We are established by the gospel that Paul preached:
Rom 16:25-27 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,
26 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:
27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
What gospel did Paul preach?
Just in Romans alone, the gospel that Paul was “separated unto” .... is called by 6 different names .... but obviously, he did not preach 6 distinct gospels:
“the gospel of God” (Rom 1:1, 15:16)
“the gospel of His Son” (Rom 1:9)
“the gospel of Christ” (Rom 1:16, 15:19, 29)
“the gospel of peace” (Rom 10:15)
“the gospel” (Rom 1:15, 10:16, 11:28, 15:20)
“my gospel” (Rom 2:16, 16:25).
‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ teach that Paul had a different commission .... that he was separated FROM (like, ‘away from’) all God’s other servants and apostles .... but that is NOT what the scripture says. The verses tell us what Paul was appointed UNTO, like being set apart for a purpose .... the gospel of God:
Rom 1:1-7 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle,
separated unto the gospel of God,
‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ teach that Paul had a different ‘mystery-message’ .... that none of the other apostles had .... but that is NOT what the Bible says. The scripture tells us that the gospel which Paul was separated unto .... was actually promised already by the prophets before him:
Rom 1:2 (Which he had promised afore
by his prophets
in the holy scriptures,)
‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ teach that Paul had a different calling .... by the ‘risen, glorified Lord’ .... not the ‘earthly Jesus’ (Who they teach was ‘another Jesus’ from 2 Cor 11:4). But that is NOT what the scripture says. The verses tell us that the gospel of God .... that Paul was separated unto .... that was promised before by the prophetic writings .... was about ‘earthly’ Jesus .... Who came in the flesh .... through the lineage of David (Luke 2:4):
Rom 1:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ teach that Paul had a different gospel .... about the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (1 Cor 15:3-4) as GOOD news .... and that the other apostles ‘preached the cross’ as BAD news. But there are NO VERSES that say that any of the apostles taught the cross as ‘bad news’ .... even though they charged the men of Israel for killing the Prince of Life (Acts 3:12-15). Identifying the guilty parties that were responsible for Christ’s death .... is not the same as preaching the cross as ‘bad news’.
Rom 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God (also see Matt 3:17, 17:5; 2 Pet 1:17-18) with power,
according to the spirit of holiness,
by the resurrection from the dead: (also see Acts 17:30-32)
The verses tell us that Peter also rejoiced in Christ’s death and resurrection .... knowing the hope it brought .... and he encouraged others to rejoice as well:
1 Peter 1:3-9 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ teach that Paul had a ‘special truth’ .... that his apostleship was for all nations .... which, they say, was different from the other apostles, who they say were only for Israel (Matt 10:6). But that is NOT what the scripture says. While it is true that Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles (Rom 11:13) .... Paul was not the only one who went to them. In fact, God chose Peter to actually GO (Acts 15:7-11, Acts 10) before Paul went.
Rom 1:5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship,
for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
The verses tell us that the other apostles were also sent out by the ‘risen Christ’ to go to all nations:
Matt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ teach that the other apostles, given the power by Christ to bind or loose (Matt 18:18) .... actually loosed themselves from ‘the great commission’ to confine their ministry only to Israel.
‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ teach that Paul had a different calling .... and that people who were saved under his ministry (2 Thess 2:14) had a different calling and destiny. But that is NOT what the scripture says. Peter also wrote of the believers ‘calling’ (1 Pet 1:15, 2:9, 2:21).
Rom 1:6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:
‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ teach that Paul had a different group of saints .... unrelated to any saints ‘before him’ .... or ‘after him’. They say that the saints of Paul’s ministry are divided from all other saints. But that is NOT what the scripture says. We are fellowcitizens with the saints (Eph 2:19).
Rom 1:7-a To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:
‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ teach that Paul had a different ministry .... God’s official declaration of "grace and peace" starting ALL his epistles .... but the scripture says that Peter also sent "grace and peace" in ALL of his epistles, too (1 Pet 1:2, 2 Pet 1:2).
Rom 1:7-b Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ teach a lot of ‘different’ things. They make a lot of things ‘different’. They have books about ‘things that are different.’ But they FAIL to see the UNITY with God’s word, His gospel, and His saints.
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
The Preaching of Jesus Christ According to the Revelation of the Mystery
For the last two thoughts we’ve seen Paul’s writings repeat many prophecies that were spoken since the world began (Acts 3:21).
Now let’s think about what was kept secret .... but is now made known:
Rom 16:25-27 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,
26 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:
27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
What is the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery?
The mystery had to do with many points, as we will see.
Jesus is the mediator between God and man (1 Tim 2:5).
He is the mediator of a better covenant (Heb 8:6).
He is the mediator of the new testament (Heb 9:15) ....
of which we are able ministers (2 Cor 3:6).
He is the mediator of the new covenant (Heb 12:24) ....
Jesus is the mediator
Who made peace by His death
so that we have peace with God (Rom 5:1) ....
and in order to bring what sin had destroyed, back into a state of harmony and friendship with God:
Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross,
by him to reconcile all things unto himself;
by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
The preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery also had to do with .... Jesus, the mediator,
Who made peace between Israel and the Gentiles (Eph 2:11-17):
Col 1:22-22 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
The preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery also had to do with ....
Paul spreading this good news .... of the gospel of Christ (the gospel of peace) .... to everybody:
Col 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard,
and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Paul .... told the saints and the faithful in Christ Jesus (Eph 1:1) to stand, having the gospel of peace (also see Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;) .... just as those preachers before him did .... all along .... even back in the days of Isaiah (Isa 52:7) and Nahum (Nah 1:15) .... according to Paul .... AND .... according to PROPHECY (the prophetic writings):
Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent?
as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Obedience to the gospel .... is equated to belief of the gospel ....
according to Paul .... AND .... according to PROPHECY (the prophetic writings):
Rom 10:16-17 But they have not all obeyed the gospel.
For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
This good news of the gospel spread everywhere .... all over the world:
Rom 10:18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Matt 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Jesus sent His apostles to start in Jerusalem and branch out all over the place preaching His death and resurrection .... according to the scriptures:
Luke 24:46-47 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world,
and preach the gospel to every creature.
But in ‘due time’ (1 Tim 2:6), Jesus told Paul to get out of Jerusalem, because although Israel had the first opportunity (Rom 1:16, Act 13:26), they didn’t believe (John 1:11, Acts 13:41-42):
Acts 22:18 And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.
The preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery also had to do with .... the church being identified as ‘the body of Christ’:
Col 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
The preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery also had to do with .... the stewardship that God committed to Paul .... to complete the scriptures:
Col 1:25 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;
The Greek word used is [apokrupto, or apokrypto] (as being buried in a ‘crypt’ or vault), meaning ‘concealed, kept secret, hidden from sight’. ‘Cryptic’ messages are ‘mysterious, puzzling, obscure, vague’.
Col 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid (Greek [apokrypto] from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
The preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery also had to do with .... God’s hidden wisdom .... of salvation for the world through the death of His Son:
1 Cor 2:6-8 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery,
even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: (also see Eph 1:4, 2 Tim 1:9, Titus 1:2, 1 Pet 1:18-21)
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (also see Prov 1:20-33)
Jesus, the Lamb of God, Who taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29), dwelt among men (John 1:14), but they did not even know Him (John 8:19), Who is wisdom (1 Cor 1:30):
John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
Jesus surprised the woman of Samaria (John 4:9) and His disciples (John 4:27) that He even talked to her .... (John 4:4-39). At first she did not know Him:
John 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
But after He talked with her awhile, she believed, and when she left Him, she told many of the Samaritians, who also believed on Messias, which is called Christ (John 4:25):
John 4:40-42 So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.
41 And many more believed because of his own word;
42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
The preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery also had to do with .... the unheard of equality of the Gentiles with the Jews .... that God would also live in them:
Col 1:27 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: (also see 1 Cor 3:16-19, 2 Cor 6:16)
Paul worked harder than anybody (1 Cor 15:10) to get this message out to the masses:
Col 1:28-29 Whom we preach, warning every man,
and teaching every man in all wisdom;
that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
Paul took the gospel (the gospel of Christ) to nations who had no foundation .... no knowledge of Christ. Paul did this .... according to PROPHECY .... that Gentiles who had never heard of Christ, would see and understand:
Rom 15:19-21 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.
20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel,
not where Christ was named,
lest I should build upon another man's foundation:
21 But as it is written,
To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see:
and they that have not heard shall understand.
‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ avoid Paul’s use of the old testament scriptures and prophecy .... because they isolate Paul from everyone else in the Bible. They constantly refer to the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery .... but they do not understand it.
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.
Now let’s think about what was kept secret .... but is now made known:
Rom 16:25-27 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,
26 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:
27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
What is the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery?
The mystery had to do with many points, as we will see.
Jesus is the mediator between God and man (1 Tim 2:5).
He is the mediator of a better covenant (Heb 8:6).
He is the mediator of the new testament (Heb 9:15) ....
of which we are able ministers (2 Cor 3:6).
He is the mediator of the new covenant (Heb 12:24) ....
Jesus is the mediator
Who made peace by His death
so that we have peace with God (Rom 5:1) ....
and in order to bring what sin had destroyed, back into a state of harmony and friendship with God:
Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross,
by him to reconcile all things unto himself;
by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
The preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery also had to do with .... Jesus, the mediator,
Who made peace between Israel and the Gentiles (Eph 2:11-17):
Col 1:22-22 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
The preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery also had to do with ....
Paul spreading this good news .... of the gospel of Christ (the gospel of peace) .... to everybody:
Col 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard,
and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Paul .... told the saints and the faithful in Christ Jesus (Eph 1:1) to stand, having the gospel of peace (also see Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;) .... just as those preachers before him did .... all along .... even back in the days of Isaiah (Isa 52:7) and Nahum (Nah 1:15) .... according to Paul .... AND .... according to PROPHECY (the prophetic writings):
Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent?
as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Obedience to the gospel .... is equated to belief of the gospel ....
according to Paul .... AND .... according to PROPHECY (the prophetic writings):
Rom 10:16-17 But they have not all obeyed the gospel.
For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
This good news of the gospel spread everywhere .... all over the world:
Rom 10:18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Matt 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Jesus sent His apostles to start in Jerusalem and branch out all over the place preaching His death and resurrection .... according to the scriptures:
Luke 24:46-47 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world,
and preach the gospel to every creature.
But in ‘due time’ (1 Tim 2:6), Jesus told Paul to get out of Jerusalem, because although Israel had the first opportunity (Rom 1:16, Act 13:26), they didn’t believe (John 1:11, Acts 13:41-42):
Acts 22:18 And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.
The preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery also had to do with .... the church being identified as ‘the body of Christ’:
Col 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
The preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery also had to do with .... the stewardship that God committed to Paul .... to complete the scriptures:
Col 1:25 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;
The Greek word used is [apokrupto, or apokrypto] (as being buried in a ‘crypt’ or vault), meaning ‘concealed, kept secret, hidden from sight’. ‘Cryptic’ messages are ‘mysterious, puzzling, obscure, vague’.
Col 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid (Greek [apokrypto] from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
The preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery also had to do with .... God’s hidden wisdom .... of salvation for the world through the death of His Son:
1 Cor 2:6-8 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery,
even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: (also see Eph 1:4, 2 Tim 1:9, Titus 1:2, 1 Pet 1:18-21)
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (also see Prov 1:20-33)
Jesus, the Lamb of God, Who taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29), dwelt among men (John 1:14), but they did not even know Him (John 8:19), Who is wisdom (1 Cor 1:30):
John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
Jesus surprised the woman of Samaria (John 4:9) and His disciples (John 4:27) that He even talked to her .... (John 4:4-39). At first she did not know Him:
John 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
But after He talked with her awhile, she believed, and when she left Him, she told many of the Samaritians, who also believed on Messias, which is called Christ (John 4:25):
John 4:40-42 So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.
41 And many more believed because of his own word;
42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
The preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery also had to do with .... the unheard of equality of the Gentiles with the Jews .... that God would also live in them:
Col 1:27 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: (also see 1 Cor 3:16-19, 2 Cor 6:16)
Paul worked harder than anybody (1 Cor 15:10) to get this message out to the masses:
Col 1:28-29 Whom we preach, warning every man,
and teaching every man in all wisdom;
that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
Paul took the gospel (the gospel of Christ) to nations who had no foundation .... no knowledge of Christ. Paul did this .... according to PROPHECY .... that Gentiles who had never heard of Christ, would see and understand:
Rom 15:19-21 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.
20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel,
not where Christ was named,
lest I should build upon another man's foundation:
21 But as it is written,
To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see:
and they that have not heard shall understand.
‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ avoid Paul’s use of the old testament scriptures and prophecy .... because they isolate Paul from everyone else in the Bible. They constantly refer to the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery .... but they do not understand it.
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.
Monday, June 7, 2010
What Was Spoken .... and Did PAUL Speak It?
We were considering the ‘mid-Acts-hyper-dispensational’ position about,
"Something that has been spoken since the world began -- and --
something that has been kept secret since the world began ....
cannot be the same .... and therefore, are 2 different things," based largely on 2 verses (Acts 3:21 and Rom 16:25).
We looked at the context of Acts 3:21, to see ‘what things’ were spoken by all the prophets since the beginning of the world and we saw that PAUL spoke and prophesied MANY of the very SAME things that PETER (as well as other prophets) spoke. Today, we will read more of what was spoken:
Acts 3:21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
When John the Baptist’s father’s tongue was loosed at the birth of his son (Luke 1:20), he spake and praised God (Luke 1:64):
Luke 1:67-75 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, (also see Psa 111:9. Gal 3:13, 1 Pet 1:18-19, Rev 5:9-10)
69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; (also see Rom 1:1-4, 2 Tim 2:8)
70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
71 That we should be saved from our enemies (Psa 18:3),
and from the hand of all that hate us;
72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers,
and to remember his holy covenant;
73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, (also see Gal 3:8-9)
74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
76 And thou, child (John the Baptist), shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, (also see Mark 1:4; Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38, 10:43; Rom 3:25; 2 Cor 4:6)
78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, (also see 2 Pet 1:19)
79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace. (also see Rom 3:17 and Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;)
After PETER testified how God chose him to take salvation to the Gentiles (Acts 15:7-11) ....
and after BARNABAS and PAUL declared what miracles and wonders God worked among the Gentiles by them (Acts 15:12) ....
James recalled Simeon’s prophecy which was spoken:
Acts 15:14-18 Simeon hath declared
how God at the first did visit the Gentiles,
to take out of them a people for his name.
15 And to this agree the words of the prophets;
as it is written,
16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
Simeon’s prophecy was recorded by Luke:
Luke 2:27-34 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.
34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; (PAUL wrote of Israel’s fall and rise in Rom 11:11-27.)
and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (also see Acts 13:45, 28:22)
Simeon prophesied much like Isaiah:
Isa 42:5-7 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people,
for a light of the Gentiles; (also see Isa 49:6, 60:3; Rom 15:8-12)
7 To open the blind eyes,
to bring out the prisoners from the prison,
and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
These things were fulfilled when Jesus came:
Luke 4:14-21 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.
15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.
16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place (Isa 61:1-3) where it was written,
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor;
he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted,
to preach deliverance to the captives,
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty (the same Greek word [aphesis] is translated ‘remission’ 9 times .... ‘forgiveness’ 6 times .... ‘deliverance’ 1time .... and ‘liberty’ 1 time - here .... meaning ‘release from bondage or imprisonment, pardon of sins, letting them go as if they had never been committed, relief of the penalty’) them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
God commissioned Paul and Barnabas to be a light to the Gentiles (also see Acts 26:16-18):
Acts 13:46-48 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.
47 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.
48 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.
After they had been eyewitnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ’s majesty, Peter wrote:
2 Peter 1:19-21 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. (Then Peter testified about how the prophets of old were carried along by God’s Spirit as they wrote HIS words):
21 For the prophecy came not in old time (like, in time past) by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved (like, being prompted inwardly to bring forth) by the Holy Ghost.
Though Peter wrote his 2nd letter to bring to mind the prophetic writings, as well as the commands of the apostles .... of which, by the way, PAUL was not excluded:
2 Peter 3:1-7 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets,
and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: (Paul introduces himself in 9 of his 13 epistles as an apostle of Jesus Christ.)
What was spoken by the prophets and apostles of the Lord? Things that will come in ‘the last days’ .... regarding the coming of the Lord to judge and establish His kingdom:
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
Paul, also an apostle of the Lord and Saviour, also prophesied of these same events:
• the last days ....
• the coming/appearing of the Lord ....
• the day of judgment ....
• the kingdom of God:
2 Tim 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 Tim 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
Paul plainly expressed the message he preached ....
it was nothing different than what the prophets and Moses wrote:
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.
Paul was in complete agreement with what has been spoken since the world began.
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Prophecy VERSUS Mystery
‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ compare 2 verses as the foundation for their claim that "Prophecy Versus (Vs.) Mystery."
This is where they drive in a lightning rod by saying,
"Something that has been spoken since the world began -- and --
something that has been kept secret since the world began ....
cannot be the same .... and therefore, are 2 different things."
Acts 3:21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
Rom 16:25 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,
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ take off from here .... and run to 2 Tim 2:15 to pick up ‘rightly dividing the word of truth’.
Then they say, "Since PAUL told us TO rightly divide .... we need to let PAUL show us HOW to rightly divide .... turn to Eph 2, to see ‘Time Past (Eph 2:11-12) .... But Now (Eph 2:13) .... and the Ages to Come (Eph 2:7)’. There you have their base for creating 2 (or more) of nearly everything .... 2 programs (earthly and heavenly), 2 groups of saints (Israel and the body of Christ), 2 kingdoms, 2 Jesus’, 2 methods of salvation (law-works and grace-no works), 2 eternal destinies (earthly kingdom and heavenly kingdom), several different gospels, 3 resurrections, and on and on the divisions continue.
If you could ever STOP their rambling, before they get this far .... maybe you could get them to "think about it!" Let’s examine the structure for their building .... for it is really on sinking sand (Matt 7:24-29) .... not on the Rock (Deut 32:4, 2 Sam 22:47, Psa 18:31, Matt 16:18, Rom 9:33, 1 Cor 10:4, 1 Peter 2:8).
Let’s go back to the context of Acts 3:21, to find out ‘what’ has been made known since the beginning. ‘Mid-Acts-ers’ don’t back up far enough. They just go to verse 19. But when we go to verse 18, we see ‘what else’ God spoke ‘by the mouth of ALL His prophets’.
It was written in the scriptures about Messiah’s suffering, which, at the time, the prophets did not understand (1 Pet 1:10-12). His suffering was unto death (Isa 53:12, Matt 26:38):
Acts 3:18-23 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ don’t want to include ‘repentance’ in ‘Paul’s program’ for what-they-call ‘the body of Christ’. They put repentance back in time past with John the Baptist (Matt 3:1-2), ‘earthly’ Jesus (Luke 13:3), and His 12 disciples (Mark 6:7-12). Here PETER preaches it:
Acts 3:19-a Repent ye therefore,
But ‘mid-Acts-ers’ close their eyes to PAUL’s preaching of repentance ....
and it’s in a ‘but now’ statement, to boot:
Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at;
but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Back to Acts 3, Peter continued:
Acts 3:19-b and be converted,
Paul taught many of the SAME things that Peter taught, but ‘mid-Acts-ers’ won’t admit it. The Greek word [epistrepho] is translated ‘converted’ 6 times, and ‘turn’ 29 times. PAUL used the same Greek word as PETER used, regarding the Gentiles being ‘converted’ or ‘turned’:
Acts 26:18-20 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.
19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
Back in Acts 3, Peter prophesied:
Acts 3:19c-20 that your sins may be blotted out,
when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
20 And he shall send Jesus Christ,
which before was preached unto you:
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ try to maintain 2 distinct programs regarding ‘WHEN’ sins are ‘wiped away’. They focus on the word ‘when’ .... which they use as meaning, "at the time" that ISRAEL’s sins will be blotted out.
Well, the Greek word [hopos], translated ‘when’ 1 time (here in Acts 3:19) ....
is translated ‘that’ 45 times. So it could be understood to say, "that your sins may be blotted out, ‘that’ the times of refreshing shall come ...."
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ make it a point to say that THEIR (Israel’s) sins won’t be blotted out
UNTIL the times of refreshing (when Jesus Christ returns) ....
UNTIL the times of restitution (which all the prophets spoke since the beginning of the world).
Daniel’s prophecy teaches that it is at the END of the 70th week ‘when’ God will make an end of ALL sins .... not JUST Israel’s sins. Yes, it will be at the end of the world, when Jesus comes (Matt 24:3):
Dan 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city,
to finish the transgression,
and to make an end of sins,
and to make reconciliation for iniquity,
and to bring in everlasting righteousness,
and to seal up the vision and prophecy,
and to anoint the most Holy.
Daniel’s prophecy concerning the 70 weeks upon ‘God’s people’ .... initially applied to just Israel .... but now includes all the saints that are His people. Paul took the prophetic scriptures .... originally written for Israel .... and applied them to "the church of God" .... "with all the saints" (2 Cor 1:1). PAUL included ALL saints now as being ‘God’s people’:
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.
Again the teaching of scripture is consistent, that Christ’s suffering (His death) was prophesied (spoken, foretold) ‘since’ the world began. Then is another ‘but now’ statement, that also includes the ‘ages to come’ --- when sin will be ‘put away’ for good .... in the end of the world .... when Jesus appears .... the second time:
Heb 9:26,28 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Back in Acts 3, Peter testified that when Jesus returns from heaven, it will be time to restore everything .... which is what all the prophets have said all along:
Acts 3:21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things,
which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
God made known His secret to His prophets .... and they passed it out to the people .... but it stayed 'secret' because no one understood it. This has been His process throughout all of history:
Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing,
but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
That’s the same principle as John wrote about in the end of the Holy Book .... about ‘the end’ .... when Jesus returns at the last trump (1 Cor 15:52):
Rev 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound (the 7th angel will sound the 7th .... ‘the LAST’ .... trump), the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
This is the same ‘mystery of God’ (and of Christ) that PAUL (Col 2:2), also a servant and prophet, wrote about .... the times of restitution of all things (Acts 3:21):
Eph 1:9-10 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times
he might gather together in one all things in Christ,
both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
PAUL explained how the mystery of Christ was kept secret even thought it was written .... and the prophets greatly desired to understand about ‘the grace’ they knew would come. But in time past, they did not understand. Years later, ‘when’ the grace did come, then the apostles and prophets who were alive then, did understand. It had not been revealed before in a way they could understand it .... as it was revealed in the age in which Paul and his companion apostles and prophets lived:
Eph 3:4-5 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
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;
Yes, the prophets wrote about the grace that would come (John 1:17b, Eph 3:2) .... as they wrote about the sufferings of Christ (which was His death) .... and as they wrote about the glory that follows suffering --- but they didn’t understand it clearly. They knew it was ‘future’ from where they were:
1 Peter 1:10-12 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.
Back in Acts 3, Peter related Christ, the mediator of the new testament (Heb 9:11-22), to Moses, the deliverer of the old testament (also see Heb 3:1-7):
Acts 3:22-23 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. (also see Acts 7:37-38, the church in the wilderness)
23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. (also see 2 Thess 1:7-9) (FYI, PAUL made those same comparisons between the old and new testaments in 2 Cor 3:6-18)
Prophecy verses Mystery?
If it was a ‘mid-Acts’ ballgame, they would be opponents.
But in the scriptures, not so!
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.
This is where they drive in a lightning rod by saying,
"Something that has been spoken since the world began -- and --
something that has been kept secret since the world began ....
cannot be the same .... and therefore, are 2 different things."
Acts 3:21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
Rom 16:25 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,
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ take off from here .... and run to 2 Tim 2:15 to pick up ‘rightly dividing the word of truth’.
Then they say, "Since PAUL told us TO rightly divide .... we need to let PAUL show us HOW to rightly divide .... turn to Eph 2, to see ‘Time Past (Eph 2:11-12) .... But Now (Eph 2:13) .... and the Ages to Come (Eph 2:7)’. There you have their base for creating 2 (or more) of nearly everything .... 2 programs (earthly and heavenly), 2 groups of saints (Israel and the body of Christ), 2 kingdoms, 2 Jesus’, 2 methods of salvation (law-works and grace-no works), 2 eternal destinies (earthly kingdom and heavenly kingdom), several different gospels, 3 resurrections, and on and on the divisions continue.
If you could ever STOP their rambling, before they get this far .... maybe you could get them to "think about it!" Let’s examine the structure for their building .... for it is really on sinking sand (Matt 7:24-29) .... not on the Rock (Deut 32:4, 2 Sam 22:47, Psa 18:31, Matt 16:18, Rom 9:33, 1 Cor 10:4, 1 Peter 2:8).
Let’s go back to the context of Acts 3:21, to find out ‘what’ has been made known since the beginning. ‘Mid-Acts-ers’ don’t back up far enough. They just go to verse 19. But when we go to verse 18, we see ‘what else’ God spoke ‘by the mouth of ALL His prophets’.
It was written in the scriptures about Messiah’s suffering, which, at the time, the prophets did not understand (1 Pet 1:10-12). His suffering was unto death (Isa 53:12, Matt 26:38):
Acts 3:18-23 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ don’t want to include ‘repentance’ in ‘Paul’s program’ for what-they-call ‘the body of Christ’. They put repentance back in time past with John the Baptist (Matt 3:1-2), ‘earthly’ Jesus (Luke 13:3), and His 12 disciples (Mark 6:7-12). Here PETER preaches it:
Acts 3:19-a Repent ye therefore,
But ‘mid-Acts-ers’ close their eyes to PAUL’s preaching of repentance ....
and it’s in a ‘but now’ statement, to boot:
Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at;
but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Back to Acts 3, Peter continued:
Acts 3:19-b and be converted,
Paul taught many of the SAME things that Peter taught, but ‘mid-Acts-ers’ won’t admit it. The Greek word [epistrepho] is translated ‘converted’ 6 times, and ‘turn’ 29 times. PAUL used the same Greek word as PETER used, regarding the Gentiles being ‘converted’ or ‘turned’:
Acts 26:18-20 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.
19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
Back in Acts 3, Peter prophesied:
Acts 3:19c-20 that your sins may be blotted out,
when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
20 And he shall send Jesus Christ,
which before was preached unto you:
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ try to maintain 2 distinct programs regarding ‘WHEN’ sins are ‘wiped away’. They focus on the word ‘when’ .... which they use as meaning, "at the time" that ISRAEL’s sins will be blotted out.
Well, the Greek word [hopos], translated ‘when’ 1 time (here in Acts 3:19) ....
is translated ‘that’ 45 times. So it could be understood to say, "that your sins may be blotted out, ‘that’ the times of refreshing shall come ...."
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ make it a point to say that THEIR (Israel’s) sins won’t be blotted out
UNTIL the times of refreshing (when Jesus Christ returns) ....
UNTIL the times of restitution (which all the prophets spoke since the beginning of the world).
Daniel’s prophecy teaches that it is at the END of the 70th week ‘when’ God will make an end of ALL sins .... not JUST Israel’s sins. Yes, it will be at the end of the world, when Jesus comes (Matt 24:3):
Dan 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city,
to finish the transgression,
and to make an end of sins,
and to make reconciliation for iniquity,
and to bring in everlasting righteousness,
and to seal up the vision and prophecy,
and to anoint the most Holy.
Daniel’s prophecy concerning the 70 weeks upon ‘God’s people’ .... initially applied to just Israel .... but now includes all the saints that are His people. Paul took the prophetic scriptures .... originally written for Israel .... and applied them to "the church of God" .... "with all the saints" (2 Cor 1:1). PAUL included ALL saints now as being ‘God’s people’:
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.
Again the teaching of scripture is consistent, that Christ’s suffering (His death) was prophesied (spoken, foretold) ‘since’ the world began. Then is another ‘but now’ statement, that also includes the ‘ages to come’ --- when sin will be ‘put away’ for good .... in the end of the world .... when Jesus appears .... the second time:
Heb 9:26,28 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Back in Acts 3, Peter testified that when Jesus returns from heaven, it will be time to restore everything .... which is what all the prophets have said all along:
Acts 3:21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things,
which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
God made known His secret to His prophets .... and they passed it out to the people .... but it stayed 'secret' because no one understood it. This has been His process throughout all of history:
Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing,
but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
That’s the same principle as John wrote about in the end of the Holy Book .... about ‘the end’ .... when Jesus returns at the last trump (1 Cor 15:52):
Rev 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound (the 7th angel will sound the 7th .... ‘the LAST’ .... trump), the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
This is the same ‘mystery of God’ (and of Christ) that PAUL (Col 2:2), also a servant and prophet, wrote about .... the times of restitution of all things (Acts 3:21):
Eph 1:9-10 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times
he might gather together in one all things in Christ,
both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
PAUL explained how the mystery of Christ was kept secret even thought it was written .... and the prophets greatly desired to understand about ‘the grace’ they knew would come. But in time past, they did not understand. Years later, ‘when’ the grace did come, then the apostles and prophets who were alive then, did understand. It had not been revealed before in a way they could understand it .... as it was revealed in the age in which Paul and his companion apostles and prophets lived:
Eph 3:4-5 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
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;
Yes, the prophets wrote about the grace that would come (John 1:17b, Eph 3:2) .... as they wrote about the sufferings of Christ (which was His death) .... and as they wrote about the glory that follows suffering --- but they didn’t understand it clearly. They knew it was ‘future’ from where they were:
1 Peter 1:10-12 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.
Back in Acts 3, Peter related Christ, the mediator of the new testament (Heb 9:11-22), to Moses, the deliverer of the old testament (also see Heb 3:1-7):
Acts 3:22-23 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. (also see Acts 7:37-38, the church in the wilderness)
23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. (also see 2 Thess 1:7-9) (FYI, PAUL made those same comparisons between the old and new testaments in 2 Cor 3:6-18)
Prophecy verses Mystery?
If it was a ‘mid-Acts’ ballgame, they would be opponents.
But in the scriptures, not so!
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Thought of the Day
My thought of the day is this:
I think I will only do a "Think About It BLOG" today.
I hope you will read it.
.
I think I will only do a "Think About It BLOG" today.
I hope you will read it.
.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Chastened or Not? Are You a SON or Not?
‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ say that God is not chastising ‘the body of Christ’ .... because they-say chastisement was part of ‘Israel’s prophecy-program’, not ‘our mystery-program’. Since I have broken out of their mold, and ‘gone to the Greek’ (a ‘no-no’ among ‘mid-Acts-ers’) .... I found out they are wrong on this issue, too:
2 Tim 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable
for doctrine,
for reproof,
for correction,
for instruction (the Greek word [paideia], meaning the whole training, care, and education process including cultivation of mind and morals, commands and admonitions, and reproof and punishment .... for the purpose of increasing VIRTUE) in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect,
throughly furnished unto all good works.
The Greek word [paideia] is used 6 times and all of them are in the context of a father tutoring his children:
Eph 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture (the Greek word [paideia]) and admonition of the Lord.
During my nearly 30 years as a ‘mid-Acts-er’ .... I heard preachers strongly teach messages that God is not chastening believers today. When I saw that the same Greek word used in 2 Tim 3:16 for ‘instruction’ .... was used here in Hebrews 4 times regarding the ‘chastening’ of the Lord ---- I got a whole new understanding:
Heb 12:5-11 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening (the Greek word [paideia]) of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth (the Greek word [paideuo]),
and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening (the Greek word [paideia]),
God dealeth with you as with sons;
for what son is he whom the father chasteneth (the Greek word [paideuo]), not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement (the Greek word [paideia]), whereof all are partakers,
then are ye bastards, and not sons.
God provides assurance to us .... by knowing that He deals with us as His children .... rather than leaving us to ourselves and our own way .... just as an earthly father does:
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
Being corrected is not particularly pleasant .... but it is needful.
The discipline pays off later:
11 Now no chastening (the Greek word [paideia]) for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
The irony regarding the subject of chastisment for the ‘mid-Acts-ers’ is that ‘their own apostle PAUL’ ALSO said we are chastened of the Lord ---- but ‘mid-Acts-ers’ try to wrest out of believing it. They mouse around the verse, and in reality, deny its application for us, saying that God only ‘teaches’ us today as we read His word:
1 Cor 11:31-32 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
32 But when we are judged,
we are chastened (the Greek word [paideuo]) of the Lord,
that we should not be condemned with the world.
God IS ACTIVE in our lives .... by chastening ....
so we will learn the lessons we need to know.
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.
2 Tim 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable
for doctrine,
for reproof,
for correction,
for instruction (the Greek word [paideia], meaning the whole training, care, and education process including cultivation of mind and morals, commands and admonitions, and reproof and punishment .... for the purpose of increasing VIRTUE) in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect,
throughly furnished unto all good works.
The Greek word [paideia] is used 6 times and all of them are in the context of a father tutoring his children:
Eph 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture (the Greek word [paideia]) and admonition of the Lord.
During my nearly 30 years as a ‘mid-Acts-er’ .... I heard preachers strongly teach messages that God is not chastening believers today. When I saw that the same Greek word used in 2 Tim 3:16 for ‘instruction’ .... was used here in Hebrews 4 times regarding the ‘chastening’ of the Lord ---- I got a whole new understanding:
Heb 12:5-11 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening (the Greek word [paideia]) of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth (the Greek word [paideuo]),
and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening (the Greek word [paideia]),
God dealeth with you as with sons;
for what son is he whom the father chasteneth (the Greek word [paideuo]), not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement (the Greek word [paideia]), whereof all are partakers,
then are ye bastards, and not sons.
God provides assurance to us .... by knowing that He deals with us as His children .... rather than leaving us to ourselves and our own way .... just as an earthly father does:
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
Being corrected is not particularly pleasant .... but it is needful.
The discipline pays off later:
11 Now no chastening (the Greek word [paideia]) for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
The irony regarding the subject of chastisment for the ‘mid-Acts-ers’ is that ‘their own apostle PAUL’ ALSO said we are chastened of the Lord ---- but ‘mid-Acts-ers’ try to wrest out of believing it. They mouse around the verse, and in reality, deny its application for us, saying that God only ‘teaches’ us today as we read His word:
1 Cor 11:31-32 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
32 But when we are judged,
we are chastened (the Greek word [paideuo]) of the Lord,
that we should not be condemned with the world.
God IS ACTIVE in our lives .... by chastening ....
so we will learn the lessons we need to know.
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
The Way Which They Call Heresy
Paul experienced false accusations pointed directly at him, and yet he responded cheerfully:
Acts 24:1 And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.
2 And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence,
3 We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.
4 Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.
Talk about ‘name-calling’ .... look how Paul was labelled:
5 For we have found this man a pestilent fellow,
and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world,
and a ringleader of the sect (same Greek word [hairesis] as translated "heresy") of the Nazarenes:
6 Who also hath gone about to profane the temple:
whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.
7 But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,
8 Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.
Tertullus had a 'congregation' behind him, egging him on:
9 And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.
Paul realized that Felix was well acquanited with being a ruler of the Jews, and was happy to have the opportunity to give his own defense:
10 Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:
11 Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.
Paul testified that he was not going around stirring up trouble:
12 And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:
Though they did not agree with his preaching, they had no concrete evidence of misbehavior:
13 Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.
Paul admitted that they called him a heretic .... but they had no reason to do so .... because he praised the God of Israel, and affirmed the law of Moses and all the scriptures:
14 But this I confess unto thee,
that after the way which they call heresy [hairesis],
so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
Paul knew Israel’s hope was the dead being raised. He also spoke of the judgement
(as Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:)
where the righteous will be rewarded and the wicked will be punished:
15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
Though Paul had just been accused of being a pestilent fellow, a mover of sedition, and a ringleader of heresy .... his heart was clean inside and out:
16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
The Jews had a problem with his teaching about the resurrection:
Acts 24:21 Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.
Paul warned Timothy of infection like doctrinal gangrene, or like a spiritual ulcer .... for wrong division of God’s word, specifically about timing of the resurrection of the dead:
2 Tim 2:15-18 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
Getting the resurrection in the right place was important to Paul ....
and it should be for us, as well.
God, through Paul, said it will be "at the last trump" (1 Cor 15:52), after the way ‘mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ call heresy.
We would not want to be unprepared, now, would we?
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.
Acts 24:1 And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.
2 And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence,
3 We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.
4 Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.
Talk about ‘name-calling’ .... look how Paul was labelled:
5 For we have found this man a pestilent fellow,
and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world,
and a ringleader of the sect (same Greek word [hairesis] as translated "heresy") of the Nazarenes:
6 Who also hath gone about to profane the temple:
whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.
7 But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,
8 Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.
Tertullus had a 'congregation' behind him, egging him on:
9 And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.
Paul realized that Felix was well acquanited with being a ruler of the Jews, and was happy to have the opportunity to give his own defense:
10 Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:
11 Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.
Paul testified that he was not going around stirring up trouble:
12 And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:
Though they did not agree with his preaching, they had no concrete evidence of misbehavior:
13 Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.
Paul admitted that they called him a heretic .... but they had no reason to do so .... because he praised the God of Israel, and affirmed the law of Moses and all the scriptures:
14 But this I confess unto thee,
that after the way which they call heresy [hairesis],
so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
Paul knew Israel’s hope was the dead being raised. He also spoke of the judgement
(as Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:)
where the righteous will be rewarded and the wicked will be punished:
15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
Though Paul had just been accused of being a pestilent fellow, a mover of sedition, and a ringleader of heresy .... his heart was clean inside and out:
16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
The Jews had a problem with his teaching about the resurrection:
Acts 24:21 Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.
Paul warned Timothy of infection like doctrinal gangrene, or like a spiritual ulcer .... for wrong division of God’s word, specifically about timing of the resurrection of the dead:
2 Tim 2:15-18 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
Getting the resurrection in the right place was important to Paul ....
and it should be for us, as well.
God, through Paul, said it will be "at the last trump" (1 Cor 15:52), after the way ‘mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ call heresy.
We would not want to be unprepared, now, would we?
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)