Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. —Ephesians 4:13

When an individual is saved by the blood and sanctified by the Holy Spirit, he is then equipped to serve the Lord in holiness. There will always be things that the Lord is perfecting and areas in which a child of God will grow. Our purpose is to become more and more like Christ as we daily yield and surrender ourselves to the will of God. A saint of God need never be afraid of acknowledging a failure or a weakness. It is then that we can obtain greater victory and power. Never be discouraged when the Lord reveals a spiritual need. That is the mercy and love of God to help us prepare for the judgment.

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For in him [God] we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. — Acts 17:28-29

It is only because of God that we have breath and strength, for He is the Fountain of Life. It is only because of God that we have peace, salvation, and hope of eternal life. As the offspring of God—living and intelligent beings—we must not relegate the Godhead to an inanimate object created by man but recognize that the Godhead is more excellent than the creation and worthy of worship.Read more

Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. —Psalm 29:2

This quarter we once again build upon the foundation of Issue 18 concerning the two covenants that God established. No longer do God’s people serve Him after the flesh but after the spirit. The use of musical instruments was absent from formal worship in the New Testament church. The sound from spiritless instruments brings no more glory to God in worship than does the lighting of candles in worship service. God is praised with that which comes out of the mouth from a holy and pure heart. Many people say that this issue is unimportant and optional. Should we then also burn incense and follow the other examples of worship in the Old Testament? New Testament teaching neither condoned nor commended these practices because they were superseded by spiritual worship. At best, the use of musical instruments in worship is inadvisable.Read more

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. —Hebrews 4:9-10

The soul rest that is available in Jesus is nothing less than glorious. Through Jesus Christ, there is a peace that passeth all understanding. It defies the troubles and storms of life and is deep and steadfast in the heart of the child of God. It comes not from our own works or righteousness but from the very presence of the Son of God.Read more

But now hath he [Christ] obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. —Hebrews 8:6

It is a wonderful privilege to live in this dispensation of grace and truth. Jesus Christ, the mediator of the New Testament, established with mankind a better covenant with better promises. The old covenant had promises of secular good and earthly, national security. The new covenant promised both spiritual and eternal blessings.Read more