Mystery of the Ages.PDF - Blow the Trumpet

specially called and drawn by God. Jesus said it was impossible for others of SATAN'SWORLD to come to him for salvation unless specially called by God to become kingsand teachers when God's WORLD TOMORROW has replaced SATAN'S WORLD.NEVER did Jesus beg or plead with anyone to "give one's heart to him." At Jacob's wellin Samaria Jesus spoke to a woman about the Holy Spirit in terms of "living water."The woman said to Jesus, "Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not." Here was adirect request from an unconverted woman for salvation and the gift of the Holy Spirit.BUT JESUS ONLY TOLD HER OF HER SINS--OF WHAT SHE HAD TO REPENTOF! He did NOT say, "Come to me, just as you are, in your sins."None CAN COME to Jesus except God the Father draws him! All have sinned.Sin is against GOD the Father. Sin must first be repented of--turned from! It is muchmore than remorse for guilt. It is a matter of being sufficiently SORRY to TURN FROMthe sin, overcome the sin. This reconciles one to God on faith in Christ. It is GOD theFather who adds to the Church such as he calls to be saved (Acts 2:47). It is GOD whosets members in the Church (I Cor. 12:18)--not the emotional oratory of the evangelist inthe emotional altar call!God sets individual members in his Church in order that his holy, righteousperfect CHARACTER may be developed in them. And WHY? To prepare them tobecome GOD BEINGS in the KINGDOM (family) OF GOD, to GOVERN and RULE thewhole earth with the government of God!But HOW does the CHURCH as the spiritual MOTHER of its membersDEVELOP THAT SPIRITUAL CHARACTER?This brings us to the real PURPOSE of the Church. This brings us to anUNDERSTANDING of WHY one cannot be BORN AGAIN outside the CHURCH.Real Purpose of the ChurchNOW MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL--what is the REAL PURPOSE for the Church?WHY did God have Christ raise it up?The CHURCH is the spiritual MOTHER of human converts. They are thespiritual embryos and fetuses as yet UNBORN, although begotten by God's Holy Spirit--already children of GOD.The CHURCH is God's spiritual ORGANISM, well organized, for feeding onspiritual food, training and developing in spiritual righteous CHARACTER the futureGOD BEINGS--sons of God the Father!For that training--that spiritual development of God's CHARACTER, God hasgiven his Church a DUAL responsibility:1) "Go ye into all the world" and proclaim the GOOD NEWS--announcement--ofthe coming kingdom of God.2) "Feed my sheep."But in FEEDING the "sheep," developing in them God's spiritual CHARACTER,God has given them THEIR PART in supporting, backing up, the great commission: "Goye into all the world."This first and great commission was given to the apostles. To a lesser extentevangelists were used in carrying forth the message. Other leaders--ordained ministers--