Wednesday, May 22, 2013

What is the Mystery of Romans 16:25-26?

Here's Brian Kelson's latest installment in his series on the mysteries of Romans 16 and Ephesians 3, but I'm also posting it here as a stand-alone piece as it has some interesting tidbits in it:

The distribution of the Old Testament in Paul's letter to the Romans is informative. First of all, the huge volume of the Law and prophesy confirms Paul's words spoken many years later;And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. Act 26:6-7 
Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. Act 26:19-20 
Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles. Act 26:22-23 
Twice in this Acts statement, Paul re-affirms it was still Jew first as it was in Romans, but how can we escape the plain truth that Paul was saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come? This must include the mystery of Romans 16 which was written before this statement.
The mystery of Romans 16 was kept secret, that is silent in the Scriptures yet the Scriptures contained it; it was never hidden in God as the Ephesians Mystery.
There is no doubt that certain things of the Old Testament scriptures were made much clearer in the writings of the New and when we consider elements of Paul's gospel, given him by direct instruction from the Lord, we see some wonderful examples of this. Take this feature as a case in point. When Paul wrote to the Galatians he mentioned this:  And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. Gal 3:8-9 
The Scripture which foresaw this is part of the original sevenfold blessing given to Abraham when called to depart out of his country, namely Gen. 12:1-3. It is not so evident that the great truth of justification by faith through grace upon all people is contained in that blessing but the Lord knew it was so and revealed that truth to Paul. Paul's use of the promised seed in Gen. 15:5 expounded to mean Christ and those of faith is another example of truths not so evident originally but which are more fully expounded by revelation of God, see Gal. 3:16, 29; Roms. 4:13 & amp; 16. We thus realize that Paul spoke the truth when he said, very late in Acts,  that he was saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come. So in what way does the distribution of OT quotes through Romans help us determine the mystery of chapter 16?
From Roms. 1:1 through to 4:22 there are 23 OT references.
From Roms. 4:22 through to 8:35 not one OT reference can be found.
From Roms. 8:36 to 16:27 another 47 OT references.
It is difficult to accurately count the OT references as those who have attempted to do so will know that Paul will combine snippets of prophesy. Needless to say, the variance in those three sections is significant. But here is the amazing thing, Roms. 4:22 through to 8:35 which is void of OT references is about an OT character, Adam.
Adam is mentioned 18 times from Gen. 2:19 through to 5:5. He is next mentioned in Deut. 32:8, Jos. 3:16, 1Chron. 1:1 and Job 31:33. These are the only references to Adam in the Old Testament and not one of them expounds the typology; the foreshadowing of Messiah contained in him. No wonder Paul cannot refer to the OT in the matter of Adam in this regard.
In the New Testament, Luke mentions Adam in the Lord's genealogy, 3:38, Jude identifies Enoch as the 7th from Adam, 1:14, but Paul most of all writes about Adam, Roms.5:14, 1Cor. 15:14, 22, 45, 1Tim. 2:13 and 14.
To Paul alone was given the truth that Adam was a figure of Him that was to come. Paul alone writes that in Adam all die even so in Christ shall all be made alive. It is Paul who writes that Adam was a living soul but in wonderful contrast, the last Adam was made a quickening spirit or a life-giving Spirit.
Returning to Roms. 16:25-27 we remember that the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the  revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began had a goal in view.
A. Roms.16:25-27   to Him, power to stablish, my gospel,               ESTABLISH
                        preaching of Jesus Christ acc'g to revelation of mystery,
                        kept secret (silenced) since the world began,
                        but now manifested and by Scriptures of prophets,
                        commandment of everlasting God,
                        all nations for obedience of faith,                        OBEDIENCE
That goal was to stablish them and bring forth the obedience of the faith of all nations and in the section void of OT references we find two great contrasts, the disobedience of Adam and the OBEDIENCE of Christ and the resulting consequences.

Rejoicing with you in the mystery of Ephesians and Colossians.
Brian
For previous lessons in this series go to bibleunderstanding.com/pastissues.htm 

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Is the church today under the "New Covenant"?

Is the church today under the "New Covenant"?

A mystery saint recently asked this of Brian Kelson and this was his response with some helpful resource links:


"In the matter of the New Covenant, a reading of Jeremiah 30-31 is a great starting scripture, just let those holy words wash over you brother, and seek the Lord's peace in understanding as you read.
You might remember my series on the New Covenant, which you can review as New Covenant Christians today on this link http://www.bibleunderstanding.com/biblestudies.htm Mr Welch's booklet The Lord's Supper on the same link is very helpful.
On this link you will find articles on Covenant, in the Alphabetical Analysis Part 1 and part 8 (check the indexes for page numbers) http://www.bibleunderstanding.com/pdfwritings.htm
On this link http://www.charleswelch.net/be.htm, Vol.17 of the Berean Expositor (check index for page number) is an article Covenant and Passover, well worth the read. On the same link in Vols.16 and 42 are articles on the Covenant of Sinai, (42 includes parts 1 & 2). On the same link in Vol.21 is an article The New Covenant Anticipated. On the same link, Vol.17 is Israel's Restoration and the New Covenant."

Why does Romans 10:9 say confession must be made with the mouth? Is that a requirement for salvation?

Why does Romans 10:9 say confession must be made with the mouth?  Is that a requirement for salvation?

Romans 10:9:  "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."


Brian Kelson's answer:  In Romans verse 1 & 21, Israel remain God's people and Paul's desire is their salvation.
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 10:21  But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
In verse 4, Christ is the object or goal of the Law as per Gals.3, and thus the Law witnessed to the righteousness in Him as per Roms.3:20-22 (Roms.10:12). So we have this link between Israel fixated upon the Law and the testimony of the Law against their zeal and lack of faith which Moses speaks against in verse 5;
Rom 10:5  For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
Then Paul quotes Moses as per the righteousness of faith in verses 6-8 thus;
Rom 10:6  But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
Rom 10:7  Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
Rom 10:8  But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Notice Moses spoke of the heart and mouth in verse 8, and Paul flows on from this with the same words in verse 9-10 and thus the salvation by faith through grace is all in the OT
Rom 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
What is important is that Paul is constantly quoting the Old testament Scriptures which clearly speak of the salvation in view at that time, that is during Acts. There is no such instruction to confess with the mouth in the post Acts epistles. Also, confession was essential for the restoration of those sick because of their trespasses as in James 5. During Acts there were spirits who needed to be tested, 1Jn.4:1 and in 1Cor.12:3 only those empowered by the Spirit could say Jesus is Lord. Romans is an Acts period epistle and is understood in that dispensation.
Now, back to Romans 10 where the OT quotes continue to pour out of the apostle;
Rom 10:10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:11  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Rom 10:12  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Rom 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved
.
Roms.10:11 is a quote from Is.28 which he had already used back in 9:33 and where the faith Paul is writing about is linked with Zion which appears directly and indirectly in Romans many times. Here is Is. used by Paul in 10:11Isa 28:16  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Do we see how practically the entire chapter 10 of Romans is Old Testament. Look at these verses;Rom 10:10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:11  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Rom 10:12  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. See Ps.86:5, 145:18, Is.55:6, Paul had used Is.55 back in Acts 13:34
Rom 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Romans 10:13 is a direct quote from Joel thus;Joe 2:32  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
Once again Mount Zion and all those who call upon the name of the Lord shall be delivered which is precisely what Paul says in chapter 11:25-27.
So what gospel is it in chapter 10? Paul tells us in verse 15 which is a quote from good old Isaiah yet again (I hope we don't see Zion again because then it would be rather impossible to insert heavenly places as the hope of Romans); 
Rom 10:15  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Isa 52:7  How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
Isa 52:8  Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion.
Isa 52:9  Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.
Isa 52:10  The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
Isa 52:11  Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD. (cp 2Cor.6:17).

So Israel have not all obeyed the gospel found in the Old Testament. And even that is as per Isaiah again;
Rom 10:16  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
Isa 53:1  Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

Is.53 is all about the rejected Messiah who was made an offering for sin and who would justify many and is a prophesy about Israel, not the church which is His Body. When will mid-Acts accept that Paul's gospel in Romans is Old Testament based and he meant what he said in Acts 26:22. But let us finish the chapter.
Having quoted the OT so many times this is what Paul concludes;
Rom 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Faith comes be hearing WHAT word? The Word of the Mystery hidden in God? Impossible in this context. Paul goes on to peel things out of the OT; 
Rom 10:18  But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Psa 19:4  Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
Psa 19:5  Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
Psa 19:6  His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
Psa 19:7  The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
Psa 19:8  The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Psa 19:9  The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
Psa 19:10  More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Psa 19:11  Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
Don't we love the reference to the Law and the Bridegroom in the Psalm? So consistent with the Acts period.
Romans 10:19-21 are direct quotes from the OT.
Roms.10:19 = Deut.32:21 (see verse 35-36 & 43 and compare Roms.12:19 [Hebs.10:30], Roms.15:10.
Roms.10:20-21 = Is.65:1-2 where Israel were stubborn but the Gentile inclusion is all prophetic.

Those who find a problem in the confession with the mouth which may, by the grace of God lead them into a mountain of problems in the same chapter when Romans is taught by mid-Acts as the dispensation of the grace of God.
My own summary: 

That scripture always bothered me because it seemed to add something to the gospel. Now I understand that it's connected to the scriptures of the OT prophets and is according to Israel's prophecy:

Deuteronomy 30:14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.

That scripture is the basis for:
Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

Joel 2:32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

This is the basis for:
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Salvation for the Israelite (and Gentiles who looked to be included in the kingdom on earth) was the kingdom itself, not a going to heaven hope like we have. They looked for Mount Zion and Jerusalem to be physically delivered from their enemies and for the messiah to rule.

That's why I believe now that during the Acts period, of which Romans was the last Pauline letter written before Israel was temporarily set aside, Paul was offering the kingdom and preaching the new gospel of grace that was part of the New Covenant God was offering Israel.

We're saved by the same gospel of grace but without all this kingdom prophecy stuff added in to embellish and authenticate it to his hearers. And our doctrine is found in Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, Titus, Philemon, Timothy. There are only about 6 or 7 OT scriptures found in all these letters, while there are 70 in Romans alone!

There's a reason Paul's earlier epistles sound so Jewish and that's why.

If the kingdom was still in view when Paul wrote his Acts epistles, why would he write that tongues, etc. "shall cease" (1 Cor. 13:8-12)?

If the kingdom was still in view when Paul wrote his Acts epistles, why would he write that tongues, etc. "shall cease" (1 Cor. 13:8-12)?   Weren't the sign gifts something God used to leave Israel without excuse after setting them aside temporarily at the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7 and that would cease when the Bible was completed as Mid Acts dispensationalism teaches?

Let's return to the opening of this first letter to the Corinthian believers:

1Co 1:4  I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
 
1Co 1:5  That in everything ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
 
1Co 1:6  Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
 
1Co 1:7  So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
      
     1Co 1:8  Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless           the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Notice, the gifts were a confirmation and would remain unto the end, that is, the apocalypse, not until Paul or anyone else had "done their job leaving Israel without excuse".
In 1Cor. 10:11, the ends of the world (age) had come upon them, not some transition period.   We shall not all die, we who are alive and remain, 2 Cor.12, paradise, unspeakable words, 2 Cor. 11, chaste virgins, all of the elements must be considered when understanding 1Cor. 13. 1Cor and 2Cor. looked to the coming of the Lord, not the full explanation of partial mystery which has nothing to do with prophesy.
The specific passage is in Paul's response to (their question or problems with) supernatural gifts; and he is saying, When we fully know, which is understood when partial knowledge (that is the gift) is replaced, then tongues, another gift will cease. When face to face, i. e., when the Lord comes, THEN partial knowledge will vanish away.   This context has nothing to do with any progressive revelation, but is understood in the fast-approaching apocalypse as stated at the opening of the letter.   They had the gifts until the parousia, despite their squabbling.   The supernatural continued all the way to Acts 28 when they were temporarily set aside as the preeminent nation.
I don't see any reference to "leaving Israel without excuse" in that context of supernatural gifts which flowed from 1Cor. 12 and continues on into 14 where verse 21 refers to the Law which, again, has nothing to do with the present dispensation.   "Without excuse" is in Romans 1:20 which is about the invisible things of creation which speak of God and has no connection to supposedly fading supernatural gifts.  (Brian Kelson)   For more information, please see #14 at http://bibleunderstanding.com/ptaudios.htm

Did believers converted under the kingdom hope of the Acts period cross over into the new hope of the mystery revealed post-Acts?

Did believers converted under the kingdom hope of the Acts period cross over into the new hope of the mystery revealed post-Acts? 


Titus is mentioned in 2 Corinthians and Galatians so what dispensation would Titus be in?



Acts 28 was a huge dispensational boundary and a unique 
point in God's purposes.  Paul and Titus certainly crossed 
that boundary; but Paul did not look back; he pressed onwards. 
He also prayed that the Ephesians, who also
crossed the line, would be given the wise and revealing spirit 
in the knowledge of Christ so they would know the hope, the inheritance and the power.   
These last three things had 
changed, but there was no change in
Christ's death, burial, and resurrection for salvation.   So Paul
wanted all believers to know about the change, to embrace it 
as he did.

Here are some passages to consider:
"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but 
this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, 
and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press
toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ
Jesus.   Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus 
minded; and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall
reveal even this unto you."  (Php. 3:13-15)
"That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first 
[previously] trusted in Christ."  (Eph. 1:12)
"Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus,
and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you,
making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord  Jesus Christ, 
the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of
wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: the eyes of
your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what
is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his
inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness 
of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working
of his mighty power, 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. 1:15-20)

Paul had been at Ephesus for 2 years and declared to 
them all the counsel of God and held back nothing, 
Acts 20:20, 27 but now he prayed they would know 
the things that had changed after Acts 28.   We
also read in Eph.4 that there is one hope of our
calling, singular.
We must leave those who crossed that boundary with 
the Lord but Paul rejoiced in the glory of the
new dispensation and the sufferings
associated with it. "Wherefore I desire that ye faint not 
at my tribulations for you, which is
your glory.   For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of 
our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in Heaven 
and earth is named," (Eph. 3:13-14)



"Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that
which is behind
of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, 
which is the
church; whereof I am made a minister, according to the 
dispensation of God
given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God; Even
the mystery which hath been
hid from ages and from generations, but now has been 
revealed to his saints: to whom God would make known  
what is the riches of the glory of
this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, 
the hope of glory,"  (Col. 1:24-27)
Paul makes it clear that the riches of glory for all 
nations is found in the
new set of conditions that God introduced.  (Brian 
Kelson), see BibleUnderstanding FAQ   

FYI:  Brother Kelson is not KJV-Only 
so his articles may contain quotes from 
other versions.  
I took the liberty of changing the ones 
I've posted on this page 
to the King James version.

Did Paul write Hebrews?

Did Paul write Hebrews?

When I first learned of right division, this was my very first question directed to a teacher of Mid Acts dispensationalism and I was told in no uncertain terms that Paul could not have written it and had an article here on this blog telling the reasons why.  Now I've come full circle back to a place where I can entertain the notion that Paul may have been the author of Hebrews because of (1) similarity of writing style; (2) his unique salutation with which he ended all of his letters; (3) the fact that Peter says Paul wrote to kingdom saints in 2 Peter 3:15; and (4) it maintains a perfect balance in the New Testament of 7 Pauline kingdom epistles, 7 Hebrew epistles, and 7 Pauline mystery epistles.  For a more in-depth study of the question, please read:  http://bibleunderstanding.com/Hebrewauthorship2.pdf.

If the kingdom was still being offered, why did God allow the apostle James to be killed as recorded in Acts 12?

If the kingdom was still being offered, why did God allow the apostle James to be killed as recorded in Acts 12?


I asked Brian Kelson of Bible Understanding and he wrote:  "In the matter of James being killed in Acts 12, this is nothing more than 'normal' for the earthly kingdom purposes than the Lord's servants being persecuted.  A reading of Hebrews 11 reminds us of the many faithful servants of the Lord who suffered at the hands of their fellow countrymen while the kingdom was unfolding.  However, in the matter of James and John, their mother (Matt. 20:20-23) had asked that they sit either side of the Lord in his kingdom and he turned to them and asked were they able to drink of the cup and be baptized with the baptism he would endure, which was his rejection and death.  They replied 'we are able' and the Lord declared that they would indeed drink of the cup (garden pre-death phrase) and be baptized with the same baptism (of suffering and death).
Christ was resurrected for the kingdom, to sit on David's throne so no problem to raise up those sitting with him including David (Jer. 30:9). 
So, James' death in Acts 12 had nothing to do with judgment on Israel; but in the same chapter the Lord certainly judged the pseudo king of Israel who took glory upon himself rather than direct it to the rightful King."