tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6628651347162519372024-03-04T23:17:17.882-08:00Formerly Mid Acts - NOW ACTS 28I owe a great debt to Mid Acts for Mid Acts was the schoolmaster that led me to Acts 28!Deborah (Hickinbotham) Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14301918232942600896noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662865134716251937.post-86135854529913411632019-11-26T13:26:00.001-08:002019-11-26T13:30:20.440-08:00Mid Acts Preacher Now Sees Acts 28!<span style="font-size: large;">If you knew a preacher of the Mid-Acts persuasion that suddenly came to understand the right division of the holy scriptures as being drawn at Acts 28 – and not at Acts 9 or 13 – and who is willing to announce that fact on his YouTube channel, and henceforth preach messages based on that wondrous knowledge, would that get you kind of excited? It did me when I was directed to the YouTube page of Pastor Ryan Poe!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Oh happy day when the eyes of someone's understanding are suddenly enlightened! (Ephesians 1:18). And Ryan is a King James Bible believer also! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ryan Poe</span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxo9l-oFGKKXEFPQoQ6RSdg/featured" target="_blank">Home</a> (Click this link to visit Ryan Poe's YouTube Channel and start with his message titled, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrvWJy2vKck" target="_blank">"Paul's Two-Fold Ministry"</a>!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Welcome to this wonderful understanding of where our Mystery Program began, Brother Ryan! </span>Deborah (Hickinbotham) Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14301918232942600896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662865134716251937.post-43825772444732854122019-11-26T13:15:00.001-08:002019-11-26T13:16:28.775-08:00<span style="background-color: white;">A friend wrote to me about an article she read online:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">I don't know if you saw this or not. It's very interesting. I always thought that being gay was against Bible law. Now I'm not so sure. The article is:<br /><a href="https://www.forgeonline.org/blog/2019/3/8/what-about-romans-124-27?fbclid=IwAR2iyAhl-U6Zb3WuSibnrdqw9brVSWqO1IMAJVN16Bp_2WP003OqvYW8T7A" target="_blank">Has “Homosexual” always been in the Bible?</a><br />I would love your thoughts on this.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Ann</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Here's my answer, and I apologize for my lack of Bible references. I'm quite sure those familiar with the new Testament scriptures will know where I'm coming from with this!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for an interesting article! If I were to write an article, this is what it would say:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What Does the Bible Say about Homosexuality? And Should We Care? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The thing about the Bible is that most people don't understand that it needs to be rightly divided between God's dealings with Israel, his chosen race, and his dealings with people living today in the time after he cast Israel aside (for a time or forever, I'm not certain really!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The thing about Israel was that they spurned God's gracious offer to do everything for them if they would only simply love and trust him. That stiff-necked pride made God pile on laws and rituals upon them in an effort to bring them to their knees and cry out, "Please stop with all these harsh rules and simply deal with us like you promised long ago when you first led us out of Egypt!" But, alas, they never did as a people ask for God's mercy but prided themselves on their </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">ability to keep every law he came up with for them. Aaargh!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So God became so disheartened by this that he "divorced" his bride, Israel, which even men at the time could do before they married her (like his friends told Joseph to do to Mary) and withdrew into a deep silence for 400 years (the years between the last book </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In the Old Testament and the first Gospel account in the New Testament).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then God did something amazing and sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to the earth to woo back his Bride, Israel, so he could actually marry her this time. Part of this plan was that Jesus would </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">show he was their Messiah/Groom by healing people and doing miracles, but along with that, he kept making their laws harder and harder for them to obey (like when he told them that if they even looked at a woman with lust, they were committing adultery. Or like when he said, after </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">teaching them the "Lord's Prayer" (which isn't for us, by the way), that if they did not forgive their brother, their Father in Heaven would not forgive them. Pastors today have no clue that Jesus was again trying to cause Israel to cry out for God's grace and mercy, but the stiff-necked Pharisees and most of the people just doubled down trying to show their own ability to obey all these even stricter laws. In their frustration, they killed their "Groom" because he told them he and the Father are one. Then after Jesus rose from the dead, he taught those that did love him what to do and went back to heaven to wait for his Bride to call him back to her. God converted Paul and sent him to them and also to go to the dirty dog Gentiles and invite them to be part of this in order to make Israel jealous enough to call Jesus back to them, but it didn't happen, did it?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, finally, the Jews (Israel) were dismissed in Acts 28:28 and Paul began to preach a mystery that had never been revealed before, that God would now accept anyone, Jew or Gentile, individually - not as a nation - if they would only just trust his Son for everything and believe that he paid the price for their sins on the cross. All their sins. If we do, then someday we will "appear with him (Jesus) in glory."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, today there are no "laws", rules, or rituals that God commands us to do. He just asks that we believe his Son did it all for us by his perfect life and his sacrificial death. Our message from the Father is in Paul's later epistles - Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon, and it's all wonderful news for us. Once we believe, there is nothing we can do to anger God and make him take everything he has promised us back.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, for pastors, priests, and teachers to go back to the time when God was trying to break Israel's pride and win them back to a mindset where they cried out for his forgiveness in order to marry them, is just plain ignorance on the part of those the people in the pews look to for the truth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We all sin every day, big and little transgressions, and unkindnesses to others, but God has already given us the remedy for that, and it's that his Son paid for every bad thing we have done or will do. So if someone wants to be with someone of the same sex, I don't get all upset by it, and neither does God. The only thing he asks of us today is just to trust his Son for paying the penalty for all sin for all time. Believers have the Holy Spirit and he will help us be kind to other people and to tell them the good news that all sin has been forgiven. As a pastor I like says, "Today, it's not the Sin Question - it's the SON question!" If we trust Christ, we will spend a glorious eternity with him; if we refuse to trust Christ, we forfeit that opportunity, and I believe those unbelievers will simply cease to exist when eternity begins. There is nothing believers can do to make God change his mind about their acceptance into his Kingdom. We call that Eternal Security of the believer. So, gays, transgenders, adulterers, bank robbers, even murderers, who have trusted Jesus Christ will be in Heaven with him when he calls us all there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Churches that don't understand that the Bible needs to be divided rightly like to use Israel's laws and disappointing dealings with God as a way to control people and keep them in line. That's why I don't go to any church, but just rejoice every day in the knowledge that my Saviour has done everything necessary for me to spend eternity with him, and those of us that know this glorious truth need to tell others so they can also appear in glory with him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Does that make sense? Any questions? And, really, why people that write articles think they need to split hairs over things God was using to bring Israel back to him is beyond me! It has absolutely NOTHING to do with us, except that it helps us understand our Father a little better,</span>Deborah (Hickinbotham) Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14301918232942600896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662865134716251937.post-86682909815362180402018-12-18T08:10:00.000-08:002018-12-18T08:17:46.416-08:00David Nottingham on You Tube<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinYnRiAgs7biKmPbmWW6ixpHLaofWbV0AUqF0yDWXvDosUqvamMPtdkdZyi_gmXDg0m3qUG_0NhGSjoPtge3AZorajwedoBzd67AKQiHwScpTm9vzgMF4xAB4eVE4L7igijmD1fbOY4Wg/s1600/David+Nottingham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinYnRiAgs7biKmPbmWW6ixpHLaofWbV0AUqF0yDWXvDosUqvamMPtdkdZyi_gmXDg0m3qUG_0NhGSjoPtge3AZorajwedoBzd67AKQiHwScpTm9vzgMF4xAB4eVE4L7igijmD1fbOY4Wg/s1600/David+Nottingham.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b> David Nottingham has a You Tube Channel</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">David Nottingham, an Acts 28 Dispensational believer in Christ, has several short teaching videos on his You Tube channel. You can enjoy them at this link: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdRilxL6rSZgUY0jvj5oAhg" target="_blank">David Nottingham You Tube</a><b> </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Be sure to "Like" and subscribe!</span></div>
Deborah (Hickinbotham) Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14301918232942600896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662865134716251937.post-58716369216569915342018-12-07T09:04:00.001-08:002018-12-07T09:11:39.682-08:00 <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here's a real treat for us! Another guest article by David Nottingham:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE AGE OF UNSEARCHABLE RICHES</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> In order to obey Ephesians 4:3, it would seem necessary to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit even when those around us do not seem interested. On most occasions, debating beliefs is futile because pride always inhibits the truth. The arrogance of men causes them to attempt to save face even when the evidence is overwhelming that they are wrong. Rather than enter into a debate which may likely lead to hard feelings, I have found it more productive to simply write it as I see it, and then those who may disagree with my beliefs may do so without my knowledge. They are free to tear down or to build upon whatever portions of this exegesis that they feel satisfies their spiritual man.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> If a Bible student understands 2 Timothy 2:15, then he understands that scripture must be divided in order to be properly understood. Dividing scripture between that which is for the nation of Israel and that which is for the church, which is his Body, is the paramount division. The division of prophecy and mystery, heaven and earth, etc., is fully explained in one’s understanding that God is fixing both heaven and earth. He is using Israel for the earth, but he is using the Church to make known the manifold wisdom of God in the heavens. Ephesians 3:10.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> As a student goes about this way in finding the divisions, he must first consider the King James Version as the true word of God. All other versions have been translated by those who have sought to dispel the divisions that we have come to see in scripture. Because they do not understand the twofold purpose of God, they seek to rid the scriptures of these divisions, which they see as contradictions. In short, the divisions are harder to see in modern translations, if not impossible; although they are the greatest key to truly knowing the character, plan, and will of the Almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; and as we will see, not only the will of the Father, but the mystery of it. Ephesians 1:9</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> So, let’s establish what in the Bible is written about the nation of Israel. God's purpose through Abraham begins in chapter 12 of Genesis. It is solely an earthly promise to reconcile the world back to God from its fallen state. This promise continues on until the Jews in Rome reject the New Covenant in Acts chapter 28. Throughout the entire history of the nation of Israel, God’s plan for the world becomes more and more elaborate as God reveals more and more of himself to us through his written word. He tells of how, through Israel, there will be a Kingdom and a King who is a Prophet and a Priest as well. He tells how that through this nation, that all the other nations of the earth will be blessed. When God speaks in the Old Testament scriptures, he does so by speaking through the prophets. Hebrews 1:1. By looking and studying what these prophets spoke, we can begin to see and understand where the division between Israel and the Church needs to be made. One of the foundational beliefs in any corner of dispensational theology is to make our division between prophecy and mystery. In other words, what did the prophets know and speak of, and what was hidden from them?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Let’s look closely at Ephesians 3 and Colossians 1, and then at 2 Timothy 1:9, Titus 1:2, Ephesians 6:19, and Colossians 4:3. If a thing is a mystery, then it was previously unrevealed. Jesus held the Pharisees accountable for not reading their scriptures by asking numerous times, "Have ye not read?" He called the two disciples on the Emmaus Road “fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken.” He was referring to the same thing Peter tells Israel in Acts 3:18 and in his epistle, 1 Peter 1:11, that the glory was to follow the suffering. Paul explains the same thing to the Jews at Thessolonica, Acts 17:3 and again at Berea, Acts 17:11. The glory and the suffering were both prophesied. Both can be found in the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, etc. The previously untold mystery that is revealed to the Apostle Paul is that unforeseen, un-prophesied period of time between the suffering and the glory. Any Old Testament scholar could read and expect the millennial reign of Jesus Christ as King to begin immediately. In fact, Luke tells us that some expected it even before or without the suffering. Luke 19:11. But we know the things promised to Israel have not yet come to pass. One may ask what promises are still to come for Israel. Look in Isaiah 61. Jesus only quoted half the verse in Luke 4:21 because only part had been fulfilled. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Let’s again look closely at Ephesians 3 and Colossians 1. Ephesians 3:5 says this mystery was “not made known,” and verse 9 says it was “hid in God” from the beginning of the world. Colossians 1:26 says it was “hid from ages and generations.” In comparison, Luke tells us in Luke 1:70 that the prophets have spoken concerning Israel's promises since the world began. Again, in Acts 3:21, God's word declares the same. Something spoken of is something revealed. Although the Jews were not able to perceive it yet, it was there in the scriptures. The Dispensation of the Grace of God was not hid in the scriptures. It was hid in God!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> So with the groundwork laid, in what parts of the Bible was Israel's promise of the Kingdom still being offered? This is a dividing line in itself among dispensationalists. It’s unfortunate and detrimental to Ephesians 4:3, that Christians, who before understanding the deeper truths of God's will, might have enjoyed one another’s company, but after disagreeing on when the Grace Dispensation began, they decide their differences are not reconcilable. While some strive and debate, I sincerely wish the Body could have unity; however, a big portion of God's people today are aligning themselves with a different body, with different functions, from a different time, from a dispensation that has passed away. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> The battleground has been, and consistently seems to be, the Book of Acts. While some think the church begins with Matthew, or with Jesus' earthly ministry, most people recognize a new beginning in Acts, chapter 2. Without comprehending the place of Pentecost in the narrative, they stick with and try to resurrect the gifts and signs given to Israel to try and signify the start of the New Covenant. Remember that this was spoken by the prophet Joel. Then there are those who, with a deeper understanding, see that there certainly was a separated gospel of God preached to the Gentiles during the Acts period. Those who hold the position that the Dispensation of the Grace of God began here in the middle of Acts have built the entire premise of their theology on the error of believing the Acts period is the transition between the New Covenant and the Mystery. Hebrews 8:13, in its present context, stated that, "Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.” When Hebrews was written, the writer is making plain that the old had not vanished from the scene yet. To make the case that the Old Covenant, the New Covenant, and the Mystery Dispensation existed all at the same time in the Acts period is poor theology. When comparing Acts, chapters 8 through 28, with the Old Testament, we find Gentiles now included in the New Covenant, but with the Jews in Jerusalem having preeminence. This is the basic premise of the narrative of scripture, all of which Moses, the Psalms and the prophets foretold. Even those who are not dispensationalists can see and believe that grace was bestowed upon the Gentiles, and they think we are still under the New Covenant. To think that the mystery, given to Paul, which was hid in God before the foundation of the world, began in Acts 9, or 13, is just as wrong as those who ignore it completely and think they are still a branch on a tree. Romans 11.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> One of the most simplistic rules of dispensational thought is that you cannot have prophecy where there is mystery. By believing the Mystery begins in Acts 9, a Bible student fashions the noose by which they will strangle their own theology. Mid Acts Dispensationalists will spend their entire ministry trying to explain away Acts 8-28, while ignoring a 40 year wandering of Israel, all the signs and wonders, the baptisms, and most of all the undeniable massive amount of prophecy. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">For those who are honest with themselves and sincere enough to just ask questions without fear of ridicule from their peers, and who value truth over status, I have meticulously gone through the chapters of Acts after the stoning of Stephen and compiled a list of questions for those who are “on the fence” about when the Mystery Dispensation began. The key to understanding anything is always to listen deep down and ask the right question. As you read these questions, you can go to any Mid Acts source to get the explanation that bolsters their position. Trust me, they have spent many, many hours striving to explain these things away. Also, as you read, I would hope to further the understanding that all of the following questions need no explanation at all from the Acts 28 position. They can all be answered by one simple phrase (which will follow), and they can be left alone to say exactly what they say.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> If the offer of the Kingdom ended at the stoning of Stephen:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1. Was his prayer unanswered?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2. What did Philip preach in Samaria?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">3. Why did Peter and John have to confirm the disciples in Samaria?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">4. Acts 8:25: What gospel?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">5. Acts 8:26: Angels speaking?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">6. What gospel was Philip preaching between Azotus and Caesarea?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">7. If God isn't dealing with nations in the Mystery Dispensation, then why did Jesus say he (Paul) would bear his name before kings in Acts 9:15?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">8. Acts 9:20: What is Paul preaching and where?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">9. Acts 9:26-31 says that Paul sought to attach himself with the other disciples and that the church in Judea, Samaria and Galilee was resting, edified, and walking in the fear of the Lord. Where is the church of Jew and Gentile? Where is the mystery hid in God?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">10. Acts 10:36: What exactly did Peter preach at the house of Cornelius?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">11. Acts 11:1: What word had the Gentiles heard again??</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">12. Acts 11:19: Who was preaching? To whom were they preaching? What was their message?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">13. Acts 11:27: Are prophets found in the Mystery Dispensation?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">14. Acts 12: Angels and miracles performed for the Kingdom “key holder”?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">15. Acts 13:1: More prophets?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">16. Acts 13:2: What did Jesus say about fasting in Luke 5: 33-35? What separate ministry?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">17. Acts 13:5: After being separated for a special ministry, Paul still goes to Jews first. Why?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">18. Acts 13:16: Men of who?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">19. Acts 13:17-26: What salvation?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">20. Acts 13:32: Promise made to who?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">21. Acts 13:40-41: Prophecy? Habakuk 1:5?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">22. Acts 13:47: A command from Isaiah 42:6 and 49:6? Is this an offer of the New Covenant?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">23. Acts 14:3: Is the message of today’s grace witnessed by signs and wonders? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">24. Acts 14:22: Much tribulation before entering the Kingdom? What hope is this?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">25. Acts 14:27: Is the door of faith being opened to the Gentiles the same thing as the mystery hid in God?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">26. The entire 15th chapter: Does this sound like a transition between the New Covenant and the Dispensation of Grace?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">27. Acts 15:12-17: Prophecy from Isaiah and Amos? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">28. Acts 15:20: Do you order your steak well done?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">29. Acts 15:32: Prophets still confirming?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">30. Acts 16:3: Should an adult male be circumcised today in order to win some Jews?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">31. Acts 16:17: Did the way of salvation include the baptism performed in verse 15?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">32. Acts 17:3: This is the same message Jesus spoke in Luke 24:26 and what Peter teaches in 1 Peter 1:11. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">33. Acts 17:5: Jews are envious? Was that prophesied?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">34. Acts 17:11: Why is Paul teaching the same thing Jesus and Peter taught everywhere he goes if the Mystery Dispensation began in chapter 9?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">35. Acts 18:8: Explaining away baptism?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">36. Acts 18:21: Keeping a feast?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">37. Acts 18:28: Shewing by the scriptures? No mystery hid in God here..</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">38. Acts 19:6: Tongues and prophecy? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">39. Acts 19:8: Things concerning the Kingdom? Should I ask MAD if I should generalize the meaning of this rendering of “kingdom of God”? Does it differ from Acts 1:3 and 1:6?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">40. Acts 19:11: Special miracles?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">41. Acts 19:23: Is “that way,” the same as the “this way” of Acts 9:2?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">42. Acts 20:6: Still observing times?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">43. Acts 20:16: Observing Pentecost?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">44. Acts 20:24-25: Preaching the Kingdom?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">45. Acts 21:20: If a Jew is saved in the Mystery Dispensation, does he have to be zealous of the law?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">46. Acts 21:24: Purify thyself?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">47. Acts 21:28: Holy place?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">48. Acts 22:16: Did Paul need to be baptized to wash his sins away?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">49. Acts 23:5: Still observing the law by apologizing to the high priest?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">50. Acts 23:11: Was Jesus telling Paul to testify the mystery in this verse?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">51. Acts 24:14: Before Felix – Would an unbelieving Jew under the Old Covenant call believers under the New Covenant, “heretics”?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">52. Acts 26:6-7: The hope and promise made unto the fathers?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">53. Acts 26:16-18: Jesus’ commission to Paul here is quoted from Isaiah 35 and 42.??</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">54. Acts 26:20: Gentiles doing works meet for repentance??</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">55. Acts 26:21: What causes?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">56. Acts 26:22: None other things than Moses and the prophets did say would come. Did Moses and the prophets know about the mystery?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">57. Acts 26:23: Same message as Luke 24, Acts 3, and 1 Peter????</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">58. Acts 28:3-5: Mark 16:18</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">59. Acts 28:17: Why did Paul call for the chief Jews and not the church which is his Body????</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">60. Acts 28:20: What hope was Paul bound for?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">61. Acts 28:23: Testified the Kingdom of God from Moses and the Prophets???</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">62. Acts 28:25-28: The pronouncement from Isaiah 6. ??</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> The answer to all of these questions is very simple: The Mystery hid in God, kept secret from ages and generations, was not revealed until the Acts period closed.</span>Deborah (Hickinbotham) Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14301918232942600896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662865134716251937.post-64871882578709166602018-09-28T11:50:00.000-07:002018-09-29T10:28:24.822-07:00The Great Commision Revisited by David NottinghamDavid Nottingham, an Acts 28 Right Divider in Kentucky, sent me this guest article for the blog:<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE GREAT COMMISSION, REVISITED</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Matthew 28:20</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>by David Nottingham</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We have been by tradition convinced that Matthew 28:19-20 is our great commission from the Lord Jesus to go out and evangelize the world. If you are reading from a study Bible of almost any publisher or any school of theology, you probably have in the margin that this particular passage is indeed our "Great Commission." Much in the same way, our study Bibles proclaim to us that the entry of Christ on the foal of an ass into Jerusalem is a "triumphal entry," but wouldn't the fulfillment of Zechariah 14:4 qualify as a more triumphant entry than the fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9? Certainly the Lord Jesus Christ knew he was not entering Jerusalem at that time to fulfill the prophecies concerning his Kingship, but rather to fulfill the prophecies concerning the lowly suffering servant who would die for the people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In much the same way that traditions have formed our opinions on this passage of scripture (Matthew 21; Mark 11). I am even more strongly opposed to the teaching that Christ was talking to the church, which is his body, on the day he addressed those twelve Jewish men and told them to, "</span><span class="text Matt-28-19" id="en-KJV-24215"><sup class="versenum"> </sup><span style="font-size: large;">Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Matt-28-20" id="en-KJV-24216"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>Teaching
them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I
am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Matt-28-20" id="en-KJV-24216">Understanding what God was accomplishing through the nation of Israel is key to understanding much of the Bible. Any intelligent student of scripture must grasp the narrative of God's plan and that God reveals himself as the scripture unfolds. Too many times, the human mind says, "I'm done learning now," while God says, "I'm not done teaching you."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Matt-28-20" id="en-KJV-24216">In order for the Church in the present dispensation to apply the "red letter" words of the Lord Jesus, so much has to be taken as non-literal. An example would be that because a person gives money to the Gideons in order for Bibles to be distributed worldwide, this relieves the conscience and satisfies the sincere believer in that he has followed these instructions of the Lord; however, this is a private interpretation of scripture. Once a person believes that scripture is best translated as non-literal, the door is wide open for any and all interpretations to the point that no one is right and no one will ever be able to establish sound doctrine or truth. So what is the literal interpretation of the words Christ spoke to the twelve just before his ascension?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Matt-28-20" id="en-KJV-24216">First, as always, we must interpret in light of the context. Let's consider what Christ came to do. We know now that Christ died for the sins of the world (2 Cor. 5:15). We also know that if we are saved today, it is through the blood of his cross by which we are reconciled (Col. 1:20). We glory in the cross (Gal. 6:14). We are justified by grace (Titus 3:7), and by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8) – and that not of ourselves. Not in our faith do we trust, but it is in his faithfulness to endure the cross (Gal. 2:20; 1 Tim. 2:6); and not only this, but that the earnest of our inheritance is that we are sealed by his Spirit (Eph. 1:13-14), and baptized into his death (Rom. 6:3) into the body (1 Cor. 12:13), and raised in newness of life (Rom. 6:4). None of the above-mentioned things that had yet been spoken of by the Lord when he told the disciples to "Go...and teach..." In fact, none of the disciples ever wrote about the above-mentioned truths. The only epistles that contain these blessed grace doctrines are the ones written by the Apostle to the Gentiles, Paul. The only time the word, "cross," is used in any epistle at all outside of Paul's epistles is in the letter to the Hebrews (Heb. 12:2), and there is plenary evidence to indicate that Paul authored this epistle as well.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Matt-28-20" id="en-KJV-24216"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Matt-28-20" id="en-KJV-24216">What conclusion do we come to from this? The question remains then, "For what was the Lord commissioning the twelve apostles of Israel?" Let's look at the surrounding context to get a better grasp of what the Lord was telling them. Acts, chapter one, will give us lots of insight into what exactly the Lord told them – and had been telling them for forty days since his resurrection. Verse three of Acts chapter one tells the reader plainly that the Lord spoke to them "things pertaining to the kingdom of God." Verse six tells us that after three years of ministry consisting of signs and miracles, a brutal death on the cross, and a resurrection from the dead (of all things!), the disciples had a chance to ask one more question in haste as the cloud from verse nine probably was already forming to receive him out of their sight: "Wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Matt-28-20" id="en-KJV-24216"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Matt-28-20" id="en-KJV-24216">A parallel scripture to Matthew 28:20 is Mark 16:15-20. I find it puzzling that no one labels this passage of scripture as, "the Great Commission," although it concerns the same event. Instead, the footnotes in most modern Bible versions say that this passage should not even be in the Bible and some delete it entirely. Why? Because it's easy to say that giving money to put Bibles in foreign countries fulfills the Christian's duty to obey Matthew 28:20, , but coming up with a non-literal interpretation of Mark 16 is not so easy. Only a literal interpretation will do. Look closely at verse twenty: "...and THEY [emphasis mine] went forth. THEY were those to whom that commission was given, and all the signs that the Lord said would follow them did follow them; and it was all about the prophesied kingdom that had been promised – to THEM.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Matt-28-20" id="en-KJV-24216"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Matt-28-20" id="en-KJV-24216">After forty days of instruction, the Apostle Peter, to whom were given the keys to this kingdom, stood up and declared in Acts 2:14, "Ye men of JUDAEA [emphasis mine] and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem;" and verse sixteen, "...this is that which was spoken..."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Matt-28-20" id="en-KJV-24216">Let's stop here. Ultimately, what Peter would tell them to do was "repent," verse thirty-eight. That is also what he told them in Acts chapter three, verse nineteen. Repentance by the nation of Israel for killing their King was the one condition that was stipulated to bring about the return of Christ as King seated upon the throne, the answer to the question of Acts 1:6. As we read through the Book of Acts and see Paul's separated Gospel of God go out to the Jew first and also the Greek (Romans 1:2, 16). This gospel of God's grace was the last measure God would take with Israel. The prophets declared that the Jews would become jealous of the believing Gentiles and yet they still rejected the kingdom being offered to them (Deut. 32:21).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Matt-28-20" id="en-KJV-24216"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Matt-28-20" id="en-KJV-24216">As the book of Acts comes to a close, we see the final signs and miracles being done by the Apostle Paul in order to convince the Jews as far away as Rome. He called for "the chief of the Jews" in Acts 28:17. Paul told them that for "the hope of Israel, I am bound with this chain..."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Matt-28-20" id="en-KJV-24216"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Matt-28-20" id="en-KJV-24216">As Paul finished the Acts ministry given to him by the risen Saviour, every Jew in the known world had had an opportunity to hear the Gospel of God; and, as a nation, they rejected the kingdom. Acts 28:25-28 is the moment that the gospel would no longer go to "the Jew first." Their opportunity to hear and understand and see and perceive (Acts 28:26) was finally over, pulled from the table, set on shelf, and held in abeyance. But, what of Peter and of the twelve, and their commission to go into all the world? The prophets declared that Israel was to become a nation of priests and kings (Isaiah 61:6) and that they were to teach all nations. If you have followed the narrative thus far, then you know that the comprehensive reader looks at Acts 28:28 and says, "What now?" </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Matt-28-20" id="en-KJV-24216">What Jesus commissioned the twelve to go and do was one hundred percent spoken of in the prophets; but let's look at a much overlooked commission given to the Apostle Paul to give to the Body of Christ in a dispensation of grace where the Jew and his signs and prophets are not found. Ephesians 3:1-11 and Colossians 1:24-27 are uncharted territory. Paul tells us that this dispensation was a mystery hid in God. The "church, which is his body," was not spiritual Israel carrying out the orders and prophecies of that chosen nation. The mystery was not spoken of by the prophets because God never made it known. It was God's secret. He made it known to the Apostle Paul by revelation (Eph. 3:3), to fulfill the word of God (Col. 1:25)! Our commission is to make ALL men see what is the fellowship of the mystery (Eph. 3:9).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Matt-28-20" id="en-KJV-24216"><br /></span></span>Deborah (Hickinbotham) Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14301918232942600896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662865134716251937.post-79300226819399805392017-02-15T15:58:00.000-08:002017-02-16T17:46:36.835-08:00What Message Did Paul Preach in a Typical Jewish Synagogue?<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue;">I know you'll enjoy and be edified by this guest article by Brother Ivan Burgener (contact information at end of article):</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>DID YOU EVER WONDER...</b><br /><br /><b>What message Paul preached in a typical Jewish synagogue?</b> For my part I had become so focused on Paul’s ministry as God’s Apostle of the Gentiles that I had failed to give proper attention to his ministry to Jews. His visiting synagogues seemed paramount at every city. Even in Philippi he sought a gathering of Jewish ladies when, apparently, there was no synagogue.<br /><br />Paul surely visited far more synagogues than are named in the Acts and his epistles. Yet we need not guess at the content or focus of his ministry there. We have an inspired example, namely his first recorded message in Acts 13:14-52 wherein he tells how “they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and sat down. And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, ‘Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on’ ” (13:14-15).<br /><br />Being Gentiles and strangers to synagogue practice, many of us fail to realize that Paul had seated himself in the place reserved for visiting rabbis so as to be called upon if invited. The invitation received, “Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, ‘Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience. The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it’ ” (Acts 13:16-17).<br /><br />What an entre! He began where God had begun to make good His 400 year old promise to Abraham, for in Genesis 15 :13-14 God had said, “Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs (Egypt), and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance” (Acts 13:16-17). The Exodus!<br /><br />Paul had skipped over their flight from Pharaoh’s army and the crossing the Red Sea where their enemies drowned. He also skipped telling anything of their year-long encampment at Mt. Sinai during which time Moses’s seven escapades up and down the mount had concluded in Israel signing on to a covenant written by the hand of God. Paul did not “rub their noses” in their breaking that Covenant within 40 days. He also skipped completely over all the negotiations which concluded in their refusal to make the thirteen day journey directly to the promised land.<br /><br />He went directly to their wilderness journey and their many provocations of God therein.<br /><br />“And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness. And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot. And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.” (13:18-21).<br /> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">How interesting, that forty years began it and forty years concluded this period yet Paul also swiftly passed over the centuries of their wilderness wanderings to the removal of King Saul!<br /><br />“And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus: When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. And as John fulfilled his course, he said, “Whom think ye that I am? ‘I am not he’ (We remember John’s denial of being Elijah or the Messiah). But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose” (13:22-25).<br /><br />Paul deftly brought them to Luke 16:16 where, “The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.” The message from God through John was upgraded by the Messiah Himself, Jesus of Nazareth, and it ran headlong into stiff opposition as many other verses confirm. Yet Paul pled:<br /><br />“Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you fears God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew Him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning Him. And though they found no cause of death in Him, yet desired they Pilate that He should be slain. And when they had fulfilled all that was written of Him, they took Him down from the tree, and laid Him in a sepulchre. But God raised Him from the dead: And He was seen many days of them which came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses unto the people” (13:26-31).<br /><br />Paul applied this message to himself and to his synagogue audience for “we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, (to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that He hath raised up Jesus again (in resurrection); as it is also written in the second psalm, ‘Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.’ And as concerning that He raised Him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, He said on this wise, ‘I will give you the sure mercies of David.’<br /><br />Wherefore He saith also in another psalm, ‘Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.’ For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: (Peter said in Acts 2:29, ‘let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.’) But here Paul continued: “But He, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” (13:32-39).<br /><br />What in the world is all this but the New Covenant as promised in Jeremiah 31:34, when, “saith the Lord... I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” Prophesied by Jeremiah indeed, but ably ministered now by Paul according to 2 Corinthians 3:6, “able ministers of the new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit...” But Paul continued,<br /><br />“Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you. And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.<br /><br />“And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.<br /><br />“Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles” (13:40-46).<br /><br />The Lord’s words of Paul’s commission (given to Ananias), that Paul was God’s chosen vessel to bear His name to “Gentiles... kings, and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15) seemed to suggest that Gentiles would be in first place. But Israel clearly enjoyed first priority throughout the entire book of Acts! Only after the Jews had rejected his message in the synagogue that Paul was free to extend God’s blessings to Gentiles. Paul respected that priority and always went to them first. This “Jew first” policy continued through his Romans epistle but did not continue beyond the book of Acts.<br /><br />I cannot forget my own awakening to this fact. I had been reading Romans wherein Paul had written in Romans 1:11-13 “I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you...” And again in Romans 15:32. “That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.”<br /><br />How disappointed I was to read in Acts 28, that within a few days of his arrival in Rome, he did not call for a meeting of the church, as I hoped and expected! He called for the leaders of the synagogues of Rome. He spent several days with them going over with them his “able ministry of the New Covenant,” just as he had done in every synagogue. Right up to the end of Acts was God making good His promise of the New Covenant, and they were making a big mistake if they refused.<br /><br />“For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost” (13:47-52).<br /><br />Was there any other issue, half so appropriate, as Paul offering “the New Covenant to Jews scattered outside the land” just as Peter had done “to Jews within the land”? See how Peter’s message concluded, “... it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed” (Acts 3:23-25). This is the only place where we find the word “covenant” in Peter’s mouth or pen!<br /><br />It seems clear that just as Peter did all he could to bring Israel to repentance and that his ministry was that of offering the New Covenant within the promised land, we find the Apostle Paul, throughout his Acts ministry, including all his epistles written during that period, offering the same New Covenant to the hosts of Israel scattered throughout the Gentile world.<br /><br />Paul’s New Covenant epistles are listed below in, we believe, the order of their writing:<br /><br />Galatians; written between Acts 14 & 15. It does not seem possible he could have written it after Acts 15 and failed to mention it in his letter to the Galatian churches. Circumcision was the issue in the Galatian epistle, the very issue which was resolved at the Acts 15 Jerusalem Conference.<br /><br />1 & 2 Thessalonians; written after his visit in Acts 17<br /><br />1 & 2 Corinthians; written after his visit in Acts 19<br /><br />Romans, the last letter; written before his imprisonment in Acts 21:26-37.<br /><br />That Hebrews was written during this same period covered by the book of Acts seems beyond doubt. Hebrews is God’s glorious message offering the New Covenant to Israel. It is equally without question that whoever wrote it must have been a very “able minister of the New Covenant”! Hebrews uses the word “covenant” 17 times, more times than all the rest of the NT books combined.<br /><br />Many mid-Acts dispensationalists are persuaded that the competing messages throughout the book of Acts were the Gospel of the Kingdom giving way to the Gospel of Grace. We suggest that the competing messages were the Law of Moses, the Old Covenant, versus the New Covenant (a ministry of grace) as ministered by Peter in Acts 1-12 and by Paul in Acts 13-28. The finale of this competition was Paul’s confrontation with the synagogue leadership of Rome in Acts 28. When Israel stubbornly rejected Paul’s final presentation of the New Covenant, God’s salvation went to Gentiles, not through Israel, but in spite of them. Israel’s priority was not mentioned thereafter.<br /><br />Let us consider all of the 33 NT appearances of the Greek word for covenant. We find it translated “testament” 13 times and “covenant” 20 times. For our purpose we will consider it to be “covenant” all 33 times and list them below.<br /><br />It appears 1 X in Matthew and Mark, and 2 X in Luke, (once early before the birth of Christ and a second time with Matthew and Mark at the Last Supper). In John it does not appear. We can understand the Lord using the word covenant only once, just before His assumption of the role of “...the mediator of the New Covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things than that of Abel” (Hebrews 12:24).<br /><br />It appears 2 X in Acts, 3:27 and 7:8, (the covenant of circumcision).<br /><br />It appears 1 X in Revelation 11:19 when the Ark of the Testament (Covenant) is seen.<br /><br />It appears 17 X in Hebrews<br /><br />It appears 9 X in Paul’s epistles, 8 X in his Acts epistles and 1 X in the prison epistles, Eph 2 where<br /><br />Gentiles are strangers from the covenants.<br /><br />This collected evidence suggests that Paul, who labels himself, an “able minister of a New Covenant” is the writer of Hebrews. Others have suggested that the Greek language and grammar are by Luke but the theology is that of Paul.<br /><br />For sure only Paul gave us two of the three comparisons of two covenants.<br /><br />1. Galatians 4:24-31, by Paul<br /><br />2. 2 Corinthians 3:6-18 by Paul<br /><br />3. Hebrews 12:18-28, by the ablest minster ever of the New Covenant. (Who could that be?)<br /><br />“Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. Remember Jesus Christ of the seed of David risen from the dead according to my gospel: wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound” (2 Tim 2:7-9).<br /><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Address all questions, compliments, and complaints to Ivan L. Burgener, 618-344-6741; cell: 618-792- 6462, iburgener@aol.com or to 401 Willowbrook Lane, Collinsville, IL 62234. </span></b></span>Deborah (Hickinbotham) Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14301918232942600896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662865134716251937.post-68018267993827603562017-01-20T10:23:00.002-08:002017-01-20T10:24:26.427-08:00Baptism and How It Relates to this Post-Acts Dispensation<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">Dear Friends,<br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">Water baptism is an accepted form of worship or obedience in most of the
Christian denominational systems. If we include water baptism of
infants, then those who do not practice any form of water baptism are
definitely in the minority.<br />
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It is universally accepted that water baptism, either immersion or
sprinkling, does not save anyone. We won’t canvass the authenticity of
either form of water baptism but focus rather on the ordinance itself
and its place in God's purposes.<br />
<br />
Water baptism has been so long a Christian tradition that it goes
unquestioned as being valid in today’s present dispensation of the Grace
of God. A casual reading of the Gospels will show water baptism
prevalent in the ministry of John the Baptist, the Disciples of Christ,
and the ministries recorded in the Book of Acts. Water baptisms or
washings were embedded from the beginning of Israeli history in the
Levitical, Temple services, in the daily lives of the people and is
featured in prophesy. This Israeli highlight of everyday life continued
right through the Gospel and Acts periods. Old Testament or New, water
baptism can be found and thus by sheer weight of presence its place in
today’s orders of service is affirmed for many.<br />
<br />
In the modern Christian era, water baptism is understood as a
demonstration of the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and is a
public confession of an inward act of faith in Him. It is positioned
after the confession of faith in Christ for the modern believer. For
many, undergoing water baptism is a unifying statement that they are a
child of God and is an essential part of denominational (church)
membership. It is widely seen as an obedience issue rather than one
essential for salvation. As sincere students of the Word we need to know
if these rationales are scripturally valid.<br />
<br />
As with all Bible topics, the Bible study rules must be observed if we
are to fully understand the place and significance of water baptism
today. The questions of who, what, when, where and why are important in
our examination of water baptism. Likewise we need to note its contexts
and of course the wide comparison of Scripture with Scripture are other
essential basics to a prudent study. These are all essentials of rightly
dividing water baptism; we do not want to be unapproved and ashamed
before our Lord on any subject.<br />
<br />
We begin our research by first observing the cultural setting of the
Gospels and Acts period. What was everyday life like in Israel when the
interregnum period closed, that is the 400 years approximately between
Malachi and Matthew? What was Israeli culture when John stepped center
stage to proclaim the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand? We begin by taking a
passage from John. Once news of his prophetic preaching reached the
leadership in Jerusalem, a deputation was sent to make inquiries;</span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">And this is the record of John, when the
Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?
And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.
And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not.
Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who
art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest
thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the
wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet
Esaias. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked
him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that
Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? John answered them, saying, I
baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;
He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's
latchet I am not worthy to unloose.<br />
These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was
baptizing. The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith,
Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is
he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me:
for he was before me. And I knew him not: but that he should be made
manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. </span><span style="color: black;">Joh 1:19-31 </span><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">The first question posed to John was
concerning his identity, “who are you?” Not once did the delegation ask
anything as to water baptism itself as if it were some new and strange
feature of public witness. Water baptism was very well known to them, it
was an integral part of their religious and social life when John
appeared. But even more, they knew that water baptism was to accompany
the witness of Messiah, (Ez.36), Elijah (Mal.4:5) and “that prophet”
(Deut.18:15-18).<br />
<br />
Water baptism was part of Israeli life and accompanied the expectation
of Messiah. It spoke to Israel of God's glorious future plans for them.
Water baptism in its opening context is in relation to the prophetic
coming of Israel’s Messiah and it was seen in the ministry of John the
Baptist who heralded that coming Kingdom of Glory. This is confirmed by
the questions of the delegation and by John’s first and later
explanation;</span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. </span><span style="color: black;">(Isaiah 40) Joh 1:23 </span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.</span><span style="color: black;"> Joh 1:19-31</span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">Water baptism in an opening context, relates
to the coming of Israel’s Messiah to Israel. It was part of Israel’s
history, social life and expectation of the coming Kingdom out of heaven
on earth.<br />
<br />
I add my blessings to Eph.1:3 for you,<br />
Brian Kelson</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">To receive this study in its entirety – all seven lessons (13 pages) – please send me an email at deborah.kuzenski@gmail.com and ask me to send you the pdf version! </span></span>Deborah (Hickinbotham) Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14301918232942600896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662865134716251937.post-2674388018897280692016-05-21T09:43:00.001-07:002016-05-21T10:08:01.136-07:00GUEST ARTICLE by former Mid Acts Blogger<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvmgPR3sy3i8jToad1n0onV-fKcAXuu87o6ybmDf7hP3KqLohA-sDACVgvgic57oC0tedYGniZ301WYVgj7_94VVMgxiQkKoi26pgb9c1UCzyymB0Ta89hkYldWC5EejifYQWfdDJjMk/s1600/4cz9CyH00AmfrLeJxKm4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="68" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvmgPR3sy3i8jToad1n0onV-fKcAXuu87o6ybmDf7hP3KqLohA-sDACVgvgic57oC0tedYGniZ301WYVgj7_94VVMgxiQkKoi26pgb9c1UCzyymB0Ta89hkYldWC5EejifYQWfdDJjMk/s320/4cz9CyH00AmfrLeJxKm4.png" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Hi, Fellow Students of the word!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The following comment on one of the articles here is too meaty and encouraging not to post it as a guest article. Thank you for sharing these thoughts with us, De! I heartily recommend that you stop by De's forum site: <a href="http://koffi-time.boards.net/" target="_blank">Koffi-Time</a>, for more thoughts on our heavenly calling in Christ according to the rightly divided word.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"I'm NOT one for labels, but until a year or so ago those who do label would consider me "mid-acts"... </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I
truly love to study... as I studied I began to pray that the eyes of my
understanding would be enlightened... the same prayer that Paul prayed
for the Ephesians. <br /><br />One evening as I studied I SAW and I
UNDERSTOOD with CLARITY and PURE UNADULTERATED KNOWLEDGE... God blessing
Gentiles THROUGH Israel and then God blessing Gentiles WITH Israel
under the blessings of covenants of promise. But Now... in this present
dispensation God is blessing Gentiles APART from Israel according to
His Sacred Secret. That is to say I KNOW first hand that which God had
hidden in Himself... <b>LIFE in the LIGHT for Gentiles according to THE Mystery</b>... and I joyfully crossed the dispensational border with my Father. <br /><br />The moment I saw with the clear eyes of my heart, I remember saying out loud, "<b>I'll be darned, what Debbie believes really is true</b>." <br /><br />I
have never for one moment doubted that my Father heard my prayer and
answered it... for I have had this wonderful PEACE that passes all human
knowledge and understanding... and the clarity of the word of TRUTH
just gets clearer and more solid daily.<br /><br />I said all of that to say
this... crossing the border at my Father's dividing line has caused me
to KNOW the REALITY of my RIGHTFUL PLACE, i.e. I'm seated with Jesus
Christ who is even now seated in His RIGHTFUL PLACE... far above ALL
heavens... far above ALL principalities and powers!<br /><br />If you do NOT
yet see our Father's dispensational border, pray the prayer Paul prayed
for the Ephesians (Eph. 1:16-23)... I'll be holding out HOPE for you...
I can hardly wait to hear of the next Saint who rightly divides the
word of TRUTH, RIGHTLY. Praise His Holy Name!"</span>Deborah (Hickinbotham) Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14301918232942600896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662865134716251937.post-85513016622092236012016-02-22T20:07:00.000-08:002016-02-22T20:07:16.636-08:00Romans - A Nugget of TruthI love these words from Brother Brian Kelson's latest newsletter, although they might cause some discomfort to those that want to cling to a Mid Acts position:<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">"Christ confirmed the Promises made to the
fathers, Paul wrote of the promises made to the Fathers in Romans and
Paul held the hope of the promises made to the Fathers after Romans was
written. Romans has redemption truths rich for today, but the
dispensational truths of Romans are not for today. It is wrong division
of the uttermost confusion to insert into Romans anything other than
Moses, the Law, the Prophets, Covenants and Promises. Our hope is found
in Paul's letters written after Acts 28."<br />
</span>Deborah (Hickinbotham) Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14301918232942600896noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662865134716251937.post-39950976015367669172015-07-20T09:55:00.001-07:002015-07-20T09:55:27.514-07:00PAUL'S HOPE DURING ACTS <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">From Brian Kelson's latest newsletter:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">Dear Friends,<br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">As we arrive at the closing chapters of Acts we find the same themes,
the same dispensational settings and the same opposition from the
Israeli leaders and populace. The Kingdom and the call to it have gone
out to Israel in the Land, outside the Land and now back inside the
Land. Despite the recorded witness being outside the Land since Acts 13,
there have been thousands of witnesses inside the Land as James
mentions in 21:20. Yet the resistance to the truth remains.<br />
<br />
Paul walked orderly; he constantly observed and guarded the Law during
those times and because Christianity has failed to separate the Gospels
and Acts from our calling today, the rise of Law observance among
Christians is astounding. We are not to observe Sabbaths or abstain from
any foods today, these things belong to Israel which was set aside at
Acts 28 and those observances were set aside with her;</span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: mediumblue;"><span class="text Col-2-16" id="en-KJV-29511"><span style="color: blue;">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:</span> </span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span class="text Col-2-17" id="en-KJV-29512">Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Col-2-17" id="en-KJV-29512"></span><span style="color: mediumblue;"></span><span style="color: black;">Col 2:16-17</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">Acts 23 is yet another
opportunity for the rulers of Israel to hear the message. Paul addresses
the Sanhedrin just as Peter and Stephen had done back in Acts 4-6. The
book of Acts is cyclic; It started in Jerusalem and comes back there
towards the close. How true it is that during Acts, God had “all day
long stretched forth (his) hands to a disobeying and gainsaying people”.
Not only were they contradicting, but they began to plot to kill Paul
just as they plotted to kill the Lord many years before; no change, no
repentance, no submission of heart and mind to the words of the Lord.<br />
<br />
The Kingdom and the call to it was given one more time to these rulers
of Israel, but the moment they plot to kill Paul, the Romans are
instrumental in transferring him to Rome for the final witness to the
Jews of the dispersion. Multiple times during Acts, Christ was presented
to the Israelis in the land and outside. From Jerusalem Paul was taken
under guard to Caesarea where Felix was to hear trumped up charges
against him.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: black;">In these later chapters of
Acts It is important to recognize the basis of Paul’s faith given by his
own testimony. Before Felix, Paul stated he believed all things
declared in the O.T. Scriptures;</span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><span class="text Acts-24-14" id="en-KJV-27784">But this I confess unto
thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of
my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in
the prophets:</span></span><span style="color: black;"> Acts 24:14<br />
<br />
This emphatic statement that Paul’s faith and hope was based upon the
O.T. scriptures is repeated before King Agrippa just a few years later
and remains the instrument of Paul’s final witness in Rome;</span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><span class="text Acts-26-22" id="en-KJV-27846">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</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">. </span> Acts 26:22</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><span class="text Acts-26-27" id="en-KJV-27851">King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.</span></span></span></span></span><span class="text Acts-26-28" id="en-KJV-27852"><sup> </sup><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.</span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"> Acts 26:27-28 </span><br />
</span><span style="color: blue;">And
when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his
lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God,
persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out
of the prophets, from morning till evening.</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"></span><span style="color: black;"> Acts 28:23<br />
<br />
Paul was able to present the faith to Agrippa directly from the OT
Scriptures; the Prophets spoke of Christ and justification by faith and
Agrippa knew the scriptures. Paul is not preaching to Agrippa the
Mystery truths revealed after Acts 28. Neither is Paul aware of them
either, since they were still hidden in God when he made the statement
in 26:22. Paul was a Christian during Acts but his hope and inheritance
was that promised in the O.T.Scriptures. He was a Christian after Acts
but with a completely new and previously unknown hope and inheritance.<br /> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">Further evidence that Paul
was not preaching the heavenly places of Ephesians and the one new man
of our present calling in Acts is found in his statements regarding the
orthodox Israeli position which he had not offended;</span><br />
</span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span class="text Acts-24-17" id="en-KJV-27787">Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.</span><span class="text Acts-24-18" id="en-KJV-27788"> Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"> Acts 24:17-18 </span><br />
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><span class="text Acts-25-8" id="en-KJV-27805">While he answered for
himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the
temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.</span></span><span style="color: black;"> Acts 25:8<br />
<br />
Paul was found purified in Israel’s Temple, he had not offended the Law
or the Temple but was walking in a godly manner which included the
observance of the Law, and this is not the faithfulness of Paul after
Acts 28. Christianity of the Acts period included faith in Christ the
offered substitute, righteousness reckoned but the inheritance; the
hope, was the hope of the Law and the Prophets which is not the case
today. Look at Paul again: </span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span class="text Acts-26-15" id="en-KJV-27839">And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.</span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><span class="text Acts-26-16" id="en-KJV-27840">But
rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this
purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things
which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear
unto thee;</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><span class="text Acts-26-17" id="en-KJV-27841">Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><span class="text Acts-26-18" id="en-KJV-27842"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>To
open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the
power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and
inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.</span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"> Acts 26:15-18 </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><span class="text Acts-26-22" id="en-KJV-27846">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</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">. </span></span></span>Acts 26:22<br />
<br />
The truths of redemption and the consequences of those who believed in
the Lord back in the Acts are “no other things than those which the
prophets and Moses said was going to happen”. Moses and the Prophets
spoke of the wonderful redemptive truths we love but the “inheritance
among those who are sanctified by faith in Christ” they spoke about, and
which Paul held at that time, is not the inheritance we have received
today, after Acts 28. The redemptive truths continued across the Acts 28
boundary, but the inheritance truths were set aside with Israel.<br />
<br />
In Acts, Paul’s hope was identical to that of the orthodox Israelis, in
other words it was the hope of the prophets and Moses, this is not our
hope today;</span><br />
</span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span class="text Acts-26-6" id="en-KJV-27830">And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God, unto our fathers:</span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><span class="text Acts-26-7" id="en-KJV-27831">Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I </span><span class="text Acts-26-7" id="en-KJV-27831">am accused of the Jews.</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"> Acts 26:6-7</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">Paul’s hope during Acts was
exactly the same hope proclaimed by Peter in Acts 3; the return of
Messiah to rule the world in righteousness, just as the prophets and
Moses said he would do. Paul’s hope after Acts 28 was to be seated with
Christ in our inheritance in the heavenly places.<br />
<br />
Praise the Lord many Christians can see these beautiful differences.<br />
<br />
I add my blessings to Ephesians 1:3,<br />
Brian</span> </span> </span> </span> </span></span>
</span>Deborah (Hickinbotham) Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14301918232942600896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662865134716251937.post-33103004043721280422015-06-11T12:57:00.003-07:002016-02-08T19:00:59.933-08:00"The Appearing" Book by Brian Kelson - Get Your Free Copy<span style="font-size: large;"></span> <span style="font-size: large;">For
a FREE pdf copy of Brian Kelson's "The Appearing," just drop me a line at <a href="mailto:deborah.kuzenski@gmail.com">deborah.kuzenski@gmail.com</a> Brian gives a clear explanation of
why the "rapture" doctrine of many evangelicals is something foreign to
the "revelation of the mystery" given to Paul following the letting go
of the Jews - and their prophetic promises - at the end of Acts.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Get your free pdf copy today by requesting "eAppearing - Free - Edition - PDF! </span>Deborah (Hickinbotham) Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14301918232942600896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662865134716251937.post-27921320149084260942014-10-19T10:25:00.001-07:002014-10-19T10:25:18.732-07:00Did Jesus Teach the Law?<span style="font-size: large;">The ministry of the Lord and John the Baptist was to the nation and it
was an appeal for them to repent and turn back to God, this continued
through the Acts period of course and the Lord's ministry was completely
OT based. I can't remember the number of times the Lord quoted the OT,
including the Law but as we know, it was the Law of Moses and the
Prophets up until Acts 28. It was Moses and the Prophets who appealed to
backsliding Israel to turn back, and this was the basis of the Lord's
ministry. He said;<br />
Mat 5:17 Do not think that I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to destroy but to fulfill.<br />
Mat 5:18 For truly I say to you, Till the heaven and the earth pass
away, not one jot or one tittle shall in any way pass from the Law until
all is fulfilled.<br />
Mat 5:19 Therefore whoever shall relax one of these commandments, the
least, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the
kingdom of Heaven. But whoever shall do and teach them, the same shall
be called great in the kingdom of Heaven.<br />
Mat 5:20 For I say to you that unless your righteousness shall exceed
that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the
kingdom of Heaven.<br />
<br />
The very beatitudes are all OT based and the instructions following this
extract above were all relating to the Temple services and offerings of
the Israeli people.<br />
<br />
Yes, the Lord taught the Law and the Prophets insofar as they were the
dispensational settings of that time and justification by faith was part
of that Law as Paul brings out in Romans 10. The tax-collector went
home from the Temple justified by faith, Lk.18:9-14. It's such a
blinding tragedy that the MAs teach justification by faith through grace
was hidden in God when it is clearly given in the Law and the Prophets.
The Pharisee worked the Law, the tax-collector beat upon his chest in
true repentance and placed himself on the mercy of God.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
Brian Kelson<br />
10/16/14<br />
Deborah (Hickinbotham) Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14301918232942600896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662865134716251937.post-12665351499186118982014-09-05T11:43:00.000-07:002014-11-23T17:14:15.027-08:00Book Review of Darwin’s Creation Myth by Alexander Mebane <br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">This is an eye-opening and satisfying expose` of the ongoing deception of evolution-promoting science. My only suggestion would be to substitute the use of "Christendom" for "Christianity" in this first paragraph about Galileo and the Pope, for in no way, shape or form is the Roman Catholic Church "Christian." - Deborah </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">Book Review of </span><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Darwin’s Creation Myth </span><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">by Alexander Mebane </span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">By Tom Shipley</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">Copyright 2014 by Tom Shipley, All Rights Reserved
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">(Used here with author's permission)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Calibri';"><br /><br />“Even if Darwinism is false above the microevolutionary level, it is nevertheless the only <br /><br />scientific theory of cladogenesis now available; and that is more important than the question of <br /><br />truth or falsity.” –Thomas Henry Huxley, quote from pg. 73, Darwin’s Creation Myth by <br /><br />Alexander Mebane <br /><br />Until the time of Charles Darwin and the publication of The Origin of Species, scientific investigation had <br /><br />been essentially a Christian endeavor, conducted mainly by Christians within the context of a larger <br /><br />Judeo-Christian civilization. The heartbeat of scientific investigation had been the desire to know and <br /><br />understand the nature of God’s created order. Truth and facts were all-important. Secularists like to <br /><br />distort this history. For example, the famous confrontation between Galileo and the Roman Catholic <br /><br />Church is routinely portrayed by the propagandists of secularism as a debate between Christianity and <br /><br />secularism--whereas the reality is Galileo was a Christian with a better understanding of the Bible and <br /><br />nature disputing with other Christians with a lesser understanding of the Bible and of nature. Galileo <br /><br />contended that heliocentrism was consistent with the Bible. The only real question in the matter of <br /><br />Galileo is which Christian perspective was the truer one. Secularism was entirely irrelevant to the <br /><br />dispute. Examples of such distortion by secularists can be multiplied ad infinitum. <br /><br />With the advent of Darwin’s assertion of natural evolution as the source of living species, and the <br /><br />highjacking of scientific pursuits by the priests of the religion of Secular Humanism, something was <br /><br />introduced into scientific investigation which had not existed previously: falsification. Make that <br /><br />deliberate falsification. In addition to his scientific legerdemain, Darwin also tried to take credit as the <br /><br />originator of the theory, which was far from the truth. <br /><br />Many people naively assume that falsification among evolutionists has occurred only in isolated <br /><br />examples such as the Piltdown Man hoax (which was promulgated as fact in school textbooks for 50 <br /><br />years), or the Midwife Toad hoax, or the Nebraska Man hoax. The simple fact of the matter is, nearly the <br /><br />entire cadre of secular evolutionists, animated by their faith in the religion of Secular Humanism, have <br /><br />strenuously endeavored to keep the general public in ignorance of the significance of the facts of <br /><br />paleontology, geology, biology and biochemistry pretty much right from the beginning, starting with <br /><br />Darwin himself. Deliberate falsification by evolutionary scientists goes far, far deeper than crude <br /><br />manufacturing of evidence such as Piltdown Man. It involves their handling of, and explication of, the<br /><br />facts of paleontology, geology, and biochemistry to the general public. <br /><br />You don’t have to take my word for it. There is a veritable cornucopia of admissions of this fact on the <br /><br />part of the Secular Humanists themselves, as for example the quote at the head of this article by <br /><br />Thomas Huxley, adoringly known as “Darwin’s bulldog” by the zealots of this religion. (Consult also, for <br /><br />1 <br /><br />example, The Ghost in the Machine or Janus by Arthur Koestler, for a candid perspective on this.) <br /><br />Examine Thomas Huxley’s statement well and meditate upon it. To state the matter bluntly, what <br /><br />Huxley meant in plain terms is that he was willing to engage and entertain ANY proposition about the <br /><br />origin of life and the history of life on earth, no matter how preposterous the proposition might be--<br /><br />provided that a supernatural God and intelligent design were not included in the list of propositions.<br /><br />Truth or falsehood be damned! God and intelligent design were to be ruled out of court, a priori, as <br /><br />inadmissible conclusions no matter how strongly the evidence might point in that direction. Atheism and <br /><br />evolution (by any and all means) are the axioms of the disciples of Darwin, the guiding premises of all <br /><br />thought, the sacrosanct and unquestionable presuppositions of every proposition which it is heresy and <br /><br />blasphemy to call into question. <br /><br />My task here is to review a short book by one of their own, Darwin’s Creation Myth, by Alexander <br /><br />Mebane begins his short treatise (80 pages, bibliography and all)), making sure his readers don’t confuse <br /><br />him with those awful, primitive, knuckle-dragging, Bible-thumping Creationists. Speaking about “anti-<br />evolution” writings, Mebane says: <br /><br />“Almost 90% of such publications have based their arguments on the axiom that reliable <br /><br />information is to be found in the creation-myths of the ancient Hebrews. Let me make clear at <br /><br />once that this essay is not in that category!” –from the Prefatory Note <br /><br />And, dear reader, don’t dare overlook Mebane’s exclamation point! Mebane cannot emphasize this <br /><br />point too strongly. I am glad Mebane takes pains to distance himself from the likes of poor warped, <br /><br />primitive me. No one can accuse Mebane of being a Bible thumper or seeking to advance the cause of <br /><br />(as some have called it) “fundamentalist creationism,” whatever that is. And that suits my purposes here <br /><br />quite well, thank you, Mr. Mebane. <br /><br />Just so the reader knows, I was not raised in a Christian home with the Bible being “imprinted” on me by <br /><br />my parents. I was raised in a very secular home with a professing atheist for a father and a mother with <br /><br />zero interest in anything religious. I, myself, am a former atheist and believer in evolution who was <br /><br />somewhat zealous to promote the cause of atheism. The first chinks in my atheist armor began when I <br /><br />was in college. The University of Maryland, where I was a student, had hosted a debate between <br /><br />creationists and evolutionists which I attended. I was very unimpressed at the time with both sides, <br /><br />which motivated me to go look in the University of Maryland library and elsewhere for scientific papers <br /><br />or books on theories regarding the biochemical basis for evolution—and found out that such books and <br /><br />papers did not exist! After over a hundred years of fanatical devotion to the theory on the part of a <br /><br />massive army of secular scientists, you would have thought the shelves of libraries would be overflowing <br /><br />with books outlining plausible biochemical bases for evolution. I was disappointed, but did not attribute <br /><br />much significance to this lack of material on the subject (until much later). This was, as I say, the first <br /><br />chink in my atheist armor. It was also somewhat disconcerting to me at the time that “my” side of the <br /><br />debate did not end with a resounding demonstration of evolution’s superior credibility over the <br /><br />2 <br /><br />In a footnote, Mebane parrots the absurd claim of so-called “higher criticism” to the effect that there <br /><br />are “two different creation stories” in Genesis, a ridiculous and moronic claim on its face. This is beyond <br /><br />the scope of this article, but as an aside, such an utterly naïve and uninformed statement makes it <br /><br />obvious why Mebane remains mired down in evolutionary speculations. He has yet to discover that he <br /><br />has been duped by the academic snake-oil merchants in other disciplines, though, commendably, he has <br /><br />managed to escape the grip of the great Darwinian Propaganda Machine. He would do well to <br /><br />investigate what is called “higher criticism” of the Bible with the same focus with which he has focused <br /><br />on the Darwinian and neo-Darwinian evolutionary speculations. He will find, to his disappointment, that <br /><br />the claims of the “higher critics” of the Bible are as utterly devoid of merit as is the Darwinian and neo-<br />Darwinian interpretations of paleontology and geology which he repudiates, if not more so. And while I<br /><br />am commending areas of focus, we should add “How valid are the methods used to determine the ages <br /><br />of rocks and fossils?” to the list. Want to make a guess where that line of investigation will lead? <br /><br />Mebane goes on to say: <br /><br />“Darwin’s theory of evolution has never been so acceptable as current popular writers would <br /><br />have you believe (emphasis supplied) ...few eminent naturalists ever felt that Darwin’s <br /><br />suggestion had truly solved the problem. Even Wallace himself, the co-inventor of the theory, <br /><br />soon came to realize it could not be correct....Thomas Huxley, Darwin’s chief defender...felt sure <br /><br />that Darwin’s picture must...be a good deal closer to the truth than the ones given us by Moses, <br /><br />but he was by no means the starry-eyed convert that Darwinists like to portray. Well aware that <br /><br />paleontologists could show that real changes had not proceeded by Darwin’s ‘insensible <br /><br />degrees’, and that all breeders insisted that real changes could not proceed ‘indefinitely’, as <br /><br />Darwin required them to do, he explicitly stipulated that he would remain skeptical...until an <br /><br />example of its real operation had been experimentally demonstrated. (As we shall see, it has not <br /><br />yet passed Huxley’s test; and by this time, rather heroic faith would be required to believe that <br /><br />it will ever pass it.”—pg. 1 <br /><br />Note well Mebane’s point here: Wallace and Huxley were not convinced that Darwin got it right about <br /><br />the supposed mechanism of evolution, but they clung to the fundamental proposition of evolution for <br /><br />dear life anyway. Mebane goes on to point out that other prominent evolutionists had misgivings about <br /><br />Darwin’s proposed mechanism, including J. B. S. Haldane, George Gaylord Simpson, Dobzhansky, De <br /><br />Beer, and Ernst Mayr. They were acquainted enough with the facts to know that the magic formula of <br /><br />“natural selection + random mutations + eons of time = abracadabra, presto: new species evolve,” <br /><br />simply had no empirical support in any direction. Mebane points out that most professionals in the field <br /><br />rejected Darwin’s “accidental and undirected” process of evolution right up until the 1930’s, when <br /><br />Darwin’s proposed mechanism won the day by default. There was simply no other coherent alternative <br /><br />Mebane concludes his introduction by saying: <br /><br />“After 135 years (now 155 years) Darwin’s creation-myth can still claim nothing more than its <br /><br />original attraction of offering us a story less obviously preposterous than the tale of the <br /><br />3 <br /><br />Hebrews—because, in spite of its superficial plausibility, this story of Darwin’s has consistently <br /><br />and conspicuously failed all of the tests that were expected to demonstrate its validity.”—pg. 2 <br /><br />Mebane’s characterization is, if anything, a gross understatement. <br /><br />Mebane goes on to point out eight areas of disproof (he calls them “disconfirmations”) of the Darwinian <br /><br />1. Experimental Disconfirmation: Observed Non-transmutability <br /><br />2. First Paleontological Disconfirmation: Observed Non-Evolution <br /><br />3. Historical Disconfirmation: Observed DNA Conservation <br /><br />4. Second Paleontological Disconfirmation: Observed Absence of Intermediates <br /><br />5. a. First Taxonomic Disconfirmation; Cladistic Iconoclasm <br /><br />b. Second Taxonomic Disconfirmation: Observed Non-Genealogical Relationships <br /><br />6. Disconfirmation by Prohibitive Improbability of “Accidentally” Producing Observed <br /><br />Results <br /><br />7. (Sensed) Aesthetic Disconfirmation <br /><br />1. Experimental Disconfirmation: Observed Non-transmutability <br /><br />Mebane begins with the famous experiments on the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster conducted by T. <br /><br />H. Morgan which began in 1909. (Arthur Koestler found these experiments to be very significant to the <br /><br />question also. See his The Ghost in the Machine and Janus). The fruit fly was a very suitable creature to <br /><br />use because it was “easy to maintain and of short generation time” and “particularly easy to transmute” <br /><br />by subjecting the insect to “mutation-inducing radiations of different sorts, to chemicals known to be<br /><br />mutagenic.” Mebane says, <br /><br />“ It appeared virtually certain that the long-drawn-out process of natural species transmutation <br /><br />could be speeded up to the point where an artificially generated new species could, after a few <br /><br />years be triumphantly exhibited to the world....A great many races of melanogaster, some of <br /><br />them weirdly modified, emerged from the experiments, but re-mutating them was most <br /><br />disappointing: the multiply-mutated flies, when viable at all, were either sterile or had reverted <br /><br />to something closer to the original form”!—pg. 6 <br /><br />“Attempts to push a new genetic trait farther and farther always come up against natural limits <br /><br />to variation, beyond which the overstrained organism must become either sterile or non-viable. <br /><br />It cannot be altered indefinitely without any limit, as Darwin postulated.” –pg. 6, Mebane’s <br /><br />4 <br /><br />This is something breeders had known since ancient times. Now, after more than a hundred years later, <br /><br />no one has managed to succeed in producing any other outcome. There are built-in barriers inherent in <br /><br />living organisms which prevent transmutation. Neither Mebane nor any other evolutionist seems willing <br /><br />to mention the obvious, namely, that this state of affairs perfectly matches the biblical testimony of the <br /><br />creation of distinct species which produce offspring “after its kind.” <br /><br />#2 First Paleontological Disconfirmation: Observed Non-Evolution <br /><br />“But the paleontologists of (Darwin’s) time immediately raised objections to this Darwinian <br /><br />‘scenario,’ saying that what they actually found did not conform at all to Darwin’s imaginary <br /><br />description...it was provably untrue that a species was ‘merely an ephemeral manifestation,’ <br /><br />since many species could be found unchanged throughout the whole thickness of a geological <br /><br />stratum that must have been deposited over very great stretches of time.”—pg. 8 <br /><br />Note well that this was PROVABLY untrue (based upon the premise of geologic strata representing great <br /><br />stretches of time), something of which Darwin was thoroughly aware. <br /><br />Darwin’s response was: go back to the rocks and collect fossils for another hundred years and his thesis <br /><br />would be confirmed. <br /><br />“Darwin’s word was taken as law for more than a century thereafter. Incredibly enough, when <br /><br />paleontologists actual findings persisted in ‘failing’ to confirm his prediction, it was not the <br /><br />prediction that suffered, but the paleontologists! Evolutionists began to vilify them as lazy <br /><br />fellows, mere ‘stamp collectors’ unworthy of the name ‘scientist’...Paleontology in England and <br /><br />America became a frustrating and unrewarded activity, in which publication of non-<br /><br />‘ideologically correct’ findings was often impossible.”—pg. 9, emphasis supplied <br /><br />Such was the state of “open inquiry” in academia then (and now). <br /><br />Mebane goes on to cite the example of German Paleontologist Otto Schindewolf who, in 1950, declared <br /><br />that the record of the rocks was clear—new life forms appeared suddenly, not by Darwin’s “insensible <br /><br />degrees” and then remain permanently static. This announcement made Schindewolf the object of <br /><br />ridicule by evolutionists. Says Mebane: <br /><br />“The ‘normal evolutionary process’ existed only in the minds of evolutionists: in the real world, <br /><br />no species ‘evolves.’ It will remain unchanged for as long as it is able to survive.” –pg. 11 <br /><br />Such is the state of the understanding of paleontologists and biologists about the subject today. There <br /><br />are still some meager number of old-school Darwinists and neo-Darwinists persisting in the old fairy <br /><br />tales, but they have now been so totally discredited that the pendulum will never swing back in their <br /><br />direction. Since the Stephen J. Gould/Niles Eldredge revolution of 1972, “Punctuated Equilibria” is the <br /><br />5 <br /><br />new orthodoxy. It’s domination of the academic establishment is nearly as thorough today as was the <br /><br />old Darwinism in the 1930’s. There can be no turning back. <br /><br />The irony of this situation is that the average educated American is mostly ignorant of this revolution. <br /><br />They have no idea how fundamentally the old orthodoxy has been overturned, discarded and replaced. <br /><br />They still believe for the most part that the academic establishment believes in the magic formula of <br /><br />natural selection + random mutation + eons of time = the production of new species. They could not be <br /><br />more mistaken about the actual state of affairs. <br /><br />Mebane concludes this section thusly: <br /><br />“I hope it will not be thought unduly ‘cynical’ of me to remind the reader here that all varieties <br /><br />of evolutionary theory, no matter how else they might differ, were at least in agreement on one <br /><br />fundamental thesis: namely, that ‘the doctrine of the fixity of species’ was a baseless, now-<br />outmoded old superstition. “ –pg. 11 <br /><br />Knowing the extreme discomfort this admission must cause Mebane I suppose we can forgive him for <br /><br />not being as pointed and explicit in this admission as a creationist might be. As confessions from <br /><br />evolutionists go, this is not bad. This is far more candid than anything which ever came from Darwin. I’ll <br /><br />give Mebane a B+ and articulate in my own words what Mebane simply cannot bring himself to say: the <br /><br />biblical creationists were right, after all. Once a species comes into existence, it will not change. Of <br /><br />course, the “comes into existence” part of the equation is something that Mebane is not willing to <br /><br />concede to divine creation. He is still looking to existing species as the seedbed from which new species <br /><br />emerge. He is simply not expecting any natural process to do the job. <br /><br />But, the reader will ask, if there is no natural cause for evolution, and Mebane will not allow for divine <br /><br />creation by an omniscient and omnipotent God, what else is there? I am jumping ahead of Mebane to <br /><br />his conclusory remarks at the end of his book: Mebane maintains two possibilities: 1) that of a less-than-<br />omnipotent god or 2) what Mebane believes is the best theory to fit the known facts, “sporadic <br /><br />productions by subdivine designers (daemones),” the fashioning of new species from existing species by<br /><br />“invisible intelligent DNA designers.” –pg. 69-70 <br /><br />Before scoffing at Mebane, I will step in in his defense here to defend his logic. His conclusion is not <br /><br />bad—if you accept his premises. I just have problems with his premises. His view is premised upon the <br /><br />proposition of a four billion year old earth, and the belief that rocks and fossils can actually be reliably <br /><br />dated. Remove these propositions from Mebane’s premises and he winds up in a very different universe <br /><br />than he thinks he inhabits. He then winds up in—horror of horrors!—a universe in which there might <br /><br />actually be an omnipotent creator God. I’ll make a prediction: Mebane will not entertain the possibility <br /><br />that accepted dating techniques are fatally compromised by faulty presuppositions which skew the <br /><br />6 <br /><br />3. Historical Disconfirmation: Observed DNA Conservation <br /><br />Mebane’s third disconfirmation of Darwinism and neo-Darwinism is the simple impossibility of <br /><br />chance, random mutations producing a new species as was demonstrated in the fruit fly <br /><br />experiments, which also revealed embedded mechanisms to restore the organism to its original <br /><br />form!!! The reason for this impossibility is so simple that even a child can grasp it. Reorganization of <br /><br />DNA on the scale necessary to create an actual new species would require, not single random point <br /><br />mutations in the DNA, but numerous, coordinated, and strategic (i.e., intelligently directed) <br /><br />mutations all in the proper places—and all simultaneously. This is a simple fact of biology and it is <br /><br />utterly devastating to any chance model of evolution. Darwinism and neo-Darwinism are both <br /><br />thoroughly founded on the idea of random, chance mutations slowly building up over time and <br /><br />producing new species. That such extensive random occurrences will ever result in a viable organism <br /><br />is not only vastly improbable but logically impossible. This has long been known and understood by <br /><br />evolutionary scientists. They’ve just preferred to keep quiet about the fact. Says Mebane: <br /><br />“It is now quite openly acknowledged by experts that this inherent immunity to Darwinian <br /><br />evolution is, in fact, characteristic of all forms of Earthly life. We have thus witnessed the <br /><br />independent confirmation, on the most sweeping scale possible, of the genetic ‘impotency <br /><br />principle’ that Goldschmidt had inferred from the observed impossibility of experimentally <br /><br />transmuting a tiny fruit fly into a new viable species.”—pg. 12 <br /><br />“Even under the most favorable of all conditions—deliberate human attempts to bring it <br /><br />about—successful natural species-transmutation is an event that is simply unable to <br /><br />happen...these coordinated changes are just what accidental knocking-about is inherently <br /><br />unable to provide, because chance events are subject to stringent probability limitations.”—pg. <br /><br />These stringent probability limitations are precisely what make big money for casinos and insurance <br /><br />companies. Mebane then goes on to do the math of these probabilities, from which I will spare the <br /><br />reader all but the conclusion: the odds of a successful string of random mutations (“successful” meaning <br /><br />resulting in a viable organism) are “one in 200 billion billion.” Mebane concludes: “Darwin’s <br /><br />microevolutionary route to macroevolution is simply not a passable one.”—pg. 16 <br /><br />I’ll toss in Arthur Koestler’s observations from his book, Janus: <br /><br />“Now according to the Darwinian schema, all these changes must have been gradual, each small <br /><br />step caused by a chance mutation. But it is obvious that each step, however small, required <br /><br />simultaneous, interdependent changes affecting all the factors....They are all interdependent <br /><br />7 <br /><br />within the organism—which is a functional whole, not a mosaic. The doctrine that the coming <br /><br />together of all requisite changes was due to a series of coincidences is an affront not only to <br /><br />common sense but to the basic principles of scientific explanation.” –pg. 176 <br /><br />For those not acquainted with Koestler, Koestler was also an evolutionist. What Koestler and hundreds <br /><br />of biologists could not seriously entertain was the untenable chance schema upon which the dogma was <br /><br />based. Koestler’s book, The Ghost in the Machine, published in 1965, was a kind of popular precursor to <br /><br />Gould’s and Eldredge’s theory of Punctuated Equilibria. Koestler’s book may very well be the proverbial <br /><br />straw that broke the camel’s back and made it thinkable for the Darwinian establishment to entertain <br /><br />alternate theories about the supposed mechanism of evolution. <br /><br />The problem, of course, is not with the mechanism but with the fundamental proposition itself. <br /><br />4. Second Paleontological Disconfirmation: Observed Absence of Intermediates <br /><br />Mebane’s fourth disconfirmation is the trade secret of evolutionary paleontologists, namely, there are<br /><br />simply no transitional forms to be found among the fossils--zero. We certainly should have expected to <br /><br />have found transitional forms in vast abundance if the Darwinian schema were correct. We have vast<br /><br />numbers of some species preserved in fossils but no “great chain of descent” to be found anywhere. <br /><br />Darwin predicted otherwise but his prediction has failed. Darwin himself said that if the fossils did not <br /><br />eventually produce the intermediate forms, then this would be the greatest proof possible that his <br /><br />theory was false. Darwin’s worshipful disciples are not willing to be so candid about the actual state of <br /><br />affairs. They are attempting to validate other mechanisms as a cause of evolution. <br /><br />Enter Stephen J. Gould and Niles Eldredge. Mebane says: <br /><br />“Stephen Jay Gould has told us without equivocation, in his book, The Panda’s Thumb (p. 181) <br /><br />that ‘the extreme rarity of transitional forms in the fossil record persists as the trade secret of <br /><br />paleontology’...and that, in fact, ‘the fossil record, with its abrupt transitions, offers no support <br /><br />for gradual change’.(Panda’s Thumb, p 188.) Darwin’s old rationalization, that the gaps were <br /><br />‘due to extreme imperfection of the fossil record’, is by this time utterly untenable (ibid. p. 182) <br /><br />‘The fossil record does not convincingly document a single transition from one species to <br /><br />another’ (Stanley, New Timetable, p. 95). Eldredge has made the same flat statement: ‘No one <br /><br />has found any ‘in-between’ creatures: the fossil evidence has failed to turn up any ‘missing <br /><br />links’, and many scientists now share a growing conviction that these transitional forms never <br /><br />existed.’”—pg. 18 <br /><br />It appears to me that Gould’s statement about the “extreme rarity of transitional forms” is another <br /><br />example of the willful disingenuousness of evolutionists who simply cannot bring themselves to speak <br /><br />the truth plainly. It seems evident to me that Gould, by this phraseology, hopes to convey to the mind of <br /><br />8 <br /><br />the reader that there are in fact at least some proven transitional forms in the fossils, when, in fact, by <br /><br />“extreme rarity” he means zero! Yes, zero is extreme, indeed! Why not just plainly say so? <br /><br />Educated laity need to disabuse themselves of the false notion of the objective scientific neutrality of <br /><br />evolutionary biologists and paleontologists. These scientists are NOT neutral. They are more aptly <br /><br />described as zealots on a fervent mission. They have an agenda. That agenda is to salvage the theory of <br /><br />evolution at all costs despite the fact that objective evaluation of the evidence points powerfully and <br /><br />overwhelmingly to intelligent Divine creation. That agenda is to persuade the general public that rocks <br /><br />and fossils can be reliably dated at billions and millions of years when there is plenty of evidence for a <br /><br />young earth. That agenda is NOT to follow the scientific evidence wherever it might lead. <br /><br />Secular scientists are committed to a faith, the faith of Secular Humanism (which the U. S. Supreme <br /><br />Court recognized as a religion in the Tocaso v Watkins case (367 US 488, 1961). In faith, they commit <br /><br />themselves to a materialistic, naturalistic view of reality. They are committed to unproven and <br /><br />unprovable presuppositions about the ultimate nature of reality. This faith preconditions what <br /><br />conclusions they are willing to entertain about scientific evidence. This faith determines what <br /><br />conclusions they are not willing to entertain about scientific evidence. <br /><br />Arthur Koestler, in his book, Janus, published in 1978, states: <br /><br />“One of the crumbling citadels of orthodoxy...is the neo-Darwinian theory of evolution...The <br /><br />contradictions and tautologies of the synthetic theory have actually been known even longer, as <br /><br />a kind of open secret, and yet the dogma has been and still is strenuously defended by the <br /><br />academic community, with the penalty of discreet but effective ostracism for heretics. The <br /><br />reason for this paradox seems to be twofold: firstly, commitment to scientific theory can be as <br /><br />charged with emotion as a religious credo—a subject much in evidence throughout the history <br /><br />of science; secondly, the absence of a coherent alternative to neo-Darwinism makes many <br /><br />biologists feel that a bad theory is better than no theory at all.”—pg. 165 <br /><br /> Mebane goes on to cite the famous archaeopteryx, often touted as a transitional form, as “part bird<br /><br />and part dinosaur.” Mebane agrees with this description but argues that it is not comprehensible as any <br /><br />kind of transitional form, which, indeed, it is not, even if the description is correct. I don’t want to get <br /><br />too far off topic to debate Mebane’s classification of this animal; my focus in this section is on <br /><br />transitional forms. My own research has satisfied me that archaeopteryx was a true bird. There has been <br /><br />much ado over the fact that archaeopteryx had teeth, and claws on its wings. While there are no living<br /><br />birds with teeth, there are a few extinct species, indisputably birds, which had teeth and there are living <br /><br />birds with wing claws. Mebane sides with the view that archaeopteryx was flightless but I suspect this to <br /><br />be erroneous also as this view is based on the absence of a sternum—but archaeopteryx also had an <br /><br />especially strong furcula which provided the necessary support for a strong pectoralis muscle required<br /><br />for the downstroke in flight (see Evolution: the Challenge of the Fossil Record by Duane T. Gish, Ph.D.). <br /><br />Mebane’s next statements regarding the “Cambrian Explosion” are significant: <br /><br />9</span></div>
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“The manner in which complex life first appeared on this planet must surely be considered the <br /><br />most glaring of all refutations not only of Darwinism, but of all theories of evolution. Early in the <br /><br />Cambrian period...we suddenly find abundant fossils of practically all the marine life forms that <br /><br />have ever existed.”—pg. 22, emphasis supplied. <br /><br />And a few pages later: <br /><br />“Advances in paleontology have only served to prove—far more conclusively than was possible <br /><br />in Darwin’s day—that what happened in Cambrian times was in fact nothing less than a fresh <br /><br />creation of a world of new organisms that had no preexisting ancestors: an event that is totally <br /><br />irreconcilable with Darwin’s—or, for that matter with any sort of ‘evolutionary’—conceptions of <br /><br />what ‘really happens’ in this world.”—pg. 25-26, emphasis is Mebane’s <br /><br />Let the reader note well that this evidence, once again, is precisely the same as the biblical claim. Why <br /><br />not, then, quite frankly admit that divine creation by an omnipotent God is just as much a scientific <br /><br />proposition as creation by “who-knows-what-or-whom”? Mebane himself admits a couple pages later <br /><br />that “this process was a good deal closer to a truly-saltatory or ‘Biblical’ one” (pg. 28), and defies any <br /><br />natural explanation. <br /><br />We must at least give credit to evolutionist Mebane for his frank admissions here. This kind of <br /><br />forthrightness on the part of evolutionists is seldom put forward in a book intended for the general <br /><br />public. <br /><br />5a. First Taxonomic Disconfirmation: Cladistic Iconoclasm <br /><br />In perusing the internet for definitions of “cladism” and “cladogenesis,” some of the definitions one will <br /><br />find are as follows: <br /><br />a. the theory that cladistic methods based on shared characteristics of organisms yield their true <br /><br />evolutionary relationships and provide the basis for a natural biological classification;<br /><br />b. Cladistics is an approach to biological classification in which items are grouped together <br /><br />based on whether or not they have one or more shared unique characteristics that come from the <br /><br />group's last common ancestor and are not present in more distant ancestors. ...<br /><br />c. noun, Biology 1. <br /><br />the cladistic method of classification. <br /><br />d. a method of classifying living organisms, often using computer techniques, based on the <br /><br />relationships between phylogenetic branching patterns from a common ancestor<br /><br />e. Cladogenesis definition, evolutionary change by the branching off of new species from <br /><br />common ancestral type <br /><br />10 <br /><br />f. Cladogenesis is an evolutionary splitting event in a species in which each branch and its <br /><br />smaller branches forms a "Clade", an evolutionary mechanism and a process of adaptive <br /><br />evolution that leads to the development of a greater variety of sister species. <br /><br />This should be sufficient to inform the reader of the nature of this section of Mebane’s thesis. It would <br /><br />appear, then, that cladism is more or less the equivalent of “taxonomy” or “systematics.” This is a highly <br /><br />telling and significant section of Mebane’s book. <br /><br />“Well, what is meant by taxonomy?...It is the classification of organisms in a biologically-realistic <br /><br />fashion, which historically goes back to Linnaeus (1707-1778)....Linnaeus concerned himself only <br /><br />with displaying the interrelationships between plants and animals now living but when fossil <br /><br />remains of many others now extinct began to be recognized, a need was felt to introduce the <br /><br />time dimension...Although Linnaeus had taken it for granted that [note well—T. S.] species are <br /><br />by nature ‘fixed’, evolutionists soon arose...who would deride that idea as a naïve old <br /><br />superstition...they declared that all present species are in fact only... ‘twigs’ of a single vast <br /><br />genealogical tree...the task of taxonomists was now to assign to every living or dead life <br /><br />form...its proper position on the great genealogical Tree of Life.” –pg. 29 <br /><br />Note well that Linnaeus, the founder of zoological taxonomy, believed in the biblical view of the “fixed” <br /><br />nature of living organisms. This deserves to be emphasized. This whole scenario is an example of what I <br /><br />mentioned at the beginning of this article about what is essentially a Judeo-Christian pursuit being <br /><br />highjacked by the priests of Secular Humanism. And it was never an honest endeavor to begin with--not <br /><br />on the part of Darwin nor on the part of many other evolutionists who were all fully aware that the <br /><br />existing evidence from paleontology and animal husbandry were contrary to their speculations. The <br /><br />theory of evolution was never about the actual evidence, it was always about the anticipated evidence <br /><br />that evolutionists hoped to find some time in the future. It has always been a theory in spite of the <br /><br />evidence. <br /><br />Now to the focus of this section: <br /><br />“(S)ince 1965 a vigorous ‘reform’ movement called ‘cladism’ has arisen, which argues that it is a <br /><br />logical mistake for a taxonomist to concern himself with ancestor-descendant relationships...and <br /><br />abstain altogether from genealogical speculation...But this inevitably led to the far more radical <br /><br />claim...that it is...impossible to discover genuine ancestor-descendant relations, for the very<br /><br />fundamental reason that the whole classic ‘Evolutionary Tree’ picture is an unreal and merely <br /><br />imaginary schema, none of which can be verified in the real world!...leading taxonomists, <br /><br />experts in their field...have become so totally iconoclastic as to expressly repudiate not only <br /><br />Darwin’s, but all theories of ‘natural evolution’.”—pg. 29 <br /><br />A couple pages later, Mebane observes: <br /><br />11 <br /><br />“The sudden casting off of this old scheme looks, then, like a belated revolt of empirical facts <br /><br />against the dead hand of the Stalinistically-enforced orthodoxy, exactly as has happened in <br /><br />paleontology, where the old pretence that the evidence ‘supported Darwin’ was violently <br /><br />overthrown in Europe by Schindewolf in 1950, and in America by Gould and Eldredge in <br /><br />1972.”—pg.31 <br /><br />The reader should understand that this revolution has been done by the hand of the evolutionists <br /><br />themselves feeling the juggernaut-force of overwhelming empirical facts. Pretense can only be carried <br /><br />so far. There comes a point where taking pretense even further manifests oneself as a bald-faced liar,<br /><br />and this is something the taxonomists have been unwilling to do. This does not mean that the <br /><br />evolutionists are ready and willing to declare that all the available evidence points to the creation of life <br /><br />by the hand of an intelligent, omnipotent God (although the evidence certainly does precisely that). This <br /><br />is why you do not see these facts brought out, front-and-center, for public display. Don’t expect to see <br /><br />the next episode of “Nature” or “National Geographic” or “Nova” or “Discovery” trumpeting the fact <br /><br />that all theories of evolution are now known definitively to be false. This would require our academic <br /><br />and scientific establishments to muster up more honesty and integrity than they possess. This situation <br /><br />is, in essence, a test of the limits of their honesty. <br /><br />Mebane says: <br /><br />“The complete absence of verification of all of the necessary ancestors must inevitably lead to<br /><br />skepticism about the real historical existence of a ‘tree’ whose basic skeleton consists of <br /><br />deduced, but in fact unknown, taxonomic groupings.”—pg. 30 <br /><br />I have a question: what other field of “science” would be given a free pass on producing empirical <br /><br />evidence in its support? Yet, the paleontological and biological sciences have been given precisely that <br /><br />on the subject of evolution. I say it is high time (actually LONG PAST high time) to put up or shut up. 155 <br /><br />years of vain, baseless speculations which have proven false is ENOUGH! Way more than enough! Yet, <br /><br />since the underlying religious tenets of the prophets of the religion of Secular Humanism are at stake<br /><br />here, the lies and the falsehoods are given free reign to go on, year after year, decade after decade,<br /><br />without being called to account. <br /><br /> Mebane finishes up this section thusly: <br /><br />“Why has this revolution remained a ‘quiet’ one, which has not been noised about and brought <br /><br />to public attention? My conjecture is that the iconoclasts have naturally been asked what ‘truer’ <br /><br />picture of biological history they would now put in the place of the rejected genealogical one, <br /><br />and have found that an exceeding awkward question to answer...but one can hardly blame the <br /><br />taxonomists if, rather than publicly affirm such a conclusion, they have preferred to say nothing <br /><br />at all.”—pg. 31 <br /><br />12 <br /><br />Translation: “The truer picture of biological history is that the biblical one of distinct species created by <br /><br />an omnipotent God is the only coherent picture conceivable, but we simply can’t concede this fact. <br /><br />Silence is better!” The taxonomists (or “cladists” or “systematicists”, or whatever term your prefer) <br /><br />understand quite well that a single word from a prominent evolutionist can forebode the end of their <br /><br />academic funding or career. Silence is literally gold! Silence is the price for the continuation of a <br /><br />taxpayer-funded paycheck and retirement pension. <br /><br /> 5b. Second Taxonomic Disconfirmation: Observed Non-Genealogical Relationships <br /><br />“There is also a continual reassignment of more closely studied organisms to new locations on <br /><br />the ‘phylogenetic tree’, because they are now realized to possess features incompatible with the <br /><br />earlier placement. And in this shifting about, it not uncommonly happens that insoluble <br /><br />dilemmas arise...What we are seeing...is abundant proof that cladists are right in calling <br /><br />genealogical trees imaginary schematizations, which cannot be fitted to the real facts of <br /><br />‘Nature’...The fact is that taxonomists have been dutifully attempting to carry out an inherently <br /><br />impossible task.”—pgs. 32-33 <br /><br />We have all seen illustrations of these “phylogenetic trees” endlessly paraded before us, first when we <br /><br />were children in school textbooks, in popular books, on television programs, in trade publications, on<br /><br />internet sites, and in natural history museums as if these representations are the assured and final <br /><br />conclusions of paleontology and biology. Yet how many times have the purveyors of these <br /><br />representations alerted their readers, watchers and visitors that the taxonomists themselves do not <br /><br />believe in them? And that the specifics of these imaginary trees are continually shifted around? And that <br /><br />the vast gulf between one notch on the tree and the next notch is so vast that no academician hopes to<br /><br />ever fill the gaps? Until these facts are prominently highlighted to the general public, the charge of <br /><br />deliberate falsification of the data must be levelled against all who publish and disseminate these <br /><br />phylogenetic representations. <br /><br />6. Disconfirmation by Prohibitive Improbability of “Accidentally” Producing Observed Results <br /><br />Mebane cites the mathematical computations of French physicist Lecomte Du Nouy regarding the <br /><br />chance possibilities of random chemical processes producing even the simplest of proteins. Suffice to <br /><br />say the possibility is so staggeringly and mind-boggling small that the odds against such chance <br /><br />occurrence are astronomically high and then some. <br /><br />“This number is so invisibly tiny...that the natural formation...is thus demonstrated to be strictly <br /><br />impossible. This amounts to a proof that, even when making the most favorable assumptions <br /><br />conceivable, one is simply forbidden to take seriously the proposition that ‘Life on Earth must <br /><br />have arisen spontaneously, in some natural and unintentional way’.”—pg. 36 <br /><br />13 <br /><br />The reader should linger long over this consideration. Though arguments from mathematics are abstract <br /><br />to most people and lack the tangibility of rocks and fossils, the real world of atoms and elements and<br /><br />chemicals is completely subject to these mathematical limitations. And these mathematical limitations <br /><br />tell us that it is simply impossible for living organisms to originate by random, unintentional processes. <br /><br />This consideration by itself is completely sufficient to validate Divine, intelligent creation of life as a truly <br /><br />scientific theory. <br /><br />This state of affairs can be looked at from a slightly different perspective as I did in another article, “The <br /><br />Search for ET.” In the real world of living organisms, even single-celled organisms consist of irreducibly <br /><br />complex components (as Michael Behe has pointed out). In other words, remove any one part of the <br /><br />structure and the organism dies. Or, starting from the bottom, add one of the parts to the organism <br /><br />without the others and the organism dies. This state of affairs virtually screams intelligent design. It also <br /><br />shouts of the power to manipulate the component parts in tandem with the intelligence to know what <br /><br />to do in order to create a living organism. The power by itself would be in vain without the knowledge of <br /><br />what is necessary to create a viable living organism. Conversely, the knowledge of what is required to<br /><br />create a living organism would be in vain without the power and ability to coordinate the components. <br /><br />When we look at the details of living organisms, myriads of irreducibly complex systems, intelligent <br /><br />design and a staggeringly immense power both stare us in the face. Irreducible biological complexity, as <br /><br />with a watch or an automobile, is a hallmark of a powerful, intelligent, conscious creator. There is no <br /><br />other known source of irreducible complexity except intelligent manipulation. Blind, natural processes<br /><br />never produced trains, planes and automobiles—or living beings. <br /><br />So what is the reaction of secularists to the reality of intelligent design of living organisms by some <br /><br />immensely powerful agency staring them in the face? Mebane observes: <br /><br />“Shapiro discreetly refrains from drawing attention to the consequence of this disproof for the <br /><br />credibility of Darwinism: he calls, not for the necessity of intelligent design, but for the discovery<br /><br />of ‘some new natural principle’ (pg. 298) capable of simulating intelligent design (the same <br /><br />appeal made by Wesson In his Beyond Natural Selection...”—pg. 36 <br /><br />This is nothing less than the suppression of the truth. This may possibly be an example of sinking into a <br /><br />state of psychological denial. Both Shapiro and Wesson clearly recognize that living organisms are <br /><br />constituted in such a manner that they admit of no other known mechanism for their creation except <br /><br />that of intelligent design. So, instead of following the evidence and investigating the clear fact staring <br /><br />them in the face, they engage in subversion and sabotage of the truth. Like Darwin before them, relying <br /><br />on hoped-for intermediate forms to show up in the fossils in the future to refute the non-evolutionary <br /><br />picture actually there in the fossils, Shapiro and Wesson are relying on hoped-for evidence to be found <br /><br />in the future to refute the clear evidence actually before them in the present. Thus, the clear <br /><br />implications of the actual, real-world evidence that we actually possess is denied in favor of a flight of <br /><br />How conscious is all of this on the part of evolutionists? Are they simply incapable of seeing the plain <br /><br />truth before them? Or, is their denial of the truth more calculated, deliberative, willful? I suppose it <br /><br />14 <br /><br />depends of which particular evolutionist is in question. I find it very hard to believe that the evolutionists <br /><br />who admit the failure of the evolutionary model in private but then present a different face in public do <br /><br />so inadvertently. <br /><br />An example from Luther Sunderland’s book, Darwin’s Enigma, is illuminating. On pages 89-95, <br /><br />Sunderland relates an incident regarding Niles Eldredge. Niles Eldredge may properly be regarded, along <br /><br />with Stephen Jay Gould, as one of the two High Priests of the religion of Secular Humanism, being one of <br /><br />the two co-founders of the “punctuated equilibria” revolution. This is yet another example of <br /><br />evolutionists’ proclivity, from no less a personage than Niles Eldredge himself, to a knee-jerk resort to <br /><br />prevarication when the true status of the theory of evolution is in jeopardy of being disclosed to the<br /><br />general public. In 1979, Eldredge, as Curator of the American Natural History Museum, went on record <br /><br />in an interview with Sunderland calling the famous horse evolution depictions “the best example of a <br /><br />lamentable imaginary story being presented as though it were literal truth,” and that, “I admit that an <br /><br />awful lot of that has gotten into the textbooks as though it were true.”—pg. 90 <br /><br />Then on February 14, 1981, during the Seagraves evolution textbook trial in California, Eldredge, on the <br /><br />ABC national television program “20/20,” being interviewd by Sylvia Chase, proclaimed before the world<br /><br />at large the horse evolution myth as evolutionary fact after already going on record calling the horse<br /><br />series “a lamentable imaginary story.” Eldredge was simply carrying on the Darwinian tradition here <br /><br />with this kind of deceit. Let me state the obvious: Eldredge is willing to twist and distort the facts of <br /><br />paleontology to the world at large when the chips are down (i.e., when influencing public opinion in <br /><br />favor of evolution), rather than plainly tell the truth that the fossils provide no evidence for evolution. <br /><br />But in doing so, he forfeits his own credibility and integrity. <br /><br />That this was all cynical public posturing on Eldredge’s part is manifest on its face. Eldredge’s statements <br /><br />on ABC television have no more credibility—or integrity—than something we might hear from the U. S. <br /><br />President’s Press Secretary defending the President in the aftermath of some sex scandal. This is on the <br /><br />same level as President Clinton saying, “I did not have sex with that woman.” Eldredge should have been <br /><br />made to walk around with a scarlet “L” on his forehead for a year. This is Eldredge fornicating with <br /><br />Princess Prevarication. <br /><br />But I digress. <br /><br />Transmutation of one species into another by random processes is simply not possible. This has been <br /><br />well understood for a very long time now by evolutionary biologists, for well over a hundred years. It is <br /><br />not something that there is even any genuine debate about. Nor is there even a speck of empirical (or <br /><br />even theoretical) validity for the “theory” which has replaced it, Eldredge’s and Gould’s “punctuated <br /><br />equilibria,” which proposes (ironically) miracles of transformation, magic out of biological hats, <br /><br />naturalistic rapid evolution (note well) on the scale of divine creation, with not even a remotely-<br />dreamed-of potential mechanism to accomplish the feat. We are asked by the evolutionists to accept <br /><br />their fairy tales by faith. <br /><br />15 <br /><br />7. (Sensed) Aesthetic Disconfirmation <br /><br />In this section, Mebane lists esthetic beauty in his list of disconfirmations of naturalistic, gradualistic, <br /><br />Darwinian evolution. In other words, would we not expect randomness to produce not beauty and form <br /><br />and symmetry, but ugliness or blandness and disorder? Yet the real world we occupy has “vast carpets <br /><br />of georgeous wildflowers of various hues” and “the quite unnecessary beauty...of birds like <br /><br />peacocks...the grace and beauty of cats” etc. which “ for utilitarian purposes would have been just as <br /><br />viable (...or even more viable) without them,” (pg. 44). Mebane goes on to cite the beauty of seashells <br /><br />and “the inhabitants of coral reefs” whose brilliant hues could never be seen by anyone until the scuba <br /><br />was invented by Jacques Cousteau. <br /><br />“The explanation that this wonderful feast of naturally invisible colors was provided by some <br /><br />benign Designer expressly for the delectation of late twentieth century humans seems too <br /><br />absurd to take seriously—but even more absurd...is the Darwinist’s explanation that all of this <br /><br />amazing hidden beauty was produced unintentionally, purely by accident!... <br /><br />“I cannot point to any ‘reasonable’ resolution of these misgivings; I believe that no one could; <br /><br />but, speaking for myself, the manifest presence of aesthetic beauty in ‘Nature’ is the only <br /><br />argument for the agency of a ‘God’ that I have ever been able to take seriously.”—pg. 45 <br /><br />Thus Mebane concludes his series of disconfirmations of Darwinistic evolution. Mebane asks: <br /><br />“If Darwinism would seem to be the only scientific explanation of life’s history—but has <br /><br />nonetheless proven to be a thoroughly false one—what then?”—pg. 54 <br /><br />Yes, indeed, what then? <br /><br />Mebane is hindered from the truth at this juncture because he has not yet discovered the fact that the<br /><br />academic establishments of Europe and the Americas have subverted truth for a very long time now, <br /><br />not only in regard to Darwinian evolution, but also in regard to many other related aspects of <br /><br />archaeology, geology, biology and—surprise!—biblical studies. The bogus “discipline” of “higher <br /><br />criticism” of the Bible reigns supreme (perhaps we should say runs rampant) throughout the religion <br /><br />departments of virtually every college and university in the developed world, and is just as rigidly <br /><br />dogmatic and (regrettably) pervasive in its reach as is the discipline of naturalistic evolution. Sad but <br /><br />true, the academic con-artists run the show. Mebane, unfortunately, is one of their unwitting victims.<br /><br />He may as well have never escaped the academics’ delusion-inducing Great Darwinian Propaganda <br /><br />Machine. He is still a prisoner chained to the wall in the dungeon of deceit. <br /><br />The Bottom Line <br /><br />So what is it all about? What are the underlying motivating factors that animate and motivate the <br /><br />evolutionists? Mebane should know because he remains one of them: <br /><br />16 <br /><br />“It seems fairly safe to predict that the great majority of professionals will continue (at least in <br /><br />public) to pretend that ‘Darwin’s theory of evolution has been verified as true’, even if they are <br /><br />consciously aware that that asseveration is a lie—exactly as Thomas Huxley did more than a <br /><br />century ago... <br /><br />“Two powerful pragmatic motivations exist for adhering to that seemingly ‘scandalous’ <br /><br />justification: one is political, the other psychological. In this country...any public admission that <br /><br />the history of life defies scientific explanation would simply open the floodgates to the zealots <br /><br />who would put the Bible back in the classroom....Anyone with the slightest inclination to critical <br /><br />thinking must turn cold at the thought of such a victory for the forces of overt irrationalism. That <br /><br />is the political motivation—a compelling one. The lie is a ‘lesser evil’ than the truth would prove <br /><br />to be.”—pg. 73, bold emphasis supplied <br /><br />And, No, that is not your humble narrator putting words in someone else’s mouth. That is a verbatim <br /><br />quote. I could not have levelled the accusation any more pointedly myself. <br /><br />Mebane concludes his book: <br /><br />“Faced with so dismaying an alternative, thinkers on this topic will understandably continue to <br /><br />persuade themselves—just as Huxley did, so long ago now—that, ‘Even if Darwinism is not the <br /><br />correct answer, it is a scientific one; so we must hold onto it, as a stop-gap, until the true <br /><br />scientific solution finally comes to light.’ So far as I can see, this ‘psychologically necessary’ <br /><br />rationalization, having persisted for more than thirteen decades, may well persist forever.”—pg. <br /><br />74 <br /><br />It cannot be stressed too strongly that the proponents of evolution tell willful, deliberate, conscious lies <br /><br />about the subject for the purpose of obstructing the truth of God. Let them consider the Word of God: <br /><br />18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and <br /><br />unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, <br /><br />19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has <br /><br />shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His <br /><br />invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are <br /><br />made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without <br /><br />excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, <br /><br />nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish <br /><br />hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools.—Romans <br /><br />1:18-21<br /><br />17 <br /><br /> So where do things stand today? At the time of the writing of this review (2014), Darwinian gradualism <br /><br />is as dead as the dodo bird, as extinct as the tyrannosaurus. The “punctuated equilibria” of Gould and<br /><br />Eldredge has won the day among the faithful devotees of evolution and now prevails over the kingdom <br /><br />of Secularism. This is not what evolutionists had hoped for. They fought it tooth and nail for a century. <br /><br />But 100 plus years of ever-mounting and overwhelming disproofs of evolution have taken their toll and <br /><br />the retreating forces of Secular Humanism have retreated into what may very well be their last refuge,<br /><br />the sanctuary of “rapid evolutionary change.” <br /><br />This shift away from the proposed gradualistic mechanism, however, comes with a very heavy price for <br /><br />them to pay: how does one explain this casting off of the old Darwinism when there is absolutely zero<br /><br />empirical evidence for the new punctuated equilibria hypothesis? This does not bode well for public <br /><br />relations even with the entire academic and media establishments on their side of the issue. It looks,<br /><br />even to the casual uninterested eye, suspiciously like rationalization and a Last Ditch Attempt to avoid <br /><br />surrender to the forces of supernaturalism—whether that supernaturalism comes in the form of historic <br /><br />biblical creationism, or, alternately, the Vitalism of the pantheists. There is not even an inkling of any <br /><br />realistic theory about the biochemical basis for such rapid evolution. Moreover, punctuated equilibria<br /><br />differs in essence not one whit in kind from creationism. It proposes a miraculous transformation of <br /><br />living animals into new species. The new evolutionary orthodoxy has been forced to borrow from the <br /><br />creation model in order to maintain a touch of reality. <br /><br />Recommended reading <br /><br />The Ghost in the Machine by Arthur Koestler <br /><br />Janus by Arthur Koestler <br /><br />The Case of the Midwife Toad by Arthur Koestler <br /><br />The Genesis Flood by John C. Whitcomb and Henry M. Morris <br /><br />Shattering the Myths of Darwinism by Richard Milton <br /><br />Evolution: A Theory in Crisis by Michael Denton <br /><br />The Young Earth by John Morris <br /><br />The Intelligent Universe by Fred Hoyle <br /><br />Darwin’s Doubt by Stephen Meyer <br /><br />Signature in the Cell by Stephen Meyer <br /><br />Darwin’s Black Box by Michael Behe <br /><br />Darwin Retried by Norman MacBeth <br /><br />18 <br /><br />Darwin on Trial by Phillip E. Johnson <br /><br />The New Evolutionary Timetable by Steven M. Stanley <br /><br />The Collapse of Evolution by Scott M. Huse <br /><br />The Bone Peddlers by William R. Fix <br /><br />Fossils in Focus by J. Kirby Anderson and Harold G. Coffin <br /><br />The Fossil Record by John D. Morris and Frank J. Sherwin <br /><br />Darwin’s Enigma by Luther Sunderland <br /><br />Evolution: Challenge of the Fossil Records by Duane T Gish, Ph. D. <br /><br />Dinosaur by Carl E. Baugh, Ph. D. <br /><br />Why Do Men Believe Evolution Against All Odds? by Carl E. Baugh, Ph. D. <br /><br />Honorable mentions: website of Institute for Creation Research link: check out their articles regarding <br /><br />dinosaur soft tissue finds, including red blood cells of tyrannosaurus rex, as well as other animal and <br /><br />plant species going all the way back supposedly to 550 million year old Cambrian rock, which finds prove <br /><br />that dinosaurs found in the rock of the earth are thousands of years old, not millions, here: <br /><br />http://www.icr.org/article/did-scientists-find-t-rex-dna/ <br /><br />and http://www.icr.org/article/triceratops-horn-soft-tissue-foils <br /><br />And this one: http://kgov.com/dinosaur-soft-tissue from Bob Enyart and Fred Williams of Real Science <br /><br />And check out this page from the Genesis Park website showing photographs of historical depictions and<br /><br />carvings of dinosaurs from all around the world: <br /><br />http://www.genesispark.com/exhibits/evidence/historical/ancient/dinosaur/<br /><br />Also, here is an excellent Youtube video presentation by geologist Don Patton about the age of the <br /><br />earth, a little over an hour long: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ncxikycht_U<br /><br />19</div>
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Deborah (Hickinbotham) Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14301918232942600896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662865134716251937.post-30225100783099205202014-09-02T10:26:00.000-07:002014-09-02T10:30:45.671-07:00Some Mid Acts Questions and Answers<table style="border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%;"><tbody>
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<a href="http://appearinglorytimeline.blogspot.com/" style="color: #888888; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="(http://appearinglorytimeline.blogspot.com/)">Appear In Glory Timeline</a>
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Brother Mark of Appear In Glory Timeline recently posted this concise treatment of some of the misconceptions of Mid Acts dispensational teaching:</div>
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(Thanks, Bro. Mark!)</div>
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Posted: 01 Sep 2014 09:11 AM PDT</div>
<a href="https://rightdivision.com/articles/some-questions-about-mid-acts-position" target="_blank">https://rightdivision.com/<wbr></wbr>articles/some-questions-about-<wbr></wbr>mid-acts-position</a><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Some Questions About the Mid-Acts Position</span><br />
<br />
We
all need to ask questions as we ponder God's word. These are not to be
construed as negative to your faith as are foolish and unlearned
questions 2Tim. <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_392092571" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">2:23</span></span>,
but on the contrary should simply be a part of the method of acquiring
knowledge and understanding and therefore be faith building. The right
questions should lead onto edification and strength and finally to
perfection. It is with this spirit that I ask these questions and hope
that the Father of lights will give a spirit of wisdom and revelation in
the knowledge of him (see Eph.<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_392092572" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">1:17</span></span>) to each and every one of us so that with enlightened eyes we may know!<br />
<br />
Questions:<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Was
the "gospel of God" that Paul preached equivalent to the Mystery hid
from ages and generations?</span><br />
<br />
(Paul says that he preached the gospel of God
to the Corinthians freely 2Cor. 11:7, to the Thessalonians with much
contention 1Th.2:2 and that he ministered the gospel of God to make the
Gentiles acceptable to God Rom <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_392092573" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">15:16</span></span>, indeed he was separated unto this gospel Rom. 1:1.)<br />
<br />
ANSWER: NO, it was based on the OT scriptures.<br />
<br />
PROOF:
ROM.1:1 ¶ Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle,
separated unto the gospel of God, 2 (Which he had promised afore by his
prophets in the holy scriptures,). This is NO MYSTERY HID IN GOD --
QUITE THE REVERSE!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Was the hope Paul preached to the Gentiles in the Acts period something new and outside the prophets?</span><br />
<br />
ANSWER: NO, The hope presented was declared by Isaiah<br />
<br />
PROOF: Rom. <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_392092574" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">15:11</span></span> And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.<br />
12
And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that
shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.<br />
13
¶ Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Is the mystery of Rom.<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_392092575" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">16:25</span></span> the same as that of Col. <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_392092576" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">1:26</span></span>?</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"></span><br />
ANSWER: NO<br />
<br />
PROOF: Compare Col. 1:25-27 and Eph. 3:9 with Rom. 16:25-26<br />
Col. <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_392092577" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">1:25</span></span>
(AV) Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of
God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;<br />
25 (TR) ης εγενομην εγω διακονος κατα την οικονομιαν του θεου την δοθεισαν μοι εις υμας πληρωσαι τον λογον του θεου<br />
<br />
26 (AV) Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:<br />
26 (TR) το μυστηριον το αποκεκρυμμενον απο των αιωνων και απο των γενεων νυνι δε εφανερωθη τοις αγιοις αυτου<br />
<br />
27
(AV) 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:<br />
27 (TR) οις ηθελησεν ο θεος γνωρισαι τις ο πλουτος της δοξης
του μυστηριου τουτου εν τοις εθνεσιν ος εστιν χριστος εν υμιν η ελπις
της δοξης<br />
<br />
Eph. 3:9 (AV) And to make all men see what is the
fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath
been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:<br />
9 (TR) και
φωτισαι παντας τις η κοινωνια του μυστηριου του αποκεκρυμμενου απο των
αιωνων εν τω θεω τω τα παντα κτισαντι δια ιησου χριστου<br />
<br />
Rom. <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_392092578" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">16:25</span></span>
¶ (AV) Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my
gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation
of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,<br />
25 (TR)
τω δε δυναμενω υμας στηριξαι κατα το ευαγγελιον μου και το κηρυγμα
ιησου χριστου κατα αποκαλυψιν μυστηριου χρονοις αιωνιοις σεσιγημενου<br />
<br />
26
(AV) But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets,
according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all
nations for the obedience of faith:<br />
26 (TR) φανερωθεντος δε νυν δια
τε γραφων προφητικων κατ επιταγην του αιωνιου θεου εις υπακοην πιστεως
εις παντα τα εθνη γνωρισθεντος<br />
<br />
Note the following: Colossians and Ephesians are "prison epistles", Romans is NOT!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Did Paul preach the new covenant in the Acts period?</span><br />
<br />
ANSWER: YES<br />
<br />
PROOF: Read 2Cor. 3:6, Jer 31:31 and Heb 8<br />
2Co 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not
of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the
spirit giveth life.<br />
2Co 3:6 (TR) ος και ικανωσεν ημας διακονους
καινης διαθηκης ου γραμματος αλλα πνευματος το γαρ γραμμα αποκτεινει το
δε πνευμα ζωοποιει<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Is the new covenant the same as the mystery?</span><br />
<br />
ANSWER: NO<br />
<br />
PROOF: See Eph. <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_392092579" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">2:11</span></span>,12 and Rom 9 This was given to Israel!!<br />
<br />
12
(AV) That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the
commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise,
having no hope, and without God in the world:<br />
12 (TR) οτι ητε εν τω
καιρω εκεινω χωρις χριστου απηλλοτριωμενοι της πολιτειας του ισραηλ και
ξενοι των διαθηκων της επαγγελιας ελπιδα μη εχοντες και αθεοι εν τω
κοσμω<br />
<br />
13 (AV) But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.<br />
13 (TR) νυνι δε εν χριστω ιησου υμεις οι ποτε οντες μακραν εγγυς εγενηθητε εν τω αιματι του χριστου<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">When
Paul says that he magnifies his office, was this an unqualified
reference to his apostleship to the gentiles during the Acts period?</span><br />
<br />
ANSWER: NO!<br />
<br />
PROOF: See Rom. <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_392092580" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">11:13</span></span>,14<br />
<br />
13 (AV) For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:<br />
13 (TR) υμιν γαρ λεγω τοις εθνεσιν εφ οσον μεν ειμι εγω εθνων αποστολος την διακονιαν μου δοξαζω<br />
<br />
14 (AV) If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.<br />
14 (TR) ει πως παραζηλωσω μου την σαρκα και σωσω τινας εξ αυτων<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Did Paul baptize after mid-Acts and before Acts 28?</span><br />
<br />
ANSWER: YES!<br />
<br />
PROOF:<br />
Ac
18:8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the
Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed,
and were baptized.<br />
<br />
1Co <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_392092581" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">1:14</span></span> I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Did Paul remain faithful to the law and the prophets up to Acts 28?</span><br />
<br />
ANSWER: YES!<br />
<br />
PROOF:<br />
<br />
Acts <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_392092582" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">18:18</span></span>
¶ And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took
his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him
Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a
vow.<br />
19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.<br />
20 When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not;<br />
21
But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast
that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will.
And he sailed from Ephesus.<br />
<br />
Acts <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_392092583" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">21:20</span></span>
And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him,
Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe;
and they are all zealous of the law:<br />
21 And they are informed of
thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to
forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children,
neither to walk after the customs.<br />
22 What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.<br />
23 Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;<br />
24
Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them,
that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things,
whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou
thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.<br />
25 As touching
the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they
observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things
offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from
fornication.<br />
26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying
himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment
of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered
for every one of them.<br />
<br />
Ac 26:22 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:<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Paul preached to Festus (Acts 26) recounting what
the Lord had done and the good news (gospel) 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" was this content
contrary to the Prophets and Moses?</span><br />
<br />
ANSWER: NO<br />
<br />
PROOF: Ac
26:22 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:<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Was this gospel (the one above) the same as the gospel of the unsearchable riches of Christ that PAul discusses in Eph. 3:8?</span><br />
<br />
ANSWER: NO<br />
<br />
PROOF:<br />
<br />
Eph
3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace
given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches
of Christ;<br />
Eph 3:8 (TR) εμοι τω ελαχιστοτερω παντων των αγιων εδοθη η
χαρις αυτη εν τοις εθνεσιν ευαγγελισασθαι τον ανεξιχνιαστον πλουτον του
χριστου<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">If signs and wonders are removed from the body mentioned in 1Cor. <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_392092584" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">12:12</span></span> -- would it (the body) survive?</span><br />
<br />
ANSWER: NO! It would have no members!!!!<br />
<br />
PROOF: 1Cor 12<br />
<br />
1 ¶ Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.<br />
2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.<br />
3
Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit
of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is
the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.<br />
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.<br />
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.<br />
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.<br />
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.<br />
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;<br />
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;<br />
10
To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another
discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another
the interpretation of tongues:<br />
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.<br />
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.<br />
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.<br />
14 For the body is not one member, but many.Deborah (Hickinbotham) Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14301918232942600896noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662865134716251937.post-36711505474979468772014-07-27T09:41:00.000-07:002014-07-27T09:41:31.328-07:00The Olive Tree – Are We Graft In? By Wayne Stewart<h1 class="page__title title" id="page-title">
The Olive Tree - Are We Graft In?</h1>
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<header>
<div class="submitted">
<span content="2014-07-06T05:28:25-05:00" rel="sioc:has_creator">Submitted by <a class="username" href="https://rightdivision.com/users/wayne-stewart" title="View user profile.">Wayne Stewart</a> on <time datetime="2014-07-06T05:28:25-05:00" pubdate="">Sun, 07/06/2014 - 05:28 on RightDivision.com:</time></span></div>
<div class="submitted">
<a href="https://rightdivision.com/blog/olive-tree-are-we-graft" target="_blank"><span content="2014-07-06T05:28:25-05:00" rel="sioc:has_creator"><time datetime="2014-07-06T05:28:25-05:00" pubdate="">https://rightdivision.com/blog/olive-tree-are-we-graft </time></span></a></div>
<div class="submitted">
<a href="https://rightdivision.com/blog/olive-tree-are-we-graft" target="_blank"><span content="2014-07-06T05:28:25-05:00" rel="sioc:has_creator"><time datetime="2014-07-06T05:28:25-05:00" pubdate=""> </time></span></a> </div>
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The
Olive Tree - are we graft in? This question seems to have an obvious
answer. "Of course we are graft into the olive tree because that is what
Romans 11:17 says!" Lets read it together:<br />
17 (AV) And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a
wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of
the root and fatness of the olive tree;<br />
17 (TR) ει δε τινες των κλαδων εξεκλασθησαν συ δε αγριελαιος ων
ενεκεντρισθης εν αυτοις και συγκοινωνος της ριζης και της πιοτητος της
ελαιας εγενου<br />
Before answering this we will back up a little and discover important
and interesting contextual information about the book we are reading
from. The epistle of Paul to the Romans is a book of huge consequence
because it lays down some very clear truths concerning justification by
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is undeniable and is affirmed by
the present author. But what is also true and must also be equally
affirmed is that the book is written in an age when Jew was first Rom.
1:16<br />
16 ¶ (AV) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;<strong> to the Jew first, and also to the Greek</strong>.<br />
16 (TR) ου γαρ επαισχυνομαι το ευαγγελιον του χριστου δυναμις γαρ θεου
εστιν εις σωτηριαν παντι τω πιστευοντι ιουδαιω τε πρωτον και ελληνι<br />
The gospel of Christ "is the power of God unto salvation to everyone
that believeth" BUT there is an order! TO THE JEW FIRST!! Where is the
Greek person in all this? We have to say SECOND!<br />
The gospel Paul was separated unto was promised before by God's prophets in the holy scriptures (OT)<br />
Rom. 1:1 ¶ (AV) Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,<br />
1 (TR) παυλος δουλος ιησου χριστου κλητος αποστολος αφωρισμενος εις ευαγγελιον θεου<br />
Rom. 1:2 (AV) (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)<br />
2 (TR) ο προεπηγγειλατο δια των προφητων αυτου εν γραφαις αγιαις<br />
Is this gospel "The MYSTERY" hidden in God and kept secret from the
prophets of old? The answer is emphatically NO!!! It was promised afore
by prophets and written in the scriptures.<br />
What shall we say of the hope presented in Romans? Was it the <strong>heavenly places</strong> PAul presents in Ephesians? Lets read Romans 15:<br />
8 (AV) Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the
circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the
fathers:<br />
8 (TR) λεγω δε ιησουν χριστον διακονον γεγενησθαι περιτομης υπερ αληθειας θεου εις το βεβαιωσαι τας επαγγελιας των πατερων<br />
Notice that the Lord "was" a minister of the circumcision and functioned to confirm promises made to the fathers of Israel.<br />
9 (AV) And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it
is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles,
and sing unto thy name.<br />
9 (TR) τα δε εθνη υπερ ελεους δοξασαι τον θεον καθως γεγραπται δια τουτο εξομολογησομαι σοι εν εθνεσιν και τω ονοματι σου ψαλω<br />
Verse nine begins with the conjuction "AND" -- the Lord not only
intended that the circumcision receive ministry through fulfilment of
promises but that the Gentiles would glorify God because of his mercy - a
clear contrast between rights according to promises and mercy toward
those outside the promises and covenants of glory. While the
Syrophenician woman gained mercy she did so by acknowledging Israel had
the first place. When then did this purpose of the Lord come to be
expressed? Only as Israel rebelled, Peter begrudgingly came to accept
this in the events surrounding Cornelius. But, it was Paul who perfects
this ministry, here he makes three quotes to back up the prophetic
nature of the turn to the Gentiles by the quotation of three portions of
holy writ. Here "as it is written" ... Psalm 18:49<br />
Rom. 15:10 (AV) And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.<br />
10 (TR) και παλιν λεγει ευφρανθητε εθνη μετα του λαου αυτου<br />
The above is taken from Deut 32:43<br />
11 (AV) And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.<br />
11 (TR) και παλιν αινειτε τον κυριον παντα τα εθνη και επαινεσατε αυτον παντες οι λαοι<br />
The above passage comes from Psalm 117:1<br />
12 (AV) And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and
he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the
Gentiles trust.<br />
12 (TR) και παλιν ησαιας λεγει εσται η ριζα του ιεσσαι και ο ανισταμενος αρχειν εθνων επ αυτω εθνη ελπιουσιν<br />
This is taken from Isaiah 11:10 and is clearly a millennial hope! The
last clause of verse 12 says "επ αυτω εθνη ελπιουσιν", literally "upon
him shall the Gentiles hope", the trust they were to possess was
specifically a hope in the root of Jesse that will reign over them in
the millennium. The importance to the Gentile living during the time of
the acts and NOT NOW, is that this was the hope presented to him or her.
This is seen more clearly when we read the following verse.<br />
13 ¶ (AV) Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in
believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy
Ghost.<br />
13 (TR) ο δε θεος της ελπιδος πληρωσαι υμας πασης χαρας και ειρηνης εν
τω πιστευειν εις το περισσευειν υμας εν τη ελπιδι εν δυναμει πνευματος
αγιου<br />
In this verse, the word hope is expressed arthrous, that is it has
the article placed with it -- Now the God of THE HOPE, that is the
particular hope just introduced in verse 12. The God of the hope that
Isaiah published, was the God that would fill them with joy and peace as
they believed on him, their work was based on the millennial hope and
this would be carried forth through demonstrable power that the Holy
Spirit would perform through them. Indeed Paul demostrated this when he
came in the fullness of the gospel with signs and wonders - Ro 15:19
Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so
that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully
preached the gospel of Christ.<br />
14 ¶ (AV) And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that
ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to
admonish one another.<br />
14 (TR) πεπεισμαι δε αδελφοι μου και αυτος εγω περι υμων οτι και αυτοι
μεστοι εστε αγαθωσυνης πεπληρωμενοι πασης γνωσεως δυναμενοι και αλληλους
νουθετειν<br />
15 (AV) Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto
you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is
given to me of God,<br />
15 (TR) τολμηροτερον δε εγραψα υμιν αδελφοι απο μερους ως επαναμιμνησκων υμας δια την χαριν την δοθεισαν μοι υπο του θεου<br />
The fact that the Gentiles had a millennial hope is no surprize since Paul says in Rom 15<br />
Ro 15:27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are.
For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things,
their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.<br />
If you believe in mid-acts as the start of the church for which Christ is head then I should ask:<br />
<ol>
<li>Do you go to the Jew first? Paul said the gospel should go first to the Jew.</li>
<li>Do you preach a millennial hope to the Gentiles? Paul did!</li>
<li>Do you have the powers of the age to come? Paul did and so did the
Acts church indeed the body in 1Cor12 was made on the basis of these
gifts.</li>
<li>Do you make a collection for those Jewish believers who are poor
and do you do so BECAUSE you are participating in their spiritual
things? Paul did and so also did the Romans and Corinthians.</li>
</ol>
Now we come to the olive of Romans 11, the setting is clear and begins with a question<br />
1 ¶ (AV) 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.<br />
1 (TR) λεγω ουν μη απωσατο ο θεος τον λαον αυτου μη γενοιτο και γαρ εγω ισραηλιτης ειμι εκ σπερματος αβρααμ φυλης βενιαμιν<br />
Paul asks a question which we should ask ourselves -- Hath God cast
away his people? If you believe in the revelation given by PAul post
Acts 28 then you have to say that NOW in this age -- yes He has! Why?
Because Acts 28 happened.<br />
<div class="rtecenter">
<strong>THE SALVATION of GOD is SENT TO THE GENTILES ACTS 28:28</strong></div>
Paul's answer in the time of the Acts is "God forbid" -- his reason
is that he is an Israelite - Paul was a practicing Jew and held to the
hope of Israel, in Acts 26 we read<br />
Ac 26:22 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:<br />
this was stated after retelling the account of how the Jews opposed his ministry of going to the Gentiles.<br />
In the last chapter of Acts we read,<br />
Ac 28:20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: <strong>because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain</strong>.<br />
The hope of Israel continues right to the last chapter of Acts --
then it is no wonder that all epistles of the Acts period can go no
further! That includes ROMANS.<br />
Paul states also that God has not cast away his people but that there
was then during the Acts a remnant according to the election of grace,
these are Paul's target. The figure of the olive will ultimately come in
this context, and the function of the Gentile in relation to Israel
will be fully expalined. The Jew first economy is throughout and
magnified in Romans 11, take an example, a passage that many would
affirm:<br />
13 (AV) For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:<br />
13 (TR) υμιν γαρ λεγω τοις εθνεσιν εφ οσον μεν ειμι εγω εθνων αποστολος την διακονιαν μου δοξαζω<br />
So here we have Paul the apostle to the Gentiles -- yes but he
qualifies this. The reason for the magnification of this office in which
he speaks to the Gentiles is given in the next verse!<br />
14 (AV) If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.<br />
14 (TR) ει πως παραζηλωσω μου την σαρκα και σωσω τινας εξ αυτων<br />
If by any means I may provoke to emulation -- this is an important
qualification to his ministry. In the Acts Paul is not simply an apostle
to the Gentiles he is ministering first to Israel using the Gentiles to
provoke the Jews to emulation!.<br />
The Olive tree comes into this context. Lets read the passage<br />
15 (AV) For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the
world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?<br />
15 (TR) ει γαρ η αποβολη αυτων καταλλαγη κοσμου τις η προσληψις ει μη ζωη εκ νεκρων<br />
Who is being cast away in the Acts? This is equivalent to identifying
the antecedent of "them", it has to be the same "them" of the previous
verse (verse 14) and these are those who Paul identifies as "them which
are my flesh". This verse while showing judgment on Israel aslo looks
forward to a time of reconciliation for the same group.<br />
16 (AV) For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.<br />
16 (TR) ει δε η απαρχη αγια και το φυραμα και ει η ριζα αγια και οι κλαδοι<br />
This is very instructive -- look at the order and metaphor,
firstfruit then lump and root then branches. Israel is holy unto the
Lord, God has a purpose for it. If some of the branches are broken off
this does not change their inherent holiness. In all these passages we
should be constantly asking ourselves - What is the Olive tree?<br />
17 (AV) And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a
wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of
the root and fatness of the olive tree;<br />
17 (TR) ει δε τινες των κλαδων εξεκλασθησαν συ δε αγριελαιος ων
ενεκεντρισθης εν αυτοις και συγκοινωνος της ριζης και της πιοτητος της
ελαιας εγενου<br />
Again some not all of the branches are broken off. Who is Paul
adressing as "thou" - we have no option but to go back and find the
nearest antecedent which is in Vs 13 "you Gentiles", while here in verse
17 it is singular by virtue of referring to a single tree. The Gentiles
were graft in and partook of the root and fatness of the olive tree.
This is consistent with the teaching shown above that the Gentiles were
partaking of Israel's spiritual things.<br />
18 (AV) Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.<br />
18 (TR) μη κατακαυχω των κλαδων ει δε κατακαυχασαι ου συ την ριζαν βασταζεις αλλ η ριζα σε<br />
19 (AV) Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.<br />
19 (TR) ερεις ουν εξεκλασθησαν οι κλαδοι ινα εγω εγκεντρισθω<br />
20 (AV) Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:<br />
20 (TR) καλως τη απιστια εξεκλασθησαν συ δε τη πιστει εστηκας μη υψηλοφρονει αλλα φοβου<br /><br />
How did they get broken off? By unbelief! If they received Christ they
would remain in belief and stay in the tree otherwise they would be cut
out.<br />
21 (AV) For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.<br />
21 (TR) ει γαρ ο θεος των κατα φυσιν κλαδων ουκ εφεισατο μηπως ουδε σου φεισηται<br />
This is the natural order, those who are descendents of the prophets
will believe the prophets and remain in the tree. That is NATURAL.<br />
22 (AV) 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.<br />
22 (TR) ιδε ουν χρηστοτητα και αποτομιαν θεου επι μεν τους πεσοντας
αποτομιαν επι δε σε χρηστοτητα εαν επιμεινης τη χρηστοτητι επει και συ
εκκοπηση<br />
23 (AV) And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.<br />
23 (TR) και εκεινοι δε εαν μη επιμεινωσιν τη απιστια εγκεντρισθησονται δυνατος γαρ εστιν ο θεος παλιν εγκεντρισαι αυτους<br />
Clearly believing ISRAEL will make up the tree. This belief is tested with the coming of Messiah.<br />
24 (AV) 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?<br />
24 (TR) ει γαρ συ εκ της κατα φυσιν εξεκοπης αγριελαιου και παρα φυσιν
ενεκεντρισθης εις καλλιελαιον ποσω μαλλον ουτοι οι κατα φυσιν
εγκεντρισθησονται τη ιδια ελαια<br />
If the branches are again graft into their own olive tree, what must this tree be?<br />
25 (AV) For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of
this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that
blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the
Gentiles be come in.<br />
25 (TR) ου γαρ θελω υμας αγνοειν αδελφοι το μυστηριον τουτο ινα μη ητε
παρ εαυτοις φρονιμοι οτι πωρωσις απο μερους τω ισραηλ γεγονεν αχρις ου
το πληρωμα των εθνων εισελθη<br />
What could be clearer? Blindness in part has happenned to ISRAEL!<br />
26 (AV) And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There
shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness
from Jacob:<br />
26 (TR) και ουτως πας ισραηλ σωθησεται καθως γεγραπται ηξει εκ σιων ο ρυομενος και αποστρεψει ασεβειας απο ιακωβ<br />
27 (AV) For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.<br />
27 (TR) και αυτη αυτοις η παρ εμου διαθηκη οταν αφελωμαι τας αμαρτιας αυτων<br />
What! -- A covenant? Who were given the covenants?<br />
The olive tree is no new metaphor -- look at Jer. 11:16<br />
Jer 11:16 The LORD called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, and of
goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire
upon it, and the branches of it are broken.<br />
Wow, Jeremiah the prophet to the nations gives the context of
judgment on Israel by way of branches broken. Why would you make
mid-acts the beginning of the Church for which Christ is head?<br />
So are we graft in? NO! We couldn't be, because the tree is cut to
the ground and Israel is divorced (for a season of blindness).<br />
</div>
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</section></aside>Deborah (Hickinbotham) Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14301918232942600896noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662865134716251937.post-14921399239721812922014-06-29T12:56:00.000-07:002014-07-02T18:30:44.176-07:00When Did the Church Begin by Brother Mark Phillips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKoaTeyqoGcA-2nLIh4LdWkhFkVo21uKjmnybgvGaZ8JDfZHPRbNZZni3mGTtvRuUlD8rT_1rrnb_HpmImixXscsynRSh5lZZkbG22EXXEkrcAux3jKs3wv2zDhMTt2dd3iuDHxjMroY/s1600/Appear-In-Glory-Header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKoaTeyqoGcA-2nLIh4LdWkhFkVo21uKjmnybgvGaZ8JDfZHPRbNZZni3mGTtvRuUlD8rT_1rrnb_HpmImixXscsynRSh5lZZkbG22EXXEkrcAux3jKs3wv2zDhMTt2dd3iuDHxjMroY/s1600/Appear-In-Glory-Header.jpg" height="133" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
From the Acts 28 blog of Brother Mark Phillips, Appear In Glory, June 26, 2014:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="_5pbx userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="overflow: hidden;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://appearinglorytimeline.blogspot.com/2014/06/just-did-church-age-for-today-begin.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AppearInGloryTimeline+%28Appear+In+Glory+Timeline%29" target="_blank">When did the Church begin?</a><br />There are three main views as to when the Church of which Christ is head<br />began.
Probably over 95 percent of believers are confused on this issue, and
fail to rightly divide the Scripture to determine what things belong to
Israel and what things belong to the Church in our age. That 95 percent
fails to see that Acts 2 did not begin the Church today, but was
prophecy taking place for the Jewish believers called the Church of God in the book of Acts.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The second group
of believers try to see the difference in Paul's messages to the
Kingdom Church of God and the Church today. Most of these believers
believe the Church today started around Acts 9-13. They believe that
throughout the book of Acts, Paul moved gradually away from the Gospel
for the earthly Kingdom Church of a God and finally preached only to the
Gentiles. The following is a general article that outlines their belief
as to when the Church for our age began. Unfortunately, they fail to
see that all through the entire book of Acts, Paul's hope was entirely
in line with the earthly hope of the Jewish kingdom Church. One can read
in Acts many times throughout Acts, in Paul's very own words, stating
how his hope was of his father Abraham. It was not until Paul's last
effort to get through to the Jewish leaders to accept their Messiah,
that they refused to believe and God cut them off calling them "not my
people " in Acts 28:28.<br /><br />It
was not until after Israel was cut off from God for the time being, in
Acts 28:28, that God revealed to Paul in Prison about a new Creation,
the Church which Jesus is the head. Finally One New Man, where both
Gentile and Jewish believers are equal in stature. We finally read about
this mystery that was finally revealed to Paul for the first time in
history. It was a secret hid in the mind of a God and not revealed in
the Old Testament or in prophecy about God's church for our age. Our
Church age did not begin until after Acts 28:28.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When Did the Church of the One Body Begin?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); display: inline; margin-top: 6px;">
We believe the passage in Acts 28:28-31 is when the Apostle Paul
declares to the Jewish leadership that the final opportunity for their
acceptance of Jesus as Christ is over. From that point on the message
for the plan of salvation is now authorized to be sent from the
Gentiles, apart from Israel. Prior to this point in scripture, salvation
was always either through or with the Jew. At this point the nation of
Israel has been put on hold but will be still receive the promises and
blessings made to them through Abraham in the future (when Elijah
restores the revealed plan of God). However, for the first time in
scripture, Paul declares that whosoever will accept Christ, they become a
member of the body of Christ where Christ is the head. This is now the
beginning of the church which is of His body which has its own calling,
blessings, and inheritance separate from Israel. To explain this “hidden
plan”, Paul then begins to write the final 7 books in scripture,
chronologically (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Titus, Philemon, 1
and 2 Timothy.) The reason we describe this calling as the hidden
purpose is that it was hidden in God, before the foundation of the world
and not revealed until Paul was told to do so in Ephesians 3:9. The
primary name given to us by the Apostle Paul for the special body of
truth during this timeframe is called “The Mystery” (Ephesians 3:9,
Colossians 1:25-26) and it is our calling for today. There are several
positions in Christendom on when the Church of the One Body began. Those
would be in Acts 2, Acts 9, Acts 13, and Acts 28. We obviously claim it
was after the announcement Paul made in Acts 28:28."</div>
</div>
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<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); display: inline; margin-top: 6px;">
Thank you, Brother Mark, for that easy-to-understand comparison! </div>
</div>
<br />Deborah (Hickinbotham) Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14301918232942600896noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662865134716251937.post-2494716835202655762014-06-15T14:00:00.000-07:002014-06-15T14:01:27.455-07:00Answers to Certain Arguments Against the Acts 28 Dispensational Boundary<h1 class="page__title title" id="page-title">
<a href="https://rightdivision.com/articles/dispensational-frontier" target="_blank">Dispensational Frontier</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</h1>
<h1 class="page__title title" id="page-title">
by Charles Welch <span style="font-size: large;">(<a href="http://rightdivision.com/">rightdivision.com</a>)</span></h1>
<img alt="Dispensational Frontier" src="https://rightdivision.com/sites/default/files/dispensational_frontier_0.png" style="border: 1px solid black; float: left; height: 75px; margin: 5px; width: 100px;" /><b>The Dispensational Frontier of Acts 28:23-31. </b>The
Analogy of a Frontier. It is but reasonable to expect that any system
of doctrine or interpretation that differs from or challenges orthodoxy,
will be subjected to a fair amount of criticism, and this should be
welcomed, for if our pursuit be the TRUTH, the faults discovered even by
an enemy should be acknowledged and the quest continued. We believe
that many whose interest has been quickened, but who have received a
setback by some of the specious arguments advanced against us, would
value a careful and constructive presentation of the reasons why Acts 28
should be considered a dispensational boundary. This we hope to provide
in the text below.<br />
Supposing Acts 28 to be a "frontier," what should we reasonably
expect to justify the claim? The word "frontier" is a geographical term
denoting the extreme limits and boundary of a country. Up to that limit
the laws and customs, language and currency of one country will obtain,
and immediately beyond that frontier other laws customs, languages and
currency will obtain, and if we are justified in the use of the term in
speaking of Acts 28, it will be incumbent upon us to show that certain
features that are characteristic of the dispensation covering Acts 1-28
run from one end of the book to the other, and that immediately beyond
the confines of this chapter a new set of features are in force.
However, before we demonstrate these essential characteristics it will
be necessary to deal with a related objection and to show that it has no
bearing upon the question as to whether Acts 28 be the dispensational
frontier or not. The objection we have in mind runs something like this:<br />
"Whether we are in the 'Acts' or the 'Prison Epistles,' there is but
One Saviour, One Redeemer, One God and Father. We read the same Bible,
and resurrection is the constant factor in our hope whatever differences
there may be in the way in which that hope is described. These features
are fundamental and are of much more importance than the differences so
often enlarged upon, and their due recognition reveals that we are all
one family of faith, on whichever side of Acts 28 we may find
ourselves."<br />
It is difficult to be fair when attempting to summarize the many
objections made by others, but we believe the spirit of these objections
will be evident from this presentation. Let us rewrite this objection
in geographical and racial terms and see how far we can then endorse the
argument contained in them. <a href="https://rightdivision.com/articles/dispensational-frontier" target="_blank">(Read more...)</a>Deborah (Hickinbotham) Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14301918232942600896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662865134716251937.post-82929421056356830412014-05-27T09:29:00.000-07:002014-05-27T09:31:42.495-07:00ABC's of Right Division Series by Dr. Wayne Stewart - Listen or Watch!<span class="field-content"></span>
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</section><section class="region region-sidebar-second column sidebar"><br /></section><section class="region region-sidebar-second column sidebar">From the Acts 28 website: <a href="http://rightdivision.com/">RightDivision.com</a></section></aside>Deborah (Hickinbotham) Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14301918232942600896noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662865134716251937.post-77788402161355663022014-05-07T14:58:00.000-07:002014-05-07T18:24:33.526-07:00IMAGINE HOW THE GENTILES FELT WHEN ISRAEL WAS PUT ASIDE IN ACTS 28!I recently read an article by Charles Welch in the Berean Expositor (begun to circulate in 1909) that considers the plight Gentiles believers that had been allowed to share the hope of Israel's kingdom glory coming in their lifetime found themselves in when they realized Israel had been cast aside by God as pronounced by the Apostle Paul at Rome (Acts 28:23-28). I'll share it with you here and I know you'll find it enlightening as I did:<br />
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Taken from <a href="http://www.charleswelch.net/be.htm">http://www.charleswelch.net/be.htm</a>:<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">The Dispensation of the Secret.
pp. 52-54
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">When this series of studies was commenced we desired to set forth the wonderful truth
contained in the Prison Epistles (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and II Timothy), but
we found it necessary to prepare the way by showing the position of the pentecostal
dispensation, its kingdom and Abrahamic connections, and the great division that
occurred in the dispensational dealings of God recorded in Acts xxviii.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">Election and predestination, a choice that antedates all time, and unconditional purpose
are at the very threshold of this dispensation (Eph. i.). Why is this? Let us endeavour to
place ourselves in the position of the Gentile believers somewhere about A.D. 68-70.
Let us suppose that we have been brought out of heathen darkness into light and liberty
through the ministry of the apostle Paul. We had heard of that glorious kingdom which
was to be set up over all the earth when the Son of God and Son of man should reign
upon the throne of David. We had bowed before the teaching that we were but wild
olive branches grafted into the true olive tree; that the “Jew first” was the divine order
(Rom. i. 16), and that “in that day” not the Gentiles, but Israel, shall be a kingdom of
priests. Very willingly we took our appointed place, glad that we Gentiles should find
any place of blessing at all. We earnestly joined our prayers with the apostles that Israel
might repent, so that the long promised kingdom, with all its blessing, might be set up.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">Imagine our consternation when tidings came to us that the apostle Paul had been
inspired by God to pronounce the words of judgment written in Isa. vi. upon the apostate
nation. How would this affect us? Could the blessings flow to us if the channel were cut
off? What was our dispensational position now? Were we still to look for the return of
the Lord, and the setting up of the kingdom? None could answer the question, until one
day a letter written by the apostle Paul came to our little assembly (the Epistle to the
Ephesians). Therein we read no more of </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">earthly </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">blessings, or </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Abrahamic </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">promises, but
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">heavenly</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">, </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">and a </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">secret </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">purpose hitherto unrevealed. How we praised the infinite wisdom
and grace that, out of such apparent failure, could bring forth such a glorious treasure.
We did not quibble about predestination; it was the word of our salvation. We did not
seek to explain away “chosen in Him before the foundation of the world,” for it answered
all our misgivings as to our relationship with Abraham. We no longer looked forward to
“inheriting the earth,” nor to the “heavenly country,” nor to the “city that </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">cometh down
out of heaven,</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">” for we read that we were “blessed with </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">spiritual blessings in the
heavenlies in Christ, </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">according as He chose us in Him </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">before </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">the foundation of the
world” (Eph. i. 3, 4). “Who </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">blessed </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">us. . . . according as He </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">chose </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">us.”
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">This is the key to all favour in this dispensation of grace. In whom did He choose us?
In Abraham? No! </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">In Christ. </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">Abraham is never mentioned by Paul after Acts xxviii.
When did He choose us? </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Since </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">the foundation of the world? No! </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Before. </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">What are the
blessings? Are they connected with an earthly kingdom? No! They are “</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">all spiritual
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">blessings,</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">” and all “</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">in the heavenlies.</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">” Before the apostle could unfold the subject of the
great mystery and the truth of the one body, he must first reassure his hearers that their
case was not so hopeless as they may have imagined. He had to tell them that although
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Scripture itself </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">was silent as to any hope of blessing apart from Israel, yet that upon
Israel’s defection the Lord had revealed a purpose of grace hitherto kept secret, that these
things were but the working out of His eternal purpose.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">Two mysteries in particular are referred to in Eph. iii. 2-9, viz.:--
1. The mystery of </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Christ</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">.<br />
2. The mystery of the </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">present dispensation</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">,
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">the one being more completely revealed than ever before; the other being revealed for the
first time in the history of man. The one, to many apostles and prophets, the other, to
one - Paul. Care is required in reading the passage which contains these statement,
otherwise we shall be making Scripture contradict itself. We set out the scriptures in
their harmony and structure, showing the difference there is between the mystery
concerning Christ and His heavenly glories, and the mystery concerning the present
dispensation.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">“</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to
you-ward, how that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery,
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">(as I wrote afore in a few words (viz. Eph. i. and ii.), whereby, when ye read, ye
may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ, which in other ages was
not made known unto the sons of men as it is now revealed unto His holy
apostles and prophets by the Spirit),
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs and fellow-members of the same body, and
fellow-partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel whereof I was made a minister.</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">”
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">The structure of the passage will help to show this distinction even more clearly.
A | 2. The </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">dispensation </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">of the grace of God.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">B | 3. The </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">mystery </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">made known </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">to </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">Paul.
C | a | 4. The </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">mystery </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">of Christ.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">b | 5. Apostles the ministers (plural).
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">C </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">| </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">a | </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">6. The </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">mystery </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">of the dispensation.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">b </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">| 7. Paul the minister (singular).
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">B </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">| 8. The </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">mystery </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">made known </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">by </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">Paul.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">A </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">| 9. The </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">dispensation </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">of the mystery (R.V.).
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">Vitally connected with the “mystery of Christ,” which involves His ascension </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">far
above </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">all principalities and powers, is the mystery of the present dispensation, which
gives us the standing and hope of believers now. Eph. iii. 6 contains a condensed
summary of the essential elements of the “dispensation of the grace of God,” the
“dispensation of the mystery” given to Paul.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">Those who have access to the original will not have failed to observe the threefold
repetition of the little word </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">sun</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">, meaning “together with.” “That the Gentiles should be
heirs </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">together</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">, and a body </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">together</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">, and partakers </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">together </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">of His promises in Christ
through the gospel.” One has only to read such passages as Rom. xi. 24, 25; Isa. lxi. 5, 6,
&c., to see that Eph. iii. 6 introduced something entirely new. It was no secret that the
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">Gentiles should be blessed through Christ, but nowhere in the pages of the Old Testament
Scriptures is there anything to lead us to believe that a dispensation was reserved by God
in which He would bless Gentiles in entire independence of Israel, and bless them
together with any Jewish believers on an entirely equal footing, absolutely ignoring all
distinctions of circumcision or uncircumcision, dispensing His favours in pure grace, and
lifting the whole sphere above the distinctions of flesh or earth to the possession of
spiritual blessings in heavenly places, in harmony with a choice and a promise that was
made before the disruption of this world’s system—a promise made before the age-times.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">Eph. iii. 2-9.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">2. If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:<br />
3. How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,<br />
4. Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)<br />
5. Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy
apostles and prophets by the Spirit;<br />
6. That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by
the gospel:<br />
7. Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual
working of his power.<br />
8. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the
Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;<br />
9. And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world
hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Rom. xi.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Isa. lxi.
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">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?<br />
25. For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise
in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the
Gentiles be come in.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">5. And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your
plowmen and your vinedressers.<br />
6. But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord: men shall call you the Ministers of our God:
ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Berean Expositor Volume 1
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Some differences between the dispensation before
Acts xxviii. and that which followed.<br />
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-style: italic;">“When that which is PERFECT is come, then<br />
that which is PARTIAL shall be done away” (I Cor. xiii. 10).
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">pp. 25-29
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">In our preceding articles we have been considering various passages of Scripture
which tend to show that the present dispensation began when Israel was set aside by the
apostle Paul in Acts xxviii., and the Gentiles became peculiarly the objects of grace. In
this article we shall endeavour further to demonstrate the difference between the earlier
epistles written before Acts xxviii. and those written later. We first of all call attention
to the testimony of the inclusion and exclusion of certain words. Christ is never referred
to as “Shepherd” by the apostle Paul, and after Acts xxviii. the Lord’s people are not
called a “flock,” or referred to as “sheep,” whilst in the Gospels, Acts, Hebrews, and
Peter all these titles are used. Israel were, and will yet be, “the sheep of His pasture.”
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">The following list speaks for itself, the Holy Spirit definitely keeping certain words
and phrases within the bounds of the various dispensations.
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">Expression used.
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Before Acts xxviii.
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">After Acts xxviii.
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">I & II Thess.,
I & II Cor.,
Gal., Romans
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Ephesians,
Philippians,
Colossians.
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">I Tim.,
II Tim.,
Titus.
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Jew<br />
Israel<br />
Israelite<br />
Abraham<br />
Moses<br />
To baptize<br />
Baptism (</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">baptisma</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">)
Lord’s Supper
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">The loaf (in connection with the Lord’s Supper)
The cup (in connection with the Lord’s Supper)
Gifts (</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">charisma</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">) (referring to “Gifts of the Spirit”)
Miracles
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Tongues<br />
Interpret, interpretation, interpreter
Healing<br />
Prophesying<br />
Prophesy<br />
To circumcise<br />
Circumcision
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">\<br />
\ As
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">/ Gifts.
/
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<pre><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">25
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">Many more could be added, but we feel that this list will be sufficient to make it clear
that there is an appreciable difference between the economy obtaining from Pentecost to
Acts xxviii., and that commencing at the close of Acts xxviii. and still continuing, which
is called by Paul “The dispensation of the grace of God to you-ward” (Gentiles).
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">It will be remembered that in our last paper we found that in I Cor. xii. the one body
was explained as being “partial,” in contrast with the “fulness” of Eph. i. 23. Upon
examining this subject more closely we shall see that during the pentecostal or
transitional period, the essential elements of the one body are found scattered through
these earlier epistles, but not gathered together and invested with the new and full
meaning, as is the case in Ephesians. The unity of the Spirit, one hope of our calling, one
Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father. In this wonderful seven-fold unity
the triune God is given His place.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">In I Cor. xii. 4-6, in connection with the diversities, administrations, and operations of
the gifts which formed the basis of the ecclesiastical body of I Cor. xii. 12-27, we read
that it is the same </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Spirit</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">, the same </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Lord, </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">and the same </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">God </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">who worketh all in all. In
verse 13 we read, “For by </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">one Spirit </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">are we </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">baptized </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">into </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">one body.</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">” In I Cor. viii. 6 we
read, “Unto us </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">one God, the Father. . . . </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">and </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">one Lord, Jesus Christ.</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">” In I Cor. xiii. 13
we read, “And now abideth </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">faith, hope, </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">and </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">love.</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">” The words printed in italics are the
seven wonderful components of the unity of the Spirit, not yet, however, brought together
in order, nor invested with their higher meaning.
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">I Cor. xii.
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">4. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.<br />
5. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.<br />
6. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">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.<br />
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.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">14. For the body is not one member, but many.<br />
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?
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?<br />
17. If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the
smelling?<br />
18. But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.<br />
19. And if they were all one member, where were the body?<br />
20. But now are they many members, yet but one body.<br />
21. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have
no need of you.<br />
22. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:<br />
23. And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more
abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.<br />
24. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more
abundant honour to that part which lacked:<br />
25. That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for
another.<br />
26. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the
members rejoice with it.<br />
27. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">Had the nation of Israel repented, and the kingdom would have come as a
consequence, these passages would have exactly fitted the prophecy of Zech. xiv. 9,
“And the </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Lord </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">shall be King over all the earth; in that day shall there be </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">one Lord, </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">and
His name </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">one.</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">” As it is, the kingdom is in abeyance, and instead of one Lord being </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">King</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">,
He is exalted as Head of the church, His body; not “over all the earth,” but “in the
heavenlies,” for “earthly things” (John iii. 12) are connected with regeneration and the
kingdom of Israel.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">The one body of I Cor. xii. is </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">essentially </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">and </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">inseparably </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">connected with gifts. Such
gifts as are there described are absent to-day, and it is as foolish to endeavour to regulate
an assembly to-day by I Cor. xii., as it would be to try to navigate a sailing-ship with the
regulations and orders suitable for a steamship.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">“All these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally
as He will, </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">for as </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">the body is one and hath many members, and all the members of that
one body, being many, are one body; so also the Christ; </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">for </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">by one Spirit are we all
baptized into one body. . . . and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">The fact that </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">all </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">had a gift is compared to a body having </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">many </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">and </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">varied </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">members,
yet </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">all </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">composing one body. The words, “all made to drink into one Spirit,” refer to the
promise of John vii. 38, 39:--
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">“He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers
of living water; but this He spake of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should
receive, for the Holy Ghost was not yet (received), because that Jesus was not yet
glorified” (compare Mark 16:14-20; Acts 2:33).
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">It seems hardly possible that an intelligent Christian should teach that “drinking into
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">one Spirit</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">” meant partaking of the Lord’s Supper, but we mention it here in order that any
reader who may have received this interpretation may give the passage a prayerful and
contextual re-consideration.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">A question arising out of what we have been considering is, Does the term “The
baptism of the Spirit” of the pentecostal dispensation mean the same as the baptism of
Eph.4? We sometimes meet a Christian who tells us that he has “received the baptism of
the Holy Ghost,” or that he is “praying for the second blessing.” “Second blessings” are
delusions, resulting from undispensational views. The believers’ charter </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">commences
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">(Eph. i. 3) with the fact that God “</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">hath </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">blessed us with </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">all </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">spiritual blessings.” The book
of the Acts gives us very clear data as to what the baptism of the Spirit meant in
pentecostal times. Acts i. 5 and xi. 14-16 make it quite clear as to what the term refers:--
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">“And began to </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">speak </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">with other tongues” (Acts 2:1-4).<br />
“When Simon </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">saw. . . . </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">the Holy Ghost was given” (Acts 8:18).
“They </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">heard </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">them speak with tongues” (Acts 10:44-46).<br />
“They </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">spake </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">with tongues and prophesied” (Acts 19:6).
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">Almost without exception miraculous gifts followed the baptism of the Spirit, but such
is nowhere hinted in the epistles written </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">after </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">Acts xxviii. Ministering the spirit and
working miracles is connected with </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">justifying faith </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">in Gal. iii. 5,6. </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Is it so now? </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">The one
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">baptism of I Cor. xii. is </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">essentially </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">connected with miracles and supernatural gifts. </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Is it so
now? </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">Do members of the one body possess the power to prophesy, speak with tongues,
take up serpents, and drink deadly things unhurt? </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Why not? </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">Do Christians </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">really </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">believe
the words to be true of themselves; “They shall </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">lay hands </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">on the sick, and they shall
recover?”
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">The baptism of the Spirit in pentecostal times was subsequent to salvation, often by
the space of days, weeks and months, whereas Eph. i. 13, 14 says that “we are sealed
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">upon believing </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the earnest of our inheritance.”
Eph. ii. 15, 16 links the one body with Calvary; “For to make in Himself of twain </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">one
new man.</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">” “That He might reconcile both unto God in </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">one body </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">by the cross.” When the
Holy Spirit quickens a dead sinner into life, He </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">at the same moment </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">links him for ever
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">with Christ. </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">This union with the risen Saviour makes the believer a member of the </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">one
body, </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">and neither the laying on of hands can confer, nor the excommunication of men
take away this blessed grace-given position. This difference between the baptism of the
Spirit before and after Acts xxviii needs careful consideration. The one body of I Cor.
xii was evidenced by “signs and wonders.” The unity of the Spirit is without any such
evidence; it is among the things “not seen” yet “eternal,” which are seen by faith.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">Some have made havoc of truth by the failure to realize that the one body of Eph. iv.
is not the same as I Cor. xii. If we look for corporate unity on earth we shall be sadly
disappointed, but if we obey the Word of truth, and “endeavour to </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">keep </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">the unity of the
Spirit,” we may expect blessing as a result.
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">Jn. iii. 12
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">Acts i. 5
Acts xi.
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">14. Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.<br />
15. And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.<br />
16. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye
shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">Mark
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">Acts
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">16
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">2
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">33
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">14. Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their
unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was
risen.<br />
15. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">16. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they
shall speak with new tongues;<br />
18. They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they
shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.<br />
19. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the
right hand of God.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">20. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and
confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the Promise
of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
</span></div>
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Deborah (Hickinbotham) Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14301918232942600896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662865134716251937.post-60886600853289499292014-03-30T15:11:00.001-07:002014-03-30T15:18:30.352-07:00DID PAUL RECEIVE A "NEW" GOSPEL?<div style="text-align: center;">
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When I adhered to the Mid Acts position of dispensational theology, I was taught and believed that when Paul was converted and commissioned on the road to Damascus, he was given a new gospel – a gospel of grace to offer to Jew and Gentile alike, as opposed to the "kingdom gospel" which required not only faith in the Messiah Jesus Christ but also obedience to the works of the Law as a demonstration of that faith. This kingdom gospel of faith + works would gradually diminish away when the members of the kingdom church passed off the scene, but would return when Israel's program comes back into play following the culmination of the dispensation of grace.<br />
<br />
I must admit that I always felt a little sorry for the kingdom believers that they weren't offered the pure grace that we in this grace age enjoy. It was explained to me that Israel was under a series of curses (Leviticus 26) and thus had something to prove to God in order to gain a right to dwell in the earthly kingdom. It troubled me that the Scriptures make it clear that the Lord Jesus Christ died as a "ransom," so why did Israel need to add to that? I know the gospels say, "ransom for many" (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+20:28&version=KJV" target="_blank">Matthew 20:28</a>; <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+10:45&version=KJV" target="_blank">Mark 10:45</a>), and only Paul declares him a "ransom for all" (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Timothy+2:6&version=KJV" target="_blank">1 Timothy 2:6</a>), but a ransom is a ransom.<br />
<br />
Paul's gospel of grace through faith in Christ alone and not by works was not something new but actually something very, very old! It was the basis by which God desired men to come to him since the beginning of time! If Adam and Eve had trusted God completely, they would not have allowed the serpent to tempt them away from him. Cain would have brought the blood sacrifice God desired and not been convinced his own way was better. The Israelites would have gone immediately into their promised land if they had trusted God to be their all in all.<br />
<br />
Paul uses the example of Abraham when he describes this faith God is seeking and mentions King David who described the "blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works." (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%204&version=KJV" target="_blank">Romans 4</a>) God gave Israel the entire Acts period to turn from their rebellion to faith in his Son, Jesus Christ, who gave his life's blood as their ultimate Passover for their redemption. Some will object that James insists that Abraham was "justified by works" (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+2%3A17-26&version=KJV" target="_blank">James 2:17-26</a>). This justification has to do with being approved of God by works of righteousness <i>after</i> being justified and declared righteous by faith. Abraham had been justified by faith <u>long before</u> his willingness to sacrifice his son, Isaac. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+15%3A5-6&version=KJV" target="_blank">Genesis 15:5-6</a>)<br />
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Paul quotes from the Old Testament prophet Habbakuk, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Habakkuk+2:4&version=KJV" target="_blank">"the just shall live by faith."</a> (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+1:17&version=KJV" target="_blank">Romans 1:7</a>; <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+3:11&version=KJV" target="_blank">Galatians 3:11</a>; <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+10:38&version=KJV" target="_blank">Hebrews 10:38</a>). He does this to convince his hearers that grace by faith was God's plan all along for all believers! Romans 16 ends with, "Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets [like Habbakuk?], according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith; To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen." <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20cor%202:6-8&version=KJV" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 2:6-8</a> speaks of this mystery, this glorious secret kept from the princes of this world, for had they known Christ's sacrifice and subsequent resurrection from the dead would make salvation possible for all men, they would "not have crucified the Lord of glory." This mystery was "kept secret <i>since</i> the world began," not since <i>before</i> the world began like the mystery of our new hope and calling of <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+3&version=KJV" target="_blank">Ephesians 3</a>, which "hath been hid from ages and generations," and was revealed to Paul only after Israel's official rejection of their kingdom in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts+28%3A23-28&version=KJV" target="_blank">Acts 28:23-28</a>. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy+1:9&version=KJV" target="_blank">2 Timothy 1:9</a>; <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Titus+1:2&version=KJV" target="_blank">Titus 1:2</a>) <br />
<br />
Peter, in Acts 15:11, simply states, regarding the inclusion of Gentiles into the kingdom hope of Israel, "But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they." The kingdom church was still "all zealous of the law" as late as Acts 21:20. Is that grace? It is if by grace through faith they were saved even as the Gentiles invited in were saved. The law was observed by these Jewish kingdom saints because by their obedience, they would be rewarded in the kingdom they received through God's grace. <br />
Paul's gospel during the Acts period was adjusted slightly for the
Gentiles that believed so they would not be burdened by Jewish law and
rituals, although they were instructed to observe four "necessary
things." (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts+15%3A28-29&version=KJV" target="_blank">Acts 15:28-29</a>) <br />
<br />
Today, in this dispensation of the creation of the one new man, Jew and Gentile in the same body, destined for heavenly places, revealed following Acts 28, our works will be rewarded with crowns and positions of authority in those heavenly places, and <u>all</u> laws and ordinances are nailed "to his cross." (Colossians 2:13-14)<br />
<br />
God desires "all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:4) This was his desire from the beginning when he made man in his image, that man would have fellowship with him. Sin necessitated that he send his Son to die for sin in our place so that all who trust him will be saved - no conditions attached other than that. Christ's cross work opened the floodgates of God's marvelous grace to be offered to all that love him - past, present, and future. This is God's everlasting gospel!Deborah (Hickinbotham) Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14301918232942600896noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662865134716251937.post-15482175314284319862014-03-10T10:56:00.000-07:002014-03-10T15:37:50.448-07:00"I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation" – what does that mean?<span style="color: #550055;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: #550055;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">Rom 10</span></span></span></div>
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</span>
<br />
<div style="font: 12px Times; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #550055;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="font: 6px Times; letter-spacing: 0px;"><sup>19 </sup></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">But
I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to
jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will
anger you.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #550055;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #550055;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12px Helvetica; margin: 0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">Deut 32</span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12px Helvetica; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="font: 6px Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0px;"><sup>21 </sup></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">They
have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have
provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to
jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger
with a foolish nation.</span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12px Times; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12px Helvetica; margin: 0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">Many
teach that the foolish nation in these verses is the believing
REMNANT. They say that it cannot be the Gentiles because it says
nation, singular, not nations, plural. Even though I believe that Romans
10 speaks of the the Gentiles who were grafted into Israel’s program to
make Israel jealous, it is difficult to argue against the ‘nation,
singular’ stance. Help please?</span></span></div>
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<div style="font: 12px Helvetica; margin: 0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">Brian Kelson answers:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #550055;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: #550055;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #550055;"><span style="font-size: large;">Let us start with the obvious. In Romans we cannot
separate the Gentiles, the believing ones, from the remnant because the
believing Gentiles are part of the remnant. The nations or gentiles who
did not believe were not the provocation. The Gentiles who believed were
there to provoke Israel and that is Paul’s explanation at the end of
the section 9-11, thus;<br />What then?
Israel has not obtained that which it seeks, but the election obtained
it, and the rest were hardened even as it is written, "God gave to them a
spirit of slumber, eyes not seeing, and ears not hearing" until this
day. And David said, "Let their table become for a snare and a trap and a
stumbling block and a recompense to them. Let their eyes be darkened so
that they may not see, and their back always bowing." I say then, Did
they not stumble that they fall? Let it not be! But by their slipping
away came salvation to the nations, to provoke them to jealousy. <br />But
if their slipping away is the riches of the world, and their default is
the riches of the nations, how much more their fullness? <br />For I speak to you, the nations; since I am the apostle of the nations, I glorify my ministry; <br />if by any means I may provoke those who are my flesh to jealousy, and might save some of them. Rom 11:7-14</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #550055;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Romans 11 is an expansion of the provocation in
chapter 10:19 where we are assured the people, or Gentiles were the
means whereby God would provoke His people.</span><span style="color: #550055;"><br />Rom 10:19 But
I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to
jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will
anger you.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">So, does the word nation as opposed to people create any problems? No!</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Here is the problem solved. The original word for
“nation” in Roms.10:19 is the very selfsame word “people” in the same
verse thus;</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Rom 10:19</span> <span style="font-size: large;">But I say, Did not Israel know?
First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no
ethnos (people), and by a foolish ethnos (nation) I will anger you.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Jews understood ethnos to mean those who were not Jews or Israelites and they would read it thus; </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Rom 10:19</span> <span style="font-size: large;">But
I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to
jealousy by them that are no ethnos (not Jews), and by a foolish ethnos
(non-Jews) I will anger you.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Here is the verse in some other translations to
show their consistent translation of the same word ethnos, and they use
nation each time;</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
Rom 10:19 But
I say, Did not Israel know? First, Moses says, "I will provoke you to
jealousy by a non-nation (people), by an unwise nation (people) I will
anger you." LITV (literal)</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
Rom 10:19 But
again I ask, didn't Israel understand? First Moses says, "I will make
you jealous by those who are not a nation (people); with a senseless
nation (people) I will provoke you to anger. NET</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
Rom 10:19 But
I say, Did Israel not know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to
jealousy with that which is no nation (people), With a nation (people)
void of understanding will I anger you ASV</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Here is the verse in which we use people twice; </span><br />
Rom 10:19 But
I say, Did Israel not know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to
jealousy with that which is a no people, with a foolish people will I
anger you.</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Where is the problem?</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">In other words, people refers to the Gentiles who
were cast off in Gen.10 and without understanding, did they make up a
nation per se? No, the two original words are the same. These people
(Gentiles) were previously without hope, but now included by the grace
of God as members of that elect remnant of grace of prophesy. Their hope
was also the promises made to the fathers. This is the “</span><u>nation</u><span style="font-size: large;">”, the Gentile “</span><u>people</u><span style="font-size: large;">” who were God’s requiting instruments to provoke his people, Israel.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Let us go back to Romans 11 and put the word ethnos
where it belongs to show the link between 10:19.. First 10:19, then
11:7-14; </span><br />
But I say, Did Israel not
know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy with that which
is a no ETHNOS/people, with a foolish ETHNOS/people will I anger you.
Rom 10:19 </div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
What then? Israel has
not obtained that which it seeks, but the election obtained it, and the
rest were hardened even as it is written, "God gave to them a spirit of
slumber, eyes not seeing, and ears not hearing" until this day. And
David said, "Let their table become for a snare and a trap and a
stumbling block and a recompense to them. Let their eyes be darkened so
that they may not see, and their back always bowing." I say then, Did
they not stumble that they fall? Let it not be! But by their slipping
away came salvation to the ETHNOS/people (nation in 10:19), to provoke
them to jealousy. <br />
But if their slipping away is the riches of the
world, and their default is the riches of the ETHNOS/people, how much
more their fullness? <br />
For I speak to you ETHNOS/peopole; since I am the apostle of the ETHNOS/people, I glorify my ministry; <br />
if by any means I may provoke those who are my flesh to jealousy, and might save some of them. Rom 11:7-14</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">See how Paul’s original words tie 10:19 with
11:7-14? Nation, people, Gentiles it’s the same word translated
different ways. I’m sorry; I know the KJV-only arguments, but here
we see a problem created that doesn’t really exist. Nation of People
means the Gentiles who believed.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">While we are here in Romans 9-11, it is helpful to
see that both Peter and Paul use the same prophesies of Isaiah and Hosea
to describe this remnant of the Acts period which included Jews and
people (Gentiles or nation).</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Here is Peter and Paul using Isaiah 28;</span><br />
1Pe 2:6 Therefore
also it is contained in the Scripture: "Behold, I lay in Zion a chief
corner Stone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him shall never be
ashamed."<br />
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";">Isa 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.</span>Rom 9:33 As
it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of
offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.<br />
Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Both Peter and Paul use the cornerstone image of prophesy:</span><br />
1Pe 2:7 Therefore
to you who believe is the honor. But to those who are disobedient, He
is the Stone which the builders rejected; this One came to be the Head
of the corner,<br />
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";">Psa 118:22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.</span>Rom 9:33 As
it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of
offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.<br />
Rom 11:9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:<br />
Rom 11:11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall?<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
Both Peter and Paul speak of the appointment by God of some to wrath and some to honour:<br />
1Pe 2:8 and a Stone-of-stumbling and a Rock-of-offense to those disobeying, who stumble at the Word, to which they also were appointed. <br />
Rom 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? <br />
Rom 9:22 What
if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured
with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: <br />
Rom 9:23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Also note that stumbling block and foolishness
occurs in 1Cor.1:20-. The remnant would have been considered a foolish
bunch, certainly by the Greeks and it was certainly spoken against, Acts
13:45 (x2), 28:19, 22 and Roms.10:21. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
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Both Peter and Paul use Hosea to speak of the believing remnant;<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><br /></span>1Pe 2:9 But
you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a
people for possession, so that you might speak of the praises of Him who
has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; <br />
1Pe 2:10 you who then were not a people, but now the people of God, those not pitied then, but now pitied.<br />
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";">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.</span>Rom 9:24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? <br />
Rom 9:25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. <br />
Rom 9:26 And
it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them,
Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the
living God. <br />
Rom 9:27 Esaias also crieth concerning
Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of
the sea, a remnant shall be saved:<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";">Here are some other passages speaking of this remnant from again, Isaiah and Hosea:</span><br /><span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";">Isa 10:20 And
it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such
as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him
that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel,
in truth. <br /><span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";">Isa 10:21 The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God. Isa 10:22 For
though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of
them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with
righteousness. <br />Isa 10:23 For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";">Hos 1:10 Yet
the number of the sons of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which
cannot be measured nor numbered. And it shall be, in the place where it
was said to them, You are not My people, there it shall be said to
them, You are the sons of the living God. <br />Hos 1:11 Then
the sons of Judah and the sons of Israel shall be gathered together,
and shall set over themselves one head, and they shall come up out of
the land. For great shall be the day of Jezreel.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">As a side note, isn’t it interesting that the
remnant in prophesy is linked to the restoration of the entire nation in
the prophesy context? In Romans the goal of chapters 9-11 is the
salvation of all Israel, perfectly in harmony with the prophesies about
the remnant Paul uses in that section.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">In 2Peter3 the apparent delay of the Lord is for the repentance of Israel.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">It is very critical that we acknowledge Peter and
Paul are using the same prophesies when referring to the saved one of
the Acts period, whether Jews or Gentiles and there really wasn’t any
difference, because by faith, the Gentiles were in Christ and the seed
of Abraham.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">During Acts, the Lord would bestow prophetic
blessings on the cast off nations/people, they would receive Israel’s
spiritual things, Roms.10:27. This would provoke Israel to see Gentiles
with the Old Testament blessings of promise. The fact that these
Gentiles/people spoke in strange languages was another provocation. This
is seen in 1Cor.14:21 which is straight from the very Isaiah 28 passage
we have already seen in Peter and Paul;</span><br />
1Co 14:21 In
the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I
speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me,
saith the Lord.<br />
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";">Isa 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. <br />Isa 28:12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The rest, the refreshing that was promised to
Israel would be seen in the no-people, those with stammering lips (the
gift of tongues) and yet despite the provocation and Gentile inclusion,
Israel would not hear.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Thus far we have seen that Roms.10;19 refers to a
no-people and a foolish people (nation). The remnant included gentiles
the no-people. These Gentiles, so far as God’s wisdom is concerned, were
certainly void of the “oracles of God”, Roms.3:2, and 9:3-5. The word
foolish, (asunetos) has already appeared in Romans in 1:21, 31 (without
understanding). It was these Gentiles who sought the Lord while the
ancient people who had the oracles of God, ignored Him, Roms.10:20,
Is.65:1-2, & 11:10.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">These Gentiles were to provoke Israel to jealousy
and let us put Roms.10:19 and 11:11, 11:14 and 1Cor.10:22 together since
they are the only verses in the NT which contain the original word,
parazeloo = to provoke to jealousy. This should really seal the answer
that THE nation is THE people already mentioned in Roms.10:19 and refers
to the Gentiles. Here it is again;</span><br />
Rom 10:19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will <u>provoke</u> (you) <u>to jealousy</u> by them that are no <b>PEOPLE</b>, and by a foolish <b>PEOPLE</b> I will anger you.<br />
Rom 11:11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the <b>PEOPLE</b>, for to <u>provoke </u>(them)<u> to jealousy</u>.<br />
Rom 11:14 If by any means I may <u>provoke to emulation</u> them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.<br />
1Co 10:22 Do we <u>provoke </u>the Lord<u> to jealousy</u>? are we stronger than he? <br />
(interesting context about “no-gods” Deut.32:21, and the devils of 1Cor.10:21)<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Roms.10:19 has the word ethnos twice in the
original but the translators used people the first time and nation the
second. The same word people or nation appears in chapter11 in the
provocation passage. There is no doubt the nation is the people or
Gentiles included who were to provoke Isael.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Finally, Romans 10 concludes with Isaiah 65 which
confirms the foolish nation was the foolish (Gentile) people who did not
seek the Lord (see also in Is.52:15). </span><br />
Rom 10:20 But
Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not;
I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. <br />
Rom 10:21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Gentiles who had not the oracles of God
(foolish) were now included and were also the elect, the chosen ones,
those without the knowledge of God, those who did not seek and were
included to provoke Israel theo ones to whom God was stretching out His
hands all through Acts.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I hope this helps.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Blessings, </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Brian</span></div>
</span></div>
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</blockquote>
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Deborah (Hickinbotham) Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14301918232942600896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662865134716251937.post-86072890635345269392014-01-12T09:48:00.003-08:002014-01-12T10:09:54.555-08:00What is the difference between "Zion" and "Sion"?What is the difference between "Zion" and "Sion"?<br />
<br />
Brian Kelson of <a href="http://acts28.net/" target="_blank">Acts 28.net</a> responds: <br />
<br />
<div>
Zion or Sion, same place, is a mountain upon which the Lord, after
He descends at the last Trumpet, will rebuild the Millennial Temple and
from where He will reign and the kings of the earth bring tribute to
Him. When Hebrews was written those saints had "come" to wonderful
things on 2 grounds.</div>
<div>
1. The Hebrews were those who had drawn near to Christ by
faith. This means they had drawn near to all the privileges those of
faith enjoyed when they endured, kept going unto perfection. But they
hadn't reached the end yet and Hebrews appeals to them to keep going.</div>
<div>
They were thus members of the elect remnant which would share with
Abraham in the inner portion of the Promised Land. Thus they had drawn
near to (come to) all the privileges that company were given in Christ.
They, not the entire nation, would be with Christ where Christ would
dwell, on His holy Hill. They had drawn near to the very center of the
earthly Kingdom. However, being justified by faith through grace was one
thing and continuing in obedience to the end was the other, that is
being perfected. Justification THEN the added perfection. Their
participation in the glory written about in Hebrews 12 was theirs IF
they continued. Only then would they share in that great festive
assembly with the spirits of (other) <b>just</b> men made <b>perfect</b>.
Hebrews 11 lists ones who were made righteous by faith AND who had kept
going. If they drew back however, gave up, then the Lord would have no
pleasure in them and they would miss out on some things. Hebrews is
about perfection or perdition or waste the two alternatives. So do you
see how much the writer of Hebrews urged them to keep going? They had
drawn near, or come to wonderful blessings, but turning back, giving up
would be a costly mistake. No one in any dispensation serves the Lord
for nought.</div>
<div>
2. When Hebrews was written, the trumpet coming of the Lord had "come" that is, had drawn near.</div>
<div>
When the Lord returns to the earth with all His angels accompanying
Him, those believers (who kept going) would have been taken up to the
air to a meeting in the clouds which is commonly called the rapture.
They had the honor of going out to meet him like the wise virgins who
watched and were ready in Matt.25.</div>
<div>
Then they would descend with him to the earth, where a joyous
festival gathering would take place on Mount Zion in which they and all
those saints who had been perfected would participate.</div>
<div>
So they would be on Mount Zion soon after the Lord descended for
that marriage supper of the Lamb. They would judge the world and angels,
they would be there when the Lord built the millennial Temple and
(later) they would be privileged to enter the New Jerusalem which would
descend to the same location.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
All those things had drawn near when Hebrews was written but were postponed at Acts 28.<br />
<br />
RELATED ARTICLE:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://midactsdisp.blogspot.com/2014/01/what-are-spirits-of-just-men-made.html">What are the spirits of just men made perfect in Hebrews 12 – and how are they (already) come to Mount Zion?</a><br />
</div>
<div>
</div>
Deborah (Hickinbotham) Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14301918232942600896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662865134716251937.post-65212274629331684872014-01-12T09:43:00.001-08:002014-01-12T10:08:15.425-08:00What are the spirits of just men made perfect in Hebrews 12 – and how are they (already) come to Mount Zion?<div class="MsoNormal">
What are the spirits of just men made perfect in Hebrews 12? And how are they (already) come to Mount Zion?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Brian Kelson of Acts28.net responds: </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the
city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable
company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn,
which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the
spirits of just men made perfect, Heb.12:22-23 </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Question: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What are the spirits of just men made perfect in Hebs.12? And how are they (already) come to Mount Zion?</div>
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Answer:</div>
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When the Lord called Abraham out from his
country into the one the Lord had prepared for him, it was designated,
“a land I will show you”, Gen.12:1. When Abram arrived in the country it
was said “to your seed I will give this land”, Gen.12:7. Then when
Abram was invited to walk up and down in the Land it was said, “I will
give it (the inner portion) unto you and your seed”, Gen.<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528931" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">13:15</span></span>, 17. Then when the blood was shed, and God made an oath by Himself, the Land was given to Abram’s seed, Gen.<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528932" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">15:18</span></span>.
Thus the Land now belonged to Abram’s seed despite the fact the seed
was not born and Abraham dwelt in the Land content to live in tents,
purchasing only a burial place for his family.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All God’s promises are on resurrection ground.
There is suffering to endure before glory and Abraham walked a life of
faith and was rewarded because of it.</div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";">In our calling today, we have been raised and seated in the heavenly places where Christ is seated at the Father’s right;</span><span style="color: windowtext;"></span><br />
But
God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ,
(by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit
together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come
he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward
us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and
that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: <span style="color: windowtext;">Eph 2:4-8 </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
We have been raised and seated in our place of
inheritance so far as God’s Word is concerned. There is nothing
conditional about this, it is done so far as the Father is concerned and
so inspired Paul to write. However, “are we there yet?” Of course not,
Colossians tells us when the spiritual truths become a blessed reality; <br />
If
ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where
Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. When Christ, who is our life,
shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. <span style="color: windowtext;">Col 3:1, 4</span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When our Lord appears, then the power already given
us, will raise and seat us there just as it did our Lord. In this
following passage, please note the power is associated with hope and
inheritance; <br />
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,
<span style="color: windowtext;">Eph 1:18-20</span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To the malefactor it was said “I say unto you
today, you shall be with me in paradise”. The malefactor was not
instantly in paradise at his death, since the Lord was three days and
three nights in the heart of the earth, Matt.<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528933" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">12:40</span></span> and after those three days had not ascended to the Father, see Jn.<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528934" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">20:17</span></span>. The malefactor will enjoy paradise of Revelation when he is resurrected and Revelation is about the coming of the Lord.</div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";">We
find the context of Hebrews confirms the truth that hope is on
resurrection ground. Context must include the immediate, the near and
the remote. We must also consider other letters written about the same
subjects, including Mount Zion, justification and spirit. Here is the
immediate context;</span><br />
Heb <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528935" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">12:12</span></span> Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; <br />
Heb <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528936" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">12:13</span></span> And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. <br />
Heb <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528937" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">12:14</span></span> Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: <br />
Heb <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528938" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">12:15</span></span> Looking
diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of
bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; <br />
Heb <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528939" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">12:16</span></span> Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. <br />
Heb <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528940" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">12:17</span></span> For
ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing,
he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought
it carefully with tears. <br />
Heb <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528941" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">12:18</span></span> For
ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned
with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, <br />
Heb <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528942" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">12:19</span></span> And
the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that
heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: <br />
Heb <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528943" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">12:20</span></span> (For
they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a
beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a
dart: <br />
Heb <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528944" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">12:21</span></span> And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) <br />
<div class="im">
Heb <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528945" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">12:22</span></span> But
ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the
heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, </div>
Heb <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528946" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">12:23</span></span> To
the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in
heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made
perfect, <br />
Heb <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528947" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">12:24</span></span> And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. <br />
Heb <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528948" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">12:25</span></span> See
that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who
refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we
turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: <br />
Heb <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528949" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">12:26</span></span> Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. <br />
Heb <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528950" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">12:27</span></span> And
this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that
are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot
be shaken may remain. <br />
Heb <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528951" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">12:28</span></span> Wherefore
we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace,
whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
We notice from verses 12 through 15 that the writer
continues his encouragement thread which has woven its way from the
beginning of the epistle. For those who like to compare Scripture,
notice the possibility of failing of the grace of God and compare
Gals.5:4. Failing of the grace may not be falling from it. To be
defiled, v15 is a term associated with the Temple and its services. The
lame man healed was able to enter the Temple, leaping and praising God.
These things encouraged the Hebrews not to fail of the grace of God, to
pick up weary feet and keep going.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This epistle is about leaving the basics and going
onto perfection, about striving; enduring like the OT saints listed in
chapter 11 and the Lord Himself in 12:1-2. See these verses for the
encouragement and warning theme of Hebrews, Hebs.2:1-4, 3:1-2, 12-19.
Note the IF and to the end here in <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528952" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">3:14</span></span>.
This was to partake of Christ and His very near glorification, this is
not about initial salvation but maturity and being with Abraham in the
heavenly city. Also remember 1Cor.10 where the same failures of the past
are brought before the Corinthians. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This theme of going onwards with warnings continues in chapters <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528953" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">5:11-6:12</span></span>,
and look at all the encouragement given in chapter 10. The inspiration
the list of overcomers gives in chapter 11 must have been a great source
of such for these Israelite readers. The writer is encouraging his
readers to keep going, to go on despite the obstacles. He then can’t
assure them in chapter 12 that they had come to Mount Zion in the real
sense or that others had already arrived there. Mount Zion and the New
Jerusalem, the very city Abraham stretched forth in faith and saw, is
what was in view for those Hebrew readers IF they endure to the end. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chapter 4 is particularly helpful. Hebrews 4:3
assures them that they which have believed do enter into rest, but that
rest had not arrived; it was in view as verse 11 says. So while Paul
says they had believed and entered the rest, it was not yet upon them.
See also, <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528954" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">4:14</span></span>
and 16. They were to strive to enter that rest. Yes they had come to
Mount Zion, this was their hope, but this was conditional upon their
endurance to the end. They were to observe the faithfulness of the
saints who had lived before them and the life of Messiah Himself. The
final chapter declares Hebrews was a “word of exhortation” and that
statement after the final appeal to consider the Lord Jesus, who
suffered outside the camp, see 13:10-13.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So what was the end to which they labored and when
was it realized? Did the end, the hope they eagerly expected, include Mt
Zion, the heavenly City and the spirits of just men made perfect? Of
course it did.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But these were not the only things they had “come
to”. They had come to an innumerable company of angels, God the judge of
all, to Jesus the mediator of the New Covenant and the blood of
sprinkling. All these things relate to the earthly purpose which was in
operation during the Acts period and to these things they had come.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We have already seen in chapter 4 that they had not entered into rest despite the fact it was theirs by faith.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mount Zion is a feature of the Acts period. Paul referred to Psalm.2 in Acts <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528955" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">13:33</span></span> and Ps.2 declares God has set His King on the holy hill of Zion. This was the hope of the Acts period as Roms.<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528956" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">11:26</span></span>
confirms. But when Hebrews and Romans were written, the Lord had not
yet descended to sit upon that throne, but it was the hope then. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The New Jerusalem was another thing those Hebrews
had come to, and the heavenly city is featured in Gals.4 where Paul
wrote, it was the mother of them all. Hebrews writes of Abraham who
looked for this same city, <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528957" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">11:10</span></span>,
but he and others had died in faith, not having received the promises.
In Hebrews 13, the writer assured them they, like Abraham, had no
continuing city but they sought one to come. In other words the New
Jerusalem had not arrived but it was very near since the Lord was about
to come.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All this is rather obvious, but it sets the stage
for the other features in Hebs.12:22-23. Thus far we see in Hebrews that
the rest had not been entered, the King was not yet upon His holy hill
and the New Jerusalem was coming after He sat upon His throne.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Angels certainly ministered during the Gospel and Acts period, they had searched into the salvation of the Old Testament (1Pet.<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528958" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">1:12</span></span>)
and the Lord would descend from heaven with thousands of them in train,
2Thess.1:7. Then these Hebrews would enjoy the company of an
innumerable host of them. Just as angels were massed on Mt Sinai, so too
they shall be there in a general festive assembly when the Lord washes
away the filth of Zion and that marriage supper can take place. This was
in view; it was also to this they had come because it too was very
near.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The church of the firstborn is those who had been
justified by faith and were not despising their firstborn’s position
like Esau. Back in Hebrews 11 we read of many who died in faith, their
spirits returning to God who gave them, but they would be there in that
great general assembly of the heirs, the firstborn at the last Trumpet. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In Hebs.12:9 we see the Father of spirits
chastising; correcting resulting in peaceable fruit unto righteousness
of works and this results in the life, not of original faith, but life
with Abraham in the glory of the Lord and his reign.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are contrasts here in chapter 12. The Old
Covenant and a mountain with a Trumpet descent of the Lord is contrasted
to the Trumpet coming of the Lord and Mount Zion. The carnal men in the
first incident trembled and could not endure the word spoken, but the
writer encourages the Hebrews not neglect the Word spoke to them at that
time, Hebs.1:1-2, 2:1-4. The author urges them to remain faithful to
the saving of the soul and thus would not only touch Mt Zion but
assemble there sharing the Lord’s glory. All of these things are in the
“world to come”, Hebs2:5. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Old Covenant was linked to a mountain and the
New Covenant linked with another; Mount Zion. We know the New Covenant
had not been initialized since the Old was waxing old and ready to
vanish away, Hebs.<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528959" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">8:13</span></span>. So the Hebrews had not literally come to, the New Covenant.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The spirits of the just men made perfect were not
on Mount Zion when Hebrews was written. But in resurrection, those of
faith(fullness) would have those bodies of spirit as 1Cor.15 describes.
First that which is natural but in resurrection, that which is
spiritual. Thus the spirits of just men made perfect; mature would
include those of faith of the past AND the Hebrews should they not draw
back but go on to perfection, Hebs.6:1.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Hebrews were reminded that it is a fearful
thing to fall into the hands of the living God because vengeance belongs
to Him, Hebs.10:30-31, Roms.<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528960" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">12:14</span></span>.
The Lord would have judged way back then at His return and through Acts
the faithful were told not to judge before the time until the Lord
come, 1Cor.4:5. Thus while they had come to the judgment of God, it was
not yet upon them for the Lord had not come. So when was He to come when
Hebrews, Corinthians, Thessalonians and Romans was written? In their
lifetimes, the second coming had drawn very near.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Romans says that the night was far spent and the Day was at hand, <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528961" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">13:12</span></span>. Corinthians says they would be confirmed to the end and not all die, 1Cor.1:4-8, <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528962" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">15:51</span></span>. The Thessalonians would be those who would be alive and remain to the coming of the Lord, 1Thess.<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528963" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">4:15</span></span>,
17, Revelation declared things that would shortly come to pass and by
the time Hebrews was written, the time was very short, in fact it was
now only a little while;<br />
Cast not away therefore your
confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of
patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the
promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and
will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw
back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who
draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the
soul. H<span style="color: windowtext;">eb 10:35-39</span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Notice these readers were urged to have patience
doing the will of God so that they might receive the promise? In the
very next chapter many justified people of the OT endured, not having
received them, but died in faith expecting them. These promises were on
resurrection ground which would take place when the Lord returned and
His return was in a little while, a very little as the original has it;<br />
For, yet a very little while, and the One coming will come, "and will not delay."<span style="color: windowtext;"> Heb <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528964" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">10:37</span></span> (Hab.2:3)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The coming of the Lord had indeed drawn very near
when Hebrews was written and the Hebrews were not to draw back unto
waste or perdition. They were to go onto perfection, and in faith they
had come to Mount Zion. Hebrews records that Christ suffered at the end
of the ages, <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528965" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">9:27</span></span> and at that Last Trumpet (anticipated in Ex.19 and recorded in Hebs.<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528966" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">12:19</span></span>),
all those who had died in faith, would be raised and the Hebrews who
kept going, would go with them to meet the Lord in the air.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Hebrews were not to forsake the <u>assembling of themselves together</u>, <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528967" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">10:25</span></span>,
which means they were not to forsake that meeting in air when the Lord
comes in the clouds to descend and sit on the throne of his father
David. Those who were asleep would rise and be taken with them to shine
as the stars, Dan.12, and that included all those of Hebs.11.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here is something interesting, the word translated “come” in Hebrews <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528968" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">12:22</span></span> is also rendered “draw near” in <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2076528969" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">10:22</span></span>.
It is mostly come or came, but it does not always possess the sense of
arriving, rather drawing near. The original word means to approach,
literally come near and these Hebrews were drawing near in two ways.
They were right there when the coming of the Lord had drawn very near
and as such were very near Mount Zion, the City of the living God and
they, as member of the church of the firstborn, were very near to
joining with angels and the spirits of all just, perfected people in
that great festive occasion at His arrival. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Hebrews had not come to Mount Zion, they had
drawn near to it. They had not come to the spirits of just men made
perfect, they had drawn near to that wonderful time when they and the
other men and women of faith would be raised to meet the Lord and
descend with Him to Mount Zion. They would be also the spirits in that
place at that day.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is how they had come to these things, they had
drawn near to them by their labors, and were living in the time when
the events had drawn near.<br />
<br />
<br />
RELATED ARTICLE: <br />
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://midactsdisp.blogspot.com/2014/01/what-is-difference-between-zion-and-sion.html">What is the difference between "Zion" and "Sion"?</a></h3>
</div>
Deborah (Hickinbotham) Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14301918232942600896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662865134716251937.post-15753455134538103952014-01-06T15:19:00.001-08:002014-01-06T15:19:27.319-08:00APPEARING IN GLORY vs. SECOND COMING TO THE EARTHA student of the word that calls himself, "Brother Mark," left a comment on my article, <a href="http://midactsdisp.blogspot.com/2013/06/does-richard-jordans-did-paul-break-his.html" target="_blank">DOES RICHARD JORDAN'S "DID PAUL BREAK HIS WORD?" REALLY REFUTE THE ACTS 28 POSITION? </a><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">Deborah, <br />I have been on a similar journey. God led me on that journey to also test Mid-Acts position of rightly dividing...<br />But
God showed me He has so much more for us waiting for us.... Just
thought you would enjoy reading some of my similar journey ... Grace and
peace and joy to all who love His manifestation and appearing and OURS
in Glory..<br /> </span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">My blog is <a href="http://appearinglorytimeline.blogspot.com/">appearinglorytimeline.blogspot.com</a><br /> </span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">P.S.
What a wonderful truth that Mid-Acts misses is there is much more then
rightly dividing Peter and Paul... But we see how rightly divide Paul
and PAUL. We see Paul first went to the Jews. Then after Acts 28... He
goes full tilt to Gentiles and the New Man. God bless, your brother
Mark
</span><br />
<br />
I spent a happy 40 minutes reading the <a href="http://appearinglorytimeline.blogspot.com/2014/01/a-similar-journeycome-join-us.html" target="_blank">article at the top of the page on his site </a>and enjoyed the logical and straightforward way that Brother Mark teaches the differences between scriptures that describe the second coming of Israel's Messiah to this earth to set up their earthly kingdom, and those that deal with that aspect of the mystery that "from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God" (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=eph%203:9&version=KJV" target="_blank">Ephesians 3:9)</a>, our appearing with Christ in glory in the heavenly places far above the earth.<br />
<br />
Giving up the idea of a "secret rapture" is made a lot easier when we realize that our hope is just as glorious and something we can await with excited eagerness!<br />
<br />
Please take a moment and check out Brother Mark's <a href="http://appearinglorytimeline.blogspot.com/2014/01/a-similar-journeycome-join-us.html" target="_blank">site</a>, won't you?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Deborah (Hickinbotham) Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14301918232942600896noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662865134716251937.post-72575483859117746722013-12-27T13:27:00.000-08:002013-12-27T13:43:01.705-08:00NEW YEAR'S EVE – TIME FOR REFLECTION, REGRET, RENEWAL<span style="font-size: large;">Dear Readers,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">2013 is nearly over and it's time to take a deep breath and remember the wild, bumpy ride I've been on since right after the year began!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I had just retired in December of 2012 and was looking forward to devoting more time to learning Mid Acts doctrine and connecting with the many wonderful grace believers I know and love. A thorny issue appeared, however, in an online Bible study I regularly attended, regarding whether the "mystery" Paul writes of in his letters is really "unsearchable" or kept secret in the Old Testament. (Read more <a href="http://midactsdisp.blogspot.com/search/label/Acts%2028%20Switch" target="_blank">here</a>.) In my determination to prove that it was "hid in God" as Paul claimed in Ephesians 3:9, I stumbled upon a website in which Brian Kelson explained the differences in ministries within Paul's letters. (Here's Brian's new site: <a href="http://acts28.net/" target="_blank">Acts 28.net</a>). These differences held the answer to my dilemma, and I was forced to change my entire worldview! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The logic of the Acts 28 position is inescapable, wherein when Israel's hope of the kingdom was temporarily set aside after Paul's declaration in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2028:25-28&version=KJV" target="_blank">Acts 28:25-28,</a> his ministry of presenting their Messiah to Israel and of inviting the Gentiles to share in the kingdom Christ would usher in (when Israel had accepted that Messiah) came to an end. Paul then declares the "revelation of the mystery" he received at that time in a circular letter to all the churches in Asia that is popularly titled, "Ephesians." It is this "revelation of the mystery" – as opposed to the "revelation of the mystery" of <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Rom%2016:25-26&version=KJV" target="_blank">Romans 16:25</a> that concerned the preaching of the gospel which, although kept secret since the world began, "now is made manifest by the scriptures of the prophets" (in other words, searchable) – that declares a new creation of God, the "<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2:15&version=KJV" target="_blank">one new man</a>," the "church, the body of Christ, with a glorious heavenly hope (not an earthly kingdom hope) made possible when anyone anywhere trusts the Lord Jesus Christ and what he accomplished through his shed blood at Calvary.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This means that Paul's letters written during the Acts period were part of his ministry of proclaiming the attainability of the earthly kingdom to, first, Jews, and then Gentiles that might believe. Finally! I could read and understand the analogy of the olive tree in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2011&version=KJV" target="_blank">Romans 11</a>! It means just what it says! What a refreshing concept! And when Paul writes that he and his coworkers are "able ministers of the new testament" in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians+3:6&version=KJV" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 3:6</a>, it's because they are! No scripture wrangling necessary!
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</style> <span style="font-size: large;">Paul quotes from the Old Testament in his
Acts period letters because he was holding forth the hope OF the Old
Testament! The so-called “rapture” of
his Acts period letters is a description of kingdom saints being resurrected
and caught up to Christ as he descends to the earth in his second coming; it’s
not about a pre-trib rescue for the body of Christ at all.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">My biggest regret, apart from having proselytized fellow saints with Mid Acts error, is that for so many years I refused to apply God's forgiveness through his Son Jesus Christ to all that trusted him after he had paid the full penalty for all sins, including those of his chosen people! <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%205:18-20&version=KJV" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 5:18-20</a> was written while God was stretching forth his long suffering to his chosen nation in hopes they would believe and he could grant them their blessed hope, the kingdom on earth, so the fact that "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them," is a fact that encompasses Israel as well as the Gentile nations during the Acts period when their kingdom was on offer, as well as the world today during the dispensation of the Grace of God when our heavenly hope is on offer! Granted, there were and are Mid Acts teachers that proclaim the truth that Israel too was reconciled to God by the work of Christ (i. e., the late <a href="http://enjoythebible.org/" target="_blank">Keith Blades of Enjoy the Bible Ministries </a>and <a href="http://graceage.org/about.html" target="_blank">Michael McDaniel of the Millennium Bible Institute</a>); but I chose to believe Mid Acts teachers that insisted Israel had a law/works clause in their plan of salvation. Yes, the Jews still possessed the Law of Moses; but obedience of it determined, not their salvation, but their position and inheritance in the coming kingdom – just as our works will determine our position and inheritance in the heavenly places!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Lord God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, I am so thankful that even my sin of denying your grace to your chosen nation of whom Paul was inspired to write, "And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins" (Romans 11:26-27), is forgiven because I have trusted your Son! Thank you for your servant, Brian Kelson, who gave so generously of his time in helping me understand your marvelous plans; and for those that have come along with me on this exciting journey! I await the appearing of your Son Jesus Christ when we shall appear with him in glory; and I pray I can be of some use to you in declaring your marvelous all-encompassing grace to a lost world!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Happy new year to you all. No matter where you stand on this issue, I love you and look forward to spending eternity with you, my brothers and sisters in Christ.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Deborah</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Deborah (Hickinbotham) Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14301918232942600896noreply@blogger.com4