By John Amoda
THIS piece is the result of a discussion on how the following listed three publications are to be marketed to believing Christians in particular, namely: -Pentecostalism in Chains: The Merchandising of the Gospel of Christ Jesus; -Tithing and Christianity; -That thunderous Declaration on Non-Tithers.

The seeming consensus of those I had discussions with was that these three publications would be opposed both by tithing congregants and their pastors. Why put in the Christian market worldwide publications which both by their titles and content are patently anti-establishmentarian? I have three answers to this question.

I humbly suggest that fervent tithing congregants and the tithing clergy should be likened to the Apollos of our times. The following is a Before-And-After portrait of Apollos:

“And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria an eloquent man, and mighty in the scripture, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently in the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.

And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote exhorting the disciples to receive him who, when, he was come helped them much which had believed through grace: for he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.” (Acts 18:24-28)

The “Before-Apollos” was instructed in the way of the Lord, was fervent in the spirit and was an eloquent man, mighty in scriptures and taught diligently in the things of the Lord. However he had one limitation: He knew only the baptism of John. Aquilla and Priscilla remedied his lack in knowledge by taking him unto themselves and expounded unto him, the way of God more perfectly. The “After Apollos” in Achaia is thus described:

-He was of great benefit to the disciples of the Lord which had believed through grace
-For he mightily convinced the Jews and that publicly, shewing by scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

There is therefore room and much need for an Aquila and Priscilla Remediation Ministry- that Jesus is the Christ. The Aquilla and Priscilla Ministry equips our modern day Apollos to help disciples who have believed through grace.

Continues next week

Unity among Christian denominations

To the Eleven Disciples He announced as follows:
“All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations” (Matthew 28:18-19).

In conclusion these scriptures cited prohibit alterations in the Law given by Moses to Israel. Jesus taught the same and brought the truth to light, the truth that only the Law-Giver could be the Law-Keeper(John1:17).

God the Father had given the Lord Jesus the sole power and authority to give eternal life to as many as the Father had given to him among mankind. And eternal life as Jesus defines it, is knowledge of the only True God and Jesus Christ whom the Father sent to make that Truth known to mankind. Thus to the Jews the notion of ecumenism was and remains apostasy and the ecumenical advocate is an apostate.

Jesus taught the same in his mission-statement

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” (Matt. 5:17-18)

Jot is figurative of the smallest detail of the Law and thus signifies Jesus jealous defense of the smallest details of the Law and of the integrity of the Judaic System of the law. Tittle is a mark distinguishing similar letters and also stands for injunction to adhere to the minute requirements of the Law. The tittle of the letters are sacred and thus the words they form are also sacred and to be obeyed.

Jesus thus defended Moses law in the strictest terms and by so doing showed the absolute need of God’s grace for the fulfilment of the law. This truth came to the Jews and through the Jews to mankind by Jesus. When the leadership of the Sanhedreen rejected Jesus they rejected the truth of the Law. Jesus made faith in Him the key to eternal life both for Jews and Gentiles, and His declarations are the same to be transmitted without alteration in the Gospels. John in his epistles declares this truth:

“If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater. For this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the records that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (John5:9-12).

Unification projects are evidence of those Who Do Not Abide in The Vine. Divisions are signs of deviations from the Law and individualistic affirmation and adherence to the Lord’s commandments. The Law of Jesus is: “That there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular” (1 Corinthians 12:25-27).

The Great Commission is to teach membership and fruitfulness in the True Vine, and this is a mission that cannot be accomplished on the foundations of ecumenical unification of Christian denominations. It is fulfilled in strict obedience to the teaching and commandments of Christ Jesus in the oneness of His Body by disciples who are His members. (Concluded)