In the original series by the same name I pointed out that what the majority of church congregants believe to be the “Christian walk” is nowhere found in the Holy Scriptures. In the series titled Who Are God’s People? and “My People Called By My Name” (key words–People and Called respectively) I explained Biblically that there are two totally different groups that make up the Institutional Church. This was not in Go’s plan for His church, but is what man has made it. In this series I will delve deeper into the fact that the church is a divided institution in order to show how wide the division has become and is becoming as her apostasy (fall away from God) grows ever more obvious. By reading the writings of the original apostles we know that church apostasy is not a new phenomenon. The specific sources relative to the subject will be the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth and his epistle to the church at Rome.

What stands out in those epistles is the stark differences between God’s tiny group of true, obedient saints and the huge group that has dominated professing Christianity for the past 1900 years. We must understand this Biblical Truth: THE HOLY SCRIPTURES WERE WRITTEN TO, FOR AND ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE CALLED BY GOD’S NAME. Bear that in mind as we study what Paul wrote to the churches at Corinth and Rome as well as what Jesus wrote to the church at Laodicea as recorded in Revelation 3:14-20. At that time (90-100 A.D.) the Laodicean church represented the church which exists today which will be in existence when the Great Tribulation comes on the scene. Read about this horrific period of time using the key word–Tribulation.

In the first six chapters of First Corinthians chapter 1 Paul does what he does best–proclaim God’s Truth regardless of whom it might offend. God does not call to His ministry men who will make salvation seekers feel good. He appoints men who will tell His Truth, which pleases only those who want above all things to know His Truth, will believe it and obey it. This series will remove all doubt as to the wide range of beliefs and personal lifestyles found within what is known as “the church.” As Jesus prophesied in Matthew 7:13,14 and 22:14, one group is very small and the other very large. One group will rise to meet Him in the first resurrection. The other will not. One group will be protected and provided for during the Tribulation Period. The other will not. Read The Three Resurrections. Key word–Three. This series will reveal God’s view of the two groups that make up the church. As you will see, the difference is stark and observable to anyone with eyes that see. Let us begin.

The Corinthian church was no different from any other church of that day (mid-50’s A.D.) in that there were within her some very saintly believers and some not-so-saintly believers. In the first six chapters of his first letter to the Corinth church Paul addresses both groups. In chapter 1 verse 2 he calls some in the church “saints” who are “sanctified (set aside for holy work) in Christ Jesus.” Henceforth I will use only numbers to identify the reference being referred to in a statement. In 1:3,4 he identifies these people as those who obey both the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul praises these people for their steadfast allegiance to their Lord. In verses 5-9 Paul compliments these people, reminding them of who they are in Christ Jesus.

In verses 10-16 Paul points God’s Sword of the Spirit (Word) at those “brethren” in the other church group who are trying to divide the church into denominations. Beginning in verse 17 Paul admonishes those who preach and those who embrace the false gospel based on the “wisdom of man’s words” which “make the cross of Christ on no effect.” In verse 30 Paul reminds these people of what God called them to be. As we will see, God’s will was not as important to some in the church as it was to others. Nothing has changed.

In chapter 2:1-13 Paul reminds the church of what God has called them to be and to have and which true saints today have been given. Then in 14 he compares those in the church who walk in the Holy Spirit to the “natural man” who walks in the flesh. In 16 he reminds them that God has made available to the church the “mind of Christ.” In 3:1-3 Paul again addresses church members who are carnal and “walk as (mere) men” who, not having the mind of Christ, walk in the flesh as did those outside the church. He again returns to the subject of church denominations (4-11), again stressing the fact that there is only one church and one foundation–Jesus Christ. In 4:8 Paul again reminds the congregation of what God commands them to be–holy and God-like..

In chapter 5:1-9 Paul uses God’s Sword of the Spirit ruthlessly relative to the congregation’s attitude toward a known case of adultery within the body. Apparently, only a tiny few were then living as all church people are commanded to live. Someone in the small group took it upon themself to write to Paul about an openly adulterous situation that then existed in the church. In verses 10-13 he tells true saints not to have anything to do with sinning church members. Rather, they are to judge them, confront them and, if they will not repent and return to the Lord, to put them out of the church. If they were outnumbered, they would leave the church as he would tell them to do in his second letter to the church as recorded in 6:14-7:1.

In chapter 6:9,10 Paul continues his condemnation of SINNERS IN THE CHURCH, NOTING THAT THEY WILL NOT BE WELCOMED INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. In 13-20 Paul reminds church people of what God commands of them, noting that they are supposed to be God’s temple which belongs to Him due to the fact that He paid for it.

Turn with me now to Paul’s letter to the church at Rome. In chapter 2 he comes down hard on those in the church who judge others for doing what they themselves do. Read verses 1-11. Note that he is addressing THOSE IN THE CHURCH. Pay special attention to verses 6-11 where he reveals the final outcomes of the two church groups.

Truly, all that are known to be God’s people and called by His name are not what they claim to be and believe themselves to be. How is this possible? IGNORANCE OF BIBLE TRUTH COMBINED WITH REJECTION OF MUCH OF WHAT LITTLE TRUTH IS KNOWN. L.J.

Mark of the Beast/ Deception/ Satan’s Power/ The God of the Old Testament/ Christmas/ Persecution/ The Spirit of Antichrist/ The Salvation Deception/ The KINGDOM of God/ Jesus’ Brethren/ The Sword and the Feather/ The Faith Once Delivered/ Justification/ False Conversion/ The Counterfeit Christ/ Who is Your Father?/ Jesus of Nazareth: God, Man or Godman/ Ministerial Ordination/ Sainthood: The Separated Life/ “Come up Hither”/ The Temple/ Sanctification and Martyrdom/ Apotheosis/ The Man-Soul Deception.