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Dear Brethren and Sisters of the Sardis
Association, The Moderator, Assistant Moderator, Officers, and
Delegates that make up this Association, and to the entire
delegation from our corresponding Associations. Also to all who
may hear the reading of this letter and especially to those who
may choose to read these writings in the future, as I have read
many of the letters left behind by our highly esteemed Elders
who have crossed over into a rest from their labors here on
earth.
After being chosen last Association to write the Circular Letter
for this year, I will make my humble endeavor to do so. I feel
very unworthy to address such a great host of Brethren and
Sisters and need your prayers and support as I make this
undertaking.
I have been with you for many years now and have seen several
changes take place but I believe that the Sardis Association has
tried, by the help of the Lord, to hold on to the doctrine and
practice we believe and hold so dear to our hearts. Many
different things have come to my mind and not knowing what to
write about I have prayed many times for the help of the Lord.
This past year has been a very trying year for me. For a time I
thought that when this Association rolled around that I would be
with the Lord. I have witnessed once again that when God's
children come down to die and are near death that all of the
dread and worry leaves you and peace comes over your entire
being and you can truly say farewell vain world for I am going
home to be with the Lord. For there comes a time when our bodies
are just not able to live here anymore and the believers in
Christ can face death without fear, for to be with Christ is far
better. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his
saints.(Ps 116:15) After having heart surgery again in December
1997. it did not look as if I would be able to be here and read
this letter at this Association Meeting. So as soon as I had the
strength to write after surgery, I began this letter. I wanted
to leave behind some of what I believe and have stood for all of
these years, so this letter has been prepared for some time.
When we were born into this world, the natural death had already
been pronounced upon us because of the disobedience of Adam.
There are two parts to a man, there is an inner man and there is
an outer man. As in the beginning of time when The LORD God
formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his
nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul, (Gen
2:7) This scripture spoke then about both men. As it is written,
God first made man (the outer man) which was of the earth,
earthly and then when God breathed into man's nostrils, man
became a living soul (the inner man). When Adam sinned by
disobedience, he caused the natural death which is to the outer
man to be appointed, And as it is appointed unto men once to
die, but after this the judgment. (Heb 9:27) Adam not only
caused the natural death to be appointed upon himself, but all
multiplied Adam, including you and I. When Adam disobeyed God,
not only did he bring the natural death upon himself and all
mankind, he himself also died inwardly, for The soul that
sinneth, it shall die. (Ezek 18:20) I believe that Jesus spoke
of both of these deaths when one of his disciples asked that he
might tarry to bury his father and Jesus said, Let the dead bury
their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.(Matt
8:22, Luke 9:60) I believe that Jesus meant except you pick up
your cross and follow Him you are still in the world and are
dead inwardly in trespasses in sin, and that the father of the
disciple was dead in body and them that were around him were
dead inwardly because they were still in sin. Therefore, let
them bury the father, or let the dead bury the dead.
So when we were born into this world even though the natural
death was already pronounced upon the outer man, the inner man
or the soul was alive without sin, and if we had died in this
state, Heaven would be our home. But, when we came to the
knowledge of the laws of God and the commandants came and sin
revived and we died, we died inwardly and were like the ones
Jesus was talking about when He said let the "dead bury their
dead." So, we were not only dead inwardly in the eyes of God,
because of sin, but the second death was pronounced upon us and
if we died without repenting of our sins and being "Born Again",
then we would have to stand before God and be judged by the
things written in the books and both soul and body cast into a
lake of fire and brimstone, which is the second death. And death
and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second
death. (Rev 20:14)
A person who is dead inwardly in the world because of sin, must
repent of their sins, believe that Jesus is the Christ and be
"Born again" not of a corruptible seed but, by an incorruptible,
by the word of God. Except a man be born again, he cannot see
the kingdom of God, (John 3:3). Also, Buried with him by baptism
into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by
the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness
of life,(Romans 6:4). Our body, even though it continues to
perish in this life, it will live again in the resurrection as a
heavenly body. The Lord has promised us that He will remember
our body and raise it from the grave. There are many scriptures
that tell us how the resurrection will be, including, And though
after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I
see God: (Job 19:26) also, Because the creature itself also
shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the
glorious liberty of the children of God, (Romans 8:21) , and So
also is the resurrection of the dead. 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. (1 Cor 15:42,
43, 44). Also, but if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus
from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the
dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that
dwelleth in you. (Romans 8:11) It shall be the same body that is
resurrected that went down in the grave, but changed to a
spiritual body. For as we have borne the image of the earthly,
we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. And that which
thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare
grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God
giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his
own body. (1 Cor 15:37, 38) It will not be by chance but by the
mighty Power of God.
Jesus also spoke of both men when He said: Verily, verily, I say
unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall
hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all
that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come
forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life;
and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of
damnation. (John 5:25, 28, 29) He was not talking about hearing
with a natural ear but a spiritual ear from the heart of the
inner man when He said the hour now is when the dead shall hear
His voice and shall live, for the word shall go into all of the
world, but all will not believe. In the resurrection all shall
hear His voice and every knee shall bow and every tongue shall
confess that Jesus is the Christ, The Son of the Living God.
When God created man He created him to give Him glory and honor
but man has failed from the beginning of time. God foreknew what
man would do and was willing before the foundation of the world
to let his Son, in due time come down to this earth and die for
the sin of His creation. And all that dwell upon the earth shall
worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of
the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Rev 13:8) God
has always had a plan for the salvation of man from the
foundation of the world and there were predestinated men to
fulfill that plan and in due season that which was written in
the books of Moses and the books of Psalms concerning Jesus, the
Son of God, was to be fulfilled. Time in this world was given by
dispensations and I believe that we are living in the last
dispensation of time today when all things will be fulfilled and
time will come to an end as we know it. As it was written by
Apostle Paul, Having predestinated us unto the adoption of
children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good
pleasure of his will, In whom we have redemption through his
blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his
grace; That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might
gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in
heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we
have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to
the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of
his own will. (Eph 1:5, 1:7, 1:10, 1:11) Now if the plan of
salvation had stopped there brethren with the predestinated you
and I would be lost and Apostle Peter would have been right when
he believed that the gentiles did not have a right to the Tree
of Life, before he was converted, for we were aliens to the
commonwealth of Israel and were without God, having no hope in
the world. We were in a terrible condition but thanks be to God
the plan of salvation didn't stop there, but included us also,
for after He arose from the dead He sent His Gospel unto the
whole world, as it is written unto us: In whom ye also trusted,
after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your
salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed
with that holy Spirit of promise. (Eph 1:13) When Jesus died on
the cross He broke down the middle wall of partition between the
Jew and the Greek and we all came together in one in Christ
Jesus fulfilling the scriptures that He would turn to a people
that was not His people. Jesus first fulfilled His promise to
Israel and then He said go ye into all the world and preach the
gospel to ever creature and he that believeth and is baptized
shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Now all has not yet been fulfilled in this last dispensation of
time (The Generation of Jesus Christ) for the last enemy is yet
to be destroyed which is called death, and then shall the
Kingdom be delivered up to the Father. No one knows the hour
when time will cease but the Father in Heaven, but as we look
around us today we can surely see that all of the scriptures are
being fulfilled and I believe that soon an angel will put one
foot upon the sea and the other foot upon the sand and lift up
his hands and declare that time shall be no more. And the angel
which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his
hand to heaven, And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever,
who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the
earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the
things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
(Rev 10:5, 10:6)
My beloved Brethren, Sisters and Friends, I realize that this
letter is getting long and time and space would not allow me to
write all that is upon my mind. Not even the half has been told.
I may never be able to address you again in this life so I leave
these words to all who might read this letter, even after I'm
gone, that Heaven is real and Salvation is up to everyone to
accept or deny it and is between you and God. Jesus is our High
Priest and is sitting on the right hand of God and if you want
to drink of the water of life you will have to go to Him and ask
for forgiveness. He does hear the prayers of sinners, for God so
loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that
whosoever would believe on Him would not perish but have an
everlasting life. Now I close with these words, And the Spirit
and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And
let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take
the water of life freely.(Rev 22:17)
Your unworthy servant:
Elder Bobby Scott, Sr. |