For It Pleased the Father That In Him Should All Fullness Dwell; and Having Made Peace Through the Blood of His Cross - Part 1625

"Whosoever transgresses, and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abides in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed, for he that bids him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." (II John 1:9-11)

In other words, we are instructed not to bless someone or wish them prosperity if they willingly preach another gospel, and not the saving good news gospel of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ. Indeed, apostle Paul said that when someone teaches a gospel other than the established apostolic doctrine, they are to be accursed. And the apostle did not just say this once to the Galatians but twice.

"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:8-9)

"If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness ..." (I Timothy 6:3)

Why? Because without the truth of salvation -- Thy Word is truth -- we will never fully understand the doctrine of Christ. We will not understand the greatest love story ever told, wherein the same Lord God who created us in the beginning loved us enough to make a way for our salvation. "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been His counselor? Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto Him again. For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things; to whom be glory forever, amen." (Romans 11:32-36; Galatians 3:22; Isaiah 40:13; Isaiah 23:18; Hebrews 2:10; Hebrews 13:21)

But I digress. The doctrine of Christ is named in the foundation of the gospel outlined in Hebrews 6, wherein, if fully understood, we can as believers in Jesus by faith move on unto perfection."Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God ..." (Hebrews 6:1-2)

"If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, where unto thou hast attained." (I Timothy 4:6) 

So, what is the doctrine of Christ? Let's examine the following references from the new testament:

"Whosoever transgresses, and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abides in the doctrine of Christ, he hath BOTH the Father and the Son." (II John 1:9)

The Holy Ghost! (John 14:26; John 15:26; Acts 1:2-3) The Comforter! The Spirit of wisdom that will lead and guide us into all truth, when our hearts are willing to receive His goodness and grace. The expression of the mind of God revealed. His plan of salvation wherein God Himself became flesh and dwelt among us.

"He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11)

The Word made flesh -- the same Word that was in the beginning with God, and was God. (John 1:1-18)

This is why once Jesus was taken up (and as He stated, we will see Him no more) He through the Holy Ghost gave commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen. (Acts 1:2)

"So shall My Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it" (Isaiah 55:11).

"He sent His Word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction(s)." (Psalm 107:20).

Thus, His Word is not a separate person as the traditions of men teach. Rather, the Lord is ONE, as evidenced by the first commandment. Hear O Israel, the Lord thy God is ONE Lord! (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29-31) One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism. One God and Father of all ... (Ephesians 4:5-6)

The purpose of God inseparable from Himself because as John so clearly stated, the Word was not only with God but "the Word was God." (John 1:1) The same God who created the world in the beginning -- the same Spirit of God who moved upon the face of the waters, and said, "Let there be light and there was light" -- He knew of the mystery that was in His bosom from the beginning of the world. (Genesis 1:1-3)

"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." (I Timothy 3:16) 

And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:14)

But many today want to redefine the mystery that would be revealed to all mankind in these last days. They desire to change the narrative into some earthly spin, void of any scripture to support their premise. And, sadly, some who profess to believe are swallowing this false deception that can only lead them further into darkness. Nevertheless, the Word of God is clear on all points and if we study the scriptures we would understand God's plan from the very beginning -- wherein, He decided then to redeem His people. He would prepare Himself a body. He would come into the world that was made by Him, knowing full well that He would be rejected. (John 1:10-11; John 1:1-18)

 

And Jesus said unto them, "Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:" (Mark 4:11)

Still, for those who seek the truth, it was never intended that we would be left in darkness.

"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved; as it is written, "There shall come out of Sion the deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob, for this is My covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes; but as touching the election, they are beloved for the Fathers' sakes. For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance. For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief; even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them in all unbelief that He might have mercy upon all ..." (Romans 11:25-32)

"Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself ..." (Ephesians 1:9) "Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ ..." (Ephesians 3:4) "And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ ..." (Ephesians 3:9) 

"Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory ..." (Colossians 1:26-27)

"For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is His Name. And thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall He be called." (Isaiah 54:5-6)

This is why we are to hold the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience -- That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ." (I Timothy 3:9; Colossians 2:2)

"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself..." (2 Corinthians 5:19)

In other words, He was the Creator of the earth and all things within. And, as such, He would also be the One to restore mankind from his/her fallen state. At an appointed time, God would manifest Himself in the form of a man. The Lord coming forth as a mighty man. (Isaiah 42:13; Isaiah 9:6) 

He would be born of a virgin women and born under the law. 

"But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law... to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." (Galatians 4:4-6; Romans 5:5; Romans 8:9-16). 

"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us" (Matthew 1:21-23).And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).

He is the King of kings and Lord of lords, Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. And if ye be Christ's, then ye are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:29)

Stand in the offering plate.