The Body of Christ (No. 12B)

The Church of God must be somewhere on this planet. Christ said in Matthew 16:18 that the Gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. The term refers to the grave and the meaning is that the grave shall not prevail against the power of the church to overcome death and participate in the resurrection. These references are also seen in Isaiah 38:10, Job 38:17 in the LXX and Psalm 9:13. We know from the texts in Daniel chapter 12 and in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 that the churches will be operational until the return of the Messiah.

That body is the Body of Christ. We have a responsibility to find it and join it and keep the Lord’s Supper with it and preach the gospel of the kingdom of God in and from it and then provide baptism through its organised structure.

The Bible is clear about the Body of Christ as we see.

One Body

1Corinthians 10:15-17

[15] I speak as to sensible men; judge for yourselves what I say. [16] The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? [17] Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. (RSV used throughout)

Thus we who are many partake of one cup and one bread which is of itself the Body of Christ. We are required to examine ourselves in eating and drinking the body. We are required to discern the body for if we do not do that we bring judgment on ourselves. Thus we must identify the correct body and partake of the Lord’s Supper with that body or else we bring judgment on ourselves. Thus we cannot take the Lord’s Supper incorrectly and with an unauthorised body of people not properly designated and fitted to perform as the Body of Christ.

1Corinthians 11:28-29

[28] Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. [29] For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself.

The church has administrations and works and gifts but it is all to the same Lord and in the same Spirit who is given that Spirit as it benefits the Body in speaking and teaching, in languages and educating the brethren in the faith, and in that faith the working of miracles and of healing.

1Corinthians 12:1-14

[1] Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be uninformed. [2] You know that when you were heathen, you were led astray to dumb idols, however you may have been moved. [3] Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says "Jesus be cursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit. [4] Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; [5] and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; [6] and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in every one. [7] To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. [8] To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, [9] to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, [10] to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. [11] All these are inspired by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. [12] For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. [13] For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body -- Jews or Greeks, slaves or free -- and all were made to drink of one Spirit. [14] For the body does not consist of one member but of many.

The Spirit works in all of us and apportions to us skills and gifts as required to benefit the Body of Christ as the Church of God. We were baptised into the one body by one Spirit and we are joined to that group. Some of us are given the gift of the discernment of spirits as part of, and in the service of, that body. It is that group that is the Commonwealth of Israel and the combined structure of the Covenant of Promise. The Body does not consist of one member but of many and thus no person can refuse to meet together as part of the body and remain in the faith. There can be no dividing wall of hostility. Through Christ we have access to God through the one Spirit that dwells in all of us. We are not to remain strangers and sojourners but we are to be joined together into one Holy Temple as a fit dwelling place for God in the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:12-22

[12] remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. [13] But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near in the blood of Christ. [14] For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, [15] by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, [16] and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. [17] And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; [18] for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. [19] So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, [20] built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, [21] in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; [22] in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

It is as one body, as brothers and sisters in the faith in that one body, that we are required to be together so that God may dwell in all of us. We are stewards of God’s Grace in that union of fellow heirs, both Israelite and Gentile. As Christ said: He that is not with me is against me and he that gathers not with me scatters abroad (Mat. 12:30). So also he said, when told that his mother and his brethren (brothers and sisters) were standing outside: Who is my mother and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand to his disciples, and said, ‘Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever does the will of my Father Which is in heaven, the same is my brother and my sister and mother (Mat. 12:47-50).

Ephesians 3:1-6

[1] For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles --[2] assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, [3] how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. [4] When you read this you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, [5] which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; [6] that is, how the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

So also we should be eager to maintain the Spirit in the bond of peace in that one body and one Spirit. We have one Lord, one faith, one baptism with one God and Father of us all who is above all and in all.

Ephesians 4:1-6

[1] I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, [2] with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, [3] eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [4] There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, [5] one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6] one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.

Christ is our head and the body grown and properly knitted together through every joint that is supplied to it. We are designed and put together according to the needs of the Church of God as the Body and we are required to stay at our posts until our task is finished. We simply cannot desert our posts. The punishment for an idol shepherd that deserts the post is to go blind in the right eye and have his right arm (or eldest son) cut off (Zech. 11:17). Messiah was to be set up over the body and we were to be judged as sheep against sheep and that is the final measure of the Body of Christ (Ezek. 34:19-20).

Speak the truth in love.

Ephesians 4:15-16

[15] Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, [16] from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every joint with which it is supplied, when each part is working properly, makes bodily growth and upbuilds itself in love.

So we in that body are renewed in knowledge after the image of our creator. We have a new nature. We are God’s chosen ones put together from all walks of life and all nations in one body as one group in one faith in the image of God and we are to remain together. With all our attributes and love and compassion, forgiving one another, helping to save one another and encouraging one another to remain steadfast. In our love for one another we remain steadfast in the peace of Christ to which we were called into the one body. How can we remain apart, not understanding the injunctions of the faith and the call of the Spirit? Are we blind and deaf to the Spirit of God that motivates us?

Colossians 3:8-15

But now put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth. [9] Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices [10] and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. [11] Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scyth'ian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all. [12] Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, [13] forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. [14] And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. [15] And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.

How can we become accusers of our brethren and defame the Body of Christ by malice and slander. We are all different parts of the body with different functions and we are required to esteem each other greater than ourselves and encourage one another. We have gifts according to the grace given to us. Use them in proportion to our faith in the skills with which we find ourselves blest. Teach and exhort one another with zeal and give with generosity and cheerfulness. In each day we meet together praise God for each other and strive to work hard. Let the old rejoice in the young and the young aid the old and exhort them as brothers. As we are told, never weary in good deeds; nor are we to flag in zeal. Serve God with all our might. Bless those who persecute us and never let the body be a source of offence. Do not be arrogant, and associate with all the brethren regardless of means and position and health, except when in quarantine for the welfare of the body. Always bless those whom you can and do and say what is noble in the sight of all.

Romans 12:4-18

[4] For as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, [5] so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. [6] Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; [7] if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; [8] he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. [9] Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; [10] love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honour. [11] Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. [12] Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. [13] Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality. [14] Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. [15] Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. [16] Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; never be conceited. [17] Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. [18] If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all.

Be at peace with all mankind.

Hebrews 10:23-25

[23] Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful; [24] and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, [25] not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Make sure that we encourage one another and hold fast to our confession of faith, as God is faithful in what He promised us. Encourage everyone and stir them up to good works.

The Body to which we are called is constant and so must our faith be constant. We are to discern the body and remain steadfast in that body.

The following text isolates the logic involved in the Bible texts regarding the existence of the Churches of God over time.

This aspect of whom we worship and when we worship should be examined by us all. This text, from 2004 and 2010, is a logical basis for the Church of God and its calendar. There is a chain of irrefutable logic that runs along these lines.

It is appropriate that we examine some basic premises upon which Jesus Christ and the Church of God operate and have operated over the last two millennia. Christ does not change in dealing with the church. Only the church sometimes has a problem in listening.

The basic truths are fundamental to the operation of the Church of God and its identification over the centuries.

Axiom 1. There is One True God, the only God, who alone is eternal, immortal and invisible (1Tim. 1:17; 6:16).

Axiom 2. God is immutable or unchangeable as is His counsel (Heb. 6:17-18).

Axiom 3. The One True God no man has ever seen or ever can see. No man has heard His voice or seen His form ever (Jn. 1:18; 1Jn. 5:20; 1Tim. 6:16).

Axiom 4. Jesus Christ, the one being in the bosom of the Father, spoke or declared Him (Jn. 1:18).

Axiom 5. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow (Heb. 13:8).

Axiom 6. Jesus Christ came to do the will of the Father and finish His work (Jn. 4:34).
Axiom 7. God is the God and Father of Jesus Christ and also the elect (Jn. 20:17; Rom. 15:6; 2Cor.1: 3; 11:31; Eph. 1:3, 17; Col. 1:3; Heb. 1:1ff; 1Pet. 1:3; 2Jn. 3; Rev. 1:1,6; 15:3).

Axiom 8. Eternal life is given to the Church and this is conditional on them knowing the Father and Jesus Christ whom He sent (Jn. 17:3); and continuing in patient well doing (Rom. 2:7).
Axiom 9. Scripture cannot be broken (Jn. 10:34-35).

Axiom 10. The Holy Spirit is the power of God that God uses to empower the people He chooses, calls, justifies and glorifies through Jesus Christ (cf. Jn. 20:22; Acts 2:1-47; Rom. 8:28-35).

Axiom 11. Not one jot or tittle will pass from the Law of God until heaven and earth pass away (Mat. 5:18).

Axiom 12. Christ kept the Temple Calendar and was without sin. Therefore the Temple Calendar is the correct Calendar.

It follows that:

Premise 1 (Axiom 5). If Christ is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow and does the will of God (Axiom 6); and

Premise 2 (Axiom 2). God is immutable; then

Conclusion 1: Both continue in the tasks God determined and set before them.

Premise 3. If Christ was sent to establish the Church in immortality, which was to be extended to it as it was extended to Christ (Axiom 8); and

Premise 4. Christ is the same over time continuing in the will of the Father; then

Conclusion 2: The Church, under the direction of Christ, continues in those teachings and the Laws of the Father, being added to according to the Will of the Father.

Premise 5. Christ said that the gates of death would not prevail against the Church; and

Premise 6. Scripture cannot be broken (Axiom 9); then

Conclusion 3: The Church must have been alive for 2000 years from the time Christ established it under the apostles.

Premise 7. If God has been working through Christ using the Holy Spirit (Axiom 10); and

Premise 8. Does not change and Christ continues in that will; then

Conclusion 4: The Church does not change but rather waxes and wanes in knowledge as the Spirit is used and directs it.

Premise 9. If God and Christ do not change; and

Premise 10. The Church does not change being based on the Law of God, which also does not change (Axiom 11) proceeding through the Holy Spirit;

Conclusion 5: Then the Church is an identifiable body of believers that must adhere to the original teachings of the Church in varying degrees and is present on the planet to this very day.

From Conclusion 5 we are simply faced with the task of identifying the faith once delivered to the saints (cf. Jude) by identifying the Bible teachings and the doctrines of the early Church, and chart the course of those beliefs through history.

This line of reasoning is irrefutable as the axioms are biblical truths, and the premises are biblically true, and the logic is valid, therefore the conclusions are true.

We can also deduce that God and Christ are not the same Being, they are two separate beings, and that God is the God and Father of Jesus Christ. We know that Christ was granted immortality by God who alone is immortal (Axiom 1). We know that it is God’s plan that we are all to be granted immortality (Axiom 8) and that this immortality is dependent upon the obedience of the brethren to the Will of God, and the Law and the Testimony or faith of Jesus Christ (cf. Rev. 12:17; 14:12; Axioms 8 and 11).

It follows then, as the night follows the day, that the Church has been operational and continuing in its various facets for two millennia and is not the product of some new teachings by organisations that appear from time to time. The early Church was entirely Unitarian. The Ditheist/Binitarian system was a pagan doctrine of Attis that entered the Church in the second century. This doctrine resulted in the Binitarianism of the Council of Nicea and the Trinitarianism of the Council of Constantinople in 381. It has penetrated the Churches of God, on and off, for centuries. The last time it entered the Church of God was under the Armstrongite ministries and then later through infiltration into the other Churches of God. To this extent, the Churches of God are rotten with this heresy to this very day and have to be cleansed of it. The way this error could be infiltrated into the Churches of God was by cult indoctrination, and the false idea that the Church had been sleeping from Paul to the twentieth century. It was allegedly suddenly given this new truth by Ellen G. White, or Armstrong, or any number of false prophets claiming to lead the Churches of God. Nothing could be further from the truth. The very last sermon Herbert Armstrong gave was to reinforce the heresy of the Ditheism he introduced to the Church as the lasting error of his ministry.

The fact is that, from the above, the Church must be alive and must be operational on the same doctrines of the Laws of God, or God and Christ are both liars. Baptism is conferred by the Church on repentant adults and with that conferring comes the Holy Spirit. Each of us has an obligation to find that Church, and be baptised by its officers into the body of Christ, and to work for that body until we die or the return of Messiah, whichever comes first.

The fact is that it can be identified by its historical doctrines and it is not idolatrous. It adheres to the Laws of God. The Church of God in Europe is recorded and their beliefs are also recorded. We have a record of the Church from the fifteenth century onwards and there is no difference between them and CCG doctrines at all (cf. Kohn, Sabbatarians in Transylvania, CCG 1998). See also the history and doctrines of the Sabbath-keeping Churches in the papers General Distribution of the Sabbath-keeping Churches (No. 122) and also Role of the Fourth Commandment in the Historical Sabbath-keeping Churches of God (No. 170).

Premise 11. The Churches of God vary and fluctuate in their understanding but never cease to exist.

Premise 12. From Axiom 3 the church must exist today.

Conclusion 6: There must be a church existent today with a set of doctrines according to the doctrines set down by Christ in some degree.

Premise 13. Revelation chapters 2 and 3 show that these churches over time carry authority by exercise of the lamp-stand (incorrectly termed candlestick).

Premise 14. These churches exercise doctrinal authority in worship of the one true God.

Conclusion 7: Somewhere there must be a church with doctrinal authority exercising power as originally directed and as delegated by Jesus Christ.

Premise 15. Each person baptised into the body of Christ has an obligation to work to and for the body of Christ as organised into the Church of God wherever it is.

Premise 16. From Axiom 2 there is one faith delivered which therefore must be identifiable.
Conclusion 8: It must be possible to identify the historical church and work for that Church.

Premise 17. From Paul: There are many organisations or administrations but one Lord.

Premise 18. The various administrations are all part of the Church of God.

Conclusion 9: Administrative difference does not disqualify one from the Kingdom.

Premise 19. Some churches are doctrinally different.

Premise 20. Doctrinal error disqualifies some churches from the kingdom of God.

Conclusion 10: There are some doctrines that disqualify and some that do not disqualify individuals and churches from membership.

Premise 21. God tests the works of all builders of the Temple of God.

Premise 22. Doctrinally and spiritually unsound churches are unable to stand tests.

Conclusion 11: The churches broken down in the 20th century were doctrinally and spiritually unsound.

From the axioms and from Conclusions 6, 7 and 8 and previously there must be a church today that has the most clearly identifiable historical doctrines.

That church must hold the lamp-stand (erroneously termed candlestick) of Christ. That church must be supported by the elect.

Now as all these are valid arguments from true propositions they are both valid and true conclusions. It behoves us therefore to identify the church on the planet with the doctrines of the faith once delivered to the saints and work with them.

If it is not the Christian Churches of God then it must be found and our weight thrown behind it. If it is the Christian Churches of God then all the elect have a responsibility to work to that organisation. It is not a matter of faction fighting and failure to work to organisations due to administrative infighting in those purporting to be the Churches of God.

The Worldwide Church of God was overthrown because it was doctrinally and administratively aberrant.

The United Church of God, LCG and other churches were reproductions of the same abusive doctrinally incorrect system. All offshoots using the same doctrines from the WCG system as invented by Armstrong and the ministry of the 1970s are incorrect and part of a system that God has already tested, rejected and has broken up or is breaking up. This system was the Sardis system by the same process of reasoning or logic we see above.

Argument 2. re Sardis

Axioms
13. The Sardis system is a dead system.

14. There are some in Sardis who are not dead as per Revelation.

15. Christ stated that it has the name that it is living but it is dead.

Premise 2.1. From Axiom 15 one of the churches of Sardis must take the name that says it is Living.

Premise 2.2. The last church to form under the WCG offshoot system was the Living Church of God.

Conclusion 2.1: This church system must be considered a candidate for the Sardis system.

Premise 2.3. The WCG system has an offshoot that says it is the Living Church of God.

Premise 2.4. There are no other Churches of God in history that claimed the name Living Church of God.

Conclusion 2-2: The Living Church of God is the only candidate for the demarcation marker of the Sardis system.

Premise 2.5. From Conclusion 2: If it is a true Church of God it must fulfil the prophecy at Revelation forming the Axiom 15.

Premise 2.6. Living was a part of the ministerial system of WCG taking its ministry and doctrinal position and authority from that system.

Conclusion 2.3: The WCG system, if it is a biblical system, is the last of the Sardis era.

Premise 2.7. Herbert Armstrong identified the Church of God Seventh Day as the Sardis system.

Premise 2.8. Herbert Armstrong was a paid minister of the Church of God (Seventh Day).
Conclusion 2.4: Herbert Armstrong and his ministry were ministers of the Sardis system.

Argument 3. Eras

Premise 3.1. Revelation says that there will be a number of churches alive at the coming of Christ viz.: Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. Pergamum may have some alive but not operating.

Premise 3.2. Revelation says Sardis and Laodicea are rejected from the kingdom of God as churches and only those who overcome are accepted.

Conclusion 3.1: There are at least two acceptable and operating eras alive at the return of Messiah. These are Thyatira and Philadelphia.

Premise 3.3. There are two operating eras and two dead eras.

Premise 3.4. Philadelphia comes after Sardis and comprises the spewed out of Laodicea also.

Conclusion 3.2: Philadelphia is yet to assume its importance after Sardis and may emerge from the failure of Sardis being comprised of the people who go out of the Sardis and Laodicea systems.

Premise 3.5. Sardis was pronounced dead and rejected. Laodicea is spewed out of God’s mouth.

Premise 3.6. Philadelphia is praised.

Conclusion 3.3: Philadelphia is doctrinally and administratively distinct from Sardis and Laodicea.

Premise 3.7. Sardis is doctrinally erroneous and is identifiable, as is Laodicea.

Premise 3.8. Philadelphia is biblically correct and can be identified doctrinally.

Conclusion 3.4: From the axioms above and the premises here the one with the correct historical and biblical doctrine is the closest to the true faith once delivered and that excludes Sardis and Laodicea.

Premise 3.9. Thyatira has no further burden placed upon it. Thus in the Last Days Thyatira is not required to do the final work of the Churches of God.

Premise 3.10. Philadelphia has a little strength, indicating it is working in the Last Days as the fifth and final era and working church.

Conclusion 3.5A: Thus Philadelphia is the only acceptable church working in the Last Days.

Conclusion 3-5B: Thyatira has already completed its great work and is not in conflict with Philadelphia, but rather has no further burden and final lamp-stand.

Argument 4. Tithing

Premise 4.1. God says through the prophet Malachi that tithing is a sign of a return to God.

Premise 4.2. Abraham tithed to Melchisedek.

Conclusion 4.1: Abraham showed by his tithing that he was faithful and had returned to God.

Premise 4.3. Melchisedek preceded the tribes of Israel.

Premises 4.4. Levi tithed to Melchisedek in the loins of Abraham, long before Moses and Aaron were born.

Conclusion 4.2: The Tithing system is not directed at the Levitical priesthood or the Temple system but at the superior Melchisedek priesthood.

Premises 4.5. Christ was made High Priest of the order of Melchisedek.

Premises 4.6. The Church is the order of Melchisedek, of which Christ is High Priest, as an order of priests and kings.

Conclusion 4.3: The Church has the right to collect the tithes of the Bible system.

Premise 4.7. The Church doing the work of God has the right to the tithe, being given the lamp-stand. (Conclusion 4.3).

Premise 4.8. Those of the order of Melchisedek, i.e. the church, must tithe to the lamp-stand or church doing the work of God at any given time or era.

Conclusion 4.4: The individual must identify the true church and tithe to that church.

Premise 4.9. Failure to tithe is theft from God under His Law.

Premise 4.10. Failure to tithe to the true Church is theft.

Conclusion 4.5: Failure to identify the true Church and tithe to that church is theft from God.

Argument 5. The Temple Calendar

From Axiom 12 above the Temple Calendar is the correct calendar.

Premise 5.1. The Temple Calendar was not the same as the Hillel Calendar.

Premise 5.2. The Modern Jewish Calendar was introduced in 358 CE, 328 years after Christ and the formation of the church in the Holy Spirit.

Conclusion 5.1: The Church did not keep the Hillel Calendar either in the Temple period or after the Temple period.

Premise 5.3. The Hillel Calendar did not exist until 358 CE, after it was introduced from Babylon.
Premise 5.4. The Hillel Calendar relies on the Babylonian intercalations which do not accord with the correct system of conjunctions and make the Passover occur twice in the one year, according to the Conjunctions and the Equinox.

Conclusion 5.2: The assumption and the teaching that the Hillel Calendar is the Hebrew Calendar is false doctrine and ensures that its adherents do not and cannot keep the Laws of God.

Premise 5.5. From Conclusions 5.1 and 5.2 those churches keeping the Hillel system or one based on it and the Babylonian intercalations are not in accord with the laws of God.
Premise 5.6. Those not in accord with the laws of God and not keeping the Passover, or the day of Atonement, or the Sabbath and New Moons and feasts are cut off from their people, which means from the Churches of God.

Conclusion 5.3: Those cut off from their people which are the Churches of God are disqualified from the First Resurrection.

From Conclusions 5.1 and 5.2 and 5.5 above the Church must keep the Temple Calendar and everyone in the faith must identify and keep that calendar, with the church keeping it.

The Church of God is to be supported and tithed to and worked for. The organisation that is doing the work and is obedient to the Laws of God in the closest possible degree and sense is that organisation. It is our job to identify the body of Christ each Passover and take the Lord’s Supper with that body. With whomsoever we take the Passover each year is the body we have identified as the body of Christ. If you take it at home alone when you could be with the Church of God, you are saying that you alone are the body and you make God and Christ of no effect and deny the faith.

We see people come into our midst and go out again with one crazy idea after another. The usual reason is that they are not working for the faith and working as part of the body. Most are given strong delusions so that they cannot hurt the work. As John says, “If they were of us they would not have gone out from us.” Each of us should be very careful about what we regard as our role and our responsibilities. Scripture is of no private interpretation. God has not called us as His own special prophets to work alone. Even Eldad was not alone as he prophesied with Medad.

The two witnesses are a dime a dozen. We get messages from them often and there seems to be hundreds of them. The US and the British Commonwealth appear to be no longer lands of milk and honey. They appear to be lands of fruit and nuts. If you can’t follow, you are unfit to lead. If your ideas are sound, they will be embraced by the faithful because the Holy Spirit will make it obvious that the matter is correct. If they don’t agree, the problem lies with you generally. That does not mean the majority is always right. Often the majority is comprised of “yes” men and opportunists controlled by the wrong system of government. The Churches of God abounded with them in the last half of the twentieth century.

The Church has set procedures to deal with doctrinal ideas. It has procedures for dealing with dispute, and for handling operational matters and administrations, and a host of matters; and it is through order, and discipline, and loyalty that the work of God is accomplished.

Every single one of us has been chosen before we were formed in the womb and our works were ordained. The demons know us and they know what authority we have or do not have. They work incessantly to undermine us and they try to negate the work of God. You work alone and you will fall.

There is One God who is Father of all who is above all and in us all through the Holy Spirit. There is one Lord Jesus Christ who was anointed by God with the oil of gladness above his partners (Ps. 45:6-7; Heb. 1:8-9) and those partners are the heavenly Host who were all created by their Father. There is one baptism for the remission of sins.

Do not be confused by false doctrines. God allowed the Churches of God to be destroyed at the end of the twentieth century so that these false doctrines could be removed and the faith promulgated correctly. That is our job. As each man builds, it is tested, and what he builds is destroyed or lasts according to the will of God and the perfection of the work.

The power of God is seen in the purity of truth and the small things. God is in the still, small voice in the wilderness.

Loyalty is a precious thing. Abraham was faithful to God even though he was alone. He was faithful and Christ was faithful to He who made him (Heb. 3:2 poieo translated as appointed in the KJV by the Trinitarians).

Christ is a product of the power of God as we all are. He gave up the form he was in and was placed in the form of a man and became obedient. He was loyal and obedient unto death, even death on the stake. So should we all be loyal and obedient.

Of all the churches in the texts of Revelation, the most loyal and the one loved by Christ is the Church of the Philadelphians. We should all strive to be as this church, whose name means the Church of “Brotherly Love.”

Identify the true Church and the true faith once delivered. Work for the faith in loyalty and honesty.

As we say often, “If someone is doing more of the work and the truth than CCG, let us know who it is and we will sell all we have and support them.” If not, we have an obligation to work for the faith once delivered and support one another in the work of God.

Love God with all our heart and with all our mind and with all our strength, and love our neighbours as ourselves. On these two laws hang all the Law and the prophets. Our meat is to do the will of God and finish His work (cf. Jn. 4:34).