Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is my sincere Prayer that you are being Blessed even as you read this email.
My subject today is the Birth of Christ. According to the Book of Luke chapter 9, verse 58 Jesus said unto him "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man hast no where to lay his head."
As I reflect on the Word of God, one particular passage of Scripture found in the Book of Genesis, that God created the heaven and earth, and the earth without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters, etc. (Genesis chapter 1)
We know that when God created the heavens and the earth, Christ was there. When He made man, and said "Let us make man in our image, and after our likeness," Christ was there. But through sin, man lost dominion over the earth, and satan took over. Murder entered into the world, adultery, fornication, lying, and all manner of rebellion against God.
God said "We must redeem man," and He began to look to see where Christ could be born. He looked among the prophets, He looked among the kings of the earth, and there was none without sin. God took a virgin and endowed her with the Spirit of the Living God, and she brought forth the Manchild. The Bible tells that there was no room in the inn for Christ to be born, even today there is no room for Christ to be born among men. Only, those that are endowed with the Spirit of the Living God will Christ be born. He is not born in the politicians, He is not born in the bureaucrats, He is not born in every doctor, or every lawyer, or every judge, or every fireman, teacher, preacher, etc. Christ is born into every sinner that repents and by His grace are we saved.
We need to stop fooling ourselves, everyone that cries "Lord, Lord" is not of God. Has Christ been born in your heart?
Think about it.
Yours in Jesus Christ,
Bishop William B. Caractor
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is my sincere Prayer that you are being Blessed even as you read this email.
Discovered Being Ministry, Incorporated cordially invites you to be with us as Bishop William B. Caractor brings the Sacred Message at the Men's Day Service on October 11, 2009 at 4:30 pm. The service will be held at New Jerusalem Church of Christ located at 904 Nassau Road, Uniondale, New York 11553.
On October 25, 26, and 27, 2009, Discovered Being Ministry, Incorporated will hold its Fall Revival. The guest speaker will be the Reverend Robert Butler from Bethlehem Baptist Church located in Edgefield, South Carolina. The service will begin Sunday the 25th at 4:30 pm. The 26th and 27th, the service will begin at 7:30 pm. The revival will be held at New Jerusalem Church of Christ located at 904 Nassau Road, Uniondale, New York 11553, where Elder Ada V. Jones is the Host Pastor.
We are looking for God to richly Bless us throughout these services. If you are unable to attend, please send a donation to enhance the work of God.
For driving directions, visit www.mapquest.com.
May God Bless you.
Yours in Jesus Christ,
Bishop William B. Caractor
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is my sincere Prayer that you are being Blessed even as you read this email.
Today, we will study the Book of 1 Corinthians chapter 5
5:1 Have his father’s wife: One of the members of the church had taken his stepmother (cf. Lev. 18:8) and had married her (the expression to have a woman always means “to marry,” cf. Matt. 14:4, 22:28; 1 Cor 7:2, 29). Hence, this man’s crime is worse than adultery. It is incest.
5:3-8 Discipline in the early church was perhaps administered in the following manner. The congregation was called together, with an apostle presiding if available, and the person accused was arraigned before them. After the evidence had been heard, and the accused had given a defense of himself, the judgment of the congregation was pronounced. Paul, though absent in person, yet pictures himself present and presiding in spirit, and he leaves them in no doubt concerning the proper verdict: the offense should be condemned and the offender excommunicated.
5:5 To deliver…unto Satan: Several observations must be made concerning this difficult and obscure passage. (1) It involved excommunication from the church (v.2). (2) It involved the chastisement of the man. The reference seems to be to the destruction of the physical appetites that prompted this gross immorality. (3) Paul has the ultimate restoration of the offender in view, that the spirit may be saved. This last purpose shows that the phrase destruction of the flesh cannot mean that the person could be brought to death. God does not want him killed; He wants him restored (cf Matt 18:15, 2 Cor. 2:1-11; Gal. 6:1).
5:6 A little leaven leaveneth the whole: No sin can be considered an isolated event. Just was with the sin of Achan (Josh. 7), the sin had to be purged, or else it would contaminate the whole lump. The stress is on the church as a unity.
5:7 Here the old leaven does not signify the sinful man as such, but evil of any kind. The background for this metaphor is Exodus 12:19 and 13:7. The larger scope of the apostle’s imagery here is that he sees Christ as the fulfillment of the Old Testament Passover Feast of Unleavened Bread. The Passover foreshadowed Christ’s vicarious death on behalf of mankind. He is “the Lamb of God, which taketh away this sin of the world” (John 1:29). The Feast of Unleavened Bread accompanied the Passover. It involved a period of seven days during which no leaven was to be found in the homes of the Israelites. This was symbolic of the holy life that was to accompany partaking of the a Paschal lamb.
5:8 Keep the feast (lit., “go on keeping”). Not surprisingly, the apostle uses Passover as an illustration here. First Corinthians was written just before the Passover (cf. 16:8), and the celebration of the feast is on Paul’s mind.
5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle: This is the “previous epistle.” This letter is now lost, but we know that at least one subject discussed in this letter was that they were not to keep company with fornicators.
5:11 Not to keep company: The term translated “to keep company” is found only here, in verse 9, and in 2 Thessalonians 3:14. It is a compound of three Greek terms, and means “to mingle together with.” It has the idea of close, habitual association.
Yours in Jesus Christ,
Bishop William B. Caractor
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is my sincere Prayer that you are being Blessed even as you read this email.
Today, we study the Book of 1 Corinthians chapter 4.
4:1, 2 Ministers (lit., "a subordinate," or "servant"): This term is used only here in Paul's epistles. It differs from the word translated "ministers" in 3:5 in that it has the idea of an attendant or helper who assists a master. The apostle or minister of Christ is simply an attendant of Christ. He takes orders and executes them.
4:4 I know nothing by myself (lit., "I know nothing against myself"). This sort of total commitment gave Paul the authority to make such a statement as "be ye followers of me" (1 Corinthians 4:16; 11:1).
4:6 Not to think...above that which is written is a proverbial expression. Paul is telling the Corinthians not to go beyond Scripture. In other words, learn to live by the Book, and stop following men.
4:9 Spectacle (Greek theatron, lit., "a theater"): The apostles were like exhibits in a sideshow. Notice the verb form of this term in Hebrews 10:33.
4:10-13 We are fools for Christ's sake [lit., "on account of Christ"], but ye are wise: The apostles are considered fools because they knew and preached nothing but Christ. On the other hand, the Corinthians used their Christianity as another philosophy to extend their reputation as wise and enlightened people.
4:15 I have begotten you: I is emphatic, producing the thought, "I--rather than your ten thousand instructors--am responsible for the beginning of the Christian assembly." The term begot does not not so much denote the conversion of these people, but that Paul laid the foundation (3:10). Through the gospel: Their salvation was not through the power of Paul's personality, or through his sagacity, but through the gospel of Christ and Him crucified (2:1-5).
Yours in Jesus Christ,
Bishop William B. Caractor
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is my sincere Prayer that you are being Blessed even as you read this email.
Today, we study the Book of Corinthians chapter 3.
3:1-3 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: In the case of newborn babies, this would be natural and to be expected (1 Peter 2:2). But it is embarrassing at this stage in their development. Milk figuratively stands for elementary Christian instruction, and meat refers to advanced doctrine. Carnal (lit., "fleshly"): The warfare between the flesh and the spirit receives continual emphasis in Paul's writings (Romans 7:14-8:13; Galatians 5:17). The factions that have destroyed the unity in Corinth indicate that these believers were not walking by the Spirit, but were allowing the flesh to direct their behavior.
3:4 Carnal: A number of early manuscripts read "men." In such a case, Paul is saying, "Are you not mere men?"
3:8, 9 We are laborers together with God (lit., "God's fellow workers") is the key to this chapter. This, in effect, restates the phrase in verse 8, he that planteth and he that watereth are one.
3:13 The day is the day of the judgment seat of Christ (4:5; 2 Corinthians 5:10). Fire is figurative for judgment, more specifically, the absolutely righteous judgment of God. Fire is used here to denote, not enlightening power, but consuming power. Of the six types of material mentioned, three are combustible and three are incombustible. See also Deuteronomy 4:24; Malachi 3:2; 2 Thessalonians 1:8; Hebrews 12:29.
3:14 Reward (lit., "wages," 3:8): Of course, even the "wages" mentioned here are entirely a gift of grace ( 1 Corinthians 9:17; 2 John 8; Revelation 11:18).
3:15 Saved: Such a one does not suffer the loss of his salvation, but the loss of reward. The stress in this entire passage in not on a person's relationship to Christ, but on service to Christ.
3:16 Temple of God: The temple here is the local church, not the individual believer (2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:21). But see the note on 6:19.
3:17 Destroy is a stronger expression than "suffer loss" (verse 15). Paul seems to have in mind unsaved people who may or may not be in the assembly, but who are in fact false believers. The prospect for such a one is fearful.
3:21, 22 For all things are yours: The one who belongs to Christ is a child of God, and his Father will do anything for him. The absurdity of their division over allegiances to any of these men is that God gave them "all" to the Corinthians.
Yours in Jesus Christ,
Bishop William B. Caractor
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is my sincere Prayer that you are being Blessed even as you read this email.
Today, we will continue to study the Book of 1 Corinthians chapter 2 part 2.
2:13 Comparing spiritual things with spiritual: the term comparing occurs only here and in 2 Corinthians 10:12 where the meaning is clearly “compare.” However, in classical Greek the term was always used in a sense of “to compound” or “to interpret.” Probably the most satisfactory interpretation is “combining spiritual things with spiritual words.” After speaking of spiritual “things,” (vv 11-13), Paul now speaks of the “forms” in which they are conveyed. Spiritual truth is conveyed in language that is given by God’s Spirit.
2:14 Natural man (lit. “unspiritual man”) is unreceptive. He does not admit the truth into his heart (cf. Luke 8:13; Acts 8:14; 11:1; James 1:21). As spiritual discernment is generated only by the Holy Spirit, the capacity to know spiritual truth is beyond the innate powers of the natural man. Spiritually discerned: The fundamental idea of discerned is that of “examination” or “scrutiny.” It is used only by Paul and Luke, and mostly of “judicial examination” (cf. Luke 23:14; Acts 4:9; 1 Cor. 9:3; 10:25, 27). On the spiritual plane, the natural man does not have the ability to sift the facts.
2:15 The difference between the natural man and the spiritual man is primarily that the spiritual man has founded his faith on God’s revelation. He can judge now both earthly and heavenly things. He can discern what is and what is not of the gospel and salvation, and whether a man truly preaches the truth of God.
2:16 We have the mind of Christ means that Christians possess the Lord’s own understanding, that is, His thoughts, opinions, judgments, plans, and so on. This answers the question that Paul puts in the same verse, Who hath know the mind of the Lord? The answer is, “We do!” The term we includes the apostle Paul and to some extent all true believers, though believers today are prudent to acknowledge the superiority of apostolic insight into spiritual matters to that of their own.
Yours in Jesus Christ,
Bishop William B. Caractor
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is my sincere Prayer that you are being Blessed even as you read this email.
Today, we will continue to study the Book of 1 Corinthians chapter 2 part 1.
2:1,2 Testimony of God: This was not Paul’s testimony of God, but God’s testimony of Himself (namely, “the Cross”). I determined (lit., “I decided”): The implication is that Paul gave careful though to his approach, and resolved to lay aside the ornaments of speech and philosophical skill to announce Jesus Christ, and him crucified. Paul’s message and method reflected divine wisdom.
2:4 Paul’s mention of the Spirit here is significant. The Corinthians though they knew a great deal about the Holy Spirit, for more than most churches in apostolic times, perhaps, they had experienced various manifestations of the Spirit’s power.
2:6 Perfect refers to the morally and spiritually mature. Paul cannot resist the use of irony here. Inverse 4 he denies the use of wisdom; now he admits to using it-but only among those capable of comprehending the appreciating it (namely, the perfect).
2:7 In a mystery: in may be instrumental (i.e., “by a mystery”), modal (“in the form of a mystery, or local (“hidden in a mystery”). Mystery refers to some work or purpose of God unrevealed until now (Rom. 16:25,26). In this case, the reference is to the hidden wisdom, which God ordained...unto our glory. The purpose of God concerning our salvation was designed by God from eternity and is directed toward the everlasting glory that believers will enjoy in His presence.
2:8 Lord of glory: See Psalm 29:1; Acts 7:2; Ephesians 1:17; and James 2:1.
2:10 Revealed…unto us: Unto us is in the emphatic position in Greek, emphasizing the enormous privilege granted the recipients of divine revelation. The magnificent treasure of God’s revealed truth is accessible to the mature believer.
2:10-13 The apostle deals with three vital doctrines. In verse 10 he touches on the doctrine of revelation. The truth Paul is talking about is contained in the record God has given to use-the Bible. This is the eternal and unchanging truth of God. Verse 11 deals with the doctrine of illumination, which has to do with human understanding of divine truth. The subject of verses 12 and 13 is the doctrine of inspiration. In verse 12 Paul talks about the content of inspiration. In verse 13 his concern is with the communication of inspiration. Paul’s message was not of human contrivance. He was a channel, simply communicating God’s truth (cf. Gal. 1:11, 12).
Yours in Jesus Christ,
Bishop William B. Caractor
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is my sincere Prayer that you are being Blessed even as you read this email.
Today, we will continue to study the Book of 1 Corinthians chapter 1 part 2.
1:14 I baptized none of you: In view of the divisions in the assembly, Paul is thankful that very few in Corinth were baptized by him. The implication of this is significant. Baptism has no saving power, or else the apostle would have been giving thanks to God that he was instrumental in saving so few!
1:17 Lest the cross of Christ should be made of non effect (Gr. kenoo, “to empty of substance” or “make of no effect”): The success of the gospel lies in the plain doctrine of a crucified Lord. In spite of his learning at the feet of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3), the apostle Paul lays his learning aside when he preaches the simple gospel of Christ. This truth needs no artificial dress. It alone carries with it the “power of God unto salvation” (Rom. 1:16).
1:18 The preaching [lit., “word”] of the cross (i.e., the message about Jesus’ atoning death): In its effect on man, Paul singles out two groups. Those who perish deem the word of the Cross foolishness. But to the saved, the simple message of the Cross is the power of God.
1:19, 20. It is written: The “wise” of Corinth are no more effective in the saving of souls than the “wise” of Judah are in staying off the threat from Sennacherib in Isaiah’s day. God will destroy human wisdom, and make the wisdom of this world foolish. See Isaiah 19:12; 29:14; 33:18.
1:21 Preaching (lit., “the thing preached”): Paul’s emphasis here is not on the act of preaching, but on the content of preaching, namely the message of the Cross (cf, v. 18)
1:26 Not many wise: The nature of Paul’s argument tells us that most of the Corinthian congregation were of the poor class of Corinthian society.
1:27-29 God hath chosen: The selection by God is designed to silence the wisdom of man. He chooses the foolish to shame the wise. He chooses weak things to shame things deemed by man to be mighty and things men do not even realize exist to counteract things which are, powers and institutions erected and relied upon by man.
1:30 Of him [because of the Father’s work] are ye in (intimate with) Christ Jesus: Paul concludes that all the riches of salvation exist in Christ Jesus. All that the Corinthian believers are, they owe to Him. Thus it is not in oneself, or in party alignment, or in supposed human ability that any believer ought to glory. Paul tabulates the qualities that belong to the believer in Christ. Wisdom is not merely the acquisition of intellectual skills but the gaining of spiritual discernment based on the wisdom of God as demonstrated in the Cross. Righteousness is a legal concept and has in mind the righto9useness that is applied to the believer’s account the moment he believes (Rom. 5) Sanctification has already been mentioned in verse 2, “sanctified in Christ Jesus.” This contemplates the work of Christ “in” the believer, as opposed to that which he does “for” the believer in justification. Redemption underlies all the above. Christ’s redemptive work opened the way for god to extend His grace to sinful man and to pour out upon him such benefits as wisdom, righteousness, and sanctification.
Yours in Jesus Christ,
Bishop William B. Caractor
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Yours in Jesus Christ,
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