The First Century Church

. . . and the Pastoral Epistles (I & II Timothy, Titus, & Philemon)

We must note the difference between the dispensation of this church and our current dispensation of "the many membered body of Christ".
 

What happened to the first Century Church? 

They were commissioned to testify the truth of the Gospel to all men, but they failed and their charge and authority were removed by God, as explained by Christ " that evil generation" that went into probation and God himself "BREACHED HIS PROMISE".

They would not produce the firstfruits, even though grace was given them.  Peter and Paul urged them to adhere to their teachings, so that Christ could return, BUT THEY FAILED.  Note ACTS :
Acts 2:39-40

39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

BUT THEY DIDN'T SAVE THEMSELVES - THAT CHURCH SYSTEM FAILED.  SEE where Paul writes before they failed:

1 Cor 14:33-35

33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

Look around you.  Do you see churches in peace? Paul just said that "God is not the author of confusion".  These latter days churches are profusely FULL of confusion.  God is not in them.   Please observe Peter predicting the church's office being removed :

Acts 1:20

20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.

We observe and learn a great deal here.  Peter quotes from Ps. 69:25 & Ps. 109:8.  The first verse leads us to that parable of the wicked generation (MT. 12:39-45) where the "man's" house is desolate and the 7 wicked spirits take up residence there.

That MAN IS THE 1ST CENTURY CHURCH (OR ANY CHURCH THAT ABIDES BY THOSE OLD FLESH LAWS)

Peter predicted that "his" bishoprick LET ANOTHER take!  Who could that BE?  The MANY MEMBERED BODY, spoken of by PAUL.  Paul disposes of that "assembly" which turned away from the truth.  They no longer carry the truth.  They are wicked and full of lies.

2 Tim 1:15
15 This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me;

In that Day, God HATES their assemblies . . .

Isa 1:13-14
13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.

14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.

This then allows a new body to be procured by our Heavenly Father, only conditioned on ONE thing (no flesh ordinances) that is the circumcision of the heart.

Rom 2:28-29

28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

It's pretty clear that the NEW body of Christ cannot be discerned outwardly . . . like the wind . . .

John 3:7-8

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

That which is in the heart and mind . . . will take precedence over FLESH in the END.

1 Tim 1:5
5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

God's house has for it's pillars and ground -- TRUTH (not wood, hay, or brick)

It is NOT housed in a single building made of men's hands.  We are not gathered together BY MEN, but spread far apart, waiting for YHVH to gather us together.

Ezek 28:25
25 Thus saith the Lord GOD; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob.

When we follow the "office" of this First Century Failure.  We see Luke using this word "Bishoprick" again translated as the "time of thy visitation" or the "day of visitation", SO when their false corrupt "office" is visited by YHVH they can't cover his saving arms up any more.

Isaiah perception of this "Day" is complete disgust with the condition of the church . . . "the Head".  Observe :

Isa 1:4-7
4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.

5 Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

7 Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.
 

There's a lot you don't want to miss here.  What is the largest Christian nation on the planet?  Although Christian, they are deathly ILL having no soundness of docrine.  NOTICE THEY ARE DESOLATE like "THAT MAN" in Mat. 12 who's home is desolate.  Even the abomination of Desolation will sit over THAT man.

NOW, arriving to the position of women in THAT church.  "Which church ?" you ask? 

The First Century Church, of course!  Who restricted women from preaching, but THAT church was NEVER established!  They were cast out of their office, authority, structure, deacons, bishops & ALL.  "Let his Bishoprick another take".  and in Isaiah "The WHOLE HEAD is sick" (latent condition of THAT church system today).

1. You can't conform to a church system that was never anointed into office.

2. The rules set up FOR that church would likewise not apply.

3. Therefore, wouldn't it be folly to preach to the many membered body that they must conform to that which has become "sick, bruised, full of putrifying sores, having no soundness in it?"

Observe how the many membered body is to serve :

Rom 7:6

6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

See, here the First Century Church (and its offices & rules) QUALIFIES as "the Oldness of the letter".  It was a momentary hope for Peter & Paul to bring the Millennium down in their day, even so they preached in case that generation failed, which it did.

Now we have the "Bishoprick let ANOTHER take".  Another is Heteros (Comp. Bible Ap.124.2) another of a DIFFERENT kind.
How DIFFERENT?

	A Different building (from wood to spiritual walls of salvation)
	Different structure (from Flesh man to Godly people) From Deacons & Bishops to equality in office for ALL From worldly distinctions (gender, nationality, career) to distinctions of the Heart
	Different membership requirements (from physical attendance to spiritual adherence to truth)

Let us examine this body of Christ in great detail to learn how to be part of it, and especially noting women's position within it.
The Newness of spirit is the circumcision of the heart, it denotes NEITHER male nor female. Observe:

Gal 3:28

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Remember Paul was exhorting that 1st century church not to fail.  The passage in Titus was an exhortation (meaning an URGENT APPEAL).  To the church, so they would not lose their authority.   Look at the CHARGE given to Titus :

Titus 3:1
3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
 

Is this the CHARGE of God's Elect, the many membered body???  To be subject to principalities and powers?  Observe what God's elect do:

The CHARGE of Titus to that first century church was based on FLESH hoping to SAVE THEMSELVES (Acts 2:40 see above) in buildings made by men's hands and church ordinances based on the FLESH (the difference between MEN and WOMEN is only FLESH). 

To say that FLESH determines God's organization & utilization of HIS ELECT, THE FIRST-FRUITS of  these end times is ANATHEMA.  
What profit has MEN'S HANDS?

Eph 2:11

11 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;

Col 2:11

11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

It's a circumcision no MAN can see.  His FLESH cannot save him.  And indeed these "MEN" CAN  get themselves into a lot of trouble for:

Titus 1:10

10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:

Imagine that.  Especially "they of the circumcision".  That's men!  in the flesh, not "women and men", but specifically flesh men.

Furthermore, some say women should not behave as men (and physically that is correct) but SPIRITUALLY we are commanded (we, the called) to ACT MANLY.  OBSERVE PLEASE:

1 Cor 16:13

13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

BE LIKE MEN – NO?

This phrase was used of the Philistine ARMY.

1 Sam 4:9

9 Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.

So SPIRITUALLY, ladies & men, ACT LIKE MEN OF WAR, SPIRITUALLY.  READY for the end-time battle.  Equipped with that SPIRITUAL ARMOUR of Ephesians.  Ladies Observe that armour.  It is not lacking for you, in any way.  You should be fully armed with every fitting, don't miss ANY piece.

Eph 6:12-19
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
 

In conclusion, we must note the Spirit of the Lord was sent to all His ministers:

John 16:13-14 – WHO IS "YOU" (BOYS ONLY? No)

13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

I really believe God has shown me the truth regarding this sick end-time church.  He said he would, so I speak the Gospel of the GLORY of Christ boldly, and no MAN can cut ANY OF IT ASUNDER for GOD IS WITH US.

Isa 8:10
10 Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.
 

THE "THEY" IN THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURES IS ALL INCLUSIVE OF EQUAL MEN & WOMEN (for YHVH's church is not discerned by the FLESH).

Matt 5:18-19

18 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.

19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith

Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

WHOSEVER . . . WHATSOEVER . . . THEY ---- ALL MEN?  I THINK NOT.  BUT AS PAUL STATED MEN & WOMEN ARE EQUAL.

Romans 3

3:1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?

[[What advantage hath a FLESH man? None now!!  because FLESH is no longer the deciding factor]]

Col 3:10-11

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

WHAT IS THE POINT? THE OUTWARD MANIFESTATION has no determination on who is God's elect, many membered body. [ This is not about the Covenant God made with Israel ]

	Your bloodtype - doesn't affect it.
	Your blood ordinances or gender - doesn't affect it.
	Your nationality -- doesn't affect it.
	Your job or position in society -- doesn't affect your standing in Christ.

IT IS NOT OUTWARD.  ALL IS INWARD NOW.  Only God our Father knows who they are.  Their SEAL OF RIGHTEOUSNESS is HIDDEN in their heart:

Rom 4:11

11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

The SEAL of righteousness is not outward!  Nor, is it dependent on outwardly things.  Since that is true, this makes us free of the yoke of the flesh & this world.  As Paul says here,

Gal 5:1

5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

NT:1657 Liberty :

eleutheria; from NT:1658; freedom (legitimate or licentious, chiefly moral or ceremonial):

Now, in our ERA,  SHE (that is --- Lydia), would be FREE to give sermons in a CEREMONY, THAT IS to say a CHURCH of today, but God's church is not "made with hands" now; Therefore, where-ever He sends us is our "platform", and there we give the truth & testify of it.

Rom 8:1-2

8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

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

Gal 6:15-16

15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

We see here the Law of the Spirit is complete spiritual freedom, and we are to WALK ACCORDING TO this RULE.