Is your trademark a funny thing?
Eph 5:3-4 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
It would be better to be known for the defence of the gospel (Phil 1:7,17).
Rom 4:16 was read, but comments did not mention Abraham being the father of us all. Surprisingly, the speaker made the statement that even in the old testament, you can see God’s grace. Since when did ‘mid-Acts-ers’ bring that up?
Lay the groundwork .... start off by making 2’s.
Rom 6:14 has 2 operating systems: law and grace.
Rom 11:24 has 2 trees: the wild olive tree, and Israel’s own good olive tree. No remark was made that we are GRAFFED IN to Israel’s tree (vs. 19).
Col 1:20 has 2 places: earth and heaven.
So now we’re supposed to believe the practice of ‘2 things’ has been established?
The speaker read the verse:
Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
The questions were asked by the speaker: “The new covenant is with WHO? Got any problem understanding WHO that is?”
My answers on this response are following: “Why don’t we let OUR APOSTLE PAUL answer those questions? Let’s see what GOD through PAUL had to say about WHO Israel is! Who is the Jew now?”
Rom 2:28-29 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Although once IS enough to ‘rightly divide’ .... once is NOT enough on this, Paul. Could you tell us that again? Who is the Jew now?
Rom 9:6-8 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
We’re still not convinced, Paul. Not the children of the flesh, but WHO are the seed of Abraham? Who is the Jew now?
Gal 4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
Come on, Paul. We’re ‘in Christ’ .... not ‘in Abraham’ .... right? Who is the Jew now?
Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
This is getting repetitive, Paul. Let’s refresh with Israel back in Jeremiah:
Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
God said He would put His law in Israel’s inward parts, Paul. There, answer that!
Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
God promised to write His law in Israel’s hearts, Paul. What do you say to that?
Rom 2:14-15 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
Wait a minute, Paul. God will be Israel’s God, and they shall be His people (Jer 31:33):
2 Cor 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; 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.
The speaker stated that "some say the law was up to the cross, then it’s grace forward after that." Now, why would ‘some’ say that?
John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses,
but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Sure, there were thousands of Jews zealous of the law (Acts 21:10) during and thereafter the time when Jesus Christ came .... but those who were ‘of faith’ had to transfer their faith over to Him and receive His grace (John 1:16):
John 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me:
for he wrote of me.
On the issue of being dead in Christ, the speaker asked, "How many works can a dead man do?" Then he commented, "Sin won’t hurt you, and good works won’t help you."
To me, his statement is mutually exclusive:
For believers, sin won’t hurt .... but we are told to do good works. They will ‘help’ because we will be rewarded for them.
For sinners, sin WILL hurt .... and good works won’t help.
After approximately 38 minutes of making us separate from Israel (even though Eph 3:6 says we are "FELLOWHEIRS, and of the SAME body, and PARTAKERS of His promise in Christ by the gospel"), the speaker FINALLY got on subject with the title of his message, he said, "Now, how grace works:" I actually agreed with the last 7 minutes of his explanation of the topic he was supposed to preach, and that we are ‘made’ (not ‘set’) free.
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
