Date:
January 2, 2022
To all
the Saints of God,
Grace and peace be unto all the Saints of God around the World. As
this Coronavirus Pandemic continues, we are continually reminding the
Saints of God that we are obeying the magistrates and following the
guideline of the health and governmental authorities for the safety of
all people.
Health authorities and
governmental officials continue to strongly encourage people to wear
face coverings in public gatherings and use social distancing, wash your
hands, and get tested to help stop the spread of the Covid-19 virus. In
some places wearing face mask is mandatory in indoor public spaces.
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As of December
30, 2021, the City of Atlanta, Georgia remains in the Red Zone
with community transmission of Covid-19 going upward above 10% community
spread. This means that transmission is extremely high and you will need
to follow strict guidance because you may be exposed to the virus at
this time.
-
Social
distancing and face mask are recommended for gatherings to control the
spread of Covid-19 or for individual safety.
-
Gatherings
indoors with unvaccinated people and crowding is not recommended but
allowed with face mask and social distancing.
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Vaccinations and
boosters remains the recommended most effective way to control the
spread of Covid-19 by health authorities.
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Covid-19
vaccinations and boosters in Georgia are offered to everyone 5 years of
age and older.
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Note: Pfizer is
the only COVID vaccine currently approved for children aged 5 years and
older.
We are continuing limited indoor, in-person services with face mask,
social distancing, temperature checks and Covid-19 testing. We are also
continuing online services through Zoom, Facebook, and
YouTube. In-person Baptism and prayer service are available by
attending our local service on site, attending our services on Zoom, or
emailing your request to:
As
we obey the Magistrates, we have complete faith that God will continue
to hear our prayers and provide a way for us through these uncertain
times.
Romans
13:2-4 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no
power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
TITUS
3:1-2 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to
obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no
man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
This
week’s encouraging words of growth focuses on:
Faith
without works is dead being alone (part 1)
By
Apostle Dennis G. Smith
To keep people from debates and arguments about salvation, let me
begin by saying that according to Apostle Paul, we are saved by faith.
The words that stated that we are saved by “faith alone” is reported to
have been added to the teachings contained in the bible by so-called
reform theology teachers to refute many teachings in the Catholic
Church.
When the bible states that we are justified or forgiven of our sins
by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ without doing any of the works that
are contained in the law it is speaking of bringing offerings to God for
the forgiveness of our sins. The Bible is not teaching that we are
saved by faith alone without any actions of obedience to the
commandments of Jesus Christ as some reform theologians teach. All
should now see the reason why we sometimes refer to them as doctors of
dumbness not for the purpose of offending anyone, but to cause everyone
to examine themselves according to the word of God.
The general statement concerning faith by most Christian believers
usually states in some form of words, that if we truly trust in the Lord
Jesus Christ with complete confidence it will produce actions of love
for him and obedience to his every command. When we understand that
there is a difference between true faith and lip service faith which is
when a person just says I believe, but produces no results sometimes
called mental faith, which is not true faith.
True faith does not stand alone but produces results that causes
one to grow and obey the word of God. True Apostolic Christians must
come to acknowledge that sinners are justified by faith in the saving
action of the Lord Jesus Christ who is God Almighty taking on flesh and
blood and dying on the cross as payment for our sins, by the action
receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit with the sign following speaking
in other tongues as the Spirit gives them utterances, and which
produces actions
causing them to go on to perfection overcoming the ways of the sinful
world in living a holy lifestyle, then continuing steadfastly in the
Apostle’s Doctrine. All of these actions are the products of a person
that has true faith and not lip service. In believing and obeying the
commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ, True
Apostolic Christians are granted the gift of salvation, a
gift that was not earned by the good works of a person but a gift given
because of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that produced good works which is
the basis for the whole Christian life. True Apostolic Christians place
their trust in God's gracious promise that whosoever believes and is
baptized shall be saved but those that donot believe are eternally lost
which includes hope in God and love for him.
Mark 16:16 - 19 He that
believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not
shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my
name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They
shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not
hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So
then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into
heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
Such a faith is active in love and obedience thus the Apostolic
Christian cannot and should not remain without good works. This
biblical proof text should cause all people to understand once and for
all that true faith
always produce good works and never stands alone. From this light we can
all now see that forgiveness without the deeds of the law is speaking of
the end of the animal sacrifice offerings for sins and and
the end of the
need for circumcision under the old covenant but is establishing the law
of forgiveness by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 3:28 Therefore
we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the
law. Romans 3:29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not
also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Romans 3:30 Seeing
it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and
uncircumcision through faith. Romans 3:31 Do we then make void
the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Every person in the world can now come to complete peace because we
have the law of forgiveness established by God Almighty for every
believer regardless of whether they are a Jew
or Gentile.
This is one of the reasons why we must all come to realize that the
Bible alone is our measuring rod or the tool that we use to determine
whether a teaching is true or false based on the teaching of the
Apostle’s Doctrine contained in the bible. Therefore if any local or
national Church teach the Apostle’s Doctrine correctly and obey the
Apostle’s doctrine they become a part
of the Body of Christ. This should also establish in all people the
need to examine the teachings of all the Church gatherings that they
attend to see whether or not they are a part
of the Body of Christ. Those gatherings or assemblies of people that do
not teach the Apostle’s Doctrine are not a part
of the Body of Christ which is the Church of the living God and are
therefore false Churches.
1Corinthians 12:27 Now
ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 1Corinthians
12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first
apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracle,
then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
Many Christians believe that the statement of salvation by faith
alone is a misinterpretation on the part of Martin Lutheran and
others and that Apostle Paul was actually speaking about receiving
forgiveness of sins and being saved by faith in the blood of Jesus
Christ without keeping the ceremonial laws such as the law of
Circumcision, Dietary laws, Sabbath laws, and Levitical Priestly Animal
Sacrifices and Temple services that were considered essential for
forgiveness of sins for the Jews under the Old covenant before the death
of Christ. These services are no longer necessary because they were
actually shadows and types that pointed to the sacrificial death of the
Lord Jesus Christ on the cross as payment for the sins of those who
believed in him.
Romans 3:20
- 28 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall
no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of
sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested,
being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of
God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that
believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come
short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through
the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a
propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness
for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of
God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be
just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is
boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the
law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith
without the deeds of the law.
To obtain good understanding we must fully recognize and know the
difference between Moral law known as the ten commandments which are the
laws of relationship with God and Mankind, the Ceremonial Law which are
laws for the forgiveness of sins and the Civil Law which are laws for
justice among men and governmental authority in the bible for the Jewish
nation. All nations of the world have some form of Civil laws. In
simplicity Moral Laws determine the natural relationship of a person
toward God and all mankind; Ceremonial Laws determines the order of the
Divine worship and forgiveness of sin and Civil Law is judicial laws
for issues
of judgement for determinations of the justice to be maintained when men
commit criminal acts among men and the establishment of national and
local governments. We can readily see that certain laws were
given to the Jews and other laws are found among all nations of the
world.
The Ten Commandments sometimes called law 1, or the Two tablets of
the Testimony, also known as the Moral Law and the Decalogue
which is the knowledge of sin or law of love or character toward God and
our fellow man or neighbor. Law number 2 also known as the Law of
Moses, the Book of the Law, Mosaic Law, the Ordinances, or the
Ceremonial Law pointed to forgiveness of sins. And Law 3 the Civil Law
or Judicial law , which are determinations of the justice to be
maintained among men. Law two and Law three are sometimes seen as parts
of one law.
If an Israelite sinned, he broke the moral law being the Ten
Commandments. He then had to bring his offering according to the
ceremonial law, the sacrificial law to receive forgiveness and restore a
righteous relationship with God and his action could also result in
punishment under civil law as well. This is the relationship between
the laws. The Moral defines sin, as sin is the transgression of the Ten
Commandments. Nine were cited in the New Testament and one fulfilled in
Christ.
1John 3:4 - 7 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for
sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested
to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him
sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is
righteous, even as he is righteous.
Ceremonial Law defined sacrifices which was the remedy for sin. So when
Apostle Paul speaks of justification or forgiveness without the deeds of
the law, he is referring the laws that pertained to the forgiveness of
sin. This is made clear as explained in Acts 15 Chapter.
Acts 15:1 And
certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said,
Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. Acts 15:2 When
therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with
them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them,
should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this
question. Acts 15:3 And being brought on their way by the
church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the
conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the
brethren. Acts 15:4 And when they were come to Jerusalem,
they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and
they declared all things that God had done with them. Acts 15:5 But
there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed,
saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to
keep the law of Moses. Acts 15:6 And the apostles and
elders came together for to consider of this matter. Acts 15:7 And
when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them,
Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice
among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the
gospel, and believe. Acts 15:8 And God, which knoweth the
hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did
unto us; Acts 15:9 And put no difference between us and
them, purifying their hearts by
faith. Acts 15:10 Now therefore why tempt
ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our
fathers nor we were able to bear? Acts 15:11 But we
believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be
saved, even as they.
We
continue with a Message from Apostle S. McDowell Shelton … "Without
Faith It Is Impossible To Please Him"
"WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM" (part 1)
By Bishop S. McDowell Shelton
This is Bishop S. McDowell Shelton coming to you from the Church
of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith. We are hearing from
people throughout the world—from Asia, from Africa, from Europe, from
North, Central and South America. Yes, we are hearing from people of
many nationalities, as well as colors and tongues, and religious
denominations.
In our Bible Study Course, there are many people of varied religious
beliefs. We receive prayer requests from all around the world—from
people of many walks of life: rich, poor, learned, and unlearned, bound,
and free. Evidently, they have seen something in our message that they
have not been able to find at any other place. They have found a thought
of peace, they found a thought of tranquility, they have found a
fountain of hope. They came upon something that was able to reunite, to
rejoin the disconnected and discordant things of life to make it
right—to see the light, to see the truth. Some are just hearing us for
the first time, even though we have been preaching for such a long time
and this message has been going out over the air. It must continue to
reach, and it is!
When you have had a beautiful experience about something—when you
have had something good happen to you, when you have been uplifted, when
there is something new and good added unto your life —you want to share
it with people. You want to tell people about it. You want them to know
how good it is, and if you are not selfish you want them to try it, for
you wish they had it.
For this reason, and because we have the truth, we tell people to
repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and to continue
steadfastly in the Apostles' doctrine and to taste and see that the Lord
is good. We invite them to come into this experience with us and to know
the fullness of this truth. We have indited this good matter and we want
the whole world to know about it. We want to share it with the whole
world.
In our letters that we receive daily, we have heard from just about
every section, if not all sections, of the world and we are increasing
our broadcast in Asia, as well as in the Caribbeans. Wherever we hear
from—people may speak a different language, or they may have a different
government; but one thing that holds true is that there is always so
much hurt— there is always so much pain—there is always so much
misery—there is always so much suffering—there is always so much need.
All humanity is searching, all humanity needs salvation.
They need relief from that destroying one who is seeking to
devour them, who is seeking to swallow them up. This message of the
Apostolic Faith brings a new life, it brings a new hope, it brings a new
peace, it gives you a solid foundation, it gives you a new start.
This Apostolic message gives mankind in this time and this day a
chance to be saved, a chance to see God, a chance to know joy, a chance
to have eternal life, and an opportunity to have answers to their
prayers.
Despite all the doubt, with all the gainsayers, with all the
trouble surrounding you in this world, you must get back to that
childlike faith that God intended mankind to have from the beginning.
In one way, we have it more difficult, than Adam and Eve did in the
beginning, because they, initially, were in a state of innocence and did
not know the difference between good and evil. They had not been exposed
to all of the tempting things of this life; therefore, they were in a
state of innocence. But we were born in sin and sharpened in iniquity
and in sin did our mothers conceive us.
We must come through this world seeing, knowing, touching, feeling,
and experiencing. We must live in an alien world and in a hostile
society—not closed off in some Garden of Eden, but right out there in
the thick of things. And then in all this thick of the battle, and of
temptation, and of doubt—of reason, and of scientific belief and theory
and all the other things that would pull you away from faith, God says
to us—"Without faith it is impossible to
please me."
We will continue with these messages in part 2………
May the
Lord Bless you and Keep you and eternally hold you in the center of his
will, may he open your understanding that you will come to know that you
must repent of your sins and be baptized by immersion in water in the
Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, then continue in
prayer, tarrying until you receive the gift of the Holy Ghost with the
sign following speaking with other tongues as the spirit gives you
utterances. Then you must leave the principles of the doctrine and go
on to perfection overcoming the love of the world, the lust of the
flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life and continue
steadfastly in the Apostle’s Doctrine remembering always that he that
endures until the End, the same shall be saved. In the name of the Lord
Jesus Christ who is God Almighty. Amen
With
perfect love,
Apostle
Dennis G. Smith
The
online service Zoom link is sent out each Sunday at or before 2:00 pm to
the Saints registered email addresses. If you wish to worship with us,
please send you email address to: info@mininstersof Jesuschrist.com and
we will email you a link to join the service. We start the zoom service
after 2:00 pm.
You
are invited to attend and be a part of the Ministers of Jesus Christ
Church Services on Zoom at/or about 2:00pm. Which are also published on
Facebook through Holy Tabernacle, Ministers of Jesus Christ Apostolic
Church, and Ministers of Jesus Christ Church or Dennis Smith Facebook
timeline. You will need to download the zoom app to your cell phone,
laptop computer, or tablet to activate your connection. Go to Google
Play Store to get your free zoom app and install it on your cell phone,
laptop computer or tablet. When you see the zoom link sent to your
email address, click, or tap on the link to open the connection. Then
click or tap on the camera and microphone icon to join the service and
select internet. We look forward to seeing you and worshipping with you
in the Lord! You may also give freewill offerings through Givelify,
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PayPal. Use cash app link name ($MinistersofJesus935).
Currently
the following groups are eligible for COVID vaccine and boosters in
Georgia:
Everyone age 5 and older. Note: Pfizer is the only COVID vaccine
currently approved for children aged 5 and older. People younger than 18
years of age are not authorized to receive either the Moderna or Johnson
& Johnson COVID-19 vaccines.
ONGOING GUIDANCE for Red Zone
•
Vaccination remains the most effective protection against COVID-19
•
Practice social distancing
•
Frequently wash hands
•
Frequent cleaning of public and high touch areas
•
Practice telework and staggered office schedules where feasible, with
safety measures
•
Non-essential City facilities may open to the public. Masking will be
mandated for now and the number of persons indoors may be limited to
avoid crowding
Social
Distancing guidelines:
• Social
distancing means staying away from close contact in public spaces. It
includes actions like staying out of places where lots of people gather
and maintaining distance — approximately 6 feet — from others.
• Social
distancing also includes minimizing contact with people when possible,
limiting nonessential travel, working from home, and skipping social
gatherings.
• All
people should practice social distancing — not just those who are
seriously ill or at high risk.
• Social
distancing is a proven way to slow the spread of pandemics.
When
to Wear a Mask:
Those who
are staying home and have no close contact with people who are infected
with COIVID-19 do not need a mask most of the time. However, wearing a
nonmedical or homemade mask may be helpful in certain situations or for
certain populations. Wear a Mask when:
•
Shopping at essential businesses, like grocery stores or pharmacies.
• While
visiting your health care provider.
•
Traveling on public transportation.
•
Interacting with customers/clients at essential businesses.
• When
feeling sick, coughing, or sneezing.
• In all
public spaces indoors and outdoors.
Because
homemade masks protect everyone else from the droplets created by the
wearer, it is important that as many people as possible wear these masks
when leaving their homes. This helps prevent those who may be infectious
but are only mildly symptomatic or not symptomatic from spreading the
virus to others in the community.
Everyone
should remember the phrase: “My mask protects you; your mask protects
me.” By increasing the overall number of people who are containing their
coughs, sneezes, and other droplets, it will help us control the overall
spread of the virus.
