1) There, Jesus Christ the Just One died for us, the unjust. There we were reconciled to God! He therefore has the right and the authority to forgive us our sins. Most believers see nothing more in Jesus’ work on Calvary. Thus they also continue to sin throughout their entire life. Prior to coming to faith in this work, they were unconverted sinners. Now they are converted sinners; in other words, they are sinners in both cases. 2) Nevertheless, there was much more that took place in Jesus Christ. When He called out, “It is finished!” there was substantially more that was finished, that was perfected! Our old man was crucified with Him. There we died with Him. There we died to all conscious sin; we died to ourselves, as Paul writes in Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live . . . .” Most believers do not see this. This means that they do not believe it, and therefore it cannot have an effect in their lives, for all things happen by faith. This is a great mystery that was revealed to the apostle. Moreover, those who believe it in all simplicity partake of an overcoming life. They overcome in all areas on all their ways for the very good reason that the one who causes us to sin, that is, our old man, was crucified by Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. Just as the Scriptures testify with all clarity: When the hindrance was thus removed, an overcoming, triumphant life was opened for us. 3) By means of the crucifixion on the cross of Calvary, this great and blessed and glorious work also occurred: the enmity between Jew and Gentile (all the other nations) was utterly destroyed! The wall of division, this powerful wall between different groups and thus also all the other denominational walls, was razed to the ground in and through Christ and His death on Calvary. Hallelujah!!! These walls of division are forever eliminated in Jesus Christ! Eph. 2:14-16. Therefore all these religious denominations are both a sin and a shame. They are works of the flesh that, unfortunately, are very conspicuous to all worldly people. They are also a powerful obstacle when it comes to the conversion of many people. Unfortunately, the fact that this work was finished on the cross of Calvary is also hidden to most people. It is based on the fact that Jesus put on flesh and blood in like manner as we. Heb. 2:14, 17. According to the Father’s method of reckoning, all of mankind’s flesh and blood was crucified; that is, our old man was crucified. Also all walls of division and all factional walls as well as all enmity were crucified. This is the great mystery of godliness that has a powerful and unimpeded effect when we believe in His work and in His Word like children—in all simplicity. This faith has accomplished and continues to accomplish wonders among us! The doctrine of Christ as the Head and we as His members, as well as each other’s members is also part of this great mystery of godliness. Eph. 5:30-32; 1 Cor. 6:15-17. We are as closely united as husband and wife: “The two shall become one flesh.” We are also one spirit with Him. We overcome in the power of the same Spirit that gave Him the power to overcome. We overcome the same flesh, the same difficulties in that same power. All things are possible to him who believes! When we in all simplicity believe that Christ is the Head and we are His members, we cannot view ourselves in any other way than being nailed to the cross together with Him, for all the members hung there, not only the Head! What a wonderful, amazing, and powerfully effective truth! A living, personally appropriated faith in this fact causes it not to fail. The inscription INRI was written over Jesus’ head and body, which translated means: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. When we believe that we are members of His body, this royal title is also accorded to us, and this agrees with another Word that calls us kings and priests. He is the firstborn among many brethren. Rom. 8:29. We are His brethren who were born later— not “so-called” brethren, but real brethren. Heb. 2:11-12. God be highly praised for everything that was destroyed and for all those who were reconciled and made one in Jesus Christ!!! Blessed is everyone who believes!Elias Aslaksen

“Therefore we pray always for you that our God may count you worthy of His calling and mightily fill you with all desire for the good, and work in faith.” 2 Thess. 1:11. Having a desire for the good is the complete opposite of bondage. Many people strive in their prayers, saying, “Fill me and use me!” People want to be something in God’s kingdom, and so they compare themselves to others. If they think they are not faring so well by comparison, they lose courage. Why do they lose courage? Because they do not think they are becoming a “somebody.” That is not what is meant by “a desire for the good.” A soccer player who has intentions of making the national team has a desire to play soccer, but his motivating force is his reputation. If he does not succeed in making the national team he is tempted to give up. But the one who just likes to play soccer, he goes on playing soccer. He does not think about playing on the national team; he just plays. Perhaps he is not as good, but he does not want to be a “somebody” either. He is not tempted to lose courage—not at all! He just plays because he likes to play. He will most likely never make the national team, but no one can hinder him from playing soccer. He has a desire to play, and he plays and is happy and satisfied. This is also how it should be with us when it comes to doing good. We have a desire for the virtues of Christ. We do not seek a position. No one can hinder us; we just “play”—we simply continue to exercise ourselves in the fear of God—in the virtues of Christ. It goes badly with us but it goes better with the others. Well, then we have examples to follow. The fact that it is not going so well with us does not cause us any great inner conflicts. Not at all! We have a desire for the good; we simply continue to exercise ourselves in the virtues of Christ. What else should we do? We have abundant opportunity to exercise ourselves, and we live a glorious and happy life. It is fairly certain that such soccer players will gain a berth on the national team, because natural abilities play an important role in these matters. Yet it is certain that the one whose great desire is to do good will be along in the rapture, because God looks at the heart and gives grace, so our human abilities mean nothing. Satan does not have any power over such people.Sigurd Bratlie

He who gave us some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, shep­herds, and teachers is also the One who has been to the lower parts of the earth. Therefore He also takes from the lowly places those whom He puts into the ministry in the church. God is angry at everything that is exalted and great, and He has said that He will dwell in the darkness. The one who can be at rest and content in the lowly places, hidden under a cover of reproach, can be used as a servant in the house of God. The prophet’s ministry in the church fills a great need. His words are unto edification, exhortation, and comfort; revealing, chastising, and judging the hidden intents and counsels of the heart. It is good, blessed, and perfect to have prophets in the church—those who are anointed, and are appointed by the Chief Shepherd Himself, not only as teachers, but also as fathers who are aware of their responsibility. The intention is that just as the true prophets labored and worked in the early churches, so it shall continue until the end. However, as the churches spread out more and more, they sank from their spiri­tually high plane, and preachers replaced the prophets. In the long run it was far too inconvenient to watch, pray, and stay close to God so that one always had a word from the mouth of the Lord. It was easier to pay a man to be a priest rather than personally be conscious of the burden of always having food to give. Jesus did not want them to lose this burden. He says to the church in Thyatira that He would lay no other burden on them than that they should hold fast to what they had. When it comes to working with what God has given us we must not permit any weakness, or a ten­dency to slack off, to come in. When we gather for meetings and there is a lack of brothers who have been walking in the Spirit, spiritual food is also lacking, and the way for the preacher has been opened. He is a man of a different sort. He is usually gifted and can keep things going with entertaining words without too much effort. There can even be genuine content in what he says. Even though his intention to awaken the people and strengthen them to endure to the end is good, he does not have a vi­sion of those who are present as members of the body of Christ. He has neither the understanding nor the time to lead each individual person to the place where he is equipped for the work of ministry, for the edification of the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-12. The prophet, on the other hand, has a burning need and a longing to lead each individual to the point where he labors according to how the Spirit is working. He does not waste precious time at the meeting, because he has a living interest in hearing the others. He has a direct message from God which he brings in the Spirit and in power, and when the Spirit has ceased to work in him, he sits down. The Word says that we can all prophesy. Therefore we must come to a gathering of the church as a place of work, and not a place of rest. We need to feel the burden of the yoke of Christ; this will benefit the church and result in peace and rest. The prophet can sing these lines with understanding: “Now the church of God we’re building, Christ’s own body here on earth.” He is concerned that everybody understands his own calling and uses his spiritual gifts. We should not come to the meeting just to listen and enjoy ourselves, but rather we should all come filled and inspired, with a feeling of responsibility, knowing that we have a ministry. Therefore it is good for us to take heed to ourselves and to the doctrine. Has God appointed me to a ministry in the church? Am I aware of my gifts and my ministry? Do I serve and exhort consciously with the aim of helping each member to grow up to the ministry which has been allotted to him in particular? The prophet’s words judge and chasten everyone, causing the unbeliever to fall on his face. He also reveals the thoughts and intents of the believers. There can be thoughts that firmly bind their minds to wrong views, with the result that they withdraw from ministering with a good conscience. The help which the prophet can give to those who are bound is directly related to the degree to which he himself has become liberated and is free and joyful. When the prophet liber­ates the unbeliever, it is to conversion; but when he liberates the be­liever from his thoughts and intents, it is to sanctification. You can be a preacher in the power of the gifts you have, but you can only be a prophet in the power of the life you live.Trygve Sandvik