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September 2nd - Present Arms!
Alright, open your bibles to the table of contents. You'll notice the Bible is broke down into two sections - the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Bible is made up of 66 different books written by 27 different writers over a period of about 2500 years all dealing with the same subject - God and his relationship with his prize creation (man). Lady's and Gentleman, when you have reached a proper understanding of your sword, there will not be one single contradiction in the whole Bible. Now, if that doesn't prove this Bible to be a work of God then obviously you have not considered how impossible a task that is. Second Timothy 3:16 says "all scripture is given by the inspiration of God.” Therefore, all of the Bible is worth our reading. The Bible itself refers to them as the first covenant and the second covenant Heb.8:7. The Old Testament is refered to throughout the Bible as the Law, the Law of Moses, the Law of Bondage, ,The Tablet of Stone, The Ten Commandments. On the other hand, the New Testament is also referred to as the Gospel, Perfect Law of Liberty, The Faith , the Doctrine of Christ. Knowing the terms the Bible uses is essential to proper understanding. For example, Paul writing to the Galatians emphasizes that we are not justified by works of the law and many people think then we don't have to keep the teachings of Christ because Paul went on to say we are justified by faith.
Paul explains himself in Gal.3:22-29. You see, the Jews converted some, but for the biggest part, people were born physically into the Jewish nation. Where today, all can come to Christ through the operation of faith that leads us to follow Christ. You did notice in your reading of Gal.3:22-27 that the old law was to bring us to the point of the gospel and that we are no longer under the law but that faith in Christ led people to become Christians by being baptized into Christ. The term into Christ is used just twice in the bible. You just read one of them, the other if want to read it is Rm.6:3-4 notice were the new life is.
The Old Testament's first five books is the history of mankind up to the giving of the Law of Moses. God's law sets apart his people and that's the definition of Holy. Holy simply means set apart. Leviticus means law. The Book of Exodus starts us off with 10 Commandments. The Book of Numbers has some law in it and the Book Deuteronomy is three farewell speeches covering and reminding the Jews of the law they have been given and the God who they serve.
After the first five books, we see God interacting with his people in accordance with the law. Study of these books help us understand our God and to build our faith in Christ as we see his story fulfill the prophecy's of old. But we are not under the law, nor should we seek justification under the guidelines of the old law. Gal. 5:4 says that those New Testament Christians had fallen from grace by doing such. Yet, I will teach from the Old Testament often at first, so that you can get an understanding about the God we serve.
The New Testament can be broke down similarly. The first four books contain the laws of Christ, but it is the rest of the New Testament that shows us how they are supposed to work. As surely as Christ is the theme of the Bible and there is two covenants, Acts 2nd Chapter is the pivot point of the Bible. Christ came and taught his will in the first four books. In John 16:12, Jesus said there was more but, as yet they were not able to handle it. His will would not be placed into effect until he died just like your will -Heb.9:15-17 "And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions, under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance for where there is a testament there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives." The Church came into being in Acts 2nd Chapter and according to Eph. 3:10-11 the Church was the eternal purpose accomplished in Christ Jesus. More next week on the proper use of your sword
ORDER-ARMS Chaplain Tex
Aug 19th - Happy Birthday Cobb 07
General Cobb has joined the elite group of the Corps that is 52. General Lightning spearheads this group of old men. I'll always try with this column to keep us in touch with one another. So, if you have news you want me to share, someone or something to pray about, give me a holler at 936-488-1495. Anytime - day or night. That's both the preacher and your friend talking. Fellows I've been preaching on a regular basis since 1988. As we arrive in S.C., I will have just put in my 20th year which began in March of ‘88. It's been my heart's desire for all those years to share with you, not only the change Christ has made in my life, but the knowledge I've gained of him and eternal life. My objective is to share with you my knowledge of spiritual matters, not that I might be right and someone else wrong, but that you would have full knowledge of all things. It would be heart breaking on that Day of Judgment to look across the way and some close friend look at me and say “Why didn't you tell me Tex?”
John 8:32 Jesus said "You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."
That's my goal - Now the truth can hurt - It can call for changes - It can make you aware of more danger than anyone around you sees and it will give you responsibilities. It can cut you out of some fun. Therefore, how you handle the truth is everything.
Attitude will make a difference. If someone looks at God's laws as a set of prison walls, he or she will always look for a way to escape and resent any attempt to enforce such laws or teachings in one's life. On the other hand, if one looks at such laws as the walls of a mighty Fort to protect them from danger such as was built during the frontier days, then such laws bring forth peace of mind and are not only a welcome sight, but something worth maintaining and passing on to the next generation.
Youth generally looks at such laws as prison walls. I did, but now I see them for the mighty Fort they are. Forts that protect life and everything worth having. I hope that as I write articles for the corps, that you will open your bibles read and examine for yourself. Should your personal minister wish to discuss any differences in what we teach, I would gladly talk to him also. Roman 1:16 “For I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that Believeth to the Jew first and also to the Greek" AMEN
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST SERVANT AND YOURS CHAPLAIN TEX | |||||||||||||
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