Romans 20
Nothing but the Blood
Brian Kocourek
This evening I would like to take a Message again from the Book of Romans and continue from where we left off last Sunday.
We read from Romans 2: 25 through verse 29 where Paul said, For circumcision ( or your cutting off the excess flesh which is,
your separating yourself from the world )
verily profiteth, if thou keep the Message: but if thou be a breaker of the Message, thy circumcision ( or
thy separation from the world) is made uncircumcision ( or no
separation at all). 26
Therefore if the uncircumcision (
or those who do not cut themselves off or separate themselves from the world) keep the righteousness of the Message, shall
not his uncircumcision 9 or his not being cut of from the world ) be counted for circumcision?( For his
cutting himself off from the world). 27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by
nature, if it fulfill the Message, judge thee, who by the letter and
circumcision dost transgress the Message?
28 For he is not a Believer in the Message, which is one outwardly;
neither [is that] circumcision ( or considered being separate from the
world), which is outward in the
flesh: 29 But he [is] a True Believer in
the Message, which is one inwardly; and circumcision( separation from
the world) [is that] of the heart, in the spirit, [and] not in the letter; whose
praise [is] not of men, but of God.
Last Sunday we looked at these thoughts as we expressed them here that Paul is teaching us a principle that what you count for righteousness can actually be considered by God as unrighteousness. What you count for a circumcision or a cutting yourself off from the world and the cares of the world can actually become an entering into the world and the cares of the world. What you count on for bringing you peace with God can actually bring enmity between you and God, if you do not receive the Message from your heart.
And what is the
Message of the Hour? Is it “God has sent a prophet?” Is that the Message? Is it
a further understanding of the Pentecostal message? Is it a further
understanding of Wesley’s Message? Or
Luthers? Is it evangelism? Is it Missionary endeavors? I hardly think not! But what Did God tell
Brother Branham his Ministry and Therefore His Message would be? He said, “My ministry is to declare Him, That He is
here!”
WATER FROM THE ROCK My ministry is not to personally contact
each one. It's to bring forth the--the full assurance of the resurrection of
the Lord Jesus, and tell them to "Look and live." That's it.
HEALING OF JAIRUS DAUGHTER What my contention is, and my, what my
ministry is, is to contend that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is not dead. His
body is setting on the throne of God in glory, but the Spirit that was in
Him... [Blank.spot.on.tape--Ed.] is right here now in the Church, moving among
His people. That's according to His Word.
JESUS CHRIST THE SAME And
my ministry is not a thing for personal contact. It's for the presence, for the
people to believe.
BLIND BARTIMAEUS My ministry is--is
not to lay hands on people. It's to let the people see that Jesus has raised
from the dead. And He's here, and He loves you.
WAY TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP But
my ministry is this: it just declares that God is here.
ONENESS OF UNITY my ministry is to
witness the evidence of Jesus Christ raised from the dead.
CAN WE SEE JESUS So now, my ministry...
Perhaps there's many in here that's never been in one of our healing services.
My ministry is not to touch people, but to get people to realize that Jesus
Christ is omnipresent, that He's here now. The very One that give the promise
is present now. And if He Who is alive after nineteen hundred years, is present
now, He certainly knows how to keep His Word. And He will keep His Word if
you'll believe It.
BLIND BARTIMAEUS My ministry is to--is
this--it's through a Spirit of discernment, that it might manifest Jesus
Christ's Presence, that Lamb that we are speaking of that's been slain.
BE NOT AFRAID My ministry is to the elected.
But my ministry is a different ministry from a pastor or teacher. But this is
my ministry (See?) to declare Him, that He's here.
AS THE EAGLE STIRRETH UP HER NEST My
ministry is a ministry trying to unite the body of Christ together, not unite
denominations to one denomination, but unite brothers and sisters as one group
of people, one in purpose, one in heart, one in unity, to see the coming of the
Lord Jesus.
BE NOT AFRAID But this is my
ministry that He give me a gift. And that gift is to shake the church to bring
it to a recognition of the coming of Christ, the return of the Spirit of God in
the church. It's on you, the same Spirit. It might not be the same gift, but
the same Spirit. There's different manifestations, but the same Spirit all the
time. The same Holy Ghost you got is the same Holy Ghost I got, the same Holy
Ghost we all got. It's all the children of God. And then, why we come together spiritually now, then that Holy
Spirit is there. And if diseases is... And if children come around where that
Spirit is, it--it detects them, and it can detect you. It's a--like a gift of
prophecy, or... Not a gift of prophecy... I don't know. Just--just say it's
Christ (You see?) coming down among us; 'cause you go to tacking some kind of a
name on something, you got yourself all messed up. So let's just say our Lord
Jesus Christ is in the midst of us. See? Let's just say that.
Now, in getting back to our thoughts here from Romans chapter 2, we see Paul tell us that it matters not that you claim to believe the Message, and it matters not that you even show signs of your belief outwardly, if you are a breaker of the Message, no matter how much you have separated yourself from the world and the things of the world, it is all in vain and will be held against you as though you did not separate yourself. Remember, One word off is the kingdom of this world, Satan’s kingdom. Therefore, one word off and all your efforts become no more to God than a filthy rag. And this is not speaking of just any rag that is dirty, but God is speaking of a menstrual rag, and He compares it with works outside of revelation in His Word for the Hour.
ISAIAH 64:6 But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. ( That word filthy is the Hebrew word for period or menstrual.) That’s what God thinks of your righteousness aside from His own.
EZEKIEL 33:13 When I shall say to the
righteous, [that] he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness,
and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for
his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.
Now, Paul is
telling us that to break the Message will undo everything we ever strove for.
And even John tells us not to forget what we have worked for in II JOHN 1:8-9 He says, “ Look to yourselves, that we lose not those
things which we have wrought (worked for), but that we receive a full reward.
Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath
not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and
the Son.
So we see there is a penalty associated with not believing all the Word. And that penalty is a forfeiture of all that you have labored for. Therefore the legalist is just spinning his wheels so to speak because everything that he labors for by his own confession, he is destroying.
We see the same word used in MATTHEW 7:23 where Jesus said, “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Now, what are these works of iniquity that Jesus claims that they have done? MATTHEW 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (and what are the fruits by which you know them? Brother Branham said the fruit is the teaching of the season, what they are teaching for the season. So what works did they do that is considered iniquity? Because they taught the Word Doctrine or teaching for the season they lived, and therefore all their works is considered iniquity, or as filthy rags. Jesus said, 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? They think the works are wonderful, but does God?
What is important to God is that you are aware of the season and the teaching of that season. Anything else is considered works of iniquity.
Then what Paul is telling us in Romans 2, is that we could never be considered a righteous people outside of walking in the Light. We could never be a forgiven people outside of walking in the Light of God’s Word for the hour. We could never be considered a redeemed people outside of walking in the Light of His Word for the hour. Then what good does the blood of the Lamb do for those who would be a breaker of the Message? It does them no good at all.
Friday morning, I awoke from a wonderful dream where I was listening to brother Branham preach and he said one thing that so filled my bosom with joy, and that is this. He said, there is nothing, not one thing you can do to cleanse yourself from your sin. There is nothing that can cleanse you from the stain of guilt outside of the blood of Gods own Son Jesus . Nothing else will do it. Nothing.
In my dream I began to sing, “What can wash away my sin, Nothing but the Blood of Jesus, what can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Oh, precious is that flow, that makes me white as snow. No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.” And then I woke up and heard myself singing softly, “There is a fountain filled with blood, drawn from Emmanuel’s veins, and sinners plunge beneath that blood, lose all there guilty stains, Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains, and sinners plunge beneath that blood, loose all their guilty stains. That dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day, and there may I though vile as he wash all my sins away. Wash all my sins away, wash all my sins away, and their may I though vile as he wash all my sins away.
But then the question came to my mind that said, But how do you apply the blood? What good will the only thing that can wash away my stain do for me if I don’t know how to apply it. What good would it do for me to have the only thing that can wash me clean if I don’t know how to use it. Then the Word came to me that unless you walk in the light as He is in the Light , the blood will not be effective. The blood is of non effect unless you walk in the Light.
I JOHN 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world. 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, (Know Him, who? The one who is the propitiation for our sins) hereby we do know that we know the one who is our propitiation for our sins, if we keep his commandments. 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
So it all boils
down to a walk. And not just walking any where will do. But to walk in the
light as He is in the Light. We see this again in JOHN 3:21 But he that doeth truth
cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. What does it mean, He that doeth Truth? The word doeth here is a Greek word which
means to make ready or to prepare oneself for. Therefore, he that prepares
himself for truth, it is he whose works
have there source in God.
JOHN 6:27 Labor not for the meat
which perisheth, but for that meat which
endureth unto everlasting life, which
the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. 28
Then said they unto him, What shall we
do, that we might work the works of
God? 29 Jesus answered and said
unto them, This is the work of God, that
ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
Then when you have believed the One whom He has sent, you will walk in the light that He is walking. You will not break rank from that walk, but you will stay in line with it. For to break the message is simply to not stay in line with it. Remember, the chain is only as strong as it’s weakest link, and one word off is Satan’s kingdom.
ROMANS 10:13 For whosoever shall
call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and
how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they
hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be
sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the
gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16
But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath
believed our report? 17
So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
ROM 10:18
But I say, Have they not
heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto
the ends of the world. 19
But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to
jealousy by [them that are] no people, [and] by a foolish nation I will anger
you. 20 But Esaias is very bold,
and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto
them that asked not after me. 21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have
stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people. ROM
11:1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also
am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, [of] the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God hath not cast away his people which he
foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh
intercession to God against Israel, saying, 3 Lord, they have killed thy
prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my
life. 4 But what saith the answer
of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not
bowed the knee to [the image of] Baal. 5
Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the
election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then [is it] no more of
works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if [it be] of works, then is it no
more grace: otherwise work is no more work. 7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for;
but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded 8 (According as it is written, God hath given
them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they
should not hear;) unto this day. 9 And David saith, Let their table be made a
snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompense unto them: 10 Let
their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
In closing I would
like to read from Isaiah chapter 28
from the Amplified translation, 5: But
in that future Messianic day, the Lord of shall become a crown of Glory and a
diadem of beauty to the converted remnant of His people; 6 and
for a Spirit of Judgment to him who
sits in judgment and a source of strength to those who turn back the battle at the
gate. 7 But even these ( who? those at the gate, which are gatekeepers, or
the so called ministry in that day) even these
reel with wine and stagger from strong drink; (who?) The priest and the prophet have
erred through strong wine, they are confused by the strong wine, they stagger
and are gone astray through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in pronouncing
judgment. 8 And therefore, all tables
have become full of vomit, so that there is no place that is clean. 9 Whom will He teach knowledge? And whom will
He make to understand the Message? Those who are babies, just weaned from the
milk and taken from the breasts? Is that what He thinks we are? 10 For
it is His prophets repeating over and over, precept upon precept, precept upon
precept, rule upon rule , rule upon rule, here a little and there a little. 11 No!
But the Lord will teach the rebels in a more humiliating way by men with
stammering lips and a foreign tongue
will He speak to this people and teach them His lesson. 12
To these complainers the Lord has said, “This is the True Rest, the way to true
comfort and happiness that you shall give to the weary, and this is the True
refreshing. yet they would not listen to His teaching, 13 Therefore, the Word of the Lord will be to
them, merely monotonous repeatings of precept upon precept, precept upon
precept; rule upon rule, rule upon rule; here a little and there a little; that
they may go, and fall backwards, and be broken, and snared, and taken captive.
And they will
try to make righteousness without God’s righteous Message. And they will try to
do works, even in the name of the Lord and yet He will say unto them, “Depart from me, ye that work iniquity, for I
never knew you.” For when My presence was among you, you
sought me not, and when I came to you, you rejected Me and My Word.. Therefore,
I have nothing to do with you, you that work iniquity. Therefore all your works
shall be considered evil, and all of your gain shall be as loss.
And Isaiah 29: 6 He said, For
suddenly in an instant, the Lord Almighty will come with thunder and earthquake
and great noise (shout), with the
wind storm and tempest and flames of a devouring fire. Then the hordes of all
the nations that fight against Ariel ( The elect) that attack her and her
fortress and besiege her, will be as it is with a dream, with a vision in the
night, - As when a hungry man dreams that he is eating, but when he awakens,
and his hunger remains; as when a thirsty man dreams that he is drinking, but
when he awakens faint, with his thirst unquenched. So shall it be with the hordes
of all the nations that fight against Mount Zion, God’s Elect. Be stunned and
amazed, blind yourselves and be sightless, be drunk, but not from wine, and
stagger, but not from strong drink. For the Lord has brought over you a deep
sleep, He has sealed your eyes tot he prophets, and he has covered your heads tot
he seers. For you this whole vision is nothing
but the words sealed in a scroll. And if you give the scroll to someone who can
read, and say to him, “Read this, please,” he will answer, “I can’t; it is
sealed.”
Or if you give the scroll to someone who
cannot read, and say, “read this please, “ he will reply, “I don’t know how to
read.” Therefore the Lord says, “These
people come near Me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips, but their
heart is far from me and their worship of Me is made up only of rules taught by
men. Therefore, once more will I astound these people with wonder upon wonder;
for the wisdom of their wise will perish, and the intelligence of the
intelligent will vanish. Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their
plans from the Lord, who do their work in darkness and think, “Who sees us?” “Who
will know?” You turn things up side
down as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! shall what is formed
say to Him that Who formed it, “He did not make me”? Can the pot say to the
potter, “He knows nothing?” In a very short time will not Lebanon be turned
into a fertile field and the fertile field seem like a forest? In that day the
deaf will hear the words of the Scroll, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes
of the blind will see.
(read
Isaiah 30: 1 & 9-11) also.