We and us
I see people quoting Paul "toward us"[1] Christ died "for us"[2].
The kingdom was appointed to the apostles and they were given instructions to not be like the governments of the other nations who exercise authority. The kingdom was not a place but it was a way to live in the world but not of it. And the early followers and believers knew that to follow The Way the kingdom had to be within[3] their hearts and minds.
We would have to assume that the apostles and the early Church had the kingdom within them. Why do we not see the Modern Christians doing things The Way the early Christians did them.
If the Modern Christians is not doing what the early Church did and actually often does things the early Church refused to do then we should be able to assume that the Modern Christian does not qualify as the we and us mentioned by Paul.
And it is very possible that Christ is not in them but they are under strong delusion.
What makes people think they are a part of that "us" that were saved?
We know that Christ died that we might be saved.[4]
Everyone knows that we must repent.
But what are the fruits of repentance?
What makes a person the "us " and "we" that Paul spoke of and to?
They all were believers that they had faith but, they did not really have faith because of what they said.
They could be lying to themselves and to us. They could be self deceived.
They could think they are Christians and claim to be doing what Christ said but actually do not even know him.
We know that faith without works is dead so the question remains unanswered.
What is the evidence of faith?
We know you are not saved by your works because you cannot earn a right where God owes you anything. But this has always been true. God has always known that no one can keep the law unless it was written in their hearts and minds by Him. Everything done for Abraham,[5] Noah,[6] or Israel[7] was done by grace.
Even the prodigal son had to head back to his Fathers house with the intent of being a servant before his Father could forgive him. The prodigal son would not have been forgiven by his Father if he did not change to be serving The Way of his father.
John the Baptist said repent and seek the kingdom. He asked, "Was it not told to us from the beginning?" Even in Ezekiel 18:25-32 "when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive."
Are you really the brethren who doeth that, like to whom Paul originally wrote to?
Where is the evidence of repentance?
Where is the evidence of your faith?
The church lost "the way" when it abandoned the practice of "pure Religion" while claiming to be the Church established by Christ. The people developed an appetite for the "wages of unrighteousness" from "public religion" in the days of Constantine. Those new Christians that often failed to fully repent degenerated the moral character of society with the masses of "instant christians".
That new religion of the emperor introduced a new faith with his apostate church replacing the doctrine of Jesus with the "doctrines of men", the Holy Spirit with emotion, the truth with the speaking of "great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage."[8]
They had a form of godliness but denied the power thereof.
Where is your religion
- Where do you find the Daily ministration of the early Church, the Pure Religion of James and the Corban of Jesus?
- Are you following The Blessed Strategy of Christ like the Early Christians?
- Are you following The Way through Love of one another or the way of the world and the Fathers of the earth?
- Do you seek the benefits of bankrupt nations, or do you forgive and seek the benefits of Christ's appointed Kingdom?
- Do you only gather for the comfort it gives you, or do you gather to benefit others?
- Christ came to serve, not be served. Do you desire to be served, or are you coming in His name and according to His character to serve others?
If we desire His Grace but we only love those who love us, then there is no Grace because it is clear we do not really believe in Him.
If we do not Repent of our Covetous Practices and are not diligently gathering together in Free Assemblies of Love for all to provide for one another in Charity according to the Perfect law of liberty then we have nothing according to Paul. According to Luke 6:32 if we only love those who love us there is no "Grace". Christ also said if you do not Forgive neither will the Father forgive you.[9]
It is not enough to hate the deeds of the workers of iniquity, but we must return to Thy first love and thy first work. To break the yoke, we need to return to the ways of righteousness spoken of in Isaiah 58 which are the ways of Christ and the early Church. And His yoke is light for it is carried by our love of one another.
Abraham, Moses, John the Baptist and Christ all created Networks of charity to care for the true needy of society without force which is how they were able to help set people free. Do you gather with His Church to attend to the Weightier matters as Christ said?
- Are you gathering in a Network of righteousness?
- Do you come to love others or just be loved?
- Are your Congregations' gatherings fruitful enough so that no one has to pray to Benefactors who exercise authority one over the other?
- Does anyone in your Free Assemblies have to apply to the Fathers of the earth, or seek their many benefits?
Early Christians found themselves in conflict with these systems of social welfare because they made the word of God to none effect. Christians had repented of their covetous nature when they received the Baptism of Christ. They heard and became Doers of the word not hearers only.
Remember Proverbs 12:24, "The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the Slothful shall be under Tribute."
We know that liberty under God is not for the covetous who are Biting one another but it is also not for the slothful. If we are not congregating together in free assemblies bound together in a broad network by faith, hope, and charity alone according to the perfect law of liberty then we are not truly seeking the Kingdom of God nor His righteousness.
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Footnotes
- ↑ Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Ephesians 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 1 John 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
- ↑ Romans 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 1 Corinthians 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 2 Corinthians 1:11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf. 2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. Colossians 4:3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: 1 Thessalonians 5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 1 Thessalonians 5:25 Brethren, pray for us. 2 Thessalonians 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Hebrews 6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Hebrews 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Hebrews 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; Hebrews 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. Hebrews 13:18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. 1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 1 Peter 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
- ↑ Luke 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
- ↑ John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
- John 5:34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
- Romans 10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
- ↑ Romans 4:16 Therefore [it is] of faith, that [it might be] by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
- ↑ Genesis 6:8 ¶ But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
- ↑ Genesis 47:29 And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt: Jeremiah 31:2 Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.
- ↑ 5622 ὠφέλεια opheleia [o-fel’-i-ah] from a derivative of the base of 5624 profitable; n f; AV-profit 1, advantage 1; 2
- 1) usefulness, advantage, profit
- ↑ Matthew 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Mark 11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.