GRACE IS THE PLAN OF GOD

GRACE IS THE PLAN OF GOD.

Gen 6:8  But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

In this scripture, God did not bestow grace upon Noah. Instead, Noah discovered grace, which God recognized and separated Noah from the rest of mankind. Notably, Noah refrained from worshipping idols. 

Gen 7:5  And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.

Noah diligently executed every command given to him by God. He came to the profound realization that God was his savior, a divine entity capable of miraculous interventions that guided him to survive and thrive as a devoted follower of the living God. Noah understood that God possessed complete knowledge of his actions and that wherever He instructed him, it was trustworthy. Consequently, Noah faithfully adhered to the divine plan for humanity. Furthermore, he passionately preached obedience and the existence of the one true God to anyone who would lend their ears.

2Pe 2:5  And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

Noah, finding grace, consistently performed the tasks that were expected of him by God.

Gen 6:22  Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

Due to Noah’s conduct and adhering to a portion of God’s plan of grace for the redemption of mankind, which in Noah’s time served as the punishment of the preceding world and the establishment of Noah’s world, Noah’s faith and the restoration of mankind were integral to the covenant established between God and mankind. 

Gen 9:17  And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.

Noah did not possess a written document, a Bible, or even a preacher. However, he held unwavering faith in God and followed His instructions, which God recognized as divine grace. Noah’s unwavering faith condemned the world and served as an example for God’s judgment of all mankind. Noah’s faith, his beliefs, demonstrated to God that humanity could worship Him rather than a mere idol. Through this faith, Noah gained access to the reward of eternal life in the second resurrection. Noah became a beneficiary of righteousness and the blessings that righteousness brings through God’s plan of grace, which encompasses eternal life.

Heb 11:7  By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Grace serves as a divine plan for the salvation of humanity, offering both merited and unmerited recognition.

WAS MATTHEW 27:52-53 ADDED TO MATTHEW?

 WAS MATTHEW 27:52-53 ADDED TO MATTHEW? 

“When a study is begun about the OTW, one of the first things noticed is, if you take out Matthew 27:52-53 the Gospel, Matthew chapter 27 flows more easily.  The connection between verse 51 and verse 54 would seem better fitted to the story, than the included 52-53 verses as written.

Matthew 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

Matthew 27:54 Now when the centurion, and they that was with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that was done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

If these two verses, Matthew 27:52-53, were gone, the Four Gospels would more closely match in the telling of the crucifixion.

Yet, none of the acquired manuscripts of Matthew written in Greek, Latin or Aramaic, leave Matthew 27:52-53 out this book.  This is because these verses were in the original writers texts.  The inclusion would have been added during the text hand written copies of the original writing to the churches and approved by Matthew himself.

These scriptures appear to have been added as after thought by Matthew to his story by Matthew himself.  This addition is called a stream of consciousness. A stream of consciousness is a form of an after thought or an indirect internal dialogue referring to a character or writer expressing an additional important thought which the writer felt was necessary to add.   This stream of consciousness is a literary style in which a Matthew’s thoughts, feelings, and reactions are depicted in a continuous flow uninterrupted by objective description or conventional dialogue.

The bottom line is this, Matthew 27:52-53 is a legitimate part of the King James Version of the Bible included as the unerring word of God and they are written and approved not only by Matthew, but also approved by Jesus and God Almighty.

Excerpt From

The Saints Arose

Charles Cohenour Jr. AT,

This material may be protected by copyright.

The Man is become as One of Us!

Daniel is the first biblical figure to refer to individual angels by name. Daniel mentioned Gabriel (God's primary messenger) in Daniel 9:21 and Michael (the holy defender) in Daniel 10:13.

But, in reality, angels were first spoken of without mentioning their names throughout the bible especially in Genesis 3:22.

Genesis 3:22

And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

The phrase “as one of us” does NOT include mankind.

The speaker of this scripture is the Lord God, who is addressing another entity about someone else. That “someone else", that entity, had become knowledgeable and experienced about good and evil, just like Adam and Eve before their fall.

This other entity, about whom The Lord God was speaking, must have been part of the heavenly host. For those who believe God created evil spirits, God would have had to have experienced evil to instill it into his creations, which would imply God had to have experienced sin.

The “one of us” possessed the ability to discern between good and evil. There are three primary types of understanding: direct experience, perception, and understanding. Direct experience involves knowing something through personal experience, such as feeling the heat of a stove when touching it. Perception, on the other hand, occurs when we use our senses to perceive things, like seeing the shape of a tree. Understanding, in contrast, involves grasping the meaning or essence of something. 

God and Jesus “knows" good and evil by perception and understanding not by experience. But, without a doubt, someone... other than Adam and Eve did know by experience "Good and Evil". 

The phrase In this context, “to know” implies having experienced both “good and evil.”  The entity they are referring to had prior personal experiences and participated in disobedience, leading to its transformation into an evil spirit, with a Serpent spirit.

Adam was not the entity spoken of by God, but Adam had become like that entity. Because of sin. Adam made a choice (which was an act of Freewill) which indicates that the other entity, likewise, had a choice (and Freewill).

Now...for you who actually read my comments...think about this.. before you go into the doctrine of the flesh being Satan or the Serpent, who was and still is the other “one of us”.

Life before Birth

I’ve never been part of a scientific group that has proven or disproven the existence of life in a mother’s womb.

In addition, I haven’t gathered scientific data to support my claim. I couldn’t fact-check either, as each argument is an opinion.  Furthermore, after considering it, I wouldn’t even bother starting that ineffective task in the first place.

I can only state what I believe to be valid in any situation concerning the unknown. This is based on my own conclusions and experiences, which I consider to be actual and therefore as experienced truth.

Regarding the validity of life within a mother’s womb, I’ve experienced the sensation of a being moving within the womb on numerous occasions. I’ve observed the movement of a being multiple times within a mother’s womb. Additionally, I’ve had numerous conversations with mothers who report feeling their being move, twist, and turn within their womb.

Based solely on my personal experiences, I must conclude that life exists within these beings within their mother’s womb. This is not when they take a breath of oxygen.

Trusting these experiences and believing the experiences of mothers who have carried these beings within them (a significant amount of information), I conclude that if the Bible claims that there is no life within these “fetuses” before birth, then the Bible is incorrect about this matter.

NO INTERPRETATION IS NEEDED.

A Five Fold Ministry Part#1

The Potential

The potential for any and every gift given by God is within each and every church in the Body of Christ.

Ephesians 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Ephesians 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Ephesians 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

Ephesians 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and 

Ephesians 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

1 Corinthians 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

1 Corinthians 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

1 Corinthians 12:29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

1 Corinthians 12:30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

1 Corinthians 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

1 Corinthians 14:12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

Of course, the most effective way was/is charity.

No place in the does bible state that gifts are given to establish a restored ministry. Nowhere in the Bible does it promise gifts as a sign of the restoration of the Latter-Day-Reigning Church.

The Fivefold Ministry is a doctrine created by ministers with sincere intentions to assist the Body of Christ, as well as control the narrative of promises. This would give a unified goal of hope and authority to men tasked with holding together the Body of Christ as one people.

Most worthwhile things created by man seem to fracture at some point including this doctrine which evolved into a part of the extended mechanism of the Godhead. Though the doctrine was intended to explain the usages of gifts, it became more than it was intended. Accordingly, the content of that authority is founded and taught from 2 Corinthians 5:19-20, which uses the phrase "we pray you in Christ's stead." This scripture, added to the doctrine, gives the ministry of the Body of Christ authority, power and absolute authority, in Christ’s stead, to judge with all authority pursuing all things for the idea of the protection of the saints.

2 Corinthians 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

In order to give this agenda of control real substance and power, it is explicitly taught that the saints of God have no Bible right to judge, challenge nor question the ministry of the Body of Christ. This generates the premise of no recourse or accountability of the ministry to the saints. There is a teaching that the church is a woman and should learn her place by becoming fully submissive to the ministry.

1 Timothy 2:11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.

1 Timothy 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

There is huge responsibility for accountability within the group of ministers and for the ministry itself. They are responsible for one another through group consensus if each recognized minister agrees. Which is in fact a misnomer for acceptability because there is a recognized hierarchy within the ministry who rules and makes decisions.

How any issue or matter comes into the order of consideration before the ministry to be judged and considered depends upon who brings the matter as much as the matter itself.

A minister may be accused of unacceptable behavior by members of their church or the group ministry of the Body itself. This matter may hold more weight if the accusers are the whole church rather than a single individual from a church.

Due to many mitigating factors or to the intensity of the circumstances, the ministry at that time may or may not have questioned the behavior or addressed the situation. 

If the ministry makes a judgement, the outcome may be negative or positive. It may be accepted or rejected by the minister or saint being judged.

There may be consequences for not accepting the group consensus; which may or may not be viewed as excessive or minor depending on the minister in question. 

Major offenses could result in the ministry ruling in the majority or minority, depending on who the aggrieved person is and in a ruling of disfellowship from the Body of Christ.

 Accepted Belief

It is an accepted belief that a saint/minister must listen to the ministry and obey their instructions, because obedience will save their soul and their soul cannot be eternally saved unless you submit to the ministry.

These beliefs are instilled and given power by the ministry and the saints.

However, due to the fact that this ministry is a convergence of ministers, there are hidden issues, agendas, and discussions of biblical origin weakening the authority of the convergence of ministers.   

Over the decades of continued discourse, it became clear that the need for coerced dependence had to be created. This would strengthen the position of power of the controlling ministry on the saints and minor ministers of God. The doctrine of the Five Fold Ministry evolved from helping gifts into more controlling positions than is biblically incorrect.

The authority of the Ministry had to be more reliable at some point. It was concluded that they needed a major purpose for their existence. To make the ministry a matter of necessity, the doctrine of a restored church was essential.

To meet this need, the ministry decided to become a part of the doctrine of perfection by solidifying their ministry as a group.

It became imperative that first the ministry be purified and freed from sin before any other saint of the Body of Christ. Therefore, it was also concluded that the ministry would be able to use all of its gifts 24/7 without being interrupted. 

This would guarantee that the ministry would no longer have any theological or biblical differences or problems internally. 

This interpretation of doctrine empowered the ministry and turned the gifts into titles of authority called the Five-fold ministry transforming the ministry from a lowly helping group into a ruling body class that rivals the Bride of Christ.

The idea was and is that the Fivefold ministry would possess all the gifts, proving there would be no biblical differences within the convergence of ministers would then allow the ministry to rule the world at the side of the Bride and Jesus...which...is not biblical.

The beauty of the agenda of these combined doctrines preached is that only God could make them true. It cannot be challenged because it is based on a combined doctrine that would then conflict with God's word and His ministry.

A flawless caveat, taught by the majority of ministers, does not imply anything faulty about the ministry or anything else it has promised that may never happen. It also doesn't imply anything else it has taught that may not be fulfilled. This is because God hasn't made the Perfect Five Fold ministry nor, according to the majority of ministers is God ready to restore the church... yet.

 The Canon

The Doctrine of the Five Fold Ministry became a canon that should not be questioned (by any saint of the Body). The doctrine is the belief that first and foremost there must be a ministry..with all the gifts..given to only worthy ministers..before a perfected church could be restored to the former position of the early reign church..in order or before (which is a strange dichotomy of which comes first the chicken or the egg) for the saints to become perfected in Jesus, which...again...is not biblical.

What is biblical is this...there was an Early Reign Church that withdrew into the wilderness. In our current dispensation that church has become the Latter Reign Church, which has come out of the wilderness, and it is no longer hidden by the earth.

In the meantime, Satan had/is making war with the remnant of the early reign church (overcomers from that church) including, in our dispensation, those that are the remnant of her early reign seed (which is the latter reign church) who are becoming perfected in our current day.

Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Notice the remnant “keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ”. The remnant of the Early Reign Church were the saints who continued to perfection despite the false prophets driving the church into the wilderness. 

The remnant in our dispensation keep the commandments which were gathered from that Early Reign Church today and forever more.

Notice there is no mention of the Five Fold ministry or gifts entering the wilderness nor coming out of the wilderness. The church in the wilderness, mentioned as being the main topic of the scriptures above, needed to be helped out of the wilderness by the teaching of an overcoming doctrine. It was the doctrine of perfection that brought the church out of the wilderness.

In truth there is nothing to be restored, only a church to be completed. Without a body there would be no church. To be a complete man child, the ministry must assist the body of Christ in producing the church that will produce the rest of the bride of Christ.

The first Christian church did not have the Bible. They did not have the teachings of the apostles, prophets and teachers written in a book as we do in our current dispensation. This is a significant difference between the early and latter day churches. This book, the King James Bible (and 2000 years) makes our dispensation much different from the first Church of Christ.

Historically, the Early Reign Church lost their gifts to share with the Latter Reign Church. This is because of the time span and false prophets who diminished the ability of the saints to compel God to deliver his true messages.

The first church established gifts and purposes, but lost the power of the gifts as their purpose was diluted before both were swallowed up by the earth. The Early Reign Church is an example and resource for the Latter Reign Church. This is because the early church laid the foundation for the Latter Reign Church to build upon.

In our dispensation the Body of Christ can now understand of the true messages of the Word and the Holy Spirit. TheLatter Reign Church is now capable of receiving these gifts shared with the Early Reign Church.

continued in next post part #2

https://thesamebutonlydifferent.blogspot.com/2022/12/a-five-fold-ministry-part-2.html

A Five Fold Ministry Part #2

 The Need for Gifts

One of the shared experiences between the early reign church and the latter reign was the need for gifts. Paul made a prophetic statement about the latter reign church.

1 Corinthians 1:4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

1 Corinthians 1:5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;

1 Corinthians 1:6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:

1 Corinthians 1:7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Humanity today is experiencing differences in history, etymology, society, and modernization. The body of Christ has a long history of apostles, evangelists, prophets, pastors and teachers. We can look back to their teachings and gifts to provide the faith and knowledge needed to allow the saints to know God and Jesus. This will enable us to reach perfection.

We have the spiritual etymology of the old and new testament to draw analogy and wisdom.

Our latter reign church's development can be traced to the earliest Biblical accounts of the early reign. We understand by tracing its transmission from one usage of spiritual understanding to another, by analyzing scripture into its component parts, by identifying its cognates in other spiritual scriptures, or by connecting it and its cognates to a common scriptural form in biblical understanding.

The world has changed many times, but the bible allows us to recognize the comparisons necessary to establish the truth.

Modernization has occurred, but we can draw upon the understanding of the early church society that all things change, but always stay the same spiritually.

The ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers was established in the early reign.

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: this was said about the early reign church..not the latter reign church..but, it was meant for the church as a whole..the combined church..of both eras..within the Body of Christ.

The Body was created and given all the gifts to establish Jesus’ Church. These gifts were intended as a sign to the nations and their peoples to recognize the one true Body of Christ. During the early reign of the church, the original biblical information about the gifts and miracles was communicated so that it could be established in history. Then it passed from ear to ear and mouth to mouth until all the world had access to the work and Word of God.

With that knowledge, the church was able to come out of hiding and into this dispensation. Then the knowledge of the gifts was passed on to the saints of the latter reign church to be used when needed.

The gifts manifested according to the greatest needs of the saints when they were needed. "And he gave some" means he gave to the saints in need, not to the ministry. For the saints of the early reign, gifts were essential for establishing their group as Jesus' Body, as well as the Bride's perfection.

Gifts were not required for ministers to be miniministers. To teach the Word of God, the Holy Spirit was needed. The gifts identified the ministry as belonging to Jesus which immediately made Jesus a viable deity and a true God. But it was his words that proved to be the only everlasting manifestation and gift of God. Gifts pass away, but his word endures.

The outcome of the 11 disciples had not been determined nor accomplished before Jesus finished his work of salvation in Israel. The Holy Ghost (the Comforter) had not yet fallen and no positions of apostleship were given. The entire chapter of Matthew 17 speaks to this fact.

John 17:11  And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

They were disciples without permanent gifts and were not unified until after the Holy Ghost had fallen among them. They were well taught and chosen disciples by Jesus because of their proven faithfulness, but lacked understanding that could only be gained by the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Paul put that understanding into better form by saying these words:

1 Corinthians 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

1 Corinthians 3:7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

The above scripture is about the disciples, their positions, power, and authority that will be granted by God for the sake of His kingdom...Jesus' church. This will also enable the perfecting of the saints. Paul said they were not to be counted as "anything".

Jesus left the disciples and returned to his seat of divine authority after his resurrection. Jesus then sent the Holy Ghost as a comforter and a source of power…spiritual power that could affect worldly things when needed by God for his purpose: the purpose of salvation.

The Need of the Kingdom

The crucial part of the sending of the Holy Ghost was the “NEED” of the kingdom of God. The present day ministry does not require gifts or titles for authority, nor do they need gifts now. The ministry has authority now. The ministry has always been regulated and delegated by the need of the people for leadership in Christ.

Currently and historically whenever there was a need for a pastor, the need was filled (hopefully) by God. The need for a pastor was and remains the same as the need for a teacher. This position is held by the ministry based on the needs of the saints. The biblical need is generated by the demand for the teaching of the word of God.

Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

As biblically proven, the positions that God has created for His church can be combined and used by anointed men of God. Gifts have always been determined according to what God requires for his own purposes and not according to what the saints need. Our example is Paul.

1 Timothy 2:7 For which I am ordained a preacher and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

2 Timothy 1:11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

Paul was a preacher first, then an apostle, and finally a teacher. Three gifts in one man. He travelled from one church to another using whatever gift the church needed.

Saints are required to undergo spiritual transformation, not to live a material or natural life. The needs of saints are determined by God's will, which distinguishes between what is necessary for self-gratification and what is necessary for the salvation of those who are in need.

We might feel empathy for our saintly companions, relatives, and friends. We may also feel a need for our companions to be healed as a sign of Jesus' love for them and for ourselves. But Jesus knows better and decides what is appropriate for any given case and/or situation. Miracles, healings and results from gifts are always influenced and determined by the will of God which is always influenced by God's plan which is his Grace.

As another aspect of the Fivefold Ministry doctrine, it is a kind of first fruit. That is before anyone else can move into perfection every saint must wait for the ministry to become the first fruit. This is before they can have a position in the Bride of Christ.

In sum, the ministry was never meant to be a benchmark for perfection. Instead, it was meant to assist the church in reaching perfection, and not to be an authoritative council to be measured against.

Ministerial gifts are given to teach and edify the church and the Body of Christ.

Paul tells the Corinthians to desire more gifts to be given to the church in order for it to be perfected.

1 Corinthians 12:31

But covet earnestly the best gifts. And yet I show to you a more excellent way.

If the gifts were already given, why would Paul ask the church to pray for more? The obvious answer is that the gifts were not given permanently but were distributed according to when and if the church had a need.

Then Paul tells the church of the position or lifestyle of a minister who has gifts. That they are in no way to be used as a bench mark of reputation “that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.” And “For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive”

1 Corinthians 4:4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

1 Corinthians 4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

1 Corinthians 4:7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

1 Corinthians 4:8 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.

1 Corinthians 4:9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

1 Corinthians 4:10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

1 Corinthians 4:11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;

Is Paul describing a Body of Christ condition such as being presented in our dispensation by the Doctrine of a Restored Church of the latter reign?

https://thesamebutonlydifferent.blogspot.com/2022/12/a-true-five-fold-ministry-part-3.html

A True Five Fold Ministry Part #3

A Perfect Body of Christ

Paul was not presenting a perfectly formed Body of Christ, but an imperfect body speaking as an apostle of the Early Reign Church. Paul had limited authority in the body except where recognized within the early reign church of Christ where his doctrines could be perfected.

The Body of Christ will only be perfected at the end of the Second Resurrection. Paul said he as an apostle didn’t reign or rule but that he did administer Jesus' teachings.

1 Corinthians 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

1 Corinthians 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

1 Corinthians 12:29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

1 Corinthians 12:30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

1 Corinthians 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

Paul is writing to the Corinthian church telling them they are part of the Body as a communal convergence of believers world wide. Paul continues on to write that God put in the church “some” which is an unspecified, comparative number of necessary administrative positions.

The first three positions were numbered 1, 2, and 3; then the gifts were numbered according to their perceived importance. It appears that there is no specific order, as if they are written in random order.

On a scale of importance, gifts from governments would rank lower. Then the gifts of help and just above the gift of diversity of tongues. This puts governments second to last in importance taking away a bit of importance within the authority of the ministry.

It appears that these gifts are not always in demand in the church as Paul acknowledges that they are not given wholesale. Whether we desire an abundance of gifts or any gifts at all is determined by the necessity of our needs.

1 Corinthians 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

In Paul's commandment there are two topics listed as "covet earnestly the best gifts" and the "more excellent way"? These topics raise the question of why coveting "best gifts" is a good thing or what specific gifts you should covet and what is the best way to go about it.

This is a simple answer - a critical need determines the specific gift, and the spirit in which that gift should be requested is charity.

Paul was telling the Corinthian church to pray for a specific gift for a specific need. The need compels the gift. If the church needs an Apostle, pray that one comes to the church or God chooses a saint to be an Apostle. If the church needs a gift of healing, then they should look for someone who has a gift to heal or appeal for the gift of healing. It is extremely crucial that the saints understand that God may or may not answer their call for immediate satisfaction, opting instead to answer in a more beneficial long-term manner through charity.

1 Corinthians 12:30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

"Do you possess all the gifts of healing?" asks the scripture above. Which raises the question: Are there many different types of healing gifts or are there many different people that need a healing gift from God?

Ask this question; what purpose would an Apostle be if they could not be in every church? What need of the saints could an Apostle fill if that Apostle was in the state of Washington and the need was in New York?

Paul is teaching that there are many needs that can be met by asking God for help or, in other words, asking God for help in many different forms. Saints are not made for positions as rulers, but they are created as helpers. Saints must first be made into what is needed for the Lord's work, then if needed, transformed into what is needed.

In each case, propagation is caused by the saints' need to receive gifts. The distribution of gifts is determined by God's will.

Conclusion

The five fold ministry is not a biblical term, neither is it a requirement for perfection nor the non-biblical restoration of the latter reign church.

The positions of the ministry are tools for the teaching of perfection, which are currently available in our dispensation. The latter reign church represents the continuing work to complete the Bride of Christ.

The words of Jesus are the judgment of the saints, not the ministry. It is the words of Jesus Christ that convert the saints and bring saints into the Bride of Christ not the positions of government.

God has provided a five-fold ministry, but they are for every church and in every church. God needs hands and feet to do his work, and each church has the potential to meet the needs of that church.

Saints of God and sinners of the world are subject to time and chance, which are then circumvented by God's deterministic counsel to fulfill his plan of Grace.

We are at God’s mercy, and through his word he has provided each one of us with a way to circumvent time and chance in Christ Jesus. If we learn the Word of God assisted by the gifts of God and the Holy Ghost through Jesus Christ, we can receive the gift of eternal life.

Written by Charles E. Cohenour

The Spirit of a Man

A human's thoughts perish when they die (I do believe some humans never die when they overcome), but I also believe that God never forgets a true Christian's memories. I understand that God gave Adam the breath of life and he became a living soul.

Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

But this scripture does not say the breath of life is the spirit of a man. Genesis 2:7 simply refers to "the breath of life".Life is simply that life. God gave life not only to man but also to animals in Genesis 1:20 using the term “that hath life”.

Genesis 1:20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

Giving life to man was described in a more intimate way than with the animals because humanity was more glorious than the animals of the field. Mankind was meant for a higher purpose than animal kind.

But life was no different for man than it was for animals. Genesis 6:17 shows this as an example of life being the same:

Genesis 6:17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.

Another relevant example of this is in Genesis 7:15 concerning the animals and the breath of life:

Genesis 7:15 And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life.

Genesis 7:21 And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man:

Genesis 7:22 All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.

By the above scriptures it is proven that animals and humans both had the breath of life given to them by the source of life which is God. This is demonstrated by Jesus.

But life is not the spirit. The spirit is something else completely. When we discern who or what a creature is, we understand its spirit. It is what determines how and what they are identified as. It is all the things that make animals or humans valuable. Our spirits describe our soul and body. 

The spirit of man or beast tells us who we are and what we are. Animals and humans are remembered not for their souls, but for their spirits.

A distinction between mankind and God is how God remembers us. Mankind remembers from birth to death, whereas God remembers forever. This is the answer to the question in Ecclesiastes 3:21:

Ecclesiastes 3:21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

I’m sure that because of the above verse there is a misunderstanding of spirits and where they go or who qualifies to go upward or downward. First let’s break it down. It is God who “knoweth” the “spirit” of a man.  Likewise it is God who“knoweth” the spirit of the “beast”.  

The problem for most is when interpreting this scripture they tend to think from a human perspective and not a Godly perspective.  The difference is between the two spirits is man has freewill and can chose to be remembered and the animals do not have the choice to be remembered. 

Mankind can chose to learn the commandments of God proving their love and devotion but animals cannot make the needed choice. Therefore God existing in Third Heaven knows our personage when we die.  This acknowledged significance goes up to heaven one way or another.  We either move out of this body into a new heavenly body or we are is remembered by God until the second resurrection and spoken back into existence. The beast is forgotten in the earth.

We have scriptures that tie into the thought that the spirit is not the breath of life which needs to be considered.

Proverbs 20:27 The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

The breath of life does not search your thoughts but the mind of a man does search his own thoughts every day.

Isaiah 66:2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

The “contrite spirit” is not the breath that gave Christ Soul & Body life. The “contrite spirit” is the mind of a person who has been changed from an unrepentant sinner into a fearful follower of God. The spirit mentioned here has nothing to do with life force. It is the description of a child of God's spirit, the hidden man.

Zechariah 12:1 The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.

This is a unique scripture that explains how the spirit of a man is contained from the inside out. The spirit described in this scripture cannot be the "breath of life" of a human being, since the breath was given to him by his mother and father. The life force of every person is the same from birth and does not change until death. However, the spirit of a man, the ID, and the conflict between the desires of the flesh and the demands of the cultural carnal mind do change and are formed within him. Paul speaks directly to this conflict by proposing the concept of the Old Man verses the New Man.

It is the conflict between the Old Man and the New Man which Paul addresses in Eph 4:22 and Col 3:9 where he speaks of the spirit of a man as the Old Man:

Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

Col 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

But he then explains the concept of the New Man which is a person's spirit changed by the word and Holy Ghost of God.

Ephesians 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

Ephesians 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Ephesians 4:23 tells us exactly where the spirit in a human dwells and exists within our beings.  The spirit lives in the mind.  The spirit is not the breath of life because the spirit is your consciousness. 

Ephesians 4:24 tells us that the spirit has to put on the new man which is a new way of thinking and living.  Your mind must learn to be a new mind which is created into a spirit like Gods mind and spirit by the teaches of righteousness and true holiness.

Furthermore Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 2 more about our spirits how how they are changed:

1 Corinthians 2:6 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:

Paul says he speaks heavenly wisdom not taught by mankind whose worldly wisdom is based on mortality and not on immortality, unto the saints who are overcomers using the phrase “among them that are perfect.”

Paul explains what he is teaching. Paul is teaching what is a mystery to the worldly wisdom of men. He is also teaching what was hidden from worldly men which was determined by God before the world was created. This is the plan of Grace and the mystery of his son Jesus.

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:

1 Corinthians 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Paul explains that it's a natural thing that ungodly mankind does not understand through human means, and even the Bible explains this natural occurrence. Man cannot understand the things of God unless God teaches and reveals his plan of Grace to them.

1 Corinthians 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

As a result, Paul reveals that those who love him understand God's law of righteousness and his teachings through the Holy Spirit. As a result, God's spirit, mind, and consciousness understand God's deep things (the mystery). Again Paul is not saying that God’s spirit is the “breath of life” in the above scripture.

1 Corinthians 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

Paul asks a simple question. What person knows anything about another person except through communication? In order to uncover each other's spirits, it is necessary to connect our minds. Even so how can a man know God unless someone opens a dialogue with God?

1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

We have not received the wisdom or behavior of the world (spirit of the ungodly) but we have received the wisdom and behavior of God’s spirit that we know the mystery of Jesus which was given in love.

1 Corinthians 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

Paul explains that spiritual things are not things concerning the breath of life but they are comparing spiritual knowledge with spiritual outcomes.

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Paul states that the ungodly man cannot possibly understand the spirit of God (the conceptualization of God not necessarily the baptism of the Holy Ghost) because man would have to know God which is only given by the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

1 Corinthians 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

Those who have been taught about God's spirit, who have received the things of God, and are living the way of Christ, will judge all ungodly mankind through their lives. And because he is living a Godly life with a Godly spirit there is no ungodly man that can compare to him.

1 Corinthians 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Paul then proclaims that because he has the mind of the Lord he can instruct those who do not have the Christ mind to be spiritually likeminded. Again the spirit here is not the breath of life.

Paul tells Timothy not to let his youth cause strife being the example of Christ to believers in the word of God, in his way of living (conversation), in the practice of Charity, in spirit (not in the breath of life but being who he is in a godly lifestyle), in faith (practicing what we are commanded to do) and in purity (not to be blamable for any evil).

1 Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Peter then directly tells us that the spirit is the “hidden man of the heart” not the breath of life.

1 Peter 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

The breath of life is just that...the breath of life that God gives to every creature. Genesis 2:7 explains this in the simplest of terms.

Genesis 2:7  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

The world from which Noah came will be punished by God. God took the same breath of life away from all flesh...both animals and humans.

Genesis 6:17  And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.

The writer of Genesis claims that every being that entered the Ark shared the same breath of life.

Genesis 7:15  And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life.

The writer of Genesis also says that everything that did not go into the Ark had the same breath of life but perished.

Genesis 7:22  All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.

In the book of Job we read that Elihu explains to Job that God’s own spirit (not his breath) because Elihu was born of a man and woman yet through them the life of God was given to him. Elihu made no mention of his spirit.

Job 33:4  The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

All of the above makes it clear that our spirit is much more than the breath of life; it's what defines our soul and our body. Our spirits will only rise upward if we live for Jesus. Our legacy in Christ ascends upward to be put in the book of God’s remembrance.

Mal 3:16  Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

All God-fearing men and women who serve God to the highest degree of their knowledge and their abilities will be in God’s book of remembrance. Yet the book of remembrance will not place anyone in the book of eternal life. The book is meant only for those selected for the second resurrection. Despite this, being in the book of remembrance does give the hope of eternal life. The Second Resurrection is meant to extend the mercy of God’s plan of Grace to those that love him.

God does not have to remember those that overcome. Those that overcome are promised eternal life and will never die. Overcomers go directly into the Lamb's book of life.

Rev 3:5  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Rev 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Rev 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Those who are written in the book of remembrance will at the end of the one thousand year reign be remembered into existence. They then present their own books before God. God will then access them according to the standards of Jesus' book of life. This is the law of righteousness. This will determine what they will need to do in order to overcome.  After a certain amount of time those who have resurrected will come to an end of their time. This is to complete their race for the mark of the high calling. Perhaps to overcome. But some may not overcome.  

Those that don’t overcome fail to have their names written in the Lambs book of Life and reap their reward.

Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Our spirits want to live forever, the want is the expression of the desire of the soul and the need of the body.

Genesis 1:27  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Deuteronomy 4:16  Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,

1 Corinthians 15:49  And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

2 Corinthians 4:4  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.

Hebrews 1:2  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Hebrews 1:3  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Our spirits are the spoken image of ourselves and through Jesus it can be made into the expression of the image of God.