20-1-2 Through the Bible with Les Feldick, Introducing Romans Chapter 1:1-15 скачать в хорошем качестве

20-1-2 Through the Bible with Les Feldick, Introducing Romans Chapter 1:1-15

Matthew 11:11 "Verily I say unto you, `Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist (pretty strong statement isn't it): notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.'" Now who could be the least in the kingdom of heaven? Let's compare Scripture with Scripture, turn to I Corinthians Chapter 15. And as I said in the last lesson, every word that this man writes is Holy Spirit inspired. There is not a single a word, not even a simple article that was not written exactly like God wanted it. This includes the whole Bible. Now when men have gone through The Bible using numerics as they call it (putting a value on every letter as the Hebrew language did and as the Greek language did), they can prove numerically that these main themes of Scripture all fit exactly numerically. You can take out one word and it falls apart. So always remember that every word that this Apostle writes is Holy Spirit inspired. Now in this Scripture in I Corinthians Paul has made mention of the fact that Christ had been raised from the dead. This is the great Resurrection chapter, and verse 6 tells us that Christ was seen of at least 500 brethren. I Corinthians 15:6-8 "After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present (that is, at this writing), but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James: then of all the apostles (that, of course, was before His ascension). And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time." Now here we've got to stop for a moment because it will be quite a while before we get to Corinthians. What did Paul mean by the statement that he was like one born out of the due time? Well, he was speaking of himself spiritually, as a mother-to-be who has lost her baby. It was a "preemie" or an aborted one, or it was a miscarriage. And that is what Paul is referring to himself as. That he had come on the scene before the due time for the Nation of Israel as a whole. He was that sampling that the Nation of Israel will one day be suddenly converted as he was on the road to Damascus. Remember that the Nation of Israel is still going to experience what Paul experienced, but he's the sampling that came these 1900 + years ahead of it. But the Scripture we came to look at is in verse 9. Remember, who could be least in the Kingdom of Heaven? Jesus had said, "notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he (John)." Now look what the Scripture says: I Corinthians 15:9 "For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God (those Jewish believers back there in the early chapter of Acts)." Now for another verse in the Book of Ephesians, Chapter 3. Again the Apostle is making reference to himself. Ephesians 3:8a "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints,..." Do you see it? Who do you think Jesus had in mind when he made that statement in Matthew 11:11? This man right here. According to the Holy Spirit we have seen Paul called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. As one writer I read many years ago put it this way, "I am sure that when the Church is finally caught up to meet the Lord in the air, that the Apostle Paul will introduce the Bride to the Groom." And I tend to agree with this gentleman. And remember, the first event in Heaven will be the marriage of Christ and His Bride, the Church. As we study the writings of Paul which are the most neglected in Scripture today, I give that as the reason for the demise of the power of the Church. The reason our Churches are weak, filled with members, but spiritually dead, as Revelation puts it, "...they are destitute." They say, "Look at us we're rich, look at our huge sanctuary, look at our plant, our gym, our tennis court," and this is exactly what Jesus said they would say in Revelation 3, speaking of the Laodicean Church. And that's where we are at the present time. But Jesus said, "You're poor, you're miserable, you're wretched, and you're blind." And the reason they are is because they are neglecting this Apostle. How many times my class people have said all they hear from their pulpit is Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. And I know that's also Scripture, but yet you see they are not in the portion of Scripture that the Church needs today, and the Lord knew this Laodicean Church age would be that way. They are neglecting the very basis of our faith, then they wonder why every thing is falling apart spiritually.