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Tribe of Dan Church in Christ Jesus
An Introduction
In the name of our Lord and King Jesus, greetings. It is our earnest prayer that His light may continue to guide you, and His grace continues to strengthen you all, in all things. If you dont feel His light, grace, and hope, we are promised in Him, you may have come to the right place. Whatever your situation, we welcome you in love.
Through this ministry, we aim to provide a network of Christians who have the same care, one for another (see, I Cor. 12:12-26). If you decide to become a member with us, this ministry belongs to no man-its yours and ours. If all members are not alive, active, and striving to supply for the needs of the other body parts, it will become a decaying body, at best, and a dead one at worst. Together, working as one body-despite our differences, despite our current social standing- we can become a beacon of light and hope. Not only for ourselves, and those in our immediate enviroment, but we can literally reedeem the times, to this world. As Christians, we are commanded to be ambassadors for Christ, and the Kingdom of God, in this world, as we await His return. As Jesus prays: "I pray not that thou should take them out of the world, but that thou should keep them from evil (John 17:15)".
Let the love of Christ be revived in us, individually and collectively. You've never been to seminary? You have no title of ordination? I have good news for you. Yuo dont need any of these to be a minister of Christ. All you need is a willing heart of love and gratitude for what He did on the cross. The Church is not the proper venue to ordain, nor does a piece of paper declare your worth or lack of worth. If these were so, Paul would never have been ordained. It is written that Jesus alone chooses and ordains (see, John 15:15). If you are compelled in your heart to serve others, you are ordained, and you need to approval of men. Ordination by and of men is just that; which even Satans' ministers obtain (see, II Cor. 11:13-15). Therefore, every idea, gift, and labor of every member is necessary within us. The hand cannot say to the foot, that it has no need of it. Therefore, this is our ministry together-the whole is dependant of the sums.
As the day of our Kings' return draws closer, it is promised that the situation in this world will become darker. Who can stand in defiance to the judgement of God. Nobody and nothing. It is stated in many churches that if God be for us, who can be against us? The answer is nobody and nothing- not even a state of the art army of billions. Though, few consider the other possibility. If God be against us, who can be for us? The answer is the same. When Israel walked in the ways of the Lord, and sought His face, nothing disturbed their peace, from outside the nation. When they turned from God, and stopped seeking His face, all the nations around them, and the elements of nature, rose against them (see, I Cor. 10:1-12). The Church is subjected to the same contract delivered to ancient Israel, as told to us in Dueteronomy 30:11-20. It should be evident because the judgement of God begins in His house ( see, I Peter 4: 12-19). Those of you who believe in a pre-trib rapture are decieved. Jesus said that immediately after the tribulation He will appear (see, Matt. 24: 27-31). Even if you still want to believe that theory of a pre-trib rapture, you are still not told exactly when it will happen. Thus, you cannot know what you will have to go through to get to that point.
Today, we see danger all around. We see the once strong Christian nations under attack on every level- from outside and within. The answer will not be found in any house of congress, it has nothing to do with global warming, UFO's, or evn pornagraphy. The only answer is that we have forsaken God, because we have forsaken love. Instead of judging ourselves, we blame everything and everybody, other than ourselves, based on our own concepts of what is good and evil, sinful and righteous. We judge by what appears to be rather than judging what is true (see, John 7:24). We, like Adam and Eve, blame other things for our struggles, instead of judging ourselves and taking responsibility for ourselves. We condemn a faction of muslims for the loss of innocent life on 9/11, but we call what we are allowing our troops to do in the world as being right and just, as we beat the drums of war. Is this attitude not contrary to Christ?
As the days, months, and years pass by, those of us who will not stand together on the Rock, will perish alone. We cannot depend upon governments, because it is written that all the governments of the world-including the U.S.-will give their kingdoms over to the beast (see, Revelation 17:17). But we are not of this world, and we must oppose all things which exalt themselves above God-even the institution of the Church. (see, II Cor. 10:1-7). Very few Christians are asking if things such as "global warming" could be an attribute of Gods' judgement. Instead we pridefully go about to find our own solution.
The Tribe of Dan Church in Christ Jesus, is for all Christians whose unity is in, and their allegiance is to, Christ Jesus; not the institution called the church built and devised by man. We do not promote further division, but rather unity. We do not suggest, one way or another, that anyone leave their present denominational assembly. We instead strive to build upon that which we have in common as brothers and sisters in Christ. A house divided against itself will fall - this includes the church. Together, we can show our brethren that there is a better way. Whether you are catholic, lutheran, pentacostal, et al...we welcome you all who believe in the statement of faith, as put forth within the Apostle's Creed.
We must quit treating each other as enemies and start discussing the differences in doctrine. When we do this, not only do we see that the issues which separate us arent that major, but we also delve deeper into the Word together.
The commandment of God to us is this: that we should believe on the name of His son Jesus Christ, and to love another ( see, I John 3:23-24). Some of you may say, "but also.....". Jesus said that those not against us are with us (see, Mark 9: 38-41). Concerning those who say there is more to it in regards to the Law, there is no but also. Thus, it is written that he that loves another has fullfilled the Law (see, Romans 13:8- 14). Jesus is God, therefore we show our love toward Him by receiving Him into our hearts, and following Him.
Back then, not everyone had a Bible. Today we do. Therefore we should be less dependant upon man in order to learn of Him, not more (see, I John 2:27). There is an axiom from our catholic brethren that is so true- ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ. My beloved, we are without excuse. We make time to watch T.V., go to sporting events, sit on the phone or internet, et al...but many say that they do not have time to study the Bible, or assemble with the brethren to study. We must become like the noble brethren spoken of in Acts 17: 10-14. If we dont start studying the Word, under the tutelage of the Holy Ghost, we have no hope of ever knowing if what we are being told is true or not. Again, Satans' ministers pose as the ministers of righteousness.
Nevertheless, in our zeal over doctrines of men and tradition, we strain at gnats and we swallow camels; we make the Law of God of none effect (see, Matt. 15:48)- we weaken the testimony that we have. We become so focused on the perceived specks in our brothers' eye, and we forget the beams in our own. The world sees Christ through us, for we are His body. If we are fighting and devouring one another as enemies, and condemning eachother to hell, those who are lost and looking for Christ will run, because we are not demonstrating the Christ which we preach and they have heard of.
We are suppose to be as our Master. Our Master came for the sick, not the well. Yet alot of us reject and condemn, like the religious institution- which Jesus condemned-back when Christ walked the earth. Do Christians sin? If you are a Christian and you say no, the Truth is not in you. The only difference between the Church and the world is Christ! When we forget this, we become as the world. Jesus sat and ate with the sinners, and testified of the Father. Most of us hide within the walls of a building, testifying of ourselves and patting each other on the back, saying we're so gald we arent like them other folks. We forget that we were those other folks! Still furter, we erect pedestals for ourselves, and even judge who is and isnt saved within the body. Who are we to judge another mans' servant (see, Romans 14 and Galatians 6:1-5)? The Church is not made up of perfect people. Instead it is made up of imperfect people who are willing to admit it. When we don the helmet of salvation, thus reminding us of all that we have been forgiven already, and all that will be forgiven from now to the day that we go to sleep in the Lord, it will humble us and not allow pride to set in. Thereby, we will eb able to love more(see, Luke 7: 41-50). Love is synonomous with faith.
We should never take pleasure in the works of darkness. Sin is sin. Evil is evil. Good is good. Though we must never forget that our battle is spiritual, not carnal. We will be justified or condemned by what comes out of our mouths- out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks(see, Matt. 12: 33-37). If we condemn by the Law, we ourselves will be judged by the Law. If we have pride, partiality, envy, jealousy, et al...these are equally as sinful as killing someone, commiting adultery, and stealing. As it is written, whosoever keeps the whole Law, yet offends in one point, they are guilty of all (see, James 2:1-13). If you are reading this, and you cannot give an explanation of what the law of liberty is, it is evident that you dont even know by what Law God will judge you. Therefore, how can you judge another in the name of Christ? You dont even know what His righteous judgement is.
Many of us have been told, and believe, that the works we are called to do as Christians is by the Law (Old Testament/Covenant). Furthermore, that based on our adherance to the Law, we will be rewarded. Here is an analogy: If you have a home on mortgage, and another goes to the bank and pays off the loan, would you still send in your mortgage payments to the bank? The answer is, only if you are foolish or you dont believe the one who paid off the mortgage. Even if you didnt believe, after the bank refused to accept your next payment, you would try to pay on the fullfilled mortgage again? Thus the question is: Why do you not believe Jesus? Why do you foolishly believe that the blood of Christ was not sufficient to pay the debt required by the Law? The answer is that we are following men, and that we are ignorant to what our Lord did, and is doing.
Today, most of the church is walking on eggshells, worried about what we are told we shouldnt be doing, and we are not doing the things we are suppose to be doing. The fullfilling of the Law is love! We are told to seek first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness. As it concerns His righteousness, through Christ Jesus, the righteousness of God, without the Law, is made manifest (see, Romans 3:21). We are saved by grace, not our own righteousness. Grace is not, and cannot be, earned by our own righteousness by the Law. It is written, that if the righteousness of God is by the Law, then Christ is dead in vain. The Law is not of faith! Without faith, it is impossible to please God, and whatsoever we do that is not done in faith, is sin. If we base our righteousness by adherance to the Law, we have fallen from grace-hence we exclude ourselves from salvation, because we did not believe in the Truth(our Lord, King, and the Word). My beloved, we who are in Christ, are free from the law. All the witness what is written aove is: Romans 3:19-28,14:23; Galatians 2:15-21, Chapter 3, 5:1-8, et al...
Yes, Jesus spoke about and taught the Law. Though Jesus also said that He came to fulfill the Law. What is the event that fulfilled the Law? Was it the birth of Jesus? The answer is no. In order for there to be remission of sin, by the Law, there must be blood shed(see, Hebrews 9:22). Therefore, until Jesus shed His blood on the cross, the Law was still in effect. If Jesus would have taught against the Law, before He went to the cross, He would have beared false witness- which is a sin. After the blood of Christ was shed, the Law was literally changed(see, Hebrews chapter 7). Jesus kept the Fathers' commandments, He fulfilled the first covenant of promise, so that we might walk in a greater hope and ministry (see, John 15: 9-14.
We are also told to seek the Kingdom of God. Where is the Kingdom of God? The answer is found in Luke 17:20-21. After you read that, you may assume that this means all people, of all "religions", have access to the Kingdom of God. That would be a false assumption because the children of the flesh, born after the first Adam, are not the children of God(see,Roman 9:6-13). In order to be a child of God, and gain access to His kingdom, one must be born again of the last Adam, who is Jesus(see, Galatians 3:19-29). The Law was our school master until faith came. Once faith came, we are no longer under a schoolmaster, and all things become new. This is why there appears to be a contradiction between the Gospel and the Epistles.
It only appears to be so because we dont understand what our Lord did, and is doing. Hopefully now you understand. As we continue to bear fruit in Christ, we have the promise that the Father will purge us of all things that offend Him(see, John 15:2). Notice that bearing fruit and purging are two seperate issues. Once we can accomplish-bearing fruit. The other only God can accomplish- purging us. Though He will not purge us of things that offend man, according to mans' judgement of good and bad, but rather only things that offend Him.
If we are not walking in love, one toward another, we are walking in sin, and the Truth is not in us. If we love our neighbor, we will not steal from them, murder them(physically or spiritually), despitefully use them, we will feed even our enemy and help them when they are down or in trouble, and we will show them the better way with our words and deeds( see, I Cor. 12:31, Chap. 13; Galatians 5:13-15; Colossians 3:14).
As members of the Tribe of Dan Church in Christ Jesus, we will work together to demonstrate the love and truth of God, in all aspects of life; for our brethren and unbelievers. Christianity is not about dressing up nice and attending a building called a church. It is not about how elaborate the buildings called churches are- for God does not dwell in temples, made with hands(see, Acts 7:47-53). God could care less about how we dres
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Copyright © 2007 Minister Michael Miano. All Rights Reserved