Text for Menu-Driven Bible Study given 26 August 2016  See Menu     Menu-Driven Bible Study Homepage

Topics Discussed:

Item 13 - The 3 Basic & Essential Rules for Every Christian [at the beginning of the audio]
Item 56 - Kingdom of God: Authority vs. Character [begins at 5:05 of the audio]
Item 80 - Who is Our Mission Field? [begins at 13:15 of the audio]
Item 14 - Achieving Peace and Contentment [begins at 36:07 of the audio]
Item 35 - Newly Revealed Knowledge - What is It? [begins at 53:52 of the audio]
Item 08 - Legalism [begins at 70:48 of the audio]
 

The 3 Basic and Essential rules for every Christian and every situation---every word, every thought, every action and every deed.

1) What does the Word of God say?
2) What would Christ do?
3) Everything we do as Christians should be done as if under the scrutiny of Christ (Colossians 3:17).

These three rules cover EVERYTHING.

Colossians 3:17
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

---How will God rule Earth for the 1,000 years?
---How will He rule the firstfruits?
---How will God rule the Kingdom after the 1,000 years & White Throne Judgment?

Clearly Christ will rule the physical nations with a rod of iron for the 1,000 years and during the White Throne Judgment:

Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.–Psalms 2:9

And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.–Rev  2:27

And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.–Rev 12:5

And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.–Rev 19:15

However, during this time, the firstfruits, now spirit beings will be ruled by their own character.  There will be no need for God to rule spirit beings with a rod of iron, though he clearly remains the Supreme Ruler for all eternity.

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.–Rev 5:10

But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. –Dan 7:18

And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. –Dan 7:27

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. –Rev 20:6

Rather than having to be ruled, we will rule by virtue of being like Christ.  The white linen we wear IS Christ.

And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. –Rev 19:8

Our doctrine and constitution says much to our mission of spreading the gospel.  It says very little regarding to whom we are spreading it.  Who is our mission field?  What groups does God have us targeting?  What is our intention for each group?  What response are we hoping for with each group?

This question came in from a member today.  Very interesting subject.  Our doctrine and constitution speak much to our missions of spreading the gospel and feeding the flock, but almost nothing is said specific to our mission field. 

A mission field is an identification of the people to which we are focusing our gospel message.  Not much has been said on this subject in the past. 

Garner Ted Armstrong did make a specific statement as to who is not in our mission field.  None of our efforts are directed at any of the groups who came out of the apostasy of the mother church, the Worldwide Church of God. 

Now to who is in our mission field.

Simple answer:  Our mission field is whomever God wants it to be for whatever reasons and there are more than one.

Explanation:  God defines the mission field.  Some 73 years of experience have shown us that there are a number of groups in the overall mission field.  Each is hearing the gospel for different reasons that all have to do with Godly Calling. 

Keep in mind that God is ultimately calling everyone who has ever lived to the Salvation Process.  The preparation He does prior to the actual calling can cover any number of years and includes the concept of an individual hearing the gospel now for a calling to the Salvation Process in the Second Resurrection.

Let us look at these groups:

1] The Israel Group.  The nations of Israel [US, Canada, UK, Australia, etc.].  Mission is to imprint the gospel message on their minds for later use in the Second Resurrection.

2] The Greater World Group:  Other nations and individuals around the World.  Mission is to imprint the gospel message on their minds for later use in the Second Resurrection.

3] The Firstfruit Group:  All those God is calling now [1934-to the Great Tribulation when gospel spreading by church ends].  Mission is to call them to the Salvation Process.  The second commission of feeding the flock serves this group.

4] The Co-Worker Group:  All those being moved to be regular supporters of the Work of God.  Mission is to call them to this service.  These individuals may be called to firstfruit status or living into the millennium where they will enter Salvation Process or to the Second Resurrection.  Experience does not show large numbers from this group becoming firstfruits now.

5] The 144,000 and Great Multitude Group:  Individuals of Israel in the 144,000 and both Israel and Gentile individuals in the great multitude.  Mission is to imprint the gospel message on their minds for a specific calling to firstfruit status after the Great Tribulation and during the Heavenly Signs and just before the return of Christ.

6] The Millennium Group:  Both Jews and Gentiles.  These are those who will live physically into the millennium where Jesus will reign.  My guess is that we are talking about 770 million people, of which about 12 million will be from the US [my estimates based on end time prophecies].  Suspect most of these will hear the gospel from the two witnesses and/or the angels that preach the gospel in the end time.  Clearly some are getting it now.

The church cannot determine whom God is going to call.

We cannot determine numbers, timing or to which group they will be called.    That is, we cannot define whom we are going after.  We cannot point to any individual and make a distinction as to which group he or she resides. 

Our mission is to spread the gospel where God gives the means and direction.  He opens all the doors and about all we know for sure is that we are to go through them as He directs.  He does this by driving circumstances.  The church generally never sees the miraculous workings of Godly Calling.  What we see are the products of that calling.
God chooses all individuals and all nations to each group according to His perfect will.  We do not define any of these.  There is no real way for us to know who they are. 

We can't see brains being imprinted with the gospel.  We plant seeds and move on and never really see what comes from those seeds, save individuals of the third and fourth groups that specifically interact with the ICG, and even then we do not know for sure according to our diagram of the make-up of churches. 

Not everyone attending Sabbath services is necessarily called or converted.

God gives us little, if any, information regarding His plans or timetable for most of these groups. 

We are to focus on the spread of the gospel and God will surely take care of the rest.  Though we do not know specifics, we definitely know the mission field.

Further Reading:
Numbers, Numbers, Numbers!!
Numbers, Numbers, Numbers - Part 2  
Its All About Godly Calling  --menu item 72
Godly Calling – who has the power here?
Soldiers of Christ – they have no say; they merely obey

Achieving Peace and Contentment: 3 Rules for freeing up your life.

These are called the Laws of Least Effort as they free you up from vast amounts of wasted energy.

They are the rules of Responsibility, Acceptance and Defenselessness.

Responsibility:  Do not blame others or yourself for your situation.  You stand before God and His Law alone.

Acceptance: Do not waste energy seeking to control or change other people.  Be it you, the church or the ministry, none has the power to convince anyone of ANYTHING spiritual.

Defenselessness:  Relinquish the need to convince others that you are right. 

If you ARE right, the righteousness will do the convincing. 

If we are talking about spiritual righteousness—God will do the convincing.

Verses for "Do not blame others or yourself for your situation."

Galatians 6:1-6
1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
5 For every man shall bear his own burden.
6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

Jeremiah 17:10
The LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. 

Romans 2:5-9
5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

Romans 14:10-12
10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

1 Corinthians 3:7-8
Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

2 Corinthians 5:10-11
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences

Note:  Regarding "blaming of yourself":  This is speaking to the negative connotations of instilling the emotion of guilt and/or giving oneself justification for what he did.  The blame can become an excuse or a letting oneself off the hook.  The point of this rule is to take responsibility for your actions.  If one is blaming himself for an action because of a perceived shortcoming in one's character, he is shifting the blame rather than taking the responsibility.

Verses for "Do not waste energy seeking to control or change other people. "
For this rule, read all of Roman 14 and the first fourteen verses of chapter 15.  Here are some key verses…

Romans 14:
3  Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
4  Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
5  One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

10  But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

12  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
13  Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

19  Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

Romans 15:2
Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.

Here are further verses

Romans 12:18  If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Psalm 34:14  Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Psalm 133:1  A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Matthew 5:9  Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Mark 9:50  Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

Verses for "Relinquish the need to convince others that you are right."

1 Samuel 2:3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

Psalm 12:4  Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

Proverbs 8:13  The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

Notice the commentary on this verse:

Pride and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate; these are the particulars of evil, which Wisdom, or Christ, declares his hatred of. "Pride", which appears in men in thinking too highly of themselves, in speaking too well of themselves, in despising others, in setting up and trusting to their own righteousness for salvation, and in crying up the purity and power of human nature; this is very contrary to the spirit of the meek and lowly Jesus, and must be hateful to him: "arrogancy" differs little from pride, and the two words in the Hebrew are very much the same, very little differ; it is an ascribing that to a man's self which does not belong to him, whether in things natural, civil, or spiritual; when men attribute their justification and salvation to their own works, it is arrogancy, and must be hateful to Christ; who been at so much pains and expense to bring in everlasting righteousness, and work out salvation for men: it is the height of arrogancy in a man to conceit he a power to regenerate, renew, and convert himself.  ~John Gill
 
Isaiah 13:11  And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.

Job 9:20  If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

Job 35:2  Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's?

Proverbs 12:15  The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

Proverbs 20:6  Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

Proverbs 21:2  Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.   

Notice the commentary:

Proverbs 21:2  The Lord pondereth the hearts - Every man feels strongly attached to his own opinions, modes of acting, etc.; and though he will not easily give up any thing to the judgment of a neighbor, whom he will naturally consider at least as fallible as himself, yet he should consider that the unerring eye of God is upon him; and he should endeavor to see that what he does is acceptable in the eye of his Maker and Judge. ~Adam Clarke

2 Corinthians 10:12  For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

Revelation 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
 

How is it imparted?               What is usually given?
Has Chris Cumming ever received such knowledge?

--- It is information, knowledge or a message given to a human by God.
--- In the form of a vision, angel appearance, voice or burning bush.
--- It would be information outside the scope of the Bible.

--- I am here to record that I, Chris Cumming have NEVER received ANY newly revealed knowledge in any form.
--- Never knowingly seen an angel, burning bush, vision or heard a voice.

--- If such an event were to take place, it would happen with the leader of the Work.

--- Some ministers have been accused of proclaiming newly revealed knowledge.
--- Myself include [give story]
--- Beware of anyone proclaiming new truth or new doctrine.

--- There is no knowledge needed for Salvation that is not already in scripture.

Some have been blamed for this, when, in fact, they were simply uttering deeper understanding of the scriptures by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  What is the difference?

Deeper understanding is always about scripture, not something extra to it.

Notice a number of excerpts:

The Church of God Doctrinal Statement

"The Church of God is administratively organized in accordance with general biblical guidelines and in a manner viable in this 20th century society.  The head of the Church is Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:22-23), who leads and inspires the Church and its leadership through His Holy Spirit.  Under Christ in authority are the ministers, theologians, and Church executives who fulfill religious and administrative responsibilities respectively in accord with such scriptures as I Corinthians 12:28-30 and Ephesians 4:11-13."
Jesus inspires the Church and its leadership through His Holy Spirit.  God, through Jesus Christ inspires the ministry in sermon production, Bible studies and in the understanding of the Word of God.  The key here is that inspiration, wisdom, understanding and those sermons are grounded in and referring to the Word of God.  The sermon expounds the Word of God.  The understanding given is understanding of the Word.

Notice another doctrine excerpt:
The Church of God Doctrinal Statement

"Local Church services also provide the community, as well as the membership, with an open meeting to hear the truths of God that the minister expounds from the Bible."

Our doctrine is clear.  The minister expounds truths from the Bible.  The inspiration of the Holy Spirit guides the minister in doing that.  Conversely, the same Holy Spirit inspires the listening member to take in and understand what the minister is saying out of the Word of God.

The Ministry of the Church Doctrinal Statement
 

"God indicates whom He desires to become His spiritual servant by causing the person's life to express the fruits associated with the ministry."

Clearly these "fruits associated with the ministry" include the inspired sermons, Bible studies and counseling out of that Word of God.

The Word of God is Spirit.  It takes the Holy Spirit to expound it.  It takes that same Holy Spirit to understand it.  Since the Word of God is without limits in depth, width, and meaning, we can spend a lifetime gleaning greater and greater understanding and wisdom of that scripture.  Nothing in this process is "newly revealed" as in special messages from God outside the scope of His established Word.

Now does all this inspiration of the Holy Spirit mean that all sermons are perfect or the minister infallible?  Hardly.   (See Menu item 36--Infallibility of the Minister)

---what is it?  Is the ICG legalistic?  Is the entire Church of God legalistic?

This term is often misapplied.  It is applied to different situations.

It is often used as a term of accusation and/or condemnation. 

In truth, legalism is a manmade manifestation.  Legalism or being legalistic is a term rightly applied to the Pharisees.  These individuals took the perfect law of God and added countless laws, rituals and procedures to them.  Let me give you an example.

God's Law says to keep the Sabbath and to keep it Holy.  You will find scriptures explaining how this is done.  Namely, not working and not doing your own thing on this day. 

Now if I were to issue a list of Sabbath keeping ordinances to the congregation on how I expected the members to keep that Sabbath, this would be legalistic.  Such ordinances were in effect in Jesus' time and He knew they were a burden to mankind.

Today we see people applying the term to people who simply keep the Ten Commandments.  How could one say that the Law was a burden or that Christ was legalistic?  That would be wrong. 

Everything God does is perfect and He made and maintains the Law.  Notice a dictionary definition:

"Strict, literal adherence to the law or to a particular code, as of religion or morality."

Legalism is a concept thought up by man and used to impress man.  It was not made by God and does not impress God.  God is impressed when man, by faith, invokes something He made or set in order.  Man's way is burden.  God's way is prosperity and blessing.

By having man apply himself to a particular code, such as thousands of ordinances on how to keep the Sabbath, man misses the entire design of the Law. 

The Pharisees and others who added ordinances to the Law so they could look more righteous in keeping them before the eyes of man, missed the fact that Law was designed to point man to Godly principles which can be invoked.  You know them as fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). 

By keeping man tied up in ordinances, they don't even have time to learn about and invoke the principles of God, which leads us to the character of Jesus Christ.

The ICG and the true Body of Christ are not legalistic. 

We add nothing to the Law.  We do not write up, teach or enforce codes or ordinances. 

We preach and teach the putting on of Christ by moving through the Law to Godly principles.

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