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Volume 68 Number 10 Lubbock, Texas 79493 Copyright $12.00 Per Year October 2000 |
Atonement Jesus called Little Children 70th Wedding Anniversary I Was Blind Now I See Depressed and Lonely When Jesus is Near Spirit and Spiritual Tour Through the Bible Obituaries
"But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block and unto the Greeks foolishness" 1 Cor. 1:23
"For I determined to not know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified." 1 Cor. 2:2
It is apparent that Paul's greatest desire was to preach about Jesus Christ and what His sacrifice accomplished. The verses tend to make us ask the two thousand year old question, "was the sacrifice of Christ constructed to save all mankind, only he predestined elected of God, or only those who by their own will take action to attain this." To describe the question in other words, "if God gave His Son to die for sinners he must have had some sort of design or purpose in the matter." Either the son makes atonement for some of the sins of all the race of Adam, or all the sins of some men or all the sins of the entire race.
To answer this question one must look to the divinely inspired scriptures of the Holy Bible to tell us what was accomplished by the life crucifixion, blood, death and resurrection of this man called Jesus Christ.
The scriptures describe the work of Jesus with the following terms: Atonement - which means: satisfaction, reparation, expiation made by giving an equivalent for an injury or by doing or suffering that which is received in satisfaction for an offense or injury.
Another descriptive word of the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ is reconciliation. It means to appease a higher power, cause to be friendly again, reunite, settle differences. This word has been declared as synonymous with atonement or meaning the same thing basically. Rom. 5:10-11, 11 Cor. 5-18-20. Hebrews 2:17-18.
The work of Jesus Christ life and death is often described by the word of expiation. Expiation means to extinguish guilt. The sister word of expiation is propitiation, meaning to appease and render favorable, conciliate or pacify.
One may also find the word, redeem, used in reference to the sacrifice of Christ. Redeem means to buy back that which is forfeited or lost.
The last word is justification; it means to pronounce free from guilt or blame, to absolve, be made righteous unto God.
Let us first look at the history of controversy over the extent or effect of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. According to history Faustus, the leader of the Pelagians advocated that Christ died for all the race of men. He was opposed by Augustine, Prosper and Fulgentius.
The debate entered the Roman Catholic Church where the Jesuits contended for the Pelagian position of Christ dying for the sins of all mankind or Adamic race. while the Jansenist opposed that position, saying Christ dies for an elect people.
At the time of the Reformation the Lutherans tended to support the Universal Atonement position, while the Calvinist stood for a Limited Atonement which they borrowed from from a group called the Waldensians. On the extent of Christ atonement the two opinions are often expressed as Definite and Indefinite or Limited and Universal Atonement. By Definite or Limited is meant that Christ died, satisfied divine justice and made atonement for those only, who will be saved. The Universal or Indefinite Position is that Christ died, satisfied divine justice, or made atonement for all mankind without exception, as well as those who will never be saved, as well as those will be saved.
Which of these doctrines is correct? Let us then look into the scriptures for the explanation of Atonement/ Reconciliation.
In Romans 5:10-11, "For if when we were enemies, We were reconciled to God by the death of His son, much more being reconciled, We shall be saved by His life." "And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the atonement." [Received Reconciliation]. Also II Corinthians 5:18-19-20 says, "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us unto Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of Reconciliation,' to wit: That God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation," 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.
I wish to claim that the expression that says, "By Whom we have now received Atonement," must mean by whom we have now received reconciliation. This reconciliation then was made on the Cross, because it was made by His death. He died on the Cross. Now, if He died on the cross, and we were reconciled to God by His death, the reconciliation was made on the cross.
"By whom we have now received the atonement," means when a man is converted to God, and becomes a believer in the Lord Jesus, that he receives the benefits of the Atonement made on the cross. Therefore, if reconciliation was made by His death on the cross, then Atonement was made on the Cross.
In Hebrews 2:17 it says, "Wherefore in all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest, in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." Reconciliation here is used in the sense of Expiation or Propitiation. Hence, to make Reconciliation for the sins of the people is to make propitiation or to expiate their sins.
We may refer reader to our definitions, the word expiate means to extinguish guilt. In the 18th verse of Hebrews 2nd chapter it says, "for in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted." We learn there that by the sufferings of Christ He made Reconciliation for His people. It was in His sufferings, it was on the cross, and by His sufferings He atoned for the sins of His people.
"Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power when He had Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high." From this text it is evident He purged our sins before He ascended to Heaven, if He purged our sins it was by making atonement for them, making satisfaction for them. He did this in His death.
If Atonement means expiation, or if it means satisfaction or reparation made by giving the equivalent for an injury, and Jesus Christ, if He made an atonement at all, when could He have given an equivalent for an injury for His people if he did not atone by filling the law? When could he have met the demands of the law? When could He have made satisfaction to it for sin except on the cross? At what particular time did Jesus Christ make an atonement if He did not make it on the cross? Many people find fault with the doctrine of limited or definite atonement because they say it represents God as being unjust? Almost all religion believe in a universal atonement; from the fact that atonement means satisfaction.
In the Methodist Confession of Faith it states: "The sacrifice of Christ once offered is that perfect redemption, propitiation and satisfaction for all the sins of the whole world, both original and actual, and there is none other satisfaction for sin but that alone."
It does not teach that suffering of Christ is a partial redemption or partial satisfaction or partial propitiation for sins, but a perfect redemption for all the sins of the whole world both original and actual. This is expressive of a Universal Atonement. Which of course is no atonement at all.
If Christ did not suffer the penalty of the law, for our sins, it is evident we will be called upon to pay that penalty ourselves. The only way we can hope for escaping God's just and Holy Law, for our own sins, is that Jesus Christ himself suffered for them in our behalf. What did Christ suffer? To satisfy the law! There is no other answer. Did Christ suffer for sins in order to meet the demand of the law? I claim that He did.
We must now turn to Hebrews 9;26. "For then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the world; but now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself."
There is no difference between His sacrifice and His Atonement. If He was the sacrifice that put away sin then did He not atone for sin in doing so. If he made an atonement when He sacrificed Himself for sin then he made an atonement on the cross. The object of His making the sacrifice was to atone for sin, if not what was it? When sin is put away it does not remain where it was before, and He put it away by the sacrifice of Himself.
We must now look also at Daniel 8:24 which says; "Seventy weeks are determined upon Thy people and upon Thy Holy City to finish the transgression and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy."
The scripture has no doubt an illusion to the giving of Christ. The "Most Holy" mentioned in the text is none other than the Son of God. What is He to do when He is anointed? He is to finish the transgression and make an end of sin. If He makes an end of sin it must necessarily be that He atones for sins, and He makes a reconciliation for iniquities, according to the text. As a result of Christ making atonement for iniquities the result is He brings in everlasting righteousness.
In Hebrews 9:27-28 it says, "and as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. So, Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation." This text teaches us that Christ was offered. And if He was once offered, He was offered for a purpose, and that purpose was to bear the sins of many. When did He bear the sins? Evidently, when he offered. He was offered on the cross, then He bore the sins of the cross, as the Apostles has already shown. If he bore our sins on the cross and did not atone for them, then for what purpose did he bear them?
Some scenes and acts are soon forgotten, I hope this one will not be.
A prolonged cold spell was upon us before our meeting day just past. Cold weather and other reasons or bad excuses were given and it looked like few, if any, would be out. I felt we had just as well not go. Wife said, "Oh, we must, surely, there will be two or three."
By singing time a goodly number had gathered together in His name. Brother Clem Gardner, past three score and ten had come from Pueblo, leaving there in 15 below zero. Brother and Sister Don Riley with a little baby girl. Sister Wade Burk and two daughters, Lisa and Lani, with others. We had a very wonderful song service, one called, as soon as one was finished.
I sat almost stone-still in scripture mind, thumbing through the song book I came to the hymn, "Tell Me the Story of Jesus." I thought of the many hymns this gracious person had written, and she still wanted the story of Jesus told.
I stood before them reading Isa. 62:3, "Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of the Lord." Seeing this scripture I looked also at John 5:17, but Jesus answered them, "My father worketh hither to, and I work," Looking at His hands as they worked for us I tried to preach.
As we were giving our hand of love and fellowship, dear little Lani came to me with a gift in her hand, saying, "I want you to have this gift, Brother Fry.' "And a little child shall lead them.' This gift was from money her parents had given her for school lunch and she deprived herself of lunch, in order that I should have the gift. May I say here, we think it one of the biggest, richest, gifts we ever received. I simply don't know what to spend it on, that I, will always have it. We want always to remember this day, and Lani and all there.
Much has been written about Christmas, whether it be the day so many speak of, write of, or some other. We do know, Christ, our Savior was born, and the giver of all gifts gave this Son to us.
Isa. 9:6. The sweet countenance and love Lani showed S.O.S 2:14 will always be in the memory of those who have seen her nd felt this gift was given in the name of Christ and not because of any day or Christmas Day as We have learned to call it. There was not custom in Lani's heart, all was because she knew the love of Christ and His great gifts to men.
Truly, as the facts of this gift were told, we stood several past seventy, and each one felt as the little Riley baby, we are children indeed and we have seen what little children mean in the Bible [dependant ones]. Except or whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, [don't read this, when, a little child, but as a little child], he shall not enter therein. They will receive it by His grace and certainly dependent ones.
Oh, how dependent, we find ourselves to be if one may speak for all. And I believe I can for those who read this little article.
May I also here look at Psalms 8:2 and say surely the little children dependent ones, are the same. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength, etc. These babes and sucklings will be found many times of all ages. Notice Isa. 66:11, 12, that ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolation abundance of her glory. For thus saith the Lord, Behold I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream, then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dangled upon her knees.
Can't we see ourselves as those babes and sucklings in this? On, the breasts of consolation, Zion, the City of God.
In Sweet Bond,
[Elder] Ira M. Fry The Banner of Love, March 1972
On Saturday, August 11, 2000, Brother Uriah and Sister Ruth Crain celebrated their marriage of seventy years. They were married August 16, 1930 in the home of our dear mother and father, Willie and Myrtle Crain, a few miles southwest of Kim, Colorado.
The Tecumseh, Oklahoma Primitive Baptist Church met for worship on Saturday morning, their place of worship was almost filled with friends and brothers and sisters in Christ. After a good spiritual song service, their pastor, Elder Glen Rooker made introductory remarks, and announced that Elder Bill Huckaby would lead in prayer and Elder Hylton Crain would fill the stand.
His message and subject matter was taken from the twenty-fourth chapter of Genesis, which gives a beautiful account of a bride for Isaac, the son of Abraham.
After preaching it seemed the love of God was felt and manifested, as we took one another's hand in fellowship and spiritual joy. It is absolutely amazing how the Lord's presence can change the countenance and brighten faces!
After a bountiful lunch we sang favorite old hymns in the sanctuary, and then met in the dining room to honor Uriah and Ruth, and rejoiced with them, that the Lord had brought them through joy, sorrow, disappointment, the great depression, drought, extreme heat and cold, and the death of precious loved ones. All of which increased their love for one another and strengthened the marriage bond.
Elder Glen Rooker and the church made wonderful preparation for the occasion. The Bride and Bridegroom of seventy years gave a beautiful testimony of thankfulness for all the Lord's blessings they had enjoyed, and the blessing of the moment to be surrounded by a host of friends. Others spoke of the way the Lord had led brother and Sister Crain, and of their endurance. There were incidence mentioned that were humorous, poetry, and many sincere expressions of love.
Uriah and Ruth Crain have been members of the Primitive Baptist Church for more than fifty years. Uriah serves as deacon in Tecumseh.
All of us, near Uriah and Ruth by the ties of nature, want to express our thanks to the church in Tecumseh, and the many friends that came for making their Seventieth Wedding Anniversary such a wonderful day.
Elder Hylton Crain
PRE-PUBLICATION DEADLINE
Biographical Sketches of Primitive or Old School Baptist Ministers of the United States
Volume II
Pre-publication orders will be accepted for the new volume of biographical sketches of Primitive Baptist ministers until December 31, 2000. It is anticipated that book will be approximately the size of Hassell's History, about 900 pages, with entries for about 1500 ministers, including 500 pictures. It will have a high quality, hard cover binding.
Pre-publication price will be $25.00, on a first come, first serve basis. The post-publication price will be $40.00. It is expected that there will be a limited supply of books for sale after publication.
Elder Hugh Montgomery has agreed to handle the accounting and administration for the book, and all orders should be sent to him. Checks should be made out to Primitive Baptist Heritage Corporation and sent to:
Elder Hugh Montgomery
P. O. Box 1232
Lampasas, Texas 76550
I am searching for material on the writings of Elder Enoch Calvin Mahurin. I have heard so much about him since I joined the Primitive Baptist Church the last forty-five years and I resisted the urge to ask about these writings these many years fearing that many people might think I was boasting, but as I am the last of the Mahurin clan that is is still a member of the church, I have a strong desire to gather what I can of his writings for my generations that may come after me.
I hope that you are not presumptuous about this request. Many old Baptist that were baptized by Uncle Calvin have come to me and expressed their love for him. I felt greatly humbled to hear about him.
I grew up in east Texas and didn't have the opportunity to hear him. He and Dad were in the great split in the church and Uncle Calvin moved west and dad stayed in Whitney, Texas. His membership was in the Culp Church at Aquilla, Texas for many years; then he and Mother moved their memberships to the Andrews Church just before Dad died.
I have regretted missing Uncle Calvin all these many years. If your Dad and Mother have passed away and you have no need for Uncle Calvin's writings, please send them to me, and if you desire to keep them, I can copy the material and return them to you.
I know this will be a lot of trouble for you but my desire is to gather this material. I will reimburse you for your trouble. I kmow Uncle Calvin was just a man, but it is evident, that God must have blessed him greatly.
My great-great-grandfather was a Primitive Baptist minister from 1826 until his death in 1870 in Missouri and Arkansas. He was buried in Rogers, Arkansas. I do not suppose there are many of his writings in existence at this time.
Thank you, dear brethren and sisters, for hearing my request. May God bless all His little children, where ever they may be.
Sincerely yours,
B.N. [Bob] Mahurin
There is no joy so enduring
No peace so divine
No friend is so cheering
As this Jesus of mine
No love is so perfect
No friendship so dear
My joy has no limits
When Jesus is near
My pitfalls are blessings
My nights are as day
There's light in my valleys
When with Jesus, I stay
My world will stop turning
My sun fails to shine
My nights are forever
Unless Jesus is mine
A Sister in Christ,
Mahala Jane Clark
Poteau, OK
Note: Here is another one of my poems. When I see this, I thank God for the way I felt while composing it. I have written many poems and I have ever felt near my sweet Jesus while composing each one.
Sister Mahala Jane Clark
LAST SERVICE AT OLD CHURCH
The Lubbock Primitive Baptist Church at 1601 44th Street, had its last service in the building on Sept. 3, 2000. Following morning services and after lunch and fellowship, communion service was observed.
There were several young boys and girls, teen aged and young married couples, as well as the older ones that partake of the services. It was a sweet spirit filled service.
The church is now meeting at Sanders funeral Home in Lubbock, during the process of building a new building.
Jesus told the blind man, "Go wash in the pool of Siloam, [which is by interpretation, Sent.] He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing." I am convinced that his washing his eyes did not give him sight. However, his obedience to the commandment of Jesus, going to the pool and washing the clay away allowed him to see clearly, he had sight before he washed, but until he washed the dirt away he could not see. Typically showing us that if we are obedient to the Word of Truth, and get the flesh [clay] out of the way, [mortify the deeds of the flesh] we will see, 'come away seeing.'
The writer takes notice of the significance of the name 'pool of Siloam,' its being interpreted 'sent.' Siloam and Shiloh are the same. "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be." [Genesis 49: 10]. Until Shiloh [that is the sent of God, the Messiah, Jesus] come. Shiloh was now here and he had given sight to the blind. The pool of Shiloh was symbolically speaking of Jesus [Shiloh, Messiah]. So when Jesus sent him to the pool of Siloam he did in effect send him to Himself [Shiloh]. In effect to wash in the record of His word. His gospel which "hath brought life and immortality to light." See 2 Timothy 1:10.
The man, that all his neighbors knew as the blind beggar was no longer found at his post. He was not blind sitting and begging. He in fact had better sight than any of his neighbors, and was up and about as they were. He was no longer imprisoned by his blindness, and no longer dependent on his compassionate neighbors for sustenance.
This caused considerable excitement among them and they could not understand. They said, "is not this he that sat and begged? Some said, This is he; others said, he is like him; but he said, I am he."
"Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?" He said, "A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash; and I went and washed, and I received sight." They said, "Where is he?" He answered, 'I know not," See John 9: 8-12.
Jesus gave the man sight on the Sabbath day, the first day of the week, the eighth day. Eight means a new beginning. When Jesus gave sight to the poor man that was blind, it was a new beginning for him in his life. It is a new beginning for the Lord's people when he gives them sight; to those whom Jesus hath delivered from the power of darkness, and hath translated into the kingdom of his dear Son: Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. See Colossians 1:13.
The news that Jesus had given sight to the blind man soon reached the Pharisees; the beggar's neighbors had brought them the news. The Pharisees were angry because Jesus had healed the poor blind beggar on the Sabbath day, they were angry at anything that Jesus did, and He only did good. They had no compassion for the poor blind man, they did not care for anyone, except themselves.
The Pharisees called his parents and questioned them. They were frightened and said nothing in defense of their son.
It would seem that they should have been elated and would have come to his defense, no matter the cost to them, but they did not. They said, "He is of age; ask him." if the poor beggar could not depend on his own mother and daddy to stand with him, where could he find a friend? He had 'a friend that sticketh closer than a brother,'
he just wasn't aware of Him as yet.
The Pharisees called in the once blind beggar to their court and interrogated him about the circumstances of how he had received his sight. He cut his testimony short and said simply, "He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see." [John 9: 15]. This shortened testimony may have been all that he could find courage to utter. He felt he was all alone; like a sheep among wolves.
He was frightened and intimidated by them, he was the poorest of the poor. He had no education, and considered by many, including these Pharisees authorities, to be one that was cursed with blindness because of some gross sins in a former life. Possibly even his parents may have thought the same, maybe even he himself was convinced that this was the case.
However, he was not alone. As the interrogation by the Pharisees continues we see his courage grow, also his words are well chosen and delivered with power that he had never possessed before. Although he is not aware at this time, he has a friend that is accompanying him, one that "sticketh closer than a brother." [Proverbs 18:24]. This mysterious new friend within him, whom at this time he didn't know, but felt his presence [Jesus], was giving him courage and supplying him with the needed words. He must have wondered.
The Pharisees said, concerning Jesus, "We know that this man is a sinner." [John 9: 24]. Boldly and without hesitation the once blind beggar said, "Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not; one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see." [John 9;25]. Watch his courage increase; although he never before in all his life was able to speak in such a deliberate manner, or articulate so clearly, so emphatically, and with such knowledge and courage, he finds it all now.
The interrogation continued an they asked again, "How opened he thine eyes?" Again, he boldly, deliberately, and without hesitation answered them, "I have told you already, and ye did not hear; wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?" Then they angrily reviled him and accused him of being one of Jesus' disciples, which he did not deny. He responds, uninhibited by any fear of them, being emboldened by his new inward friend [who he doesn't even know as yet], with this powerful and beautiful sermon: "Why herein is a marvelous thing, that ye know not from whence he is and yet he hath opened mine eyes.
Now, we know that God heareth not sinners; but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing." [John 9: 30-33]. His words reveals that he was a praying man, and one who was endeavoring to do God's will.
Then the Pharisees were enraged. He could he, whom they considered to be the very worse of sinners; remember they considered him to be one that was born blind because of some terrible sin against God in a previous life, dare stand before them, whom they considered to be so much better and so much higher than he, and speak so unconcerned, and in what they considered a very disrespectful manner? They said unto him, "Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out." [John 9: 34]. They cast him out of the temple [excluded him]. This meant that he was never to come back into the temple again, or keep company with any that were members of the temple congregation. However, little did he know then, that he would never want to have anything to do with their temple or the likes of any of them. His yearning in the future would be; to be with the Lord's people wherever that might be. Actually, he was never allowed to enter the temple before, because of his affliction and for the reason they considered the cause of his blindness. According to them, he would have polluted their temple.
Doubtless the poor man must have felt alone in this strange new world that he was in, this world of light and sight. He did not really have any friends in this now past world of darkness that he could turn to and confide in. His parents had forsaken him, so he could not share the excitement of his new life with them, and he was forbidden to fraternize with any that belonged to the temple congregation.
However, he was not alone, for 'He, [Jesus] which hath begun a good work in him,' found him, he did not find Jesus. "Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him." [John 9: 35-38].
He only comes to know the Lord after He revealed Himself to him. The poor sinner was now made aware of who his companion was in the Pharisees court. "Thou hast seen him," and who had given him sight, both natural and spiritual. So much more could be written here, however, because of space we will refrain. God bless.
Life gets pretty tough when we get lonely, or depressed. We all get this way from time to time.
We may find ourselves lonely when death takes away a spouse, a close family member or a friend. We can find ourselves depressed over a multitude of this world’s problems.
When we get this way, our usual first reaction is to pull away. We want to hide from the world, our family and our friends. As the psychologists analyze it, us men like to retreat into our "caves" and the women retreat into themselves.
It is no fun being lonely or depressed. It is hard to find a good answer when we get ourselves in such a condition. We begin to think we are of no value to anyone — ourselves or others. Yet the Apostle Paul tells us this is not so.
The Apostle, in 2nd Corinthians, gives us a two-part answer to our depression and loneliness. He tells us we can find comfort in the Lord, and also in our actions to others.
Some of the most important lessons we learn in life are at the hands of experience. If you have lost a loved one, you have a valuable experience which you can use to comfort another person going through the same experience. If you have been through depression, you are perhaps in the best position to comfort and assist someone you know who is going through the same thing.
Doesn’t it always help to know that the person attempting to console you has been through the same misery you are now going through. You accept advice and comfort better from someone you know understands and feels the same pain you are having. We do not accept sympathy as well from someone who has never experienced our kind of pain.
The Apostle Paul confirms this to us, and tells us how we can go about relieving our pain, suffering and depression. His guidance is two-part: We get help from God, and then from our following God’s instruction for us to help others similarly suffering:
"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ." 2nd Cor. 1:3-5.
The Apostle tells us that we get help from the Lord in two ways: first, the Lord is there to comfort us as the "Father of mercies." We should take our troubles, tribulations and sufferings to Him. Secondly, by the mercy and comfort which God gives to us, we should give to each other.
One of the best remedies for any loneliness you have — visit and try to provide companionship to others you see are lonely. In helping them you will help yourself. If you are depressed, or understand the impact of such pain that deep depression can bring, try to carry your understanding to others you see are having the same problem.
As Paul tells us, the comfort you bring to others, will also comfort you. If you have ever suffered, then you can be a help to others who are going through similar problems. In doing so, you will share in the comfort that the Lord will also give to you.
Luke 24:39, Jesus speaks, "Behold, my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." Yet, Christ Jesus certainly was in a Resurrected Spiritual Body. My major thrust in this writing is to scripturally distinguish the difference between Spirit and Spiritual.
Definitions: Spirit= Greek: Pneuma [air or wind] Hebrew: Rauch [air or wind]
Spiritual=
1. Of, pertaining to, having the nature of, or consisting of spirit, as distinguished from matter; incorporeal.
2. Pertaining to or affecting the immaterial or soul of man.
3. of or pertaining to God, or to the soul as acted upon by the Holy Spirit: holy; pure.
4. Sacred or religious; not lay or temporal; ecclesiastical: spiritual authorities: distinguished from secular.
5. Marked or characterized by the highest qualities of the human mind; intellectualized.
Spirit is that essence of immaterial matter, intangible and invisible, and can be either positive or negative, good or evil. There is a great list of scriptures pertaining to the negative unclean spirits.
It is very interesting to note, that God nor Christ has ever cleansed one of these negative spirits, but certainly has removed such from one of His elect children, on various occasions, but the negative spirit remained such, and forever will. They will have their final reward in the Lake of fire - Matt. 25:41.
Let us contrast the difference of cleansing or making spiritual an evil spirit, with the fact of Jesus who cast out such from the person. Matt. 11:5. "The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to to them." Mark 5: 1-15 - A wild Gadarene, was possessed, and this evil spirit spake unto Jesus and said - V. 7 - "And cried with a loud voice, and said, what have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not." V. 8 - "for he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.' V. 9 --- "And he asked him, What is thy name? and he answered saying, My name is Legion: for we are many." V. 10 - "And he besought him much that he would he would not send them away out of the country." V. 11 - "Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding." V. 12 - "And all the devils besought him saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them." V. 13 - "And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine; and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, [they were about two thousand;] and were choked in the sea." What is so noticeable here is the lesson of learning that Jesus was in complete total control, of cleansing the man, but not the unclean spirits, but they were allowed to enter into the swine, and caused them to drown in the sea. Mark 9: 17-27 - A man came to Jesus and asked if he would help his son who had a dumb spirit. V. 25-26 - Jesus rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, "Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. V. 27 - "But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose." Luke 11:14-26 - Jesus was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. "And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake, and the people wondered." Some said He did it in the power of Beelzebub the chief of devils." In the Old Testament, 1st. Samuel 16:14 - God was so very displeased with King Saul, for his disobedience, till - "But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an Evil spirit from the Lord troubled him." Let us learn that God can and does send evil spirits, from to time as a curse and punishment upon disobedience, but then can bring a blessing upon those who are repentant and obedient, thereby cleansing them by His Holy Spirit - The Holy Ghost. Also it is very important to notice that in all these examples their bodies did not cease to exist.
Spiritual is that quality of essence that inhabits either the spirit or material body of an entity such as matter - tangible, physical, literal, visible, and/or the Spirit of the above described invisible and intangible, and infuses the quality of purity, holiness, sanctity, sanctified, without any trace or micro of the negative, defiled, evil, wicked, foul, dumb, bondage, divination, error, fear, perverse, unclean, seducing or anti, remaining whatsoever. That which is spiritual does not eliminate or negate the material embodiment of matter, nor change the spirit in to matter. Both remain the same in molecular structure, but does effect the quality of such, from negative to positive. If I went to a lumber yard and bought a pine 8 foot 2x4 board, and found knots, warps and twists in rough places, and desired that such be straightened, with the knots eliminated including all other negatives and impurities, probably the only way I could accomplish such, would be to pick a different board; however, if God so chose, he could spiritualize that same board, and such would instantly become of pure, sanctified spiritual quality of total positives, without any negatives remaining whatsoever.
It would still be a wood board, tangible, visible, of the same weight, length and size. Likewise, God can also change our vile bodies, nd fashion our same corrupt bodies into a spiritual body of perfection, purity and holiness, without destroying the matter of the physical, material, literal and visible embodiment of this third-part of the trichotomy of man. Incidentally, that pine board would still be pine, but in perfection now. Read; Job 19:23-27; 1st Cor. 2:11-14; 15:42-49; and Phil. 3:21, then - 1st John 3:2.
Finally, a Spirit cannot be seen, nor a Spiritual Spirit as both are invisible; but a materialist literal, matter, physical body before and after it has been spiritualized and is now spiritual can still be seen as such is still visible. This incorruption, honor, glory, power and fashioned like unto His Glorious body. Phil. 3:21. Again the same Resurrected body.