Greetings in Christ Jesus

Sunday October 22, 2017

Epistle: II Thessalonians 2: 13-3:5

Gospel: Luke 13: 18-30

Psalm: Psalm 110/111

Friends,

(Hold the traditions that you have learned. Not all men have faith, but God has faith. “And the Lord direct your hearts, in the charity of God, and the patience of Christ.”) What are we seeing here in this scripture? Before I expound on it I will place another one here that according to many is contradictory to what the church teaches; 2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV, all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Two sides of the argument are presented here; what are they? The first scripture is held by all of Catholicism even back through the Church Fathers as instruction in holding onto the oral traditions taught by the apostle as well as the written word. The second scripture from 2 Timothy is used by all non-catholic to say that once scripture was completed it contains everything needed including proper tradition that is to be followed and that if it isn’t in the Bible then it isn’t true.

So, does scripture contradict scripture? According to the argument from two sides it does but is this really Christian? No! Why does the Body of Christ argue with one another and slap our Lord Jesus in the face with this nonsense? There are many written words that contain truth that are not placed in these sets of books that most call a Bible, so why do we have the ones that we have? Scripture has gone through many changes throughout time but the reason that it even exists in the first place is to be a guide. This Bible was put together to serve the worship practice of the church which was and is liturgical.

The worship service has prayer, praise, singing, reading, and expounding and it follows an order of teaching, this teaching is liturgical; which means it follows a particular pattern in method of praise and in teaching throughout the year in which all of the people join in. It is a public worship centered around the Eucharist or Holy Communion of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. The method or tradition of worship is not defined in the Bible, it is spoken of and alluded to but not specifically defined. This is tradition, this is how it has been and is done.

Holy Scripture was placed where it is in order to follow this tradition of worship and teaching, there is no contradiction. The scriptures give us truths that we are to live by and the worship and the use of this scripture is from tradition. In worship we stand before Almighty God Himself, the entire heavenly host stands with us in worship, the communion of the saints is not just a phrase to be bandied about, it is truth. We do not tap dance on stage for entertainment when worshiping God. We do not entertain the people as worship. We face almighty God as one people and we worship, praise, petition, sing songs to, and partake of the Body and Blood as one body, one mind in Christ.

Hear the words of our Lord when He says that the kingdom of God is like a grain of mustard seed; think on this, Jesus is that grain of mustard seed buried in the tomb for three days and then rising. He became a tree when He ascended into heaven and He overshadows all of creation in the branches where all of the birds of heaven rest; these are the powers of heaven and all who raise themselves up by good works as commanded by our Lord. The apostles are the branches to where we take our flight on the wings of Christian virtue; we sow this seed of Christ in our hearts so that the grace of good works may flourish. Or like leaven hid in three measures of meal or flour till the whole was leavened; we as Christians are the flour who receive the Lord into the inner parts of our soul till we are all inflamed with the fire of His heavenly wisdom. Try to enter by the narrow gate; Jesus also said that many will come from the east, together these words are saying that many indeed shall be saved through the narrow gate but the true numbers as compared to all who have dwelt upon the earth shall be small.

There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth…last that shall be first; and they are first that shall be last. Understand that many came to Christ early in life but through time they have lost some virtue and some have lost all virtue, they are saved, they have become complacent with their station in life and they believe that they have a great reward because they have been in the church since the cradle, others came late in life, some even in very old age or near death, these latter will also receive the reward of eternal life because they did indeed come and they came with all of their heart whereas those who have been around had a less full heart through pride and complacency. We must strive to the very end, all are called at different times, as St. Paul said; when it pleased Him who separated me from my mother’s womb. When did it please god to call Paul? When Paul was ready to be called as our Lord does with each and every one of us, He calls when we are ready to hear. The call never stops throughout time but to the individual it comes when he is ready to hear.

So let us along with the psalmist say; “I will praise Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart: in the council of the just, and in the congregation. Great are the works of the Lord: sought out according to all His wills. His work is praise and magnificence: and His justice continues for ever and ever. He has made a remembrance of His wonderful works, being a merciful and gracious Lord: He has given food to them that fear Him…”

If one does not have love for the soul of mankind and the desire that all come to the truth than one does not have Christ in them fully.

Little children, love one another; because this is our Lord’s command and if you fulfill this, nothing else is needed. Through love and because of love we will follow all of the commandments that we have been given. They are written on our hearts by the hand of Almighty God. We simply need to see them within us and follow.

Remember; if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all iniquity.

In Christ.