Comfort One Another With These Words

 

Comfort One Another with These Words

 

I Thessalonians 4:18

 

 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

 

The Holy Ghost moved the prophet Isaiah to exhort that those who speak to the people of God should comfort them, saying: “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins” (Isaiah 40:1-2). And again the prophet saith: “For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people. My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished. Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation” (Isaiah 51:3-8).

 

The inspired apostle Paul delivered these words for the comfort of the children of God: “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ” (II Corinthians 1:3-5). The Psalmist saith: “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever” (Psalm 23:1-6).

 

Our Great High Priest, the Substitute and Surety of the people of God and the Mediator of the everlasting covenant of grace has promised: “..I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also” (John 14:16-19).

 

The promised comforter (Parakletos: An intercessor, counselor- advocate, comforter: Strong’s Greek Dictionary) that is the Holy Ghost “helpeth our infirmities”, as it is written: “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself (Himself: writer) maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God’ (Romans 8:26-27). Many times the people of God are bewildered, confused and troubled by the events and circumstances that surround them and by the same things that involve their loved ones. In these times the Comforter fulfills His office by helping His people through such times in ways that He alone is sufficient to provide.

 

First the Comforter helpeth our infirmities by teaching the children of God by way of remembrance, as it is written: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26). Furthermore the children of God are taught that the ways of our Father are not to be analyzed by creature intellect. We do not understand our own ways for our goings are “of the LORD”, as it is written: “Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way” (Proverbs 20:24)? And the steps of those who are justified by the blood of Christ “are ordered by the LORD”, as it is written: “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way” (Psalm 37:23).

 

Our Father’s ways are past finding out, as it is written: “Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea. Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south. Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number. Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not” (Job 9:8-11). And the Apostle Paul saith ”O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out” (Romans 11:33)! Isaiah the prophet saith: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands” (Isaiah 55:8-12).

 

Although the children of God do not understand the way of our Father as we would like, still it is given to us to believe on Him (Philippians 1:29) and to trust Him with all our heart, as it is written: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine” (Proverbs 3:5-10). We do not know the course of our paths, but we know who holds us in His hand and will not let us go. In whatsoever comes to pass we will be wise to trust in the LORD our God and hope in His mercies. We know that: “The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand” (John 3:35), “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:18-20).

 

Our Lord Jesus said and the Holy Spirit brings to our remembrances the following words of comfort: “My sheep hear my voice, (which means, my sheep believe my word: writer) and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one” (John 10:27-30).

 

Second the comforter will testify of God’s Christ, our Lord Jesus, as it is written: “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me” (John 15:26). The Holy Spirit teaches the doctrine of Christ by the preaching of the gospel of Christ, as it is written: “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds” (II John 9-11). And it is written: “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God” (I Corinthians 1:21-24). Again it is written: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:13-17)

 

“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ” (Ephesians 4:3-7). If any man comes with another doctrine or “another Jesus” (II Corinthians 11:4) or “another gospel” (Galatians 1:6) the children of God are instructed to “receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed”. Such actions are not taken in a spirit of malice; but in accordance with the command of Him who is given as the leader and commander of the people of God, as it is written: “Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people” (Isaiah 55:4).

 

 

Third the Holy Spirit is given because Christ Jesus is gone away and departed, as it is written: “ Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you” (John 16:7). Our Lord Jesus departed because the sins of all the elect of all ages were imputed to Him, that is: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). All men have gone astray in Adam in his transgression as covenant head of all natural men. That is, considered as sons of Adam, men in the flesh and under the law of God as such have all turned to our own way. When Christ Jesus departed by way of the cross He finished the work the Father had given Him (John 17:4), that is to: “finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy” (Daniel 9:24). In His departure Christ Jesus justified His people by His blood, as it is written: “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him” (Romans 5:9) and He saved His people from their sins, as it is written: “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

 

In spite of our fall in Adam which is against us, God in His everlasting love and faithfulness toward the elect had claimed us as His portion from the beginning, as it is written: “For the LORD'S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance” (Deuteronomy 32:9). The Father had purposed within Himself to save His elect in our Lord Jesus Christ, as it is written: “Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end” (Isaiah 45:17) and again: “Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory” (Isaiah 45:24-25). The Father has determined to save His people in the Lord Jesus Christ, as it is written: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself” (Ephesians 1:3-9). Christ Jesus was sentenced to death and crucified because God would justify His elect by the blood shedding and death of His own well beloved Son, as it is written: “He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand” (Isaiah 53:8-10).

 

Christ Jesus departed this life because God would bring many sons to glory by Him, as it is written: “For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me” (Hebrews 2:10-13). These many sons are sanctified by the Father in the eternal election of grace, and they are the brethren of the Lord Jesus and the children which God has given to Him before the world was created. All these children, (sanctified ones and brethren of Christ), are those to whom it is given to believe on the name of Christ as their whole salvation and they are perfected forever in Him, as it is written: “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14).

 

AJ Ison

 

See the writer’s blog at www.hebrews915.blogspot.com hear the true cospel preached at www.13thstbaptist.org webcasting live at listed service times.

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Things Are For Your Sakes

 

All Things are for Your Sakes

 

II Corinthians 4:15

 

For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

 

 

“For all things are for your sakes” In this verse the Apostle is speaking to believers who have the law of Christ written on their hearts by the Spirit of the living God.  “Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart” (II Corinthians 3:3). The writing of the Spirit of the living God in the fleshy tables of the hearts of the people of God prove them to be the true children of God. The doctrine of Christ is that which the Holy Ghost writes in those fleshy tables: as it is written: “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds” (II John 9-11).

 

“All things are for your sakes” All things in realms of creation, providence and grace have their origin in the will of God for the bringing forth of those who are the children of God, as it is written: “ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified” (Romans 8:28-30). Those to whom it is given to love God do so because He first loved them, as the apostle John has written: “We love him, because he first loved us” (I John 4:19). The apostle Paul has declared these words by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost: “..For all things are yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; and ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's” (I Corinthians 3:21-23). And the same Apostle has written: “..If God be for us, who can be against us? 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? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 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. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:31-39).

 

“For all things are for your sakes” The salvation of God’s elect did not begin in the purpose of the elect to be saved; but it began in the purpose of God to save those whom He had loved with an everlasting love and these are the many sons that Christ Jesus was appointed to bring to final glory, as it is written: “For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings” (Hebrews 2:10). The scriptures make it very clear that those who are saved, are saved in Christ, as it is written: “At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you” (John 14:20). Christ Jesus the Head of the body is joined to His body the church, and these being joined together are one spirit, as it is written: “But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit” (I Corinthians 6:17). Even the bodies of the saints, including all the members of our bodies are “the members of Christ”, as it is written: “Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid” (I Corinthians 6:15). The body of Christ is one body and that body is joined to the Head even Christ and the body has many members, as it is written: “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many” (I Corinthians 12:12-14). Each individual member of the body of Christ is a member in particular, with its own function and place in the body, as it is written: “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular” (I Corinthians 12:27). Each member in particular is called and chosen, and faithful, as it is written: “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:14).

 

Christ Jesus is the eternal, visible and knowable expression of all that God is in His Trinity of Persons, as our Lord said: “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30). Our Lord Jesus Christ: “..is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him” (Colossians 1:15-16). And: “..in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power” (Colossians 2:9). And the things that we may know of God are revealed to us in Jesus Christ, as it is written: “ For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (II Corinthians 4:6). Our Lord said to His disciples: “If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. “Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father” (John 14:7-9)?

 

“That the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God”.  In our Lord’s conversation with the woman of Sychar our Lord Jesus said: “Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:21-24). The Father seeketh such to worship Him as do worship Him in spirit and in truth. The Father seeketh such to worship Him as worship through the doctrine and Spirit of Jesus Christ which are both in them who are indwelt by the Spirit of truth. The Father seeketh perfect worship from those who He has called into one body of Christ. However in this life the people of God are not capable of that worship because of the principle of indwelling sin. That indwelling principle continually invades their thoughts and hinders them from that perfect adoration, praise and expression of love that is worthy of the glory of the Majesty of our God. Notwithstanding, God has ordained perfect worship of the Majesty of His Glory. That is when the troubles of indwelling sin will have been eradicated by the reception of our “house which are from heaven”, as it is written: “For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven” (II Corinthians 5:2).

 

Furthermore, at “the resurrection of the just” (Luke 14:14), our “vile bodies” which have the indwelling principle of sin, shall be changed, as it is written: “Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself” (Philippians 3:21). In that day those who are predestinated to be conformed to the image of Christ will be perfectly conformed to the image of Christ and in that glorified body the saints of God will be able to worship God in a manner worthy of His Majesty. In the glorified body there will be no indwelling remnant of sin, only the perfect holiness of Jesus Christ, for: “..of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (I Corinthians 1:30). “Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit” (II Corinthians 5:5). And the apostle has declared: “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (I Corinthians 15:50-58).

 

AJ Ison

 

See the writer’s blog at www.hebrews915.blogspot.com hear the true gospel preached at www.13thstbaptist.org webcasting live at listed service times.