Question: Is there a difference between being in Christ redemptively and dispensationally?
Theresa Wilkinson
What do you think of the distinction between being in Christ redemptively and being in Christ dispensationally? I’ve always been a little hesitant to embrace that distinction because it feels man made. I know that words and phrases do not always mean the same thing and that the context determines the meaning, but I have not seen a lot of contextual support for this position. The support has been more, “We know that they weren’t in the Body of Christ so the words ‘in Christ’ must mean something else.” If you agree with the distinction, please show me all the support you can. I am especially interested in the passage in Gal 3. We talked about this a little at Cedar Lake, but the conversation took a turn before I understood your view. I will try to reiterate what it is in the passage that troubles me. Generally, the problem is that the whole passage seems to be talking about justification/redemption. It is even making the point that the Jews were saved by faith just like the Gentiles, that the law was never meant to save them. (2:15-16, 21; 3:2, 6-8, 11-14, 21-22, 24, 26) I know that the point could be made that the discourse on the law in Gal 3:15-25 is what switches the focus from redemptional truths to dispensational truths. The reason that that explanation has not yet satisfied me is that the discourse on the law seems to have the purpose of proving that works could never save, that salvation was always on the basis of faith. Paul seems to be saying that the law was an interim thing that really has no bearing on the subject he is addressing. Paul begins in 2:16 by saying that Jews and Gentiles are saved by faith and not by the law. He concludes in 3:22, 26 that all are saved by faith and not by the law. How can we jump into 3:27-28 and say that we are talking dispensationally and not redemptively? I know that this question got long and that I’ve had trouble clearly stating my thoughts. So, if you don’t understand where I’m coming from, let me know and I will give the question another shot. I think that is enough for now. If I think of anything I’ve forgotten or if I come across more questions, I will write them down and send them to you. Thanks again for your willingness to help me with this.
Rejoicing in Him,
Terry
Answer: Greek font is GraecaII My translation
Gal 2:15,16,21 “We
who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
16 “knowing that a man is not justified out of the works of the law
but by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ (eja;n mh; dia;
pivstew" jIhsou`
Cristou`),
even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified out of
the faithfulness of Christ and not out of the works of the law; for out
of the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. 21 “I do not set
aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the
law, then Christ died in vain.”
Majority
Text
15 hJmei`" fuvsei
jIoudai`oi kai; oujk ejx ejqnw`n aJmartwloiv:16 eijdovte"
o{ti ouj dikaiou`tai a[nqrwpo" ejx e[rgwn novmou eja;n mh; dia;
pivstew" jIhsou`
Cristou`, kai; hJmei`" eij" Cristo;n
jIhsou`n ejpisteuvsamen, i{na dikaiwqw`men ejk pivstew"
Cristou` kai; oujk ejx e[rgwn novmou, diovti ouj dikaiwqhvsetai ejx e[rgwn novmou
pa`sa savrx. 21 Oujk ajqetw` th;n cavrin tou` qeou`: eij ga;r dia; novmou dikaiosuvnh,
a[ra Cristo;" dwrea;n ajpevqanen.
Here, we see
that in every dispensation all are justified by the faithfulness of the
Lord Jesus Christ. He faithfully went to the cross and died to provide
the righteousness that is attained by expressing our faith in God in the
manner He requires in that dispensation. In our dispensation of grace
the requirement is faith alone. In the circumcision dispensations (See
my chart on the 12 dispensations on biblicalanswers.com.) the faith has
to be displayed in some kind of faith-work. That’s why Paul could
write in Gal 2:15,16 including Peter and other circumcision believers
and body believers together.
Gal
3:2,6-8,11-14,21-22,24,262 This only I want to learn from you: Did you
receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for
righteousness.” 7 Therefore know that only those who are of
faith are sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God
would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham
beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be
blessed.” 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of
God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet
the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by
them.” 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having
become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone
who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon
the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the
Spirit through faith. 21 Is the law then against the promises of
God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have
given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the
Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise out of the
faithfulness of Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 24
Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to
Christ, that we might be justified out of faith. 26 For you are all sons
of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Terry, I wish you would stop the self deprecation. Your statements and questions are brilliant and penetrating. Your questions beg for the right answer. The answer is actually implied in your questions. These passages have been mutilated by making the faithfulness of Christ our faith. This is done in outer biblical material too. the Greek is very important. Keep up the outstanding work.
Saved by the faithfulness of Christ,
Bob Hill
Question: Does the Acts 28 position create non-Christian views?
Tue, 10 Oct 2000
Question:
Bob thank you again for your help, I have managed to find a fellowship that hold to the Acts 28 position, They do not beleive in a concious existence away from the body in a fiery Hell rather they beleive that the Spirit returns to God.
Thier reply to my question regarding the story of the rich man & Lazarus is that Christ is explaining a teaching that the Pharisees held to though no where alluded to in the Holy Bible. They say that Josephus gives an account of the position of the Lost in one of his letters and that this view was an error held by the Pharisees.
I beleive these ideas were first expounded by Dr.Bullinger.
Is this beleif non Christian, or is it something that does not affect the Fundamentals required for Salvation I must confess that having looked until my eyes were sore at my Strong Concordance it does seem to appear that the weight of Scripture backs the view of Hell being the Grave and when looking at the word Soul that this does not seem to appear to be a disconnected part of a person .
Answer - Click here to view the answer
Dear Mark,
It’s good to hear from you. The Acts 28 believers are considered heretical by many Christians, but I do not agree with that assessment. They believe some doctrines – conditional immortality/annihilation, only the prison epistles apply to the body of Christ, the Holy Spirit does not indwell individual believers, etc., but these doctrinal positions should not cause us to brand them as heretics or reject them as brothers in Christ. Indeed, they are extremely good at defending many important doctrines of the faith. Charles Welch’s Just and the Justifier, is one of the best commentaries on the book of Romans in print. His 10 volume Alphabetical Analysis is also outstanding. Bullinger’s Church Epistles actually presents a mid-Acts position which he later forsook.
Mark, I want you to look at this material on anthropology, the study of man and come to your own conclusion. I believe man has a soul and a spirit rather than just is a soul.
1. Is man a soul
or does man have a soul? Man was created in the image of God. In
relation to biblical anthropology, when considering the following
references, what did that mean?
Gen 1:26,27 Then
God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;
let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the
air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping
thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own
image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created
them.
Gen 9:6
“Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; For in
the image of God He made man.
1 Co 11:7 For a
man indeed ought not to cover his
head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of
man.
Phi 2:6 who,
being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with
God
Col 1:15 He is
the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Col 3:9 Do not
lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds
Jam 3:9,10 With
it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been
made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing
and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
Rev 3:14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God.
2. What is monogeny? What is the significance of monogeny? Monogeny is the unity of the race in Adam. The federal headship in Romans 5 means we all sinned in Adam.
3. When we consult those who believe man is a soul,
and contrast their belief with those who believe man has a soul, we can
learn a lot about this subject. Is man a soul, or does he have a soul?
In other words, what is man’s makeup? Gen
2:7 in Hebrew; 1 Th 5:23; Heb 4:12. Man
is a soul: E. W. Bullinger, Edward W. Fudge, Charles Welch, Charles
Russell, A. E. Knoch. Man has a soul: Most evangelicals.
Gen 2:7 And 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 being.
Gen 1:20,24,30
Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living
creatures (living souls), and let birds fly above the earth across the
face of the firmament of the heavens.” 24 Then God said, “Let the
earth bring forth the living creature (living souls) according to its
kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each
according to its kind”; and it was so. 30 “Also, to every beast of
the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on
the earth, in which there is life, I have
given every green herb for
food”; and it was so.
Gen 7:21,22 And
all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and beasts and
every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man. 22 All in
whose nostrils was the breath
of the spirit of life, all that was
on the dry land, died.
1 Th 5:23 Now
may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole
spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
Heb 4:12 For the
word of God is living and
powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the
division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a
discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
4. What are the dichotomous and trichotomous views of man? There are two dichotomous views. Baker relates the dichotomous view as, “Dichotomists contend that soul and spirit are one indivisible essence, and are but different ways of viewing the same thing. Hodge calls this realistic Dualism.” But, annihilationistic dichotomists like Bullinger and Fudge say the soul is made up of the body and the spirit. Fudge, in The Fire That Consumes, quotes Pedersen, Johannes. Israel: Its Life and Culture, “When death occurs, then it is the soul that is deprived of life. Death cannot strike the body or any other part of the soul without striking the entirety of the soul. . . . It is deliberately said both that the soul dies (Judg. 16,30; Num. 23,10 et al.), that it is destroyed or consumed (Ez. 22,25.27), and that it is extinguished (Job 11,20).”
Judg 16:30 Then
Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines (Let my soul die with
the Philistines)!” And he pushed with all
his might, and the temple fell
on the lords and all the people who were
in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had
killed in his life. Num 23:10 “Who
can count the dust of Jacob, or number one-fourth of Israel? Let me die
the death (let
my soul die the death of) of
the righteous, and let my end be like his!” Eze 22:25,27
The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion
tearing the prey; they have devoured people (souls they have devoured);
they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows
in her midst. 27 Her princes in her midst are
like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people (to
destroy souls), and to get dishonest gain. Job 11:20 But the eyes of the
wicked will fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope—loss of
life (giving up of life)!” 4646 mappach
(map-pawkh'); from 5301; a breathing out (of life), i.e. expiring:
5. Mark, from a
trichotomist position, answer these questions. Which is myself, my soul
or my spirit? If both are myself, do I have two selves? Could my spirit
be in one locality and my soul in another? Also, what is modified
trichotomy? Modified trichotomy believes the soul/spirit is/are two
aspects of the inner person. Explain these references from the position
you hold.
Ps 6:5 For in
death there is no remembrance of You; In the grave who will give You thanks?
Ps 49:12-14
Nevertheless man, though in
honor, does not remain; He is like the beasts that
perish. 13 This is the way of those who are
foolish and of their posterity who approve their sayings. Selah 14 Like
sheep they are laid in the grave; Death shall feed on them; The upright
shall have dominion over them in the morning; And their beauty shall be
consumed in the grave, far from their dwelling.
Ps 104:29,30 You
hide Your face, they are troubled; You take away their breath, they die
and return to their dust. 30 You send forth Your Spirit, they are
created; And You renew the face of the earth.
Ps 115:17 The
dead do not praise the Lord
nor any who go down into silence.
Ps 146:4 His
spirit departs, he returns to his earth; In that very day his plans
perish.
Ecc 9:4,5,10 But
for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog
is better than a dead lion. 5 For the living know that they will die;
But the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory
of them is forgotten. 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it
with your might; for there is
no work or device or
knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.
Isa 38:18,19 For
Sheol cannot thank You, death cannot praise You; Those who go down to
the pit cannot hope for Your truth. 19 The living, the living man, he
shall praise You as I do this
day; The father shall make known Your truth to the children.
Acts 2:27,31 For
You will not leave my soul in Hades, nor will You allow Your Holy One to
see corruption. 31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the
resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did
His flesh see corruption.
Rev 6:9,10 When
He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who
had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they
held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord,
holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell
on the earth?”
6. From what you
have learned and the position you are presently holding, can the body be
destroyed? Can the soul be destroyed? Can the soul be killed? Of what
significance is the answer to these questions? Now, what does Mat 10:28
mean? “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the
soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in
hell.” Is the spirit the seat of intelligence and understanding of
man? 1 Co 2:11 “For what man knows the things of a man except the
spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of
God except the Spirit of God.” Was Christ only spirit in resurrection?
1 Co 15:45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living
being.” The last Adam became
a life-giving spirit.
2 Co 3:17 Now
the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 1 Ti
3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was
manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels,
preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in
glory. 1 Pe 3:18,19 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for
the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the
flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached
to the spirits in prison.
6. Do animals
have spirits? Ecc 3:19-21 For what happens to the sons of men also
happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the
other. Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over
animals, for all is vanity. 20
All go to one place: all are
from the dust, and all return to dust. 21 Who knows the spirit of the
sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, which goes
down to the earth?. Think, and look, Mark, Are animals described as
having souls? If you think so, give me some references, please. Gen
1:20,24,30 Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of
living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of
the firmament of the heavens.” 24 Then God said, “Let the earth
bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and
creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind”; and it was so. 30 “Also, to every
beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that
creeps on the earth, in which there
is life, I have given
every green herb for food”; and it was so.
7. Is the soul
of man good? Jam 3:15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is
earthly, sensual (soulish), demonic.
8. Are there
some people without spirits? Jude 19 These are sensual (soulish)
persons, who cause divisions, not having the spirit.
9. For what is
the body a house? 2 Co 5:1-9 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not
made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan,
earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from
heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4
For we who are in this tent
groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further
clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has
prepared us for this very thing is
God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 6 So we
are always confident, knowing
that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For
we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased
rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 9
Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well
pleasing to Him.
Gen 35:18 And so
it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his
name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin.
1 Ki 17:21,22
And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to
the Lord and said, “O Lord
my God, I pray, let this child’s soul come back to him.” 22 Then the
Lord heard the voice of
Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived.
2 Co 12:33 And I
know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know,
God knows—
2 Pe 1:13,14
Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up
by reminding you,14 knowing
that shortly I must put off my
tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.
10. What is the
seat of affection? Psa 38:10 My heart pants, my strength fails me; As
for the light of my eyes, it also has gone from me. Psa 42:1 As the deer
pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. Rom 10:10
For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation. Mat 13:19 “When anyone hears the
word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one
comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who
received seed by the wayside. Mat 15:8 ‘These people draw near to Me
with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far
from Me. Mat 15:18 “But those things which proceed out of the mouth
come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 “For out of the heart
proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false
witness, blasphemies.
Mat 18:35 “So
My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart,
does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” Mat 22:37 Jesus said to
him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with
all your soul, and with all your mind.’” Mk 6:52 For they had not
understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened. Mk 7:21
“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts,
adulteries, fornications, murders” Mk 8:17 But Jesus, being aware of
it, said to them, “Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you
not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened?” Mk
11:23 “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain,
‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his
heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have
whatever he says.” Mk 16:14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they
sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart,
because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.
Lk 2:19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.
Lk 9:47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little
child and set him by Him, Acts 5:3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has
Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of
the price of the land for yourself? 4 While it remained, was it not your
own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you
conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to
God.” Acts 7:23 “Now when he was forty years old, it came into his
heart to visit his brethren” Acts 8:22,37 “Repent therefore of this
your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may
be forgiven you. 37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your
heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus
Christ is the Son of God.” Acts 11:23 When he came and had seen the
grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of
heart they should continue with the Lord. Acts 13:22 And when He had
removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave
testimony and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My
own heart, who will do all My will. Acts 16:14 Lydia heard us. She was a
seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord
opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. Rom 6:17 But God be
thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the
heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. Rom 10:6,9,10
But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your
heart, Who will ascend into heaven?” (that is, to bring Christ down
from above) 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and
believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be
saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with
the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 1 Co 2:9 But as it is
written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the
heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love
Him.” 2 Co 9:7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not
grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. Eph 4:18
having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of
God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness
of their heart; Heb 3:12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you
an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; Heb 4:12 For
the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged
sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints
and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
1 Jo 3:20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart,
and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we
have confidence toward God. Rev 18:7 in the same measure give her
torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as queen, and am
no widow, and will not see sorrow.’
11. What is the
life of the body? Gen 9:4; Lev 17:11 For the life [nephesh BDB/Thayers #
5315 nephesh neh v-fesh;
from 05314; KJV - soul 475, life 117, person 29, mind 15, heart 15,
creature 9, body 8, himself 8, yourselves 6, dead 5, will 4, desire 4,
man 3, themselves 3, any 3, appetite 2, misc 45; total 751. Meaning, 1)
soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being,
desire, emotion, passion 1a) that which breathes, the breathing
substance or being, soul, the inner being of man 1b) living being 1c)
living being (with life in the blood) 1d) the man himself, self, person
or individual 1e) seat of the appetites 1f) seat of emotions and
passions 1g) activity of mind 1g1) dubious 1h) activity of the will 1h1)
dubious 1i) activity of the character 1i1) dubious] of the flesh is in
the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement
for your souls [aJl-naphshoteeykem]; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul [banephesh].
Does this refer to humans? Lk 12:19-23. Can the body be destroyed? Can
the soul be destroyed? Can the soul be killed? Ps 63:9; Eze 18:4,20; Mat
10:28.
12. When we read
that Christ’s soul was not left in hades, what would those who hold
the dichotomous position say this means?
Question: Did the tribulation actually begin after Messiah was cut off?
Thu, 5 Oct 2000
Pastor Hill,
Thank you for your response but I'm afraid I didn't state my question well.
I needed to know if you believed that the tribulation actually began after Messiah was cut off. Were there signs showing that Daniel's prophecy was on track and the tribulation was beginning?
If so is there scripture to show that it was indeed paused? Also, will tribulation start again after the rapture?
Thank you for your time,
Mrs Michael Thompson (Lynn)
Answer - Click here to view the answer
Dear Lynn,
I do not believe the 70th week of Daniel started right after Messiah was cut off. We do see that signs of the tribulation as prophesied by Joel began to happen, and I do believe that they thought the tribulation was going to start, but God had another plan that interrupted the beginning of the tribulation.
When Israel rejected the offer of the kingdom, God
set Israel aside for the time being when the stoning of Stephen took
place. God, instead, raised up the Apostle Paul, gave him a new
dispensation, grace/mystery and postponed the tribulation till after the
rapture of 2 Th 2:1-5 “Now,
brethren, concerning (Here is the rapture.) the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not
to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by
letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. (The
second coming.) 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day
will not come unless the falling away departure comes
first (The rapture.), and the man of sin is revealed (The
first event of the tribulation.), the son of perdition, 4 who
opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God (He’s the
anti-God.) or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the
temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5 Do you not remember
that when I was still with you I told you these things?
I hope this answers your question.
Until the shout!
Bob Hill
Question: The New Covenant, how or in what way does it apply to us today?
Mon, 2 Oct 2000
michael crass
Dear Bob,
As a Mid-Acts dispensationalist, I have been wondering about the New Covenant and its relation to the Body of Christ and the Dispensation of grace. I understand that according to Jeremiah 31:31 and Ezekiel 36:26 that the New Covenant was made with and applies to Israel alone. Yet in 2 Cor 3:6 the Apostle Paul says that God has made us able ministers of the New Testament.
Because of this some dispensationalists have said there are two New Covenants. Some non or anti-dispensationalists have used this to say that the Church inherits the spiritual New Covenant promises of Israel and that, therefore, the dispensationalists are wrong about the Church being a parenthetical and unprophesied program and that the Church is spiritual Israel.
I do not accept either view. I have taken the view of JN Darby and C R Stam that there is only one New Covenant and that it affects us like the old covenant law did, even though it wasn't made with us. Yet this really doesn't even answer my question, which is: If the New Covenant is made with Israel alone and will have its fulfillment in the future millennial kingdom, how or in what way does it apply to us today, if it does at all. Thanks, Michael Crass
Answer - Click here to view the answer
Michael,
That is well thought out and an excellent question. First let me
give the context of the new covenant verse you listed. 2 Co 3:4-6 says:
“And we have such trust through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are
sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves,
but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as
ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for
the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” just because covenant is
anarthrous [no article] here, a new covenant, that doesn’t solve the problem you presented.
Paul is a minister of the new covenant since there’s only one new
covenant in the Bible. So, do we take part in this new covenant in any
way?
I believe the solution is found in another passage where the new covenant is mentioned, 1 Co 11:23-27 “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.” Here, we see that the body and blood of the new covenant is the body and blood of the Savior, Jesus Christ.
He only died once. He died for all. 2 Co 5:14-19 “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”
Since there is only one sacrifice for sins according to Heb 10:12-20, “But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. 15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, 16 ‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,’ 17 then He adds, ‘Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.’ 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin. 19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh.”
Since there is only one sacrifice for sins, Christ, we must become ministers of the gospel based on that aspect of the new covenant even though we have no part in the other covenant promises.
We do not have the complete knowledge so we know everything as it says in 1 John 2:20&27, “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. 27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.” When the new covenant is actually instituted in the eternal kingdom, they will experience this kind of knowledge.
I believe we are ministers of the new covenant death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. There is only one death of Christ which will take away sins in every dispensation. We are not ministers of the covenant God made in Jer 31:31-34 “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— 32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”
We are members of the mystery program that was hidden from the
ages in God. Eph 3:1-9 “For this
reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— 2 if
indeed you heard the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to
me for you, 3 that by revelation He made known to me the mystery, as I
have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may be able
to understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other
ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed
by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles
should be fellow heirs, and a joint body, and partakers together of His
promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister
according to the gracious gift of God given to me by the effective
working of His power. 8
To me, who am less than the least of all saints, this grace was given,
to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable wealth of Christ, 9 and to
make all see what is the dispensation of the mystery, which has
been hidden from the ages in God who created all things through Jesus
Christ.” Without the blood of the new covenant, there would not be any
remission of our sins.
I hope this has answered your question.
In Christ,
Bob
Question: Did
Jesus honour the Sabbath, or did He break the Sabbath?
Tue, 26 Sep 2000
Bill Creek
Did Jesus honour the Sabbath, or did He break the Sabbath? Question is asked relevant to 7th Day Adventist's discourse.
Thanks,
Bill
Answer - Click here to view the answer
In the following passages, we find that Christ questioned the Pharisee’s interpretation of the keeping of the law. He called them hypocrites because they were sticklers for the word, according to their interpretation, but had no love or compassion. Christ seems to have gone out of His way to do certain things they thought were wrong, just so He could make His point.
Mat
12:1 At
that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His
disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.
Mk
2:23-28
Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and
as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain. 24 And the
Pharisees said to Him, "Look, why do they do what is not lawful on
the Sabbath?" 25 But He said to them, "Have you never read
what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him: 26
how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high
priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat, except for
the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?" 27 And
He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the
Sabbath. 28 Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath."
Lk
6:5-7,9
And He said to them, "The Son of Man is also Lord of the
Sabbath." 6 Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He
entered the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand
was withered. 7 So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely,
whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation
against Him. 9 Then Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one thing:
Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to
destroy?"
Lk
13:14-16
But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus
had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, "There are six
days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them,
and not on the Sabbath day." 15 The Lord then answered him and
said, "Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his
ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? 16 So ought
not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound--think
of it--for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the
Sabbath?"
John
7:23
"If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of
Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man
completely well on the Sabbath? 24 Do not judge according to appearance,
but judge with righteous judgment."
It is a moot question because we are not under the law. Christ freed us from the law in this dispensation by His death. The Holy Spirit baptized us into Christ, and we are identified with Him in His death, burial and resurrection.
1 Co 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
Rom 6:3-11,14,15 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!
Rom 7:5,6 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which
were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to
death. 6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to
what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the
Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
Rom 10:2-11 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 5 For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.” 6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7 or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
Gal 2:16-21 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faithfulness of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faithfulness of Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. 17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.
Gal 3: 10-25 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 15 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. 16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise. 19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
Gal 4:21-5:5,18 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, 24 which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— 25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— 26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children Than she who has a husband.” 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. 29 But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free. 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace [From the dispensation of grace.]. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Eph 2:14-16 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.
Question: Rom 11:22: Will the Gentiles be cut off if we do not continue in God’s “kindness”?
Mon, 25 Sep 2000
Dear Pastor Hill,
Will the gentiles be cut off if we do not continue in God’s “kindness”? Romans 11:22 - I need help with this passage. I am a dispensational believer.
In Christ,
Mrs Michael Thompson (Lynn)
Answer - Click here to view the answer
Dear Lynn,
In Romans 11 God inspired Paul to use the metaphor of the olive tree. I believe this metaphor of the olive tree illustrated the opportunity to go directly to the root, Christ, for salvation.
As you know, Israel was the only nation God blessed with His
oracles. The message of God’s grace was written in His handiwork, and
the hearts of all humans according to Rom 1:19,20 and Col 1:6,23. Rom
1:19,20: because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for
God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world
His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by
the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so
that they are without excuse. Col 1:6,23: which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and
is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the
day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; 23 if indeed you
continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away
from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every
creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Israel was God’s people. He was on covenant relationship with them. If people knew of Israel and her relationship with God, they could proselyte to Jehovah’s true religion. They were favored because God had to choose someone to bring His redemption to mankind. Mankind had turned totally away from God, and God had to make special provision. He chose Abram/Abraham to be the father of this people through whom Messiah would come. That’s why Israel had the law, the covenants, the adoption, the glory, and the promises.
By the time we get to the NT, the Pauline Epistles show us that
God cut Israel off. He cut off Israel from the special opportunity she
had with God. But in this metaphor of the olive
tree, God only cut out those in v. 20 who “Because of unbelief they
were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear.”
They were no longer the favored nation. Now, they had to believe in
Jesus Christ as their Savior just like the Gentiles now could. But now,
in vss. 21,22, He warns the Gentiles who have been grafted into the
opportunity to believe directly rather than proselyte to Judaism. 21
“For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you
either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those
who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His
goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.” Israel fell out of her
special privileged relationship with God. But only those who did not
believe were in this category.
We must be careful to read the 11th chapter in its context of Rom 9-11. In Rom 9:30, we see that the Israelites who were cut off were unbelievers trying to establish their own righteousness rather than submitting to God’s righteousness, Rom 9:30-10:4 “What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. 33 As it is written: ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, and whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.’ 10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” The ones cut off were never saved. They fell from the special opportunity that Israel had. Any Jew could believe after the body of Christ started, but now their opportunity was not special like it was. God is going to make the opportunity special again after the rapture. Then Israel will be purged in the tribulation.
When God is through with the Gentiles in this dispensation, all the believers will be raptured, all the unbelieving Gentiles will be cut off, and everyone will be under the circumcision gospel rules of the tribulation. Eternal security or lack of it, is not the question in Rom 11. It is the opportunity to directly believe in Christ as our savior.
Rom 11:11-31 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. 12 Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! 13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. 15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 For if the first-fruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? 25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 27 For this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.” 28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, 31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy.
Notice the whole purpose of this section. It is summarized for us in Rom 11:32 “For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.”
Question: Why does Paul say remember the poor? Why did Paul have Timothy Circumcised?
Tue, 19 Sep 2000
And please could you explain in the light of Gal 2 v1-8 why did Paul have Timothy Circumcised?
Answer - Click here to view the answer
Mark,
First, I will list Gal 2:1-8: Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and
also took Titus with me. 2 And I went up by revelation,
and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles,
but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might
run, or had run, in vain. 3 Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a
Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4 And this occurred because of
false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out
our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into
bondage), 5 to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that
the truth of the gospel might continue with you. 6 But from those who
seemed to be something—whatever they were, it makes no difference to
me; God shows personal favoritism to no man—for those who seemed to be
something added nothing to me. 7 But on the contrary, when they saw that
the gospel of the uncircumcision had been committed to me, as the gospel
of the circumcision was to Peter 8 (for He who worked effectively in
Peter for the apostleship to the circumcision also worked effectively in
me toward the Gentiles).
Paul took uncircumcised Titus with him up to Jerusalem in acts 15 because men of the circumcision were demanding that Gentiles should be keeping the law and be circumcised if they were to be saved. Titus was a test case, and he was not compelled to be circumcised. Paul won the day for the new Gospel of the Uncircumcision.
In contrast, on his second missionary journey, when Paul circumcised Timothy, Acts 16:3, “Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek.” Paul did this so it would not stifle his ministry since he usually went to the Jewish synagogues first, in every town or city he preached the gospel. But this had nothing to do with salvation.
Question: Why does Paul say remember the
poor?
Why does Paul say remember the poor when referring to the decision taken at Jerusalem for the Gentiles to abstain from Blood etc?
Answer:
Mark,
In Gal 2:10 Paul wrote, “They desired only that we should
remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.” The
poor Jewish believers who had believed under the previous dispensation
had sold their property and dispersed it because they expected the
kingdom to come in a short time. Paul had compassion on these people and
felt it was the responsibility of the body of Christ believers to aid
these poor believers. The Scriptures do not relate whether he abided by
the abstain from blood decision that they made at this council.
Question: Why is Paul taking a vow in Acts 21v18-26 and keeping the feast in 1 Co 4 v 19?
What is Paul doing taking a vow in Acts 21v18-26 and why is he keeping the feast (Pentecost?) in 1 Cor 4 v 19
Answer:
Mark,
Let me list the passage. Act 21:18-26 On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. 19 When he had greeted them, he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law; 21 but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. 22 What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. 23 Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. 24 Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law. 25 But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.” 26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them, entered the temple to announce the expiration of the days of purification, at which time an offering should be made for each one of them.
First, it does not say Paul took a vow. Even in acts 18:18 it
doesn’t say Paul took a vow. “So
Paul still remained a good while. Then he took leave of the brethren and
sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He had his
hair cut off at Cenchrea, for he had taken a vow. The Greek is kai; su;n aujtw`/ Privskilla kai;
jAkuvla", keiravmeno" ejn Kegcreai`" th;n kefalhvn,
ei\cen ga;r eujchvn.
It is more likely that Aquila had the vow since the participle follows
right after his name.
Second,
I don’t find what you mentioned about keeping the feast in 1 Co 4:19.
However, in 1 Co 16:8, Paul wrote, “But I will tarry in Ephesus until
Pentecost.” but that would be more like us saying I’ll be home for
Christmas. In 1 Co 5:7,8 he wrote, “For indeed Christ, our Passover,
was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not
with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with
the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” but he is
referring to the Lord’s Supper.
Paul
did many things that were not critical, to win people to a saving
knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. He wrote in 1 Co 9:19-23, “For
though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that
I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might
win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might
win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as
without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward
Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I
became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to
all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the
gospel’s sake, that I
may be partaker of it with you.”
I hope
this answers your questions.
In Christ,
Bob Hill
Question: How does the Believer and/or God deal with the issue of the sinning of the believer?
"Triangle Bible Church"
Subject: Personal sinning
If (1st class cond.) when we are saved the sin nature (or as I call it, the "Sinful Trend of Adam") is never eradicated while in this mortal body on earth, and if 1 John 1:9 is not the mechanic for the restoration of "fellowship" (i.e., the status of the "Filling of the Holy Spirit"), then how does the Believer and/or God deal with the issue of the personal sinning of the believer?
Answer - Click here to view the answer
Mark,
As you know, I’m a mid-Acts dispensationalist. When I study the
circumcision epistles, I believe I should teach their theology and
contrast it with Paul’s epistles. Since the terms “the
sin nature (or as I call it, the ‘Sinful Trend of Adam’)” are not
biblical terms, I personally would not use them. I have enough trouble
understanding God’s word without adding terms that must be defined.
Bob Thieme does a lot of that. I have a lot of Thieme’s material, and
I think a lot of it is good stuff, but I think he invents too many
terms. I would rather use the biblical term “flesh.” The flesh is
always contrary to God’s law. It is always lusting contrary to the
lust of the Spirit according to Gal 5:17: “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh;
and these are contrary to one another, so that you may not do the things
that you wish (i{na mh; a} a]n qevlhte tau`ta poih`te).
Our
personal sins have already been taken care of according to Rom
6:3-15: “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into
Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried
with Him through baptism into death, (We died to our sin in the body of
Christ.) that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of
the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we
have been united together in the likeness of His death, (We were united
with Him when the Holy Spirit baptized us into His body, 1 Co 12:13.)
certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6
knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, (Why were we
crucified with Him? It tells us immediately.) that the body of sin
might be done away with, (That’s why we in this dispensation
can see that we are not slaves of sin. In fact, all our sins are taken
care of, past, present and future.) that we should no longer be slaves
of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed (The word here is
justified, dedikaivwta.
We have been justified from all sin.) from sin. 8 Now if we died
with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that
Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer
has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin
once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 (This is
what we should do.) Likewise you also, reckon ([BGD,
edited] logivzesqe
count,
take into account
ti; someth. hJ ajgavph ouj
logivzetai to; kakovn love does not take evil into account 1 Co 13:5. But
‘place to one’s account’ can also mean credit tw`/ ejrgazomevnw/ oJ misqo;" ouj logivzetai kata;
cavrin a
workman’s wages are not credited to him as a favor
(but as a claim) Ro 4:4. w|/ oJ qeo;" logivzetai
dikaiosuvnhn vs. 6. Pass. eij" to;
logisqh`nai aujtoi`" t. dikaiosuvnhn vs. 11.—l. tiniv
ti ei[" ti credit someth. to someone as someth. pass. ejlogivsqh aujtw`/ eij"
dikaiosuvnhn (after Gen 15:6) Ro 4:3, 5, 9, 22; l. ei["
tina put
on someone’s account, charge to someone b. as a result of a calculation evaluate,
estimate, look upon as, consider; Ac 19:27. ta; tevkna t. ejpaggeliva" logivzetai eij"
spevrma the
children of the promise are looked upon as seed
Ro 9:8 (cf. La 4:2). oujc hJ ajkrobustiva aujtou` eij" peritomh;n
logisqhvsetai; will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 2:26. l. tina wJ" w. acc. consider, look upon someone as: hJma`" logizevsqw a[nqrwpo" wJ"
uJphrevta" Cristou` 1 Co 4:1. l. hJma`"
wJ" kata; savrka peripatou`nta"
2 Co 10:2b. Pass. ejlogivsqhmen wJ" provbata sfagh`"
Ro 8:36 (Ps 43:23). l. tina foll. by acc. and inf. (Is 53:4) logivzesqe eJautou;" ei\nai nekrouv"
consider
yourselves dead
Ro 6:11. logizovmeqa dikaiou`sqai a[nqrwpon
we
hold that a man is justified 3:28.) yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God
in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in
your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not
present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but
present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members
as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have
dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace?
Certainly not!
We deal with our personal sins by thanking God for already forgiving us of all our sins. We may even be accused as Paul was in Rom 3:8 “And why not say, ‘Let us do evil that good may come’?—as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.” We praise God for our complete forgiveness of all sin. We glory in this fact. Now, as we focus on loving God, He produces His fruit in us by the Holy Spirit as shown in Gal 5:16 –25: “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you may not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
In contrast to this freedom and security, when we rightly divide the truth, we cannot appropriate the salvation material in any of the circumcision epistles without severe hermeneutical problems. We, in the dispensation of grace, have our salvation. We’re sealed. We can’t lose it. It was different for believers under the gospel of the circumcision. They were in the process of salvation. They had to endure in their belief in order to be saved. They had to remain in Christ, the vine (John 15:6).
According to the text you asked about, 1 Jo 1:9, they had to
continue confessing their sins to attain their salvation. If they did
not abide in a relationship with Christ, they’d be lost. It wasn’t
just John who wrote this way, they all did. A good example is James in
1:12. He wrote: “Blessed is
the man who endures temptation; for when he has been proved, he will
receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love
Him.”
Why is this so? We can’t understand why God did things differently in different dispensations, but we can study the method of salvation in each one and see what God’s requirements are. Endurance is a theme of the circumcision gospel, the gospel of the kingdom. Circumcision believers had to endure in their belief in order for them to be saved.
This method is also shown by John in the Apocalypse in 2:10,11. The reward here is the “crown of life.” This “crown of life” is salvation? What could be clearer than, “He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” In contrast to this endurance theme, Paul wrote about the security we have in the body of Christ in Ephesians 1:4-14.
A good example of this method is found, again, in John’s first epistle, 1 Jo 5:4,5: “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
“He who believes” is a substantive use of the present participle. As you know, the most common interpretation of the present participle would give the meaning, “The person who continues believing that Jesus is the Son of God is the one who continues overcoming the world.”
The Lord shows that those who continue in faith are the ones who
overcome the world. James shows the same method of salvation in 1:21:
“Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and
receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your
souls.” In light of the context, 1:2-20, this is a serious
conclusion. They have not yet received the implanted word to the extent
that they are sure of salvation. The use of the complementary
infinitive, to save (sw'sai),
emphasizes the fact that they are not yet sure of their salvation. A
woodenly literal translation would be, “receive the implanted, able to
save your souls word.” How can they do this? It seems that the result
of this reception is further developed in the next five verses, 1:22-26: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving
yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he
is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes
himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25
But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it,
and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be
blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious,
and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s
religion is useless.”
We can be sure they do not have security because receive is an aorist imperative. As you know, the thought expressed by an imperative is future action, doing what is commanded. The aorist imperative generally implies a start or cessation of the action commanded. its use here shows that they have not been doing what is necessary. They need to receive this word sincerely and endure in it so they will be saved. In contrast, we, the body of Christ, already possess salvation according to Tit 3:5.
John 15:4-6 is an interesting passage which drives this point home since it is spoken to the 11 after Judas left. “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
Receiving the implanted word, then, is being a doer of the word by faith. We can’t emphasize to much, that faith is the all important heart attitude necessary for salvation in every dispensation. Also, under the covenant of circumcision, God required their faith to be displayed by works.
Looking more pointedly at your question about 1 Jo 1:9, what sins would be forgiven the person confessing his sins? We don’t have to confess our sins at all. We already have been justified from all sin (Rom 6:7) and set free from it (Rom 6:18). Again, we do not have to ask for forgiveness. We already possess it. In contrast, the circumcision believers had to confess their sins (Jam 5:16; 1 Jo 1:9) to have them forgiven. This agrees with the principle of abiding we observed in John’s gospel.
As we analyze your passage, we should start with verses 1:6,7: “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
There are two third class conditions in this passage. When a third class conditional sentence is used, it means there is a matter of doubt as well as probability that the condition in the if clause will be met. The first conditional clause is, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness”. To show the conditional aspects better, we could translate it this way: “If we should say that we have fellowship with Him, and would be walking in darkness, we lie and are not doing the truth.” We must draw this conclusion from this sentence: They cannot be walking in darkness and be in fellowship with Him.
The next one has a greater consequence. If they continue walking in the light, they have fellowship with one another. But more important – the blood of Christ is continuing to cleanse them from all sin. The continuous cleansing of their sins depends on their continuous walking in the light. This is like the third class condition made in John 15:6,7: “If anyone does not abide in Me [Maybe he will, maybe he won’t.], he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me [Maybe they would, maybe they wouldn’t.], and My words abide in you [Maybe they would, maybe they wouldn’t. They must let His words abide.], you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
1 Jo 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Nigel Turner gives us further information about the protasis of a 3rd class condition, “ejaVn with the subjunctive [If, with the subjunctive] . . . points to future probabilities which may not actually be realized.” In plain English, maybe it will, maybe it won’t. We could translate this verse: “If we would continue confessing our sins, He would be faithful and just that He may forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” If they did not continue confessing their sins, He would not forgive them their sins or cleanse them from all unrighteousness.”
Our salvation is totally different. This is shown by contrasting 1 Jo 1:9 and Col 2:13. Col 2:13 reveals that all of our trespasses, sins, were forgiven at one point in time, at the cross, “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses”. In addition, we are justified: Rom 6:7 “For he who has died has been justified (dedikaivwtai) from sin.” We are freed from sin: Rom 6:18 “And having been set free (ejleuqerwqevnte") from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”
They were participating in a process of salvation. As long as they were abiding in Christ, they would not sin, but even that seems true only for high handed sins when we consider 1 Jo 1:9 again, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” The highhanded sin never had a sacrifice designated for it. Read Numbers 15:29,30: “You shall have one law for him who sins unintentionally, for him who is native-born among the children of Israel and for the stranger who dwells among them. 30 But the person who does anything presumptuously [with a high hand], whether he is native-born or a stranger, that one brings reproach on the Lord, and he shall be cut off from among his people.” Compare this with Hebrews 10:26,27: “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.”
In this dispensation, God has dealt with our sin. We could live a sinless life if we focused completely on our Father and His Son and were willing to let the Holy Spirit control our every thought and action. But how many of us do that? Their salvation was on the line. Only our blessings and happiness in the Lord are on the line.
There seem to be three commandments that are high handed sins when they are broken in the tribulation: Blaspheming the Holy Spirit; Breaking one of the ten commandments; Receiving the mark of the beast. Sinners may be forgiven the lesser sins if they continually confess them (1 Jo 1:9). Therefore, I believe the person who has the knowledge of the new covenant (1 Jo 2:20-27) and is abiding in Him and focusing on Him will not, is unable to sin. But if he goes too far and does what is mentioned in 2 Jo 8,9, he’s in trouble: “Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. 9 Whoever transgresses [goes too far, or deviates - The Majority Text has “parabaivnwn, go aside; deviate from the way; parevbhsan they became transgressors Barnabas 9:4. Ptc. o& parabaivnwn the transgressor 2 J 9”, BGD. The Critical text has :proavgwn As a symbol pa'" o& proavgwn kaiV mhV mevnwn e*n th'/ didach'/ anyone who goes too far and does not remain in the teaching 2 J 9”, BGD. Both readings seem to have about the same meaning.] and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.”
It’s easy to see why those who believe the circumcision epistles are written to the body of Christ hold to the Lordship salvation position. They want to be consistent with God’s word, and it teaches it. What else could they believe? I admire them for their consistency and desire to honor God’s word. First John and the rest of the circumcision epistles are extremely difficult for them to explain.
Conditional Salvation Salvation & Security
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1 Jo 1:9;2:3,4 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. e*aVn o&mologw'men taV" a&martiva" h&mw'n, pistov" e*sti kaiV divkaio" i@na a*fh'/ h&mi'n taV" a&martiva", kaiV kaqarivsh/ h&ma'" a*poV pavsh" a*dikiva". 3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. KaiV e*n touvtw/ ginwvskomen o@ti e*gnwvkamen au*tovn, e*aVn taV" e*ntolaV" au*tou' thrw'men. 4 He who says, I know Him, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. |
Rom 10:9,10 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Rom 6:6,7,18 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed [dedikaivwtai] from sin. 18 And having been set free [e*leuqerwqevnte"] from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. |
Question: Prove that the New Covenant was made with Isreal, not with Gentiles?
Thu, 31 Aug 2000 00:40
Answer - Click here to view the answer
The New Covenant was for Israel. It’s important for us to realize that when Christ was on earth, His ministry was not to us Gentiles. His ministry at that time was only to Israel. Christ showed this in Mat10:5,6 when it said, “These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” H