In the second chapter of the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth he makes several incredible statements.  In verse 6 he writes that he and his fellow apostles spoke and wrote only what those who were perfect (mature) could understand and believe.  He also pointed out that what they proclaimed was contrary to what the religious “princes”–spiritual leaders–put forth–which, he added, was useless.  I would add that nothing has changed.  In verse 7 Paul compares what he and others proclaim to what the false prophets put forth: “BUT WE SPEAK THE WISDOM OF GOD IN A MYSTERY.”  Note it: THEY (PROPHETS AND APOSTLES) PROCLAIMED WHAT GOD TOLD THEM TO PROCLAIM–HIS WISDOM.

Nothing has changed.  God continues to choose, ordain, commission and anoint those to whom and through whom He can speak his mind to the world.  These are few in number, as was always the case.  Note that of the masses of Israelites  existing during Old Testament times, only 1 served as God’s priest or prophet at a time, except when one was training his replacement, such as the case with Elijah and Elisha.  Basically the same apostle-to-population ratio remains the same in these end times.  Today there is only one true, and small–church, and one leader of that church.  Those who serve under him are few in number.  And today, as was the case during Old Testament times, God’s ministers and their message are rejected by most people.  This in spite of the fact that they SPEAK THE WISDOM OF GOD directly from His Word–His wisdom in print.  The reason Christ’s Words and His ministers are rejected is that both emphasize His message and not His person.  Read The Doctrine of the Lord along with The Gospel of Christ.  Use “Doctrine” and “Gospel” as your key words respectively.  Jesus emphasized His message, not Himself.  He said that He would judge all people by His WORDS (Jn. 12:44-50).  He added that “Man must LIVE BY (OBEY) EVERY WORD THAT COMES FROM GOD (Mat. 4:4).  The Lord’s Word is His wisdom which he had recorded and preserved “for our instruction upon whom the ends of the world have come” (1 Cor. 10:11).  Note it: God recorded His wisdom for those of us living in the end of the end times.  Recall that the same God (the Word who became Jesus of Nazareth) revealed in visions and in dreams what would take place in the future and instructed Daniel to record in a book and seal up what he had been shown.  In Daniel 12:8,9 the prophet lamented that he did not understand what God had shown him.  To which God replied: “Go your way, Daniel, for THE WORDS ARE CLOSED UP AND SEALED (NOT TO BE UNDERSTOOD BY HIM OR ANYONE ELSE) UNTIL THE TIME OF THE END (OF THE AGE) (Dan. 8:17-19)–the time in which we are now living.  Read The Signs of the End of the Age.  Use “Signs” as your focal word.

Another of Paul’s incredible statements involves the fact that before the world was created the Almighty ordained that man would not only understand His wisdom, but that “HE CREATED IT FOR MAN’S GLORY.”  Note it: GOD’S WISDOM, IF KNOWN, BELIEVED AND OBEYED, WOULD CAUSE MEN TO MANIFEST HIS GLORY.  GOD WANTS HIS PEOPLE TO SHARE HIS GLORY, AS DID JESUS OF NAZARETH.  This sound too good to be true.  Who would not want to manifest God’s glory.  However, let us not forget what He said about counting the cost of true discipleship.  Bear in mind that those around Jesus, including those whom He had preached to, healed, delivered, fed, etc. rejected Him.  Even His own mother, brothers and sisters rejected His commission from God and His Words concerning that commission.  They not only wanted nothing to do with His ministry, they told him to stay out of the area where they lived.  It was only later that they, along with a few others, realized who and what He was, counted the cost, and in spite of it became His disciples.  And they paid a heavy price for doing so.  TO SHARE CHRIST’S GLORY INVOLVES SHARING HIS REJECTION BY THE WORLD, SPECIFICALLY THE RELIGIOUS WORLD.  Read Persecution.  Use “Persecution” as your focal word.

In 1:17 Paul writes that he came (was appointed) to preach God’s GOSPEL–the good news about the coming Kingdom of God, which was Christ’s gospel (Mk. 1:14/ Acts 1:3).  The gospel of Christ was not about the person of Christ, but about the Father’s soon-coming earthly kingdom and how to enter it through obedience to that gospel (Mat. 4:4).  Jesus will establish God’s kingdom in the Holy Land upon His return to earth.  He and His true saints will rule and reign over it for 1000 years (Rev. 5:10/ 20:6).  Following the millennium they will rule and reign over the entire universe for ever (Rev. 11:15/ 22:5).  In Hebrews 2:1-10 we are told that all of the works of God’s hands (the universe) will one day be subjected to (ruled by) men who, by obeying Him during this life, will have qualified for rulership in the next life.  I feel the Holy Spirit coursing through me as I write this.

In 2:1 Paul refers to the gospel as “the testimony of God” relative to His Truth.  The Almighty wants mankind to know, believe and obey His Truth/Word/gospel so that they can join Him in His earthly kingdom.  His “testimony” is His “witness” to His Truth, which Jesus equated with His Word in John 17:17.  He bears witness–gives testimony–to His Truth in His Holy Bible.  He also calls His testimony/witness/Truth/Word from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 “the Law,” which He condensed into Ten Commandments which man must obey in order to qualify for salvation which will be awarded upon Christ’s return to earth to establish His Father’s kingdom.  It is at that time that His true saints will be born again.  Read Hope and Salvation along with Born Again.  Use “Hope” and “Born” as your key words respectively.  You can  request a list of series titles by emailing me at lpj4142@gmail.com or by writing at the end of any posting in the COMMENT section.  L.J.