When you’re at the ‘Great’ Smoky Mountains GRACE Bible Conference .... you’re sure to have a ‘great’ time! Many of us did just that! Although we have experienced a ‘turning away’ from some who would not practice what they preach, "God said what He meant, and He meant what He said," for example,
• The office of a bishop (1 Tim 3:1)
• The last trump (1 Cor 15:52)
• The first resurrection (Rev 20:4-6)
• We are able ministers of the new testament (2 Cor 3:6)
• We are Abraham’s seed and heir (Gal 3:29)
• Abraham is the father of us all (Rom 4:11,16)
• Jerusalem, which is above, is the mother of us all (Gal 4:26)
(Just to name a few!)
.... we thank God for His mercy and the bishops who ‘refreshed’ us, not being ashamed of ‘all scripture’ that is profitable for doctrine (2 Tim 3:16).
2 Tim 1:15-16 This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
16 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:
My ‘innards’ were ‘refreshed’ by the preached messages and the fellowship with the saints. It was a ‘great’ way to express our faith and encourage others.
Phile 1:4-7 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,
5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
Why, even a growling Smoky Mountains’ Brother Bear finds it edifying to share the love amongst the brethren and sistern.
1 Thess 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
1 Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
Rom 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another:
for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
What?! From Paul?! Fulfilled the law?! In the dispensation of grace?! Rather than strive to wiggle out of that .... it’s comforting now to feel the love.
Ah, Peter and Paul .... Paul and Peter .... so often wrote of such ‘same’ things. It is really quite a strain to teach that Peter had everything ‘different’ from Paul, like,
• no difference (Acts 15:9, Rom 3:22, Rom 10:12)
• brotherly love (1 Thess 4:9, 1 Pet 1:22)
• being of one mind (Phil 2:2, 1 Pet 3:8)
• the last days (2 Tim 3:1, 2 Pet 3:3)
• the appearing/coming of the Lord (1 Tim 6:14, 2 Tim 4:8, Titus 2:13, 1 Pet 1:7)
• the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night (1 Thess 5:2, 2 Pet 3:10)
• watch and be sober (1 Thess 5:6, 1 Pet 4:7)
• the Lord Jesus Christ will judge the quick and the dead (2 Tim 4:1, Acts 10:42, 1 Pet 4:5)
• blameless (1 Cor 1:8, Phil 2:15-16, 1 Thess 5:23, 2 Pet 3:14)
• without spot (Eph 5:27, 1 Tim 6:14, 2 Pet 3:14)
• in time past and but now (Eph 2:11-13, 1 Pet 2:10)
• the flock of God (Acts 20:28-29, 1 Cor 9:7, 1 Pet 5:2-3)
• grace and peace (all of Paul’s intros, all of Peter’s intros)
• the gospel of God (Rom 1:1, Rom 15:16, 2 Cor 11:7, 1 Thess 2:2-9, 1 Pet 4:17)
• eternal glory (2 Tim 2:10, 1 Pet 5:10)
(Just to name a few!).
Phil 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
1 Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
What rejoicing we experienced at the conference! What happiness to understand that we are not a separate group of God’s children .... split apart from those in Christ before us (Rom 16:7). No longer strangers and aliens (Eph 2:12,19)! We are one with them (John 17:21, Rom 12:5, 1 Cor 12:12, Eph 2:14-16)!
• We are fellowheirs and of the ‘same’ body (Eph 3:6).
• We are fellowcitizens with the saints (Eph 2:19).
• We are partakers with ‘them’ (Rom 11:17, 1 Cor 10:17, Col 1:12).
God doesn’t have different families .... there is but one (singular), the whole family in heaven and earth (Eph 3:15)! Many saints are already in heaven. Some have been there for thousands of years, others only a few days. But God didn’t break down the middle wall of partition on earth (Eph 2:14) .... and then leave one standing up erect in heaven. Neither are ‘body of Christ’ saints on a higher plane than ‘kingdom program’ saints. There is no division between the saints (1 Cor 3:3-9, 1 Cor 1:11-13)!
Yes, the Great Smoky Mountains GRACE Bible Conference was a relaxing, peaceful week enjoyed by all who attended. We thank God for the faithful men (2 Tim 2:2, 1 Cor 4:2) who ministered the Word of God, rightly divided (2 Tim 2:15) between
• the old and the new testaments / covenants (2 Cor 3:6-16, Heb 8:13)
• the letter and the spirit (Rom 2:28-29, Rom 7:6)
• the ministration of death / condemnation and the ministration of life (2 Cor 3:7-9).
1 Cor 16:18 For they have refreshed my spirit and yours:
therefore acknowledge ye them that are such.
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
