In the heat of the political season I want to go ahead and endorse my favoprite candidate.
I do this as a concerned citizen.
My position as a minister should be seen as a biblical expert but not that it should have any spiritual authority of it's own upon your vote.
I usually vote Republican.
because republican usually favor conservative Christian values.
In the primary I have only seen one legitamite among the current top candidates in the primary and that is Mike Huckabee.
I can't vote for Rudy Guiliani because of his pro-abortion, pro-gay, anti-gun views.
I can't Vote for Ron Paul because of his refusal to defend our country from Islamic terror.
I can't vote for John McCain because of his many compromises of our country on issues of free speech, judicial tyranny(which stops the stopping of abortion), illegal immigration, gay marriage rights and a host of other liberal stances.
I can't vote for Mitt Romney of his bishopric over a dangerous cult, his record of being pro-abortion, pro-gay, anti-gun.
Finally the fact that Romney, McCain, and Guiliani want to bleed America dry through Globalist economics.
I believe Mike Huckabee is the best cadidate because.
1. He will fight to stop abortion altogether which has cost us almost 50,000,000 American lives.
2. He will fight for the traditional marriage amendment. which will protect families from unfair taxation, protect adoptive children, and discourage the list of problems that we face in society from gay marriage, lesbian marriage, polyamerous marriage, polygamy, incest, beastiality etc.
3. He will do away with the IRS which is the main source of big government abuse and government persecution of churches.
4. He will support Israel which is our only trustworthy ally in the war on terror and God's chosen people.(many curses on America have been timed to have happened whenever Israel gives up land.)
5. He will support the 2nd Amendment and make sure that Americans are not taken over by tyranny. He is is either #1 or #2 among candidates and has spoken the most on this subject in the debates.
6. He will stop the flow of illegal immigrant and deport all of the illegal criminals and end the alien identity theft, ultimately he will oppose the North American Union.
7. He will stop the globlism which is launching us into a one world government. HE is against the NAfta treaties.
8. He will fight the War on Terror.
9. He will be cautious not launch into wars without prematurely.
10. He swore He would not raise taxes
11. He believes that Federal government should not intervene in state government issues
12. He was ranked among the top 4 governors in the USA.
13. Being a conservative Baptist minister and former president of Arkansaw Baptist convention He has a more accurate worldview that realizes for instance that the God of Islam is not the God of Christianity.
14. He understands that every politician has been ordained of God to be a minister of righteousness.
15. He is undefeated in taking on the Clinton political machine (4 campaign victories)The Clintons have even admitted to being afraid of Him!
16. He is the only outspoken creationist of the toptier candidates.
He really cares for the poor and was given awards for such work in arkansaw standing out among others for Arkansaws help for Katrina victims who immigrated to Arkansaw in 03'
17. He is talented at cutting spending which we need since Bush2 spent too much.
This is why I endorse Mike Huckabee and will never change mind in this election.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
How shall we defend the faith?
1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
I remember the first time I had to defend the gospel I was in High School. I was sitting in Spanish class, when suddenly I heard a conversation behind me start to escalate, a boy ( C) behind me started to go about his evolutionary beliefs when suddenly he exclaimed “God is a B@#$%!” I couldn’t believe it, I couldn’t believe he would say something like that in class. Then he yelled it again “God is a B#^$*!” and he dared anyone to challenge him. The teacher was in the room, but she said absolutely nothing. I look around and no one was going to take him to task; people I had assumed were Christian were so silent that they were in agreement. Some of my Jock friends who could have easily beat him up and could have easily stould up to him were suddenly silent. I had always been afraid to be outspoken about my faith, because I had a bad swearing habit and I couldn’t imagine witnessing to someone who had previously heard me cuss. (Even though they had heard everyone else curse too!) But now the gospel for this classroom was on the line. It was obvious that most had in fact given up on the gospel. But could I be silent and allow this to go on? I couldn’t do it, I may have failed God before, but I couldn’t fail him now. Jesus died on the cross for me and I depend on him for my salvation, how could let him down!!
So I gathered every ounce of moral strength I had and said, “No, he is not…” This ignited C who then began yelling at me at the top of his lungs. Some of the details I have forgotten due to the emotion of the memory. But basically He said evolution was a proven fact, I whimperingly denied it. He ask for proof I looked over at the grass and started talking about dna and what I would later learn was intelligent design. He then overwhelming yelled at me and ended with the moral argument against God. “If God exists, why is there so much evil in the world!?!” I felt like I could have given an answer to it and yet with all the pressure on me, I just couldn’t say anything. I think I remember a few classmates scolding me for arguing with C. He then went to leave a minute later and told me that the reason God allows evil was that he allowed free choices. It was kind of shocking to have an atheist give me my talking points. I would like to think however that he had an ounce of respect for me to stand up to him.
How should we react to challenges to our faith? What would you do if your faith is challenged?
Many of you have already developed personal approaches from experience. Some of you change or modified your faith so that you don’t have to defend the Bible or even faith in Christ. Maybe it is simply something in your heart, which you can hide from all opposition.
However remember the words of Christ.
Mar 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
And…
Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Mat 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
Mat 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
We must remember what we stand for quite frankly the biggest problem in evangelism apologetics church growth, ministry etc. Is that we have in fact forgotten this fact!
In the 10 years since that high school incident I have learn many facts and experiences on how to defend my faith and I would like to take this time to go over a few biblical principles for defending the faith.
1. We possess the truth
Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
1Ti 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
2. We must argue for all the truth of scripture
2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
3. The truth is available!
Joh 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Joh 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
Joh 16:10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
Joh 16:11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
Rom 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
4. The unbeliever is foolish and blinded
Psa 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Rom 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Rom 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
2Co 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
5. Morality works
Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Isa 1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
Isa 1:20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Rom 3:19 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.
6. Sinners hate the truth because it makes them feel guilty
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Joh 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Joh 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
7. If they are guilty however it will make them appreciate the cross
Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
8. Always take the opportunity to present the gospels of Jesus Christ
Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
9. The gospel enables them to have the power of salvation
1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
10. Don’t forget to pray!
2Co 1:11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.
1Ti 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
1Ti 2:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
One thing I have notticed in my time of study and practice is that fleshly nature of the christian constantly draws us to be submissive to the ways of the world. Yet we have to remember and believe the facts. Everything in the Bible is absolute truth; Every unbeliever is foolish in their unbelief. We should never lose confidence in our encounters with the world, since our confidence is in Christ. The evidence and reason is always out their somewhere you simply need to find it and be ready to present it. The more sanctified your heart is the better you will be about defending your faith. The real goal in an apologetic encounter is not a battle of wits but a battle of spirits.(demons vrs. Holy Spirit) Therefore do not limit yourself to reason but instead bring in morality spirituality and the consequences of sin against God’s Law. The power of the unbelievers skepticism lies not in the fact that they are objective, but instead in the power of the sin in their heart. The goal of our apologetic and evangelism is not a changed mind but a repentant heart. The unbeliever must be convicted of sin and receive the gospel in order for them to be empowered to accept Christ. So your apologetic will convict while you evangelism presents the gospel. Remember the power of the Old Old story to show people the grace of God through Jesus Christ. Finally never forget to pray God work miracles through obedience of prayer.
In Christ,
Matt
I remember the first time I had to defend the gospel I was in High School. I was sitting in Spanish class, when suddenly I heard a conversation behind me start to escalate, a boy ( C) behind me started to go about his evolutionary beliefs when suddenly he exclaimed “God is a B@#$%!” I couldn’t believe it, I couldn’t believe he would say something like that in class. Then he yelled it again “God is a B#^$*!” and he dared anyone to challenge him. The teacher was in the room, but she said absolutely nothing. I look around and no one was going to take him to task; people I had assumed were Christian were so silent that they were in agreement. Some of my Jock friends who could have easily beat him up and could have easily stould up to him were suddenly silent. I had always been afraid to be outspoken about my faith, because I had a bad swearing habit and I couldn’t imagine witnessing to someone who had previously heard me cuss. (Even though they had heard everyone else curse too!) But now the gospel for this classroom was on the line. It was obvious that most had in fact given up on the gospel. But could I be silent and allow this to go on? I couldn’t do it, I may have failed God before, but I couldn’t fail him now. Jesus died on the cross for me and I depend on him for my salvation, how could let him down!!
So I gathered every ounce of moral strength I had and said, “No, he is not…” This ignited C who then began yelling at me at the top of his lungs. Some of the details I have forgotten due to the emotion of the memory. But basically He said evolution was a proven fact, I whimperingly denied it. He ask for proof I looked over at the grass and started talking about dna and what I would later learn was intelligent design. He then overwhelming yelled at me and ended with the moral argument against God. “If God exists, why is there so much evil in the world!?!” I felt like I could have given an answer to it and yet with all the pressure on me, I just couldn’t say anything. I think I remember a few classmates scolding me for arguing with C. He then went to leave a minute later and told me that the reason God allows evil was that he allowed free choices. It was kind of shocking to have an atheist give me my talking points. I would like to think however that he had an ounce of respect for me to stand up to him.
How should we react to challenges to our faith? What would you do if your faith is challenged?
Many of you have already developed personal approaches from experience. Some of you change or modified your faith so that you don’t have to defend the Bible or even faith in Christ. Maybe it is simply something in your heart, which you can hide from all opposition.
However remember the words of Christ.
Mar 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
And…
Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Mat 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
Mat 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
We must remember what we stand for quite frankly the biggest problem in evangelism apologetics church growth, ministry etc. Is that we have in fact forgotten this fact!
In the 10 years since that high school incident I have learn many facts and experiences on how to defend my faith and I would like to take this time to go over a few biblical principles for defending the faith.
1. We possess the truth
Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
1Ti 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
2. We must argue for all the truth of scripture
2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
3. The truth is available!
Joh 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Joh 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
Joh 16:10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
Joh 16:11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
Rom 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
4. The unbeliever is foolish and blinded
Psa 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Rom 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Rom 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
2Co 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
5. Morality works
Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Isa 1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
Isa 1:20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Rom 3:19 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.
6. Sinners hate the truth because it makes them feel guilty
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Joh 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Joh 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
7. If they are guilty however it will make them appreciate the cross
Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
8. Always take the opportunity to present the gospels of Jesus Christ
Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
9. The gospel enables them to have the power of salvation
1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
10. Don’t forget to pray!
2Co 1:11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.
1Ti 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
1Ti 2:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
One thing I have notticed in my time of study and practice is that fleshly nature of the christian constantly draws us to be submissive to the ways of the world. Yet we have to remember and believe the facts. Everything in the Bible is absolute truth; Every unbeliever is foolish in their unbelief. We should never lose confidence in our encounters with the world, since our confidence is in Christ. The evidence and reason is always out their somewhere you simply need to find it and be ready to present it. The more sanctified your heart is the better you will be about defending your faith. The real goal in an apologetic encounter is not a battle of wits but a battle of spirits.(demons vrs. Holy Spirit) Therefore do not limit yourself to reason but instead bring in morality spirituality and the consequences of sin against God’s Law. The power of the unbelievers skepticism lies not in the fact that they are objective, but instead in the power of the sin in their heart. The goal of our apologetic and evangelism is not a changed mind but a repentant heart. The unbeliever must be convicted of sin and receive the gospel in order for them to be empowered to accept Christ. So your apologetic will convict while you evangelism presents the gospel. Remember the power of the Old Old story to show people the grace of God through Jesus Christ. Finally never forget to pray God work miracles through obedience of prayer.
In Christ,
Matt
Thursday, November 29, 2007
What do Jew mean? A biblical analysis of Judaism
Differing types
A. nominal Jews) ethnic
Deu 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.
Psa 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Sadly the majority of today’s ethnic Jews have an atheist worldview. They may still worship on the Holidays for the sake of ethnic pride, yet the majority has altogether turned away from Jehovah. Some of this is due to liberalism and a lot of this is due to the Holocaust.
The Holocaust was an ungodly evil event. So could God allow it? Were His people not obedient? First and foremost, it was an evil action done by Hitler & the Nazis with some help from the Vatican. As a result of this Germany was cursed. Their nation was split open, their name was blasphemed, many Germans were killed in WWII and any survivors have lived in exile. The New Testament teaches that their ilk will be resurrected to the Final Judgement and caste in the lake of Fire to burn for eternity.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
However, could it be that perhaps the Jews were disobedient enough to God not to have the protection from God? Now remember two things. First, God was not directly responsible at all for the Holocaust. Second, He did saved the Jews from certain and total annihilation. So if you are a Jew reading this remember how God spared your people so that you could read this today. Yet the massacre may have been allowed due to the disobedience of the Jewish people.
I think many Jews would at this point assume that I am going to say that it was because of the death of Jesus. Not at all. The death of Jesus was a propitiatory sacrifice for sin. This is a good thing for both Jew and Gentile alike! The death of Jesus is our chance at eternity!
Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Some may think that it is because that Jews did not join the Christian Church. Not at all! The Majority of Christians churches with which the Jews have dealt with (Catholic) were not even true churches but apostate from the Bible. Others (mainline protestant) did not have a handle on what it meant to be the true church of God.
Historically, Jews did not interact much with the persecuted ana-baptist true churches. But even then it is wrong to simply join a group to get in good graces with Jehovah. He does not care about our friends or family but our souls.
Eze 18:1 The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,
Eze 18:2 What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?
Eze 18:3 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.
Eze 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
Eze 18:32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.
In actuality I believe that Jews have been experiencing the most persecution the world has ever seen because they have rejected their own God and Messiah.
They followed the legalism of the Rabbis then went on to engage in the idolatry found in Kabbalah. The Jews had followed and sometimes led the world in the greatest heresies of world civilization. Such as the Jew, Karl Marx whose invention of Communism led to the destruction of a 100 million lives.
Through the centuries the Jews have rejected their Messiah this had led to curse after curse. But in order to reject the Messiah you have to reject the tana’ach and so the Jews have been rejecting the law in some way shape or form for centuries.
If you have a problem with pop-Christianity then I support you. But what about Jesus? If you do not understand his offer hopefully you will better by the end of this article.
B. Israeli Jews) ethnic and geographic
“The hour is approaching, when the tribes shall go up to their own country; when Judea so long a howling wilderness, shall once more blossom like the rose; when, if the temple itself be not restored, yet on Zions Hill shall be raised some Christian building, where the chants of solemn praise shall be heard as erst of old the Psalm of David were sung in the tabernacle. Not long shall it be ere they shall come-shall come from distant lands where’er the rest of roam; and she who has been the offscouring of all things, whose name has been a proverb and a byword, shall become the glory of all lands. Dejected Zion shall raise her head, shaking herself from dust, and darkness, and the dead. Then shall the Lord feed his people, and make them and the places round about his hill a blessing. I think we do not attach sufficient importance to the restoration of the Jews. We do not think enough of it. But certainly if there is anything promised in the Bible it is this. I imagine that you cannot read the Bible without seeing clearly that there is to be an actual restoration of children of Israel.” Charles Hadden Spurgeon “The Church of Christ” (sermon)
What is interesting about this statement, is that Spurgeon wrote this (1800’s) well before establishment of the nation of Israel and he never claimed the popular title of Dispensationalist. Instead, his theology (reformed Baptist) typically took a replacement theology position. Yet even at this time before the miraculous return it was obviously in the scriptures and he could not deny Bible prophecy.
Israeli Jews may come across the board in their ways and practice of Judaism. Yet God has caste them upon the center stage of world and prophetic events. They live among the physical record of the Bible. They realize that their people have claimed the land for 1000’s of years. They are hated supernaturally by all their neighbors. Yet they one of the most talented nations on all the earth. The miraculous is the essence of their life.
C. Babylonian Jews) Rabbinic Judaism which is the religion of the Jews. They are broken into various denominations (Orthodox, Reformed, Conservative, Hasidic etc. ) Yet ultimately there is the same theme. They are essentially the religion of the Pharisees. Some may very on issues of charismatic, & liberal vrs. Conservative. However they hold fidelity to the OT along with the Talmud and Mishna.
This religious system may have started off on the right foot with OT. However, they failed on three issues. Obviously they reject Jesus and the NT. But even more interesting they fail to live according Mosaic Law. Also they have cultishly added to the OT revelation with Talmud and Mishna.
Deu 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
Psa 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Psa 12:7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
Pro 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
Pro 30:6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
Most Jews admit that these are man-made writings but then go on to argue them as divine anyhow. This practice is very similar to that of the Catholics. There is a reason for this and the reason is that they both have Babylonian origins. Pharisaical Judaism never truly repented of their idolatries. They replaced Godly worship with temple idolatry much like the Catholics Muslims and Jews.
D. True Judaism) Faithful Jews
When I think of true Jews, I think of those who are Jews that are not linked up with a particular Babylonian denomination. A good example of this would be Radio talk show host Dennis Prager. The good Jews of today carry many OT and NT heresies. Yet they have a desire to follow the torah, honor Jehovah and have a positive viewpoint about evangelical Christians. Yet while they are religious and generally good no one is truly righteous in the sight of God. Without Jesus they do not have the atonement needed in order to enter the Kingdom of God.
Psa 14:2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
Psa 14:3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
E. Pseudo-Jews)replacement theology[cults and traditionalist churches)
Psa 105:8-11 He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac; And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant: Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:
Rom 9:1-5 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
I like to say that these types of people suffer from a condition I like to call “Ishmaelitus”. Essentially these people would prefer to claim the favor of the OT God above and over the Jews. Therefore, they argue that somehow God had lost favor with the Jews and therefore God had moved his favor over to this group through their superior or more righteous practices.
Christians throughout history have sadly been duped out of NT Churches in exchange for these pseudo-Jewish Ishmaelite organizations.
Rom 11:19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
Rom 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
F. Ultra Zionist) Those who see the fulfillment of the gospels through the securing of the Land of Israel for the Jews. The primary example of this group is the pastor John Hagee. There are many issues in which I agree with John Hagee in fact there are many actions by which I even admired Him. Yet I feel that his position veers away from the gospel in the following ways. The Old Covenant in no way is an alternative to salvation through Christ. Because no one can earn salvation, since they are all guilty before God. John Hagee has sacrificed this fundamental doctrine in order to fellowship with Babylonian Jews. Many in this group like the Messianic Jews may get confused over the nature of the Law.
G. New Covenant Hebrews) true church
Hos 2:23 And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.
Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
True Church Christians are those who adhere strictly to the New Covenant. Their sense of ecclesiology as well as their doctrine of salvation. They do depend on the Old Testament to provide their worldview. Fundamental beliefs such as Monotheism, the Name of God (Jehovah), morality (Ten Commandments), the necessity of blood atonement for sin, and prophecy. True church Christians recognize the authority of the Old Testament and take it literally. They are grateful to the Jewish people and the Jew who saved their souls. (Jesus Christ) New Testament Christians are included in the line of Abraham spiritually. Though they recognize that they have not replaced Israel. They desire offer Jews the New Covenant by which they may have access to the future resurrection of the dead and have the eternally secure hope of Heaven. True Church Christianity is Hebrew in their respect for the Old Covenant. They are also Hebrew in The sense that they belong to the New (Jewish) Covenant.
Rom 11:1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
Rom 11:18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Rom 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Rom 11:23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
H. Messianic Jews) Jewish Christians who are faithful to Hebrew culture and followers of Christ.
Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Rom 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
Rom 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
Rom 14:6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
Rom 14:7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
Some Jews are finally coming into New Testament Faith in Christ. The question has occurred “Must a Jew become a Christian to be saved?”
Unfortunately this question is far to narrow with to many differing implications. Jews Need to be Christians in the since of the New Covenant. Yet they are not asked by God to abolish the Old Testament like the pseudo Jewish replacement theologians.
One of the problems is that we have forgotten that the Old and New Covenant are two separate covenant. The New Covenant not promise a blessed earthly life, neither does the Old Covenant promise eternal salvation.
Exo 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
Exo 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Joh 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Joh 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
Joh 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
It is my view that both the Old and New Testaments are separate covenants and as such. If someone wants to follow them both they must do so distinctly. In other words a saved Jew can go to the synagogue but also fellowship with gentiles at a New Testament church. Some may think it mockery to argue for a Messianic Jew to go to church, but this I believe is the ruling of Galatians.
Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
The body of Christ is both Jew and Gentile. But a Jew must follow the law. While a gentile does not need to. Therefore it is a separate covenant.
Gal 3:12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
So I believe there ought to be a distinction though we should honor the Jewish converts who will have fidelity to their law. Just as much as a U.S. soldier who is saved ought to still honor his country.
The Tana’ach (Old Testament) affirms true Christianity
a. A plurality within the Godhead.
Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
The word for God here is “Elohim”
. Which by definition allows for natural plurality. Most would argue the OT is strictly monotheistic with no more than one person of the Godhead. However the OT never introduces an isolated monotheistic God.
b. The three in one Trinitarian nature of God
Exo 3:6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
Why these three? Why not others?
c. The single Messiah
Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Gen 21:12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
d. The virgin-born Messiah
Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
e. The Deity of the Messiah
Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Psa 110:1 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
f. The prophecy by the Messiah
Deu 18:18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
g. The New Covenant
Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Jer 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Jer 31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
h. The Sacrifice of the Messiah
Isa 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
Isa 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Isa 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Isa 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
Isa 53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
Isa 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Isa 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
i. The execution of the Messiah
Psa 22:1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
Psa 22:2 O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
Psa 22:3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
Psa 22:4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
Psa 22:5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
Psa 22:6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
Psa 22:7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
Psa 22:8 He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
Psa 22:9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.
Psa 22:10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.
Psa 22:11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
Psa 22:12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
Psa 22:13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
Psa 22:14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
Psa 22:15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
Psa 22:16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
Psa 22:17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
Psa 22:18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
Psa 22:19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
Psa 22:20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
j. The Resurrection of the Messiah
Psa 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Psa 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
Psa 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
k. The Glorification of the Messiah
Psa 110:1 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
l. God’s people live by faith
Hab 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
m. Righteousness imputed not of works
Zec 3:1 And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
Zec 3:2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?
Zec 3:3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
Zec 3:4 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.
n. Gentiles included in the New Covenant
Amo 9:11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:
Amo 9:12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this.
o. The Holy Spirit poured out upon God’s People
Joe 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
Joe 2:29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
p. The Judgement by the Messiah
Psa 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Psa 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
q. Salvation through the Messiah
Zec 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
This subject is quite exhaustive and I apologize for only skimming certain parts. Feel free to comment.
In Christ,
Matt
A. nominal Jews) ethnic
Deu 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.
Psa 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Sadly the majority of today’s ethnic Jews have an atheist worldview. They may still worship on the Holidays for the sake of ethnic pride, yet the majority has altogether turned away from Jehovah. Some of this is due to liberalism and a lot of this is due to the Holocaust.
The Holocaust was an ungodly evil event. So could God allow it? Were His people not obedient? First and foremost, it was an evil action done by Hitler & the Nazis with some help from the Vatican. As a result of this Germany was cursed. Their nation was split open, their name was blasphemed, many Germans were killed in WWII and any survivors have lived in exile. The New Testament teaches that their ilk will be resurrected to the Final Judgement and caste in the lake of Fire to burn for eternity.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
However, could it be that perhaps the Jews were disobedient enough to God not to have the protection from God? Now remember two things. First, God was not directly responsible at all for the Holocaust. Second, He did saved the Jews from certain and total annihilation. So if you are a Jew reading this remember how God spared your people so that you could read this today. Yet the massacre may have been allowed due to the disobedience of the Jewish people.
I think many Jews would at this point assume that I am going to say that it was because of the death of Jesus. Not at all. The death of Jesus was a propitiatory sacrifice for sin. This is a good thing for both Jew and Gentile alike! The death of Jesus is our chance at eternity!
Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Some may think that it is because that Jews did not join the Christian Church. Not at all! The Majority of Christians churches with which the Jews have dealt with (Catholic) were not even true churches but apostate from the Bible. Others (mainline protestant) did not have a handle on what it meant to be the true church of God.
Historically, Jews did not interact much with the persecuted ana-baptist true churches. But even then it is wrong to simply join a group to get in good graces with Jehovah. He does not care about our friends or family but our souls.
Eze 18:1 The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,
Eze 18:2 What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?
Eze 18:3 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.
Eze 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
Eze 18:32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.
In actuality I believe that Jews have been experiencing the most persecution the world has ever seen because they have rejected their own God and Messiah.
They followed the legalism of the Rabbis then went on to engage in the idolatry found in Kabbalah. The Jews had followed and sometimes led the world in the greatest heresies of world civilization. Such as the Jew, Karl Marx whose invention of Communism led to the destruction of a 100 million lives.
Through the centuries the Jews have rejected their Messiah this had led to curse after curse. But in order to reject the Messiah you have to reject the tana’ach and so the Jews have been rejecting the law in some way shape or form for centuries.
If you have a problem with pop-Christianity then I support you. But what about Jesus? If you do not understand his offer hopefully you will better by the end of this article.
B. Israeli Jews) ethnic and geographic
“The hour is approaching, when the tribes shall go up to their own country; when Judea so long a howling wilderness, shall once more blossom like the rose; when, if the temple itself be not restored, yet on Zions Hill shall be raised some Christian building, where the chants of solemn praise shall be heard as erst of old the Psalm of David were sung in the tabernacle. Not long shall it be ere they shall come-shall come from distant lands where’er the rest of roam; and she who has been the offscouring of all things, whose name has been a proverb and a byword, shall become the glory of all lands. Dejected Zion shall raise her head, shaking herself from dust, and darkness, and the dead. Then shall the Lord feed his people, and make them and the places round about his hill a blessing. I think we do not attach sufficient importance to the restoration of the Jews. We do not think enough of it. But certainly if there is anything promised in the Bible it is this. I imagine that you cannot read the Bible without seeing clearly that there is to be an actual restoration of children of Israel.” Charles Hadden Spurgeon “The Church of Christ” (sermon)
What is interesting about this statement, is that Spurgeon wrote this (1800’s) well before establishment of the nation of Israel and he never claimed the popular title of Dispensationalist. Instead, his theology (reformed Baptist) typically took a replacement theology position. Yet even at this time before the miraculous return it was obviously in the scriptures and he could not deny Bible prophecy.
Israeli Jews may come across the board in their ways and practice of Judaism. Yet God has caste them upon the center stage of world and prophetic events. They live among the physical record of the Bible. They realize that their people have claimed the land for 1000’s of years. They are hated supernaturally by all their neighbors. Yet they one of the most talented nations on all the earth. The miraculous is the essence of their life.
C. Babylonian Jews) Rabbinic Judaism which is the religion of the Jews. They are broken into various denominations (Orthodox, Reformed, Conservative, Hasidic etc. ) Yet ultimately there is the same theme. They are essentially the religion of the Pharisees. Some may very on issues of charismatic, & liberal vrs. Conservative. However they hold fidelity to the OT along with the Talmud and Mishna.
This religious system may have started off on the right foot with OT. However, they failed on three issues. Obviously they reject Jesus and the NT. But even more interesting they fail to live according Mosaic Law. Also they have cultishly added to the OT revelation with Talmud and Mishna.
Deu 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
Psa 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Psa 12:7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
Pro 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
Pro 30:6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
Most Jews admit that these are man-made writings but then go on to argue them as divine anyhow. This practice is very similar to that of the Catholics. There is a reason for this and the reason is that they both have Babylonian origins. Pharisaical Judaism never truly repented of their idolatries. They replaced Godly worship with temple idolatry much like the Catholics Muslims and Jews.
D. True Judaism) Faithful Jews
When I think of true Jews, I think of those who are Jews that are not linked up with a particular Babylonian denomination. A good example of this would be Radio talk show host Dennis Prager. The good Jews of today carry many OT and NT heresies. Yet they have a desire to follow the torah, honor Jehovah and have a positive viewpoint about evangelical Christians. Yet while they are religious and generally good no one is truly righteous in the sight of God. Without Jesus they do not have the atonement needed in order to enter the Kingdom of God.
Psa 14:2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
Psa 14:3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
E. Pseudo-Jews)replacement theology[cults and traditionalist churches)
Psa 105:8-11 He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac; And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant: Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:
Rom 9:1-5 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
I like to say that these types of people suffer from a condition I like to call “Ishmaelitus”. Essentially these people would prefer to claim the favor of the OT God above and over the Jews. Therefore, they argue that somehow God had lost favor with the Jews and therefore God had moved his favor over to this group through their superior or more righteous practices.
Christians throughout history have sadly been duped out of NT Churches in exchange for these pseudo-Jewish Ishmaelite organizations.
Rom 11:19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
Rom 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
F. Ultra Zionist) Those who see the fulfillment of the gospels through the securing of the Land of Israel for the Jews. The primary example of this group is the pastor John Hagee. There are many issues in which I agree with John Hagee in fact there are many actions by which I even admired Him. Yet I feel that his position veers away from the gospel in the following ways. The Old Covenant in no way is an alternative to salvation through Christ. Because no one can earn salvation, since they are all guilty before God. John Hagee has sacrificed this fundamental doctrine in order to fellowship with Babylonian Jews. Many in this group like the Messianic Jews may get confused over the nature of the Law.
G. New Covenant Hebrews) true church
Hos 2:23 And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.
Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
True Church Christians are those who adhere strictly to the New Covenant. Their sense of ecclesiology as well as their doctrine of salvation. They do depend on the Old Testament to provide their worldview. Fundamental beliefs such as Monotheism, the Name of God (Jehovah), morality (Ten Commandments), the necessity of blood atonement for sin, and prophecy. True church Christians recognize the authority of the Old Testament and take it literally. They are grateful to the Jewish people and the Jew who saved their souls. (Jesus Christ) New Testament Christians are included in the line of Abraham spiritually. Though they recognize that they have not replaced Israel. They desire offer Jews the New Covenant by which they may have access to the future resurrection of the dead and have the eternally secure hope of Heaven. True Church Christianity is Hebrew in their respect for the Old Covenant. They are also Hebrew in The sense that they belong to the New (Jewish) Covenant.
Rom 11:1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
Rom 11:18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Rom 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Rom 11:23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
H. Messianic Jews) Jewish Christians who are faithful to Hebrew culture and followers of Christ.
Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Rom 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
Rom 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
Rom 14:6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
Rom 14:7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
Some Jews are finally coming into New Testament Faith in Christ. The question has occurred “Must a Jew become a Christian to be saved?”
Unfortunately this question is far to narrow with to many differing implications. Jews Need to be Christians in the since of the New Covenant. Yet they are not asked by God to abolish the Old Testament like the pseudo Jewish replacement theologians.
One of the problems is that we have forgotten that the Old and New Covenant are two separate covenant. The New Covenant not promise a blessed earthly life, neither does the Old Covenant promise eternal salvation.
Exo 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
Exo 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Joh 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Joh 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
Joh 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
It is my view that both the Old and New Testaments are separate covenants and as such. If someone wants to follow them both they must do so distinctly. In other words a saved Jew can go to the synagogue but also fellowship with gentiles at a New Testament church. Some may think it mockery to argue for a Messianic Jew to go to church, but this I believe is the ruling of Galatians.
Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
The body of Christ is both Jew and Gentile. But a Jew must follow the law. While a gentile does not need to. Therefore it is a separate covenant.
Gal 3:12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
So I believe there ought to be a distinction though we should honor the Jewish converts who will have fidelity to their law. Just as much as a U.S. soldier who is saved ought to still honor his country.
The Tana’ach (Old Testament) affirms true Christianity
a. A plurality within the Godhead.
Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
The word for God here is “Elohim”
. Which by definition allows for natural plurality. Most would argue the OT is strictly monotheistic with no more than one person of the Godhead. However the OT never introduces an isolated monotheistic God.
b. The three in one Trinitarian nature of God
Exo 3:6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
Why these three? Why not others?
c. The single Messiah
Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Gen 21:12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
d. The virgin-born Messiah
Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
e. The Deity of the Messiah
Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Psa 110:1 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
f. The prophecy by the Messiah
Deu 18:18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
g. The New Covenant
Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Jer 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Jer 31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
h. The Sacrifice of the Messiah
Isa 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
Isa 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Isa 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Isa 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
Isa 53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
Isa 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Isa 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
i. The execution of the Messiah
Psa 22:1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
Psa 22:2 O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
Psa 22:3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
Psa 22:4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
Psa 22:5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
Psa 22:6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
Psa 22:7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
Psa 22:8 He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
Psa 22:9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.
Psa 22:10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.
Psa 22:11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
Psa 22:12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
Psa 22:13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
Psa 22:14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
Psa 22:15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
Psa 22:16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
Psa 22:17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
Psa 22:18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
Psa 22:19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
Psa 22:20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
j. The Resurrection of the Messiah
Psa 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Psa 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
Psa 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
k. The Glorification of the Messiah
Psa 110:1 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
l. God’s people live by faith
Hab 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
m. Righteousness imputed not of works
Zec 3:1 And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
Zec 3:2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?
Zec 3:3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
Zec 3:4 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.
n. Gentiles included in the New Covenant
Amo 9:11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:
Amo 9:12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this.
o. The Holy Spirit poured out upon God’s People
Joe 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
Joe 2:29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
p. The Judgement by the Messiah
Psa 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Psa 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
q. Salvation through the Messiah
Zec 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
This subject is quite exhaustive and I apologize for only skimming certain parts. Feel free to comment.
In Christ,
Matt
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Dispensational deficiencies
Before I go into this critique, I need to mention the positive side of this belief system. Of all the belief systems that I have critiqued, I have the most in common with Dispensationalism. In fact outside of my Baptist identity, the dispensational system is the one, which I hold to the most and I do not mind the label dispensationalist. So let me go on to present that which I agree.
1. I believe the Bible is to be interpreted literally (historical grammatical method)
2. I believe in seven dispensations (Garden, Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, grace, Millennia)
3. I believe that Israel and the church are to be interpreted as distinct from each other.
4. Before the New Heavens and New Earth their will be a 1000 year reign of Christ.
5. I believe in a 7 year tribulation period
6. I believe in a pre-tribulation rapture
7. I hold to a mild form of Calvinism (3 point)
8. I believe that the regenerate man has 2 natures; the Old (carnal) and the New(spiritual).
9. The Christian is not sanctified through following the law, but through faith resulting in the fruits of the spirit.
10. Man consists of a body, soul, and spirit.
11. The Nation of Israel was prophesied to undergo turmoil and to be regathered as it was this century.
12. I believe in the antichrist, the beast and the great whore of Babylon
13. I believe they will be easily defeat by Christ with the breath of his mouth
14. I believe the Temple will be restored ( and enchanced) during the millennium
All these points I agree to and would defend.
However as with all other systems of theology, man-made doctrine has a way of creeping in. Therefore, I wanted to critique dispensational theology just as stringently as other systems which I critiqued. (Calvinism, Wesleyanism, Campbellite etc.)
The Old Testament still speaks to Christians
Most dispensationalist make the dispensational periods divided into walled off blocks arguing that the previous dispensation had been done away and therefore irrelevant. In fact some ministers, such as John MacArthur will not preach the Old Testament from the pulpit. They argue that their duty is to simply preach the New Covenant.
This is a fallacy, the Bible is a living and abiding word.
1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
No page of the Bible was meant to gather dust
Act 20:27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
This fallacy eventually grew into the doctrine of hyper-Dispensationalism. This doctrine, eventually was defeated by fellow dispensationalist H. A. Ironside. Thankfully, progressive dispensationalist like Craig Blaising have offered up a view of the dispensations were they build on to one another building their focus upon their fulfillment in Christ. Unfortunately some aspects of this new system have tied themselves more into covenant theology. Which I would never endorse.
Jesus reigns
One core tenet in dispensational theology, which I hold to, is that Jesus is not reigning upon the earth. Yet at the same time, dispensationalists go further to say that Jesus is not reigning from the Davidic throne. However Jesus reigns as king in heaven and is already reigning on the earth though all things have not yet been subdued by Him. (1Cor. 15:28)
Rom 1:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
Rom 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
Mar 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
Eph 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Christ shall not subdue everything until the Second Coming but it is important to remember that reigns.
We are responsible to follow Kingdom Law.
We are under Jesus authority
Some dispensationalist have argue that as a result of the doctrine of the church being born at Pentecost, that The gospels are not written authoritatively for the church age and therefore only for the Jews in the millennial kingdom.
Act 28:30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
Act 28:31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things, which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
1Jo 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
1Jo 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
While I agree with Dispensationalist that that Kingdom is distinct from the Church we have to understand that there is one Gospel.
Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
The dispensational emphases upon proper division of the word of God have much strength. Yet at times extreme Dispensationalism can lead to heresy. The idea that there are two separate gospels, one of grace and another of the Kingdom results in dividing the one true gospel of Christ, which is perversion.
Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Jesus started the local church
One of the hardest problems dispensationalists have had is their interdenominational nature. If they had stuck literal interpretation over the traditions of reformed theology they would have a proper ecclesiology to perfect their theology.
This causes a great deal of confusion whatever we find in tradition that we don’t see in the Bible finds it’s way back to gnosticism.
Why on earth do most Christians think that Christ did not start His own church?
The Bible even says it!
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Pentecost advocates blindly argue that this an esoteric statement. But Jesus said He would send His Spirit, The Holy Spirit, not himself spiritually!
Joh 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
So honestly the idea that Christ built the church spiritually is anti-trinitarian. ( the idea itself! Don’t be offended.) He made the church literally, he referred to it as such.
Mat 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Mat 18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Mat 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
We see Jesus refers to the apostles and gives them directions in how to follow the church. That’s right, even the apostles submitted to the authority of the local church. What else could it be? It could not be Pharisee Israel or the gospel could not be preached. It couldn’t be the universal church because how could you gather them together? It was obvious that Christ had already created the church and it was local.
Over 95% of the references to the word ecclesia are admittedly to referring to particular local churches. The other handful of verses may appear to be the universal church or they may appear to be the generic church model.
For instance if you heard a history teacher discussing the “Model T” car, they would not be talking about all model Ts, they would simply be talking about the idea or model of this car. When I refer to “the dog” I am not talking about a particular dog nor all dogs, but the general idea of a dog. So I believe when we discuss “The church” in the New Testament.
Our Faith does not justify, it is the righteousness of Christ.
Rom 3:20 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.
Rom 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Rom 3:22 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:
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Rom 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Rom 4:6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
Rom 4:10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
Rom 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
Phi 3:8-9 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:
Sadly there are a few Dispensationalist (though not all) who argue that we are not justified by the righteousness of Christ but the righteousness of our own faith.
As evangelicals we must be careful not to elevate faith over the work of Christ. Millions of souls are separated from Christ because they have religion based upon their work of Faith.
Saving faith is not a work but instead a doorway or key to gain access to the righteousness of God. We must be careful not to exalt faith to be work, otherwise we end up with cheap legalism. Whereby people believe that they have earned salvation by belief.
Jesus saved Israel
Luk 2:29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
Luk 2:30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Mat 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
Mat 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Mat 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
Mat 27:53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
1Pe 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
1Pe 3:19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Eph 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Joh 20:16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
Joh 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Rev 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
Rev 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Jesus condemns the lost over their sins
I have listened to some dispensationalist specifically on the radio, argue for “easy-believism” in an awkward way, in the since that faith is the only measure which Christ will judge the world.
This makes God’s Judgement arbitrary since some people may not have heard the gospel and argue innocence in the form of this.
However my understanding of the scriptures is clear.
The Lost will be condemn by there is works
Rev 20:12-14 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
The saved may be saved by grace, but their works will still be judged
2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Though it is not part of our Justification, repentance is essential to complete the process of salvation
Luk 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
Jam 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
1Co 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1Co 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1Co 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Several Dispensationalist argue that repentance is part of the gospel of the Kingdom. Now I must say that not all Dispensationalist have this view and the greatest correction has come from Dispensationalist John MacArthur. If we have been saved we will be born again and therefore we will repent from our sins.
The Spirit still gives gifts
The idea that was an extra dispensation of spiritual gifts is a profound error. It is Paul more than anyone who taught spiritual gifts and it was Paul who was the Apostle of the age of grace.
1Co 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
1Co 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
1Co 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
1Co 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
When we look at this passage the gifts of the spirit are given to members of the local church and the discussion is over the local church and not the apostles as many dispensational cessationist argue.
1Co 12:15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
1Co 12:16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
1Co 12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
How could certain gifts be “sign gifts” and dissected from the body of Christ? Does this mean that God has made churches incomplete?
1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
1Co 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
Dispensationalist cessationist, prefer to argue that the gifts ceased at the closing of the canon. Yet even as a Apostle Paul did not consider himself to have this vision. The only thing more enlightening would be the second coming of Christ.
Jesus will save the Tribulation Jews. (They will not save themselves)
Many argue that the Jews in the Tribulation period will have to work their way to heaven through martyrdom. But you see this idea robs Israel of salvation. Jesus is the savior
Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Rom 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Rom 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Rom 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Gal 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
God loves the Jews and He wants them to be saved by God’s grace as well.
There will be one body everlasting.
The point of the Great White throne of Judgement to me is to finish Christ work of reconciliation.
While we have different dispensations we all have people who are created in the image of God. Therefore we all have equal standing with him.
Rom 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
Rom 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
Rom 11:23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
Rom 11:24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?
As we can see there is one saved tree and one body which we will all dwell in.
Dispensationalism has launch many advances for Christianity in terms of biblical studies. Yet if we focus on dispensational division to the point where forget our prior commitment to literal interpretation, we are doomed to commit error and eventually false teaching.
1. I believe the Bible is to be interpreted literally (historical grammatical method)
2. I believe in seven dispensations (Garden, Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, grace, Millennia)
3. I believe that Israel and the church are to be interpreted as distinct from each other.
4. Before the New Heavens and New Earth their will be a 1000 year reign of Christ.
5. I believe in a 7 year tribulation period
6. I believe in a pre-tribulation rapture
7. I hold to a mild form of Calvinism (3 point)
8. I believe that the regenerate man has 2 natures; the Old (carnal) and the New(spiritual).
9. The Christian is not sanctified through following the law, but through faith resulting in the fruits of the spirit.
10. Man consists of a body, soul, and spirit.
11. The Nation of Israel was prophesied to undergo turmoil and to be regathered as it was this century.
12. I believe in the antichrist, the beast and the great whore of Babylon
13. I believe they will be easily defeat by Christ with the breath of his mouth
14. I believe the Temple will be restored ( and enchanced) during the millennium
All these points I agree to and would defend.
However as with all other systems of theology, man-made doctrine has a way of creeping in. Therefore, I wanted to critique dispensational theology just as stringently as other systems which I critiqued. (Calvinism, Wesleyanism, Campbellite etc.)
The Old Testament still speaks to Christians
Most dispensationalist make the dispensational periods divided into walled off blocks arguing that the previous dispensation had been done away and therefore irrelevant. In fact some ministers, such as John MacArthur will not preach the Old Testament from the pulpit. They argue that their duty is to simply preach the New Covenant.
This is a fallacy, the Bible is a living and abiding word.
1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
No page of the Bible was meant to gather dust
Act 20:27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
This fallacy eventually grew into the doctrine of hyper-Dispensationalism. This doctrine, eventually was defeated by fellow dispensationalist H. A. Ironside. Thankfully, progressive dispensationalist like Craig Blaising have offered up a view of the dispensations were they build on to one another building their focus upon their fulfillment in Christ. Unfortunately some aspects of this new system have tied themselves more into covenant theology. Which I would never endorse.
Jesus reigns
One core tenet in dispensational theology, which I hold to, is that Jesus is not reigning upon the earth. Yet at the same time, dispensationalists go further to say that Jesus is not reigning from the Davidic throne. However Jesus reigns as king in heaven and is already reigning on the earth though all things have not yet been subdued by Him. (1Cor. 15:28)
Rom 1:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
Rom 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
Mar 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
Eph 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Christ shall not subdue everything until the Second Coming but it is important to remember that reigns.
We are responsible to follow Kingdom Law.
We are under Jesus authority
Some dispensationalist have argue that as a result of the doctrine of the church being born at Pentecost, that The gospels are not written authoritatively for the church age and therefore only for the Jews in the millennial kingdom.
Act 28:30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
Act 28:31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things, which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
1Jo 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
1Jo 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
While I agree with Dispensationalist that that Kingdom is distinct from the Church we have to understand that there is one Gospel.
Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
The dispensational emphases upon proper division of the word of God have much strength. Yet at times extreme Dispensationalism can lead to heresy. The idea that there are two separate gospels, one of grace and another of the Kingdom results in dividing the one true gospel of Christ, which is perversion.
Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Jesus started the local church
One of the hardest problems dispensationalists have had is their interdenominational nature. If they had stuck literal interpretation over the traditions of reformed theology they would have a proper ecclesiology to perfect their theology.
This causes a great deal of confusion whatever we find in tradition that we don’t see in the Bible finds it’s way back to gnosticism.
Why on earth do most Christians think that Christ did not start His own church?
The Bible even says it!
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Pentecost advocates blindly argue that this an esoteric statement. But Jesus said He would send His Spirit, The Holy Spirit, not himself spiritually!
Joh 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
So honestly the idea that Christ built the church spiritually is anti-trinitarian. ( the idea itself! Don’t be offended.) He made the church literally, he referred to it as such.
Mat 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Mat 18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Mat 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
We see Jesus refers to the apostles and gives them directions in how to follow the church. That’s right, even the apostles submitted to the authority of the local church. What else could it be? It could not be Pharisee Israel or the gospel could not be preached. It couldn’t be the universal church because how could you gather them together? It was obvious that Christ had already created the church and it was local.
Over 95% of the references to the word ecclesia are admittedly to referring to particular local churches. The other handful of verses may appear to be the universal church or they may appear to be the generic church model.
For instance if you heard a history teacher discussing the “Model T” car, they would not be talking about all model Ts, they would simply be talking about the idea or model of this car. When I refer to “the dog” I am not talking about a particular dog nor all dogs, but the general idea of a dog. So I believe when we discuss “The church” in the New Testament.
Our Faith does not justify, it is the righteousness of Christ.
Rom 3:20 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.
Rom 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Rom 3:22 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:
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Rom 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Rom 4:6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
Rom 4:10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
Rom 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
Phi 3:8-9 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:
Sadly there are a few Dispensationalist (though not all) who argue that we are not justified by the righteousness of Christ but the righteousness of our own faith.
As evangelicals we must be careful not to elevate faith over the work of Christ. Millions of souls are separated from Christ because they have religion based upon their work of Faith.
Saving faith is not a work but instead a doorway or key to gain access to the righteousness of God. We must be careful not to exalt faith to be work, otherwise we end up with cheap legalism. Whereby people believe that they have earned salvation by belief.
Jesus saved Israel
Luk 2:29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
Luk 2:30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Mat 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
Mat 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Mat 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
Mat 27:53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
1Pe 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
1Pe 3:19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Eph 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Joh 20:16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
Joh 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Rev 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
Rev 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Jesus condemns the lost over their sins
I have listened to some dispensationalist specifically on the radio, argue for “easy-believism” in an awkward way, in the since that faith is the only measure which Christ will judge the world.
This makes God’s Judgement arbitrary since some people may not have heard the gospel and argue innocence in the form of this.
However my understanding of the scriptures is clear.
The Lost will be condemn by there is works
Rev 20:12-14 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
The saved may be saved by grace, but their works will still be judged
2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Though it is not part of our Justification, repentance is essential to complete the process of salvation
Luk 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
Jam 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
1Co 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1Co 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1Co 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Several Dispensationalist argue that repentance is part of the gospel of the Kingdom. Now I must say that not all Dispensationalist have this view and the greatest correction has come from Dispensationalist John MacArthur. If we have been saved we will be born again and therefore we will repent from our sins.
The Spirit still gives gifts
The idea that was an extra dispensation of spiritual gifts is a profound error. It is Paul more than anyone who taught spiritual gifts and it was Paul who was the Apostle of the age of grace.
1Co 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
1Co 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
1Co 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
1Co 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
When we look at this passage the gifts of the spirit are given to members of the local church and the discussion is over the local church and not the apostles as many dispensational cessationist argue.
1Co 12:15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
1Co 12:16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
1Co 12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
How could certain gifts be “sign gifts” and dissected from the body of Christ? Does this mean that God has made churches incomplete?
1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
1Co 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
Dispensationalist cessationist, prefer to argue that the gifts ceased at the closing of the canon. Yet even as a Apostle Paul did not consider himself to have this vision. The only thing more enlightening would be the second coming of Christ.
Jesus will save the Tribulation Jews. (They will not save themselves)
Many argue that the Jews in the Tribulation period will have to work their way to heaven through martyrdom. But you see this idea robs Israel of salvation. Jesus is the savior
Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Rom 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Rom 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Rom 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Gal 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
God loves the Jews and He wants them to be saved by God’s grace as well.
There will be one body everlasting.
The point of the Great White throne of Judgement to me is to finish Christ work of reconciliation.
While we have different dispensations we all have people who are created in the image of God. Therefore we all have equal standing with him.
Rom 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
Rom 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
Rom 11:23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
Rom 11:24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?
As we can see there is one saved tree and one body which we will all dwell in.
Dispensationalism has launch many advances for Christianity in terms of biblical studies. Yet if we focus on dispensational division to the point where forget our prior commitment to literal interpretation, we are doomed to commit error and eventually false teaching.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Why be critical?
When I look at different belief systems and I critique them many Christians get offended.
How can I go to somebody and show them the love of Christ if i am judging them?
Essentially we all want love others and Christians want to show the love of CHrist.
But what is Judgeing and what is love?
We have entered a time of ignorance.
We must remember that what you don't know can kill you.
Millions wil have horrible lives and even worse eternity because they chose the life of a fool.
The fool is one who lives as if there is no God.(Psalm 14)
How do we help people?
Is it by helping people feel good for a minute or a life time.
A drug dealor can potentially help you feel really good for a little while.
I (a preacher) can potentially help you feel really good for all eternity.
If I love someone I may or may not say sweet words. But I will help you if you are in true need and give you godly advice.
not because of me but Christ working in me.
How do we judge people. I convicted that we should not be hard on people but able to forgive and forget. We do not need vengeance upon people.
But I do believe in tough love.
Homosexual rights advocates think they love homosexuals.
They tell them they are born that way and that they need to get married to a homosexuall in that lifestyle for the rest of their lives.
Statistically most homosexuals(definitely men at least) are the bi-products of child molestation. As little children they were tortured and destroyed by evil sex crazed monsters.
Most of these young men were robbed of every ounce of dignity. So much so, that they could not even look at themselves in the mirror be assured of their ability to be men. So they masquerade as sex objects to run away from the guilt. They are then enslaved to live lifestyles that blaspheme themselves, their families, and a just God who will be force to poor out his wrath upon them if there is no repentance toward God and Faith toward Christ. Not to mention lifestyles in which they usually will not live past the age of 50 and will be tempted to become the vampires that tortured them in their youth.
It is not judgemental in our culture to encourage them in this slavery and rush them head long on into death and damnation.
Yet it is condemning to offer them freedom......
As I wrote in my philosophy of freedom.
The word of God might condemn us. But if we follow it, then we will be set free.
People like freedom.
When I attack sin, I am offering freedom.
To set a captive free you break their shackles.
This could be very painful.
But the pain will be worth freedom.
Ask any refugee.
In Christ
Matt
How can I go to somebody and show them the love of Christ if i am judging them?
Essentially we all want love others and Christians want to show the love of CHrist.
But what is Judgeing and what is love?
We have entered a time of ignorance.
We must remember that what you don't know can kill you.
Millions wil have horrible lives and even worse eternity because they chose the life of a fool.
The fool is one who lives as if there is no God.(Psalm 14)
How do we help people?
Is it by helping people feel good for a minute or a life time.
A drug dealor can potentially help you feel really good for a little while.
I (a preacher) can potentially help you feel really good for all eternity.
If I love someone I may or may not say sweet words. But I will help you if you are in true need and give you godly advice.
not because of me but Christ working in me.
How do we judge people. I convicted that we should not be hard on people but able to forgive and forget. We do not need vengeance upon people.
But I do believe in tough love.
Homosexual rights advocates think they love homosexuals.
They tell them they are born that way and that they need to get married to a homosexuall in that lifestyle for the rest of their lives.
Statistically most homosexuals(definitely men at least) are the bi-products of child molestation. As little children they were tortured and destroyed by evil sex crazed monsters.
Most of these young men were robbed of every ounce of dignity. So much so, that they could not even look at themselves in the mirror be assured of their ability to be men. So they masquerade as sex objects to run away from the guilt. They are then enslaved to live lifestyles that blaspheme themselves, their families, and a just God who will be force to poor out his wrath upon them if there is no repentance toward God and Faith toward Christ. Not to mention lifestyles in which they usually will not live past the age of 50 and will be tempted to become the vampires that tortured them in their youth.
It is not judgemental in our culture to encourage them in this slavery and rush them head long on into death and damnation.
Yet it is condemning to offer them freedom......
As I wrote in my philosophy of freedom.
The word of God might condemn us. But if we follow it, then we will be set free.
People like freedom.
When I attack sin, I am offering freedom.
To set a captive free you break their shackles.
This could be very painful.
But the pain will be worth freedom.
Ask any refugee.
In Christ
Matt
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
One Baptism
What does Baptism mean?
originally translated the word “Baptizo” means immersion yet other translators transliterated this word into Baptism so as not to embarrass paedo-baptist(infant Baptism) Churches.
Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Eph 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
What is Christian Baptism?
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
The Father
The Kingdom
Mat 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mat 3:6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
Mar 11:30 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me.
Act 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Act 13:24 When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
Act 20:20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,
Act 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
John was preaching the gospel of the Kingdom. He was preparing the way for the king. Therefore, his Baptism was a way of repenting in order to become a citizen of the Heavenly Kingdom.
The Son
The church
Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
To be baptized is to convert to Christianity “put on Christ” our church membership means more than our cultural histories.
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Rom 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
Baptism is done is such a way that we directly line ourselves up with Christ and identify ourselves with his death burial and resurrection. We are dead to our old life living a new spiritual life just we also will be buried and resurrected.
The Holy Spirit
The adoption into the family
Act 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Through the Holy Spirit we become part of a family, which is adopted of God. We no longer are estranged. We know that we have God as our Father.
Who can be Baptize?
They must be believers
Act 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
Act 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
They must be taught
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
What is alien Baptism?
It could be…
a. Unorthodox in mode
Baptism means immersion.
908 baptisma {bap'-tis-mah} from 907; TDNT - 1:545,92; n n AV - baptism 22; 22 1) immersion, submersion [Strong’s Lexicon]
b. Unorthodox in doctrine of God
Act 19:2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
c. Unorthodox in salvation
1Co 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
Notice that Baptism is not part of the gospel. It may be part of our conversion and the Great Commission; Yet Baptism is not part of the gospel because it is not part of our salvation.
The Gospel tells us of our salvation brought by Jesus Christ. The Bible clearly teaches we receive the grace of salvation through faith.
Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Baptism is the seal or sign that salvation has happened
Col 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Yet it is not the way of salvation and should never be confused as such
Act 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
Act 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Act 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
Act 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
When people argue that Baptism is there way to salvation then they are no longer humbly depending on the grace of Christ, but instead attempting to use superstitious good works to justify themselves. This is not the Baptism of the New Testament which authenticates our faith, but a trap to enslave believers.
d. Unorthodox in doctrine of the church (sectarian)
1Co 1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
Notice How I avoid denominational names? The reason is that if anyone follows Christ and the New Testament on the subject of Baptism and church membership regardless of the names their groups or preachers. We must follow the Bible alone and ignore personality. Groups that deny other groups who follow the Bible or rebaptized believers who went through New Testament Baptism are not Christ centered but man centered. If groups do this they are not orthodox but are causing division. Those improperly baptized should be baptized. Yet, if you were properly baptized once you should never be pushed into doing so again. Also, we must always be careful that we are never dependant on the teachings of one man for our faith. Whether they are correct or incorrect on a point we should focus our faith on Christ, focus on the scriptures and listen wide varieties of godly teachers to aide our understanding. Even though I think all my teachings are right to simply reading me without testing could prove idolatrous.
Are the alien Baptized, members of the New Testament church?
No.
Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Eph 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
1Co 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
1Co 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.
When we look at these passages many ecumenical Christians assume that when we think of unity we should simply connect to each other regardless of our differences. They think of “one” as monism where everything is connected.
For them being one, is being the same. But is this the understanding of the Bible? Is one God, simply an insignificant universal deity or is it the “unique” and only God?
Look at the passage. “One Lord” does that mean that Jesus Christ happens to be one lord of many? Is He one God of many? No, it is one Lord, to the exclusions of others, one God to the exclusion of others, and One Spirit to the exclusion of others.
So as the passage starts that there is one body. It is obvious that this is the church. This is one body exclusive of other bodies. Is this the invisible church? No. If it is the invisible church then the local church is not the body of Christ. However, the bible almost always uses the word church to describe local bodies. So what about the fact that there are many local bodies? They may be separate in number. Yet New Testament churches are not separate in type. Paul recognizes that they are separate in number, so then he must be describing one unified type of church.
This one type of church has been drawn together by one unique Holy Spirit, not the demons of paganism or any other type of religion. We our hoping for the one hope of Heaven where our God Jehovah dwells.
The body of Christ has one Lord, Jesus Christ.
Mar 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
The Body of Christ only has one faith. This strikes at the heart of the ecumenicist. We can have a group of people who argue to believe in Christ in different ways and still be unified? Then what faith shall we testify of?
These things have to be considered when we have one baptism. If these things are not included then we have different signs seals and promise to our faith which is supposed to be one. Finally we believe that this is the way of the one true God.
In 1 Corinthians we are reminded that we are all baptized in the Holy Spirit into one body. We must remember that salvation linked to Christian baptism because only saved people are truly baptized. So the truly saved are all brought into the one unique church body. A New Testament local church consists of people from all walks of life.
All these churches which divide people according to ethnic groups, age groups and subcultures are disobedient to the to the Head of the Church Jesus Christ. The New Testament brings people out of their worldliness and into the Kingdom of Godliness.
There are admittedly multitudes of Christians saved by grace through faith, yet they are not members of the New Testament church. They either join disobedient churches of Christians or they don’t join at all. Jesus loves them and will save their souls, yet they lose many rewards for not following all their Lord has to say. This is not to say that a New Testament church can not also be disobedient. All disobedient Christians lose rewards and as a result are to be considered “least in the Kingdom”. Yet thank God we are saved by his grace through faith.
Why should Christians with unorthodox baptisms be given New Testament Christian believers baptism?
A. For maturity and unity of faith
Heb 5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Heb 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
False Baptism brings with it fundamental assumptions that destroy our understanding of God and ruin any chance for us to obtain a unity of faith. If you believe that your baptism is regardless of your personal faith, you may end up like the Pharisees who found there salvation in their heritage instead of their allegiance to God and forgiveness in Christ.
B. Privileges in the church
1Co 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
1Co 10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
1Co 10:3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
1Co 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
1Co 10:5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
1Co 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
Now, if the Hebrews had not followed Moses in the baptism of the cloud as they walk through the Red Sea, would they have access to the manna, or the water from the rock?
So if we do not follow Christ in Baptism should we have the benefits of church membership? Ideally… no.
We should also notice that these benefits are not even guaranteed but in fact conditional. The vast majority of Hebrews eventually lost all their privileges.
Now if a person places faith in Christ they may receive the privileges of communion and worship. Yet not properly. If you ever saw the My Cousin Vinny, you will notice that Vinny goes to jail repeatedly for not following the procedures of the courtroom and not dressing properly and being a foul-mouth.
Like Vinny, we contradict our desires to make Jesus our Lord when we do not follow the New Covenant ordinance of Believer’s Baptism
originally translated the word “Baptizo” means immersion yet other translators transliterated this word into Baptism so as not to embarrass paedo-baptist(infant Baptism) Churches.
Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Eph 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
What is Christian Baptism?
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
The Father
The Kingdom
Mat 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mat 3:6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
Mar 11:30 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me.
Act 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Act 13:24 When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
Act 20:20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,
Act 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
John was preaching the gospel of the Kingdom. He was preparing the way for the king. Therefore, his Baptism was a way of repenting in order to become a citizen of the Heavenly Kingdom.
The Son
The church
Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
To be baptized is to convert to Christianity “put on Christ” our church membership means more than our cultural histories.
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Rom 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
Baptism is done is such a way that we directly line ourselves up with Christ and identify ourselves with his death burial and resurrection. We are dead to our old life living a new spiritual life just we also will be buried and resurrected.
The Holy Spirit
The adoption into the family
Act 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Through the Holy Spirit we become part of a family, which is adopted of God. We no longer are estranged. We know that we have God as our Father.
Who can be Baptize?
They must be believers
Act 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
Act 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
They must be taught
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
What is alien Baptism?
It could be…
a. Unorthodox in mode
Baptism means immersion.
908 baptisma {bap'-tis-mah} from 907; TDNT - 1:545,92; n n AV - baptism 22; 22 1) immersion, submersion [Strong’s Lexicon]
b. Unorthodox in doctrine of God
Act 19:2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
c. Unorthodox in salvation
1Co 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
Notice that Baptism is not part of the gospel. It may be part of our conversion and the Great Commission; Yet Baptism is not part of the gospel because it is not part of our salvation.
The Gospel tells us of our salvation brought by Jesus Christ. The Bible clearly teaches we receive the grace of salvation through faith.
Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Baptism is the seal or sign that salvation has happened
Col 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Yet it is not the way of salvation and should never be confused as such
Act 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
Act 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Act 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
Act 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
When people argue that Baptism is there way to salvation then they are no longer humbly depending on the grace of Christ, but instead attempting to use superstitious good works to justify themselves. This is not the Baptism of the New Testament which authenticates our faith, but a trap to enslave believers.
d. Unorthodox in doctrine of the church (sectarian)
1Co 1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
Notice How I avoid denominational names? The reason is that if anyone follows Christ and the New Testament on the subject of Baptism and church membership regardless of the names their groups or preachers. We must follow the Bible alone and ignore personality. Groups that deny other groups who follow the Bible or rebaptized believers who went through New Testament Baptism are not Christ centered but man centered. If groups do this they are not orthodox but are causing division. Those improperly baptized should be baptized. Yet, if you were properly baptized once you should never be pushed into doing so again. Also, we must always be careful that we are never dependant on the teachings of one man for our faith. Whether they are correct or incorrect on a point we should focus our faith on Christ, focus on the scriptures and listen wide varieties of godly teachers to aide our understanding. Even though I think all my teachings are right to simply reading me without testing could prove idolatrous.
Are the alien Baptized, members of the New Testament church?
No.
Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Eph 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
1Co 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
1Co 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.
When we look at these passages many ecumenical Christians assume that when we think of unity we should simply connect to each other regardless of our differences. They think of “one” as monism where everything is connected.
For them being one, is being the same. But is this the understanding of the Bible? Is one God, simply an insignificant universal deity or is it the “unique” and only God?
Look at the passage. “One Lord” does that mean that Jesus Christ happens to be one lord of many? Is He one God of many? No, it is one Lord, to the exclusions of others, one God to the exclusion of others, and One Spirit to the exclusion of others.
So as the passage starts that there is one body. It is obvious that this is the church. This is one body exclusive of other bodies. Is this the invisible church? No. If it is the invisible church then the local church is not the body of Christ. However, the bible almost always uses the word church to describe local bodies. So what about the fact that there are many local bodies? They may be separate in number. Yet New Testament churches are not separate in type. Paul recognizes that they are separate in number, so then he must be describing one unified type of church.
This one type of church has been drawn together by one unique Holy Spirit, not the demons of paganism or any other type of religion. We our hoping for the one hope of Heaven where our God Jehovah dwells.
The body of Christ has one Lord, Jesus Christ.
Mar 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
The Body of Christ only has one faith. This strikes at the heart of the ecumenicist. We can have a group of people who argue to believe in Christ in different ways and still be unified? Then what faith shall we testify of?
These things have to be considered when we have one baptism. If these things are not included then we have different signs seals and promise to our faith which is supposed to be one. Finally we believe that this is the way of the one true God.
In 1 Corinthians we are reminded that we are all baptized in the Holy Spirit into one body. We must remember that salvation linked to Christian baptism because only saved people are truly baptized. So the truly saved are all brought into the one unique church body. A New Testament local church consists of people from all walks of life.
All these churches which divide people according to ethnic groups, age groups and subcultures are disobedient to the to the Head of the Church Jesus Christ. The New Testament brings people out of their worldliness and into the Kingdom of Godliness.
There are admittedly multitudes of Christians saved by grace through faith, yet they are not members of the New Testament church. They either join disobedient churches of Christians or they don’t join at all. Jesus loves them and will save their souls, yet they lose many rewards for not following all their Lord has to say. This is not to say that a New Testament church can not also be disobedient. All disobedient Christians lose rewards and as a result are to be considered “least in the Kingdom”. Yet thank God we are saved by his grace through faith.
Why should Christians with unorthodox baptisms be given New Testament Christian believers baptism?
A. For maturity and unity of faith
Heb 5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Heb 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
False Baptism brings with it fundamental assumptions that destroy our understanding of God and ruin any chance for us to obtain a unity of faith. If you believe that your baptism is regardless of your personal faith, you may end up like the Pharisees who found there salvation in their heritage instead of their allegiance to God and forgiveness in Christ.
B. Privileges in the church
1Co 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
1Co 10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
1Co 10:3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
1Co 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
1Co 10:5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
1Co 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
Now, if the Hebrews had not followed Moses in the baptism of the cloud as they walk through the Red Sea, would they have access to the manna, or the water from the rock?
So if we do not follow Christ in Baptism should we have the benefits of church membership? Ideally… no.
We should also notice that these benefits are not even guaranteed but in fact conditional. The vast majority of Hebrews eventually lost all their privileges.
Now if a person places faith in Christ they may receive the privileges of communion and worship. Yet not properly. If you ever saw the My Cousin Vinny, you will notice that Vinny goes to jail repeatedly for not following the procedures of the courtroom and not dressing properly and being a foul-mouth.
Like Vinny, we contradict our desires to make Jesus our Lord when we do not follow the New Covenant ordinance of Believer’s Baptism
Monday, September 24, 2007
Freedom Baptist Church Covenant(revised from the traditional Baptist "Church Covenant"
We know that we have been drawn by the Holy Spirit to receive Christ as our Savior.
Previously professing faith in Christ and being Disciples Baptized in the name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit.
We do now, in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly, most solemnly, willfully, and joyfully join in covenant with one another forming as one body in Christ.
Relying on the transforming power of the Holy Spirit to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this congregation in knowledge, holiness and comfort.
To promote the blessing and spirituality; to proliferate its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrines; To contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, charity within the church, the relief of the down-trodden, and the spread of the gospel to all nations.
We also engage to maintain family and secret devotions; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances.
To walk in the World, fearing God: to act righteous in our dealings faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our behavior.
To abstain from idolatry, fornication, intoxication, witchcraft, excessive violence and thievery. To be zealous in advancing the kingdom of our Lord.
We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; To remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech;
To be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the doctrine of our Savior Jesus to secure it without delay.
We moreover engage that when we leave this congregation we will; as soon as possible, unite with some other church, where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the whole counsel of God.
We covenant these things not with the lofty ideas of perfectionism or legalism. But do so as devoting our lives to Christ as living sacrifices; and a sacred attempt to live lives which will hopefully honor our Lord.
In the Name of the living God Jehovah: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit through the name of the only begotten Son Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Previously professing faith in Christ and being Disciples Baptized in the name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit.
We do now, in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly, most solemnly, willfully, and joyfully join in covenant with one another forming as one body in Christ.
Relying on the transforming power of the Holy Spirit to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this congregation in knowledge, holiness and comfort.
To promote the blessing and spirituality; to proliferate its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrines; To contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, charity within the church, the relief of the down-trodden, and the spread of the gospel to all nations.
We also engage to maintain family and secret devotions; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances.
To walk in the World, fearing God: to act righteous in our dealings faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our behavior.
To abstain from idolatry, fornication, intoxication, witchcraft, excessive violence and thievery. To be zealous in advancing the kingdom of our Lord.
We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; To remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech;
To be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the doctrine of our Savior Jesus to secure it without delay.
We moreover engage that when we leave this congregation we will; as soon as possible, unite with some other church, where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the whole counsel of God.
We covenant these things not with the lofty ideas of perfectionism or legalism. But do so as devoting our lives to Christ as living sacrifices; and a sacred attempt to live lives which will hopefully honor our Lord.
In the Name of the living God Jehovah: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit through the name of the only begotten Son Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
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