In our last post in answer to the question: What is pictured by the Cup? We had determined that the Cup was a picture of the Sin Offering experiences of Jesus and the Church, of the sufferings, trials, ignominy and self-denials he endured and what all who would be joined to the body through his baptism would have to endure. It’s as if our Lord is inviting us – beckoning to us – “Come my children – suffer with me…
2 Thessalonians Chapter 2 A word of Warning, continued VERSE 8 “And then the lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.” “And then shall that Wicked one [the system of error] be revealed [Greek: apokalupsis, uncovered, exposed, recognized], whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness [Greek: epiphania] of his coming [Greek: parousia presence].”…
In the Communion or Memorial Service two emblems are brought to our attention, the bread and the cup, here though our focus is upon the cup. (Excerpts here were taken from an article entitled, Why two emblems? by Brother George Tabac) What is pictured by the Cup? The Cup is a picture of the Sin Offering experiences of Jesus and the Church – which together will seal the New Covenant, a very similar picture as that of the blood of…
2 Thessalonians Chapter 2 A word of Warning, continued VERSE 5 “Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? Paul was saying, “I told you about these things in the past.” When he was with the Thessalonians, he had discussed end-of-the-age events with them at some length. He did not shun to declare the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27). But in their overreaching, in their zealous desire for the day of…
2 Thessalonians Chapter 2 A word of Warning, continued “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition… VERSE 4 “…who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” This verse sounds so appalling that…
“Are ye able to drink of the Cup that I shall drink of?” (Matt 20:22) “We might think of the word Cup as representing various experiences of life-that everybody has, his or her Cup of mingled joys and sorrows. But Jesus used the word in a different sense. When He was in the Garden of Gethsemane He prayed, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”…
“Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death (Made participators with him)?” (Rom 6:3) What does it mean to be a participator in Christ death? How do we participate with him in his death? It might be helpful if we first asked about his death that is how exactly he died? Yes we all know that he was crucified on the cross, but that is not what we…
2 Thessalonians Chapter 2 A word of Warning, continued Although the warning here comes near the end of this chapter (Verses 9-12 respectively) nevertheless for the sake of those not so familiar with the implications of the text we should begin with Verse 1 in order to get the full picture of events, some of which is in the past, and some of which is yet still future. Another reason for our going into such detail in this particular instance…
What does it mean to be baptized in the Holy Spirit? As was mentioned in our previous post the baptism of the holy spirit came upon the Church at Pentecost and as such has continued with us even unto this day. To be baptized in the holy spirit is to be baptized into Jesus Christ, and to be baptized into Jesus Christ is to be baptized into his death. Even as the Apostle so states in Rom 6:3-5: “Do you…
We have put together the following reply in response to a comment made on one of our post in which we had stated: “The Scriptures make a distinction between the faithful of the past who were moved by the holy spirit, and those during the Gospel age who are begotten by the holy spirit. Both have the holy spirits presence and guidance, but only those begotten of the holy spirit are begotten to a new nature, a spirit nature. A…