etc., etc., etc.,) Peter did not preach the blood of the cross for salvation to Israel!! Notice again: In Luke 9 the apostles are out preaching the gospel…. Luke 9:6 And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where. What gospel are they preaching? It is NOT 1 Cor.15:3 & 4 which we will look at in just a moment. But observe what the 12 did not know. Luke 18:31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. 32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: 33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.

Sounds like they have been out preaching the death, burial and resurrection of Christ all over the nation doesn't it? Sounds a lot like 1 Corinthians 15 doesn't it?… But they haven't been and it isn't! - Read the next verse: Luke 18:34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

There is no way on God's green earth that you can go and preach a gospel that you 1. Do not understand - 2. Is hid from you and 3. You know nothing about.

FACT THREE: So either the bible itself is corrupt (and it isn't) or when Paul comes on the scene something new and different is happening.

Blind orthodoxy will mix the two - Bible believers will believe their bible "rightly divided"!

Paul writes to the Corinthians and says: 1 Cor 4:15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. 17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

Do you know the ways of Paul? If you are in a denominational church I doubt very seriously that you do - otherwise you would not be there.

Do you follow Paul? He is our (the Gentiles) apostle today, in the dispensation of the grace of God. He writes in 1 Tim 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

If you would follow the Lord Jesus Christ you must follow Paul. 1 Cor 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

The things Paul wrote were not the suggestions of the Lord. They are the commandments of the Lord.

1 Cor 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Paul got his information directly from the risen Lord Jesus Christ. If you would follow Christ today you must follow Paul.

Phil 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

Paul commands the Philippians to follow him that he was the ensample.

1 Th 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: 7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. 14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: 15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: 16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins away: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

The Thessalonians followed Paul and in doing so became ensamples to others.

Be careful to note in this verse the condition of the Jews! They have been set aside along with their program. One day they will be God's people again and will carry his message again. But not today. Today in the dispensation of the grace of God, Paul is our apostle and pattern. I didn't say that - God said that!!

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Rightly Dividing

People are always puzzled by bible phrases that seem difficult to understand. One of them is the phrase you see in 2 Timothy 2:15 where Paul talks about a saved, bible believing individual who “needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” The issue is WHAT IS IT that we are to rightly divide? Is it the bible? Is it to separate the “old testament” from “the new?” Is it to just go through the bible and pick out verses we particularly like or certain promises we see in there that we want to claim for ourselves. What is “rightly dividing the word of truth?”

Well, the phrase, “the word of truth,” appears exactly five times in a King James Bible. It is used once by David, in the book of Psalms, once by James in the book of James, and three times by Paul. In the book of Psalms, David writes:

Psalms 119:43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.

Now from that I can understand that the “word of truth” is something in your mouth, in other words, it would be words. Now, does the GOSPEL consist of words? Doesn’t the bible say that God decided “by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe?” (1 Corinthians 1:21) Doesn’t the bible say that “faith cometh by hearing?” (Romans 10:17) Now the verse goes on to say, “and hearing by the word of God.” So there is no doubt that the “word of truth” is the word of God, but does it mean the same thing? Are those phrases interchangeable? Or does the bible get very specific about the meaning of the “word of truth?” Look at what James says:

James 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

Now James the Apostle, who wrote the book of James to the twelve tribes scattered abroad, was killed by the sword in Acts chapter twelve. He NEVER heard Paul preach. He was dead when Paul showed up in Jerusalem at the time of Acts chapter fifteen to “communicate unto them that gospel that I PREACH among the Gentiles.” (Galatians 2:2) Now look what Paul wrote to some Gentiles who were “trusting the Lord:”

Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Notice that Paul DEFINES the word of truth. He says it is THE GOSPEL OF YOUR SALVATION. Now James wrote to the TWELVE TRIBES, but the bible says 18 TIMES that PAUL is the APOSTLE OF THE GENTILES. So who wrote down the WORD OF TRUTH, THE GOSPEL OF YOUR SALVATION…in the bible? Was it James, or was it Paul?

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A Closer Look at 2 John and 3 John
Article by Scott Morton

Scott Morton who is one of the Pastors of Grace family Bible Church in Buffalo, New York.  Grace Family Bible Church can be contacted by calling 716-812-8139.

When people are studying the Bible, they will often look at 1 John. Two of the major reasons why believers spend time studying this book is the idea of confession (1 John 1:9) and proving the triune Godhead (1 John 5:7-8). The next book a person typically would study is Revelation.

We are going to spend some time looking at two of the books that are in between the above-mentioned books. It is important for us to have a proper understanding of these books because not a lot of material has been written about them. When looking at these books, we are going to use the pattern Paul gives us on how to study the Bible (2 Timothy 2:15). We need to understand some basic things about the books in order to determine if they apply to our lives today.

The time frame of these books

It is important for us to determine the time frame of which the Apostle John is speaking when he wrote his last two letters by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. The assumption is often made that both 2 and 3 John (as well as the rest of the New Testament as we know it) were written to us and that, therefore, they teach us how we should live our lives today.

Even a cursory reading of these books will show us they are not dealing with information related to the Body of Christ, the Church. We see this as we read 2 John 6 which makes a statement which directly contradicts the position we have in Christ today, saying we should "walk after his commandments." This clearly is a teaching related to the nation of Israel, not the Body of Christ, "for we are not under the law but under grace."

It is also clear from looking at these two books that the audience is "the Little Flock," those belonging to the nation of Israel to whom the kingdom was given because they believed in Jesus as their Messiah (Luke 12:32). Acts 2:38 is a demonstration of how a person enjoined themselves to the Little Flock. It is to this group that the promises to the nation of Israel are actually going to go, due to the unbelief of the nation as a whole. In 2 John 1 the Apostle John identifies to whom he is writing: "the elect lady (Israel) and her children" (the Little Flock). They are the ones who are going to directly benefit from the doctrines taught in these books.

2 and 3 John deal with future events, the purpose being: to give to those of the nation of Israel who will be living during the 70th week of Daniel doctrines by which they are to live and function in accordance with God's law. At this future time God will resume His program with the nation of Israel which was interrupted because of Israel's rejection of Jesus (Romans 11:25-26). This is why the books of Hebrews through Revelation are given as they deal specifically with this time frame. They pick up from where the Prophetic Age was interrupted and gives relevant doctrine for the believing remnant to follow in the future when the Prophetic Age will be resumed.

We live in the parenthetical age, the time between God's past and future dealings with the nation of Israel. It is at this present time in which we live that God displayed His matchless grace to the Gentiles by ushering in the Dispensation of the Grace of God which was revealed to the Apostle Paul by the risen Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 9:1-16).

2 John

2 John is a continuation of the doctrine that has been laid out in 1 John. He clarifies some things that have been taught in the previous epistle. It is clear from Paul's teaching about the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17) that this is how the entire Bible is to be used. All Scripture is to be used for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness ( 2 Tim.3:16-17). John deals with two specific areas in 2 John:

1. He is going to reteach (reproof) the remnant the doctrine which applies to this time frame.

2. To give Israel a full grasp of the doctrine that is being laid out.

The first doctrine the Apostle John discusses is loving one another. John has already told the little flock that he rejoiced in the fact they have walked in the truth (verse 4). This issue of loving one another is not something new; as John states in verse 5, this is something they had already understood (see for example John 13:34). He had also given this instruction in 1 John 2:7.

It is interesting John brings up the idea that they had this from the beginning, when he seems to be the originator of this idea. If we look at Leviticus 19:18, we can see this is part of the law itself. Moses commands Israel to love their neighbors as they love themselves. As all Israelites should have love for their selves, they should also have love for their neighbor. It is the further teaching of Jesus Christ, as He amplifies the law, which brings in the concept of loving one another even as Christ loved them. John 15:12-14 shows the love which Christ displayed while He was at Calvary, taking care of the issue of sin for the nation. John gives a demonstration of this love in 1 John 4:20.

John then gets into the issue of false teachers who will be present during this (70th week of Daniel) time. This is something he had covered with them in the first letter where he laid out the idea of people being able to walk in truth, and to help the believing remnant be able to identify the false teachers that are among them. This is an important issue for Israel, since they have to endure to the end in order to be partakers of the earthly kingdom that is going to be established. This is why the issue of transgression comes up, because a true follower of Christ during this time is going to be able to keep the commandments (1 John 5:1-2).

John is able to identify a person who is not following the law as a liar (1 John 2:4) because of the fact that as a believer a person has to follow all of the commandments. This describes a person whom we would call a hypocrite, one who states he'll do one thing and does the complete opposite of what it is he is teaching. Hence, those who do this are liars.

Why is the issue of being around false teachers a bad idea? It is important to note this is something we today have to deal with on a daily basis as well. The problem comes from the fact that if a person starts to hear lies over and over again, they will start to believe it as truth. If you have ever read the book 1984, we see an example of this from the character Winston. He is taken into custody and is brainwashed. He states towards the end of this book 2 + 2 = 5, because they had told this to him so often he began to believe it as fact.

John also identifies in 1 John 4:1-6 the issue of false spirits and prophets. Again this is another area of concern the believing remnant is going to face. This is why John states in 2 John 7 that false spirits and prophets are deceivers and antichrists. All of this is going to pull a person away from the doctrine which has been revealed, and that is applicable to them.

During the 70th week of Daniel this will be a real issue for Israel. We can see, by reading Revelation 13, there will be an image which will be brought to life and which will be involved with the worship of devils (Habbakuk 2:19). It is clear from many different passages in the Bible that God alone is to be worshipped. These spirits and prophets will be leading people away from this proper worship and will instead lead them to actually worship the Antichrist.

This is an issue even we can relate to as being part of the end of the current dispensation. Paul talks in 1 Timothy 4:1 about the fact there are going to be seducing spirits which will be leading people away from sound doctrine. The problem is that people almost always assume that if it is in the Bible it therefore always applies to us today. These passages show this is not the case.

3 John

This book is giving some practical outworking of the doctrine contained in the previous two books (1 John and 2 John). John states a person who is going through the 70th week of Daniel is going to have to endeavor having fellowship with believers (example, Verse 11 talks about being around those that are doing good). It is also clear that John is laying out some guidelines for a person on how it is they are to behave (1 John 1:5-7, 2:3-11). There is a separation from the world that is being taught for the believing remnant during this period of time.

They therefore would have to have a method for being able to identify who the people are who are walking correctly. John states several times there are going to be deceivers during this time that are going to have an impact on them (1 John 4:1-6, 2 John 7-11, 1 John 3:7). John therefore uses three people as examples in order to show how this works. They could then use the pattern shown to look at each individual and determine if they are following the correct path God has laid out during that time.

The example of Gaius (Verses 2-8)

John starts his examples with the person to whom he is writing the letter (verse 1). This makes for an easy identification for the believing remnant to follow, as they could look at the person who had received the letter and see firsthand how he was walking the right path. The first thing he addresses is Gaius' walk in truth (verses 3 and 4). Walking in the truth has to do with walking in light (1 John 1:5-7), keeping God's Word (1 John 2:5), and keeping that which was heard from the beginning (1 John 2:24-25). By the context of the last example we can see that this has to do with Jesus Christ and the fact that He is the Messiah. It is by this belief and the keeping of the commandments that they would be able to identify which people were part of the remnant (1 John 3:23-24).

John then brings up the treatment of the strangers that came among them, stating there was a charity which Gaius displayed, a clear demonstration of love for the believers. This is something John states over and over again in the first two letters as being part of the doctrine they had to follow. Some passages which demonstrate this are 1 John 2:7-8, 3:11, 23, 4:7, 11-12, 5:2-3, and 2 John 5-6.

The example of Diotrephes (Verses 9-11)

Diotrephes stands in clear contrast to the things Gaius had demonstrated. There probably could not have been a more direct contrast, as there is nothing good stated about him in the passage.

The major issue which comes up here is how he dealt with the brethren. While Gaius was commended for his actions, Diotrephes is condemned for his actions. It states he would not receive the brethren nor demonstrate charity, the doctrine in which they clearly were supposed to walk.

It gets much worse than this. Diotrephes also is guilty of his conduct towards the brethren on a more personal basis. He states many malicious things against them. It is clear from this he is trying to actually undo the work they had been doing and had set himself in direct opposition to the work of God. This is an accurate demonstration of what John taught in 1 John 2:11.

1Jo 2:11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

It appears that the behaviors he demonstrated almost bordered on hatred. It would be pretty clear to the believers this is someone they were to avoid, no matter what he tried to do to cover it up.

The example of Demetrius (verse 12)

Demetrius is brought up very briefly in verse 12. It is clear from the context he is another example given to show how it is the believing remnant should conduct themselves. He is identified as having a good report of all men. Hence, this shows he was keeping the commandments and following the other aspects of the doctrine as it was laid out to believing Israel.

Hopefully this article has been able to give some insight into two books of the Bible which are not very widely studied by believers. It is especially important to be able to look at these books using the pattern Paul lays out in 2 Timothy 2:15 allowing us to get a greater appreciation for all of God's Word. Even though the doctrine contained in these books does not apply directly to this dispensation, it is part of God's Word and we should try to gain knowledge of all the Word.

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The Mystery!

The commandments given to Israel and taught by Jesus before his crucifixion were intended by God to be for the Nation Israel only. They were not given to or intended for the Gentile nations, nor were they intended for the "Church Age" in which we live. In ACTS 10 and 11 God tells Peter and the other Apostles that He has turned to the Gentiles with the gospel. In ACTS 13:45-46 God says that He gave the gospel to Israel first but they rejected it. Therefore, He is sending Paul and Barnabas to preach the word to the Gentiles. The scriptures are very clear about this division. The present Church, which is referred to as the Body of Christ, began when God gave the revelation to the Apostle Paul. God also instructed the Apostle Peter to take the gospel to the Gentiles at the same time. This Church Age, Age of Grace, or Dispensation of Grace, was a mystery hidden by God throughout the ages. It is found nowhere in prophecy. God wanted Israel to be the light unto the world, but they rejected Jesus Christ.

ROMANS 11:9-25 And David says: "Let their table become a snare and a trap, A stumbling block and a recompense to them. 10 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, and bow down their back always." 11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation [has] [come] to the Gentiles. 12 Now if their fall [is] riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! 13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy [those] [who] [are] my flesh and save some of them. 15 For if their being cast away [is] the reconciling of the world, what [will] their acceptance [be] but life from the dead? 16 For if the first fruit [is] holy, the lump [is] also [holy]; and if the root [is] holy, so [are] the branches. 17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, [remember] [that] you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in." 20 Well [said]. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in [His] goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who [are] natural [branches], be grafted into their own olive tree? 25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this MYSTERY, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

ROMANS 16:25-27 Now to Him who is able to stablish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the MYSTERY kept secret since the world began 26 but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith-- 27 to God, alone wise, [be] glory through Jesus Christ forever.

EPHESIANS 3:8-13 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what [is] the fellowship of the MYSTERY, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly [places], 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

COLOSSIANS 1:24-27 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this MYSTERY among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

1 TIMOTHY 3:16 And without controversy great is the MYSTERY of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

ACTS 10:44-45 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.

ACTS 13:45-46 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.

ACTS 14:27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

ACTS 15:7-9 And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: "Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 "So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as [He] [did] to us, 9 "and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith."

ACTS 22:21 "Then He said to me, `Depart, for I will send you (Paul) far from here to the Gentiles.'"

God has temporarily cast away the nation Israel because they rejected Jesus Christ. He has now turned to the Gentiles with a new method of salvation. "You will be saved by grace through faith for it is a gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." This new method of acceptance before God is also available to the individual Jew. There is a remnant of Jews who accept Jesus. Israel will be restored during the Great Tribulation at the end of the Dispensation of Grace.

ROMANS 11:1-5 I say then, has God cast away His people (the individual)? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, [of] the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, 3 "Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life?" 4 But what does the divine response say to him? "I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal." 5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

ROMANS 11:13-25 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy [those] [who] [are] my flesh and save some of them. 15 For if their being cast away [is] the reconciling of the world, what [will] their acceptance [be] but life from the dead? 16 For if the first fruit [is] holy, the lump [is] also [holy]; and if the root [is] holy, so [are] the branches. 17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, [remember] [that] you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in." 20 Well [said]. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in [His] goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who [are] natural [branches], be grafted into their own olive tree? 25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery , lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

Why did God keep the Dispensation of Grace a mystery? Because Satan and his evil demons (rulers of this age) would not have killed Jesus had they known about the Dispensation of Grace. In Jesus' death we become victorious over sin. We can now come into the Throne of Grace to live forever with God. The Dispensation of Grace was kept a mystery hidden by God in order give it to us.

1 CORINTHIANS 2:6-8 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a MYSTERY, the hidden [wisdom] which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

The rapture of the Church was also a mystery which will occur in the future and is described in 1 Corinthians 15. It is also a part of the Dispensation of Grace.

1 CORINTHIANS 15:50-57 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a MYSTERY: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-- 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." 55 "O Death, where [is] your sting? O Hades, where [is] your victory?" 56 The sting of death [is] sin, and the strength of sin [is] the law. 57 But thanks [be] to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

EPHESIANS 1:7-10 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the MYSTERY of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him.

EPHESIANS 3:1-7 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles-- 2 if indeed you have heard of the Dispensation of the Grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the MYSTERY (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the MYSTERY of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

EPHESIANS 6:17-20 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-- 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the MYSTERY of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

COLOSSIANS 2:1-3 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and [for] as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and [attaining] to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the MYSTERY of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

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False Way's To Be Saved

Many churches present a salvation invitation or altar call that is not the complete gospel as given in the Bible. Baptismal regeneration is not the gospel in this Dispensation of Grace. The Apostle Paul warned us about other gospels and false gospels. These incomplete gospel messages do not result in eternal salvation for the person responding. The following are some examples of incorrect or incomplete salvation invitations.

• "Invite Jesus into your heart." This doctrine is not in the Bible.

• "Believe Jesus died for your sins and be saved." Faith in the resurrection is missing.

• "Come forward and receive Jesus." This invitation is not the gospel in the Bible.

• "Give your heart to Jesus." This is a false gospel that will not bring eternal life.

• "Come to Jesus to get your sins forgiven." Your sins were forgiven 2000 years ago.

• "Be baptized for the remission of sins." No. Baptism does not remove sin.

• "Life is in the blood of Jesus." No. Eternal life is by faith in the resurrection.

• "Personal relationship with Jesus." This phrase is not in the bible. What kind?

• "God elects those whom He saves." This false doctrine is not in the Bible.

Scripture does not teach that salvation is accomplished by having one's sins forgiven. Most Christian churches teach the false doctrine of effectual forgiveness. They teach that sins are not forgiven until one believes Jesus died for their sins. They falsely believe that having one's sins forgive equates to being saved. The effectual forgiveness doctrine is not in the Bible. Actually, the Bible teaches just the opposite. While we were enemies of God (meaning unsaved) we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son. It does not require faith to be reconciled to God as many churches falsely teach. Reconciliation does not mean one is saved as these churches teach. It means the enmity between man of God as a result of Adam's transgressions has been reversed, and the sins of the whole world have been forgiven. One is saved by sincere faith in the bodily resurrection of Jesus. We are spiritually baptized with the filling of the Holy Spirit upon our salvation to eternal life.

Are the sins of all men forgiven?

Should Believers Tithe?

TITHING WAS REQUIRED UNDER THE LAW.

DEUTERONOMY 14:22-27 "You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year. 23 "And you shall eat before the Lord your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, of the firstborn of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always. 24 "But if the journey is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry [the] [tithe], [or] if the place where the Lord your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, when the Lord your God has blessed you, 25 "then you shall exchange [it] for money, take the money in your hand, and go to the place which the Lord your God chooses. 26 "And you shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen or sheep, for wine or similar drink, for whatever your heart desires; you shall eat there before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household. 27 "You shall not forsake the Levite who [is] within your gates, for he has no part nor inheritance with you."

NEHEMIAH 10:38 And the priest, the descendant of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive tithes; and the Levites shall bring up a tenth of the tithes to the house of our God, to the rooms of the storehouse.

MALACHI 3:7-8 Yet from the days of your fathers You have gone away from My ordinances And have not kept [them]. Return to Me, and I will return to you," Says the Lord of hosts. "But you said, `In what way shall we return?' 8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, `In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings."

JESUS TAUGHT TITHING AND THE LAW.

MATTHEW 23:23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have neglected the weightier [matters] of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone."

TITHING IS NOT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT DISPENSATION OF GRACE.

The word tithe or tithing is not mentioned in the Bible after the Dispensation of Grace was given by God to the Apostle Paul. Tithing is the giving of ten percent of one's increase to God's representatives. Paul did take up a gift for the Saints in Jerusalem, but it was not called a tithe. He specifically stated that he did not receive anything for preaching the gospel. His preaching was free. He stated several times that he was not a burden to those to whom he preached. The New Testament Church had no one to give a tithe since they did not have a Levite type of organization. People met in houses and they had no temple. We are encouraged to give a gift to others in need. We should also support the facility and ministry with offerings in love where we receive the word of God and worship Him.

ROMANS 15:25-27 But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. 26 For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. 27 It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things.

1 CORINTHIANS 16:1-4 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 On the first [day] of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. 3 And when I come, whomever you approve by [your] letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. 4 But if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me.

2 CORINTHIANS 9:5-7 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which [you] [had] previously promised, that it may be ready as [a] [matter] [of] generosity and not as a grudging obligation. 6 But this [I] [say]: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 [So] [let] each one [give] as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

1 CORINTHIANS 9:16-19 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel. 19 For though I am free from all [men], I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more.

2 CORINTHIANS 12:14-18 Now [for] the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved. 16 But be that [as] [it] [may], I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning! 17 Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you? 18 I urged Titus, and sent our brother with [him]. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did [we] not [walk] in the same steps.

2 CORINTHIANS 11:9 And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep [myself].

1 THESSALONIANS 2:9 For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

2 THESSALONIANS 3:7-9 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; 8 nor did we eat anyone's bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, 9 not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.

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What, Where and When Is The Rapture?

WHAT AND WHERE IS THE RAPTURE?

1 CORINTHIANS 15:51-53 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-- 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this