“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”  (Heb 13:8)

Circular Letter September 1982

I greet you all very warmly in the precious name of our beloved Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To start with, we take what the apostle Paul said: “But by the grace of God I am what I am…” (1 Corinthians 15:10)

By God’s grace, not for our merits, we are what God has made of us. We may also be counted among those who received of His fullness, grace for grace. Humanly speaking, we are poor creatures and as hopeless as all others. We do not need to be reminded of this. However, in God’s eyes, we are new creatures in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Paul, who was really sincere, called: “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:24) Thanks be to God that we could come to believe in His all-encompassing work of redemption. We profess that our soul is redeemed, our spirit is set free and we have the Holy Spirit in us as the earnest of our redemption (Ephesians 1:14), still awaiting the redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:23). In 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 we read: “It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.” “But by the grace of God I am what I am…” “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2) This is God’s reality for us which even the devil alone cannot deny. We have experienced it and we know what God has done with us. We have received Him and He has received us. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name…” (John 1:12) Therefore we can pray with all our heart: “Our Father who art in Heaven…”

In this respect, what Peter said is of great importance: “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” (1 Peter 1:23) Our forgiveness, redemption and reconciliation have been done through the shed blood of the Lamb of God on the cross of Calvary. However, to be born again, God’s seed of the Word is needed. Without such a seed, there is no new life, no birth of God. Therefore the Word of God as the seed came first to the prophets and then was fulfilled in Jesus Christ as the Word that became flesh. Every child of God is begotten and born of God through the same Word and the same Spirit. Therefore, Jesus Christ our Lord is firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8:29).

“But by the grace of God I am what I am…” “Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God…” (Acts 17:29) we can see ourselves as God sees us, i.e. as His children. “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ…” (Romans 8:14) “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” (Galatians 4:6-7) It is time that we look away from the human nature that still prevails in some of us and that we give prominence to the godly that He placed into us. “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15). All sons and daughters of God must recognise by faith their position in Christ. Only then can God make us overcomers as it is written “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:4)

On the cross of Calvary, God manifested His omnipotence and granted us the victory over every power of Satan, death and hell in Jesus Christ our Lord. Therefore, faith working in us through the Spirit receives the work of salvation and becomes the power of victory in our life. As surely as Jesus overcame and preceded as the victor so will all sons and daughters of God overcome and appear in front of His throne as the host of the overcomers.

In 1 Peter 2:1 the apostle addresses those born of God with unusual words: “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings…” Who reads the previous verses could be surprised by what Peter is saying to the believers. The words “All evil speakings” (in another translation: “slander of every kind”) are especially noticeable. We live in the time when people fall victim to various lusts (addictions). What was unheard of in previous generations makes newspaper headlines these days: drug, tobacco, alcohol addictions etc. As believers, we are grateful on the one hand that we are free of such things, on the other hand we fail to recognize that even a born-again child of God may fall into various lusts in the spiritual realm. Peter mentions evil speakings (the lust of slander) here or envy elsewhere. Indeed, there has never been a time like today when demons are making such a massive attack against the whole mankind and believers are in the midst of the greatest spiritual battle ever fought. Yet, we can fight with God’s armor and sincerely confess that who the Son sets free is free indeed. But first we have to follow the call to prove ourselves in the light of God to recognize what we need to get rid of. It may then be as John writes: “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” (1 John 3:3). The apostle did not only look at himself with pride, but he took care that it was believers in whom God was pleased. While having God’s life in our souls, we are still in our mortal bodies. We have God’s treasure in earthen vessels, but at the return of Christ, also our bodies will be changed.

Therefore we do not look at what is visible, but at the invisible, confessing: “But by the grace of God I am what I am…” We are God’s children, the redeemed, having the Word of God’s promise in us, and we shall be like our Lord and Saviour. In earthly terms, there is no difference between a believer and an unbeliever. They have the same jobs, walk in the same streets, eat and drink and have the same natural foundation. Whether believers or unbelievers, both will grow old, their health will deteriorate and they will eventually die. The bodily difference will only be visible when the transformation takes place. In spite of this, there is already a huge difference between those who serve God and those who do not. To better understand it, we will let God continue speaking to us through His Word. The thought we are following is very important: “But by the grace of God I am what I am…” i.e. God’s child.

Many people knew Lord Jesus naturally. They could say: “What are you making of yourself? You are just a human! Are you not the carpenter’s son? Aren’t your brothers and sisters with us?” This was an earthly, natural way of thinking.

Jesus told them: “Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?” Isn’t it of special importance that it was in this respect that our Lord made the mighty statement that “the scripture cannot be broken…”? 

This is the greatest reality of God, which was in God’s plan from the beginning, was announced through the prophets and came true in Christ. Before the foundation of the world, God predestinated people to be His sons and daughters. The elect exist in the period of the Old Testament and the New Testament.

We read in Psalms 82: “I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men…” (verses 6-7) Who reads this Scripture just intellectually will not be able to understand it. On the one hand, the prophets are called gods and sons of the most High – because the Word of God came to them and they became the messengers of God’s promise – on the other hand, they are told: “But ye shall die like men…”

The prophets were men born into this world like all others, they ate, drank and died just like other people. Many of them were even killed. Outwardly, no-one could have seen them as gods. They made mistakes and were often treated with contempt. However, through the Word, God’s substance was put into them. The same has happened with us who have received the Word of God. Our soul has taken part in God’s nature and has fellowship with God. The prophets were no dead idols, but living gods, as they were carrying the life-giving Word of God in them.

The Lord says: “I have said, Ye are gods.” In the New Testament, our Lord repeated and emphasised what had already been said in the Old Testament. The Same who had spoken through the prophets in the Old Testament was then there and confirmed what they had spoken on His behalf. It is also written: “all of you are children of the most High.” In Luke 1:32 it is written about Jesus Christ our Lord: “He … shall be called the Son of the Highest.” A portion of the Word was in the prophets, therefore they were called the sons of the most High. The fullness of the Word was manifested in Christ and He was called the Son of the Highest. However, they reviled Him and said: “…because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.” (John 10:33)

The people who are not born of God see the human realm. However, all who are born of God, look beyond the human veil and see the divine. Concerning those who were to believe from gentile nations, God says through the prophet Hosea: “that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.” (1:10) So we can rejoice that by His grace we are what we are. In the flesh we are humans, but we are God’s children by the Spirit. It is written about prophets that they died like humans and it was not only them who died in the flesh, but also our Lord and all who have gone home so far as believers. The difference is in resurrection. The prophets died, but with absolute certainty that there would be life after death, they died with assurance and living hope that they would take part in the resurrection. Jesus Christ our Lord could say: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2:19). He could tell His disciples that He would rise on the third day and would go before them to Galilee. For the sake of humans He was born into this world as a child, wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger and circumcised on the eighth day according to the Law. He was likened to His brothers in all things so that He could be the faithful High Priest.

Our Lord has never looked on anyone with contempt. It was only the Pharisees full of righteousness who said: “God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are…” (Luke 18:11) However, our Lord looked at people with eternal love and divine mercy and He felt pity for the people. He was a human and died as a human. He was God and transformed people into a divine condition – He turned children of men into God’s children. The resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord was God’s proof that death, hell and the devil had been defeated. Lord Jesus says about the true believers that will be raptured: “Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.” (Luke 20:36) The prophets and all those in the Old Testament who believed the Word that came to them rose with Christ according to Matthew 27: “And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose.” (verses 51-52) At the return of the Lord, all those who received the Word of Promise in their time will be awoken and those who are alive will be changed and go to glory together with Him.

We have received God’s life of resurrection because the Word our Lord said is valid for us, too: “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” (John 11:25-26) After this statement the Lord asked Martha, Lazarus’ sister: “Believest thou this?” Today, He is asking you and me the same question and we can also answer: “Yea, Lord: I believe.”

Faith is God’s gift. It comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. By His grace we are what we are.

Through the prophetic end-time message we are again shown the all-encompassing meaning of God’s Word. We have come to know that what matters is not the interpretations of the Word, but the true Word as the original seed of God. Never before has God’s Word been proclaimed with such purity. By God’s grace we can be counted among those who believe and accept God’s final message. By His grace, we can see ourselves among those who will have part in the first resurrection. Concerning overcomers, it is written: “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.” (Revelation 12:11) The Word of God is a living testimony for the overcomers. They have surrendered their own lives so that Christ could live His life through them. “Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” (Revelation 12:12) The moment Jesus takes His own to glory, Satan with his own will be thrown out. There will be rejoicing and jubilance in heaven, but the worst time ever on earth. Only then will all the redeemed see and appreciate what we are by His grace. The Lord told Moses: “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious.” (Exodus 33:19). The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ our Lord. That day we will be in glory with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, all prophets, forefathers and all the elect from the Old Testament period as well as the apostles and all the elect from the New Testament period.

Paul greets the church in Ephesus with these words: “… Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:1) and finishes saying: “Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity [in unbreakable faithfulness – German translation].” (Ephesians 6:24)

May it be granted to us by God’s mercy that we do not receive grace in vain, but that we hold fast to it and love our Lord Jesus Christ, who has loved, saved and redeemed us, with unbreakable faithfulness. Because the one that endures to the end shall be crowned.