“God’s Gracious Gift”
(“Eonian Life”)
by J. Tessier

Introduction

It surely is a great pleasure to study into His Word. There is many a blessed treasure to be mined therein. We can never come away without some gem that will lift our spirits to join the celestial chorus in singing His praises as He so intends for us to do. It has been my great blessing to study the subject at hand and record my findings so that I may share the joy He has so blessed me with.

The impetus for this study was to find out if there was anything in Scripture that would definitively tell us just who our brethren are in Christ. There are some among us that believe that this is so, that there is, in fact, Scriptural evidence that tells us who are Christ’s. They teach that if we do not have correct doctrine, that if we do not have all our ducks in a row, so to speak, that we do not have eonian life. They say that it is not affecting salvation since salvation is secure in Christ having been secured by Him. However, one camp seems to think that having correct knowledge is an imperative- prerequisite to the life that will be ours before the consummation. In other words, we would be resurrected or changed at the snatching away (or another camp thinks at the first resurrection entering into the earthly kingdom) and have vivification granted to us, which enables us to live for the eons with Christ. But without this correct knowledge, the prerequisite of which they seem to think is defined in Scripture, we would not have this life. Of course, they say that all those who were designated beforehand will be given or somehow learn this correct knowledge. But what does the Scripture say? Does Scripture indicate that all will have perfect knowledge and none will believe errors; those that are members of the church, the body of Christ?

The other camp says it has to do with our works; that if we are not bearing forth good works then we are in danger of losing out on eonian life. The bottom line being, I guess, that we would be resurrected at the great white throne and tossed into the lake of fire (which is the second death) not to be seen again until the consummation. Either of these views seems to imply that we have a role to play in whether or not we have eonian life. No matter how they come to their conclusions there is no way of getting around this predicament. The person that ends up losing out on eonian life has somehow fallen short of some mark they, the proponents of these positions, perceive God has set up for us to obtain.

They also claim that Satan has set up “trip-wires” as they call them, which is keeping those who profess belief in the evangel (but do not necessarily understand all the particulars that the proponents claim are necessary for eonian life) from eonian life. But wouldn’t this necessarily mean that this is something that they could obtain if only if it were not for these imaginary “trip-wires”???

Let's go to the Scriptures to see what is said about this very important subject. We should have no other authority but this.

Eonian Life – Life Eonian

I guess the bottom line of this teaching would have to be whether or not eonian life is God's gracious gift or is there something that we must do in order to ensure this for ourselves. In other words, if we do not have correct doctrine or if we are not producing good works are we in danger of losing out on eonian life? Is it an absolute necessity to understand the sovereignty of God in order to have eonian life? Is it an absolute necessity that we should not believe in eternal hellfire in order to have eonian life? Is it an absolute necessity that we must understand that Christ was entombed for three days and that he was literally stone-cold dead, in order to have eonian life? Is it an absolute necessity that we do not sin, or be found sinning, in order to have eonian life? Is it an absolute necessity that we be producing good works (particularly according to someone else's observation) in order to have eonian life? Is it an absolute necessity to understand all the workings of one's will or what part our will plays as it interacts with God’s will? Does our will play any part at all in order for us to have eonian life? Again, what is the bottom line in regard to eonian life? Does God give it freely or do we play a role in whether or not we obtain it? If He has given it freely is there a possibility that we could lose it or could it even be robbed from us, as some have proclaimed?

Something else to think about in this regard would be whether or not salvation is something that also could be lost. Why do I say this? Because those who espouse this teaching, that eonian life is something we can lose out on, boast that our salvation is secure in Christ. They claim that there is nothing that needs to be done for salvation other than what has already been done by Him at the cross. However, they don't see that salvation being given to us or granted us until the consummation.

Romans 6:23 “For the ration of Sin is death, yet the gracious gift of God is life eonian, in Christ Jesus, our Lord.”

Now one would think that after reading this Scripture there could hardly be any other understanding except what we have printed plainly here for us in black and white. How could anyone understand this verse any other way then what we read here? Isn't this an either or situation being highlighted for us? Either we have death, which is “the ration of sin,” or we have “eonian life”. Seems pretty plain to me. What is it we are being saved to or for? If we are saved, isn’t death one of the things that we are being saved from? So just what is “a gracious gift” then? Perhaps there can be some misunderstanding regarding this.

Joy-Effect

The Greek word translated “gracious” is charisma. The Greek elements are, “joy-effect”. What do you think this would mean? Seems it might mean that it influences joy. But, perhaps to get a better idea of what this word means we should look at the word joy in the keyword concordance. (Truly, to understand how a word is used in Scripture, it is imperative that we look at how it is being used in a consistent way in its context. This would be called a “word study”.)

The word joy comes from the Greek word chara (kara). We find the word used in Matthew 13:44 referring to the man’s “chara/joy” in finding the treasure. Also, Zechariah experienced this “chara/joy” concerning the news that he was to become a father, in Luke 1:14.

Another of the Greek words in this family is charis (karis). It also has the meaning of joy, however, we find it translated grace in the Concordant Version. In the Greek-English Keyword Concordance we find the meaning, “an act producing happiness, a benefit bestowed on one who deserves the opposite, sometimes better rendered favor.” An example of how this word, charis, is used is 1Corinthians 15:10: “Yet, in the grace (charis) of God I am what I am, and His grace (charis), which is in me, did not come to be for naught, but more exceedingly than all of them toil I -- yet not I, but the grace (charis) of God which is with me.” Another example would be in Gal. 1:15: “Now, when it delights God, who severs me from my mother's womb and calls me through His grace (charis), to unveil His son in me that I may be evangelizing Him among the nations...”

Two other ways the word is used in the concordant version is favor and thanks. Mary “found favor (charis)” with God in Luke 1:30, and, “Now thanks (charis) be the God” in 1Corinthians 15:57. Charitoo is the verb form of the word. We find it used only two times. It shows an action taking place. The first is speaking of Mary being the “favored (or graced) one” in Luke 1:28, and in Ephesians 1:6 we find it speaking of how He, “graces (or favors) us in the Beloved.”

This brings us back to charisma, joy-effect. The keyword concordance explains it as, “abiding grace or manifested as a gracious gift.” Paul is longing to share some spiritual grace with us in Romans 1:11. We find God's grace “unregretted” in Romans 11:29. “Grace excelling” in Romans 12:6; and “grace not deficient” in 1Corinthians 1:7. Another, “Yet be zealous for the greater graces” in 1Corinthians 12:31.

Now, “God's gracious gift” in Romans 6:23. This gracious gift is “life eonian”. Paul also tells us that “each have his own gracious gift from God,” in 1Corinthians 7:7. Paul admonishes Timothy not to neglect the “gracious gift which is in him,” in 1Timothy 4:14. Now, perhaps from all of this we can make a reasonable deduction concerning the meaning of this Greek word, charisma, translated gracious.

The Concordant Version Greek Lexicon says that joy means, “To have a pleasurable emotion, rejoice.” From its usage it seems this pleasurable emotion is either bestowed upon us or we are able to bestow it upon another; it is used either way in Scripture. We find that we are the recipients of His grace or joy and that we also can be the givers of this grace or joy. Example, when we give thanks to God we are bringing joy/grace to Him especially since He greatly delights in us being thankful.

But far and away the greatest joy is given to us when the realization comes to our darkened minds that we have been graced with His gracious gift, which is eonian life. The fact that this life has been given to us gratuitously, without cause, is intimately tied in with salvation, which is also gratuitous. How can we even begin to separate the two? “Being justified (made righteous) gratuitously in His grace, through the deliverance which is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:24)

“And you, being dead to your offences and sins, in which once you walked, in accord with the eon of this world, in accord with the chief of the jurisdiction of the air, the spirit now operating in the sons of stubbornness (among whom we also all behaved ourselves once in the lusts of our flesh, doing the will of the flesh and of the comprehension, and were, in our nature, children of indignation, even as the rest), yet God, being rich in mercy, because of His vast love with which He loves us (we also being dead to the offences and the lusts), vivifies us together in Christ (in grace are you saved!) and rouses us together and seats us together among the celestials, in Christ Jesus, that, in the oncoming eons, He should be displaying the transcendent riches of His grace in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For in grace, through faith, are you saved, and this is not out of you; it is God's approach present, not of works, lest anyone should be boasting. For His achievement are we, being created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God makes ready beforehand, that we should be walking in them.” (Ephesians 2:1-10)

In Grace, Through Faith

I'm not sure that we could ever read this passage of Scripture enough that I have quoted here. It is probably one of the most blessed passages of Scripture in the entire Bible. When the full realization comes of what is being taught to us in this passage, it can do nothing but grace our entire being. We become so filled with joy that the realization of what this word, charis, means, is impressed upon our minds in such a way that we become one with understanding. No longer is there a need for anyone to try to explain this word to us. He impresses it on us in such a way that we completely understand what it means to be graced. Once this realization comes we are able to “grace” Him by being ever thankful for all His love in all He does for us through Christ.

Why, one might ask, would He do this for us? Why should there even be a people so blessed as to be the beneficiaries of such grace, graciousness, favor? The answer is simple. Read it here:

“… yet God, being rich in mercy, because of His vast love with which He loves us…”

It is because of His vast love and because of the fact that He is exceedingly rich in mercy that we have been so graced. And, it is because of what His Beloved Son did on our behalf that He is so exceedingly rich in mercy towards us. It has nothing to do with who we are other than what He is doing for us and it especially has nothing to do with what we know or don't know or even do or don’t do as long as we know that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, was entombed and was roused the third day, as says the evangel, the good news, then we know all we need to know to be secure in our salvation in Him. And how do we come to know this?

He places His faith in us, the very faith of His Beloved Son, and enables us to believe. This is His approach present, as we read in Ephesians the second chapter as was quoted above. What do we have to do with this? What does Satan have to do with this? Is there some way he can trip us up? Is there some way he can foil God's plan? Can Satan rob eonian life from some? Can we have salvation and not have eonian life? Is salvation and eonian life two separate things?

Whether or not we understand God's operation in having designated us beforehand, before times eonian, matters not one whit. The fact of the matter is, that God does what He does whether or not we understand what He does. The fact of the matter is, that God has set His plan in motion and it matters not at all if we have knowledge of it. If He reveals some of His secret workings to some and not to others doesn't mean those workings are not in effect on their behalf. If He reveals His evangel concerning the death burial and resurrection of His son but they never come to understand the transcendent grace that we have in Him, this doesn't make their salvation ineffectual, neither does it keep the transcendent grace from working in them. What it does do is keep them from enjoying the allotment that has been bestowed upon them through this grace. Yet, even this is of Him; He operates it all. If He chooses for some to understand and be blessed in that understanding and to have the rest that comes through this understanding, then this is what He chooses to do. What is that to us?

Now I am not saying that He may not keep some from understanding through various means that involve Satan. No, not at all! The fact of the matter is that Satan is His tool. Satan is helpless to do anything that he has not been empowered to do by the Almighty. For us to imagine that Satan is capable of doing anything beyond what God has enabled him to do would be what I consider vain imaginings.

“For in grace, through faith, are you saved” and “the gracious gift of God is life eonian”. Two inseparable elements of Paul’s evangel, the good news he was commissioned to bring to the ones to whom he was sent; the nations. “The evangel of which he became a dispenser.” (Eph 3:7) What we have here are two very important essentials of the evangel. “…since you surely hear of the administration of the grace of God that is given to me for you…” (Verse 2).

The Transcendent Riches of His Grace

“For the momentary lightness of our affliction is producing for us a transcendently transcendent eonian burden of glory, at our not noting what is being observed, but what is not being observed, for what is being observed is temporary, yet what is not being observed is eonian.” (We will get back to this Scripture, 2Cor 4:17,18, later on in this study.)

“Transcendently transcendent!” Can we begin to imagine what this means? I don’t think our puny, soulish minds can comprehend the riches in store for us. He gives us nuggets of treasure here and there in Scripture to entice us and give us the yearning for Him that He has for us.

We are living in what is called, “the administration of the grace of God.” It is a time of un-paralleled gratuity in Him. It is a time of Him not “reckoning offenses” since He is “conciliated” to the world. (2Cor 5:16-21) During this administration, we find that He is calling out a “people for His name.” (Acts 15:14) It is a people who have been “designated beforehand” …those whom He “foreknew”.

Rom 8:29 “…that, whom He foreknew, He designates beforehand, also, to be conformed to the image of His Son, for Him to be Firstborn among many brethren. 30 Now whom He designates beforehand, these He calls also, and whom He calls, these He justifies also; now whom He justifies, these He glorifies also.”

Do you see yourself as called, justified, (or made righteous since this is what justified means) and even glorified… can you see yourself this way? This is how He sees you. It is astounding! Just what is it He has designated us beforehand for?

Eph 1:5 “…in love designating us beforehand for the place of a son for Him through Christ Jesus; in accord with the delight of His will, …” And verse 11: “in Him in Whom our lot was cast also, being designated beforehand according to the purpose of the One Who is operating all in accord with the counsel of His will, …” And again, “…to be conformed to the image of His Son” as we just read in Romans 8:29.

And this good news in 2Tim 1:9: “Who saves us and calls us with a holy calling, not in accord with our acts, but in accord with His own purpose and the grace which is given to us in Christ Jesus before times eonian …”

And this “holy calling” spoken of here brings us right back to our hope, yet even greater than hope, we have an, “expectation of life eonian, which God, Who does not lie, promises before times eonian …” (Titus 1:2)

Notice how all this is intricately tied together in one package. There can be no separating them. We who are chosen, “happening upon salvation” (2Tim2:10), are expecting and can expect, eonian life. We needn’t fear losing out or being robbed. He would not have it to be so.

But how is it that some are indeed “happening upon salvation” and some are seemingly not and even others are emphatically not? What makes the difference between the world and us in general? Who is it that is “happening upon salvation” and is there a way of knowing who they are so that we can have fellowship with them? After all, He wouldn’t want us yoked with unbelievers, now, would He?

In this next section we will consider what Paul teaches regarding the standing of those who claim the name of Christ as their Savior and profess Him in their lives.

Who Are My Brothers?

The body of Christ is made up of "many members" some of them serve rather "inherently weaker" positions, but are none-the-less "necessary" as we are told in 1Cor. 12:22. Verse 23 actually calls them supposedly, "dishonored" and "indecent". So we have "many members", some that are "inherently weaker", "dishonored" and “indecent". Now be careful to notice that these are "supposed"-ly that. In other words, there *might* be some of the "many" that *think* the *seemingly* "inherently weak, dishonored and indecent" *are* "inherently weak, dis-honored and indecent" but Paul assures us that it is *not* so. Let's look at these verses *in* context and get a feel for what Paul is saying.

I will be making comments to bring attention within the verses and they will be <<<bracketed>>> thusly. My point in this is to demonstrate that there is *more* to the "evangel" than meets the eye; that our Great and Multifarious God, in His Great Wisdom for all, has set a plan in motion that transcends the physical realm; that in our desire to understand we sometimes fall into human reasoning (some call this “relatively speaking”) which not only robs God of His power but lessens our appreciation for all that HE is doing here in this "valley of the shadow of death".

1Cor 12:12 "For even as the body is one and has many members, yet all the members of the one body, being many, are one body, thus also is the Christ."
<<<”The Christ” is one body made up of many members. >>>

13 "For in one spirit also we all are baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and all are made to imbibe one spirit."
<<<We see that "Jews (and) or Greeks, slaves (and) or free" can and are being put into the body and all are "made to imbibe one spirit". >>>

14 "For the body also is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot should be saying, "Seeing that I am not a hand, I am not of the body," not for this is it not of the body. 16 And if the ear should be saying, "Seeing that I am not an eye, I am not of the body" not for this is it not of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where the scent?"
<<<See the great diverseness of the members and yet they are "one body". These verses are telling us how we should not be discriminating, even by calling ourselves "not of the body." In other words, saying a certain member is not of the body does not make it not of the body. >>>

18 "…God placed the members, each one of them, in the body according as He wills."
<<<Now here's the clincher… God placed "as HE wills!" This is *why* the body is what it is. >>>

19 "Now if it were all one member, where <would be> were the body?"
<<<This is clearly telling us that the diversity is an imperative part of the body; that *if* we were all the same or "one member" as Paul says, where would that leave us? Where would be "the body"? Surely we can see that our very own body is made up of many members that are not altogether the most *attractive* so to speak. The KJ calls them, "uncomely parts". I rather shudder at the thought that some of my "uncomely parts" should not be of my body. I would not even think to imagine where I would be if my large intestine or colon decided it didn't want to be part of my body. Seems I would be in serious trouble. >>>

20 "Yet now there are, indeed, many members, yet one body. 21 Yet the eye can not say to the hand, "I have no need of you," or, again, the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."

<<<If we then, being a hand, think we do not need our eye or foot we are blind indeed. >>>

And to these important verses:

22 "Nay, much rather, those members of the body supposed to be inherently weaker are necessary, 23 and which we suppose to be a more dishonored part of the body, these we are investing with more exceeding honor, and our indecent members have more exceeding respectability."
<<<We see that it is *not* as "we suppose" at all but rather seemingly just the opposite. When we think one is “not of the body” because they seem too weak or deficient, (particularly in knowledge or good works) then they are probably being blended so that those who are able can take up the slack, so to speak. This seems to tell me that we just may be quite surprised at who *is* and who *isn't* a believer or rather, a brother in Christ. >>>

24 "Now our respectable members have no need, but God blends the body together, giving to that which is deficient more exceeding honor, 25 that there may be no schism in the body, but the members may be solicitous for one another."
<<<We see, "GOD blends the body together" so that those which are "deficient" will have "more exceeding honor" and the rest may be "solicitous for one another" or reminded of each other. See how the "respectable members have no need" but by God's "blending" there is balance, harmony, being "built together" (Eph 2:22) by Him. >>>

26 "And whether one member is suffering, all the members are sympathizing, or one member is being esteemed, all the members are rejoicing with it."
<<<And here is where our concerns (for that is what "solicitous" means) should be: when one suffers, perhaps even suffering from belief in false doctrine being tormented by the thought of eternal torment, we may be "sympathizing" and if one member is "esteemed" we should be "rejoicing with it". A very different perspective than trying to label and decided who *is* and who *is not* a member of His Body. Or consign them to the lake of fire because of not believing a doctrine that *we* say is necessary for membership in the body or for eonian life. >>>

Now the point I would like to make here is that we are *not* at liberty to be deciding for ourselves just who is a member in the body "club". We do *not* possess "just judging" to be able to discern a person’s heart. There is *only* One Who meets this criteria and it was He that said:
"Be not judging by the countenance, but be judging just judging." John 7:24.

"Be not judging by the countenance," would mean by appearance. We are *not* to judge by appearance. Someone who is believing that even we (because of our seeming strange beliefs) may have to suffer eternal torment, should *not* be judged for their understanding but rather we should be "sympathizing" with this one and "suffering" in their ignorance with them, all the while praying that God, by Whose purpose they believe what they believe, might be, "giving them repentance to come into a realization of the truth". (2Ti 2:25)

2Tim 2:9 "in which I am suffering evil unto bonds as a malefactor--but the word of God is not bound. 10 Therefore I am enduring all because of those who are chosen, that they also may be happening upon the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with glory eonian."

<<<Is there anything in this world that could keep, "those who are chosen" from, "happening upon the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with glory eonian"? Could the "stratagems of the Adversary" keep them or does the "stratagems of the Adversary" *only* blind those whom God has NOT chosen? Wouldn't they, therefore, NOT be believing anything about God, especially the news of salvation in Jesus Christ? >>>

2Cor 4:3 “Now, if our evangel is covered, also, it is covered in those who are perishing, 4 in whom the god of this eon blinds the apprehensions of the unbelieving so that the illumination of the evangel of the glory of Christ, Who is the Image of the invisible God, does not irradiate them.”

<<<It is the “unbelieving” that he, the adversary, is used to blind. No one has ever said that the unbelieving have eonian life. These are those who will be raised up at the great white throne. By the way, if someone is teaching that unbelievers don’t have eonian life, this is nothing new! >>>

So then, just what are the “stratagems of the adversary” and how do they affect believers since this Greek word, methodeia, is used only in regard to believers?

Eph 4:14 “that we may by no means still be minors, surging hither and thither and being carried about by every wind of teaching, by human caprice, by craftiness with a view to the systematizing of the deception.”

Eph 6:11 “Put on the panoply of God, to enable you to stand up to the stratagems of the Adversary…”

These are the only 2 places in scripture that we find this Greek word, methodeia (meth-od-i'-ah).
The CV keyword concordance says it means, “a method of procedure. Of the deception in Eph 4:14 and in an evil sense (of the adversary) in Eph 6:11.”

If we “put on the panoply of God” as admonished in Ephesians 6:11, we will be “enabled to withstand in the wicked day.” Perhaps this has to do with not being minors, “surging hither and thither and being carried about by every wind of teaching, by human caprice, by craftiness with a view to the systematizing of the deception.”

Paul tells us to stand girded with truth. What does it mean? To me it means that, what we know should help to keep us steadfast. (Of course we also know that the foundation is Christ. This is the sure footing that any and all have that are in Christ. From there He gives us more knowledge as we grow in grace. If we grow in knowledge without grace we become puffed-up. Even this is of Him. There is nothing “relatively speaking” when we know that all is of Him. All is absolute. When we consider His ways it should always be according to the knowledge He has graced us with. Our “human reasoning” or “relatively speaking” has no place in it. We should reason only this way when we would be considering what it looks like from someone else’s vantage point.)

To be girded with truth then, would mean that we are ready. This is another aspect of what the girdle does. As I mention in the next paragraph, it ties the loose clothing up, out of the way making us ready and frees from us from encumbrances. (Wrong beliefs burden us!) Truth sets us free; His Word is Truth. If we are girded with truth, we will be ready and steadfast.

Our loins are girded with truth “with the cuirass of righteousness put on.” A “cuirass” is the piece of armor/panoply that covers all the vital organs: front and back. It is called the “breastplate” in the KJV. In ancient times the girdle would hold their long garments up, out of the way. The robes or garment would wrap around and through the legs and be tucked into the girdle. The cuirass would then hold it all in place.

Likewise, the righteousness in which we stand should always keep us protected. In this case, to me, it would be from doubts or insecurities that we are assailed with in this present wicked eon. If we are right with God then everything else in life should fall into its proper perspective. Knowing this should bring great peace and it does when we truly understand the significance of this. We must constantly remind ourselves that this is how He sees us: righteous. How valuable this is!

Paul then tells us that our feet should be “sandaled with the readiness of the evangel of peace.” This, to me, ties in directly with the commission in 2Cor 5 to be ambassadors. What a blessed message lies therein for us. 2Cor 5:20 “For Christ, then, are we ambassadors, as of God entreating through us. We are beseeching for Christ's sake, "Be conciliated to God!"

This is truly a well-message of peace for the whole world in this present wicked eon. When we put on the sandals of this evangel we are working the work He has given us to do. Even those who have not had the Savior manifested to them can benefit from a message such as this. This message should increasingly be in our hearts and ready on our lips. No need for us to be confrontational with those who believe different than we. Ambassadors bring peace.

With the sandals in place, Paul tells us to be “taking up the large shield of faith, by which you will be able to extinguish all the fiery arrows of the wicked one.” Our cuirass is now in place, (the righteousness in which we stand) and we’re girded with the truth He has given us, with our feet sandaled and ready to go, we should have our shield in place. Paul is here telling us to “take it up” but indeed it is something that has been given to us. I believe he says to “take it up” so that we are aware of what we have. It is not out of what is seen but what is unseen.

Remember that verse we read back on page 6? Here it is again: “For the momentary lightness of our affliction is producing for us a transcendently transcendent eonian burden of glory, at our not noting what is being observed, but what is not being observed, for what is being observed is temporary, yet what is not being observed is eonian.” ( 2Cor 4:17,18,).

Our faith, the faith He has given us as His approach present, is something not tangible. We cannot lay hands on it, so to speak, yet it is as real as the air we breathe. By “take(ing) it up” it becomes real to us. It becomes something that we can lay hands on even if only in a figurative sense. He wants it real to us so that we have the blessed assurance that comes with it.

As a cavalryman, being suited and ready for battle, I would have to think that it is not the most comfortable situation to be in. There is a nervousness that would be associated with this preparedness: on our toes, ready to go, so to speak. Paul says such as this is a, “momentary lightness of our affliction”, and indeed it is compared with what He has in store for us in the coming eons. He says that this affliction, any affliction, for that matter, is producing, “a transcendently transcendent eonian burden of glory.” Notice too that even if it is not being observed it is still “producing” because it is of Him and not us.

Having taken up our shield of faith, Paul says that we “will be able to extinguish all the fiery arrows of the wicked one.” Faith does this, it give us confidence because we have been persuaded by what has been revealed to us. The root word for faith in the Greek, peitho, has this very force. We have been persuaded; convinced. We believe and this is the system that we work through. You might say faith is a belief system or rather, our belief system. It also protects us from untruth, which is one of the means the adversary would use to attempt to disrupt us.

“And receive the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is a declaration of God.” This is Paul’s next directive to us: to “receive the helmet of salvation”. David received a helmet before he went out to fight Goliath (1Sam 17:38). King Saul placed it on his head. Much the same way, salvation is “lavished on us” even before we know we have it. (Eph 1:8) In a manner of speaking, we have been “helmeted”. Now knowing this, Paul tells us to “receive” it. By receiving it we, figuratively, play an active role by knowing this is ours securely.

This “helmet” is closely tied in with “the sword of the spirit”. It is something else that He “pours out on us” (Titus 3:6). Scripture has many sayings that are not necessarily God’s declarations. But on these sure words, His declarations, we have a stronghold from which to wield that sword that He has poured out on us.

In assessing these verses in Ephesians where the Greek word, methodeia is used, we can safely say that it has nothing to do with how believers become robbed of eonian life or lose out on it by not having a complete understanding. Neither is it how unbelievers are kept from the evangel. We can plainly see how these instances, where this word is used, is directly referring to believers becoming sidetracked and robbed, yes robbed, of the enjoyment of the allotment that is ours.

If we are mature enough to have all our armor/panoply in place then we can be sure that we will not be “surging hither and thither and being carried about by every wind of teaching, by human caprice, by craftiness with a view to the systematizing of the deception.” We will have all that we need to assure us the peace and security that comes with this knowledge. Scriptures like this: Titus 3:4 “Yet when the kindness and fondness for humanity of our Saviour, God, made its advent, 5 not for works which are wrought in righteousness which we do, but according to His mercy, He saves us, through the bath of renascence and renewal of holy spirit, 6 which He pours out on us richly through Jesus Christ, our Saviour, 7 that, being justified in that One's grace, we may be becoming enjoyers, in expectation, of the allotment of life eonian” …will strengthen us and bring us peace in Him.

Let us not make a practice of taking verses out of context to support some doctrine/teaching that is not necessarily found in Scripture. In so doing, we do violence to His word and discredit ourselves in the process. The systematizing of deception takes place when one is a minor, an uninformed or unlearned one in Christ. It is the mixing of truth with error so as to deceive, whether knowingly or unknowingly. It is believers who can suffer from this. What is it they suffer? They lose peace, joy, rest, by being deluded through “craftiness and human caprice.” (Human caprice could come in when someone among us delivers a message that is seemingly sound but by investigation from Scripture and having on our panoply, we can come to see it for what it is.) We lose our enjoyment of the allotment when we are being “carried about by every wind of teaching.” Let’s be on guard against such things, especially from our own. The adversary can use such a one. Bring to mind the panoply that God has given that we may not fall prey to stratagems/systematizing (same Greek word) and be “carried about”. Let’s be girded with truth.

How Can A Believer Perish?

2Cor 4:3 “Now, if our evangel is covered, also, it is covered in those who are perishing, 4 in whom the god of this eon blinds the apprehensions of the unbelieving so that the illumination of the evangel of the glory of Christ, Who is the Image of the invisible God, does not irradiate them. 5 For we are not heralding ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, yet ourselves your slaves because of Jesus, 6 for the God Who says that, out of darkness light shall be shining, is He Who shines in our hearts, with a view to the illumination of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 Now we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the transcendence of the power may be of God and not of us.

<<<There is one VERY important thing that should be clearly understood as a basic element. There are ONLY two categories of people in the world: those who are perishing, and we know that doesn't mean lost without end, so to speak, but for the eon, and those who are being saved. That's it! ONLY two! NO gray areas! NOWHERE can we find, even an illusion in scripture of another category. Even when we see what seem to be other categories, those that fall into those categories are under these TWO major ones.

With this in mind, what is Paul telling us in this verse quoted above? Clearly our evangel is covered in those who are perishing. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see this. This verse is *plainly* telling us that the "god of this eon" is being used, yes, he is a tool, to "blind the apprehensions of the unbelieving". Why? "so that the illumination of the evangel of the glory of Christ… does not irradiate them." Why? Because they have not been chosen for salvation in this eon. It has not been graciously granted to them to believe. No great mystery. No need to *try* to make these verses say something it isn't. Satan is nothing more than what God has purposed Him to be. Nothing more!!! >>>

2Tim 2:9 "…in which I am suffering evil unto bonds as a malefactor--but the word of God is not bound. 10 Therefore I am enduring all because of those who are chosen, that they also may be happening upon the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with glory eonian."

<<<Is there anything in this world that could keep "those who are chosen" from "happening upon the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with glory eonian"? Could the "stratagems of the Adversary" keep them or does the "stratagems of the Adversary" cause an immature one, a minor, from enjoying their allotment? Yet, doesn’t God, in His infinite mercy and love, keep them in their ignorance for the time being because it is part and parcel of His plan? >>>

11 "Faithful is the saying: 'For if we died together, we shall be living together also; 12 if we are enduring, we shall be reigning together also; if we are disowning, He also will be disowning us; 13 if we are disbelieving, He is remaining faithful--He cannot disown Himself.'"

<<<What about Him seemingly, "disowning" us? Doesn't this language smack of the believers, (since it is believers that are being spoken of here) somehow, being kept from something? Yes, and we see from the context that it is speaking of a reward, perhaps even "reigning" with Him. Context is everything as we all know, but surely one would think that believers who, backslide into disbelief couldn’t be un-membered, as it seems, could they? Notice that, “if we are disbelieving, He is remaining faithful--He cannot disown Himself.” In other words, our belief or disbelief does not have anything to do with our salvation and we have already proven that “eonian life” is an essential part of salvation. What it affects is our reward as the context of these verses shows.>>>

Notice also:
For if we died together, we shall be living together also; Romans 2:2-11.
If we are enduring, we shall be reigning together also; Romans 8:17; 1Peter 4:13.
If we are disowning, He also will be disowning us; Matthew 10:33
If we are disbelieving, He is remaining faithful--He cannot disown Himself; Romans 3:3; 1Corintians 1:9.

“Of these things be reminding them, conjuring them in the Lord's sight not to engage in controversy for nothing useful, to the upsetting of those who are hearing.” (Verse 14)
<<<Would it be safe to say that there are minors in Christ that, could possibly be upset by teachings that are not in accord with Scripture, minors, having incomplete understanding, “surging hither and thither” (Eph 4:14), being offended by them? Who is and who is not a believer according to our definition, not Scripture, is a "controversy for nothing useful">>>

How does this help one's salvation or enjoyment of our allotment, to be "judging" whether or not any *is* a believer or is *not* a believer? Does a teaching such as this give one, "a greater appreciation of their own calling; a better understanding of the simplicity of the evangel; a heightened awareness of the stratagems of the Adversary; and a renewed vigor for evangelism" as some claim it will? (Words quoted from a professed teacher) I dare say that the "appreciation for one's calling" is directly related to the joy one receives as the Father manifests Himself to them. Placing one's calling above another who claims the same Savior as we do but lack in understanding in some areas, only causes one to be "puffed-up"…esteeming themselves up over their brethren. "A better understanding of the simplicity of the evangel"? Seems more complicated and controversial than it ever has before. "A heightened awareness of the stratagems of the Adversary"? I didn't realize that the Adversary had "freewill". Is this part of the evangel Paul brought? Are certain beliefs necessary for salvation unto eonian life? We have emphatically shown that the two are intricately tied so that they are, in fact, one!

"Now concerning the idol sacrifices: We are aware that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, yet love builds up. If anyone is presuming to know anything, he knew not as yet according as he must know. Now if anyone is loving God, this one is known by Him. Then, concerning the feeding on the idol sacrifices: We are aware that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God except One. For even if so be that there are those being termed gods, whether in heaven or on earth, even as there are many gods and many lords, nevertheless for us there is one God, the Father, out of Whom all is, and we for Him, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through Whom all is, and we through Him. But not in all is there this knowledge. Now some, used hitherto to the idol, are eating of it as an idol sacrifice, and their conscience, being weak, is being polluted. Now food will not give us a standing with God, neither, if we should not be eating are we in want, nor if we should be eating are we cloyed. Now beware lest somehow this right of yours may become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone should be seeing you, who has knowledge, lying down in an idol's shrine, will not the conscience of him who is weak be inured to the eating of the idol sacrifices? For the weak one is perishing also by your knowledge; the brother because of whom Christ died. Now in thus sinning against brethren, and beating their weak conscience, you are sinning against Christ. Wherefore, if food is snaring my brother, I may under no circumstances be eating meat for the eon, lest I should be snaring my brother. (1Corintian 8:1-12)

What is Paul saying here? Brethren, can we NOT see that there is a brother here, admittedly a "weak" brother, who "is perishing" by "our knowledge"? Paul says that this weak one may even believe that there are “many gods”. “One God, the Father, One Lord, Jesus Christ,” etc. "Not in all is there this knowledge." Not all have been blessed to have a deeper understanding and yet Paul clearly calls them, “brethren”. One such as this is, “my brother”!!!

If we know that it is no big deal to sit and eat meat offered to idols yet our weak brother is so offended that "our knowledge" is causing him to "stumble" and as a result he is becoming lost or suffering loss, perishing, we are "sinning against Christ", so says Paul.

Please notice that this word apollumi translated variously, perishing/perish/lost/destroy, is always used in a relative manner, never absolutely. There is such a thing as eonian loss but it is never in a permanent way. A similar point can be made about the word saved; it is wholly dependent upon the context. Example: the woman "saved" in childbearing is certainly not speaking of the "salvation" we receive in Christ. (1Tim.2:15) So with "apollumi" the context *must* determine the lost-ness.

A doctor can lose a patient but did that patient die or just find another doctor?
The bottom line is that people can believe WRONG things about God and still be saved having eonian life.

Another one for our consideration:
1Cor. 4: 3 "Now to me it is the least trifle that I may be being examined by you or by man's day. But neither am I examining myself. 4 For of nothing am I conscious as to myself, but not by this am I justified. Now He Who is examining me is the Lord. 5 So that, be not judging anything before the season, till the Lord should be coming, Who will also illuminate the hidden things of darkness and manifest the counsels of the hearts. And then applause will be coming to each one from God. 6 Now these things, brethren, I transfer in a figure to myself and Apollos because of you, that in us you may be learning not to be disposed above what is written, that you may not be puffed up, one over the one, against the other. 7 For who is making you to discriminate? Now what have you which you did not obtain? Now if you obtained it also, why are you boasting as though not obtaining?"

Paul is admitting that there were those who were, even in that day, "examining” him. But he says that he would not “examine himself”… Why? "For of nothing am I conscious as to myself…" Now if our Apostle could say this of himself, that he was, "of nothing am I conscious as to myself", then tell me, should we be determining for *someone else* whether or not they rightly believe? Paul said it was the LORD that examines him. That's HIS job. It is the job of the Head to be examining the body. In verse 5 he goes on to tell us, "be not judging anything before the season…" And that "season" would be? When, "the LORD should be coming..." Why? Because *HE* will, "illuminate the hidden things of darkness and manifest the counsels of the hearts." Oh, does this mean that we are NOT able to "manifest the counsels of the hearts"? I would say most emphatically, "Yes!"

Verse 6 of 1Cor.4 goes on to tell us that we should be, "learning not to be disposed above what is written…" This being true, and it most assuredly is, I have a question, or three, "Where does it say in Scripture that one must have complete understanding about the nature of death? Where does it say in Scripture that unless one believes that the lake of fire is not eternal or everlasting or rather have the correct understanding of judgment, they are not believers? Where does it say in Scripture that unless one understands the complete Sovereignty of God, or that belief in a Triune God prohibits one from truly believing not to mention that the Scripture, in fact, says that one "MUST BELIEVE" in order to be saved so it surely sounds like we MUST be doing something, i.e. “believe”?

Logically and relatively speaking, one must have "free will" if one "must believe", right? Now we who are mature or are at least growing in maturity, *know* that it is "God Who is operating in" us, but what of the seemingly "inherently weaker" member, the one who will appear *all along* weaker, for that is what "inherently" means? He will never *not* appear weak as to the flesh since this is how he has been "blended into the body" by God, what about him? Suppose he *thinks* he “must believe” to be saved? (Especially since we can *see* this in Scripture.) What would Paul, or perhaps Silas or both say to that? Acts 16:31 "Now they say, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household."

Where is a person supposed to begin in their walk with Him? Maybe I should even say, crawl, since I'm sure we must start off as babies, wouldn't you say? "Believe on the Lord Jesus…" Now I may not be an authority but I would have to say that *if* there was an "at least" to Paul's evangel, this would have to be it! "Believe on the Lord Jesus…" Yes, this would be an at least.

Now Paul tells us that the reason we should not "be disposed above what is written" is so "that you may not be puffed up, one over the one, against the other." So we see that *being* "disposed above that which is written" is, should I say, "a stratagem of the Adversary"? No, I would not dare say that since I *know* and *know* that I *know* that, absolutely, "The Lord knows those who are His," and "His achievement are we," and it is He, "Who is operating in you to will as well as to work for the sake of His delight," and "He chooses us in Him before the disruption of the world, we to be holy and flawless in His sight, in love designating us beforehand for the place of a son for Him through Christ Jesus; in accord with the delight of His will, for the laud of the glory of His grace, which graces us in the Beloved:"

Now a very sobering verse 7 of 1Cor 4: "For who is making you to discriminate? Now what have you which you did not obtain? Now if you obtained it also, why are you boasting as though not obtaining?"

Does this give you, "a greater appreciation of your calling"? (As some have said it would.) How about, "a better understanding of the simplicity of the evangel”? No? Well how about, "a heightened awareness of the stratagems of the Adversary" or perhaps, "a renewed vigor for evangelism?" (All underlined words here are quoted from someone who has said that those knowing who are true believers and who are not would be benefited by these things, i.e. the underlined things I have quoted here.) I'll tell you what it gives me, for all it's worth: it gives me a sense of humility and thankfulness that He doesn't place any burden on me such as determining for myself just who is and who isn't a believer. It gives me a sense of awe as I consider all His wonderful ways. It especially gives me great peace and rest knowing that He is in control and all that I experience is for my good and all my needs have been provided for by the Great Provider Himself and that His work in me will not fail.

In Romans the fourteenth chapter we have another example of God's saving grace.
Rom. 14:1 Now the infirm in the faith be taking to yourselves, but not for discrimination of reasonings. 2 One, indeed, is believing to eat all things, yet the infirm one is eating greens. 3 Let not him who is eating be scorning him who is not eating. Yet let not him who is not eating be judging him who is eating, for God took him to Himself. 4 Who are you who are judging Another's domestic? To his own Master he is standing or falling. Now he will be made to stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. 5 One indeed, is deciding for one day rather than another day, yet one is deciding for every day. Let each one be fully assured in his own mind. 6 He who is disposed to the day, is disposed to it to the Lord; and he who is eating, is eating to the Lord, for he is thanking God. And he who is not eating, to the Lord is not eating, and is thanking God. 7 For not one of us is living to himself, and not one is dying to himself. 8 For both, if we should be living, to the Lord are we living, and if we should be dying, to the Lord are we dying. Then, both if we should be living and if we should be dying, we are the Lord's. 9 For, for this Christ died and lives, that He should be Lord of the dead as well as of the living. 10 Now why are you judging your brother? Or why are you also scorning your brother? For all of us shall be presented at the dais of God, 11 for it is written: Living am I, the Lord is saying, For to Me shall bow every knee, And every tongue shall be acclaiming God! 12 Consequently, then, each of us shall be giving account concerning himself to God. 13 By no means, then, should we still be judging one another, but rather decide this, not to place a stumbling block for a brother, or a snare. 14 I have perceived and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is contaminating of itself, except that the one reckoning anything to be contaminating, to that one it is contaminating. 15 For if, because of food, your brother is sorrowing, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not, by your food, destroy that one for whose sake Christ died. 16 Let not, then, your good be calumniated, 17 for the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in holy spirit. 18 For he who in this is slaving for Christ, is well pleasing to God and attested by men. 19 Consequently, then, we are pursuing that which makes for peace and that which is for edification of one another. 20 Not on account of food demolish the work of God. All, indeed, is clean, but it is evil to the man who with stumbling is eating 21 It is ideal not to be eating meat, nor yet to be drinking wine, nor yet to do aught by which your brother is stumbling, or is being snared or weakened. 22 The faith which you have, have for yourself in God's sight. Happy is he who is not judging himself in that which he is attesting. 23 Now he who is doubting if he should be eating is condemned, seeing that it is not out of faith. Now everything which is not out of faith is sin.

This is another passage in which a brother can be destroyed (apollumi) by what we do.
When one is not walking according to love, a brother can be stumbled "or is being snared or weakened". Something like this could only happen when the one does not have a correct understanding of our faith. Someone who is immature in the faith, the same faith we would have, would not necessarily have the entirety of the salvation package all neatly tied up. They need not have all their ducks in a row in order to be brethren. They are being "snared" by what WE do, not by the stratagems of the Adversary. Notice, "God took him to Himself." This "infirm" one belongs to God. And this serious and sober warning of verse 4: "Who are you who are judging Another's domestic? To his own Master he is standing or falling. Now he will be made to stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand" is directed at us. I've heard it said that this teaching being espoused was not about a matter of judging but, pray tell, what is: "discrimination of reasoning’s" if it isn't "judging" as we are warned in verse 4? Please brethren, read and reread this very important chapter to see the significance of placing ourselves in judgment of an "infirm" one.

The ones who are a threat to "believers" typically are *other* believers or, since we know that their beliefs differ from ours, I will call them "brothers" since Paul does the same. Think about this: Is it NOT other "brothers" who plague us for our beliefs? Why would those of the world, those who have NO interest in God whatsoever, really give a good care what we do or believe? The fact is that they DO NOT. But brothers, oh yes, we are all too quick to judge and consign labels or such to each other, in love of course. We are all too quick to "calumniate" as Paul points out, which means to make malicious false statements about; harm-aver, in the Greek.

I have another example for your consideration:
Rom. 16:17 Now I am entreating you, brethren, to be noting those who are making dissensions and snares beside the teaching which you learned, and avoid them, 18 for such for our Lord Christ are not slaving, but for their own bowels, and through compliments and adulation are deluding the hearts of the innocent.

On the heels of all that went before in chapter 16, Paul greeting so many and such, Paul admonishes us to be "noting those who are making dissensions and snares". There are those among us, then, that could be doing such as this. Paul says to "avoid them". He says they do not slave for our "Lord Christ", but rather they are slaving "for their own bowels." The word "bowels" speaks to a self-serving type of attitude and yet Paul shows us that they would be in our midst.

Notice what Paul says of disorderly brethren:
2Thes. 3:6 Now we are charging you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to be putting yourselves from every brother who is walking disorderly and not in accord with the tradition which they accepted from us. 7 For you yourselves are aware how you must be imitating us, for we are not disorderly among you, 8 neither did we eat bread gratuitously from anyone, but, with toil and labor, we are working night and day, so as not to be burdensome to any of you. 9 Not that we have not the right, but that we may be giving you ourselves as a model for you to be imitating us. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave this charge to you: that "If anyone is not willing to work, neither let him eat." 11 For we are hearing that some among you are walking disorderly, working at nothing, but are meddling. 12 Now such we are charging and entreating in the Lord Jesus Christ, that, working with quietness, they may be eating their own bread. 13 Now you, brethren, should not be despondent in ideal doing. 14 Now if anyone is not obeying our word through this epistle, let it be a sign to you as to this man, not to commingle with him, that he may be abashed; 15 and do not deem him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Paul is showing us more of the same. "Brothers" who are "walking disorderly." Again, we are not to "commingle" with these brothers. He does not tell us that they will not have eonian life. I would think that this would have been an ideal opportunity to do so.

And this one:
Phil. 3:15 Whoever, then, are mature, may be disposed to this, and if in anything you are differently disposed, <<<so there are those who are differently disposed>>> this also shall God reveal to you. <<<This is part of the maturing process>>> 16 Moreover, in what we outstrip others, <<<we are all at different levels of maturity>>> there is to be a mutual disposition <<<being considerate, mutually disposed>>> to be observing the elements by the same rule. <<<To me this means walking where they are walking, in love. >>> 17 Become imitators together of me, brethren, and be noting those who are walking thus, according as you have us for a model, 18 for many are walking, of whom I often told you, yet now am lamenting also as I tell it, who are enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose consummation <<<what they are leading toward, their accomplishment>>> is destruction, <<loss of wages>> whose god is their bowels, and whose glory is in their shame, who to the terrestrial are disposed.

This would have to be the capstone passage of believers who walk disorderly. Notice that Paul says there are those who are "differently disposed" but God is in control so they will have Him revealing what they need to know as He sees fit.

Some of us would "outstrip others". They would have more knowledge, a greater understanding of the things of God. This is a necessary part of the body. These should be mutually disposed to those they can benefit by their superiority, walking as Paul and noting others who do the same so they could be the models.

He says, "many are walking" who are "enemies of the cross of Christ." The fact that they "are walking" shows us that they are brothers. Also, the fact that Paul is "lamenting" about this shows his great concern over these "enemies". Why would Paul use a word like "lament" about unbelievers? Why would Paul tell them "often" about unbelievers? Paul's concern is NOT for those of the world, unbelievers. Paul loved his brethren and he "laments" when they are found to be "walking disorderly". Just as he would have "great sorrow and pain in his heart" over his brethren according to the flesh, Rom. 9:1-3. How much more for his brethren according to the Spirit. See what he says here in 1Thes. 2:1-12 in this very regard:

“For you yourselves are aware, brethren, that our entrance to you has not come to be for naught, 2 but, though suffering before and being outraged in Philippi, according as you are aware, we are bold in our God to speak the evangel of God to you with a vast struggle.

3 For our entreaty is not out of deception, nor yet out of uncleanness, nor yet with guile 4 but, according as we have been tested by God to be entrusted with the evangel, thus are we speaking, not as pleasing men, but God, Who is testing our hearts. 5 For neither did we at any time become flattering in expression, according as you are aware; neither with a pretense for greed, God is witness; 6 neither seeking glory from men, neither from you, nor from others, when we could be a burden as Christ's apostles. 7 But we became gentle in your midst, as a nurse should be cherishing her own children. 8 Thus being ardently attached to you, we are delighting to share with you not only the evangel of God, but our own souls also, because you came to be beloved by us. 9 For you remember, brethren, our toil and labor: working night and day so as not to be burdensome to any of you, we herald to you the evangel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God, how benignly and justly and blamelessly we became to you who are believing, 11 even as you are aware how we were to each one of you, as a father to his own children, consoling and comforting you and attesting unto you 12 to be walking worthily of God, Who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.”

Now someone who was that close and caring for his brethren would certainly "lament" over some of them who would "walk disorderly" becoming "enemies of the cross." These "enemies" walk as to their own "bowels". They are like the ones who followed Moses out of Egypt and cannot go back but are miserable, focusing only on the flesh (terrestrial), and like those who followed Moses, they were saved from Egypt but died in the wilderness. Paul says this is an example for us in 1 Cor.10:11-12. Please read verses.1-12.

Let's look at something else in Paul's writings to the Corinthian ecclesia:

1Cor 1:1 “Paul, a called apostle of Christ Jesus, through the will of God, and Sosthenes, a brother, 2 to the ecclesia of God which is in Corinth, hallowed in Christ Jesus, called saints, together with all in every place who are invoking the name of our Lord, Jesus…”

Obviously those in the "ecclesia" at Corinth were believers, brethren, brothers.

15:1 “Now I am making known to you, brethren, the evangel which I bring to you, which also you accepted, in which also you stand, 2 through which also you are saved, if you are retaining what I said in bringing the evangel to you, outside and except you believe feignedly. 3 For I give over to you among the first what also I accepted, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, 4 and that He was entombed, and that He has been roused the third day according to the scriptures…”

Now notice:
12 “Now if Christ is being heralded that He has been roused from among the dead, how are some among you saying that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 Now if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been roused.”

So when we read a little further in 1Corintians, we see that some there at Corinth did NOT believe in the resurrection of the dead.

Question: Can one not believe in the resurrection of the dead and *still* be a believer?
Answer: According to Paul, I would have to say, "Yes!"

Who Are The Lord’s?

2Tim 2:19 Howbeit, the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: The Lord knew those who are His, and, Let everyone who is naming the name of the Lord withdraw from injustice. 20 Now in a great house there are not only gold and silver utensils, but wooden and earthenware also, and some indeed for honor, yet some for dishonor. 21 If, then, anyone should ever be purging himself from these, he will be a utensil for honor, hallowed, and useful to the Owner, made ready for every good act.

<<<Could one call it an "injustice" to place a label on a person because of his beliefs or wrong belief's? I mean to say, perhaps, even more than a label? Going so far as to determine for them by the broad sweep of a certain teaching that they are not part of the body of Christ when it is HIM and *only* HIM that "knows those who are His"? Are we in the place to, "know those who are His"? I don't know about you but I have a hard enough time knowing about myself let alone "the counsels of the hearts" of those not made privy to me. >>>

22 "Now youthful desires flee: yet pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with all who are invoking the Lord out of a clean heart."

<<<Can we know who has a "clean heart"? If someone, "out of a clean heart", a heart that *thinks* that Jesus is their Savior, a heart that sees no guile in believing that in God's justice it is necessary for some to suffer eternal torment, a heart that HE has not graced to see the difference between being stone-cold dead and having a spirit that is joined with the Father in paradise upon death, a heart that believes that they *must* be believing: can we safely say that that one is a "believer", a "brother" albeit a wrong-believer and not an unbeliever? An immature "believer", perhaps, but not suffering eonian destruction? Paul does and we should, too! >>>

23 "Now stupid and crude questionings refuse, being aware that they are generating fightings."

<<<If my questions are "stupid and crude" then here is what you are instructed to do with them: "REFUSE" delivery! >>>

24 Now a slave of the Lord must not be fighting, but be gentle toward all, apt to teach, bearing with evil, 25 with meekness training those who are antagonizing, seeing whether God may be giving them repentance to come into a realization of the truth, 26 and they will be sobering up out of the trap of the Adversary, having been caught alive by him, for that one's will.

<<<…"with meekness ***training*** those who are antagonizing”… Why? "seeing whether God may be giving them repentance to come into a realization of the truth…" Oh Wow! Now I get it…. Silly me! “Training those antagonizing”…. What a novel idea! Verse 26 says that they are in the "trap of the Adversary" and relatively speaking, we know this is true, don't we? But absolutely, what? Oh yeah, both, "to will as well as to work" for Whose “delight”? >>>

Let’s take a further look at the church that was at Corinth…
A Short Look at the Corinthian Brethren

Just a couple of more points concerning the Corinthians. The Corinthian writings comprise the longest of all Paul's writings. The “brethren” there, for that is what Paul calls them: "the ecclesia of God which is in Corinth, hallowed in Christ Jesus, called saints, together with all in every place who are invoking the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, both theirs and ours" were believing error. Example: some believed there was no resurrection from the dead. 1Co 15:12. If they didn't believe that there was a resurrection of the dead could it be that they believed that the dead body parted with its immortal soul and thereby continued living in another realm? Being Greeks, did they believe in the immortality of the soul?

Regardless of what they believed, we have Paul's assurance that they were in fact, "the ecclesia of God, hallowed in Christ Jesus, called saints, together with all in every place who are invoking the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ…" Notice: "together with all in every place who are invoking the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ." We read earlier in the passages I quoted that if any were "invoking the name of our Lord," and he tells us who that Lord is, Jesus Christ, "out of a clean heart" (2Ti 2:22) then that one would be a member of the body of Christ, the ecclesia of God. Here we see this confirmed in Paul's letter to the Corinthians. Any and all who are "invoking the name" are considered "the ecclesia of God; hallowed in Christ Jesus, called saints, together with all in every place who are invoking the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ…"

Surely we can see that the fact that these brethren did not believe in the resurrection means just that. Now if they didn't believe in a resurrection then I would assume that means *any* resurrection and that would have to include the resurrection of our Lord. Now according to those teaching, “What is a believer,” these Corinthians were not 'really' brethren but rather "feigned" brethren. Yet, Paul makes no illusion to this, in fact, just the opposite, he treats them with the respect due any who "invoke the name" and entreats them as to their error. Also, there is NO such thing as "feigned brethren" as some say, but rather those who "believe feignedly".

Notice this: the Corinthians were definitely guilty of creating "schisms". It is evident that they were divided, not believing the same things having "strifes", notice, more than one 'strife', among them. 1Cor.1:12 "Now I am saying this, that each of you is saying, "I, indeed, am of Paul," yet "I of Apollos," yet "I of Cephas," yet "I of Christ." Yikes! Some were 'even' saying they were "of Christ" and yet were still being blamed by Paul of causing "schisms". He said that, "Christ *is* parted" because of this. Let me put it to you this way? "I am of the eternal torment troop. I am of the Triune God troop. I am of the "my will not Thy will" troop. I am of Christ, that He "died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that He was entombed, and that He has been roused the third day according to the scriptures," troop. Do you get my drift?

Then interestingly, Paul, kind of sums it up this way: 17 "For Christ does not commission me to be baptizing, but to be bringing the evangel, not in wisdom of word, lest the cross of Christ may be made void." Did you catch that? "NOT IN WISDOM OF WORD"! Why? "…lest the cross of Christ be made void."

Paul was telling them, the brethren, the ecclesia of God, the saints, that he was not able to come to them (2:1) "in superiority of word" because they were fleshly, (3:1), only able to digest milk. (Had they been soulish they would not even have been able to receive milk since they are the perishing of 1Cor.1:18; see 1Cor.2:14 & Jude 19).

Paul is telling us that the cross of Christ can be made void by "wisdom of word" (1:17) because *thinking* one must have superior knowledge to be saved, or that superior knowledge is necessary for salvation causes one to become "puffed-up". The simplicity that is the message of the cross becomes void, empty. One does NOT have to be educated into salvation. Let's not try to make an issue where there is no issue.

It's all about the flesh. The flesh wants rituals, baptizing or the like, communion, keeping of days, or it wants wisdom. Wisdom is a much more subtle aspect since it is not an outward sign of the flesh but it is nonetheless fleshy or fleshly. "Wisdom" says we need certain knowledge to be saved. The cross of Christ says, NO! "Wisdom" says believers must have an "at least" understanding of Paul's evangel. The cross of Christ says, NO!!!

18 For the word of the cross is stupidity, indeed, to those who are perishing, yet to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

<<<Let's stop right here and notice something *very* important: those who are "perishing", and we *know* that this word only means lost, i.e. passing out of one's possession or beyond immediate reach, are being *contrasted* with the one's who are being saved. Two very different categories of people. Can one know *anything* of the "word of the cross" without the Holy Spirit of God opening their eyes? These who "are perishing" do not, I repeat, "DO NOT" have any clue as to the meaning of the cross; neither do they understand anything of their Savior. The cross is "stupidity" to them. Why? Because they have not been enlightened as to "apprehend" any, and I mean *ANY* part of it. *If* they had even a remote understanding that the "cross" meant salvation for them, that would have to mean that they have been given the Holy Spirit of God and that the Holy Spirit is working in them in some small way so as to give them a hope even if they *think* that they somehow work conjunctively with It to achieve that goal. >>>

19 For it is written, I shall be destroying the wisdom of the wise, and the understanding of the intelligent shall I be repudiating. 20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the discusser of this eon? Does not God make stupid the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in fact, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom knew not God, God delights, through the stupidity of the heralding, to save those who are believing,

<<<I guess we could say that there are a lot of "discussers" of this eon. Some of what they discuss is disgusting. But notice this: PAUL IS TALKING ABOUT THE WORLD! "Does God not make stupid the wisdom of this world:"…"the world through wisdom knew not God." How? "IN THE WISDOM OF GOD"! Not by the "stratagems of the Adversary." Not through incorrect doctrine. Read it again: "For since, in fact, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom knew not God, God delights, through the stupidity of the heralding, to save those who are believing," Do we, brethren, have eyes to see the difference here? He is saving "those who are believing" by the "stupidity of the heralding." I'll tell you what; those "wise of the world" will surely be surprised when God shows them HIS work in us. >>>

Give Him to Satan?

In 1Cor.5 we see that there was something going on that was quite controversial. Following Paul's admonition here to, "give up such a one to Satan" we have this:

9 “I write to you in the epistle not to be commingling with paramours. 10 And undoubtedly it is not as to the paramours of this world, or the greedy and extortionate, or idolaters, else, consequently, you ought to come out of the world. 11 Yet now I write to you not to be commingling with anyone named a brother, if he should be a paramour, or greedy, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner. With such a one you are not even to be eating. 12 For what is it to me to be judging those outside? You are not judging those within! 13 Now those outside, God is judging. Expel the wicked one from among yourselves.”

So there are brothers that are "idolaters" just to name one of the many categories here. What is an "idolater"? Would it be one who worships something other than the True God? Would it be one that worships a false notion of the True God? Would it be one that worships himself, believing that he must "do something" to be saved, i.e. "just believe"?

My point is that all these that fall into the categories Paul mentions are, now get this, "BROTHERS". There can be no doubt that he is referring to those who are of the body since he shows this by his statement regarding the world. If it were those of the world he was speaking of then we would have to "come out of the world". We are not to "commingle" with "BROTHERS" who fall into those categories. Does Paul say it is because they are NOT "brothers"? NO! In fact, he says just the opposite. It is *because* they are brothers that we should not "commingle". He says that IF it were the world he was referring to we would have to come out of the world and how would we be able to do that especially since it is to the world we must be being ambassadors.

Brothers according to Paul. Hmmm, very interesting, wouldn't you have to say?

We see this in several places. Paul makes it a point to show that just because one is believing erroneously, even to the point of vigorously opposing us or part of the evangel, that they are *still* brethren, brothers. Even when he is admonishing us to steer-clear of them he never says that they are 'not' brothers. The fact they any who can understand even the simplest statement concerning part of the evangel, i.e., Paul's statement to the Philippian jailer in Acts 16:31, "Believe on the Lord", etc., shows that the "earnest" of the Spirit had been given. The jailer has asked what he needed to do to be saved, literally, "to be being saved." This shows he had some concern as to his well-being in regard to something more of the spiritual realm and not just the physical.

When God gives the "earnest" of the Spirit it is to show His intention regarding that person. By His standards HE is putting Himself on the line as to the outcome of His investment. There would be NO way He would give the "earnest" only to take it away. It is HIS reputation that is on the line since HE is the Master Potter and we are HIS achievement.

Summation

I have endeavored to present a systematic and logical assessment of what it means to be a believer and what would be the allotment of such. We have seen that salvation and eonian life are intricately tied together, so much so, that they are as one. One cannot separate one from the other without doing implausible violence to the Scriptures that speak on such things.

We have learned that believers can believe wrong things and still be considered believers by the Apostle Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles. In fact, Paul actually calls them his brethren even when he is telling other brethren not to co-mingle with them because of a disreputable lifestyle. He still refers to them as “brethren” …his brethren.

He says that if, “…anyone named a brother, if he should be a paramour, or greedy, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner,” that, “With such a one you are not even to be eating.” (1Cor 5:11)

Brethren, we have to admit that we would be hard pressed to accept someone as described above as a brother from our soulish point of view and yet we have our Apostle setting us the example and calling them, “brothers”. I find it hard to believe that anyone reading how Paul handled a situation such as this would be so quick, and more ashamedly, willing to consign these brothers, our brethren, to the lake of fire, the second death.

Do we have the insight into these things to be able to determine for ourselves just who is and who isn’t a believer in the eyes of Him Who called them into such? Do we have the right to decide for HIM who will be consigned to the lake of fire and who will not? Do we have the ability to read the hearts of people who claim the same Name as we do as our Savior to know whether or not they believe feignedly? Do we have the presence of mind to be able determine the rightness and wrongness of someone else’s behavior and to determine if they are falling short of the mark that HE has given them and then actually causes them to achieve by HIS Spirit working in us? Do we have the ability to see the works that are done and the motives that they are done thereby, or even not done thereby, and call them missing the mark, sinners? Lake of fire material? Wrong? Fakers? Don’t we realize that they do and believe according to the just requirements of Him?

I dare not attempt to decide for Him the way my brethren should go and what they should believe. Especially knowing that they believe and do according to the working of Him in them by the power of the Holy Spirit that HE has given as an earnest, the down payment of their eonian life. The down payment of “the enjoyment of our allotment, to the deliverance of that which has been procured.” All of Him, brethren… ALL OF HIM!!!

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who blesses us with every spiritual blessing among the celestials, in Christ, according as He chooses us in Him before the disruption of the world, we to be holy and flawless in His sight, in love designating us beforehand for the place of a son for Him through Christ Jesus; in accord with the delight of His will, for the laud of the glory of His grace, which graces us in the Beloved: in Whom we are having the deliverance through His blood, the forgiveness of offences in accord with the riches of His grace, which He lavishes on us; in all wisdom and prudence making known to us the secret of His will (in accord with His delight, which He purposed in Him) to have an administration of the complement of the eras, to head up all in the Christ--both that in the heavens and that on the earth-- in Him in Whom our lot was cast also, being designated beforehand according to the purpose of the One Who is operating all in accord with the counsel of His will, that we should be for the laud of His glory, who are pre-expectant in the Christ. In Whom you also--on hearing the word of truth, the evangel of your salvation--in Whom on believing also, you are sealed with the holy spirit of promise (which is an earnest of the enjoyment of our allotment, to the deliverance of that which has been procured) for the laud of His glory! (Eph 1:3-14) AMEN!!!

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By J. Tessier

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