GRACE GAZETTE
Volume XXIssue13
/Published occasionally for mourners in Zion/
/Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;And
make straight pathsfor your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out
of the way; but let it rather be healed.Hebrews 12::12-13/
CONTENDERS, BELOVED BRETHREN,
AND ENEMIES OF THE CROSS//
///Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also
of good will: The one/
/preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add
affliction to my bonds: But the/
/other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the
gospel.Philippians 1:15-17/
The LORD will have all glory in the furtherance of the gospel and
the calling of the saints from darkness to ETERNAL LIFE.The very
best of men are corrupt andleft to themselves will demonstrate the
innate depravity which permeates their flesh. This is true of those
who have been born again as well as those who are bereft of the
grace of GOD and are set in opposition to that which is true.The
LORD will not, ultimately, let HIS children rest in their
complacency or in their desire to gain the preeminence in the midst
of the brethren.HE will deal with suchimperfections in a manner in
which it can be seen that the flesh of men can afford the saints, no
resting place.“/For the time is come that judgment must begin at the
house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of
them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely
be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” (1Pet
4:17-18/)
In his third epistle, John speaks of Diotrephes, “/who loveth to
have the preeminence”/. It is, sadly, quite common to find many like
him among those who have “gifts” of oratory and persuasiveness among
the saints. We have no knowledge as to whether or not Diotrephes was
indeed a true believer, but we can unequivocally state that he
demonstrated a very “unchristlike” spirit.Unfortunately, he has
spawned many followers who think themselves to be something when in
reality they are nothing. “/For I say, through the grace given unto
me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more
highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as
God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” (Rom 12:3/)“/For
if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he
deceiveth himself.” (Gal 6:3/) /“Not that we are sufficient of
ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but _our sufficiency is
of God._” (2Cor 3:5/) /“Let nothing be done through strife or
vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better
than themselves.” (Php 2:3/)
Paul warned the Ephesian elders of this tendency and of the dire
consequences which would arise out of such prideful actions and
desires to have places of prominence among the saints./“_Take heed
therefore unto yourselves_, and to all the flock, over the which the
Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which
he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my
departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the
flock. _Also of your own selves_ shall men arise, speaking perverse
things, _to draw away disciples after them_.” (Acts 20:28-30/)We see
this played out in some measure in, what I call, “preacher games”.
Little “cliques” often develop (and are encouraged) where it becomes
fashionable and beneficial to say, “/I am of Paul; and I of Apollos;
and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.” (1Cor 1:12)/Mutual admiration
societies are formed and “personalities” are preferred.This is but a
precursor to divisions (heresies) which arise and separate brethren
into these various “camps.”This occurred quite early in the churches
and continues to this very day.In such foolishness the LORD will
demonstrate the folly of men and the glory of CHRIST, because HE
will manifest HIMSELF as the only ONE worthy of remembrance. Let the
names of all men be forgotten but that NAME which is above every
name that is named will be exalted. All of the “works” of men will
crumble and fade, /“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth
sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let
every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” (2Ti
2:19/)
There are many among the saints, whether they be the tares or the
wheat (we cannot always tell) who seem to be “contenders”.They love
religion, desire to manifest an outward conformity to what they
often describe as the “moral law”, (usually placing great emphasis
on carnal sabbath keeping) and are intent upon laying the demands of
such upon all that they come in contact with.In many cases they
declare the truth concerning CHRIST and HIM crucified, yet seem to
desire to find a place in which to glory by setting themselves apart
as those who would not stoop to the low levels of others who they
deem to be “lawless”.They are much like those whom Paul says,
“/preach CHRIST of contention/”./“Are ye so foolish? having begun in
the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Gal 3:3/)
Paul writes to the saints in Philippi with much affection,
“/Therefore, _my brethren dearly beloved_ and longed for, my joy and
crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.” (Php 4:1/)
/“Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because _I
have you in my heart_; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the
defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my
grace. For God is my record, how greatly _I long after you all_ in
the bowels of Jesus Christ.” (Php 1:7-8/) His continual concern was
that the brethren be built up in the most holy faith, love one
another without dissimulation (i.e.; hypocrisy, or two-facedness),
and walk among the men of this world as the sons of GOD. “/That ye
may be blameless and harmless, _the sons of God, without rebuke_, in
the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as
lights in the world.” (Php 2:15/)
Where such an attitude and characteristics are seen, brotherly love
must of necessity continue and a quiet and meek spirit is the rule
rather than the exception.Even as the LORD instructed HIS disciples;
“/Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as
little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the
same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Mat 18:3-4/) /“Neither
be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he
that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever
shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble
himself shall be exalted.”(Mat 23:10-12)/
The LORD prayed for this unity to be apparent among HIS children,
“/Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast
given me, _that they may be one_, as we are.” (John 17:11/)Paul
describes this unity when he writes, /“Let nothing be done through
strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind _let each esteem other
better than themselves_. Look not every man on his own things, but
every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you,
which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Php 2:3-5) “_Let brotherly love
continue_.” (Heb 13:1/) /“Be kindly affectioned one to another with
brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.” (Rom 12:10/)
It is this “/brotherly love/” that moves the saints to be their
“/brother’s keeper/” and is that which caused Paul to continually
warn the saints to beware of those who came preaching some other
message than JESUS CHRIST and HIM crucified. His concern was the
welfare of his brethren and not simply that he might be regarded as
a great “defender” of the faith. There are some who walk among the
saints, in sincerity, with whom we have disagreements due to various
levels of understanding and revelation. There are others, however,
whose message strays from the declaration of “/CHRIST and HIM
crucified/”, who must be considered as “/enemies of the cross/.”
“/For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you
even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory
is in their shame, _who mind earthly things_.” (Php 3:18-19/) No
place of glorying in the flesh is to be found among the saints,
whether it be in an adoption of the world’s values and ungodly
practices or in promoting the notion that men can be considered
“holy” by any means other than the completed work of CHRIST in their
behalf. /“Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of
the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to
ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to
perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of
men?” (Col 2:20-22) /CHRIST is ALL.mam
