Paul in writing to the Ephesians put it this way in Ephesians 2:19-22.
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the Saints and of the household of God. Hebrews 3:6; But Christ as a Son over his own house, whose house we are. If we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. I just wanted to lay a little foundation for the basis of our citizenship, who we are, what are our rights as born again believers.

Jesus said in Saint John’s gospel that we, referring to His church are not of this world, we are in the world but not of the world. When I received Christ, when I allowed Him to come in, I believe I became a part of another family. The Bible says if any man be in Christ he is a new creature, behold all things are passed away and all things become new. We have a hope that is sure and steadfast: that exceeds anything related to this earth. By natural birth I became a citizen of Canada, but glory to God, by the new birth I became a citizen of Heaven. Make no mistake, that’s what the Bible says.

Just for a short time, let’s go back to the Old Testament. Just take a look at the children of Israel. The twelve tribes were classified as one great family or nation and they had the same right under the law of Moses, what He promised for one He promised for all, none excluded. While they played different roles, musicians, leaders, people fitted for battle, while others stayed by the side. The one main thing within that nation was unity. I could go on here but let’s step back. We are under a better Covenant, better promises. Paul said, take heed that you don’t bite and devour one another lest ye be consumed, one of another. I don’t believe there is enough time to be bickering and banging, there’s work to be done.

Denominational systems are doing nothing less than hindering the word of God to go forth in some areas. Someone may say, it’s a greater tool to get the gospel out. I’ll just say it’s a greater tool for the enemy then for the spread of the gospel. I believe that God through the years rose up men to carry on with the gospel work, but it became too personalized, organized and socialized and not harmonized by the Holy Spirit.

One time on our cars we had generators to put back power into the battery and that did not quite do the work because sometimes it put out too much or too less. So they came up with an alternator which had a regulator built in it. When in turn, the regulator controlled the power systems so that the battery would not over charge. Let me tell you something friend. The church should never have become regulated. You might say again, you have sidestepped a little. Now let me say I’m not so naive has to think that you can’t be a member of some denomination or fellowship and not be a true born again believer, but let’s be careful that we don’t put limitations on church membership and eliminate the true citizenship as believers in Christ.

Paul said in writing to the Colossians, Salute the church that is in thy house. He was not referring to a demon he was referring to none other than born again believers whose citizenship was in Heaven.

In closing this; of course we can’t close any subject as such but to come to an end thus far. If we have been washed, sanctified, made holy through His Blood, and made partakers of Heavenly things, sat at the same table. Let’s be careful how we identify ourselves as to be in line with scripture.

Not as some said in 1st Corinthians chapter 3 which will very well back up what I said earlier in relation to demon. Paul said in verse 3 chapter 3 that they were carnal, causing strife and divisions. Why? Read verse 4 to 7.

Job 32:8
But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

The greatest revelation and I would say, the next when Jesus comes to be glorified in His saints. He is our hope of glory. God does through the Holy Spirit give divine Revelations based on His word. The Bible says, eye hath not seen neither hath heard, the things that God hath in store for those that love Him, but God hath revealed them unto us by His spirit or enlighten us enough to understand what has already been written. The last revelation as such, was on the isle of Patmos when God gave to His son to pass on to His servant John. Revelation 1:1 – 1:18

There has been much said about the thief on the cross, so many times down through the years it has been quoted of how he made it in the dying moments of his life.

Folks, there was more to that then just making it the last moments of his life. Just stop and think for a moment on the surroundings. Here were three crosses two thieves and a just man, the saviour, the redeemer, but it does not end there. One thief said, if you be who you said you are, save thyself and us. The other thief replied, we are receiving out just recompense of reward, we stole, we robbed, we punish for what we did but this man did not do anything to deserve what he is getting. Turning to Jesus He said; (take note he addressed him as Lord) Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. He had nothing else only a revelation from God. Here’s a man dying the same death, yet he is saying remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. He knew that Jesus would rise again and would some day set up an everlasting Kingdom.

When Jesus said to Peter, who do men say that I am, there was a mixed reply, but when He brought the question home and said to Peter, but who do you say that I am. Peter replied, thou art the Christ, the son of the Living God. Jesus said, flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto you but my Father which is in Heaven.

Somewhere along the line there was a possibility that the thief could have seen Jesus do some of the miracles that He did, which ever way He had to receive a revelation of who Jesus was. Once a man or a woman gets a real revelation of who Jesus was He will never be the same.

Jesus said to the Pharisees, you do search the scriptures for in so doing, you think you have eternal life, but He said in the volume of the book it is written about me. The more you get to know Jesus the more you will get from His word because He was and is the word. 1st John. What we need is a revelation of who Jesus is. He was the word, the word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us, the word of life. John said, which we have seen and handled.

When I’m about to finish I feel like going on but I don’t intend to let my readers get bored, there is more.

A bit on a personal note. From about 10am this morning until 7pm in the night around the dinner table the conversation was women, the cemetery, sickness, marriage, preachers, and most of the rest of the day, but nothing about the Lord of glory. How can you sing I am glad I know who Jesus is. Once you know who Jesus is you will not have much of a desire to talk about anything or anybody else. We sing lets talk about Jesus, shhh, not too loud. The church should be singing and saying I want to lift up the name of Jesus. Well I may have sounded somewhat contradicting, or controversial. Jesus was already revealed to the world, any revelation has to be based on the word or enlightenment by the spirit of God, because the spirit of God will not go outside the word.

When someone says they received a new revelation it better be based on the living word not on some thoughts that may enter the mind. We walk in the light as the light is revealed, if we walk outside the light of the word we walk in darkness.

While some may say and I have heard, we don’t know who’s right or who’s wrong. You are in a sad situation.

Confusion comes when you make your own conclusions and proclaim what your views or opinion is; again I will say it’s not our opinion; take the word as it is, allow the Holy Spirit, the teacher, guide, who will lead you into all truth. The Holy Spirit will never take you outside the word, it will stay within the confines of the word.

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32) I’m going to make a statement here; when people say in most cases, that is your opinion or interpretation, they simply don’t want to hear or acknowledge the truth. Read 2 Thessalonians 2:10. It tells us that because they would not accept the truth they would follow after lies and fall into error. (2 Timothy 2:15) To rightly dividing the word of truth; make no mistake, there is truth and there is error. People are not free because they really don’t know the truth.

Lets get back to the church. I find when I start to write about the church, and the Holy Spirit I really don’t know where to stop. I am going to try and clear up the church question, make no mistake, there is a true church, but it’s not a wooden structure as such that stands alone in some community with some sort of name tag, that can be so far from the truth. (Romans 16:5) Paul said to greet the church that is in their house. Made reference to the church as a group of born again believers not a denomination. Now I must agree that within some denominational setting we will find the church.

Don’t forget, Jesus is coming for a church, without spot or wrinkle, a people that’s not holding the world in one hand and a church pew in the other. Where I live we have 6 church buildings, now get real, everyone figures they are right. If that is so, then there is nobody wrong and everybody is going to Heaven; and it looks like nobody is bound for hell; then there are people who don’t believe in hell, will let me tell you, Jesus spoke just as much about hell as he did Heaven. Make no mistake, there is a real hell, in fact, I was allowed to get a little glimpse of it by the Spirit of God, so don’t get fooled, it’s there for those who reject Christ and the Blood that was shed for them to have their sins blotted out, and their names written down in the Lambs Book of Life.

The Bible says Christ is coming back for His Church, some are asleep, or dead while there are others who are alive. (1 Thessalonians 4:15 – 4:17) Tell me there is a separate people that will be identified somewhere down the road. The Bible says, that the dead saints or the church will rise at His appearing, but the rest of the dead will not rise until after a thousand years. Don’t be misguided; in closing this and I am quite aware there may be thousands reading this; it’s time for people to wake up. If you are a Pastor or Minister of some denomination and you consider yourself a member of the body of Christ, and you can’t accept another member or don’t recognize them, there is a big “?”

The Bible says, we are members one of another, come on don’t think that you can separate the Body of Christ and get away with it, wake up.

Mark 16: 15-18
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues

They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Jesus never ever meant for the gospel to be socialized , neither did He mean for it to be commercialized. The whole purpose of the gospel was to preach Christ crucified on an old rugged cross that all men might be saved, those who believe and accept the gospel.

You cannot preach Christ without preaching the gospel, and you cannot preach the gospel without preaching Christ. You cannot preach the gospel without preaching the blood, the Lamb that was slain, the supreme sacrifice that was made to take away sin. You cannot preach the gospel without preaching the resurrection.

The Bible says in (Acts 2: 24-32), (Romans 10:9), (1 Corinthians 6:14) and in (2 Corinthians 4:14), that God raised Jesus from the dead. We do not preach Christ or the gospel as one who one day walked among men along the shores of Galilee, conversing among the people on the streets of Jerusalem. We preach Christ crucified on a cross, resurrected from the dead and ascended into Heaven and is seated at the Right Hand of the majesty on high.

Hebrews 1:3
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty ob high;

Hebrews 8:1
Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;

We preach a Christ who is alive, a gospel of a person who is not dead but liveth forever and His word, this word, abideth forever, and has not, and will not change. The gospel was to bring hope, deliverance from sin, sickness, oppression of the enemy and the list goes on. A gospel that does not liberate and set people free, it’s not the real gospel.

The purpose of the gospel is to reconcile man with his maker, thus when the gospel is preached, man will see his need of salvation.

The Bible says in,

Romans 10:13-15
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

So the most important is to get the gospel out, so that man can respond. Man is given a choice to accept or reject; The Bible says, to as many hath received Him, (that is Jesus), to them gave He power to become the sons of God. (John 1:12)

I will continue on this subject for a little while, next; The working of the Gospel and the effects, or results of the Gospel.

Paul was not ashamed to confess that the gospel that he declared was not his gospel but the of the one who had called him to preach, Paul said in,

1 Corinthians 1:17
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

1 Corinthians 1:18
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

So it’s a problem to even try to preach the gospel without preaching the cross.

Again in,

1 Corinthians 2:4-5
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

This word comes not by man, neither by the will of man, but by the Holy Ghost. Man may try to change but the Psalmist said,

Psalm 119: 89
For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.

Jesus said, heaven and earth would pass away but the word of the Lord abideth forever. God’s word the gospel of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ cannot be changed, cannot be altered it abideth alone. There is no other gospel that can bring hope to the hopeless, strength to the weak, joy to the mourning. And promises Life Everlasting in the presence of God and His Son, Jesus Christ. That is why I use this topic to declare.

Paul said, For I declare unto you the whole counsel of God, everything that God desires for His children is declared in the gospel or the Word of God.

Luke 4:18
The words of Jesus The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

This is the gospel, this is the word that every last soul on earth needs to hear. This is not a gospel to bring people in bondage. This is a deliverance gospel. This gospel is to set the prisoners free, to loosen the bands of the captive, set them free, none other then a gospel of deliverance of Power. It cannot be changed, it will never be changed, it will abide forever!

I will be continuing on with this topic. I have considered just to lay a foundation and there is no better foundation to build on than the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. For no other foundation can no man lay then that which is laid. Jesus Christ himself being the Chief Cornerstone.