What is Man's Part in the Gospel?Spirit-baptized believers today foolishly exalt men whom they wrongly judge as "doing something for God". If the saints was being led by the Spirit, they would know who IS doing God's will, and who is not. For if man is claiming a part in it, we can be certain that they have not been sent to the called out ones by God. The point of Paul's message to the early saints, was that the gospel of Christ is not in any part of man, and it is neither dependent upon nor furthered by man's wisdom or abilities. The use of man's wisdom distracts from the gospel, and if depended upon will eventually replace it; whenever a carnal man's wisdom is guiding God's assemby, the Spirit is not leading. God's Spirit and man's wisdom cannot inhabit the same chair of authority. This is what Paul meant when he said that the use of man's wisdom "makes of none effect the cross of Christ" (1Cor1:17). The truly wise man "leans not upon his own understanding" (Prov. 3:5). Consider these phrases from Paul's writings:
Is this what we see in Christianity? Are these the people who Christians are exalting? Are these men's ministries the ones that are admired by the saints that are in Christianity? The answer is an obvious NO. The people and ceremonies that God's children are being persuaded to lift up or walk in, are the very things that God has either finished with, has no part in, or actually despises. That is why the Spirit is saying for those with the holy Ghost to "come out" of Christianity --- it is not of God. Glorying in (that is, participating in) any baptism [such as water baptism] other than God's [which is the baptism of the holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues] is evil, because no other baptism is accomplished by the power of God. Glorying in (that is, joining) any church is evil, simply because no church is of God but of man. Glorying in any doctrine, circumcision, communion, or hope that is not created in a person by the power of God's Spirit is evil. It is of man's wisdom, and "this wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish" (Jas.3:15). The true gospel is altogether God's doing. All the glory and honor of it belong to Him alone. The man who teaches anything contrary to this is "a thief and a robber", because no man is anointed by God to deny the truth that the gospel is not in word but in power (Romans 4:20). The prophets foretold of the coming of a gospel which would exclude the need for man's input. This is why the Bible never mentions the Christian phrase, "doing something for God". Such a notion is excluded by the gospel that is by God's power. The early "church fathers" of Christianity erred greatly by resorting to philosophy and oratory as a defense against persecution. By doing so, they were confessing (to the discerning ear) that they were heretics; but some Spirit-filled believers followed the carnal mind of highly educated, or otherwise impressive men into the captivity of Satan. Now, such men are firmly entrenched in positions of power and influence over the people of God, because such men are the heads of Christianity. One of the best examples of our time is Billy Graham, who has no power with God, and comprehends virtually none of God's truth, yet is extolled by both the Spirit-filled saints and even by the governments of the earth as a prophet of God. Recently (in 1998) both the Governor of the state of North Carolina and the Congress of the United States have honored him with exceptional recognition for his gospel. Brother, if the world gives a man awards for the gospel he proclaims, it is a sure indication that he is proclaiming a gospel of the world. Speaking of the spirit of antichrist, which is the spirit of Christianity, John wrote (1Jn.4:5), "They are of the world; therefore they speak of the world and the world heareth them." The world has heard and approved of Billy Graham's gospel. But, no government on this earth has ever rewarded a man for preaching the truth of the gospel of Christ, nor will any government do so. Jesus said to his disciples (Jn.15:19-20), "If ye were of the world, the world would love its own. But because ye are not of the world . . . the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, `The servant is not greater than his lord.' If they have hated me, they will also persecute you. If they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also." Now, what award did Augustus Caesar give Jesus for his preaching? Remember, Jesus said that those who were his servants would be treated as he was treated. So, is Billy Graham a servant of Jesus Christ? Please understand, we are not saying that the Rev. Graham is more evil than any other Christian minister; he may be better than most of them as far as his moral living. But I do know that Jesus told the truth, and the truth is that if Rev. Graham were really a servant of Jesus, the world would treat him with the same scorn with which it persecuted Jesus. The Rev. Graham merely stands as a symbol for all Christian ministers. They are all of the world, and the world loves its own. It is imperative to understand this much about ourselves: without the real power of God among us, our own carnal nature leaves us no choice but to be impressed with what appears holy. And if that is the case, then we have no choice but perpetually to err (and ever more greatly) as we go. There is no righteousness, no understanding, no true gospel, no ministry, and no hope of salvation without the power of God. Those who are willing to believe this simple, eternal truth are few, because most people have some human wisdom, some earthly wealth, or some worldly position or reputation which they are not willing to relinquish. Consider the first part of Jesus's response in Mt.19:25 to his disciples' question concerning who could be saved. With men, Jesus said,"it is impossible"! When he said "with men", he meant every man, wise or foolish, rich or poor, educated or unlearned, governors or governed. If we would be saved, we must have God's power! The real gospel is not possibly an invention of human wisdom, nor does it appeal in any way to those who are looking for such "intelligencia". To make clear this point, Paul reminds the believers in Corinth that his preaching among them had not been in word only. He had come among them "not with excellency of speech or of wisdom", "not with enticing words . . . but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power" (1Thess.1:5) If human wisdom had been the source of the gospel, the wise men of Israel and of Rome would not have crucified Jesus. What Paul is saying is wisdom, and those who are truly wise perceive it to be so. What is the ultimate goal of wisdom or the pursuit of knowledge, unless it could be to live in health and in peace forever? With human knowledge the attaining of this goal is impossible, but with the knowledge which the Spirit of God gives, it is not only possible, it is the whole point! The purpose of everything God reveals to His chosen assembly is their salvation. It is impossible for carnal men to understand the gospel, much less invent it. Only by the Spirit can anyone possibly know the truth and believe and obey it. Man did not predict, nor could he have ever imagined such a thing as the gospel of Christ, nor is man capable of imagining the kind of eternity God has prepared for those who obey the gospel of His Son. If no one on earth can understand righteousness without God's help, then no one on earth is able to rightly judge a truly spiritual man; on the other hand, a truly spiritual man is the only person who is capable of rightly judging everything. Nothing except the mind of Christ can understand God or think rightly about life, death, or anything else. And to have the mind of Christ, one must be baptized with the holy Ghost, and then be led by that Spirit if we would have any knowledge as to how to please God at all:
When men, in their own wisdom, attempt to lead God's holy assembly, it results in carnality and division. For example, there was a communion with Jesus provided for, but unavailable to the Corinthians because they were thinking wrongly. Though they "came behind in no gift" and were enriched by God in everything (1Cor.1:5-7), they were still in some important ways carnally minded, unable to understand the truth. Paul points to the Corinthians' own divisions as evidence of what happens when carnally-minded men attempt to lead the called out ones. Remember, carnal does not mean malicious or intentionally evil; it means natural, without revelation or anointing from God. Using the best men on earth, with the greatest wisdom to be found, the Spitirt-filled believers will die spiritually - and that is what happened to the early believers after the apostles' days. Despite Paul's great efforts, the early believers failed to comprehend the absolute necessity of abiding in Christ. God's early called out ones were at first impressed with, and then oppressed by, the men of this world who assumed the reigns of government in God's assembly. That is where we stand today. Another word about divisions. Paul said that in the body of believers "there must be divisions", so that those of whom God approves may be made manifest (1Cor.10:18-19). The mere fact that a division occurs does not prove that all involved have done wrong. It may be that a division occurs because some one upholds the truth, and some separate themselves so that they may do their own will and teach their own evil doctrine. Jesus had disciples all along the way who departed from him (Jn.6:66). In fact, he said that he came to bring division (Lk.12:51-53). And divisions continued to occur in the days of the apostles (1Jn.2:19). What was evil about the situation in Corinth was that they had adopted the notion that divisions within a Spirit-filled congregation were acceptable. Alternative doctrines and lifestyles were permitted in the assembly. Paul used himself and Apollos to show how that it is God alone who deserves the praise for deliverance from sin, and that it was foolish to exalt any man in opposition to another. Paul, not Jesus, laid the foundation of the body of believers. Jesus, the prophets, and the apostles are the saints' foundation (Eph.2:20), but Paul was the one anointed to "lay it all out". It is Paul's gospel, not Peter's, which is to endure forever. Whatever is built upon the foundation which Paul laid will be tried by the fire of God, who is supremely unimpressed with man. Many a morally upright minister will suffer great loss when his work (his doctrine) is tried by that fire, yet "he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire" (ICor.3:15). How much of our work will survive the blaze? Not to "pick on" one man (we all shall give account of ourselves to God), but if, for example, the Pope's "work", his teachings, his pronouncements, his commandments, his method of worship, is tried by the fire that burns away all that is not ordained by God, how much will be left? Or what about the pentecostal minister? How much of his doctrine will survive the test of fire? Most importantly for us, though, is the question concerning our own work. How much of our work will survive the fire? In the final judgment, things that appear to be very great and impressive in this life may, after being examined by the test of fire, have precious little remaining of their earthly stature. And some things that appear very small and inconsequential at this time may, after facing the same test, appear to be very great indeed by comparison. We should judge all things on the basis of what will remain after the fire. And we can only do that by hearing from God. The "holy Ghost and fire" comes to rid us of the things that cannot survive the fire to come. It is better to burn now with the fire of God than to be burned later by it. And one thing the Spirit of God wants to burn out of His called out ones is any effect or impression that carnal men or their doctrines would have on us. As a wise saint once said, "it is not so great for us to stop telling lies, but we need the power of God to stop believing them". Let's get "man" out of it, and follow the Spirit we were baptized with - that alone will guide us into all truth. Amen.
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