God's People - Then & Now

In this episode, we explore the conditions attached to the text that describes a completed and matured stage that is reached by and through the gifted men that Christ gave His body. It took divine intervention to legislate and enforce the assimilation of Gentiles into the body. Humans would have prevented the creation of this "one new man."

In this lesson, we respond to the view that these conditions are unattainable in this life, making the work of what is commonly referred to as the fivefold gospel an ongoing work today. Even though it is extremely difficult...

The central theme of our discussion revolves around the profound phrase, "attaining to the unity of the faith," which serves as a pivotal point in our examination of the duration and purpose of the gifts bestowed upon the ecclesia by Christ. We delve into the implications of these gifts, specifically as articulated in Ephesians 4, elucidating how they were intended to guide and mature the body of Christ until a definitive achievement of unity in faith and knowledge of the Son of God was realized. It is imperative to recognize that these gifts were not merely transient but were integral...

After describing the "rule" of elders and the meaning and use of the Greek proistimi, this episode picks up on other terms used to support the institutional model of the elders. The term we start with, here, is the "steward" used in Titus 1:7. It is thought that sense a steward is a household manager responsible for directing servants, property, and managing the estate with its finances, shepherds do the same in the church. Yet, the same word is a perfect description that describes the overseer of individual souls, God's people over which he is given the charge of their...

In this episode, we summarize the pattern of selection, including the sphere of their leadership as defined by their watchful care of souls living in the same city in which they live. These were city-wide elders as they were not overseeing local churches but individual souls. When we create a local church and place shepherds overseeing it, we must create rules and find some proof text to support it. Suppose it can be shown, and it cannot, that such an organization exists. In that case, we might see the need for a plurality of elders to prevent the abuse...

The New Testament pattern has teachers, starting with Jesus, going from city to city preaching the gospel of the kingdom. This episode's focus is to cause you to think that the city oversight of spiritual shepherds was the pattern of their sphere of influence and work.

However, to make this work, you must dismiss a local church organization. To add a local church organization to this pattern causes problems because you have added a new level of leadership similar to Jesus' description of "Gentile rule" that would not be endorsed by Him. The change is so impactful...

In this episode, we compare the six words that can be translated as "rule." Three are used to describe the shepherd. It is an unfortunate translation and depicts the leadership of one whose example is set forth as a pattern of life to follow. This correlates with the role of a spiritual shepherd who never expects sheep to go where he is unwilling to go. He takes the initiative in any anticipated act of discipleship. The sheep hear his voice and follow his lead. The Greek proistime points to this idea as one who goes before others as a...

In this episode, we emphasize Acts 20, 1 Peter 5 and the importance of all the gifted men of Ephesians 4:11 to leave a personal example or pattern of discipleship.

We, also, note the pattern of selection and explore the inconsistencies in the application of Ephesians 4:11 and place a challenge of proof to those claiming congregational oversight. If there is congregational oversight of officers in an organization, to apply it to shepherds implies the same oversight applied to the rest of the gifted men in Ephesians 4.

In addition to the emphais placed in Scripture on their oversight of individual...

The terms, "overseer" and "elders" refer to the same work of shepherds. This work, along with Apostles, prophets, and evangelists share the work of teaching.

Their work involves watching individual souls, not local church organizations. This action describes the same work of a spiritual shepherd. However, the word, "bishop" is used to translate the Greek word, episkopos to communicate the thought of some official capacity of an organization. It, along with other ecumenical words like deacon, church, and added interpolations like "office" are all designed to support the existence of local church organizations.

The word...

In this episode, we explore the care of a shepherd from Psalm 23, John 10, and Acts 20:28 by emphasizing that each work of the shepherd is accomplished by teaching. Convicting "gainsayers," and shutting the mouths of false teachers are, also, fulfilled by the skillful use of the Word.

The verb "pastoring" includes more than merely "feeding" as it is translated in Acts 20:28. Tending to their care through teaching also includes leaving an example to follow. The Words must be supported by a careful exemplary walk to be imitated. The relationship between the sheep and shepherd is most precious and...

This episode continues the study of Ephesians 4:11. Some have called this the five-fold ministry, trying to duplicate the plan of God in the last days of the Jewish era. In the culminating work of redemption, Christ gave these gifts to equip the saints for their work.

This work was never intended to describe the work of local churches with these listed gifts serving in that organization as corporate staff members or officials. The work that these men were equipping saints were to be implemented individually.

This episode completes the treatment of evangelists and proceeds in...

In this episode, we will discuss the workings and expectations of local church work and the adverse effects of professionalism in the institutional system. One of the major effects of the system is the belief that we may hire a preacher to do the work in a way that limits anyone else's participation and thus growth. The individual's work is believed to be accomplished by proxy, i.e., through the hired preacher who represents the local church. This, also, robs individuals of their use of knowledge and wisdom because all cannot meet the format of teaching in a local...

This episode is concerned with establishing the differences between teaching under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the imposition of spiritual gifts through the apostles' laying their hands on disciples and the teaching today.

First, the body of Christ in the first century was interdependent on each other as they shared their gifts. The nature of the body is true whether now or then. It assumes the working of each part in unison and harmony. It is more clearly seen then because today, only a select few are teachers and rarely would we describe their function...

This episode is focused on the men described as "prophets" and "evangelists." Prophets were inspired along with the apostles and were mentioned as the foundation upon which God's people were begun.

After a small description of their work, the focus of our time is spent on the evangelists, defining its meaning and use in the scriptures. Evangelists, spent as much time as necessary to complete the work of setting in order things lacking among saints in a city and appointing elders. There was no parameters of time associated with their work. As was true in Paul's work...

In this episode, we will explore who the apostles were, their qualifications, authority, role (work), and purpose. They were chosen by the Lord as His ambassadors. This would make sense because of the fact that they were empowered by the Spirit who guided them into all truth.

Their work is unique in that they were the only ones with the power to lay hands on saints to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. They traveled where saints lived in order to impart some spiritual gift. This is made obvious from Paul's trip to Ephesus, where found...

This episode gives an overview of the role of the Spirit in the first century among disciples of Christ who had repented and were baptized. Such were given the promise of the Holy Spirit and this truth is confirmed by many passages. However, it was through the laying on of the apostles' hands that this promise was received. The only exception were the apostles who had been given the Holy Spirit (the other comforter) to guide them into all truth and the household of Cornelius, the first Gentile convert.

The purpose of the teaching in 1 Corinthians 12-14...

This episode concerns itself primarily with chapter 4:11 -- Ephesians 6, which starts with the purpose of the gifts. These all stand or fall together in time and purpose.

This lesson also ties chapter five and six into the same discussion. These chapters describes the end product of individual commitment and responsibility to one another and the relationship to the world.

In this episode, I highlight the Holy Spirit's role in revealing the mystery that Gentiles, seeing that they are fellow-heirs, have united with the Jews to create the "one new man." It is not Paul's purpose to address individual maturity of His children, but the bringing in of the Gentiles that unites both into one body. This division was so fixed that it required the working of the Spirit to not only reveal God's eternal plan, but to inspire both with the same message that accomplished the same end.

His emphasis in the first part of the...

This episode explores the second chapter of Ephesians as it relates to the creation of the "one new man." Both Jews and Gentiles are brought together in one body by the cross. By removing the "handwriting of ordinances" that separated the two and establishing two common links (sin and a Savior), Jews and Gentiles can claim each other as brethren.

Only God's wisdom could find a solution for sin and bring a clear division to an end!

In this episode, we find that the Holy Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance. We show that the translation earnest or downpayment is not the meaning of the word. Once again, we are asserting that the Holy Spirit was given in those days to new converts as a security, proof, or guarantee that they were in fact His children. This, we believe, is what was promised, through the laying on of the apostles' hands, in Acts 2:38 and exemplified in Samaria (Acts 8)and Ephesus (Acts 19).

To illustrate this, we have chosen the example of Judah and Tamar. <...

This episode discusses the meaning and uses of "sealing." Sealing with the Holy Spirit is connected to guarantee that will be studied next week.

Early saints were gifted by the Spirit who endowed them with various miraculous powers, the most prominent being the teaching gifts. Without it, there could be no edification and growth of the body. Yet, each member of the spiritual body of Christ (the ekklesia) was not given every gift. They were all interdependent on each other so that all are necessary.

These gifts not only confirmed the word but it confirmed...

This episode begins a series on the Holy Spirit in Paul's letter to the Ephesians. Chapter one gives us the first reference that is so important because the "sealing" and the "earnest" is taken to mean different things than intended by the apostle.

This text supports one of the purposes of the Spirit's indwelling in those days, i.e., the assurance needed for first-century Christians that they were His children and would one day inherit from the Father.

In this episode, after a few preliminary comments, we explore the meaning and application of the sealing...

Too many short snippets that contain phrases of imminence suggest that the readers were all too familiar with the parousia (coming) of the Lord and the end of that age. They were exhorted to be vigilant and endure to the end. They were also told that some of them would not die before that great and terrible day of the Lord.

In this episode, we read the numerous references contained in nearly every first-century letter that contain words and phrases that reveal that it is soon approaching. This truth correlates with the time of the Spirit's work...

This episode continues the Spirit's work in the "last days". It is important to realize that the promise of the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28, cf. Acts 2) was an outpouring like never before or after those days. His arrival was a sign that the last days had come. The apostles were Christ's ambassadors and were directly given the Holy Spirit to guide them into all truth. As revealers, miraculous power was given as proof that they were from God and that the message they spoke was from God (it confirmed the word, Mark 16:20). Though prophets, evangelists, and pastors also taught, they...

In this episode, we explore the power of the Spirit to work through the early disciples to perform miracles that confirmed the Word and offered extraordinary proof of their identity as God's children. Without such undeniable evidence, the work of bringing two nations into one body would have never been accomplished.

During this age of the Holy Spirit outpouring, we discover that the apostles were to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which would result in not only the power of guidance in the revelation of truth but also other powers, including miraculous healing powers, raising the dead, etc.

This study examines the promises that Jesus gives the apostles in John 14-16 and the early chapters of the Acts of the Apostles. A study of these texts reveal that the promises given were addressed to the apostles. During the earthy ministry of Jesus, the seventy were given...

This episode focuses on the power of Jesus in the Holy Spirit. After His baptism, he is immediately driven into the wilderness by the Spirit. He was empowered by the Holy Spirit after the Spirit descended upon him at His baptism. He was described as having the Spirit "without measure." While he was God in the flesh, the godhead (three in one) cannot be dissected. The man Jesus grew in stature and favor with God and man. He knew His purpose but experienced the natural "growth" of a human being. Ironically, in identifying with man by accepting and submitting...

This episode is focused on the Holy Spirit's coming into the world in the first century as a sign that the last days had come in which the fulfillment of the redemptive plan was to occur. The day of the Lord would be terrible for those who rejected him. That age (the Jewish age) would end with the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, the place where God's presence would be felt. With the end of that age come the dawn of a new age wherein dwelleth righteousness.

The last days of the fulfillment of the Holy Spirit was declared as being in the first century by Peter when he quoted Joel 2:28 and explains that what is being witnessed is the fulfillment of that prophecy.

No other time in human history has He poured out his powers on His people not only as a sign of the last days but as the confirmation that they are God's children and that their words of inspiration are proven to be trustworthy.

In this episode, we talk a bit about the character of the Holy Spirit's...

This episode ties Joel 2 with its fulfillment in Acts 2. In it we demonstrate that the word for "outpouring" suggests an overwhelming power that would be spread upon "all flesh" and that the promise of the Spirit in Acts 2:38, while different from the baptism of the Holy Spirit given to the apostles, was granted to disciples who were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. This would later be described by Paul as the "gifts of the Spirit."

This is the context of the New Testament but was to last until the end of the age. This has...

This episode focuses on Acts 2 and the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy, and the promise of the Spirit to the Apostles both of which were fulfilled in the first century.

We look at John 14-16 to illustrate that the language is clearly applied to the apostles.

We also look at John 3 and John, the Immerser's teaching about the two baptisms that Jesus will administer when he comes. One would be an overwhelming reward (baptism of the Holy Spirit) and the other would be an overwhelming punishment (baptism of fire). While this applies to the people of...

This episode brings us to the last chapter, continuing the same theme that was begun in Romans 12. Rather than the emphasis being on the work of the local church, it's all about a way of life for God's people.

It has been thought that the people of God would not be able to make themselves and the truth known in a community without a local church with the appropriate signage on a church building identifying it. This is like all the rest - God's people are known as each performs the will of God. Ideally, groups of...

Chapter 15 is a further elaboration of presenting our bodies as living sacrifices. It is a description of individual attitude and service.

This text is unique, not in that the conscience is not mentioned anywhere else but because of the emphasis on us not putting a stumbling block in the way of others that would embolden another to violate their conscience. In this way, we are reminded that we have personal responsibility to maintain our own spiritual condition, but we have to also look out for the welfare of our brothers and sisters.

This same emphasis is carried over into chapter fifteen but chapter fourteen is a practical chapter that places a burden on all of God's people to...

This episode discusses the first two verses of Romans 12. Paul beseeches the brethren, rather than giving a command, to present our bodies a living sacrifice. This text describes the role and purpose of all in Christ who have been set apart for God's exclusive purpose ("saints"). It is a reasonable and spiritual service that is distinguished from the carnal mind.

Such a changed life provides no cause for boasting. What we have we have received. The work was according to grace. The gifts that are described here are gifts of the Spirit that He gave as he...

In this episode, we will explore some thoughts from Romans 11 beginning at about verse 11 and following. Many have twisted these verses to support their thought of Jewish conversion when Paul's teaching here continues this consistent vein of Jewish rejection as a nation. Being a Christian has nothing to do with national identity. That being erased, the Israel of God consists of all who give themselves to Him whether Jew or Gentile.

The elect as the remnant of grace are not individuals whom God had assigned to heaven or hell before they were born. They are defined as a class of people. In other words, God designed a kind of people whom He would accept by His grace. Those people are those who will accept Christ by faith, whether Jew or Gentile. God has not accepted or cast off Jews any more than he has Gentiles based on their nationality. Yet, anyone can be a part of that class whether they are Jew or Gentile, and make up that classification

As a nation, the Jews were rejected because they had rejected Him. As individuals who accept God and His will, the elect defines a class of individuals who accepted Christ.

In this episode, we define the meaning of foreknowledge and its context it. Elijah's example illustrates the point. While he thought he was alone, there were 7,000 who had not bowed the knee to Baal. Even so, a remnant according to the remnant of grace includes individual Jews who accepted Christ by faith.

This episode explores the text of Romans 10.

In this episode, we are reading through the text, highlighting points of emphasis regarding the physical Israel of God and their role in God's scheme of redemption.

In this episode, we finish the study of Romans 8. What a marvelous text that could involve us in a lengthier study concerning our role as children and Christ's role as our exemplar and helper.

But, this will suffice to move us through the text for next week's study of chapter nine.