Ministers of Jesus Christ Church of The Lord Jesus Christ Assemblies of The Apostolic Faith Atlanta, Georgia - USA Apostle Dennis G. Smith, Pastor and Spiritual Overseer

 Date: December 4, 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 are now advising people to wear face mask in public gatherings, use social distancing, and get vaccinated for your own health and safety from the Covid-19 virus.  In some places wearing face mask is no longer mandatory in indoor public spaces. 

·         As of November 25, 2022, Covid-19 data indicated that community transmission of Covid-19 remained in the green level which indicates that community spread is low. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has not declared that the pandemic has ended.

·         Face masks are recommended in public gatherings for individual safety based on your individual health condition and risk.  

·         Gatherings indoors is allowed without face mask, but each individual should be aware of their health risk.

·         Vaccinations and boosters remain the recommended most effective way to control the spread of Covid-19 by health authorities. 

·         Covid-19 vaccinations and boosters are offered to everyone in the State of Georgia. 

      We are open for 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:

 info@ministersofjesuschrist.com or prayerrequest@ministersofjesuschrist.com.

         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: 

  The Righteousness of the Lord God Jesus Christ Through Faith

by Apostle Dennis G. Smith

     I am the righteousness of God by faith because my sins have been forgiven and I work to live a life without committing sin.  The Lord God Jesus Christ have imputed or designated me as righteous.  He has made me righteous through my belief in His blood on the cross as payment for my sins which gives me forgiveness of my sins and my obedience to His commandments.  

      The Saints of God are those that have been baptized in water in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and have received the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Those Saints that continue in the Apostle’s Doctrine as they are led by the Spirit of God have become the Sons of God and are the true Saints of God if they do not return to a sinful lifestyle. The true obedient and faithful Saints have become the righteousness of God through faith. We are the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.  We do not live by our own standards or the standards of the world, but we live by the righteous standards commanded by the Lord God Jesus Christ.

     All true believers must come to an understanding that righteousness is conduct and actions that come from our faith in the Lord God Jesus Christ and obedience to his commandments which should be easily seen in our life each day. We do righteous acts and behavior because we are believers who are saved by the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

1John 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that everyone that doeth righteousness is born of him.

     The animal sacrifices of the Old testament ceremonial law will not bring anyone justification or forgiveness anymore because it was for them that were under that law. But the Ceremonial laws, the Moral laws and Civil laws of the Old testament will give people the knowledge of sin and the knowledge of the need for redemption. In simple words, they will teach us that it is wrong to commit adultery, to lie and bear false witness in relationships with God and man.

Hebrews 10:3 But in those sacrifices, there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.

     We cannot achieve righteousness on our own or by our own plan because we have all sinned and are therefore unrighteous until we come to faith and obedience to the commandments of the Lord God Jesus Christ and receive forgiveness of our sins and the power to overcome sin by the indwelling Holy Ghost.

Romans 3:19 - 26 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 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.

     The righteous people are those who believe in the promises of the Lord God Jesus Christ and obey the word God by faith in living their daily life according to his word. The Lord God Jesus Christ knows those that are obedient to his commandments, and because God knows them, they will receive eternal life with Him. If a true obedient believer who is a Saint of God do an unrighteous thing, then they will confess, repent and turn from the wrongful action that they have done. Then they will restore things to those that have been harmed by their wrongful actions because they know how to seek forgiveness because they want to do the right thing in obedience to the Lord God Jesus Christ and before all mankind.

    Anyone who desires to practice sinful ways through sexual lust, criminal violence, stealing money or any sinful actions will come to know quickly not to approach a person who is committed to living a Holy lifestyle because the response to their enticement from a true believer will be a constant rejection of their sinful ways and a continuous warning of them about the consequences that they will face for their unrighteous conduct which will lead them to eternal punishment in the lake of fire.  Why will a Saint of God respond this way?  Because the true Saint of God is the righteousness of God!!!  Righteousness is living by right or correct behavior according to the commandments of God, which is the Holy Character of God,  which the true Saint will display.

2Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

2Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

  It is God’s purpose that man should live Holy, therefore He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

2Corithians 5:20 - 21 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

2 Timothy 1:9 – 10 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,  But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

The Lord God called us to live a holy life by a holy calling according to his own purpose  before the world began.  To put it simple, God created all mankind to live according to righteous and holy conduct. When we continue in sin, we are not functioning according to the purpose of God Almighty and we become cursed children.  Therefore when we are obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ he has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us.

Galatians 3:7 - 14 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.  So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.  But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.  And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

     We did not earn our salvation by our works of righteousness which we have done, but we are saved through His mercy by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. This is a clear statement that teaches us that the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost is referring to the Baptism in the Name of Jesus Christ and the receiving of the Gift of the Holy Ghost as a part of the one and only plan of salvation.  Therefore if any man grunt against baptism in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins or teach that baptism is not a part of salvation then he is a false teacher.

1Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

     And because we are saved from our sins and have repented or turned away from our sinful conduct and have turned to faith in the Lord God Jesus Christ for forgiveness of our sins, we stop the practice of our formal sinful conduct and live a life without practicing sin living by the holy righteous character of God because of his indwelling Holy Spirit within us. In simplicity, we do good works and live a righteous holy life daily because we are saved by the grace and mercy of the Lord God Jesus Christ.

Timothy 3:5 - 7 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

     And when we commit our ways to faith and obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ, we count all things loss for the excellence knowledge of the Lord God Jesus Christ even if it causes us to lose all of our previous relationships that we had in the world because we count them as useless garbage, that we may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having our own righteousness, but the righteousness which is of God by faith.  

Philippians 3:8 - 10 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

     I have been made a product of his death for my sins through faith in his blood and I will always live a life without practicing sinful conduct because I am the righteousness of God!!  Remember to live by the righteousness of the Lord God Jesus Christ in your daily life for you have a righteous standing with God as his children in that your sins have been forgiven and you must always strive to maintain a righteous state by right conduct before the Lord God and all mankind.

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 you must continue in prayer to the Lord God Jesus Christ asking him for the Holy Ghost, calling on His Name which is the Lord Jesus Christ and waiting or tarrying until you receive the gift of the Holy Ghost with the sign following speaking with other tongues as the spirit gives you utterances.  This experience with God will endow you with power.

 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.

 Then you must 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 9:50 am for Eternal Life Church of the Living God and 12:00 noon for the general Ministers of Jesus Christ Church services to the Saints and friends who sent in 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 services 10 am each Sunday morning. 

  We also start the Thursday Evening Bible Study and Auxiliary meetings at 7:30 pm.  You should attend the meetings for as long as you can to learn all the Doctrines and Rules of the Church and to participate in the operation of the Church. Thank you.

       You are invited to attend and be a part of the Ministers of Jesus Christ Church Services each Sunday 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 tithing and offerings through Givelify, Cash App, Visa, Master Card, American Express Credit and Bank cards or PayPal.  For cash app use the cash app link name ($MinistersofJesus935).

  ONGOING GUIDANCE 

 (1) Wear a well-fitting mask indoors in public, regardless of vaccination status if you are high risk for severe disease.

(2) consider avoiding non-essential indoor activities in public,

(3) talk to your medical provider about other precautions to take,

(4) have a plan for rapid testing if you are exposed and experiencing symptoms,

(5) talk to your medical provider about treatments like oral antivirals, PrEP, and monoclonal antibodies. If you have household or social contact with someone at high risk for severe disease: consider self-testing to detect infection before contact and wearing a mask when indoors with them. Maintain improved ventilation throughout indoor spaces when possible. Follow CDC recommendations for isolation and quarantine, including testing guidance.

 Everyone should remember the phrase: “My mask protects you; your mask protects me.”