The Bride, The Lamb's Wife

In his excellent series on Genesis, David Hocking makes an ironic statement. In his rightful defense of Israel as still being in the plan of God and still having a glorious future, in the middle of chastising Replacement Theology, he talks about "the church" as the Bride of Christ.

This is yet another common failure to rightly divide the word of truth and a failure to mark things that differ.

Israel is the Bride of Christ, not the current church.

In this age, the Lord is gathering his Body. The bride has her own head, while the Body's head is Christ.

We do not have Israel's covenants (old or new) and we are not the bride. These errors are expected from those who have sought to rob Israel of her place and promises and highly disappointing for those who should know better.

Replacing Israel (in any way) is part of an old heresy. The phrase "the bride of Christ" is nowhere found in scripture. What we do have is "the bride, the Lamb’s wife." This is near the Revelation (Israel's time).

In the Book of Hosea, we see the Lord commanding the prophet to take a wife of whoredom to illustrate what the Lord experienced with Israel, his wife, chasing after other gods.

The Lord said to him,“Go, marry a prostitute and have children of prostitution, for the people of the land commit great prostitution by deserting the Lord.”
-Hosea 1:2 

"Plead with your mother, plead:
for she is not my wife, neither am I her husband:
let her, therefore, put away her whoredoms out of her sight,
and her adulteries from between her breasts"
-Hosea 2:1

At the end of the story, she is redeemed by the prophet and restored unto him as Israel will be restored in the "latter days" (the Revelation, as we have looked at in recent studies).

"Then said the Lord unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the Lord toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine. So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for a homer of barley, and a half homer of barley: and I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee. For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days."
-Hosea 3

They will return to the land and to their God. He will redeem them from the slave market and restore his wife unto himself. Under the New Covenant, she shall again be as a virgin.

Here the entirety of Jeremiah 31 must be read. How Christians can cram the church in here is criminal. We were "strangers to the covenants" (Ephesians). Since the New is for those who had the Old, it must be for Israel alone.

The New Covenant speaks of the restoration of Israel (and specifically Ephraim, remember our study on the lists of the tribes). Israel shall be a "virgin" again. She is the future Bride of the Lamb because she is the past wife of Yahweh.

Gentiles in the Coming Age

We've been looking at Israel's future back in the land. We looked at the 12 tribes. We noted the 12 Apostles of the Lamb sent to Jews. We noted the 12 Apostles will sit on twelve thrones judging those 12 tribes. We saw that in the New Jerusalem, which will come down to earth as a reward, has the name of the 12 sons of Israel on its gates and the names of the 12 Apostles on its foundation.

We haven't said much about Gentiles.

We are going to go back the parables in Matthew 25 in the coming weeks and we will soon see the Gentile nations in judgment when the Lord returns. Again, all that has to do with the earth and the coming kingdom is seen through the filter of Israel and the Jews (the only nations we see in the OT are those who come in contact with Israel or a Jew).

In regard to a mini-timeline of the ages to come (when this age of grace and the silence of God ends) is roughly this:

• -Israel is placed at the center of God's plan again
• -Israel finishes the final 3 weeks of Daniel's 70 weeks
• -The last week being the time of Jacob's Trouble (Tribulation)
• -The return of the King 
• -The Millennial kingdom (1000 years)
• -The final rebellion of Satan
• -The New Heavens and the New Earth
• -The New Jerusalem

We have seen these throughout our studies. But back to Gentiles. A day is coming when the whole world will look to Jerusalem to worship the true and the living God.

"Yes, many peoples and strong nations
Shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem,
And to pray before the Lord.’ “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”’
-Zech 8:22-23

[It is recommended that you read the entire chapter for a full picture of the restoration of Jerusalem and Israel. Chapter 8 finishes the first section of Zechariah written during the building of the temple, and following his visions of the kingdom.]

Yes, those gentiles outside Israel will grasp at the sleeve of a Jew and ask him to take them to Jerusalem to worship. Quite a different scene than the hatred of Israel and the Jews we see in this age.

But Israel will have to have this moment first:

It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.“And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning at Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo."
-Zech 12:10-11

• -God will destroy the nations that come against Israel (Jews)
• -God will open Israel's eyes
• -Israel will weep for their "pierced" Messiah God, Jesus

Israel has a tremendous future, but it will not come without a period of testing and trouble (the time of Jacob's Trouble).

The wicked teachings of Replacement Theology (which teaches the "church" has replaced Israel) dominate up to 85% of professing Christendom. It has led to horrifying treatment of the Jews by "Christians" and an inability of many to "rightly divide the Word of Truth (2 Tim 2:15)" or to "test the things that differ (Phil 1"10)" to understand prophecy or to understand the Mystery of Ephesians which defines this age.

All true believers must reject Antisemitism in all its forms. The current nation in the land is presently there in unbelief. We still must try to reach them with the message of their Messiah. But God has brought them back there to accomplish things in the future. "True Israel," a "remnant," will come forth in the coming age and then "all Israel shall be saved."

As we have seen many times, the New Covenant is yet future and it is give to Israel alone. We must stop claiming to be under the New Covenant. That is robbery and a product of Replacement Theology and Antisemitism.

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For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: 

“The Deliverer will come out of Zion,
And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
For this is My covenant with them,
When I take away their sins.
-Rom 11:25-26 (cp. Isaiah 59:20, 21)

Comparing the Different Listings of the Twelve Tribes

Carrying on from our last two studies, we now look at the "things that differ" in regard to the 12 tribes. Let's start with the original 12 sons of Israel (Jacob):

"And these are the names of the sons of Israel who had come into Egypt; with Jacob had they come, each with his household: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin; Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher... and Joseph was in Egypt...
-Exodus 1:1-5

When they occupy the area around the tabernacle in Numbers 2, the list omits Levi, and includes Ephraim and Manasseh; the sons of Joseph.

Jacob had prophesied this. He gave the sons of Joseph a place among his sons:

"And now thy two sons, who were born to thee in the land of Egypt before I came to thee into Egypt, shall be mine: Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon."
-Genesis 48:5

In Numbers 26, God tells Moses how the inheritance of the land will be divided. He names the tribes and their families. In that chapter, again, Levi is separated out as with the land about the tabernacle.

"[the sons of Levi] were not numbered among the children of Israel, because there was no inheritance given them among the children of Israel."
-Num 26:53

So, when it comes to inheritance of land and occupation of land, the priestly tribe, Levi, had no claim. They serviced the tabernacle (and later, the temple). This was the reason for the tithe. It went to support the temple and the priesthood. It has no place in the current age.

Jumping ahead to Ezekiel 48 and the future temple we see two lists: the first involved the inheritance and, again, leaves out Levi. But when the gates of the city are listed, Levi is there (Ephraim and Manasseh are represented by Joseph).

In the Book of the Revelation (a fully Jewish book which deals with Israel's future) we see an interesting list in Rev 7 (the evangelists during the Tribulation): Levi is there (not a matter of the land), but Ephraim and Dan are missing (Joseph joins Manasseh to make it 12).

Where are Dan and Ephraim? Remember, this is a time of Israel's testing and fire unto purity. Pagan worship in the northern kingdom was centered in Dan and Ephraim. Jeremiah cries out against them:

O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness,
That you may be saved.
How long shall your evil thoughts lodge within you?
For a voice declares from DAN
And proclaims affliction from Mount EPHRAIM...
-Jeremiah 4:14-15

(I believe Joseph takes Ephraim's place as a picture of God's justice and grace in separating out those in Ephraim who did not bow a knew to the pagan gods.)

When the New Jerusalem comes down from heaven, Rev 21, we see the gates which bring to mind the gates in Ezek 48; the original 12 sons of Israel including Levi, Dan and Joseph are listed on those gates.

"These are the exits of the city... (the gates of the city shall be named after the tribes of Israel)..."-Ezek 48:30,31

"Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west."
-Rev 21:12-13

We must also see in the Jewish picture, the 12 Apostles of the Lamb, who were the "Apostles to the Circumcision" as we have seen in recent studies. The Revelation is a fully Jewish book.

"Now the wall of the city [New Jerusalem] had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb."-Rev 21:14

The New Jerusalem is a reward for Jews who overcome and righteous Gentiles in the Jewish age who honor Israel and have faith in her Messiah. This is the city those in Hebrews 11 looked to (v10). This is the "better resurrection" they sought (v35).

Comparing Things That Differ in Scripture

We have looked at Philippians 1:10 in a number of studies. We discovered that the translation in the KJV and a number of other translations have imposed human reasoning and doctrine onto the verse.

"that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ"
-KJV

The NIV inches us closer:

"so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ"-NIV

But when we look at literal translations we see a clearer picture of the charge:

"for your proving the things that differ, that ye may be pure and offenceless -- to a day of Christ"-Young's Literal

"To the end ye may be putting to the test the things that differ, in order that ye may be incorrupt and may give no occasion of stumbling, unto the day of Christ"
-Rotherham Translation

The KJV isn't horrible. We do need to look for the "excellent" thing. But, unfortunately, "dokimázō" translated "approve" is better understood as "testing" something. The word translated "excellent" is "diaphérō" which has the idea of "finding the better of what differs." Strong's concordance gives us this, in part:

"subjectively to “differ”, or (by implication) surpass: - be better"

So, yes, we are looking for what is "better," but we are testing those things that are different to get there. In many cases, we must do this that we may "walk worthy of the calling with which [we] were called." (Eph 4:1)

I must walk in the calling of my age. Adopting practices or doctrines from another age, even though they are holy and of God, may put me in the way of disobedience. So many churches walk in the ways of other ages and claim the promises of other people. They will find themselves wanting in the day of Christ's appearing.

We are called to test or prove the "things that differ." When we look at scripture, we see "things that differ." One of these things are the lists of the Tribes of Israel. Would that mean the Bible is in error? Actually, as with all the things the differ, the differing lists are consistent with the plan of God and reveal to us scriptural and prophetic truth.

Next time we will look at the differing lists of tribes. But for now, let's look at the context of Phil 1:10:

"For God is my witness, how I long for you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ,and this I pray, that your love yet more and more may abound in full knowledge, and all judgment, for your proving the things that differ, that ye may be pure and offenceless -- to a day of Christ"
-Phil 1:8-10 (Young's Literal)

Paul prays that they "may abound in full knowledge, and all judgment" and thus be able to successfully "prov[e] the things that differ."

Here we look to the NIV, as a paraphrased commentary:

"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight"

The perfect (mature) Christian works with the Word of Truth (2 Tim 2:15) and looks to God for "depth of insight" when he sees "things that differ."

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"It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter."
-Prov 25:2

The Twelve Tribes in God's Plan

The Twelve Tribes of Israel are an integral part of God's earthly plan. They are not a relic of the past, but an essential element in our understanding of the New Testament (past and future).

The Apostles are promised that they will each sit on a throne, judging the twelve tribes in the promised Kingdom.

And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
-Matthew 19:28

The Apostle James writes his epistle to the twelve tribes:

"James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ: To the 12 tribes in the Dispersion."
-James 1:1

James refers to them meeting in synagogues (Jas 2:2). Unfortunately, this has been sanitized by Replacement Theologians and those who will not accept that James was writing to Jews, in the dispersion, who still identified as the 12 tribes.

Of the 58 English translations available at Biblegateway.com only 8 use "synagogue" to translate the Greek "synagōgḗ / συναγωγή." Sad.

The "Expanded Bible" uses "church meeting" and notes: "the word can mean 'synagogue,' but here refers to a house church gathering." What? "CAN MEAN" synagogue? That's the actual, Holy Spirit inspired word (synagōgḗ). There is a Greek word for "church" used all through the New Testament. God doesn't need an editor.

Also, note that none of the tribes is "lost." James doesn't say, "To the two we know of, but in case you see any of the others..." In Luke 2 we meet Anna, "Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher..."

The split kingdom (the two southern tribes, Judah and Benjamin vs the 10 northern tribes) is important. We see them pictured in different ways throughout the New Testament. But we assured they will be one again. The two sticks shall form one (Ezek 37:19), all 12 tribes will be called upon to witness for the Lord in the age of the Revelation (Rev 7).

Not only James, but Peter writes to this "dispersion."

"Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect who are sojourners of the Dispersion..."
-1 Peter 1:1

Israel is the "elect" nation of God. These two were sent "only to Jews" (Matt 10) and preached only to Jews (Acts 11). They were among the "Apostles to the Circumcision"

"They recognized that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised,[a] just as Peter had been to the circumcised. For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles. James, Cephas and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised."-Gal 2:7-9

In the age of the Acts, God still made a distinction between Jew and Gentile in some matters.

We've covered the New Covenant in other studies. We saw that it is not for the believers of this age, but it is reserved for a united Israel in a future day.

“The days are coming, declares the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel
and with the people of Judah....
This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel
after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds
and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people."
-Heb 8:8,10

Note the covenant is to the separated kingdoms (Israel and Judah), yet they will become one again (Israel).

Let us not rob from their promises. And why would we want to? We should be looking for our hope in "the far above the heavens" (Ephesians).

The Parable of the Wicked Servant

We're back in the Olivet Discourse (finally!) and we move on to the parable of the wicked servant.

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
-Matthew 24:45-51

Noting from recent posrs, we must understand this concerns believers. Both here are "servants." But we must also recall from our studies that the context is Israel. We have been looking at warnings to different groups of believers, in Matthew, we are dealing Israel and her coming kingdom (which we have covered at length previously).

We have also previously looked at the "weeping and gnashing of teeth" punishment in Matthew. We first saw this punishment in Matthew 8:

"the children of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
-Matt 8:12

Those punished are not unbelievers, but "the children of the kingdom." That is, unrepentant and disobedient Israelites in that day. Remember our context for the Olivet Discourse (future judgment):

• When will these things be?
• What will be the sign of your coming?
• What will be the sign of the end of the age?

The context is clearly His coming. Those in view will be judged according to specific tasks assigned at the time of the end. The parable of the fig tree [Israel] and the warnings concerning the last generation and the unknown "day or hour" point to actions taking place when the Son of Man arrives.

This becomes more clear as we enter Matthew 25.

We saw this weeping and gnashing in The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares in Matt 13 and in Parable of the Wedding Feast in Matthew 22. In each case, believers are in view.

In Matthew 13, we read of this judgment:

"The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil."
-Matthew 13:41

Again, this happens at the end; it involves angels; it is in regard to the kingdom on earth; and is based on works.

[This is not a judgment in regard to this current age. We do not face these punishments, but we do face (as we have recently seen) possible loss of reward and missing out on the special resurrection "out from among the rest of the dead." (Phil 3:11)]

There are a number of judgments connected to Israel's earthly kingdom that are connected. Let us quickly look at another parable which illustrates this truth.

Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”
-Matthew 18:33-35

This involves "fellow servants," "brothers," their "master," and a teaching that the Father will deal with the unjust servant based on his works. This cannot be forced into this age. These are believing Jews, in the kingdom. As we know, when the Son of Man does rule on earth, "He shall rule them [Gentile nations] with a rod of iron" (Rev 2:27; Ps 2:9) and he shall reward some overcoming Jews (their responsibility) the honor of ruling with Him.

"And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the [Gentile] nations..."
-Rev 2:26

This is very important context to help us understand the parables of Matthew 25, some of the most grossly abused passages in scripture by those intent on teaching the traditions of men.

Do All Believers "Inherit the Kingdom?"

We've recently dipped our toes into the subject of rewards, prizes and crowns. In previous studies, we had looked at the different hopes in scripture. Some are hoping for the promised kingdom in the land, some are looking for the hope of the New Jerusalem, and some look for the hope which is reserved in the far above the heavens.

Without going back over all these hopes, let's just look at the idea of "inheriting" the kingdom. This idea is connected with the idea of rewards. That is, it is something earned.

In John, the Lord lays out the wide open offer of resurrection life to "whosoever" will believe (John 3:16; 5:24; etc.). There he speaks of those given the authority to become the "children" of God. Unfortunately, the KJV translates "téknon" as "sons." Better translations use "children." (Compare John 11:52)

Conversely, in Galatians 3:26 "huiós" is translated as "children" (KJV) when "sons" should be used. As those who inherit are sons, but not all children are sons.

So, just as we saw that some will be "ashamed" at the Judgment Seat of Christ (suffering loss) and some "ashamed" at his coming, some will not inherit their promise.

Consider:

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God."
-1 Cor 6:9-10

The context is clearly believers. 1 Corinthians addresses many sins of beloved saints. The book is full of correction and discipline and warnings. He is addressing those separated by faith.

"I am writing to God’s church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours."-1 Cor 1:2

The warning in chapter 6 is not that one can lose a free gift. That's impossible. But in that age, with the promise of the Kingdom of God in view (Acts 1:6; 26:7; etc.). Those who follow the flesh will not inherit the kingdom. Again, this is not a loss of free resurrection life.

John 3:16 stands.

I don't have the space to post the entire context, but let's look at couple of things leading to verses 9 and 10:

v.5 I say this to your shame...
v.8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud...

Followed by, "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?"

The warning is for those believers in that age. They can live in shame. They can do wrong and defraud other believers. They can be unrighteous.

Many fall back into their old lifestyles ("such were some of you, but you were washed...") and will suffer loss and be ashamed as we have seen. The warning is not to fall back into an old life. Otherwise it makes no sense. Warn UNBELIEVERS about not inheriting the kingdom then write "such were some of YOU?" It must be the same group.

This is why the great Apostle Paul models:

"Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified."
-1 Cor 9:26-27

Is Paul worried about losing the free gift? Never! He is concerned with being "disqualified" (Gk: adókimos = worthless). Again, going on to PERFECTION (maturity) versus falling back into PERDITION (waste).

The focus of these studies is twofold: 

1. Provide a backdrop as we enter into the parables of Matthew 25 and 
2. Encourage us to love God, seek his will, build each other up, encourage unto good works... that we might find reward.

The Path to Reward

We've been looking at the Christian life and the rewards and the prize to be attained. We now look at how the Lord is helping us on this journey. The health, wealth and prosperity preachers will not be happy.

We always start with the sure foundation which is Christ. Nothing can move this foundation. It is freely given by grace through faith. But we cannot spend the rest of our lives simply resting on that foundation. Don't worry. It will forever be there. But what we build on it is up to us.

Scripture teaches us that some will "suffer" loss when what we build is tried in the fire (1 Cor 3). 

If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

Scripture also teaches us that some Christians will be ashamed.

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
-2 Tim 2:15 

And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
-1 John 2:28

Our ship of faith may end in "shipwreck" (1 Tim 1:19) and some teach others, but themselves will be "disqualified" (1 Cor 9:27).

So many of the warning passages we throw at unbelievers are meant for Christians. But we must take heed and be aware of how God is shaping us and building us up in the faith that we may have a "better resurrection."

The health, wealth and prosperity teachers don't want us to choose to suffer with the Lord. They don't want us to be content in poverty or in riches. They don't want is to take up the cross and identify with him in his sufferings. They are thus the enemies of the cross of Christ (Phil 3).

It is a consistent biblical principle that God allows trials into our lives to produce faith. For it is faith that drives us to stand for the Lord and suffer for his namesake.

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect [mature] and complete, lacking nothing.
-James 1:2-4

Jacob and 11 of his sons suffered a famine to drive them to Joseph. Joseph suffered in prison on a false charge to move him into Pharaoh's house. When the children of Israel escaped the bondage of Egypt, the first place the Lord brought them was to the bitter waters of Marah. Upon entering the promised land, the chosen people of God were met by enemies and had to conquer many cities before they found peace.

In all these (and in many others) the way of wisdom was through testing, trial and suffering.
We look again at Hebrews 12 where we saw previously that we need to lay down the sin that so easily ensnares us and worldly desires that weigh us down; run the race and remember Christ suffered before us:

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.-Heb 12:1-2

The way to glory is the way of the cross.

We are either moving towards Perfection (maturity) or Perdition (waste). He loves you. The more we get to know him, the more we trust him. The way to increase this trust and knowledge? "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." (Romans 10:17) To this we add:

[G]iving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
-2 Pet 1:5-9

You can have Your Best Life Now or Your Best Life Later.

Some Christians are truly saved, yet never learn to thoughtfully and carefully handle the Word of God and thus end up in shipwreck.

We know Satan wants to devour us with religion and slavery to sin (these two feed each other). But we must also recognize the lure of the world and the weakness of our flesh.

Know your enemies, understand your flesh and the world:

1. The lust, greed and covetousness of the flesh
2. The lust, greed and covetousness of the eyes
3. Our pride and selfishness

(1 John 2:16)

Key to the Christian Walk: Knowing Him

We recently discussed trusting the Lord and walking in obedience to his revealed will in our home Bible study. We looked at the great love chapter (1 Cor 13) where we learn that love is greater than faith or hope (while all essential). We do and should apply faith and our hope to our Christian walk, but love is central to our success.

Love is the greatest motivator. If I love my neighbour, I will not steal his things, seek to harm him, lie against him in court, envy his good fortune or put a move on his wife. Similarly, if I love the Lord, I won't put other gods (material or spiritual) before Him, I won't mock Him with idols or words.

Sheep do not need a fence (the law), they hear and heed the voice of the Shepherd. I do not need a law to tell me not to harm those I love, I need only allow the Lord to increase my love for them and for others.

And a true love of God will be evident in a growing love for others (especially those of the household of faith).But how do we move in that direction?

Have you ever considered this verse in its context?

"When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me." -Paul

The context is the great love chapter, 1 Cor 13. If we are to truly love, our love must move towards perfection (maturity). If not nurtured it will head towards perdition (waste) and childish selfishness.

To understand how to do this, I quote a small excerpt from a tremendous work, "The Christian's Greatest Need" by E.W. Bullinger (DBG). We must not just be "willing" to trust the Lord, for we will never truly trust him until we truly love him, and we can only do so by understanding his infinite love for us.

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"Those who are in the still lower condition; not 'willing,' but 'willing to be made willing,' do not see that his condition arises from not knowing God; not knowing how infinite is His love, how vast is His wisdom, how blessed and how sweet is His will. If they did but know something of this, they would yearn for His will. It would be the one great earnest desire and longing of their hearts for Him to do exactly what is pleasing in His own sight, in us, and for us, and through us."
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We must KNOW God. If we understood his love and his wisdom, we would never doubt him.

In a recent post, we looked at the goal of attaining the "resurrection out from among the dead." Here is the context:

"I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him..."
Phil 3:8 

"I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death."
Phil 3:10

To know him, we must put aside everything that hinders. We must put aside the works of the flesh (Gal 5) and the things which so easily weigh us down (Heb 12). We must also put aside ritual, superstition and mysticism (Col 2). But these cannot be attained in the flesh, we must learn to walk in the Spirit. That involves knowing scripture (the Spirit is our teacher) and rightly dividing it (not being careless with it).

And when the Spirit convicts us, we must rest in his wisdom and his leading.

Let us search our hearts. We know what occupies its wants and desires. We know what hinders our walk. God knows too. Confess your weaknesses and declare dependence on Him. He loves you. He wants to free you. He wants to fill you with his love, and when we do this, we trust him more, we worry less, we love others more, we love the world less.

As the hymn states:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

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"And what is the secret of our being able to glory in our Lord, and to enjoy His blessing in this day of our visitation? It is given in Jer. 9:23,24: 

`Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom
Neither let the mighty man glory in his might,
Let not the rich man glory in his riches:
But let him that glorieth, glory in this,
THAT HE UNDERSTANDETH AND KNOWETH ME.'
[Excerpt ibid]

Your Best Life Later (Prizes, Rewards, & Resurrection)

I heard a verse of scripture yesterday which came from a modern, paraphrased translation. I am not opposed to these translations. They can be great commentaries and help with understanding the gist of a verse of a passage. But they really shouldn't be used as the main source for interpretation or for word studies.

The verse in question is from Philippians 3. Here it is from the paraphrased New Living Translation:

I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! 

-Phil 3:10-11 (NLT)

It could be read into this that Paul is saying that resurrection is conditional. Unfortunately, the King James version is even murkier:

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 

-Phil 3:10-11 (KJV)

This really looks like Paul is stating that resurrection is in question and that Paul may not qualify.

The gift of eternal life, resurrection, is a gift. It is free. It is wholly by grace through faith. So to what is Paul referring when he speaks of attaining "the resurrection of/from the dead?"

For every hope in the resurrection, we have rewards and prizes beyond the free gift. We see this in the book of Hebrews where men and women hoped to "obtain a better resurrection" (v.35).

In Philippians, the words "from the dead (nekrós)" are used. Is Paul being redundant? No. The translators are thus trying to express the Greek word "ek-anástasis" or "εξαναστασιν" (only used here). The word for resurrection is "anástasis," this is a special resurrection "out from among the rest of the dead."

"The resurrection from the dead" fails us. Literally we have "the out of resurrection, out from among the dead."

We only have this idea in one other place, Mark 9: εκ νεκρων αναστη is used by the Lord to speak of his own resurrection. In verse 9 he speaks it to his disciples, in verse 10 they ponder what it could mean.

Now, no Jew would wonder what "resurrection" meant. They were puzzled at what "resurrection out from the dead" meant. But this is what Paul teaches us to seek in Phil 3.

Phil 3:8-9 emphasizes that we have no righteousness apart from Christ 

"Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord... that I suffered the loss all things... [to] be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith"

The gift of life (Rom 6:23; etc.), resurrection, is free.

What we need to "attain" is the "better resurrection" the special resurrection "out from among the rest of the dead." Remember, the great resurrection chapter (1 Cor 15) teaches us that there is no common resurrection, resurrection shall be by "order" or "rank."

"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming." -1 Cor 15:22-23 (NKJV)

In the Revelation we see different resurrections as well.

When Paul warns of those who are "the enemies of the cross of Christ," these may very well be those who preach the gospel, but deny the need for personal sacrifice to attain a "better resurrection." As we covered in a recent TTotD, some of Paul's enemies were those who preached Christ.

So, when a man tells you to have "Your Best Life Now" he's telling you to forsake a far better (unimaginably better) life in the age to come.

There is a prize for those who suffer with Christ in this life. That prize is ruling and reigning with him. On this, we can miss out if we settle for comfort in the present age.

"For if we died with Him,We shall also live with Him. [FREE GIFT]If we endure,We shall also reign with Him." [CONDITIONAL]-2 Tim 2:11-12

And if you are having Your Best Life Now, you might not be looking for his Appearing either:

"Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing." 

-2 Tim 4:8

We need to stop seeking our Best Life Now, that we might attain a greater life to come.
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NOTES: Rom 8: "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together." The Spirit will confirm that one is a child of God, but not every child is an heir of the glory. Heirs of eternal life? Yes. We become heirs of his glory only if we suffer with Him.

The next verse, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" assumes suffering.

The verse in Heb 11 in regard to the "better resurrection" notes the condition, "Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection." They endured these things (such as Moses forsaking the Better Life Now in Egypt) so they could OBTAIN a better resurrection.

A Thought On Hebrews 10:29

What was Paul warning his readers in Hebrews 10?

I am wondering why the word Greek word "hagiázō" (to sanctify) is rendered in the past tense in Hebrews 10:29. It is given in the aorist tense which allows for other renderings. It's also in the middle voice. (All is of this is courtesy of Mr. Strong and his concordance).

So, couldn't it be understood that those being addressed sanctified themselves (middle voice), yet then became defiled? And it could not also refer to a future sanctification (aorist option)?

The First Covenant with "the children of Israel" is given in Exodus 19:5-6 and is a promise that Israel will be a kingdom of priests for the nations. We read this in Exodus 19:22 (in preparation for that future role):

"And let the priests also, which come near to the Lord, sanctify themselves [Hebrew reflexive case], lest the Lord break forth upon them."

So, a possible Scotto translation of Heb 10:29 (which we do not recommend) utilizing the NJKV translation:


MIDDLE VOICE

"Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he has sanctified himself a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?"

or

AORIST FUTURE OPTION

"Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he will be sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?"

or

MIDDLE VOICE, FUTURE TENSE

"Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he will sanctify himself a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?"

Paul is warning Hebrews not to neglect the salvation and implementation of the New Covenant (which was still future, see: Hebrews 8) that has been provided for them. The Old Covenant was passing away in anticipation of the New ("And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away" 8:13b).

Just a thought.