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We know that when Jesus was on earth He taught His disciples many truths & told them to teach others. `”Go therefore & make disciples of all nations, baptizing them…teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you…` (Matt. 28: 19 & 20) Then when He ascended to the Father He revealed more of His plans & purposes to the Apostle Paul, who then gave his disciples `the whole counsel of God.` (Acts 20: 27) The early disciples thus knew all of God`s plans & purposes not only for Israel & the other nations but also for this new group they were learning about – the Body of Christ. `Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God.` (1 Cor. 10: 32) Paul taught them the whole counsel of God but warned that when he was gone false teachers would arise & come to try to deceive them. `For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.` (Acts. 20: 27) `Take heed….for I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.` (Acts 20: 29 – 31) Looking back throughout history we can see the main errors that came against the believers - not holding fast to the Head, letting leaders lord it over them, division of laity & priests, baptism of children, connecting church & State, indulgences, Then we see that there is a reviving of the truths of Christ as the Holy Spirit brings revelation & guides not only individuals but the whole Body of Christ into all truth. `When He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth..` (John 16: 13) The main truths we can see that have been restored over the centuries are – Salvation through Christ`s sacrifice. Living a holy life. Baptism in water for adults as a profession of faith. Infilling of the Holy Spirit & His giftings. The ministry gifts of the ascended Christ. (Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher, Prophet, Apostle) These we have seen recognized in the second part of the last century. Along with the true there also has come the false, and each believer needs to be very discerning. Then there is the last truth to be revealed, clarified by the Holy Spirit across the Body of Christ. This concerns the eternal purposes of God for the Body of Christ, for Israel & for the nations. At the present time we are in the `tossed to & fro` time where we are all working through this eschatological topic. Much discussion, debate & challenging of preconceived ideas is going on. However when the `dust settles` as it were & the `muddy waters,` have cleared then the Body of Christ will come through and - `we all come to the unity of faith & the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: that we should no longer be children, tossed to & fro & carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness by which they lie in wait to deceive, but, speaking the truth in love may grow up in all things into Him who is the Head – Christ – from whom the whole Body, joined & knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, cause the growth of the Body for the edifying of itself in love.` (Eph. 4: 13 – 16) The Eternal Purposes are concerned with WHY God has planned each group & their eternal inheritance. Too often we get our heads butting over the details when if we started to look at why God has planned His purposes, then we would not only understand them better but have a greater appreciation of our Lord & Saviour, our Heavenly Father & the Holy Spirit. I hope we can have a good discussion on the unity of faith & what the Holy Spirit has revealed over the years, remembering that many have died for the truths they stood for. And we have these truths today so that individually & corporately as a Body, we may grow up into Him, our Head. Marilyn. WHEN Christ returns. (Worthy).docx