Male-Female Role Relatioships in the Church

The Scripture reveals that there are separate roles, functions and callings for male and female Christians in the Local Church. Paul's epistles to the Corinthians and to Timothy addressed this issue clearly.

Unfortunately, many theologians, renowned Bible teachers, Pastors and preachers believe there is no difference between the role of men and women in the Church. Consequently, whenever this "controversial" issue arises they are very likely to cite what the apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians to support their unbiblical view:

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28, NKJV, emphasis added).

If we look at the above verse in the context we will not fail to realize that the apostle Paul was not talking about role relationships. He was talking about sons and heirs through faith in Christ Jesus. He was explaining the nature of the Abrahamic Covenanat whereby the blessing of salvation came to mankind. When we are saved we are all "one in Christ Jesus". We are the children of God; we become members of the Body of Christ. Both men and women are children of God - whether one is a Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female makes no difference. The union into which the sinner enters by faith, in Christ, is one and the same with all people, no matter what their circumstances, national origin, social status, or gender.

I urge my readers to heed Paul's advice, "Test all things; hold fast what is good" (1 Thess 5:21). It is very easy to be deceived by wrong teaching even though some teachers of the Word might have erred unintentionally.

Galatians 3:28 does not speak to role relationships; this verse is not intended to address the respective functional distinctions between men and women in the body of Christ or in the Local Church. Such a careless and unscriptural interpretation is entirely foreign to the context.

The principle is, never take Bible verses out of their proper context. If we do we can easily make the Bible says whatever we want it to say! Bible teachers should be reminded that they "shall receive a striter judgment" (James 3:1, NKJV).

Paul's teaching on male-female role relationships

The best source of Biblical material for this topic of discussion comes from Paul's epistles. On no occasion was Paul questioning the ability of woman taking the role of man in the Church.

The questions we need to ask are:

1. "Should a woman take the role of man in the Church?"

2. "Should a woman exercise authority over men in the Church?"

The real Biblical issue is not about ability, education or even Biblical knowledge but about the separate callings for man and woman to fulfill God's divine purpose and design in the Church. Both man and woman have different roles to play in the Local Church. If we follow Paul's teaching and place men and women in their proper roles then we are obedient to God; if we do not, then we are counted as disobedient to God. It is as simple as this! Furthermore, Paul's teaching is very clear and there is no "grey area".

Paul addressed this issue clearly in his first epistle to Timothy (1 Timothy 2:8 - 15).

But, in order to understand the full meaning and implication of role relationships for both sexes, we need, first of all, study 1 Corinthians 11:3 - 12 where Paul teaches man's headship in Christ and the authority of a man over a woman.

Paul's teaching on God-ordained divine Headship

"But I want you to know that the head of every man in Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God" (1 Cor. 11:3, NKJV, emphasis added).

Therefore the divine order of headship in the Church is - God > Christ > man > woman. Divine authority follows the same order.

Paul also gave the reason why it is the will of God for a man to exercise authority over a woman:
"For man is not from woman, but woman from man, nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man" (1 Cor. 11:8,9)

Therefore, this divine headship and authority of man over a woman has been ordained by God as far back as at the Creation of man. This Spiritual Law like many others is unchanging throughout the Church Age. There is no question that it applies to the present day Local Churches as well.

Notice that Paul said nothing about following Jewish laws or early Church customs.

Beware of compromising and man-pleasing Bible teachers who are in the habit of adding their opinions to make their teaching more acceptable and less offensive.

Paul's instructions to Timothy

Paul instructed Timothy to take heed of the regulations concerning how a woman should conduct herself in the Church:

"Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. Nevertherless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control" (1 Tim. 2:11 - 15, NKJV).

1. "Let a woman learn in silence with all submission"

The focus is upon a woman's attitude and behavior in the local congregation. When the Church gathers, the submissive Christian woman is to receive instructions willingly, but she does not give it.

2. "And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence"

This verse expands upon the role of women. According to Paul women are to occupy a chaste and submissive place in the Church. This precludes the activities involving teaching men and having authority over men pertaining to the Scripture. But, Paul said nothing about women exercising authority and teaching children in the Local Church.

3. "For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression"

Paul gave the reasons for the previous statements he made. He referred to the divine headship again. The fact that Adam was created before Eve means that men are not to be subjected to the authority of women. Applying this principle to the Local Church, the Creation hierarchy is violated should a woman assume or hold a position in which she rules over a man.

The word "deceived" is a translation from the Greek word "exapatao" meaning "seduced completely" or "enticed to sin". When Satan tempted Eve, she disregarded the implications of the order in which she and Adam were created. Eve by making her own decision removed herself from the safeguarding environment that God designed. She, consequently, fell into transgression.

4. "Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control"

A part of a woman's obligation in the marriage relationship (covenant) is the bearing of children who would be the means by which men would rule over God's creation. By fulfilling their roles, men and women could preserve the order that God created and expect God's blessings.

The phrase "saved in childbearing" has been a source of confusion to many Bible teachers and writers of Bible Commentaries. The explanation can be found if we refer to Genesis when God passed a sentence to Eve because of her transgression:

God said, "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children; your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you" (Gen. 3:16, NKJV, emphasis added).

In spite of the above difficulties, if a woman honors her unique God given role which belongs to her only - the ability to bear children, she would be blessed and be delivered from God's sentence upon Eve. However, it does not mean that a woman should do nothing but bear childred, nor that she is regenerated (saved) by giving birth. It means that a woman should not seek to do what God intends man to do. Instead she should continue in her God given role in the Church, in faith, love, and holiness with self-control.

Must women keep silent and forbidden to speak in the Church?

"Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. and if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church" (1 Cor. 14:34, 35).

If we take these verses of Scripture out of context a likely answer would be:

"In the early Church most Christian women were not well educated. So it was shameful for them to ask silly questions in Church meetings. Now, the situation is different and most women are well educated. Some of them even have better knowledge of the Scripture than men. Therefore, they are not only qualified to speak but to preach as well".

Notice that this type of answer sounds convincing and fully pleasing to the women in the Local Church. But it ignores totally God's ordained role of women in the Church.

The right answer comes naturally if we put these two verses of Scripture in the context. As we have considered so far, it is not the role of women to teach and to have authority over men in the Local Church. But, Paul was not talking about that when he wrote to the Corinthians. Instead, he was talking about the lack of orderliness in Church meetings. The Church in Corinth was a good example where the exercising of Spiritual gifts was without control. Everyone, both men and women, prophesied and spoke in tongues at the same time without interpretation, and without waiting for their turn to speak.

Paul said, "For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints" (1 Cor. 14:33, emphasis added).

Notice that this applies to all Church meetings including our Church meetings. Because of the problem of unruliness and discorderliness women are not allowed to prophesy and speak in tonques during Church meetings. Therefore, Paul gave instruction that, if they want to learn something from such unruly Church meetings, it is far better for them to ask their husband privately at home.

Paul did not forbid women to go to Church to worship God, to learn and to listen to sermons. In fact Jesus Himself wants women to listen and learn!

Mary sat at the feet of Jesus to hear His Word (Luke 10:39).

Jesus said to Martha who was busy preparing food to serve Him:

"Martha, Martha, you are warried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:42, NKJV).

It is in the heart of Jesus to have women to hear His Words in Church meetings in all submission!

Gods Specific Calling for Individual Believers

God has a specific calling for each individual believer. The “calling” of God is a ministry appointed by God for every individual believer as part of his salvation and sanctification process. It is important for a believer to stay in his God given calling if he wants to do the will of God. If he stays out of the calling God, then not every thing the believer does is according to the will of God for his life.

Paul said to Timothy, “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, …” (2 Tim. 1:8, 9, NKJV, emphasis added).

The above verses say:

1. If you are saved, then you are also called. Being called is part of your salvation process. This means every believer has a unique calling.

2. Your calling is holy. This means you are set apart to do God’s will. God sets limits and boundaries around your life; you cannot do as you please. God says: “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).

3. Your calling does not depend on your works. This means it has nothing to do with your talent, your effort or you ability. God will enable and equip you to fulfill your calling.

4. God has a special distinctive purpose when by grace He calls you. This means your calling is God’s specific gift to you and you cannot earn it. Neither can you bargain with God.

5. Your calling is God’s choice and God has worked out His calling for you before time began.

Paul’s Unique Calling

God’s unique calling for the apostle Paul is seen in 2 Timothy 1:11, 12:

“…. I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (NKJV, emphasis added).

Paul’s calling was to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. He had committed his calling to God even if it meant suffering! He knew God would enable him to complete his work. Paul kept his calling of God until he died!

Paul’s Divine Calling was fulfilled

The account of Paul’s journey to Rome given in Acts 27 and 28 is a miraculous act of God to enable Paul to fulfill his calling.

God had committed to Paul the responsibility of bringing the Gospel to the Gentile world (Galatians 2:7). The key to this would be to establish a centre in the city of Rome. From there, many different channels would automatically carry the Gospel to the whole ancient world – channels of commerce, education, finance, governmental administration and natural social intercourse. Because of Paul’s unique calling, he was the person best qualified to establish such a centre in Rome.

Because of the significance of Paul’s move to Rome, satanic forces did everything in their power to destroy him before he could reach his destination. Paul was traveling on a freight ship as a prisoner in chains. Furthermore, the ship was caught up in a storm so horrific that for two full weeks the people on board never caught a glimpse of the sun by day or of the moon and the stars by night.

I believe the storm of such intensity was generated by supernatural forces – similar to the type Satan sent to destroy Job’s sons and daughter (Job 1:19).

Paul knew that even in the midst of the storm there would be no loss of life. He said to the men:

“Now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you’” (Acts 27:22, 23, 24, emphasis added).

Paul used two phrases here to describe his relationship to God: “to whom I belong” and “whom I serve”. I believe these two phrases can never be separated. If we do not belong to God, we have no right to serve Him. On the other hand, we cannot claim to be belong to God, if we are not available to Him for His service.

After the shipwreck Satan had one more challenge. The people who had escaped safely to land began to collect fuel for a fire. Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire. Satan used this as an opportunity to make one final attempt to destroy Paul – “A viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand” (Acts 28:3). This could not be a coincidence. At least Paul himself did not believe in coincidence. But, if this was not the work of Satan, out of so many people, why did the viper choose Paul as its victim?

But Paul was full of the Holy Spirit. He did not feel the need to pray or to speak in tongues. To the amazement of the local islanders who knew how deadly a viper’s bite was, Paul simply “shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm” (Acts 28:5)!

The success of Paul’s mission to Rome is summed up:

“Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him” (Acts 28:30, 31).

The Gospel for the Gentiles had been established in Rome, and from there to the whole of the Gentile world. This was Paul’s accomplishment of God’s specific calling for him (2 Tim. 11).

What was the secret of Paul’s victorious life? He himself explained in 2 Timothy 1:12:

“For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (emphasis added).

The secret of Paul’s victorious living is summed up in the phrase – “Committed to Him until that Day”. In other words, he was totally at God’s disposal until the Day when Jesus comes again to take him to His Father’s House!

Whatever trial he went through; whatever tribulation and suffering he went through Paul himself confirmed what he said to the Roman Christians:

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who are love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28, emphasis added).

All things work together for good

Christians must be very careful in interpreting the above verse of Scripture. I have heard many Bible teachers said, “Because all believers received the call of God for salvation; therefore all things work together for good to him from now on”.

It is true that all Christians have responded and received the calling to be saved. This is the general calling for all believers. But, Romans 8:28 speaks of the specific calling of God for individual believers.

As I mentioned from the beginning, all saved persons also receives from God a specific calling to accomplish God’s will for him (2 Tim. 1:9). In other words, the calling of God for salvation and the calling of God for the individual believer to accomplish His will are two entirely different things.

“All things work together for good” is applicable only for the believer's specific calling. It is attached with the following conditions:

1. The Christian must love God.

2. He must faithfully works out his calling given by God according to His purpose.

In other words, a believer who loves God and follows his God given calling faithfully, whatever happens to him and in whatever circumstances, God will be with him and protects him and all things will work out just the way God wants to accomplish His purpose.

This interesting spiritual law has been proven in Paul’s ministry. The same law applies to all true Christians who answer the call of God faithfully!

Biblical way of discerning and doing the will of God

There are three things a believer needs to do as soon as he is born again:

1. To discover his calling

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1, 2).

Paul says the believer needs to present his body to the Altar of God as a living sacrifice so that it could be made holy and acceptable to God. In Old Testament time animal sacrificed to God was made holy at the Altar. God then takes control of the believer’s body, which has been made holy, to do His will. God tells the believer what to do. The believer cannot do whatever he wishes independent of God. He must not conform to the way of the world. By the renewal of his mind the believer has been transformed by God so that he understands the will and the calling of God.
2. To cultivate his calling

The believer must grow and be fruitful in his calling.

“Do you not know that those who run in a race in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it (1 Cor. 9:24).

The believer needs to cultivate his calling in such a way that in the end he receives an imperishable crown (Verse 25).

Paul cultivated his calling and he was able to say, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7)

3. To stay in his calling

When God calls the believer to do His will, He also sets limits for his calling. The believer needs to stay in the sphere of his calling:

Paul said, “We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us – a sphere which especially includes you” (2 Cor. 10:13).

An example of a person who failed to stay in his calling was king Saul. Saul was God’s choice (1 Samuel 9:16, 17). He started out fine, but later disobeyed Samuel and God. He presumptuously offered burn offering and peace offering at Gilgal. It was Samuel’s duty to offer burn offering and peace offering. Saul acted beyond his calling (1 Samuel 13:5 – 14). God later rejected him from being king over Israel.

This serves as a solemn warning to all servants of God. If we fail to stay in the sphere of our calling God might also reject us.

Surely, not “all things work together for good” for those who fail to stay in the sphere of their calling!

Understanding Humanism and the Man of Sin

This message, like most other messages I have posted so far, is the outcome of some serious Bible reseach. I do not claim to have a prophetic ministry but I depend upon the prophetic words revealed in the Scripture.

The purpose of this message is to show my readers that the "man of sin" is the Antichrist and the false gospel that he preaches is "humanism"

The name “Antichrist” is only used by the apostle John (1 John 2:18 – 23; 2 John 1:7). According to the apostle Paul this Antichrist is called the Man of Sin or the son of perdition (2 Thess. 2:3, NKJV) or the “man of lawlessness” (NIV).

“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as god in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (2 Thess. 2:3, 4, NKJV, emphasis added).

Paul said:

1. The Antichrist has not been revealed yet. Therefore at this time we still don’t know who he is and when he would reveal himself. Therefore Christian should be on their guard from being deceived by anyone who says he knows who the Antichrist is.

2. Before the Antichrist is revealed there will be false doctrines and great apostasy in the Christian Church.

3. The Day of the Lord (Christ Second Coming) will not come until the Antichrist manifests himself as God, claims to be God and sits at the temple of God (Church or any place of worship) and claims the honors due to God.

The Antichrist

Careful study of the Scripture enables us to know a great deal about the Antichrist, his attributes, his doctrine and the timing of his coming to the temple of God.

The antichrist is a false Christ

The Antichrist’s name gives the indication he is anti-Christ. He has the ability to work miracles, signs and wonders to deceive Christians:

Jesus said, “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24, NKJV, emphasis added).

The antichrist is opposition to Christ

The Antichrist is opposition to Christ personally; he is against the Church of Jesus Christ; he is against Christ’s Word – the Holy Scripture.

Christ’s mission is to reveal God the Father to men whom God has chosen:

Jesus said, “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world” (John 17:6).

On the other hand, the Antichrist’s mission is to deceive God’s people and take them from God’s Kingdom back to the kingdom of the world where Satan is god. The Antichrist opposes God Himself and says blasphemous things against God:

John said, “Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacles, and those who dwell in heaven” (Rev. 13:6).

The one motivating force in his life is opposition the Jesus Christ, opposition to all that He stands for, and to all that stand for Him.

The antichrist takes the place of Christ

The name Antichrist also indicates substitution. The Antichrist opposes Jesus in order to supplant Him, to take His place as Christ.

2 Thessalonians 2 points out how the Antichrist comes as an impostor of Christ. Christ has the Kingdom of God; the Antichrist has the kingdom of Satan. Christ comes by the power of the Holy Spirit; the Antichrist will come by the power of a spirit, who is the Devil himself. The Antichrist is Satan’s counterpart to Christ. Jesus is the Son of God sent by God the Father to establish His Kingdom, redeem His people and renew His creation; the Antichrist is Satan’s choice to establish his kingdom, gather in as many people as he can, and subject all to him. Ultimately God will cast everyone in the Antichrist’s kingdom together with the Antichrist himself to the lake of fire (Rev. 20:10). God’s total plan hinges on the works of Jesus, the Christ; Satan’s plans hinge on the works and success of the Antichrist.

Antichrist’s method of deception

The primary work of the Antichrist is deception, which also characterizes Satan in his attempts to undermine the work of God in the world.

Paul said, “… Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great things if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works (2 Cor. 11:14, 15, emphasis added).

Satan transforms himself “into an angel of light” and inspires his ministers to masquerade as “ministers of righteousness”. The serpent who deceived Eve was a minister of Satan. The Antichrist who is deceiving God’s people is also a minister of Satan. Both these evil ministers used the same method.

The serpent did not urge Eve to shake her fist at God and denounce Him, nor did he inspire her to practice overly evil acts. On the contrary, he enticed her with promises of a better “self-image”, of being a wiser and better person – of even becoming “like God”. What could be wrong with that high ambition? Evil is far more seductive and effective when it is packaged as good. If he can encourage expressions of “man’s basic goodness” that are high-minded and spiritual, but without Christ, Satan is achieving his purpose.

After the Fall Satan became the “god of this age” who has blinded the minds of the natural men (2 Cor. 4:4). The natural man is basically a rebel and this makes the Antichrist’s job of deception easier. Furthermore, even so-called Christians who are not continuously filled with the Spirit and walking in the Spirit are easy targets for the Antichrist.

Humanism

The Antichrist makes use of the sinful nature of the natural man (or weak Christian) to exalt self and promote the cause of man without God. The natural man’s sinful nature of rebellion causes him to go his own ways, exercises his own wisdom, own will, and using his own strength for his own purpose. In other words, he does everything independent from God. He is “soulish” and his spirit is dead and cannot understand God who is Spirit (Please refer to my previous postings). Therefore he will not seek God but seek after the benefits of God. He worships God’s creation rather than the Creator (Romans 1:18 – 22). He is self centered and man-centered. In contrast, a true Christian is Christ-centered, God fearing and therefore believes in Bible based doctrine.

The Antichrist’s doctrine is humanism. He teaches men, especially careless and immature Christians, to follow humanistic values to achieve humanistic goals. The humanist’s god is self. He exalts resourcefulness, human wisdom and courage instead of faith and trust in God. Humanism places trust in human intelligence rather than divine guidance.

There is no such thing as “Christian Humanism” because true Bible believing and Christ-centered Christians will not follow the doctrine of humanism. The so-called Christian humanism is actually Christianized secular humanism. It is secular humanism dressed up in Christianity to seduce Christians. The aim of the humanist is to deceive people to make them his disciples.

It is interesting to note that The Webster’s Third New International Dictionary defines “Christian Humanism” as “A philosophy advocating the self-fulfillment of man within the framework of Christian principles”. Someone has said, “The word ‘humanism’ emphasized the importance of man, not to the exclusion of God, but simple with little emphasis of God”. This is perfectly true because any humanistic teaching with complete exclusion of God will not appeal to Christian believers!

An Application of Humanism Paradigm

The most well know paradigm shift in teaching and training method is the so called "Coaching Paradigm". Coaching experts believe that people who are basically good, can solve their own problems. Someone had said, “Coaches are change experts who help leaders take responsibility and act to maximize their own potential”. Someone defined coaching as “A method of unlocking a person’s potential to maximize growth”.

The philosophy behind the coaching paradigm is entirely “Humanism” based. It is a perfect example of humanistic teaching. Through psychological study of human behavior it is easy for the humanist to discover that, in general, people are easily offended when they are told what to do. They do not trust people who ask too many questions. But, people are willing to tell the Coach expert their problems if he is kind to them, willing to listen them and takes the initiative to maintain a good relationship with them. So, the key to successful coaching is “Ask, don’t tell”. Let the client (or coachee) do the telling. The coach is to ask indirect and inoffensive non-confrontational and open-ended questions. In this way a person who is under a Coaching expert is able to discover or rediscover his self-worth and hidden potential. The coaching expert allows the client to set his own agenda and goal, but he is not accountable or responsible to the success of the client. Instead he makes the client to be a accoutable to himselve.

How the Coaching Method is Christianized

Some coaching experts claim that Jesus was using the same coaching method when He was with his apostles and disciples. In other words, they claim Jesus asked powerful questions but never tell them what to do. They take Scripture verses out of context to substantiate their claim.

Jesus asks powerful questions, but He also commands and instructs

A powerful question - "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy" (Luke 6:9)?

But, Jesus never compromises. He tells (not ask) His disciple what to do as part of the Sermon on the Mount:

"Let your 'Yes' be 'Yes', and your 'No', 'No'. For whatever is more than these is from the evil one" (Matt. 5:37).

There should not be any doubt that Jesus uses three ways to influence His people and to maintain a close relationship with them - Coaching, mentoring and consulting (counseling).

Paul asks direct questions, but he also instructs

An example of a direct question is - "Do you not know?" (NKJV). Paul uses this phrase 4 times in Romans; 10 times in 1 Corinthians and once in 2 Corintians.

"Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ" (1 Cor. 6:15)?

Just like Jesus, Paul never compromises. He gave many instructions to Timothy and Titus. He urged the Christians in the Church in Corinth to imitate him:

"Therefore I urge you, imitate me" (1 Cor. 4:16).

"Imitate me, just as I also imtitate Christ" (1 Cor. 11:1).

Paul, like Jesus also uses three ways to influence Chriatians and to maintain a close relationship with them - Coaching, mentoring and consulting (counseling).

An important point to note is that the coaching expert asks his clients "intuitive" questions; whereas Jesus and Paul asked their disciples "Spirit-led" questions. The main difference is that "intuitive" questions come from the un-regenerated spirit of man; but "Spirit-led" questions come from the regenerated spirit of man led by the Spirit of God.

Therefore, in the Kingdom of God true Christians must emulate Jesus and Paul.

My Opinion

I am not out to discredit the Coaching paradigm; but I am following Paul's instruction:

"Test all things; hold fast what is good" (1 Thess. 5:21, NKJV).

It is best to look at it objectively. The coaching paradigm is based on the study of human psychology and philosophy. It is neither Christ-centered nor Bible based; but it is practical and effective in the real world system. It works well in the present World Order whose 'god' is Satan. But, Christians must be reminded that not everything that works is Biblical. On the other hand, not every thing unbiblical is not good and will not work!

My contention is that we must not Christianize the Coaching paradigm. We are working and living in the secular world and the Coaching paradigm fits in perfectly well in our relationship with our peers and subordinates, Christians or non-Christians. Even in the Local Church not everyone is a mature Christian and therefore, the Coaching paradigm has a place there too. The Coaching paradigm helps mature believers to understand fellow Church members by learning how to listen to weaker Christians in order to discern their problems. It is also helpful in evangelical and mission work where Spirit-led (not intuitive) listening is important. The Coaching paradigm is effective and beneficial in many other ways. We need not Christianized it. It can stand on its own in the secular world - till He comes.

The Antichrist and Humanism

The last thing the antichrist chooses to do is to confront and offend religious people. He knows fully well that religions will never unite the people of the world. Wars are being fought because of differences in religious beliefs. Therefore, in order to promote the New World order effectively and to set up a one-world government and one-world money system he must be a humanist. The Antichrist is a type of coaching expert who lets you make your own choices and solve your own problems, but he is not responsible or accountable for the outcome. He uses only the coaching paradigm to win people.

Unfortunately, Humanism will culminate in the worship of Antichrist. This is exactly what he wants. The Antichrist will succeed in deceiving many. But his destiny is revealed by Paul:

“The lawless one (the Antichrist) will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming” (2 Thess. 2:8, NKJV, emphasis added).

The Blessed Hope

It is rather unfortunate that the majority of Christians are confused regarding the events leading to the End of Time (or the End of the Age). Most Bible-believing Christians have read Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 and understand the signs being described by Jesus Himself through the Gospel writers. It is true that we are living in the time when all those things must be fulfilled and the Second coming of Jesus is “near – at the doors” (Matt. 24:33, NKJV)!

In my opinion many Bible Scholars and preachers are confused and therefore have presented a wrong picture of the Second Coming of Jesus. Notice that Mark 13 and Luke 21 describe only the signs leading to the to the Second Coming of Jesus to rescue Isreal from the enemies of God. The Rapture is not mentioned. Matthew 24 gives a picture of the signs leading to the Rapture of the Church (Bride of Christ) and the Second Coming; but is no less confusing. Both the Rapture and the Second Coming are being described as "the coming of the Son of Man" (Matt. 24:30 and 37).

Read carefully you will notice that Matt. 24:29 - 35 describe the Second Coming. But, Verses 36 to 44 describe the Rapture. Because of this confusion, Christians are divided among those who believe in pre-tribulation rapture, mid-tribulation rapture and post-tribulation rapture. The truth is the eminent rapture of the true Church of Jesus Christ and the Second coming are two entirely separate events. The Rapture is the “Blessed Hope” for true Christians.

Let us look somewhere else in the Bible for the Blessed Hope and the related events leading to the Second Coming of Jesus.

The Blessed Hope

Paul wrote to Titus, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:11 – 14, emphasis added).

Please take note of the following:

1. The Blessed Hope and the glorious appearing of Jesus are promises of God for the true Church – a group or congregation of true believers. This is the Rapture when Jesus will come to take His Bride to heaven.

2. Believers qualified for the Blessed Hope are those who deny ungodliness, worldly lusts, live righteously, and godly in the present age (the Church age). In other words, the Blessed Hope is for all true Christians.

3. The true Church is “His own special people, zealous for good works”. This the Bride of Christ that Paul wrote about in Ephesians 5:27:

“He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish”.

The Rapture

I believe in the rapture because the Scripture says so.

Paul said, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven …. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:16, 17, NKJV, emphasis added).

The word “Rapture” is not a Biblical word. It is an English word comes from the Latin translation of the above verses. The Latin word for “rapture” is “rapturos”. The New Testament Greek translation is “harpazo” literally mean “pluck up, or catch away by force”. It describes how God’s people “shall be caught up” to meet the Lord in the clouds.

Notice that after the rapture the true Church shall always be with the Lord. In fact all true believers with the above qualification for the Blessed Hope shall be with the Lord when He comes again (the Second Coming) to rescue Israel and execute judgment upon the Antichrist and his followers. I’ll explain as we go on. I do not claim to exercise any prophetic gift. This message is the outcome of Bible research and the application of common sense logically.

The Promise of His coming again for the Church

Jesus said to His disciples, “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2, 3, emphasis added).

Notice the assurance given by Jesus. He will come again for you and me. After He has taken us to Himself we shall always be with Him – Just as Paul said in Thess. 4:17!

Christians are instructed by Paul to partake of the Holy Communion until Jesus comes again:

“For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Cor. 11:26, emphasis added).

We proclaim the Lord’s death at the Communion Table until He comes again to receive us to Himself. Jesus wants all Christians to remember the Blessed Hope as often as we partake of the Lord’s Table.

Rapture and the Second coming are two distinct events

In rapture, Jesus comes to rescue His true Church from His enemies. In the Second coming, Jesus comes to rescue Israel from His enemise. Christians must not be confused concerning theses two distinct events. The Church is a type of Israel; similarly the rapture is a type of Second Coming!

It is beyond the scope of this message to explain Daniel’s prophecies in Daniel 9. But it is good for my readers to seek understanding that the Church age of Grace is between the 69 weeks of years and the remaining 1 week of years (seven years). The length of the Church Age is in God’s hand and no one knows how long we have to wait before He takes us to the Father’s House – the Rapture. After the rapture God’s clock for the remaining 1 week (of years) will start to tick!

The Rapture and the Second Coming are two distinct events, one occurring at the beginning and the other at the end of Daniel’s seventieth week. Christ must first of all come for His saints (true believers) to rapture them to heaven, or He could never come with His saints from heaven to rescue Israel at Armageddon. This is confirmed by verses of Scripture in both Old and New Testaments:

1. Zechariah prophesied, “Thus the Lord my God will come, and all the saints with You” (Zech. 14:5, emphasis added).

2. “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him” (Jude 14, 15, emphasis added).
Notice that the “ungodly sinners” with their ungodly ways and deeds, who have spoken against Christ, are the enemies of God.

3. John said in Revelation that these saints are the Bride of Christ:

“And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, follow Him on white horses” (Rev. 19:14, emphasis added).

The wedding garment for the Bride of Christ is clean, white and fine linen.

These are the saints that Paul spoke about in 1 Thess. 4:16, 17 are the “dead in Christ” and “those who are alive in Christ” when He comes. Old Testament saints (not the Bride) who died before the first coming of Christ are also part of the armies in heaven.

Compelling reasons for the two distinct events

1. It is logical to give inference that the Bride and other saints cannot be part of the armies in heaven had they never been to heaven first. Nor could they accompany Christ from heaven had they not been taken up there previously. It is therefore reasonable to infer that the Rapture must come before the Second Coming of Christ.

2. The Rapture will occur when least expected; the Second Coming takes place only after all the signs (listed in Matthew 24) have been given and everyone should know that Christ is about to return in “power and great glory” (Matt. 24:30) even though on one knows the exact date or time.

3. The Rapture comes in the midst of peace.

Paul said, “For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, …” (1 Thess. 5:3).

Jesus Himself said when the “Son of Man” is revealed to rapture the true Church will be at a time similar to the days Noah and Lot (Luke 17:26 – 36). These were the days when the people are preoccupied with enjoying their wealth – eating, drinking, marrying wives, buying and selling properties. They were also leading careless and wicked lives and indulging in homosexual activities. The people in the days of Noah and Lot were in slumber and the judgment from God was furthest from their mind. In this respect our generation is quite similar. Notice that Rapture will not come in the days of hardship and tribulation as most Bible scholars claimed.

4. The Second Coming occurs in the midst of war, destruction, suffering and tribulation which are described in Revelation 19, Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21. People will not be able to lead a normal life let alone enjoying their wealth, buying, selling, planting and building. There will be catastrophic upheavals of nature which will leave the earth pulverized and her inhabitants in desperate straits! The conditions on earth at the time of the Second Coming are exactly the opposite of those to which Christ referred – days of Noah and Lot.

A Likely Scenario

I believe the first event in heaven after the Rapture of the true Church will be the Judgment Seat of Christ (1 Cor. 3:12 – 15 and 2 Cor. 5:10). This is not a judgment for condemnation but a judgment for reward (Please refer to my previous postings). After this the Groom will want to spend some time with His Bride, the now glorified Church in the Father’s House.

In Christ’s days the Jewish bride was taken to her father’s house where the two were in seclusion for seven days (one week). Christ must have had the Jewish custom in mind when He promised to take His Bride to His Father’s House for “one week of year”. During these seven years (the 70th week of years in Daniel’s prophecy – Daniel 9:24 – 27) the earth is going through the great tribulation under the reign of the Antichrist! But, at precisely the same time in heaven the marriage supper of the Lamb is being prepared (Rev. 19:7, 8)! The bride of Christ escapes the wrath of the Antichrist. That is the way God protects His true Church, fulfilling what Jesus said to Peter:

“The gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).

Christ brings His Church to Himself! This is the Blessed Hope!