Sorry that we didn’t get back to you right away on this. The request got buried in a lot of other work.

 

 

It’s a bit difficult to respond to every point in the response letter because the letter writer’s questions seem to not address the topic of our responsibilities as stewards and students of God’s truth. The questions actually seem to be aimed at attacking the belief that faith AND works are required of a Christian. It seems to attack the belief that the 10 commandments were NOT nailed to the cross and that Christ came to amplify the law, not to do away with it.

 

It is my feeling that the writer needs basic “milk” of the word before attacking the belief that we are indeed responsible to do a work with the knowledge that we have been given.

 

Again, thank you Laura for the work you are doing. Love Ruth

 

Thank you Ruth, we are in agreement with your above statement.

 

 

My initial disagreement is with the "by extension" in the following passage: "The commission given to the disciples and, "by extension," to all whom the Sovereign Father calls to become a part of his earthly family of king-priests has the following two basic parts:"

 

The flaw in the logic and reasoning of this article is the assumption that we are to do the disciples commission.

 

I am not saying we do not have a work to do in "working out our own salvation with fear and trembling".

 

But Christ has never given me the Apostles work "by extension".

 

So are you saying that if someone wanted to be taught what Christ’s way of life is, that you would not help them with that because it is not your job or your responsibility? Be careful how you answer that, because if you say you won’t help them because it isn’t your job or your responsibility then you aren’t much of a Christian and if you say that you will help them, then not only are you doing a work, but it is “by extension”.

 

Our calling is personal, our gift of the earnest of the Spirit is tailored and special for each of us, we are individual members of the body, all ordained priests now, 1 Pet 2:9.

 

Our discipleship is not by the Old Covenant commands but by the new way of life of the Spirit.

 

Secondly in: "The Early Church", "The Father's children are to learn both the letter and the Spirit of the law."

 

A misconception under the New Covenant the saints were not required to learn the law at all, that is what Paul contended with the judaizers and those saints who were formerly Pharisees.

 

Your above statements are really good reasons why you personally should actually teach no one else “by extension” or other wise. Paul taught the law of God to God’s people personally and all of God’s people are required to know and keep the Law of God. Read Psalm 132:9. You can find the definition of righteousness in Psalm 119:172.

 

Vic Williams writes:

For example Rahab one of the faithful of Hebrews 11, never knew the law at all.

 

Joshua 6:25 “And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father’s household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.” This scripture shows that Rabab gave up harlotry to dwell with Israel as a grafted in Israelite, similar to Ruth in the Book of Ruth. By dwelling with Israel she became one of them in every way.

 

Hebrews 11:31 “By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.” This verse shows Rahab believed and did as God wanted her to do and that she did not perish with those who believed not. Rahab did keep the law of God or there is no way she would have been listed in Hebrews as one of the faithful.

 

Hebrews 11:13 “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” To have faith in God is to do everything that God tells us to do. Rahab kept the law of God and anyone who has faith in God will be keeping God’s Law also.

 

Vic Williams writes:

"Organizational Structure", A misconception not an hierarchal structure one body, but a body whose members have job descriptions, not titles or authority, only Christ has pre-eminence, no one member is over another in anything.

 

Even the verses quoted 1 Cor 12:27-31 prove that these are gifts not titles. Please heed the instruction of v31... but earnestly desire the best gift.

 

God’s church does have organization. Christ is the head of the church which does show a hierarchal structure. He is the head, the leader and yet we are all brethren. We as brethren are not to Lord it over each other, and the gifts are job descriptions that each person with in the Body of Christ is given to do a work with. So each of us in the Body of Christ do have a work to do according to our gifts.

 

Vic Williams writes:

What the best gift, LOVE the whole of Chapter 13 shows the greatest gift - LOVE.

 

1 John 5:2 “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.” One does not even know what love is until or unless they are keeping the commandments (Law) of God. Love is not a gift, love is something you learn and do by keeping the Law of God. Love is not listed as a gift.

 

Vic Williams writes:

"The Early Church and Today." "Improve your chances to participate in the first resurrection and enter the Kingdom of God."

 

A flawed concept, we are in the body of Christ NOW.

 

While we can still "abort" from that body Heb 6 and Heb 10:26-30, God will never forsake or leave us.

 

Again I say that much in the article is well written, but as the rest of the article is colored by these misconceptions some of the impact is lost.

 

If these points could be addressed a good article could be made better. Vic

 

In our opinion the one who has misconceptions about a lot of things is you Vic Williams. Please we encourage you to study your Bible to clear up some of the misconceptions you seem to have in regard to this subject.

 

Those who are in or part of the body of Christ (Psalm 15:1-2) are those individuals who keep the commandments and testimonies of Jesus Christ. All those that teach against God’s Commandments are imposters (weeds) who claim discipleship with Christ but are in actual fact Satan’s agents teaching contrary to and against God’s laws (1 John 3:10) saying they were nailed to the cross. See also: Dan. 12:3 and Matt. 5:10.