3 Years!

July 2 marks 3-years since we started Abundant Grace Bible Fellowship. When people ask about church the first question is always: How many are you running? This is by far the most common question because success in religion is always measured in seats filled. It is unfortunate that most Christians feel this way. It's been said that "Success is NOT measured in the seats filled but in the doctrine taught" It's no wonder this thought never comes to mind for Christians today. It's because Christians join churches today for the music, coffee in the foyer and the programs not the teaching. By the way, if its all about the numbers we might as well all join Joel Osteens church online. I completely understand grace churches are typically small in comparison to the churches teaching tradition. Right division creates mature, stable and equipped Christians that have a proper understanding of the things many Christians struggle with. We are finishing up a series of lessons showing that if you removed Paul's books from the Bible that prophecy continues uninterrupted throughout scripture. Wrapping up this lesson this Sunday we will review some of the things a person will have a proper understanding of if they would have attended our small group of Bible believers for the last 3 years. Here's a sampling of those things.

1. A proper understanding of why the kingdom did not come.
2. A proper understanding of why we are not under the law.
3. A proper understanding of the purpose and future of the body of Christ.
4. A proper understanding of where the sign gifts went.
5. A proper understanding of Pentecost.
6. A proper understanding of salvation in all dispensations.
7. A proper understanding of prophecy.
8. A proper understanding of Jesus’ earthly ministry.
9. A proper understanding of the end times.
10. A proper understanding of what we should be doing now.
11. A proper understanding of prayer in the age of grace.
12. A proper understanding of the ministry of the Apostle Paul.
13. A proper understanding of how God deals with us today.
14. A faith in scripture you never thought possible!

I ask you what have you learned in the last three years? Do you understand the difference between the gospel of the kingdom and the gospel of the grace of God? Do you know God's will, or are you still wondering what it is? Do you understand that the judgment seat of Christ is all about how you built upon what PAUL STARTED. Do you realize that today Jesus must be preached according to the revelation of the mystery? Do you realize all the denominational arguments over baptism, eternal security, works, gifts, and a myriad of other things could be resolved if you just parted ways with your tradition? YES, you need to part ways with your tradition and be open to the Bible taken literally exactly as it's written. This means that you accept the BIBLICAL FACT that Jesus' earthly ministry in the gospels is NOT TO YOU, because Jesus sent Paul to you. If you don't know these things, where have you been the last three years? II Tim 2:15 mentions 2 groups of people: those who are approved workmen and those who will be ashamed. Which one will you be?