The Rock of ages

.

We believe . . . we are convinced . . . we are sure . . . that our worship is relying (or founded) upon the teaching that The Holy

Spirit (and not any man) is the divine (or the heavenly - not earthly) administrator - and that this divine one is the (manager or the

superintendent) that is acting on behalf of Jesus Christ in His churches.

What this means is that The NTC is not an organization that has been built upon the talents – upon the commitment or upon the

strength of mankind . . . but rather the NTC has been built upon the strength of only ONE man . . . the MAN Jesus Christ.

The question that will naturally arise next is the meaning of Matt 16:18 regarding the words of Jesus about the foundation of The NTC which He says here - that He built upon “this rock” . . .

Mt 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

At this point in our lesson, I will forego any attempt to argue that “this rock” upon which the church was built - refers to “the rock of

ages” or to Jesus Himself as opposed to the rock of the disciples or the small stone that the name Peter represents . . . once again such

an interpretation (that the church was not built upon Peter as the first pope) but instead that the NTC was built upon Jesus Himself as THE

ROCK of ages upon whom the gates of hell "could not" PREVAIL against or overcome is (in the absence of proof) . . . a belief that must result TOTALLY from an act of faith.
Consider the fact that a few weeks or months after Matt 16:18 Peter even denied that he knew Jesus . . . I know that Peter was a good man . . . but he was "only" a man . . . and the gates of hell did prevail over his fleshly strength as he denied Jesus.
So this gives a bit of strength to the interpretation that "the rock" referred to "the rock of ages" (Jesus) and NOT to Peter or any other man who possessed a sinful nature such that he was not able to escape the practice of sin in his life . . .
Romans 7:  22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

If we are looking for some sort of proof to lead us to the understanding that The church was built upon Jesus rather than being built upon Peter . . . consider Eph 3:21

Eph 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

The only proof that we will be able to uncover . . . that this is the proper interpretation - is found as we look at the basic purpose of

what the church is . . . and what the church was designed to do.  Now our lesson is about “the role” that The Holy Spirit of God is supposed to play in the church . . .

To be the superintendent (or to be the manager in Christ’s stead) “in His churches” refers to how The Holy Spirit (in the absence of Jesus) acts on behalf of Jesus IN regard to the church.

As we read Eph 3:21 . . . we understand that “Unto him” refers directly to Jesus Christ not to the apostle Peter.

Unto Jesus Christ be GLORY . . . the word glory refers to the following terms: honour – praise – or worship . . . Do you think that it is ever

appropriate to bring such honour – praise or worship to ANY man . . . even if that man was an apostle of Jesus?

To bring honour unto Jesus “in the church” which was either established upon Peter as a man - or upon Jesus as the son of man (God in flesh) . . .

we need look no further than the foundation or the root of the church that Jesus established . . . if the church rests upon the shoulders of

Peter . . . then how are we able to give honour unto Jesus through the church?

Not unto Peter (not unto the Pope) . . . but unto Jesus be glory in the church . . . The word praise refers to paying tribute or the giving of credit . . . once again if Jesus built the church upon Peter . . . explain how being part of 

the church gives credit to Jesus instead of giving glory or credit to the man Peter upon whom it is assumed by many that it was built.

To worship Jesus in the church would simply not be possible if the church in which we offer such worship . . . was built upon a man instead of being built upon the son of man – Jesus Christ.  
Not to argue the point at all . . . but to simply express the notion that I accept by faith the interpretation that Matt 16:18 teaches us that Jesus built the New Testament Church NOT upon Peter . . . but

upon HIMSELF . . . and that the phrase “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” was given to us as all the proof we need that Jesus was talking about Himself instead of

Peter as being the foundation upon which the church has been built.

As one of God’s children . . . have you ever wondered what it would have been like “to be alive” during the personal ministry of Jesus . . .

What would it have been like to know Jesus personally – the way that Peter, James, John and the other disciples knew Him?

If I could have known Jesus personally . . . then I would have listened to . . . and I would have obeyed EVERYTHING that He told me to do.

It is true that today we cannot know Jesus in the flesh . . . but we can know Him in Spirit.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

If having known Jesus in the flesh – if He had asked you one day to leave your occupation and “follow” Him in a new way of life as a

“Christian” would you have done it . . . If Jesus had ask you to leave your present religion and to “follow” Him in a NEW religion called

New Testament Worship in a “church” rather than in the Old Testament Temple style of worship according to the tradition of the Jews . . . would you have done it?

In your defense . . . you have never met “face to face” with Jesus in this manner . . . but what I hope you will understand . . . is that you HAVE met “heart to heart” in this manner with the SPIRIT of Jesus Christ. 

The book that we call “The Bible” is commonly called God’s Word.

The basis if my belief “as a Christian” begins with the LITERAL interpretation that The Bible is genuinely “the breath of God” . . . just

as surely as if God Himself had actually spoken “every word” of The Bible to me in a “face to face” encounter.

I totally understand that this particular belief of the verbal inspiration of Gods’ Word cannot in any way be proven to be true . . . it is not

my intent to argue this point at all . . . it Is however my point - to simply say that this is where I have placed my faith . . . and this

“perception” of what (I believe) The Bible really is - has drastically altered (or changed) not only the direction of my life . . . but this one

act of faith has also brought about a change in the direction of my worship.

The point being . . . that if I choose to disregard what The Bible “teaches” that I should do with my life . . . then in reality I have actually

chosen to disregard what God Himself has “taught” me to do . . . I say this because of “the faith” that allows me to accept The Bible as literally being God’s Word.

This concept of “believing” that The Bible is actually God’s Word is essential to a proper understanding of how The Holy Spirit is supposed to function in our individual lives . . . and also in the churches where we worship.

So before we continue with the next lesson . . . I want you to evaluate your "perception" of what we call God's Word (The Bible).

To enter into any meaningful discussion of God or "religion" . . . the individuals in that discussion must BEGIN their discussion by lining up at THE SAME starting point . . . like the beginning of a race.
 If we do not believe what I have described God's Word to be . . . then the remainder of our discussion about the Holy Spirit and The NTC . . . is pointless . . .

If I line up at one starting point . . . and if you begin at a different location (or starting place) in our discussion . . . then we are not running in the same race . . . which means that we cannot be discussing the same thing.

Answer the question about your perception of The Bible - if you accept (through faith) that it is genuinely and literally God's Word . . . THEN and ONLY THEN can we can proceed from the SAME reference point to learn what The Bible (what God) is attempting to teach us.

To learn what God is attempting to teach us with The Bible . . . is the purpose that the The Holy Spirit serves in our lives . . . we will learn more about this in the next lesson . . .
   

Holy Spirit in the church

One of the things which is commonly heard in a "church" is that the worshipers believe that The Holy Spirit of God is "in charge" of their local church.  

In modern language . . . To be in charge refers to an ADMINISTRATOR . . . in this case a Divine (or a heavenly) Administrator (supervisor).

As a church goer . . . do we believe that the preacher or the deacons are the ones who are in charge of our church . . . or does this responsibility belong to God Himself?
 Is the preacher or deacon really any "closer" to God than those that are preached to?

 If Jesus established or organized "the church" . . . then it stands to reason that Jesus (even though He is not physically present among us) should have some "say" in how the church operates.

The intent of this lesson is to look at the The Holy Spirit as The Divine Administrator or the power (who in the physical absence of Jesus) is in charge of leading/guiding or directing the church that Jesus organized before He ascended to heaven after He died on the cross.

To say that we believe that “the Holy Spirit” is the “Divine Administrator” of Jesus Christ in His churches . . . is an indication that we have

much more than a “superficial” knowledge of WHO Jesus really is – WHO The Holy Spirit is AND that we also totally and completely

understand what THE CHURCH IS – what the church DOES – and the real purpose OF the church . . . If we are a babe in Christ . . .

If our view of Jesus “begins and ends” with the fact that He is our savior . . . then we do not know enough about Jesus to say that we

believe that The Holy Spirit is His divine administrator in The New Testament Church . . . If we have been saved – then it is true that

Jesus is our savior . . . but it is also true that Jesus is much MORE than simply our savior –

and if the extent of (or if the sum total) of our “knowledge of Jesus” is that He died for our sins on the cross to provide His blood as

payment to God for our sins . . . then we simply don’t know enough about Jesus to “understand” the real significance of what is often referred to as one of landmarks of our New Testament faith.

The concept of “an administrator” refers to a manager, supervisor or an overseer . . . When we think of our lives as “Christians” – we

often see ourselves as enjoying our freedom to be “independent” . . . Enjoying the freedom that we have to choose our own path in life –and to adopt “the way of worship” that we choose to follow.

The very first step toward Christianity is to move our lives in the same direction that Jesus moved His . . . I understand that Jesus

was a “perfectly sinless” man (He was quite literally God in human form) and that we are born as sinners . . . and that even after we

are saved we continue to sin every day of our lives because salvation does not destroy the sin nature in our lives . . . but salvation DOES

ADD a new nature to our lives . . . And this concept of an overseer . . . carries with it the idea of allowing another to be the LORD of

our life – the master of our life – or the dominate force in our life . . . the point being that if in salvation we INHERIT a new nature

from God which competes with our old nature of sin . . . then there must be a winner in this struggle for dominance within us.

This is where a “meaningful dialog” about “The Holy Spirit” is able to enter our discussion.

In any contest . . . in any struggle . . . it is not long before one of the contestants in this struggle begins to dominate the other . . . 

in a sporting contest – the dominate team is the one who is better prepared – the one who is better equipped – the one who follows the leadership of their coach . . . the same thing is true regarding “the game of life”

Romans 7: 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

Here is Paul's description of “the struggle” between the spirit of God that he inherited in salvation (the new birth) . . . and the spirit of

sin that he inherited when he was born of the flesh as a young baby . . .

As a child of God . . . Paul recognizes a struggle within his heart between what he understands is good and evil . . .

How do you think Paul is able to distinguish (or to see) the difference between the “good” and the “evil” that he speaks of here?

22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

How is it that Paul is able to see – to comprehend – or to understand “the law of God” . . . and be able to COMPARE God’s law

with the law of Satan (the desires of the flesh) which was so effective at hindering him when he tried to turn his life toward God’s law?

23 But I see “another law” (or a second nature) in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

Where did Paul get the understanding that “by birth” the direction that his heart preferred to travel proved to always be contrary to “the law of God” 

24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

Do you begin to see the purpose of The Holy Spirit in the life of Paul . . . Do you begin to see the purpose of The Holy Spirit in OUR life today?

I understand that we began this lesson with the “belief” that The Holy Spirit is the divine administrator for Jesus in His churches  . . .

In the simplest of explanations . . . this simply means that The Holy Spirit is in charge of the Lords’ NTC . . . it means that influence of

The Holy Spirit DOMINATES the direction of the Lords’ NTC . . . the point is . . . if we do not yet understand the meaning of how to

submit to The Holy Spirit in our individual lives – then how can understand what it means to let The Holy Spirit be the “controlling influence” in our churches?

 1Co 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.

As children of God (in our individual lives) we all experience the same type of struggle that Paul wrote about in Romans chapter 7.

And if (in our private lives) we are not successful in allowing “the good” that Paul spoke of to dominate “the evil” that he

mentioned . . . then what hope is there that we will react any differently to that same Spirit of righteousness (in a church setting) than we

have chosen to react in the privacy of our own heart.

End Lesson #1 . . . The Holy Spirit as Divine Administrator for Jesus in the NTC . . .

What do we believe 2?

What do we believe about God and The Bible . . . What do we believe about sin and righteousness . . . What do we believe about

heaven and hell . . . what do we believe about religion and proper worship . . . What do we believe about the concept of being rewarded

for faithfulness and being punished for unfaithfulness . . . For what purpose do we believe that has God revealed Himself to

mankind . . . for what purpose do we believe that “mankind” has been created . . . and what do we believe the purpose of our life is

what do we believe that are we supposed to do with our lives . . . what do we believe that God requires of us . . .

As we consider what we believe about these different things . . . I want to ask each of you a very basic question – and that question is

whether or not “what you believe” has any effect upon the reality (or the real truth) regarding each of these issues . . . in other

words do you believe that you can make something come true – just because you believe it to BE true . . .

When I was really young – I believed that the moon was made of cheese . . . I also had what I believed was a pet mouse that lived in a tree

out in the front yard . . . and I genuinely believed that my “pet mouse” talked to me . . . there was a point in my life when I honestly believed these things to be the absolute truth.

My point is . . . the degree of assurance which I had regarding these things that I believe so completely had no effect at all upon “reality”

If it is raining outside . . . the fact that we believe that it is NOT raining or regardless of how bad we want it not to be raining – these

Thoughts and beliefs will not force the clouds away and bring out the sun . . .

So what we believe is certainly important . . . it is important to us because of how we spend our lives preparing for what we believe . . .

but it is not important at all regarding “the genuine reality” of the object of our belief.  If we believe the wrong thing . . . then  

“reality” is not going to somehow change in order to accommodate our misconceptions . .

Ps 14:1  <<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.>> The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

 To believe that there is no God in heaven . . . to believe that there is no hell beneath nor a day of judgment after death . . . this type of belief will not shorten your stay in hell by a single hour . . . nor 
will such a denial lower the temperature of hell when you arrive there - even one degree . . .

You see “what we believe” or what do NOT believe – is simply not capable of “changing” the reality of death – hell and judgment which many of spend our lives trying to avoid.

What we believe literally defines who we are as a person . . . What we believe controls the direction of our individual lives – as well as the direction of “society” in general . . .

So what do we “really” believe about God and The Bible . . . is “what we believe” based upon sight (what we are able to understand in our mind) or is what we believe based only upon

Faith (which refers to what we accept in our heart in spite of our lack of understanding)

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

This verse tells us that “without faith” it is impossible to please God . . . we should also understand that without faith it is likewise impossible to “know” or to recognize God.

Gen 1: 1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

God never argues the point of His eternal existence . . . He simply reveals to us (without any proof to back up His claim) that there has

never been a point in history when He did not exist . . . this is the meaning of the phrase “in the beginning God . . .”

God also reveals to us (to mankind) that He is the creator or the originator of all things . . . John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.

Once again – throughout The Bible – God NEVER attempts to argue His existence or to offer any type of proof regarding The Truth

that He declares in His Word . . . God simply states “the fact” that He existed “in the beginning” and the He is the creator of everything . . .

Romans 1: 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

The point here is that man who denies the existence of God has no excuse . . . the invisible things of him refer to the physical

laws of nature that God put into place for the purpose of maintaining order in His creation . . . gravity always works . . . water always runs down hill . . . the compass always points to the North . . . Summer always follows Winter . . .

John 1:3 tells us plainly – that ALL things were made (created) by God . . . and that nothing has been created without God.

And Romans 1:20 simply tells us that the concept of a divine creator is totally obvious to anyone with eyes to see the wonders of universe . . .

So when we consider “what we believe” . . . Is God real and did He literally “speak” creation into existence . . . is the very first “test” of our faith.

1Jo 4:1 Beloved, believe not EVERY spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

As we approach this concept of “what we believe” about things we will find that we must choose between one of two different

points of view . . . And these opposing points of view are determined by one of the following: 

“What we believe” about God is either determined by things that we can perceive – grasp and comprehend . . . or “what we believe” is guided by things which are beyond our sight – and outside of our ability to understand.

Matt 6: 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

What this scripture is telling us – is that it is not possible to walk by faith while we are walking by sight . . . this is actually telling us the

obvious . . . it is not possible to walk with a blindfold covering our eyes – while we are walking without a blindfold to cover our eyes.

To have only one eye closed does not mean that we cannot see . . . we have no need of faith when we see with only one eye . . . but we

only need faith when we can see with NEITHER eye . . . it is not possible to accept the concept of God based upon the power of  human reasoning . . . while at the same time

“believing” in God purely by faith . . . often times we want to close only one eye and then make the claim that we are walking by faith . .

When in fact the only reason that we believe in God at all . . . is because of what we are able to understand about Him in our mind rather than because we have chosen to accept Him in our heart.  

What do we believe 1?

What do we believe . . . 

Our belief about “the present” is why we have chosen to be where we are today (in church or outside of church) – and “what we believe” about 

tomorrow determines the direction that our lives will take toward the future of all of our tomorrows . . .

When we talk about “religion” we could name a variety of things regarding “what we believe” about our present life – as well as

what we believe about “the next life” (if in fact we do believe that there IS a next life).

Now the basic reason that “religion” even exists is because of what men BELIEVE happens to them when they die . . . and

based upon what WE BELIEVE “happens” to us “after we die” – we have “bought in” (or subscribed) to a particular type of religion.

In the book of Job 14: 14 we read . . .

Job 14:14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

So the universal “question of life” really doesn’t deal with the present life . . . but it is actually a question about death and what occurs during the NEXT life.

What a man “believes” about the present life is important . . . but what he believes about the NEXT life is even MORE important.

Our beliefs about "what comes next" . . . will determine the direction of our lives and where we are “today” . . . what we believe about eternity is responsible for what we believe about "today" . . . if there is no eternity – 

then the only purpose of “today” is to find pleasure . . . if however we will live in eternity – then the purpose of today is to PREPARE for that life in eternity.

“What we believe” about “the next life” has quite literally motivated each of us to find a religion which promises to take care of us in the next life . . . and according to the internet –

there are about 4200 different religions that exist throughout the world . . . and each one of these religions promise “comfort” to the

believer after they die . . . what this means is that there are a number of different beliefs about what really happens to us when we die

which give rise to about 4200 different “systems of teachings” (called religion) each of which promote HOW TO avoid

“unpleasant” circumstances which are believed to exist after death – as well as teachings about HOW TO achieve “pleasant” circumstances which are believed to exist after death.

So knowing that we are alive – and possessing a belief in this life about “what happens” AFTER this life – we should realize that the

most basic purpose of “religion” is to provide guidance in this life – about HOW TO succeed in the next life. 

So from this perspective “Religion” is basically a road map . . . or a HOW TO BOOK regarding how to succeed in eternity. 

If there are 4200 road maps describing the path which leads “to eternity” the odds of picking “the right” map by just choosing one at

random are 1/4200 or about .0002% chance of following the right path and finding peace in eternity. 

These are not good odds at all . . . but if this were the best that we could do . . . then knowing that there have been an estimated

110 billion people that have ever lived on planet Earth – means that only about 26 million people "throughout all history" have found “the right” 

religion . . . and have any chance at all to find peace with God in eternity . . . but suppose . . . that ALL religions were pointing in the wrong direction . .

this would mean that following ANY type of religion would give us a ZERO% chance of finding peace in eternity . . . which if this were true - it would 

basically mean that (as far as the next life and eternity were concerned) that the entire human race was 100% guaranteed

to fail in their search for a pleasant experience in eternity.  God has tried to tell us this very thing in scriptures like . . .

Ro 3: 23 For ALL HAVE SINNED, and come SHORT of the glory of God;

Ec 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

Ro 3:10 As it is written, There is NONE righteous, no, not one:

If we do the math about our chance of finding “the right” religion . . . out of the estimated 7 billion people that are alive today – only 1.6 million

of them have a chance to go to heaven . . . but according the The Bible . . . 100% of the human population is destined for hell.

An example of what we are talking about can be seen in what is called the shell game . . .

this is when a pea is hidden under one of three different shells . . . all you have to do is to keep your eye on the shell that contains the pea . . .

The objective of this game is to test your eyes to see if they can track fast enough. This game involves fast thinking and good eyesight.

All you have to do is to place your bet, then keep your eye on the small black ball and then figure out which shell it is in after the shells are shuffled.

The point is . . . if the pea has been removed so that it is not under ANY of the shells – then instead of having a 1/3 chance of getting the

prize . . . then no matter how good your eyes are – no matter how fast you think . . . when you place your bet - you have a ZERO% of winning . . .

All men have sinned and come short of the glory of God . . . For those of us who are depending upon religion to keep us safe in

eternity . . . Satan has drawn us into a shell game . . . but he has secretly removed the pea . . . no matter how good you live – no

matter what religion you choose - you cannot win because there is no pea under ANY of the shells . . . likewise in regard to eternity . . .

There is no religion that is capable of leading even the .0002% who would be lucky enough to find it – to a place of peace with God in eternity.  

So it is time for each of us to consider “what we believe” about heaven – what we believe about hell – what we believe about eternity.

And what we believe about the promises that over 4200 different religions make to us regarding HOW TO find a pleasant experience in “eternity” after death.

As we come to a close in this lesson . . . do the math for yourself . . . if you are depending upon religion to save you . . . the odds are

not good at all . . . in fact (if you would be honest about it) you really don’t stand any chance at all . . .

So what do you plan to do about eternity . . . Do you understand that “Christianity” – Jesus and the cross – faith and repentance . . . are not simply things that define another religion

Religion is defined as . . .  commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance.

Religion is what-ever “a man” happens to believe . . . if a man believes the wrong thing – then that man has “the wrong” religion . . .

Compare this concept of “religion” with “The Truth” . . .

The Truth is not something that is defined by mankind . . . in fact The Truth is not something that is dependent upon man in any way at all . . .The Truth begins with GOD . . . in fact God is TRUTH.

So “what we believe” as a man will have no effect at all upon “The Truth” . . . in other words something will not “be true” just because we WANT IT to be true . . .

What the “majority believes” has no bearing on “The Truth” either . . .

If every single person that had ever been born "believed with all of their heart" that the pea was under the middle shell . . . this would not change 

the truth . . . which is that there is no pea at all . . . the “bet” would be lost – and the entire human race would perish because they chose “the wrong” religion.

Consider some of the things that we have always heard . . . it doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are sincere . . . let’s

adapt this to fit our example . . . it doesn’t matter which shell you believe the pea is under – as long as you are sincere . . .

The Truth that is over looked in this philosophy is that it really doesn’t matter which shell you believe the pea is under at all . . . because

there IS NO PEA under any of them . . . You see RELIGION is not the answer to the question of life . . . JESUS is . . . 

The devil “cheats” – he has the whole world fighting over “religion” (where the pea is located) . . . when the truth is – there is no pea at all.

Ye shall not surely die . . . don’t worry about eternity – concentrate on your present life . . .

So what we believe about GOD and JESUS are more important than any other belief . . . because if there is no God then “Christianity”

is just another “religion” . . . and the more religions we can experience during life – then the better our odds . . .