Dear Beloved of God,
By Walter J. Cummins, Scripture Consulting
January 2013

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God bless you in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ.

My Oh My! The world has not come to an end, but then the trumpet has not yet sounded. We are still here in this old body that will someday be transformed into the same kind of body that our Lord Jesus Christ was raised with. What a glorious hope we have in Christ!

Since we are still here, I thought it was necessary to give you an update with regard to Scripture Consulting. A few changes have been made during the past two years for ordering materials made available by Scripture Consulting. The book sales are now available through the Continuing in the Scriptures website. The enclosed brochure gives the essential information for ordering books and other materials.

In addition to the books, the Introduction to Greek Scripture Study course and A Journey through the Acts and Epistles Audio Presentation are also available on the website, as also noted on the brochure. Rather than requesting information from me about these courses of study, you may read it directly on the website, and choose whether or not to accept the agreement for the use of those courses by checking the appropriate boxes online. The description and terms of agreement are on the website.

It should be noted that the person ordering one of those courses is the person who will receive the right to use it. In other words, you cannot order a course for someone else. These two courses are licensed to the person ordering the course to use in the manner described on the website.

Because Dan Bader has agreed to handle the books and courses of study on the website, I am able to spend more time with those who have been involved with the Greek Scripture Conferences and the development of other study materials. Beginning next autumn, the Greek Scripture Conferences will be renamed as “Scripture Consulting Conferences.” This name change reflects our concern for the study and understanding of the whole Word of God. In addition to Greek, there are other fields necessary to the study of the Scriptures, such as Aramaic, Hebrew, figures of speech, and customs of the lands and times of the Bible. The essential considerations for how the Scripture interprets itself are of vital importance to working with these various fields of study.

Scripture Consulting will continue to be a publisher of materials, while Continuing in the Scriptures will handle the retail part of what Scripture Consulting and others might make available for Scripture study.

These necessary changes at present will be an advantage for many of you, your family, and friends in the future study of the Scriptures until the trumpet sounds.

I can remember when we had one phone in our house and no TV, no computer, no internet, no printer. Now, many people have more than one phone, besides TV’s, computers, printers, CD/DVD players, and many other gadgets. Many people have become reliant on their mobile phones for calls, texts, e-mails, and even finding information.

Some of us have also become reliant on a mobile communication that has been available for about 2000 years ever since the new birth gift of holy spirit became available on the Day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2. We have, as it tells us in I Corinthians 12:7-11, nine manifestations of that spirit by which God may communicate with us and help us. The gift of holy spirit is with us wherever we go, and it never needs new batteries. What a wonderful communication device for our fellowship with our heavenly Father.

There is a record in Philippians 2 that speaks about fellowship of the spirit.

Philippians 2:1 and 2:
If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

The word “Spirit” in verse 1 is used of the gift of holy spirit which we received from God, and the verse speaks of fellowship pertaining to that spirit that we received from God. If there is any consolation or encouragement in Christ, if there is any comfort of love, if there is any fellowship pertaining to the spirit, and if there is any bowels (compassion) or mercies, then we ought to be likeminded, with the same love, of one accord, and of one mind.

There is encouragement in Christ. There is comfort of love. There is such a thing as fellowship of the spirit. We have so much in that new birth gift of holy spirit by which we may have fellowship with our heavenly Father, with our Lord Jesus Christ, and with one another.

Verses 3-5:
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Rather than doing things out of strife or vainglory, this record goes on to speak of doing things with lowliness of mind, that is, humility. Let each esteem others better than themselves, being concerned about what each can do to help and bless others. Then verse 5 says “Let this mind be in you,” and it adds “which was also in Christ Jesus.” The mind spoken about here was just described in verses 1-4. It is a mind that is likeminded, having the same love, humble, and concerned with helping and blessing others. That was the mind that was in Christ Jesus. He had that loving and caring concern for others, and he was humble, as the record goes on to describe.

Verses 6-8:
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Jesus Christ was the Son of God, but he did not use that esteemed position for his personal gain. He took on the form of a servant. He humbled himself. He was obedient, even unto death. He was the great example of humility and obedience.

When Jesus was twelve years old, he spoke of the necessity of his being about his Father’s business, as recorded in Luke 2:49. On an occasion in Samaria, he told his disciples, “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work,” as recorded in John 4:34. On another occasion, he said, “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me,” as recorded in John 6:38. Jesus chose to do the will of God, Who had sent him, and he chose to finish the work that God had sent him to do.

On a later occasion in Jerusalem, Jesus said, “he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him,” as recorded in John 8:29. Shortly before his sufferings, he talked to the twelve apostles about service and said, “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many,” as recorded in Matthew 20:28. Jesus chose to do the work that God had sent him to do. He served by giving his life for others. He was humble and obedient to God, and by his obedience, the new birth and all of its benefits have become available to others.

Verses 9-11:
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus Christ did not exalt himself. He humbled himself and was obedient to God. Therefore, God highly exalted him. God gave him a name above every name so that every knee is to bow to his name. Every tongue is to confess him as lord. By confessing him as lord and believing that God raised him from the dead, anyone may receive the salvation made available by Jesus Christ’s obedience to God.

Verse 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.

These Philippians were to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. The salvation spoken about here could not refer to the salvation that comes to a person when they confess with their mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in the heart that God has raised him from the dead, because this epistle was written to people who were already saved. They had received the gift of holy spirit with its manifestations. The spirit was also the guarantee for them of their inheritance and the salvation to come when Christ returns. They did not work for such salvation. It was freely given to them when they believed in Jesus Christ.

Thus the salvation they were to work out referred to another kind of salvation, or deliverance, which in the greater context of the epistle refers to deliverance from their adversaries. Philippians 1:28 told them: “And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation [deliverance], and that of God.” They were to look for salvation, or deliverance, from their adversaries, and they were to look for that deliverance to come from God.

Here in Philippians 2:12, they were told to work out their salvation, or deliverance, which would have been deliverance from their adversaries. They were to work it out with “fear and trembling.” According to Bishop K.C. Pillai’s teaching on the customs in the lands and times of the Bible, the phrase “fear and trembling” was an idiom, which meant “reverence and obedience” on the part of obedient servants who did what they were told to do. Servants in that culture would keep their eyes reverently on their master, looking for instructions, which they would obediently carry out. Psalm 123:2 alludes to that custom: “Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us.”

These born again ones in the Church of God were to work out their deliverance from their adversaries by keeping their eyes upon the master with reverence and obedience. The master they were to keep their eyes on was God, as mentioned in the very next verse in this passage from Philippians 2.

Verse 13:
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

God works in those who are born of His spirit. Those who are His sons by the new birth of spirit are to work out their deliverance in day-by-day situations by keeping their eyes upon Him as servants with reverence for their Master. Then, as obedient servants, they are to do whatever the Master says to do. God is working within them to will and to do of His good pleasure.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was the greatest example of a Son of God working out deliverance with reverence and obedience, as mentioned previously in verses 5-8. He humbled himself and was obedient unto death. He served with great reverence for His Father, keeping his eyes upon His Father. He obediently did what His Father asked him to do. By his reverence and obedience, he accomplished what was necessary for our salvation, or deliverance.

When God made available the new birth (born of spirit), He also included new abilities (manifestations of the spirit) by which God could communicate with His sons and help them. They can look to Him with reverence and obedience, as Jesus Christ also did during his earthly life and ministry. God is with His children wherever they go. They have a new means of mobile communication, which has been available since the Day of Pentecost recorded in Acts 2.

There is indeed fellowship of the spirit. There is encouragement in Christ. There is comfort of love. We have so much in the new birth gift of holy spirit by which we may have fellowship with our heavenly Father, with our Lord Jesus Christ, and with one another.

Keep your mobile communication turned on with reverence and obedience, for God is working in you to will and to do His good pleasure.

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Dear Beloved of God

by Walter J. Cummins, Scripture Consulting

July 2012

God bless you in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ.

There is a record that I have often considered in Romans 8:1-2. Knowing that the latter part of verse 1 in the Authorized King James Version is to be omitted according to all critical Greek texts, the two verses may be rendered as follows.

Romans 8:1 and 2:
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,

for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and of death.

The condemnation spoken of in this record along with the sin and the death refers back to those matters that were discussed in more detail in Romans 5:12-21, where it told us about the sin, the death, and the condemnation that Adam caused to come into the world. That record spoke of the condemnation and death that passed to all people as a result of Adam’s trespass. That record also spoke of Jesus Christ’s accomplishments which resulted in justification and life becoming available to all people. As a result, those who have believed regarding Jesus Christ are justified with the new spirit life, and they are no longer condemned. The law of the spirit, which is the life in Christ Jesus, has made them free from the law of sin and death. They are no longer condemned.

According to Romans 3:24, they are “justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Being justified by that redemption, they are no longer condemned.

There is another aspect of redemption spoken of in the epistle to the Romans.

Romans 8:22 and 23:
For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Although we have been redeemed, justified, and given the new spirit life, we are still waiting for the redemption of our physical bodies. That is part of our hope for what is to come at the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:13-14 tells us that we are “sealed with the holy spirit of promise” and that the holy spirit is “the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” The gift of holy spirit is the earnest of the inheritance (including new bodies) until the redemption of the purchased possession to come at the return of Jesus Christ.

Living in the world that became cursed after Adam’s sin, our physical bodies (which have not yet been redeemed) and the environment around us are not impervious to the physical elements that are often orchestrated by Satan against those who have believed in Jesus Christ.

The book of Job speaks of a man who reverenced God, who was upright, who did not sin, and who looked for God’s redemption. The book of Job shows us that Satan orchestrated many things against Job with regard to his material possessions, his family, and his health. However, God delivered him.

The records in the book of Acts tell us of the apostles who underwent physical beatings, imprisonment, and other calamities. They were wonderful God-fearing men who had received the gift of holy spirit and who walked with God. In II Corinthians, God had the apostle Paul tell of various calamities that befell him.

II Corinthians 11:24-27:
Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

The source of these disastrous events are referred to in II Corinthians 12:7 as the “messenger of Satan,” which was sent to buffet Paul. It was not God but a messenger of Satan who caused such things to happen to a wonderful believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul and the other apostles could have condemned themselves in some of those situations as some people are prone to do. People who have been justified through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus sometimes condemn themselves because of sickness, accidents, natural disasters, persecutions, and other calamities. There is, however, no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. They have the holy spirit, a perfect gift from God made available through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. They are thus justified and not condemned. The holy spirit is also the earnest of the new bodies and inheritance to come at the return of Christ. They may look forward to the redemption of those bodies, and, while they wait, they ought to recognize that they are no longer condemned.

I John 3:21 and 22:
Beloved, if our heart condemn [blame] us not, then have we confidence toward God.

And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

If we do not condemn, or blame, ourselves, then we shall have confidence in God, knowing that what we ask, we shall receive from Him because we are well pleasing to Him.

With regard to calamities that occurred in the lives of Paul and his associates, God had him write the following to the Corinthians.

II Corinthians 1:8-10:
For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us.

God delivered Paul and his associates in former situations, and they trusted that God would continue to deliver them.

Things may happen in our lives that are not the result of our misdoings. We have the earnest of the spirit born within us, but we still live in a world and in physical bodies that have not yet been redeemed. So things happen, but God has delivered and will deliver us.

Let us focus on God’s willingness and ability to help us in any and every situation and not be distracted and disturbed by any sickness, accident, natural disaster, or other calamitous circumstance. We are His children born of spirit, and we can look to our heavenly Father for deliverance because of what Jesus Christ has accomplished for us. We can also look for the redemption of our physical bodies at the return of Christ. There is no way we can lose. Those who have the gift of holy spirit are winners, more than conquerors, with God and His Son Jesus Christ.

I thank God for all of you who are justified, born-again sons of God.

Sincerely in Christ,

Walter J. Cummins

Dear Beloved of God

by Walter J. Cummins, Scripture Consulting

January 2012

For the Consideration of What the Scriptures Say

God bless you in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ.

In this study, we are going to consider what the Word of God considers to be profitable. Some of these verses are cited from the Authorized King James Version (AKJV) and others from the Working Translation (WT) in A Journey through the Acts and Epistles.[1] The word “profitable” and its related word-forms are underlined for emphasis in the verses cited in this study.

Things That Are Profitable

II Timothy 3:16-17 (WT):
All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching [what was taught], for reproof, for correction, for the instruction that is in justness,

so that the man of God may be equipped, fully equipped for every good work.

All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable. The words in the Scriptures that were originally revealed by God are God’s words, and they are profitable words. They are profitable for teaching, which is used here to refer to what was taught, doctrine, or right teaching that brings about right believing. It is also profitable for reproof when someone is not believing what is right, as well as for correction, that is, to help a person get back to right believing. The Scriptures are profitable for the proper instruction in justness, or righteousness, so that people may know and believe what is just, or righteous. The Scriptures are profitable for those purposes to the extent that the man of God may be fully equipped for every good work. When that fully equipped man of God teaches those same Scriptures to others, then those other people may likewise be fully equipped for every good work.

The profitable Scriptures are the basis for fully equipping someone for every good work. Other words spoken or written may be profitable for some things, and they may equip someone to do certain things, but the God-breathed Scriptures are profitable to the extent that a person may be fully equipped for every good work.

Titus 3:8 (WT):
The Word is faithful, and I desire that you strongly affirm these things to the end that those who have believed in God may think carefully about maintaining good works. These things are good and profitable for the people.

Titus 3:8 begins by saying that the Word is faithful. All Scripture is God-breathed. It is God’s Word, and God’s Word is faithful, and hence reliable. All of those God-breathed words in God’s faithful Word are profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, for instruction in justness so that the man of God may be fully equipped for every good work.

According to Titus 3:8, strongly affirming what is set forth in God’s faithful Word to the end that those who have believed in God may think carefully about maintaining good works is profitable for the people. The profitable Scriptures are the basis for fully equipping a person for every good work. There may be other kinds of works, but the good works mentioned in these passages from the Scriptures are the result of teaching, reproof, correction, and instruction in justness from the God-breathed Scriptures, so that a person may be fully equipped for every good work.

I Timothy 4:7-9 (WT):
Avoid profane and old-woman myths, and exercise yourself unto godliness,

for bodily exercise is profitable for a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having the promise [what was promised] of present life and of that which is to come.

The Word is faithful and worthy of all acceptance.

Bodily exercise is profitable for a little. It is helpful to an individual. However, godliness is profitable for all things – the present life and the future. The Scripture, God’s Word, is the basis for fully equipping a person for every good work so that he may exercise himself unto godliness and do what is profitable.

Let us also look at a passage in II Timothy 2, beginning with verse 14.

II Timothy 2:14 (WT):
Remind others of these things, testifying before /the lord {Or/ God}.[2] Do not get involved in unprofitable word battles to the overthrow of those who listen.

Getting involved in word battles would be unprofitable. On the other hand, all Scripture is profitable to the extent that a person may be fully equipped for every good work. Involvement with unprofitable word battles overthrows others who are listening instead of being a profit to them. Rather than getting involved with unprofitable word battles, the very next verse tells us what is to be done.

Verse 15 (WT):
Be diligent to present yourself approved unto God, an unashamed worker, rightly dividing the Word of truth.

Rather than being involved with unprofitable matters, a person ought to put forth a diligent effort to present himself approved unto God by rightly dividing the Word of truth, the Word of God written in the Scriptures. Rightly dividing the Word of truth is profitable. As a person rightly divides God’s Word of truth, he does not need to be ashamed of his work. It is a good work that is a profit to himself and to other people.

Verses 16-18 (WT):
Avoid profane useless discussions, for they will advance ungodliness even more,

and their word will eat away as gangrene does. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,

who have deviated from the truth saying that the resurrection has already occurred, and they overthrow the believing of some people.

Godliness is profitable for all things, as we have read. However, useless discussions advance ungodliness, according to verse 16. Hymenaeus and Philetus had “deviated from the truth.” Wrongly dividing God’s Word of truth would be a deviation from the truth, like the things spoken by Hymenaeus and Philetus. Rather than profiting people, such deviations from the truth overthrow the believing of other people. Such deviations from the truth lead to wrong believing rather than right believing. Profane useless discussions and word battles are unprofitable, whereas, all Scripture rightly divided is profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and instruction in justness so that a person may be fully equipped for every good and profitable work.

Verses 19-21 (WT):
Nevertheless, the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The lord knows those who are his own, and let every one who names the name of the lord withdraw from injustice.”

In a large house, there are not only gold and silver utensils but also wooden utensils and ceramics. Some of them are for honor, and some for dishonor.

So if anyone cleanses himself from these [deviations from the truth], then he will be a utensil for honor, sanctified, very useful to the master, ready for every good work.

Avoiding unprofitable word battles, profane useless discussions, and deviations from the truth, a person will be like a utensil of honor ready for every good work. The good works referred to in these Scriptures are the result of the profitable Scriptures rightly divided.

Verses 22-23 (WT):
Flee from youthful cravings, and pursue justness, believing, love, peace with those who call upon the lord out of a clean heart.

Avoid foolish and uneducated controversies, knowing that they give birth to fights.

Foolish and uneducated controversies are to be avoided. They are unprofitable.

Verses 24-26 (WT):
The servant of the lord should not fight but should be gentle toward all, skillful in teaching, able to endure evil,

with meekness educating those who oppose themselves. Perhaps God will give them repentance unto the knowledge [acknowledgement] of the truth,

and they will become sober again from the trap of the slandering devil, even those who have been captured by him for his will.

The servant of the lord, that is, the one who serves in the body of Christ to help others, should not fight or get involved with foolish and uneducated controversies, unprofitable word battles, or profane, useless discussions. He should be “gentle toward all.”

According to verse 24, a servant of the lord should also be “skillful in teaching.” All Scripture is profitable for teaching, and the servant of the lord is to be skillful in teaching those profitable Scriptures. To do so, he needs to rightly divide the Word of truth so that he is an unashamed worker. By rightly dividing God’s Word and teaching it to others, they too may profit. With meekness, he is to educate those who oppose themselves so that God may bring them deliverance. That would certainly be profitable to them.

Word battles, profane useless discussions, and foolish and uneducated controversies are unprofitable. Rightly dividing the Word of truth to show oneself approved unto God and teaching it to others is profitable.

Let us look at another passage that speaks about profit.

I Corinthians 12:7-11 (WT):
However, the manifestation of the spirit is given to each person for profit.

(For example, for one profit a word of wisdom is given by the spirit; for another, a word of knowledge by the same spirit;

for another, believing by the same spirit; for another, gifts of healings by the ^/same ^{Or/one}[3] spirit;

for another, operations of miracles; for another, prophecy; for another, discernings of spirits; for another, kinds of tongues; for another, interpretation of tongues.)

The one and the same spirit energizes all these [manifestations], distributing to each person individually even as he wills.

The manifestations of holy spirit are for profit. A person who is born from above with the gift of holy spirit from God (Who is the Holy Spirit) has the ability to manifest that spirit in nine different ways. These nine manifestations listed in verses 8-10 are all from the same spirit, and they are all for profit.

All Scripture is profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, instruction in justness so that the man of God may be fully equipped for every good work. In addition, he has holy spirit with nine ways to manifest that spirit for profit. Having these two resources, a servant of the lord has two great means for teaching and doing what is profitable for the benefit of others.

In the Church, the body of Christ, there are those who serve in various capacities for the profit of other people. We need to further recognize that all who are born of God have the ability to profit others by the manifestation of holy spirit as well as by the God-breathed Scriptures that they have learned. All are capable of doing what is profitable. Some of the instructions in the epistles to Timothy and Titus were specifically regarding those who served. However, all who are born of God may learn the Scriptures and learn to manifest holy spirit so that what they do and teach may be a profit to themselves and to others.

I Corinthians 13:1-3 (WT):
If I speak in the tongues of men and of [divine] messengers but do not have love, then I have become a sounding brass gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I have prophecy and I know all the mysteries and all the knowledge and if I have all the believing so as to remove mountains but do not have love, then I am nothing.

If I give all my goods to feed others and if I give my body to be burned but do not have love, then it profits me nothing.

The love of God spoken of in this passage from I Corinthians is necessary for the manifestations of holy spirit to be of the greatest profit.

I Corinthians 14:1-6 (WT):
Pursue the [right kind of] love. Be zealous of spiritual matters, and moreover that you may prophesy.

In fact, he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, because no one understands what he hears himself speaking. By the spirit, he is speaking mysteries.

However, he who prophesies speaks to men edification and encouragement and comfort.

He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

Now I want you all to speak in tongues, and moreover that you would prophesy, for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks in tongues except and unless he interprets so that the church may receive edifying.

As a matter of fact, brothers, if I come to you [in the church] speaking in tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation or by knowledge or by prophesying or by doctrine [what was taught]?

This passage explains the profitable use of the manifestations of holy spirit in the local gathering of the church. Speaking in tongues is profitable to an individual in that it edifies him. However, speaking in tongues without interpretation in the church would not be profitable to the others present. Speaking in tongues with interpretation as well as prophecy would be profitable in the church in that it would edify the others present. A born-again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is to pursue the love of God spoken of in this passage, and the manifestations with the love of God are profitable.

I Corinthians 10:23-24 (WT):
All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.

Let no one seek for that which is [profitable and edifying] to himself but to the other.

In this administration of the grace of God, all things are lawful, but not all things are profitable and edifying to other people.

Verses 31-33 (WT):
So whether you eat or drink or do anything, do everything to the glory of God.

Become inoffensive to Judeans and to Greeks [Gentiles] and to the Church of God,

even as I also am pleasing to all people in all things by not seeking my own profit but the profit of many, that they may be saved [delivered].

The apostle Paul did not seek his own profit but the profit of many so that they could be saved. Likewise, other born-again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are to seek what is profitable and edifying to others. All Scripture is profitable. The manifestation of holy spirit with the love of God is profitable. The resulting good works and godliness are profitable, and a person ought to seek what is profitable and edifying to others.

Hebrews 4:2 (AKJV):
For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

The gospel does not profit people when it is not mixed with faith, that is, when they do not believe the gospel. All Scripture is profitable, but it does not profit those who do not believe it. Teaching and heralding the Scriptures and manifesting holy spirit with the love of God would be profitable, and it gives others the opportunity to profit if they choose to believe God’s Word.

Ephesians 3:8-11 (WT):
To me, who am less than the least of all holy [sanctified] ones, was this grace given to proclaim the gospel regarding the untraceable riches of Christ to the Gentiles

and to enlighten all people regarding what is the administration of the mystery (which has been hidden from the ages in God, Who created all things)

so that through the Church the multifarious wisdom of God could now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realm

in accordance with the purpose of the ages, which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God had the apostle Paul to proclaim the gospel of God regarding the untraceable riches of Christ to the Gentiles and to enlighten all people regarding the administration of the mystery, which is also called “the administration of the grace of God” in Ephesians 3:2. Paul’s proclaiming that gospel of God made known God’s purpose of the ages, which God accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. The proclaiming of the gospel as it is recorded in the Scriptures, rightly divided, by servants of the lord skillful in teaching also makes known God’s purpose of the ages, which He accomplished in Christ Jesus. The Scriptures make known God and His Son Jesus Christ. When someone teaches those Scriptures accurately, rightly divided, then the Scriptures make known God and His purpose of the ages, which He accomplished in His Son Jesus Christ our lord, so that other people may believe and profit.

Examples for Our Learning

The Scriptures today include that which God had Paul to write to the Church. Before Jesus Christ accomplished what was necessary for mankind’s redemption and salvation, people in previous ages could only know what God had revealed to them, including what was written in His Word in those previous times. They could learn those Scriptures that had been revealed to them, and they could profit from those Scriptures as long as they learned them and rightly divided them. Let us look at some of those Scriptures that were written in the previous ages.

Proverbs 4:1-4 (AKJV):
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

These were instructions to the children of Israel. A young person was to listen to the instruction of his father. His father taught him the law of Moses from the Scriptures. It was “good doctrine” for the children of Israel. The father had been taught the same Scriptures by his father, and he was teaching his children to retain those words and to keep the commandments.

Verses 20-23 (AKJV):
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

The person of Israel was to keep the words of God’s Word in his own heart. He was to keep his own heart with diligence. What he put into his own heart determined his issues of life.

Likewise, in the administration of the grace of God today, each person has to learn God’s Word for himself or herself. Someone else may teach them, but they have to decide whether or not they want to keep God’s Word in their own hearts.

Proverbs 3:1-6 (AKJV):
My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

The children of Israel were to keep God’s commandments of the law given to Moses for them. They were to write mercy and truth on the table of their hearts. They were to trust in the Lord God with all their hearts, rather than leaning on their own understanding.

Psalm 1:1-2 (AKJV):
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

The people of Israel were to meditate in God’s Word day and night. Learning God’s Word was not the result of a one-time reading of or listening to the Scriptures. It involved daily learning and meditating on the things they learned.

Leviticus 10:8-11 (AKJV):
And the Lord spake unto Aaron, saying,

Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:

And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;

And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.

Aaron was of the tribe of Levi, and he and his descendants were chosen by God to be the priests under the law of Moses. They made the offerings and sacrifices to God on behalf of the children of Israel. However, another important responsibility that they had was to “teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.” The priests were to teach God’s Word to the others of Israel.

Deuteronomy 31:9-13 (AKJV):
And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and unto all the elders of Israel.

And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles,

When all Israel is come to appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing.

Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law:

And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.

Moses wrote the law and delivered it to the priests. Thus they had written copies of the law from which to teach the children of Israel. In addition to their daily learning and meditation of those Scriptures, the children of Israel were to have the opportunity to hear the entire law read every seven years during the feast of tabernacles. The priests were commanded to read the written Scriptures to them on that sabbatical occasion so that the people could hear and learn and so that they might fear, or reverence, the Lord God.

Let us look at an occasion when the priests read the Scriptures to the people of Israel.

Nehemiah 8:1-8 (AKJV):
And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel.

And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.

And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.

And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:

And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.

So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

Ezra, the priest, and the others with him read the book of the law to the people of Israel. They read it distinctly. The Hebrew word rendered “distinctly” in verse 8 is a verb that means “to make clear or distinct.” A related noun means “an exact statement.” Whatever they did when they read the Scriptures, they made it clear or distinct. It was not an unclear or indistinct or un-exact reading of the Scriptures cluttered with private interpretation and other information. When they read it, they made it clear or distinct.

In addition, verse 8 says that they “gave the sense” so that the people listening could understand what was written. They gave the sense; they did not add sense or nonsense. They helped the people to understand what was written in the verse and context. If the older Hebrew language of the Old Testament had become difficult for people to understand, then they might have given the sense in their currently understood language, which was Aramaic. They taught the Scriptures, rightly divided, so that the people could understand the Scriptures. Then the Scriptures made known God and His will to them.

Verse 18 (AKJV):
Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the manner.

Ezra, the priest, and the others with him read the Scriptures every day of the seven day feast. When they read it, they read it distinctly, clearly, exactly, and they gave the sense so that the people listening could understand what was written.

Profitable Learning in the Administration of the Grace of God

Let us return again to the Scriptures pertaining to the Church in the administration of the grace of God, the administration of the mystery.

Acts 2:1-4 (WT):
Now when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they [the twelve apostles] were all together with unity of purpose.

Then suddenly a sound from heaven as of a rushing, forceful breath came and filled the whole house where they were sitting,

and there appeared tongues as of fire, which were distributed to them, and it sat upon each one of them.

Then they were all filled with holy spirit, and they began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them [the words] to speak out.

On the day of Pentecost, people were filled with holy spirit for the first time. They manifested it by speaking in tongues as God gave them the words to speak out. In addition to speaking in tongues, they also had the ability to manifest holy spirit in eight other ways, as we read in I Corinthians 12.

In the administration of the grace of God, people may be filled with holy spirit and manifest it. All nine manifestations of holy spirit are for profit. We have also seen that the manifestations of holy spirit are of the greatest profit with the love of God.

Let us look carefully at what Peter spoke to the others who were present on the day of Pentecost.

Verses 14-21 (WT):
Then Peter, standing up with the eleven apostles, raised his voice and spoke out to them: “Gentlemen, Judeans, and all of you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known unto you, and listen carefully to my words.

“Certainly, these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day [about 9 a.m.].

“However, this is that which has been spoken by the prophet Joel:

“Joel 2:28-32: ‘And it will be in the last days, says God, I shall pour out of My spirit on all flesh [kinds of people], and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your elders will dream dreams,

“ ‘and even on My male and My female servants I shall pour out of My spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.

“ ‘I shall also give forth wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below: blood and fire and vapor of smoke.

“ ‘The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the great and illustrious Day of the Lord comes,

“ ‘and it will be that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved [delivered].’[4]

We should note that Peter began with a record from the book of Joel, which was part of the God-breathed and profitable Scriptures. It was something profitable for teaching on that occasion. It spoke of God’s promise to pour out spirit on people and that they were to manifest that spirit. We shall see that Peter then went on to cause them to understand that record from the Scriptures regarding God’s promise to pour out His spirit on people to the end that they would manifest it.

Verses 22-31 (WT):
“Gentlemen, Israelites, listen to these words. Jesus of Nazareth, a man from God attested to you by means of miracles and wonders and signs that God did by him among you, even as you yourselves know,

“you did away with, having by lawless hand crucified this one who was delivered over according to the determinate deliberation and foreknowledge of God.

“However, God resurrected him, loosing the birth pangs of death because it was not possible that he should be held by it [death].

“In fact, David says concerning him: Psalm 16:8-11: ‘I kept the Lord always in my view, because He is at my right side so that I should not be shaken.

“ ‘Therefore, my heart was made glad, and my tongue rejoiced exceedingly. Moreover, my flesh will also camp in hope,

“ ‘because You will not leave my soul in the state of death, neither will You allow Your devout one to see corruption.

“ ‘You made known to me the ways of life. You will fill me with gladness by Your countenance.’

“Gentlemen, brothers, permit me to speak openly to you concerning the patriarch David, that he died and was buried, and his tomb is with us until this day.

“Therefore, being a prophet and knowing that God had sworn by an oath to him that Psalm 132:11: ‘from the fruit of his loins one would sit upon his throne,’

“he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ in that he was not left in the state of death nor did his flesh see corruption.

After speaking of what had happened recently in Jerusalem, Peter went again to the Scriptures, citing the records from Psalm 16:8-11 and Psalm 132:11 regarding God’s promises to David. Those promises related to the Christ who was to sit on David’s throne. David died and was buried, but the Christ was not left in the state of death, and his flesh did not see corruption, as God had promised. Peter read the Scriptures distinctly and gave the sense to the people, thus causing them to understand the Scriptures. Then he talked further of what had happened recently in Jerusalem.

Verses 32-33 (WT):
“God resurrected this Jesus, of which we are all witnesses.

“Therefore, having been lifted up [into heaven] to the right side of God and having received the promise of the holy spirit from the Father, he has poured out this, which you see and hear.

Verse 33 tells us that Jesus Christ’s accomplishments made available the promise of the holy spirit and its manifestations. That was the promise from the book of Joel with which Peter had begun. Peter reasoned with them from the Scriptures. He allowed the Scriptures to teach them. He quoted the Scriptures accurately and gave the sense so that they could understand the Scriptures regarding what had become available on that Day of Pentecost.

Verses 34-36 (WT):
“Moreover, David has not ascended into the heavens, but he himself says, Psalm 110:1: ‘The Lord said to my lord, Sit on my right side

“ ‘until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet.’

“Therefore, let all of the house of Israel know with certainty that God made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both lord and Christ.”

Having talked to the people at Jerusalem regarding Jesus, whom God had raised from the dead and who was lifted up to the right side of God, Peter also cited Psalm 110:1, which spoke of the lord who was to sit on God’s right side. Then putting all of the records together, the conclusion stated in verse 36 was that God made this Jesus, whom they had crucified, both lord and Christ.

Verses 37-41 (WT):
Now when they heard this, they were pierced in the heart, and they said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles, “Gentlemen, brothers, what should we do?”

Peter said to them: “Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, every one of you, for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift from the Holy Spirit.

“Certainly, the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, whomever our Lord God will call to Himself.”

With many other words, he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved [delivered] from this crooked generation.”

So then, those who accepted his word were baptized [in the name of Jesus Christ], and there were added to them in that day about 3000 souls.

Peter’s word was from the profitable God-breathed words of the Scriptures, and when he spoke, he also manifested the newly given gift of holy spirit for the profit of the others present. Those who believed those profitable words also received the gift of holy spirit in manifestation on that day. Peter spoke the Scriptures and manifested holy spirit, and there was great profit on that day.

Acts 17:1-3 (WT):
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Judeans.

As Paul was accustomed to doing, he entered [the synagogue] with them, and for three Sabbaths, he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

opening up and setting before them that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead and that “the Christ is this Jesus whom I preach to you.”

When Paul went to Thessalonica, he reasoned with the people in the synagogue from the Scriptures. The record does not say that he reasoned with them from his experiences or from his feelings, or from his intellect. He did not get involved with unprofitable word battles or profane, useless discussions or foolish and uneducated controversies. He reasoned with them from the Scriptures, opening up and setting before them from the Scriptures that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead. He showed them from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ who had fulfilled those things that God had promised and declared in the Scriptures. He caused them to understand the Scriptures, just as Peter had done on the Day of Pentecost.

I Thessalonians 2:13 (WT):
For this reason, we also thank God constantly, because when you received the Word of God that you heard from us, you did not accept it as the word of men but, as it truly is, the Word of God, which also works in you who believe.

The Thessalonians received what Paul taught from the Scriptures as the Word of God. They did not consider the Scriptures to be the word of men, nor did they accept the word of men. They accepted the Scriptures that Paul taught to them as it truly is, the Word of God. All of those Scriptures are profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in justness so that a person could be fully equipped for all good works.

I Thessalonians 1:1-5 (WT):
Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God, the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace and peace to you.

We give thanks to God continually for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers,

constantly remembering your work of the [right way of] believing and your hard labor of the [right manner of] love and your patience of the [right] hope in our Lord Jesus Christ before our God and Father.

We do this knowing, brothers, beloved by God, His choosing of you

(because our gospel came to you not only in word but also in power and in holy spirit and complete certainty), just as you know what manner of men we became among you for your sake.

The gospel came to the Thessalonians in word, but it also came in power, and in holy spirit in manifestation and complete certainty. These things were profitable to the Thessalonians so that they could come to a realization, recognition, and acceptance of what God planned and what Jesus Christ accomplished.

Verses 6-8 (WT):
You also became imitators of us and of the lord, having received the Word in much affliction but with joy from the Holy Spirit.

Thus you became a model for all those who believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

In fact, from you, the Word of the Lord sounded out not only in Macedonia and Achaia but in every place your believing with regard to God has spread abroad, so that there is no need for us to say anything about it.

Paul had taught the profitable Scriptures to the Thessalonians. They, in turn, received what Paul taught as it is in truth the Word of God. They became imitators of Paul and his associates, and then, having done so, they became models, or examples, for others to imitate. Others heard the Word of God from them and believed the same Word of God.

When people hear the Scriptures taught rightly divided, then they too can believe those profitable Scriptures, which declare God’s purpose of the ages, which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Acts 17:10-12 (WT):
and the brothers immediately sent away both Paul and Silas by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Judeans.

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether those things were so.

Therefore, many of them did believe, including not a few of the honorable Greek women and men.

We have seen that Paul taught from the Scriptures. When he taught the people at Berea, they received what Paul taught from the profitable Scriptures with all eagerness, and they examined the profitable Scriptures daily. Like the children of Israel were instructed to learn and to meditate day and night on the Scriptures, so these in the synagogue at Berea examined the Scriptures daily. They searched the Scriptures. They did not search their social standards, nor their former experiences in life, nor their feelings, nor their intellectual understanding of various matters that might lead to word battles, useless discussions, and other controversies. They examined the Scriptures. They did not privately interpret the Scriptures. They read, searched, and examined what was written in God’s Word, the Scriptures.

We too ought to receive the Word of God from the Scriptures with all eagerness and believe it. We ought to search and examine the Scriptures with detailed accuracy, rightly dividing them. All Scripture is profitable.

We ought to be willing to live by the new spirit nature in all of its totality with the love of God, seeking what is profitable to all.

And then, we ought to be able to communicate the Word of God, the Scriptures, in an easily understandable form so that even children may learn.

Like Ezra, we ought to make it clear and distinct and give the sense so that others may understand the Scriptures, the Word of God. We ought to teach the Scriptures, not our experiences, feelings, intellect, unprofitable word battles, useless discussions, and foolish uneducated controversies. Let the God-breathed Scriptures teach, reprove, correct, and instruct others in justness or righteousness.

It is interesting that we have two eyes and two ears, but only one mouth. Having four body parts for learning the Scriptures and only one part for sharing it with others gives us an advantage for learning the profitable Scriptures before we speak. Then, when we have a mouthful of truth, we have something to say.

The Word of God makes known God and His Son Jesus Christ. When the taught word makes known the written Word of God accurately, then the written Word of God can make known God and His Son Jesus Christ to others for their profit, edification, teaching, reproof, correction, and instruction in justness or righteousness.

The accurate, rightly divided Scriptures are more proficiently effective in teaching, reproving, correcting, and instructing in justness or righteousness than we could ever be by our intellect, experiences, feelings, word battles, useless discussions, and uneducated controversies.

All Scripture is profitable, and the manifestations of holy spirit are for profit. With those two resources, we have what we need to be fully equipped in order to profitably serve and help others to grow in their knowledge and appreciation of God and His wonderful Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Love in Christ,

Walter J. Cummins

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[1] A Journey through the Acts and Epistles. Copyright Ó 2006 by Walter J. Cummins. All rights reserved.

[2] The word “God” is an alternate reading according to some critical Greek texts.

[3] The word “one” is an alternate reading according to some critical Greek texts.

[4] Boldface print is used in the Working Translation to mark quotations from other records in the Scriptures.

Dear Beloved of God

by Walter J. Cummins, Scripture Consulting

July 2011

   

   God bless you in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ.

   Having arrived at the age of 65 earlier this year, I have taken the time to reflect with regard to the many years of hearing God’s Word taught, reading and studying God’s Word, and watching people grow in their understanding and appreciation of God’s Word. God has worked in our lives to deliver and to bless all of us in so many ways. There may be bumps in the road, but God’s Word assures us that nothing can separate us from the love of God. We all have so much to be thankful for.

   Some of the Scripture studies published by Scripture Consulting began as small projects, which have developed over the years into larger publications. I pray that these publications will continue in the future to help others in their understanding of the Scriptures.

   Some of the young people today have been putting forth a diligent effort in their study of the Scriptures. It is a joy to see that interest among those who will see to it that the Word of God will continue to help and bless others in the years to come.

   One person in particular, Daniel Bader, who has worked with me over the past decade, is vitally concerned with the Word of God continuing to live in the hearts of people. He has opened a book business called Continuing in the Scriptures for that purpose. I have communicated with him often regarding some of the matters pertaining to the Scripture studies that have been published and of other projects that may need to be published in the future.

   Dan has published a paperback book called Dwelling in God: A Study of Love, which is available from Continuing in the Scriptures.

   

   In addition, I have asked him if Continuing in the Scriptures would be willing to handle the books published by Scripture Consulting. We have agreed to an arrangement. Hence, beginning at the present time, all orders for the books published by Scripture Consulting may be conveniently ordered from:

the Continuing in the Scriptures website:

continuinginthescriptures.com

   Orders to be delivered inside the USA may also be placed by postal service using the Continuing in the Scriptures order form.

Daniel J. Bader

Continuing in the Scriptures

P.O. Box 405

Douglass, KS 67039

USA.

   There will, of course, be a transition period during which orders received by Scripture Consulting will be handled by Scripture Consulting. Eventually, all book orders will need to be directed to Continuing in the Scriptures.

   By the way, I am not retiring — just shifting some of the workload. While the books published by Scripture Consulting should be ordered from Continuing in the Scriptures, certain other matters will still be handled directly by Scripture Consulting, including “A Journey through the Acts and Epistles Audio Presentation” and “Introduction to Greek Scripture Study” as well as various conferences. I will also continue to work with others in the further development of materials for future publications.

   The publications and materials made available by these two associated businesses are for the consideration and continuance of what the Scriptures say. In our consideration of what the Scriptures say, we recognize first of all that God is the One Author of His Word as it is recorded in the Scriptures.

II Timothy 3:16:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

   All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. It is God-breathed. The words in the Scriptures were breathed from the mouth of God. There were many writers who wrote what God told them to write but only One Author. The pure Word of God as it was originally revealed to holy men of God has integrity, and it is profitable. It gives us God’s communication of Himself and His plans. It communicates God’s will and purpose.

   Whenever a teacher or writer presents exactly what the written Word of God says without personal bias and interpretation, then the written Word of God communicates God’s will and purpose to others.

   In reading God’s written revelation, we have come to appreciate that God’s purpose throughout the ages was in the Christ.

Ephesians 3:10 and 11:

To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

   God’s eternal purpose is what He planned and brought to pass by Christ Jesus our Lord. God made promises in the previous ages regarding the Christ to come. Jesus Christ was sent by God to fulfill those promises. He believed God’s Word, and he obediently carried out God’s plan for mankind’s redemption and salvation. He fulfilled God’s Word and made available so many wonderful things to the Church of God in the present time. This basic understanding of God’s purpose has been necessary to any further understanding of what God has had recorded in His Word.

Ephesians 2:4-7:

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

   Because of what Jesus Christ accomplished according to God’s eternal purpose, God will in the ages to come show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward those who have believed in Jesus Christ. He has made us alive with Christ. We are saved by grace. God has also raised us up together and caused us to be seated together in the heavenly realm through Christ Jesus.

   Ephesians 2:19 adds that we “are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.”

   Philippians 3:20 further explains that “our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.” The Greek word rendered “conversation in Philippians 3:20 means “citizenship, the state or government or political sphere of a citizen.” Our government is in heaven. We are citizens of heaven, citizens together with the saints, and of the household of God. We are seated in the heavenly realm as citizens of heaven because of what Jesus Christ accomplished for us according to God’s eternal purpose.

Ephesians 2:11-18:

Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

   By Jesus Christ’s accomplishments, we have peace in one body. We have been reconciled to God, and having received the gift of holy spirit, we have access to the Father by that spirit. God, the Creator of the heaven and earth, is our Father, and He is accessible by the spirit born within us. I Corinthians 12:7-11 tells about the manifestations of that spirit born within us and that those manifestations are for “profit.” We have access to our heavenly Father by the spirit born within us, and we have the ability to manifest that spirit.

Philippians 2:12 and 13:

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 [deliverance] with fear and trembling.

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

   According to Bishop K.C. Pillai, the phrase “fear and trembling,” which is used in verse 12, was an idiom meaning “reverence and obedience” on the part of obedient servants who did what they were told to do.¹ The servant kept his eyes on his master looking for direction from his master.²  Verse 13 adds that God is working in us to will and do of His good pleasure. He is the Master Whom we are to keep our eyes on with reverence and obedience. He is accessible, and we may look to Him for deliverance.

   All Scripture is profitable because it is God’s Word, breathed from the mouth of God. The manifestations of the spirit are also for profit. These are two great realities in our learning from the Scriptures. We have the Scriptures, God’s written revelation, which is profitable. We have the gift of holy spirit and its manifestations for profit. Thus we ought to know and believe those profitable Scriptures, and we ought to become aware of God’s presence and accessibility via the new birth spirit and its manifestations for profit.

   These are great realities, which we have learned from the Scriptures and which some of us learned from teachers who taught us the rightly-divided Scriptures. We have to the best of our abilities endeavored to teach the same great realities from the Scriptures, and we trust that the youth of today will rise up to do the same so that God’s Word may continue to thrive in the years to come.

I Timothy 4:11-13 (WT):³

Charge and teach these things.

Do not let anyone think disparagingly of you as a youth, but be a model to the faithful in Word, in manner of life, in love, in believing, in purity.

Until I come, give heed to reading, to exhortation, to teaching.

   Give heed to reading the Scriptures, to exhorting your brothers and sisters in Christ, and to teaching them the Word of God accurately.

   Thank you for your love and prayers.

Sincerely in Christ,

Walter J. Cummins

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¹For further information regarding this idiom, see Bishop K.C. Pillai, Orientalisms of the Bible, Volume 1 (Fairborn, Ohio: Munkus Publishing Company, Inc., 1969), pp. 27-33.

²Psalm 123:2: "Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us."

³Cited from the Working Translation in A Journey through the Acts and Epistles. Copyright © 2006 by Walter J. Cummins. All rights reserved.