LOF 7, All overcomes receive all rewards
Perhaps ALL can rejoice over the good news concerning our grand rewards. However ther is a dark side to the churchs of God , darker than Darth Vater-darker than midnight. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.
Please explain this to me, are we not the churches of God or am I confused between church's (pl) and church (single) of God. Please have patience I am still learning to think spiritually. Thankyou
There are two churches.
There is 'the church,' and there is 'MY church.'
Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter [a tiny rock], and upon this rock [Jesus] I will build MY church; and the gates of the grave shall not prevail against it.
From what you quoted, and I haven't gone back and looked but I think I remember that specific part now that you show me it, ray is talking about the carnal church that is in bondage now and answers to mount Sinai. This is the same church, the whole church, where in Satan's throne of power is. Babylon the Great. We are to come out of her, come out of that 'church.'
Satan most assuredly does not reside in the Church of the Living God. No. Ray was not referring to the Church of The Living God as having a dark side.
1 Timothy 3:14-16
14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
16 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.
Ephesians 2:5-7
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:19-22
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Hebrews 11:12-16
12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Hebrews 12:22-24
22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
Galatians 4:25-27
25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. (See also the many parables about the 'bridge and bridgroom' that Jesus spoke of)
Revelation 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
This is the Church of the living God. This is Jesus' Church--'MY' church. It is comprised of God's Elect.
2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless, God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity."
God bless,
Alex