The speaker said that "A person is justified based upon the faith of Jesus Christ, that Jesus Christ trusted the Father." This is a common ‘mid-Acts’ doctrine, built upon the preposition ‘of’ which does not even appear in the Greek text. The KJV is not wrong. The KJV is right, as the word is needed to make a complete sentence. However, for ‘mid-Acts-ers’ to build a doctrine about ‘the faith OF Christ’ in this verse, is not correct. I am not educated in Greek, neither was I a good student in English class, but I do know how to look at words and compare them. I am certainly NOT trying to change the English, nor the meaning of anything. When I was a ‘mid-Acts-er’ I was taught I never needed to "go to the Greek", but now that I am no longer a ‘mid-Acts-er’, I find it interesting to observe it.
Shown below is Gal 2:16, with the Greek words directly AFTER the English translation.
Notice that the 2 places the word ‘OF’ appears directly in front of ‘Jesus’, only His name is in the Greek.
Also notice that when the verse is talking about our ‘belief’ (faith) ‘IN’ Jesus Christ, there IS a Greek word for the preposition ‘in’.
Also notice the 5 times the Greek word [dikaioo] appears and how it was translated:
Gal 2:16 Knowing [eido] that [hoti] a man [anthropos] is [dikaioo] not [ou] justified [dikaioo] by [ek] the works [ergon] of the law [nomos], but [ean me] by [dia] the faith [pistis] of Jesus [Iesous] Christ [Christos], even [kai] we [hemeis] have believed [pisteuo] in [eis] Jesus [Iesous] Christ [Christos], that [hina] we might be justified [dikaioo] by [ek] the faith [pistis] of Christ [Christos], and [kai] not [ou] by [ek] the works [ergon] of the law [nomos]: for [dioti] by [ek] the works [ergon] of the law [nomos] shall [dikaioo] no [ou] [pas] flesh [sarx] be justified [dikaioo].
I thought it was unusual for the speaker to use an example from Jer 2:11-13, to show that Christ is our life.
If I heard the speaker correctly, I think he said that "Jesus Christ didn’t see the records in heaven. Jesus Christ went to the cross trusting the Father, that He would accept His sacrifice and would raise Him from the dead. He trusted -- but He didn’t know for sure -- IF there was a mark (sin) against Him." The Son of God being unsure of His pure, sinless life, that guaranteed His resurrection? This could not possibly be true! Jesus absolutely knew that He would rise again:
John 2:19-22 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
21 But he spake of the temple of his body.
22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
I expect this concept the speaker presented goes along with their doctrine that Jesus -- while He was on earth -- was "another Jesus" (2 Cor 11:4) from the "risen, glorified Lord" that appeared to Saul in Acts 9. ‘Mid-Acts-ers’ DIVIDING Jesus into 2 Jesus’. THAT is also outrageous!
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Conf. Wed. Message # 4 on 7-21-10
The speaker said that "because of the world we live in, being a Christian comes with great cost." I suppose it does in other parts of the world, but in the country in which we live, we enjoy ‘freedom of religion’ (dare I call it that?), and we are not persecuted with physical harm for our faith. Surely the prophets predicted that there will come a time when believers will be put to death for their faith.
Jesus said:
John 16:1-4 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
Mark 8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
The speaker said that "most preaching and teaching is all over the word of God." He said that only Paul says there is a single standard, the gospel of grace, the due-time gospel that has not always been preached or taught.
The speaker said that "a common problem is their prayer life, when one comes to the gospel of Christ. They stop praying." Does that give you any indication of the damage ‘mid-Acts’ doctrine causes? They even admit it on the issue of prayer! Then speaker said, "You’re to pray consistent with right division."
The speaker read
Lev 11:44-45 For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
45 For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
.... and used it as an example for us, by saying that "One thing the gospel does is separate you out to God."
The speaker, talking about Paul’s "in me first" statement, said, "Paul is saying I am the first to be saved. He is a prototype of a pattern. The only context is that God concluded the world in unbelief and by that act alone He was signaling a new program, dispensation."
1 Tim 1:15-16 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
Talking about what God said to Paul, the speaker said, "Clearly the preaching of Christ is fundamentally different than before." But what does the SCRIPTURE say about that?
Acts 26:22-23 Having therefore obtained help of God, I (Paul) 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:
23 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.
The speaker said to set your affection on things above, prize those things, treasure them. Then he used Jesus for an example from the gospels (Matt 6:19-21). He said this is what we call "grace motivation". Then he used the example of Moses from Heb 11:24-26. What was a ‘mid-Acts-er’ doing using Jesus and Moses for examples of "grace motivation"? Unheard of!
Several weeks ago I preached a message on Separation, which is posted both audio and text (available to download) on my website.
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
Jesus said:
John 16:1-4 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
Mark 8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
The speaker said that "most preaching and teaching is all over the word of God." He said that only Paul says there is a single standard, the gospel of grace, the due-time gospel that has not always been preached or taught.
The speaker said that "a common problem is their prayer life, when one comes to the gospel of Christ. They stop praying." Does that give you any indication of the damage ‘mid-Acts’ doctrine causes? They even admit it on the issue of prayer! Then speaker said, "You’re to pray consistent with right division."
The speaker read
Lev 11:44-45 For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
45 For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
.... and used it as an example for us, by saying that "One thing the gospel does is separate you out to God."
The speaker, talking about Paul’s "in me first" statement, said, "Paul is saying I am the first to be saved. He is a prototype of a pattern. The only context is that God concluded the world in unbelief and by that act alone He was signaling a new program, dispensation."
1 Tim 1:15-16 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
Talking about what God said to Paul, the speaker said, "Clearly the preaching of Christ is fundamentally different than before." But what does the SCRIPTURE say about that?
Acts 26:22-23 Having therefore obtained help of God, I (Paul) 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:
23 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.
The speaker said to set your affection on things above, prize those things, treasure them. Then he used Jesus for an example from the gospels (Matt 6:19-21). He said this is what we call "grace motivation". Then he used the example of Moses from Heb 11:24-26. What was a ‘mid-Acts-er’ doing using Jesus and Moses for examples of "grace motivation"? Unheard of!
Several weeks ago I preached a message on Separation, which is posted both audio and text (available to download) on my website.
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
Conf. Wed. Message # 3 on 7-21-10
The speaker opened by saying that Romans is the foundational truth of the new testament books, and that Romans is the first new testament epistle found in the Bible. He also made another statement about when we get to the new testament and find grace and the love of God, that separation is not extinct there. For him to make these references to the new testament is odd, because, generally, ‘mid-Acts-ers’ do not believe that ‘the church, the body of Christ’ has anything to do with the new testament. They believe it is strictly for Israel (Jer 31:31).
The speaker’s text was:
Rom 16:17-18 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
This speaker (as the one before him) also made ‘the religious system’ be the problem .... and focused on explaining about "carnal," "erring brethren within a local assembly" as those who should be marked and visibly identified for "departing from following Paul and the grace of God." He also taught that "things of the world" were also a source of attack. ‘Mid-Acts-ers’ consider anyone who does not agree with them to be teaching false doctrine.
Several weeks ago I preached a message on Separation, which is posted both audio and text (available to download) on my website.
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
The speaker’s text was:
Rom 16:17-18 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
This speaker (as the one before him) also made ‘the religious system’ be the problem .... and focused on explaining about "carnal," "erring brethren within a local assembly" as those who should be marked and visibly identified for "departing from following Paul and the grace of God." He also taught that "things of the world" were also a source of attack. ‘Mid-Acts-ers’ consider anyone who does not agree with them to be teaching false doctrine.
Several weeks ago I preached a message on Separation, which is posted both audio and text (available to download) on my website.
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Conf. Wed. Message # 2 on 7-21-10
Before the speaker began his message, he held up ‘the school’ as "the pinnacle of truth on the planet." Since he regards the school with such high esteem, don’t you think his message will adhere to that school’s doctrines?
The speaker made the statement, "I don’t need a verse to tell me not to marry unbelievers. You don’t need a verse to tell you cigarettes are not good for you. If you need verses, I’ve got them .... but you should not need a verse if you have the mind of Christ." He never gave any explanation of how a person would discern if the thoughts in his mind were coming from 1) the mind of Christ, or 2) his own fleshly mind (Col 2:18), or 3) the fiery darts of the wicked (Eph 6:16). I will tell you how to know the source of your thoughts .... YOU NEED A VERSE!
Since the speaker believes "you don’t need a verse" .... don’t you think his message will reflect that notion?
His text was 2 Cor 6:14-7:1. He said, "The context of the chapter is not about Christians marrying unbelievers. It is about the religious system." Even though his premise is that "you don’t need a verse" .... let’s go ahead and read them anyway, just for the sake of it being God’s word.
The context begins with a contrast between believers and unbelievers .... not with a difference between ‘grace believers’ and ‘the religious system’:
2 Cor 6:14-7:1 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:
The same comparison made yet again, following the colon (which is a mark of punctuation used before an extended quotation, explanation, example, or series):
for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?
We are made righteous (Rom 5:19).
The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor 6:9).
and what communion hath light with darkness?
We were darkness, but now are children of light (Eph 5:8, 1 Thes 5:5, Acts 26:18, John 12:48).
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial?
Belial is another name for Satan.
or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
An infidel is one who is unfaithful and unbelieving.
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?
We are to guard ourselves from all manner of fellowship with heathen worship, including any image of any false god.
We should be separate from unbelievers, the unrighteous, darkness, Belial, an
infidel, and idols? Why? Because we are God’s building (1 Cor 3:9, Eph 2:22):
for ye are the temple of the living God; (also see Acts 7:48, 17:24)
Then Paul quoted the OLD testament and APPLIED it to saints in the dispensation of grace:
as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them;
and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (MANY references)
This passage is not teaching us to be separated ‘from Adam into Christ’. The text says nothing about separating ourselves unto the grace of God:
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
2 Cor 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
The speaker said we should be "learning ‘the grace message’ and not going back into the religious system. That’s what we’re saved from."
The speaker was intent upon forcing a separation between the saints who attend churches where they are not ‘mid-Acts, rightly-dividing, grace believers.’ He said, "Sometimes they may be justified, but it gets cloudy after that."
The speaker read
Gal 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
The speaker said, "Paul was separated from his mother’s womb." He also said Paul was separated from the commonwealth of Israel and from the law.
The speaker said, "When anyone goes to the Greek to try to explain a verse, 99.9" of the time they’re trying to get around what it says." Since the KJV was translated from the Greek, why would the speaker make such a rash judgment on a person who sought a fuller, composite understanding?
The speaker also said, "God thinks less of the religious person who goes to church. It’s more dangerous." He said, "God gave the only religion. What we’re into isn’t a religion. We’re not religious. God hates religion. It’s not okay to be in the religious system." Verses, please? Oh yeah, he doesn’t need them! Well, how about this one anyway?
James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
I think the speaker’s life experiences were amusing. It is just sad that he is so captivated and blinded by ‘mid-Acts’ doctrine .... and that he thinks he doesn’t need a verse.
FYI, several weeks ago I preached a message on Separation, which is posted both audio and text (available to download) on my website.
A couple of years ago, I talked with the speaker about being faithful to the KJV, and Pauline authority, about office of a ‘bishop’, and he agreed with the verse. Last year, he showed me his new business cards with the correct ‘office’ title printed on them:
1 Tim 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
Today, he repeatedly used the term ‘pastor’ instead, which is The Living Bible’s substitute word for ‘bishop’. Maybe he has been influenced by the ‘mid-Acts’ bishops who refuse to be called such, who don’t ‘follow Paul’, and who claim to be KJV but are not true to it on this issue.
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
The speaker made the statement, "I don’t need a verse to tell me not to marry unbelievers. You don’t need a verse to tell you cigarettes are not good for you. If you need verses, I’ve got them .... but you should not need a verse if you have the mind of Christ." He never gave any explanation of how a person would discern if the thoughts in his mind were coming from 1) the mind of Christ, or 2) his own fleshly mind (Col 2:18), or 3) the fiery darts of the wicked (Eph 6:16). I will tell you how to know the source of your thoughts .... YOU NEED A VERSE!
Since the speaker believes "you don’t need a verse" .... don’t you think his message will reflect that notion?
His text was 2 Cor 6:14-7:1. He said, "The context of the chapter is not about Christians marrying unbelievers. It is about the religious system." Even though his premise is that "you don’t need a verse" .... let’s go ahead and read them anyway, just for the sake of it being God’s word.
The context begins with a contrast between believers and unbelievers .... not with a difference between ‘grace believers’ and ‘the religious system’:
2 Cor 6:14-7:1 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:
The same comparison made yet again, following the colon (which is a mark of punctuation used before an extended quotation, explanation, example, or series):
for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?
We are made righteous (Rom 5:19).
The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor 6:9).
and what communion hath light with darkness?
We were darkness, but now are children of light (Eph 5:8, 1 Thes 5:5, Acts 26:18, John 12:48).
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial?
Belial is another name for Satan.
or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
An infidel is one who is unfaithful and unbelieving.
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?
We are to guard ourselves from all manner of fellowship with heathen worship, including any image of any false god.
We should be separate from unbelievers, the unrighteous, darkness, Belial, an
infidel, and idols? Why? Because we are God’s building (1 Cor 3:9, Eph 2:22):
for ye are the temple of the living God; (also see Acts 7:48, 17:24)
Then Paul quoted the OLD testament and APPLIED it to saints in the dispensation of grace:
as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them;
and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (MANY references)
This passage is not teaching us to be separated ‘from Adam into Christ’. The text says nothing about separating ourselves unto the grace of God:
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
2 Cor 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
The speaker said we should be "learning ‘the grace message’ and not going back into the religious system. That’s what we’re saved from."
The speaker was intent upon forcing a separation between the saints who attend churches where they are not ‘mid-Acts, rightly-dividing, grace believers.’ He said, "Sometimes they may be justified, but it gets cloudy after that."
The speaker read
Gal 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
The speaker said, "Paul was separated from his mother’s womb." He also said Paul was separated from the commonwealth of Israel and from the law.
The speaker said, "When anyone goes to the Greek to try to explain a verse, 99.9" of the time they’re trying to get around what it says." Since the KJV was translated from the Greek, why would the speaker make such a rash judgment on a person who sought a fuller, composite understanding?
The speaker also said, "God thinks less of the religious person who goes to church. It’s more dangerous." He said, "God gave the only religion. What we’re into isn’t a religion. We’re not religious. God hates religion. It’s not okay to be in the religious system." Verses, please? Oh yeah, he doesn’t need them! Well, how about this one anyway?
James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
I think the speaker’s life experiences were amusing. It is just sad that he is so captivated and blinded by ‘mid-Acts’ doctrine .... and that he thinks he doesn’t need a verse.
FYI, several weeks ago I preached a message on Separation, which is posted both audio and text (available to download) on my website.
A couple of years ago, I talked with the speaker about being faithful to the KJV, and Pauline authority, about office of a ‘bishop’, and he agreed with the verse. Last year, he showed me his new business cards with the correct ‘office’ title printed on them:
1 Tim 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
Today, he repeatedly used the term ‘pastor’ instead, which is The Living Bible’s substitute word for ‘bishop’. Maybe he has been influenced by the ‘mid-Acts’ bishops who refuse to be called such, who don’t ‘follow Paul’, and who claim to be KJV but are not true to it on this issue.
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
Conf. Tuesday Message # 5 on 7-20-10
It is quite odd, that ‘mid-Acts-ers’ boldly claim PAUL, PAUL, PAUL, preached the cross in a unique way and that PAUL had ‘new information, never before revealed’ .... yet when 3 of the evening preachers have had message titles focused on the cross, they have all 3 preached the cross almost entirely OUTSIDE of PAUL. Again tonight, I was astonished to see yet another ‘mid-Acts-er’ venture so far away from Paul.
The speaker made the statement (without a verse) that "Satan lost the title deed to the universe." Then he proceeded to divide the saints of Israel from the saints of the Gentiles. Thus, in regular ‘mid-Acts’ tradition, he divided to create separate destinies for the 2 different groups of saints .... even though the apostle PAUL put them TOGETHER:
Acts 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
Acts 26:18 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.
God did not start an entire NEW TREE comprised of both Jew and Gentile. He MERGED the Gentiles into ISRAEL’s tree:
Rom 11:17 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;
That is what the mystery was, that Jew and Gentiles would be ONE, not 2:
Eph 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs,
and of the same body,
and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Gentiles used to be excluded in time past .... but now, we are included WITH Israel, who were already ‘in Christ before Paul’ (Rom 16:7):
Eph 2:19-22 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners,
but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: (also see 2 Cor 6:16)
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Gal 3:28-29 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
A few years ago, when I talked with this speaker about using the KJV word 'bishop', instead of using The Living Bible's word 'pastor' .... he gave me the lame excuse that he did not want to be called a 'bishop' because he did not want to be associated with a certain other religious group in his local area. I know of no other KJV word that 'mid-Acts-ers' boycott with such stubbornness. They firmly defend the KJV word 'dispensation' and often preach about preserving it, and not changing it.
The speaker followed the leader, the ‘mid-Acts’ paradigm, the school, and the chart .... saying what they say. The problem is that there are many verses that prove they are wrong.
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
The speaker made the statement (without a verse) that "Satan lost the title deed to the universe." Then he proceeded to divide the saints of Israel from the saints of the Gentiles. Thus, in regular ‘mid-Acts’ tradition, he divided to create separate destinies for the 2 different groups of saints .... even though the apostle PAUL put them TOGETHER:
Acts 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
Acts 26:18 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.
God did not start an entire NEW TREE comprised of both Jew and Gentile. He MERGED the Gentiles into ISRAEL’s tree:
Rom 11:17 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;
That is what the mystery was, that Jew and Gentiles would be ONE, not 2:
Eph 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs,
and of the same body,
and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Gentiles used to be excluded in time past .... but now, we are included WITH Israel, who were already ‘in Christ before Paul’ (Rom 16:7):
Eph 2:19-22 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners,
but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: (also see 2 Cor 6:16)
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Gal 3:28-29 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
A few years ago, when I talked with this speaker about using the KJV word 'bishop', instead of using The Living Bible's word 'pastor' .... he gave me the lame excuse that he did not want to be called a 'bishop' because he did not want to be associated with a certain other religious group in his local area. I know of no other KJV word that 'mid-Acts-ers' boycott with such stubbornness. They firmly defend the KJV word 'dispensation' and often preach about preserving it, and not changing it.
The speaker followed the leader, the ‘mid-Acts’ paradigm, the school, and the chart .... saying what they say. The problem is that there are many verses that prove they are wrong.
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
Conf. Tuesday Message # 4 on 7-20-10
The speaker belabored a point by saying that Paul was giving out ‘new revelation’ which could not be found in the scriptures, so they had to take his word for it, based on his conduct and behavior among them. The speaker kept repeating that Paul was preaching "the unsearchable riches of Christ" (Eph 3:8) that were not able to be verified in the old testament.
I researched the word ‘unsearchable’ and found the definition was, ‘that cannot be traced out, that cannot be comprehended’. I do not take that to mean that ‘knowledge of it was not recorded’, as the speaker taught. The LORD’s greatness WAS written in the old testament scriptures, but it is unsearchable, in that, one could search their lifetime and never exhaust the greatness of the LORD, nor come to its end:
Psa 145:3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.
Job 5:8-9 I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:
9 Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number:
Regarding what the speaker insisted, that Paul’s message was ‘unsearchable’ (meaning, not able to be found in the scriptures) .... let’s compare that to what the verses say about the message Paul preached:
Acts 26:22-23 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:
23 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.
It was BEFORE Acts 26, that Paul testified the gospel of the grace of God in Acts 20. Thus, the gospel of grace MUST BE in prophecy, since Paul said "none other things" than the prophets prophesied:
Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Peter actually shows that the prophets realized they were writing about a future time, which began to be experienced during the time of Christ and the apostles:
1 Peter 1:9-12 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
The speaker referred several times to Paul’s "pastorial epistles" that he studied. There is NO Bible verse that even mentions any such thing. Paul gave Timothy instructions about the office of a bishop and the office of a deacon --- but never the office of a pastor:
1 Tim 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
1 Tim 3:10,13 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Paul also wrote to Titus about the characteristics of a bishop --- but not a pastor. The Living Bible uses the word ‘pastor’ in all these verses (in Timothy and Titus), but not the KJV. The KJV, which ‘mid-Acts-ers’ claim is the very words of God in the English language, always says a ‘bishop’:
Titus 1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
Paul addressed NO pastors at Philippi .... but he did write to the saints, bishops, and deacons:
Phil 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
I wish I had counted how many times the speaker said the phrase, "in the Pauline grace message". I can’t find it in the Bible either.
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
I researched the word ‘unsearchable’ and found the definition was, ‘that cannot be traced out, that cannot be comprehended’. I do not take that to mean that ‘knowledge of it was not recorded’, as the speaker taught. The LORD’s greatness WAS written in the old testament scriptures, but it is unsearchable, in that, one could search their lifetime and never exhaust the greatness of the LORD, nor come to its end:
Psa 145:3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.
Job 5:8-9 I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:
9 Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number:
Regarding what the speaker insisted, that Paul’s message was ‘unsearchable’ (meaning, not able to be found in the scriptures) .... let’s compare that to what the verses say about the message Paul preached:
Acts 26:22-23 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:
23 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.
It was BEFORE Acts 26, that Paul testified the gospel of the grace of God in Acts 20. Thus, the gospel of grace MUST BE in prophecy, since Paul said "none other things" than the prophets prophesied:
Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Peter actually shows that the prophets realized they were writing about a future time, which began to be experienced during the time of Christ and the apostles:
1 Peter 1:9-12 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
The speaker referred several times to Paul’s "pastorial epistles" that he studied. There is NO Bible verse that even mentions any such thing. Paul gave Timothy instructions about the office of a bishop and the office of a deacon --- but never the office of a pastor:
1 Tim 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
1 Tim 3:10,13 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Paul also wrote to Titus about the characteristics of a bishop --- but not a pastor. The Living Bible uses the word ‘pastor’ in all these verses (in Timothy and Titus), but not the KJV. The KJV, which ‘mid-Acts-ers’ claim is the very words of God in the English language, always says a ‘bishop’:
Titus 1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
Paul addressed NO pastors at Philippi .... but he did write to the saints, bishops, and deacons:
Phil 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
I wish I had counted how many times the speaker said the phrase, "in the Pauline grace message". I can’t find it in the Bible either.
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
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