Developing Faith

Some people say, “Oh Lord, give me faith.”  But there is only one way you can have faith in the eyes of Almighty God:  by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

That hearing has to do with…

Matthew 11:15

He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

...that is, spiritually hearing.  Read it; hear it; believe it.  Faith cometh by hearing and hearing, not by extrabiblical books; not by what your friend said or what your mom or dad said, or even what the preacher said; but hearing by the word of God!

It’s not about feelings.  Your feelings may catch up to the truth; but when your feelings trump the truth of the scriptures, set your feelings aside.  Have your feelings ever been wrong?  They are untrustworthy and they fluctuate; but not the scriptures.

Psalm 119:89

For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.

The Holy Writ, the handwriting of Almighty God:  that is what you can trust!

Psalm 119:105

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Psalm 138:2b

…for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

So then, how does one get faith? 

Romans 10:17

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

  

Audio mini bible study

After the Rapture...final

Another way we are to be found faithful in the doctrine, is not just by being built up in it; but it is also by how we deal with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:11

Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

Sinning against your brother is huge.

1 Thessalonians 4:6

That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.

1 Corinthians 8:12

But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

Romans 14:10

But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

There are four categories that will be judged at the judgment seat of Christ, your...

sanctification – growth

edification – building up the work of faith

service – the labour of love

suffering – enduring to the end in the truth of the mystery.

God will take all that is abounding to your account throughout your life [as a believer]…

Philippians 4:17

Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit [giving financially to Paul’s ministry] that may abound to your account.

…and at the judgment seat of Christ, you will receive recompense, a reward.

2 Timothy 1:12

For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

The Lord committed this doctrine to Paul; and, Paul committed his service to the Lord (i.e., building up the doctrine in himself and others, and suffering for it), and the Lord will pay him back.  He is going to cash out his account, and not just him.  If you love his appearing and you love this grace doctrine, you will endure. 

2 Timothy 4:8

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

So after the catching away, we will go to the judgment seat of Christ and be judged.  Then God will fill the positions of rank and authority in the heavenly places with the body of Christ.

Colossians 1:16

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

Ephesians 1:21

Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

Hopefully this helps!

_†††

_{++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++}

Northern California Grace Fellowship

Do you have a question for Pastor Ron?

  

 Heir of God or Joint-Heirs with Christ? 

Wrongly Deriding Joint-heirs with Christ

After the Rapture, Pt. 4

Now you are to do the labour of love and stick with Paul’s doctrine even though you will suffer for that godly edification.

2 Timothy 3:12

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

But when you suffer you will reign with him.  But if you deny the doctrine and you don’t suffer with him, he will deny you. 

2 Timothy 2:12

If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

Now then, that does not mean that you will lose your salvation like in the prophetic program.

2 Timothy 2:13

If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

You will go to heaven, but you will lose reward.  You won’t serve the Lord in his kingdom—in the heavenlies—with ruling authority.  You will be in the heavenly kingdom, but you won’t rule and reign as a joint heir with Christ.

Romans 8:17

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Suffering with him is the qualifier.  The way you suffer with him is by being faithful in the grace message and the mystery of Christ until your death or the rapture.

1 Corinthians 4:2

Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

A steward is someone who, as a commitment to his master, keeps that which is committed to him—which for us is the mystery of Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:20

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

Ephesians 3:9

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:

At the return of the Lord Jesus Christ you have to be found faithful in this doctrine; you have to love it and suffer for it.

 

To be continued…

After the Rapture, Pt. 3

The labour of love (also called the love of God) is not just your taking in the doctrine; but as you grow in Christ and appreciate the truth and understand God’s mind (through godly edification), as you start to think like God, you want to also act like God and labour with God.

Ephesians 4:12

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

The word of God will now begin to work in you, and more importantly, through you.  You will be giving your time, your talent and your treasure over to supporting grace ministries and getting the grace message out to others.  You will redeem the time (Ephesians 5:16) and focus on those things.  But the first thing you need to do as a new believer is to spend your time building up the doctrine in yourself by faith.

Ephesians 2:8-10

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Salvation is not of works.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

The works come in after salvation.

Titus 2:7

In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

The first good work is building doctrine in your inner man that is uncorrupt. 

1 Timothy 4:1

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

The second good work is to maintain good works.

Titus 3:8

This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

To be continued…

After the Rapture, Pt. 2

What will be judged? 

The eternal penalty for your sin has been taken care of.  When you trusted the blood of Christ at Calvary for your sin, and you trusted him as your Saviour by faith alone, you then have eternal life as a present possession; all your sins are forgiven; you are eternally secure; you won’t go to hell.

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We have that distinction in this present dispensation by pure grace.  Once we trust in the faith of Christ, his faithfulness is to give us eternal life – God’s life.  We will live as long as God lives, which is forever.

Philippians 3:9

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

At Calvary he died for our sins, was buried and rose again.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

But after salvation, our works, labour, and enduring to the end all come into play.  They are not in order to be justified unto eternal life because we are already eternally saved.  They are not so that we can stay saved because we are saved through the faith of Jesus Christ and we are trusting in what he did for us at Calvary.

But our faith does play a part after salvation.  We walk by faith.  We are to be active participants in our Christian life.

Philippians 2:12

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

What is that?  Paul calls it the ‘work of faith.’  He talks about three things:

1 Thessalonians 1:3

Remembering without ceasing your [1] work of faith, and [2] labour of love, and [3] patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

2 Thessalonians 1:3

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

The love of God is manifest in all who are patient in tribulation.

2 Thessalonians 1:4

So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

Romans 5:3

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

The first thing we need to do after we place our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and what he accomplished at Calvary by his faith, is that we have to grow in faith; grow in Christ; grow in the mystery doctrine.  We don’t just [only] get saved by listening to Paul--that is only the beginning!

Colossians 2:6-7

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:   Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

We received him by grace through faith.  To do that we had to have faith in his word to us:  the apostle Paul’s doctrine, the mystery of Christ, the grace message.  Romans thru Philemon are the curriculum for our edification that we must learn in order to be fit for the Lord’s use...now and in eternity!

To grow in Christ, start in the book of Romans and work your way through to Philemon.  Read from Paul’s 13 books every day.  Send any questions you may have to me or any other stablished Pauline, grace brother or sister.

You need to build up the doctrine in your inner man by studying Paul’s epistles.  Faithful, bible-believing grace teachers will help you with that.  God doesn’t leave believers alone without preachers and teachers to help in your understanding.

To be continued…

After the Rapture, Pt. 1

1 Thessalonians 4:17

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

What will we be doing after the “catching away?”

Paul calls the catching away (or the rapture) the resurrection.

2 Timothy 2:18

Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some

The first event tied to the rapture/resurrection is the judgment seat of Christ.

Romans 14:10

But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:10

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

(Notice that the verse number is “10.”  In the bible, 10 is the number of judgment. …interesting.)

Only believers go to the judgment seat of Christ; only members of the body of Christ:  from the apostle Paul (1 Timothy 1:16) to the last gentile in the body.

Romans 11:25

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 fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

When the body of Christ is complete, God the Father will send the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven and we will meet the Lord in the air and then there will be the judgment seat of Christ.

To be continued…

Word of truth Paul vs. James

This 2.45-minute excerpt of an audio message* by Bro Ron Knight to see know and see how to discern the difference between the ‘word of truth’ according to Paul vs. the ‘word of truth’ according to James.

>>>> Word of Truth: Paul vs. James<<<<

*To listen to the complete message click here:

Word of Truth: Paul vs. James

Click here for a written transcript.

As in the Days of Noe

Matthew 24:38

For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

Luke 17:26

And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

Is the Lord talking about giants on the earth when he refers to the days of Noe in Matthew 24 and Luke 17?

I love this question; it’s a fun one.  Is he talking about giants?  He is speaking about things pertaining to the end times; right before his second coming to the earth (Israel) in particular.

For those who might not understand what God is doing today, I want to remind you that today is the dispensation of the grace of God (Eph. 3:2), and he is not fulfilling his prophetic program’s calendar today (for the nation of Israel and the earth).  So he is not fulfilling anything from the books of Genesis thru Acts or Hebrews thru Revelation, which all are part of God’s prophetic program.

Acts 3:19-21

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.  And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:  Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

                       

Let me show you what I see in the two passages you asked about.

Matthew 24:37-42

But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming be [the second coming to the earth when Christ will set up his kingdom in Israel] of the Son of man.

The Lord is prophesying about the end times, future from us when the prophetic calendar begins again following the rapture of the church the body of Christ.

For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

The context of this passage and the one in Luke 17 tells us what this is about.

Luke 17:26-30

Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

This is not the rapture; those who are taken are taken to judgment. [cf. Luke 17:34-37; Revelation 12:14]

Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

So in context the Lord is not talking about giants; he is talking about people going about living everyday lives.

Luke 17:26-30

And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.  They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage,

           

These people are not fallen angels or giants [they are ordinary people].

until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.  Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot;

He also talks about conditions in the days of Lot.  He is comparing the time period of his return to pre-Flood and post-Flood conditions.  What were they doing in the days of Lot?

they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;         

They were doing normal things and going about their everyday lives:  as if the judgment of God is not going to come

2 Peter 3:2-6

That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:   Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.   For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:  Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

That is the point he is trying to make.  It is like that today.  We are out there preaching that you are going to hell if you’re not in Christ and haven’t trusted in his shed blood; but people are just going about their daily lives as if God is not going to judge humanity.  They don’t believe that if they die in their sins they will go to hell.  They think that everyone will go to heaven (the “better place”).

The same attitude was common in the days of Noah when he was building the ark and the people were just going about life as usual.  Also righteous Lot (2 Pet. 2:7) was speaking about the God of his uncle Abraham, the God of creation; but the people in Sodom did not believe on the Lord.

But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

Just as the earth was flooded, just as Sodom and Gomorrah were bombarded with fire and brimstone from heaven, life will also be the same before the coming of the Lord. 

Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

People will be living everyday lives and then, boom!  Judgment will come and there will be nothing they can do.  That is what it will be like at the return of Christ, particularly in the Middle East.

There were giants on the earth in the days of Noah and of Lot. 

Genesis 6:4

There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God [fallen angels] came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

Genesis 14:5

And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emins in Shaveh Kiriathaim,

Numbers 13:33

And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

Joshua 13:12

All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, which reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants: for these did Moses smite, and cast them out.

I am not saying that giants won’t play a part at that time; but the point the Lord is making is that people will be going about their normal lives and then judgment will come quickly.

Revelation 22:11-12

He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.  And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Hopefully this helps...Maranatha!

_†††

_{++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++}

Northern California Grace Fellowship

Do you have a question for Pastor Ron?

Sonship Edification

Helper of your joy

2 Corinthians 1:24

Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

  

I listened to some of your audio messages and now I have a better understanding of some passages that were hard for me to understand before; but now they are so clear to me when I read them in context.

I praise the Lord that you have a better understanding.  That is my number one prayer to Almighty God, that through my study over the years I can help others have a better understanding of God’s word.  Ultimately the reason we saints are here is to help others.  It is a work of faith to get the word into our own souls, the inner man.

Ephesians 3:16

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

It is a labor of love to get the word out to others. 

1 Thessalonians 1:3

Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

We are to love our brethren in many different ways, but the number one way is to edify them in the truth of God’s grace. 

Romans 14:19

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

So if I can help you get greater understanding of some scriptures, particularly those of the Apostle Paul, and help you have a better understanding of God’s word and what God is doing today through and for the church the body of Christ, then I am very happy to do that.

There are many things that we need to be made aware of as we study the bible, but we learn them over time— it takes time, it is a process.    That is why there is an element of trust for those who have been teaching the word rightly divided for years.  We can help point out these things; that is really what my job is.

You question why it was so hard before for you to understand some things in scripture that you can clearly see now.  It just takes time, being in the word, rightly dividing and hearing sound bible teaching and preaching.  Again, it is my prayer to the Lord is to be able to help people like you who have the desire to see things in scripture that you haven’t been able to, and to add to your understanding.

It does take some time to be able to see certain things in God’s word; it requires doctrine built up in your soul. 

Colossians 2:7

Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

When I am studying a passage, I study it in light of all the other verses that are in my head. I am blessed to be able to remember everything that I read. Sometimes when I am preaching, I may say, “this is that,” or “that is this.”

Acts 2:16

But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

In a way it is like when the Lord was opening up the understanding of his disciples.

Luke 24:43-45

And he took it, and did eat before them.  And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

People have said to me that they didn’t see something before in scripture when they read it on their own, but when we went over it in church or in a Q&A session, then it made sense. 

Someone can open up your understanding if they are studying the scriptures rightly divided and with understanding – with doctrine built up in them.  Brother Richard Jordan calls it ‘reserve power.’

There are certain men whose part in the body of Christ is to be used of Almighty God to be teachers and preachers because of how they can see things in scripture and because they have the ability to teach.

1 Timothy 3:2

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

Paul tells us that is how God has but the body together.

1 Corinthians 12:24

For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.

If our ministry can help you understand and enjoy your bible more, which in turn should increase your faith, then we have done our job.  In addition to this blog that posts our answers to questions in written form, video answers to questions are posted on our YouTube channel NorCalGrace.  You can also listen to our radio program Rightly Dividing the Word on the internet (KFIA.com) or on the radio in Sacramento County on KFIA at 12:30 PT every Sunday.  The radio sessions are also video-taped if you prefer to watch a simulcast. 

Hopefully this helps!

_†††

_{++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++}

Northern California Grace Fellowship

Do you have a question for Pastor Ron? 

  

 Heir of God or Joint-Heirs with Christ? 

Wrongly Deriding Joint-heirs with Christ

Why James?

Listen to this 3-minute excerpt of an audio message* by Bro Ron Knight to understand why James came to the forefront in Jerusalem and Peter’s role diminished  after the mystery was revealed to Paul.

Acts 21:17-18

And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.  And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.

Acts 15:12-13

Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.  And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:

Galatians 2:9

And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

>>>> Why James?<<<<

*To listen to the complete message click here:

Why James R.K.mp3

For a printed copy of this excerpt, click here:  Why James?

Outline of Hebrews

In this 55-second excerpt of an audio message,* Bro Ron Knight outlines the book of Hebrews as it pertains to Christ Jesus, their Messiah.

>>>> Outline of Hebrews<<<<

*Click here for a printed copy:  Outline of Hebrews

Click here to listen to the full message:  03.20.2013 Hebrews Part 53