No More Jew or Gentile AND No More Male or Female?

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek... And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

-Galatians 3:27-29 (edited) KJV

This passage is often trotted out to tray and make two related arguments.

1. The middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile noted in Ephesians 2:14 was removed at Pentecost
2. All believers of all ages (including the current age) are Abraham's seed

The first should be readily rejected when on simply reads the entire 28th verse.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

I don't know anyone who we would consider a Bible-believing Evangelical believer who would hold to the idea either Pentecost or even the removal of the middle partition means we no longer should make distinctions between men and women. 

That this privilege of being the children of God, and of being by baptism devoted to Christ, is now enjoyed in common by all real Christians. The law indeed made a difference between Jew and Greek, giving the Jews on many accounts the pre-eminence: that also made a difference between bond and free, master and servant, and between male and female, the males being circumcised. But it is not so now; they all stand on the same level, and are all one in Christ Jesus; as the one is not accepted on the account of any national or personal advantages he may enjoy above the other, so neither is the other rejected for the want of them; but all who sincerely believe on Christ, of what nation, or sex, or condition, soever they be, are accepted of him, and become the children of God through faith in him.

-Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible 

Matthew Henry, for example, makes the case in his commentary that the reference to the difference between male and female is a reference to circumcision. Whereas I would agree that has an application, it is surely deficient as the Law make other distinctions between males and females.

But the greater point is that the Law still applied in the Acts Age, but it was no longer a hindrance to Gentiles receiving the blessings of the promises to Abraham and to Israel. This idea cannot be a universal statement about all believers of all ages. Do we believe Adam, Abel, and Noah are "Abrahams's seed?" 

In John chapter 8 the Lord is addressing unbelieving Jews who are seeking to kill him. In his response he affirms that even though they are trying to kill him, they are "Abraham's seed." So let's break this passage down.

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you remain in My word, then you are truly My disciples. You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s seed and have never been in bondage to anyone. Why do You say, ‘You shall be set free’?”

Remember, the Lord's earthly ministry as King was to Israel alone (Matthew 15:24) and his disciples were sent to Israel alone (Matthew 10:5-7). The Son of David came unto his own and the King was rejected (John 1:11). The Kingdom he offered was then again offered to "Ye Men of Israel" in Acts 3. We make careful note here that Acts 3 follows Acts 2 (Pentecost). That offer came by the lips of Peter, an Apostle to the Circumcision. Unironically, we turn back to Galatians chapter 2 and note this distinction.

On the contrary, they saw that I was entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, as the gospel to the circumcised was to Peter. For He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles.

-Galatians 2:7-8

But let's continue in John 8.

 

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. Now a slave does not remain in the house forever, but a son remains forever. Therefore if the Son sets you free, you shall be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham’s seed. But you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. I am telling what I have seen with My Father, and you are doing what you have seen with your father.”

No Gentile, believer or not, would be called Abraham's seed and no gentile would be called a "son of the Kingdom," but unbelieving Jews are called both by the Lord. Here in John 8 he acknowledges the position of the Jew and in Matthew 8 the Lord states, juxtaposing the faith of gentile dog, that the "sons of the kingdom." 

“Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say to you that many will come from the east and west and will dine with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

-Matthew 8:10-12

The plan of blessing and redemption was always available to the Gentile. Abraham himself was a Gentile when justified.

Does this blessedness [the forgiveness of sin by faith] then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? We are saying that faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it credited? When he was in circumcision? Or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith that he had while being uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them also...

-Romans 4:9-11

Romans 15 also lays out the argument from the Hebrew scriptures that the gift of Life (resurrection) was always intended for Gentiles. Adam was in uncircumcision. Abel was in uncircumcision. Noah was in uncircumcision. And Abraham was in uncircumcision when their faith was rewarded. In the context of the gift of life beyond the grave, all who have faith, whether under the law or not, whether circumcised or not, whether bond nor free, whether Jew of Gentile, whether man or woman, ALL had the same free gift of justification.

But we would never conclude from that that all, in every age, have Abraham as a father. We could not apply that Adam or Noah. The Lord does not apply it to the Roman Centurion or the Canaanite woman in his earthly ministry. As the Son of David, as the coming King in the line of David, the Lord says he was "sent to none but to the lost sheep of the House of Israel."  

Paul is addressing the gift of justification in Galatians. Now, what is also there is the grafting in of Gentiles. Were Gentiles grafted into "justification?" No. As we have seen, Gentiles since the beginning have believed. The gift of justification has always been available to Gentiles. Jonah did not preach the Law to Nineveh (as the Law was never given to Gentiles), but he did offer them forgiveness  by faith.

Paul, in very plain terms, tells us the grafting in (which started with Cornelius in Acts 10, who was already a believer) was for the expressed purpose of making a very real Israel "jealous" (Romans 10:19; 11:11). God was not trying to make some nation that ended at Pentecost jealous. He certainly was not trying to make some "Israel Church" jealous. As we also see in Romans 11, the Lord warns Gentile believers (still making a distinction) not to become "arrogant" against the root (Israel) lest they (Gentile believers) be "cut off." Cut off from what? A free gift of justification? No, cut off from the kingdom blessings of Israel.

For I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if somehow I may make my kinsmen [Jews] jealous and may save some of them. For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? If the first portion of the dough is holy, the batch is also holy. And if the root is holy, so are the branches. But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them and became a partaker with them of the root and richness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. If you boast, remember you do not sustain the root, but the root sustains you. You will say then, “The branches were broken off, so that I might be grafted in.” This is correct. They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God—severity toward those who fell, but goodness toward you, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise, you [Gentile believers] also will be cut off. 

-Romans 11:13-22

We have to see the context of God's dealings. With Adam, for example, the Lord was not dealing the promise of land or a Kingdom. The Lord was not telling Noah that he would be given a land from the Euphrates to the Nile. Noah was not told of a throne or a temple. And for those who had that hope, they still "looked for a city whose builder and maker is God," (Heb 11:10) that is, "the New Jerusalem which comes down from heaven"(Rev 21:2) to the earth. 

Now let us look back to where we started in Galatians 3:27.

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Could this company of believers have been baptized into the same body as the believers who entered by faith into Paul's revelation in Ephesians 3? No.  The identification (baptism) of the believers in Galatia in that age would be part of the a body known and revealed as Paul witnessed in Acts 26:22. Paul testified there that he taught nothing that was not known by Moses and the Prophets.

For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one spirit.

-1 Cor 12:13

The aforementioned Romans 15 quotes from the Law, the Psalms, and the Prophet Isaiah. Paul was explaining there a mystery, but a mystery that has been revealed, jut not understood. Paul explains:

Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs, and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy... 

-Romans 15:8-9a

Note the distinction in that age. The promises were made to Israel's fathers (not to Gentiles). Paul had affirmed in Romans 9 that the promises and covenants pertain to Israel (not some Israel-Gentile-Church). There was very much an Israel still in God's plan at the time of the writing of Romans.

They are Israelites, and to them belong the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ. God who is over all be blessed for ever. Amen. 

-Romans 9:4-5

Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed and through the prophetic writings is made known to all nations [Gentiles], according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God be glory for evermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

-Romans 16:25-27 (the end of the book)

God was still calling out to a real Israel (see our study on Acts 3 in The Gentile Twelve Tribe Heresy). Gid was working his earthly plan. That is the reasoning for the grafting of Gentiles into the blessings of Israel. That is the reason Gentile believers were put under the Law in regard to the "necessary things" quoted from Leviticus in Acts 15 and Acts 21. 

In Galatians we are under the earthly plan and the plan for Israel. Entrance into the Kingdom blessings for any Israelite (Jew) of any age was faithfulness. This is clearly expressed in the parables. But we note again that even the unfaithful are called "sons of the kingdom," "children," "masters," and "servants" by the Lord while even faithful Gentiles are called "little dogs" until the grafting in.

With this context in mind, our passage becomes clearer. In Christ, in justification, there is no Law to impose differences between Jew or Greek, Master or Servant, Man or Woman. Justification does not vary. And in the Acts age, with Gentiles being grafted in, while the difference was still recognized under the Law in terms of order, there was not difference in justification or blessing. In the gospel age and prior, a Gentile might have life by faith, but he had no access to promises of the Kingdom.

As we have seen in many other studies, the final revelation to Paul revealed in Ephesians and in the Post Acts epistles eliminates any differences, temporarily sets Israel aside, and the hope is no longer a restored kingdom in Israel, but a hope in the far above the heavens. The entire setting changes.

Let us go back and finish the exchange in John 8. The Lord had affirmed that the unbelieving Jews he was addressing were in the children of Abraham, (I know that you are Abraham’s seed.), but the condition of faith and faithfulness was still part of the covenant God has with that earthly people.

They answered Him, “Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. You are doing the works of your father.” 

-John 8:39-41

This speaks to the "two seeds" principle which goes back to the very beginning of the ages ("I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed" Gen 3:15). We see the two seeds in the parables. Abel was of God, Cain was "of the wicked one" (1 John 3:12). This distinction does not change by one's race. The wicked ones of Israel who rejected the Lord and questioned even the story of his birth were nevertheless "Abraham's seed" in the flesh and could still obtain the promises if they would come to the Lord by faith in that age. This could never be said of a Gentile before the grafting in.

Do you see the distinction? The Gentiles referenced in Galatians were indeed children of Abraham by faith, but that was only possible because of the grafting in. The purpose of which was to make Israel jealous (and it made believing Jews jealous as well). As we have seen, there is no distinction in justification between Jew and Gentile (and there never was), but in the Acts Age Paul was explaining that because of the grafting in of Gentiles into Israel which started in Acts 10, there was now no distinction in the kingdom blessings.

But that condition did not apply in the gospel age (age of  the Law) and it does not apply in the current age of  the revelation of Paul in Ephesians which concerns, not earthly blessings, but blessing in the far above the heavens.

======================

The Apostles made clear distinctions between Jewish and Gentile believers in practice (notably in Acts 15 and 21) and among believing Jews and unbelieving Jews (would we preach Peter's message in Acts 3 today?) in their ministries, but never in terms of Resurrection Life which, from Adam, has always been a gift by grace through faith.

 
The middle wall between Jew and Greek (Gentile) did not come down until after the Book of Acts and that truth was revealed to Paul alone. Paul witnessed that he was in chains for the hope of Israel (very much at the center of God's plan) as late as Acts 28 and the stated that was imprisoned for Gentiles post-Acts in Ephesians

Paul testified that he taught nothing that was not taught by Moses and the Prophets in Acts 26. While the blessings in the land and the Kingdom were made known to the sons of men, the revelation of the "one new man" of Ephesians was kept hidden from before the ages; unknown to the Prophets. The apostles anticipated the Kingdom in a restored Israel in the Acts (as the risen Lord taught the Apostles to the circumcision in Acts 1 who will sit on 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes in a restored Israel one day). Paul taught blessings in the far above the heavens, unsearchable riches, as the hope for in the current age.

Not essential for fellowship, but rightly dividing these distinctions will bring the different hopes and plans of God into clearer view (as best we can in these failing bodies and minds). Rightly dividing the hopes must be applied when reading the lack of distinctions laid out in Galatians. 

The Theological Rot Caused by Heaven/Hell and Saved/Lost Thinking

But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ shall be in danger of the Sanhedrin. But whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

-Matthew 5:22

When one fails to recognize that God had plans for different spheres of blessings and tries to interpret every passage through the prism of either being "saved or lost" or as speaking of "heaven or hell," he misses almost all the Bible is seeking to teach. This is because the vast majority of scripture is dealing with God's plans for the restoration of Paradise, the restoration of the earth (and related heavens), and the restoration of the Davidic throne and the Kingdom in Israel.

The Lord came to the people of Israel alone to announce that gospel of the Kingdom.  

Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their [Israel's] synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people [Jews].

-Matthew 9:35

These twelve Jesus sent out, and commanded them, saying, “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

-Matthew 10:5-8


But He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

-Matthew 15:24

This calling to Israel alone continued into the Acts Age after the risen Lord taught the enlightened Apostles (who are promised to one day sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel, Matt 19:28; Luke 22:29-30) about the restoration of the Kingdom in Israel (Acts 1:3-8). Even after the Lord grafted in Gentiles to the blessings of Israel in Acts 10 (not unto Life, as that was always available to Gentiles by faith) for the sake of making Israel (still around in the Acts age) jealous (Rom 10:19; Rom 11:11-14). We have covered that elsewhere yet refer to it here to help with context.

As the Lord gives his well-known and oft-quoted "Sermon on the Mount" (Matthew chapters 5-7), he makes a statement regarding "hell." Although the verse may be quoted often, I don't see too many preachers applying it as stated. It seems to contradict the gospel of the free grace of God. Well, it certainly does if one rips it from its context, applies the Greek mythical understanding of the afterlife to it, and ignores the plan for the earth as laid out in the prophecy of Isaiah. 

We have covered the interpretation of Matthew 5:22 previously and point the reader HERE if he is interested in that study. Today, we want to look at how some of the luminaries of evangelical history missed this passage because of their insistence on seeing every verse as dealing with personal redemption and as an instruction for attaining heaven.

The Jewish teachers had taught, that nothing except actual murder was forbidden by the sixth commandment. Thus they explained away its spiritual meaning. Christ showed the full meaning of this commandment; according to which we must be judged hereafter, and therefore ought to be ruled now... We ought carefully to preserve Christian love and peace with all our brethren; and if at any time there is a quarrel, we should confess our fault, humble ourselves to our brother, making or offering satisfaction for wrong done in word or deed: and we should do this quickly; because, till this is done, we are unfit for communion with God in holy ordinances. And when we are preparing for any religious exercises, it is good for us to make that an occasion of serious reflection and self-examination. What is here said is very applicable to our being reconciled to God through Christ. While we are alive, we are in the way to his judgement-seat; after death, it will be too late. When we consider the importance of the case, and the uncertainty of life, how needful it is to seek peace with God, without delay!

-Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible

I hate to use this word, but this explanation is utter nonsense in light of the context of the passage. How can one recognize that the Lord is referencing statements made to "our brethren" in a "Christian" context and then not even address the reference to "hell fire?" Let alone Henry's complete omission of the reference to the Sanhedrin. If the one "sin" leads to a reckoning before some sort of supposed Christian Sanhedrin here, why would the other be some post-death judgment? And again we ask why he fails to explain the use of "hell"? 

How is the reader looking for the true meaning of these warnings supposed to understand Henry here? The result of the sin of being in a quarrel with a brother is being unfit for communion and then facing that sin at the Judgment Seat? This gives no explanation of the warning of "hell fire." It opens up the reader to the false doctrines of sacramentalists and other works-oriented salvation systems. 

The reference to supposed "Christian ordinances" like "communion" is dragged out of the next verse in the passage and assumed to be the equivalent of the "altar." The following is the New American Bible (Revised) translation which transliterates the Greek words "Sanhedrin" and "Gehenna" in the English. 

 

You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 

 

Matthew Henry isolates these warnings and tried to drag them into a "church" of his own making. To do so he has to ignore the context of the Lord's earthly ministry and all the earthly promises to Israel and to the David. This does violence to the text. 

If he wanted to try and find some application for us today, perhaps he could do that. But to interpret the passage as for today while ignoring the obvious reference to the Valley of Hinnom in Israel's history and in her prophets is unforgivable and has led many astray. Such thinking may lead to a denial of the finished work of Christ.

In his opening commentary on the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, Henry immediately drags in a Gentile church unknown to the context and nowhere in sight in the Lord's earthly ministry. This confusion, denying the Lord's own words in the book, has caused not only a simple confusion among God's people today, but a confusion that brings into doubt the victory won in the Lord's resurrection.

 

Our Savior here gives eight characters of blessed people, which represent to us the principal graces of a Christian.

-Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible

Matthew Henry mirrors much of Calvinistic thought on the passage. I shouldn't be so hard on him. At least he tried to address it. Many commentaries basically skip over it. Now let us turn to John Wesley and Arminian thought to illustrate that this error is not unique to Matthew Henry or to Calvinism.

Hell fire — In the valley of Hinnom (whence the word in the original is taken) the children were used to be burnt alive to Moloch. It was afterward made a receptacle for the filth of the city, where continual fires were kept to consume it. And it is probable, if any criminals were burnt alive, it was in this accursed and horrible place. Therefore both as to its former and latter state, it was a fit emblem of hell. It must here signify a degree of future punishment, as much more dreadful than those incurred in the two former cases, as burning alive is more dreadful than either strangling or stoning. [emphasis mine]

-John Wesley's Explanatory Notes on the Bible

Wesley makes no attempt to explain the warning in regard to Gehenna fire. He imposes on the text a metaphor for the common understanding of the Greek mythical "hell" yet without cause. He assumes a fiery place where bodiless "souls" are tortured by God. But worse than that, he assumes (since the passage is a warning to "brothers") that this warning is relevant to those in Christ in this age.  

This is where the Reformation went off the rails very early on. William Tyndale recognized the error in believing in bodiless souls (either in man's heaven or in his hell). It was and is a diminishing of the resurrection (Christ's and ours). This idea of bodiless souls inflicted on Christ's ministry to Israel in the context of the covenants and promises to her (Romans 9) has done great harm to believers over the centuries. So much so that we have become dependent on a priest-class to explain these seemingly contradictory ideas to us. 2 Tim 2:15 is dead. 

Study to show yourself approved by God, a workman who need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

-2 Timothy 2:15

I would also note here that in the next two verses in the passages concerning taking a gift to the altar, Wesley is silent. The reader (if he has surrendered his study to the commentator) is left with no context for taking a gift to the altar. But perhaps that's better than those who have tried to equate it with the Lord's Supper or some other supposed "Christian" ordinance. In any case, the Body or the current calling has no ordinances. The ordinances of Israel stood between the Jew and Gentile both under the Law and after the grafting in the Acts age and Acts age epistles.

For He is our peace, who has made both groups [Jews and Gentiles] one and has broken down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of the commandments contained in ordinances, that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile both to God into one body through the cross, thereby slaying the enmity.

-Ephesians 2:14-16 (written Post Acts)

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has resurrected together with Him, having forgiven you all sins. He blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us and contrary to us, and He took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross.

-Colossians 2:13-14

Finally, I turn to A.C. Gaebelein, a traditional, Acts 2 dispensationalist. While he gets closer to the correct interpretation, in my opinion, he still tries to apply today (although without doing as much violence to the current calling or to the gospel of grace.

“Whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca (a word embodying hatred and contempt) shall be called before the Sanhedrin; but whosoever shall say, Fool, shall be subject to the penalty of the hell fire.” It will be so, no doubt, when the kingdom will be come into the earth; swift judgment will overtake the offender. But the words lay bare the heart and show the impossibility of man to stand before God, who judges the heart, in their own righteousness. The believer being the partaker of the divine nature, is righteous and loves his brother. Only the reception of eternal life, which is Christ Himself, can produce righteousness and love. “Whosoever has been begotten of God does not practice sin, because His seed abides in him and he cannot sin, because he has been begotten of God. In this are manifest the children of God and the children of the devil. Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, and he who does not love his brother” (1 John 3:9-11). The believer walking in the Spirit will in no way fulfill flesh’s lust. [emphasis mine]

- Gaebelein's Annotated Bible 

 

Here Gaebelein rightly points us to the conditions in the future earthly kingdom in Israel. But he fails to sufficiently distinguish it from the gospel of grace. As we have seen repeatedly, Believers are capable of all sorts of wickedness, sins damnable under the Law. 

We must be very clear to distinguish between interpretation and any possible application to our lives today. All scripture is profitable, but in many cases the profitability is seeing the nature, omnipotence, omniscience, and workings of God, not in trying to fit ourselves into a passage. 

Are People Dropping Dead in Your "Acts" Church?

In short, the Covenants are for Israel (Ex 19, Jer 31, Rom 9, the New Covenant yet still future and the Old still passing away in that age, Heb 8:13) and the plan for the kingdom and the land were what the Apostles were anticipating (and promising) if Israel repented (Acts 1 , Acts 3). Try preaching that today. 

Gentile believers in the Acts Age (after being grafted into the blessings of Israel to make unbelieving Israel jealous, Rom 10, Rom 11) were put under the Levitical law for Gentiles living among Israel (Lev 17, Acts 15, Acts 21). Under the Law, a Gentile could live peaceably among Israel, but could not participate in the Feasts unless a proselyte (circumcised). So, the Law has instructions for Israel and for Gentiles living among Israel. It is no guide for today in that way.

In the Acts Age, believing Jews were still circumcising their boys and Paul was obeying the Law (Acts 21). So, the quick death of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5) is in keeping with that economy and not our current economy. We do not see people dropping dead from lying to the Holy Spirit or holding back pledged money to a "church."

In that Age, Paul was still keeping part of the non-sacrificial Law and he was accused of not following the Law.

“You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law; but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. 

-Acts 21:20-21  

But Paul certainly was keeping the Law. He was upset that anyone thought differently. The accusations were "nothing" (false), he pleads. And he was clear to tell Gentiles that they did not have to keep the Law, just the "necessary things" gleaned from Leviticus as noted.

Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law. But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.”

 -Acts 21:24-25

One law shall be for the native-born and for the stranger who dwells among you. 

-Ex 12:49

When they asked him to stay a longer time with them, he did not consent, but took leave of them, saying, “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing.” And he sailed from Ephesus. 

-Acts 18

But neither the twelve nor Paul required Gentile believers to keep any feasts. just the "necessary things" in Acts 15 and 21 gleaned from the Law for Gentiles. The Lord's Supper was the Passover (the Lord said so) and those who took it unworthily got sick or died. Is that happening today? I don't think so. And in the Law, Gentiles could not partake unless circumcised (Ex 12:48). 

As we see in the Book of Hebrews, the Law (apart from the sacrificial Law) and the Old Covenant were still recognized by the churches of the Acts age (Heb 8, Heb 10). When Paul is given his revelation (unknown to the sons of men before that, Eph 3), the middle wall between Jew and Gentile came down and the law seen in the ordinances which separated Jew from Gentile was done away (Eph 2).  

When we understand these conditions, the swift punishment of Acts 5 (even before the grafting in of Gentiles into Israel's blessings), with the hope of the restored kingdom in view (Acts 1), and the future rulers ready to take their places on the twelve thrones (Matt 19), while facing a cleansing and winnowing coming for Israel, and the reward of the New Jerusalem and the implementation of the New Covenant (prophets and Rev)... we can see Ananias and Sapphira suffering under those conditions (conditions we do not see today). 

Looking at Acts 5:3, the Geneva Bible makes a rather stunning argument:

 For when they had appointed that farm or possession for the Church, they were foolish to keep away a part of the price, as though they were dealing with men, and not with God, and therefore he says afterwards that they tempted God.

I don't see a lot of people dropping dead these days for not honoring promises to the "Church." When we understand that not everything called a "church" is the same gathering, we can start to see God's different dealings with different called-out groups for different purposes.

Pentecost was anticipating the Millennium and the conditions of that age to come, but it was not the start of that age. And the plan in sight was the earthly plan for the nation of Israel in the land of promise under the restored Kingdom (Acts 1, Rom 9, etc.).

`He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within My house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in My sight. I will early (morning by morning or every day) destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD'. 

-Psalm 101:7-8

The Lord warned at His return in Luke 21 that after Israel's time of testing and cleansing, the wicked will we dealt with swiftly. But Israel mist go through that winnowing period before a Virgin Israel (New Covenant, Jeremiah 31) can realize the fullness of God's plan.

“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 

-Luke 21:26-27 

There will be direct judgment for sin each day in the Millennium so that God's kingdom standards can be maintained. In this age of grace such judgment is suspended. If this were not so, the undertakers would have a real problem. The death judgment of Ananias and Sapphira is not the only judgment in the Acts. Later on is recorded the judgment of blindness that fell upon Elymas [Acts 13 by Paul].

-Stuart Allen on the Acts Age and Afterwards (excerpt)

For he who eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and unhealthy among you, and many die.

-1 Corinthians 11:29-30

So, some in the Acts age dropped dead for taking the Lord's supper "unworthily" and some dropped dead for lying to the Holy Spirit and holding back. All believers in that age either obeyed the non-sacrificial Law (Jews) or the Law for Gentiles living among Israel (the "necessary things"). None of those conditions exist in this current present age. No one is dropping dead (or getting sick) for taking the Lord's Supper unworthily, and no one is dropping dead for not keeping a pledge to the church. 

Satan, Devils, and the Revelation of Such in Scripture (Person or Office?)

Several years ago we addressed Dr. Michael Heiser's rejection of the Gap in Genesis 1. We noted than as we do now that we have great respect for the late Doctor's work and can recommend him in many ways. However, as with all teachers, we must compare his teachings against the Word of Truth rightly divided for ourselves (2 Tim 2:15).

In his talk on "ha Satan" (Hebrew), Dr. Heiser argues that "the Satan" (English) is an office and title more than a name. Something surely worth considering. He applies this position to the Book of Job and states that God sent "the Satan" to observe Job because that was his job (no pun intended).

"The Satan" was questioning God's assessment of Job and this was a great sin. He had become the "Adversary." No creature has a right to question the Creator (let alone his character). So, the Lord gives "the Satan" the authority to do anything to Job short of taking his life.

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Adversary also came among them. And the Lord said to the Adversary, “From where have you come?” Then the Adversary answered the Lord, saying, “From roaming on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” And the Lord said to the Adversary, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and an upright man, who fears God, and avoids evil?” Then the Adversary answered the Lord, saying, “Has Job feared God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out Your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse You to Your face.” The Lord said to the Adversary, “Look, all that he has is in your power; only do not stretch out your hand against his person.” So the Adversary departed from the presence of the Lord.

-Job 1:6-12

The use of "ha Satan" in the Hebrew is interesting. But if it was an office, wouldn't that office still exist? Maybe he taught that it does. Again, I'm just starting to examine his position

In another video Dr Heiser says that nowhere in the Old Testament does it connect Satan and the serpent of Genesis. He says that it's only in the New Testament. We note here, and assume Heiser would have agreed, that the Greek texts are just as inspired as the Hebrew texts.

In making his argument he seems to be arguing the Greek texts are somehow less inspired than the Hebrew texts? The Lord revealed things in his earthly ministry and revelation was given to the Apostles (especially to John and Paul) that was not fully known to or understood by to the Hebrew writers. John's vision was accurate and his account inspired. There are truths we understand about which Adam would have no concept.

Paul teaches that the fullness of Christ, while in the Law and prophets, was not fully understood. This is the Mystery of Christ Paul refers to in Romans. This is why even the Lord's chosen Apostles were confused when he said he was to go to Jerusalem to die (Matt 16:21, Luke 18:31-34) . Peter objects, the Lord calls him "Satan" (an adversary). Judas is called a "devil."  The Lord suffering and dying is in the Hebrew texts (notably in Isaiah and in the Psalms), but just not fully understood.

Beyond that, Paul was given a revelation referenced in Ephesians that was not know to the sons of men before it was revealed to him. The blessings in the far above the heavens (as opposed to any earthly blessings or hope) was hidden from the prophets from "before" the overthrow and the start of the ages. Peter speaks of the restoration of the Kingdom and the earth in Acts three as a revelation "since" the ages began.

No Hebrew writer was aware of Paul's revelation.

To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the incomprehensible riches of Christ, 9 and to reveal for all people what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God, who created all things through Jesus Christ, 10 so that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places 

-Eph 3:8-10

 

I have been made a servant of it according to the commission of God, which has been given to me for you, to fulfill [complete] the word of God, 26 even the mystery which has been hidden from past ages and generations, but now is revealed to His saints. 27 To them God would make known what is the glorious riches of this mystery among the nations. It is Christ in you, the hope of glory, 

-Col 1:25-27


Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the ages, to be holy and blameless before Him in love 

-Eph 1:3-4

vs

Therefore repent and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send the One who previously was preached to you, Jesus Christ, 21 whom the heavens must receive until the time of restoring what God spoke through all His holy prophets since the world [ages] began. 22 For Moses indeed said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall hear whatever He may say to you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that prophet shall be utterly eliminated from the people.’ 24 “Indeed, all the prophets since Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold these days. 

-Acts 3:19-24


The beast, which you saw, was, and is not, and is to ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to destruction. Those who dwell on the earth whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world [ages] will marvel when they see the beast that was, and is not, and is to come. 

-Rev 17:8

The distinction is God's plan for the earth and the restoration of the Kingdom in Israel, on earth (Acts 1:1-7, Matthew 8:11-12; Luke 22:29-30; Acts 3, etc.), and the restoration of Paradise (Rev 2:7; Rev 22:2; Rev 22:14) which was all known/revealed since the ages began through the prophets against the hope in the far above the heavens, that God has determined before the ages, which was hidden from the prophets and revealed only to Paul.

Again, Peter is called "Satan" (Matt 16:23) and Judas "a devil" (John 6:70). I believe both have life in Christ, but that's another matter for another time. For this discussion, I think (for now) "Satan" and "devil" are both descriptors and titles.

Lastly, Heiser needs to address (maybe he does in a video I haven't seen yet) the inclusion or exclusion of a Definite Article in the Greek. I don't know that "the" is in the Greek with every use of Satan as it is Hebrew. But when it comes over English, "the devil" is used many times and is specific to an adversary, not just to an office-holder. The seeking continues. 

The Use of the Word "Christian," The Creeds, and Anti-Semitism

And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
-Acts 11:26

 

And Agrippa unto Paul, With but little persuasion thou wouldest fain make me a Christian.

-Acts 26:28


But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear that name.

-1 Peter 4:16

These 3 instances are the only use of the word "Christian" (Greek: Christianós) in scripture. 

I generally use "believers" when possible. It is only used 6 times (by my count), but it is used by Paul as late as 1 Timothy 4:12. "Brethren" ("Brothers") is also good. It is used extensively in many different contexts (of Jew in the first part of Acts) including those in Christ. 

The word "church" is also problematic as it is rendered in the Greek can be used of any company. Scripture uses it of a mob in Acts 19:32 and of Israel as in Acts 7:38. I do use "Christians" and "Church" (with caveats) when speaking as most people are familiar with the terms. I then try to work in a clarification. 

I mostly use "Christendom" to mean anything that is supposed to be representative of followers of Christ while very few are true believers (IMO). The vast majority of what calls itself Christian denies the gospel of the free grace of God. Not only do they deny it, they condemn it.

Personally, I say that I follow Paul as Paul follows Christ.

Be [Become] ye followers [imitators] of me [Paul], even as I also am of Christ. -

1 Cor 11:1


Therefore I urge you to imitate me [Paul]. 

-1 Cor 4:16

Part of the poisoning of what we define as "Christian" or the "church," etc. comes from what men call the "Early Church Fathers" (ECF). While we should be following Paul, just as all in Asia had abandoned Paul by the end of his ministry (2 Tim 1:15), the early creatures that represented Christendom abandoned Paul's Post-Acts ministry and claimed authority they never had. Worse than that, literally billions of professed believers today assign these men an authority they never had.

The self-described Red-Letter Christians have abandoned Paul's revelation from the Spirit as revealed in Ephesians and the other Post-Acts epistles and have sought to claim the Lord's earthly ministry to Israel for themselves. They do not know who are the "brothers" for this age. Some even carry a visceral hatred for Paul. These who claim to put love above all, who preach ecumenism, have no place for the Bible-Alone believer and readily steal from Israel's earthly promises and claim them as their own.

We've covered this topic previously, but just for the sake of this short study, I will note a few things. 

Many of these grace-denying (thus Christ-denying) faith systems openly acknowledge that many of their teachings trace back to the so-called "Fathers." These men become "authorities" and are placed above Paul in so many ways. 

The ECF have poisoned more of the faith than almost anything else. And the poisoning is not limited to the sacramentalist groups. Even among the Reformed there is a puzzling reverence for the ECF. RC Sproul has called Aquinas (I know he's not from the earlier centuries, but he's still revered among Reformed theologians for some reason), "one of the greatest Christian minds." Aquinas taught the Christ denying doctrine of Purgatory is the place where the fires of "hell" lick out and torture believers to make them pure, etc. How he could reverence such a man is troubling. 

Those who listen to my podcast this season will know that I declare in the opening, "We believe in the Bible alone here, and we believe in Christ alone here, and we don't compromise on that no matter what some 'Early Church Father' said!" 

Sin and error were rampant among believers in the first century. "The enemies of the cross of Christ" (Phil 3:18) were believers. The ones jealous of Paul who sought to make his chains harsher (Phil 1:15-16) were believers. The ones involved in sexual sins and other sins in 1 Corinthians were believers.

It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles... I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 

-1 Corinthians 5:1,9-11

Being among the few literate and mostly from the rich upper class does not make writers of the second or third centuries any more authoritative than I am. In fact, it probably means they were still influenced by the errors of the Asian church that had abandoned Paul. I think it's important to note again that Paul makes his revelation about the apostasy of the believers in Asia in his final epistle. What claimed to be authoritative after Paul should, therefore, be treated as the mere opinions of men.  

While we're there, the Creed's opening lines are in error. So many of today's churches (of all stripes) claim these creeds. They don't seem to be protecting the true faith from error. If Paul's revelation hasn't prevented the vast majority of Christendom from denying Christ, creeds that open with an error are hardly to be expected to accomplish that end.

Men:

I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible. 

-Nicene Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth. 

-Apostle's Creed

Scripture:

[The Son] Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 

-Col 1:15-17

Anti-Semitism was a foundational canker in the RCC, EOC, and in many of the Reformed traditions. Even today, the Catechism of the Catholic Church lists Islam as the "first" among the Abrahamic faiths (having spent centuries putting Jews in ghettos and making them wear yellow markers on their clothes as they were condemned to "eternal slavery" by Paul IV and his successors).

"The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day." 

-Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994)

Luther was initially called to repent by the Pope after his debate with Eck in which he disagreed with the "Church Fathers" as upon whom the "church" is founded. They argued it was upon Peter and the Papacy, Luther stated it is upon Christ alone. 

"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."  

-1 Cor 3:11

We must acknowledge firstly that all called companies today are founded on the perfect sacrificial work of the Lord Jesus Christ alone. But if we are to be faithful to the calling to which we have been called in this age, we must follow Paul and his revelation foe the current age revealed Post-Acts to Paul alone in the Book of Ephesians, as he follows Christ. 

The believers of the Acts age were to follow Paul's teaching to that company in that age and we must follow Paul's teaching to our company in our age.

God is Free to Change His Focus and His Plan

God is free to change his focus and his commands according to his purposes. Scripture is a catalog of God giving different commands and making different promises to different people at different times for different purposes with different hopes. That's why the commended workman is the one who "rightly divides [cuts straight] the Word of Truth." (2 Tim 2:15) and "compares the things that differ" (Phil 1:10).

You shall observe this rite as a statute for you and for your sons forever.
-Exodus 12:24


Rather, the Lord, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm, Him you shall fear, to Him you shall bow down, and to Him you shall sacrifice. 37 The statutes, the ordinances, the law, and the commandment, which He wrote for you, you shall observe to do forever. And you shall not fear other gods.
-2 Kings 17:36-37

"Forever" in scripture is understood as long as God has ordained it for a certain person/people for a certain purpose. We certainly are not observing these things today (nor should we). W have covered this in a PREVIOUS ENTRY.


While all scripture is FOR us, very little is TO us. I could spend all day on social media addressing random verses dragged from their contexts and applied to believers today despite the glaring problems.

Just yesterday I saw this one:

(Psalm 118:11)

How did that work out for Paul? And I would like to point the guy who is "claiming" this verse for believers today to Foxe's Book of Martyrs. I wonder why Tyndall didn't claim that promise as he was being strangled and burned at the stake. I guess he just didn't have enough faith? Nonsense and insulting.

Romans 8:28 is in a chapter about being lambs led to slaughter (Rom 8:36). The context is the future resurrection (Rom 8:29, etc.). I hope to cover this topic on this blog in the near future, but my conversational podcast episode can be viewed below.

Romans 8:28 is daily ripped from its context, by believers, to promise (or at least imply to) all believers that everything is going to be awesome in this life... eventually. The guy who wrote Romans 8:28 [Paul] was whipped, beaten, stoned, falsely accused, shackled, put in prison, and executed.

Paul wasn't "claiming" Romans 8:28 for this life and neither was Jeremiah 29:11 his "life verse." The latter being grossly abused regularly.

All the audio versions of the podcast are available at Spotify and Spreaker. A playlist is available at the bottom of the main page of this blog. Search: Brooklyn's Dad Talks About EVERYTHING

Helpful Links for Those Interested in Right Division

 On the main page of this blog there is a Helpful Links list. If you are interested in more studies which seek to "rightly divide the Word of Truth" (2 Timothy 2:15), I highly recommend the following to help you start your own journey of enlightenment:

• Bible Understanding
• The Chapel of the Opened Book
• How to Enjoy the Bible (pdf)
• Truth for Today Ministries
• Carolina Bible Group
• Acts 28
• Formerly Mid Acts - NOW ACTS 28
• Fundamentals of Dispensationalism
• Levend Water (Dutch w/English)
• Open Bible Trust (UK)
• Seed and Bread
• Heaven Dwellers

Online Searchable Bibles

• Study Light (Bible with Study Aids, Greek, Hebrew)
• Bible Gateway (Searchable Bible, multiple translations)

For more casual studies in a conversational style, please visit one of my video channels:

• YouTube
• Rumble
• BitChute

The Current Age Hope is Better than the Better Hope of Hebrews

Others were tortured and did not accept deliverance, so that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trials of mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered around in sheepskins and goatskins, while destitute, afflicted, and tormented. The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. These all have obtained a good report through faith, but they did not receive the promise. For God provided something better for us, so that with us they would be made perfect.

-Hebrews 11:35-40

The history of faith is the history of suffering for the truth. From the very beginning of the current ages, believers suffered for their faithfulness. 

Therefore I send you prophets, and wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute them from city to city, that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Truly I say to you, all these things will come on this generation.

-Matthew 23:34-36



By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain offered. Through this he was approved as righteous, with God testifying concerning his gifts. He still speaks through his faith, though he is dead.

-Hebrews 11:4

From Abel to the current age, the faithful have suffered everything from ridicule to death. Paul writes to Hebrew believers in the Acts Age (those awaiting the return of the King to take his place on the throne of his father David, Luke 1:32, and the restoration of  the Kingdom in Israel, Acts 1:6) encouraging them in their suffering. These were also anticipating the dark days ahead for Israel in the time of Jacob's Trouble (Jeremiah 30:7) before the realization of the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31). 

The Lord inspired the Apostle to laud the faith of those who suffered for their faith. And he points to a future reward in the form of a "better resurrection" and citizenship in the heavenly city (which comes down to earth in an age to come, Heb 11:16, 12:22; Rev 21:9-14).

We stand with the Apostle (and the inspired text) in our admiration of those who have gone before us in faith. We rejoice in their future reward. We stand in awe of their willingness to suffer despite the surety of the great suffering and death that awaited them. 

But for those of us who have stepped into the blessings of Paul's revelation of the Mystery of Ephesians 3:3, we are in even greater awe and our praises rise even higher for the blessings that have been reserved for the current age. These are blessings that God had hidden in himself, hidden from the beginning of the ages (creation, Gen 1:2).

To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ

-Ephesians 3:8-9

 

The blessings of God in the ages to come all originate with the Lord. They all originate in the grace of God. They all originate in the kindness and love God has for those who take his name. But biblical blessings beyond the free gift of Life through His name (John 20:30-31) are the reward of faithfulness.

We are privileged in the current age. Our riches are not only "unsearchable" they are unfathomable. We are given four dimensions. That is, that which is beyond our experience. In contrast, the blessings of the New Jerusalem is given in three dimensions, the promised land in two.

He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

-Ephesians 3:16-19

The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.

-Rev 21:16

Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.

-Genesis 13:17

We note, too, that the land and the New Jerusalem are blessings connected to the earth. These are also physical blessings. The blessings of Ephesians are spiritual and reserved in the far above the heavens.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

-Ephesians 1:3

Noting as we do the context and audience of this book and passage, we stress that Paul is writing to believers. He is writing to those who already have come to faith in Christ, those who already had the promise of Life through His Name. It is to these that encourages to submit to the truth of Paul's revelation of this age which is beyond the scope of other blessings. The blessings of this age must be stepped into by faith.

the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you [believer] the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your [believer] understanding being enlightened; that you [believer] may know what is the hope of His calling

-Ephesians 1:17-18

Paul is praying that God may enlighten those believers called to the blessings in the heavenly places.

We end by turning again to the Post Acts epistle of Colossians, chapter 1, verses 24-28. The truth and blessings and riches of the current age can be known by faith. 

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: 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; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 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: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus...

In the current dispensation of the Mystery Body, God is calling men into the unsearchable riches of Christ. We have no ordinances. We have no earthly hope. We look to no temple (for we are the temple). We must start with an understanding of this Mystery if we are to understand the present age and if we are correctly handle God's word (a task for which we will answer before him one day soon).

As with all blessings beyond the initial act of faith in God's offer of reconciliation, we must step into rewards, crowns, and specific blessings by faith. In this age, stepping into the faith in Paul's revelation will almost certainly result in rejection by the faith systems within Christendom. We must first step into the blessings in the far above the heavens by faith, and then be prepared to stand with Paul as we are abandoned by fellow believers (as he was, 2 Tim 1:15).

We all need to look beyond tradition and dwell upon the wonderful truths revealed to the Apostle Paul in the Book of Ephesians and in the Post Acts epistles. 

Related Studies:

• Understanding the Bible Basics
• Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth (2 Tim 2:15)
• Comparing Things That Differ in Scripture (Phil 1:10)
• How Do We Live in the Present Age
• What Happens to the Lost
• Understanding the Completed Work of Christ
• Evil Fruit of Replacement Theology
• Introduction the Parables in Matthew
• Quick Look at the New Covenant
• Scriptural Mysteries

 

We Are Living in the Great Parenthesis of Ephesians 3 Until Israel is Used of God Again

In the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month Ziv (which is the second month), he began to build the house of the Lord.

-1 Kings 6:1

In First Kings, scripture reckons the start of the fourth year of Solomon's reign, when he began building the temple. So, the 480 years covers the time from the Exodus through the third year of Solomon's reign (the fourth year having just begun, but not completed). 

Some have tried to argue that this is in contradiction to what Paul states in Acts chapter 13. Now, Israel is God's timepiece from the time of Abraham to the start of the current age (Post Acts) and will soon be again. God is not done with Israel and he will fulfill all his promises to the nation in an age to come. 

So, let's look at Paul's timetable in Acts 13.

Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen. The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they lived as foreigners in the land of Egypt, and with great power He led them out of it. For about forty years He endured their conduct in the desert. When He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He gave them their land as an inheritance by lot. “After about four hundred and fifty years, God gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. Then they requested a king. And God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. When He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, of whom He testified, saying, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will fulfill My entire will.’

-Acts 13:17-22

Here we have 40 years in the desert. Then we have another 450 years of the time of the judges until Samuel. Then 40 years of Saul, 40 years of David, add the three years into Solomon's reign to start building the temple. This gives us 573 years from the exodus from Egypt to Solomon and the temple as noted in 1 Kings 6.

How do we explain the seeming 93 year discrepancy? 

We first have to turn to the prophet Hosea.

Then the Lord said: “Call his name Lo-Ammi, for you are not My people, and I am not your God.”

-Hosea 1:9

During Israel's history, there are periods during which God pictures them as "not My people." Of course, Paul reckons all the time from the Exodus to Solomon as Israel's history. We see that while God may put up a parenthesis in His dealings with Israel, when it comes to the earthly plan and hope, Israel (the seed of Abraham) is still at the center of God's plan.

So where are the missing 93 years? They're in the Book of Judges during times Israel was "Lo-Ammi" or "not My people."

The children of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs. The anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He sold them into the hands of Cushan-Rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia. The children of Israel served Cushan-Rishathaim for eight years.

-Judges 3:7-8

 

Then the children of Israel once more did what was evil in the sight of the Lord... The children of Israel served King Eglon of Moab for eighteen years.

-Judges 3:12,14

 

When Ehud was dead, the children of Israel once more did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. The Lord sold them into the hands of King Jabin of Canaan, who ruled in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera. He lived in Harosheth Haggoyim. The children of Israel cried out to the Lord, for Sisera had nine hundred iron chariots and had forcefully oppressed the children of Israel for twenty years.

-Judges 4:1-4

 

The children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord gave them into the hands of Midian for seven years.

-Judges 6:1

 

Again the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord gave them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years.

-Judges 13:1

 

8 + 18 + 20 + 7 + 40 = 93 years

Note Paul's words in Acts 13,“Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen. The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they lived as foreigners in the land of Egypt..." Paul clearly still recognizes and Israel and identifies with them. He also recognizes the Gentiles among them ("and you who fear God"). These are still distinct groups. Israel was still Israel and Gentile believers in the God of Israel were still separate (unless they became proselytes). 

Paul going to the synagogue, to the Jew first, is his pattern all through the Acts and in the Acts Age epistles. Paul always went to the synagogue first in every city with Jews ("as his manner was"). Romans 9 clearly states that the promises, covenants, etc. are still for Israel, independent of any idea of new creation Gentile "church."

The Gentiles in the Acts Age were "grafted in" to specifically "make Israel jealous." And just as Gentiles could be grafted in to Israel, the could be "cut off" from Israel (Romans 11). To the end of the Book of Acts, Paul was in chains "for the hope of Israel" (acts 28:20). And he said this to "Jews" who he calls "Brothers" and identifies with them and "our fathers" (28:17).

There are some antisemites today who take the verse condemning "those who say they are Jews and are not" from the Revelation and try to place that charge on Jewish people today. They do this because of the error of believing the current "church" or Body began at Pentecost or at Acts 13. All the way until the end of the Acts (seen also in the epistles written during the Acts), Jews remain Jews, Israel remains Israel.

After the Book of Acts, Israel is temporarily set aside as we look to the heavenly hope revealed by Paul in Ephesians chapter 3. We are currently living in that parenthesis. But Israel will soon be back at the center of God's plan for the Earth.

Related:

The Non-Prison Epistles

Re-Introduction to Dispensationalism

Is Acts 2 Pattern for Today?

Who is a Jew? Part 1
Who is a Jew? Part 2

Who is a Jew? Part 3

Promises to Israel in Romans 9

Paul's Dealings with Jews and Gentiles in the Acts

Antisemitism and Bad Theology

Daniel's 70 Weeks

Paul Addressing Jewish Believers in Galatians 3

 In our previous we looked at Galatians chapter 4 through the lens of "rightly dividing the Word of Truth" (2 Tim 2:15). I alluded to chapter 3 for more context, so today we will take a quick look at that chapter. But to do so, we need to go back to Galatians chapter 2 for even more context.

We are Jews by nature, and not Gentile sinners, yet we know that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ. Even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, rather than by the works of the law. For by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

-Galatians 2:15-16

 

A we have noted in previous studies, it is important to recognize pronouns. But here the pronoun "we," while emphasizing the point, is not even needed to see the audience Paul is addressing. 

Some Jewish believers were still confused as to the role of the Law and the relationship of Gentile believers to the Law. Remember, in Acts 15 and in Acts 21 the Apostles (with the approval of the Holy Spirit) teach Gentile believers that they were to keep the "necessary things" taken from Leviticus (Acts 15:28-29; Acts 21:25). 

As for the Gentiles who believe, we have written and concluded that they should observe no such thing, except that they abstain from food offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from strangled animals, and from blood.”

-Acts 21:25

Now, do we have this problem today? We certainly do not. Does your church claim to an "Acts church?" Do you believe the "church" of this age started at Pentecost? If so, Acts 21 is well into the Book and well into Paul's ministry. In Acts 26 Paul will testify that he taught "no other thing than that which was taught by Moses and the Prophets" (Acts 26:22). In Acts 28 he will say he is in chains for "the hope of Israel." In Ephesians Paul will state that he is a prisoner "for you Gentiles." 

The Acts Age was very different from the current age. Galatians was written in the Acts Age when there was still a distinction between Jewish and Gentile believers. 

So, when we read Galatians 2, we note Paul is specifically correcting "Jews." No Gentile believed he was "justified by the woks of the Law." And if one did, this would certainly correct him. But the greater point (as we saw in our previous study on Galatians 4) is the distinction between Jewish believers and Gentile believers in light of the earthly hope of that age (which was continuation of the earthly hope of the Gospel age and the Lord's earthly ministry).

It is tempting to go through the entire chapter, verse by verse, to emphasize these points and to pull out both truth and context, but for our purpose here I will simply note that Paul refers his Jewish audience back to Abraham (who was redeemed and declared righteous 430 years before the Law). Abraham is mentioned in 67 verses in the gospels, Acts, and Acts Age epistles. He is never mentioned in the seven Post Acts epistles of Paul.

The hope of Abraham was two-fold. He was promised a land (length and width, Gen 13:17) and looked for a city whose builder and maker is God, Heb 11:10, (length, breadth, and height, Rev 21:16). Our hope is heavenly (breadth and length and depth and height, Eph 3:18). The hope of Ephesians being revealed to Paul alone after the "wall of partition" between Jew and Gentile was removed (Eph 2:13-15).

We looked at the Acts Age, Jewish believers and Gentile believers, in light of circumcision in Galatians 4 (and Acts 21) last study. We noted the distinctions in Paul's audience. As we have already seen here in part, that distinction goes back to Galatians 2 and 3. 

As Paul makes his argument that the Law cannot redeem and that those under the Law are also under the curse of the Law, he makes this curious argument:

Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

-Galatians 3:21-22

While the Law cannot annul the promise of justification given to Abraham centuries before, and while the Law only can condemn, Paul states that it is not against the promises of God. The Law is not against the promises of the Land, the Kingdom, or the New Jerusalem.  

Paul's context here is the justification by faith alone exemplified by the promise to Abraham. Jewish believers, while still practicing the non-sacramental Law (and Gentiles still practicing the "necessary things" from Leviticus for strangers living among Israel), needed to make the distinction between keeping the Law for the sake of priesthood of the Covenants and keeping the Law thinking it justifies a person. Note again the pronouns.

But before faith came, we were kept under the law [Gentiles never had the Law], shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For you [plural] are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you [singular] as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you [plural] are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you [plural] be Christ’s, then are you [plural] Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. 

-Galatians 3:23-39

 

Paul is clarifying for his fellow Jewish believers that in justification there is neither Jew nor Gentile. There isn't even male nor female! Want to claim that as a "church truth?" 

Israel will serve as a royal priesthood and a holy nation in the future when God establishes a believing Israel in the land. That is part of the earthly hope.

Thus says the Lord of Hosts: I will deliver My people from the eastern lands and from the western lands. And I will bring them, and they will reside in Jerusalem, and they will be for Me as a people, and I will be for them as God, with faithfulness and righteousness.

-Zechariah 8:7-8


Thus says the Lord of Hosts: In those days ten men from every language of the nations [Gentiles] will take hold of the garment of a Jew, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”

--Zechariah 8:23

And we know this is yet future as Israel has never acknowledged the piercing of the Lord.

And I will pour out on the house of David and over those dwelling in Jerusalem a spirit of favor and supplication so that they look to Me, whom they have pierced through. And they will mourn over him as one mourns for an only child and weep bitterly over him as a firstborn. 

-Zechariah 12:10

So Why Not Get Circumcised? It's a Bible Command! (Spoiler: You Shouldn't)

And when a stranger [Gentile] shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.

-Exodus 12:48

The idea in this verse concerns the "stranger" (Hebrew: gêr). This concerns one, not of that nation, who is traveling among Israel who desires (wills) to keep the Passover feast. If he wants to keep the Passover and wished to honor the Lord in that way, he had to be circumcised. That is, he had to become a proselyte Jew. He did not need to be circumcised to have Life from the dead. Keeping the Passover had no bearing on that. 

We briefly step back and note that "keeping" any holy day or feast does not have anything to do with the gift or resurrection life. The Law had no connection to the gift of Life. Neither Adam, nor Abel, nor Noah, nor Abraham ever kept the Passover. None was circumcised. None kept the Feasts. The Law of Moses came some 430 years after Abraham was given his promises regarding the land and his faith which declared him righteous before the Lord. Abraham was given his promised while in uncircumcision.

Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many; but, referring to one, “And to your offspring,” which is Christ. This is what I mean: the law, which came four hundred and thirty years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. For if the inheritance is by the law, it is no longer by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

-Gal 3:16-18

Now to one who works, his wages are not reckoned as a gift but as his due. And to one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness. So also David pronounces a blessing upon the man to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works:

“Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not reckon his sin.”

Is this blessing pronounced only upon the circumcised, or also upon the uncircumcised? We say that faith was reckoned to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it reckoned to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised.

-Romans 4:4-10

We note that Abraham was justified in uncircumcision, centuries before the Law. We also cannot miss the quotation in Romans from the Psalms. This connects the doctrines of Romans to the doctrines of the Hebrew scriptures. The doctrines of justification were not new, they were just made clear and made possible in Christ. Romans and Galatians rely heavily on Moses and the Prophets. Romans 15:8 teaches us that Christ was sent "to confirm the promises made to the Fathers." Those promises include the promises to Abraham and to the nation of Israel under the Old Covenant. They also include blessings for Gentiles.

We pause to marvel at God's grace and his assurance that he will keep his promise based solely on the work and perfect sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Law had no effect on God's promises to Abraham. We read later in the Greek scriptures that one's place in the New Jerusalem and one's closeness to Abraham in the Kingdom on Earth will be dependent on one's strength of faith and one's service, but the Kingdom is assured and Life is assured. Nothing can annul that. No Law and certainly no decree of man. Works have their place, but not in regard to the undoing of the curse of death. We must rightly divide the hopes and rewards as we do all of scripture (2 Tim 2:15).

We note again here that the Law and the Feasts are particular to Israel and the covenant as laid out in Exodus 19:5-7. The "stranger" who wants to be included in the blessings of the nation of priests had to be circumcised, but it was merely an option, not a requirement for anything else. These receive no threats of damnation or anything like it if they are not circumcised or do not participate in Israel's feats. 

Thus, we make a clear delineation between the doctrines of justification unto Life from the dead and the doctrines of blessings under the covenants with Israel. Never the twain shall meet. And when it comes to the blessings in the Kingdom of Priests (as the covenant states), we are firmly planted in an earthly promise spoken by Moses and the Prophets SINCE the foundation (the overthrow) of the ages (not "before" as we have with the hope revealed to Paul).

We now look back at Exodus 12:48 and note the Passover came before the formal giving of the Law. This feast given to Israel through Moses in captivity in Egypt is addressed again in the Law in the Book of Leviticus. The truths concerning circumcision and the option for "strangers" living among them is made clear. These are truths for Israel and part of her promises connected to the promised land. 

And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.

-Leviticus 12:2-4

This is quite an interesting requirement as no children of Israel were circumcised in the 40-year wandering. It was Joshua who circumcised the generation that entered the promised land. We surmise that the generation that first practiced the Passover (Ex 12) was circumcised in Egypt. Quite the picture.

And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins. And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt. Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised.

-Joshua 5:3-5

 

But let us go back to the beginning of Leviticus chapter 12.

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

But we know that no child was circumcised during the wilderness experience. 

The scriptures do not teach that those who are not circumcised shall be condemned before the Lord. Their disposition remains as one foreign to the blessings of Israel, not denied Life. This idea is carried into the Book of Acts. In Acts 21, there is an accusation made of the Apostle Paul that he was telling Jewish believers to no longer circumcise their boys. Paul takes great offense at the idea that he was NOT teaching these things. He certainly was. But as Paul continued to teach that Jewish believers should be circumcised, he warned Gentile believers to NOT be circumcised, lest they be obligated to keep ALL the Law. The practice and its connection to the Law had no place in any doctrine of justification unto Life.

On the following day Paul went in with us to James; and all the elders were present. After
greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed; they are all zealous for the law, and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or observe the customs. What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you but that you yourself live in observance of the law.... Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself with them and went into the temple, to give notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and the offering presented for every one of them.

-Acts 21: 18-24,26

Paul taught Jewish believers to continue to circumcise and to observe the feasts. There was "nothing" that was true in the rumors about Paul. Paul, as a Jew, observed the Law.  How do we square that with what we see in Galatians regarding circumcision and the Law?

Now I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who receives circumcision that he is bound to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. 

-Galatians 5:2-4

Why would Paul be adamant in Acts 21 that Jewish believers keep the Law and the Feasts, while here stating that circumcision would "sever" one from Christ? Is Paul contradicting himself? Did Paul teach error for the sake of some fake "unity?" Was he just ignorant? Galatians was probably written before the events of Acts 21. 

We must clearly saw what Paul was addressing in Galatians. Jewish believers were already circumcised (or  they would not be wring to become circumcised, See the case of Timothy's Circumcision). But a grafted in Gentile should recognize God's two-fold grace in that age. He had the free gift of Life as all who had faith. He was justified by faith alone. But if he became "bewitched" into thinking he could have a "better" salvation as a proselyte, he would be denying what Christ had already accomplished for him and he was bound to then keep all the Law as Paul was obligated. It would no longer be a witness to Israel to make them jealous. 

You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched [deceived] you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?


-Galatians 3:1-3

We must be careful in chapter 4 of Galatians to see the distinction Paul is making which he started at the end of chapter 3 (which we will look at next time). In the opening section is speaking to the Gentiles in Galatia of his own people, Jews.

Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ from a servant though he is lord of all. But he is under tutors and governors until the time appointed by the father. So when we were children, we were in bondage to the elements of the world. But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born from a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth into our hearts the Spirit of His Son, crying, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a servant, but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

-Galatians 4:1-7 

 

Gentiles were never under the law. 

And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; to them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. 

-1 Corinthians 9:20-21

Gentiles were those who worshiped the false gods of Greece and Rome. Paul switches his attention to them in Gal 4:8 to compare and contrast with the Jews who had the Law.

Previously, when you did not know God, you served those who by nature are not gods.

In Acts 17 we see this contrast and we see Paul's different approach to each group. In Thessalonica and Berea he visits the synagogues and preaches from the Hebrew scriptures ("daily examining the Scriptures, to find out if these things were so"). Yet when the Apostle visits Mars' Hill in Athens, he makes no case from the Hebrew scriptures, but addresses the UNKNOWN GOD they worshipped among the many gods ("who by nature are not gods"). This is the context for Paul's argument in Galatians. He had to address Jewish believers and grafted in Gentile believers in that age.

Today, we have many who come to Christ by faith, rejoice in his unfathomable grace, and then turn back to the weak and beggarly elements of the law. Israel has been set aside in this age (after the Acts Age) and all today are essentially Gentiles. Paul, in the Acts, went from being in chains "for the hope of Israel" (Acts 28:20)  as he testified that he taught "no other thing that was not preached by Moses and the Prophets," (Acts 26:22) to being "the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles" post-Acts (Ephesians 3:1).

The answer to Paul's position in regard to Gentiles in the Acts Age is also found in the Law and in the verse I skipped in Acts 21. Remember, the stranger living among Israel was not obligated to keep the feasts. The Law was part of a covenant with Israel in regard to a kingdom and a priesthood for the nations. As the Lord goes through the Law, he commands Moses to "say unto the children of Israel" and similar. When he addresses the stranger, he does so in regard to his place among Israel (while remaining separate from Israel).  

“For the life of every creature is the blood of it; therefore I have said to the people of Israel, You shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its blood; whoever eats it shall be cut off. And every person that eats what dies of itself or what is torn by beasts, whether he is a native or a sojourner, shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening; then he shall be clean. But if he does not wash them or bathe his flesh, he shall bear his iniquity.”

-Leviticus 17:14-16

We note here the Catholic doctrine of Transubstantiation. This teaches that the symbolic wine and bread of the Passover feast become the literal blood and body of the Lord at the words of the priest. This would be an abomination to the Lord who was "born under the Law" (Gal 4:4). In the Acts Age, Gentiles, while not being put under the entire Law, still were required to keep the "necessary things" of Acts 15 and Acts 21 taken from Leviticus for "strangers" living among Israel.

For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to put on you [Gentiles] no greater burden than these necessary things: Abstain from food offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from strangled animals, and from blood. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. 

-Acts 15:28-29

 

Whoever from the house of Israel, or from the strangers who sojourn among you, who eats any manner of blood, I will set My face against that person who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people (i.e. cut off from Israel). 

-Leviticus 17:10

Both Israel and sojourners were restricted from consuming blood. But was this cutting off tantamount to damnation to eternal death? Of course not. It was a separation from the blessings of Israel and the promises in the covenant in the promised land. These are all earthly issues. They are connected to an earthly hope and earthly promises. Our hope in the current age is a hope in the far above the heavens (Ephesians).

Paul warns Gentiles in the Acts Age who had been grafted into the root which is Israel that they too could be "cut off" (Romans 11). Cut off from what? The context is cut off from the root which is Israel, not cut off from Life. Lose the free gift Paul just spent 10 chapters explaining is free? The gift he states just before his warning that cannot be lost? Paul emphatically writes:

And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Would he then turn around and warn ONLY Gentile believers that they would be "cut off" from grace because of their works? Of course not. They cannot be cut off from a free gift, but they can be cut off from the blessings of Israel.

For I speak to you Gentiles... Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

-Romans 11:13,22 

We pause to emphasize that Paul is making a distinction among believers as was the pattern of the Book of Acts, a pattern we no longer follow since "the middle wall of partition" was taken down Post Acts when Paul revealed the Mystery of Ephesian 3.

Note, too, that the "sojourner" (Hebrew "gêr" again, stranger) in Leviticus17 is juxtaposed against the "native" (Hebrew "'ezrâch" native-born of Israel). The Lord makes a difference. The Lord is not making a Law for the saved and unsaved (that makes no sense), but rather a Law connected to the nation in the land for natives and those living among them. God distinguishes Jew from Gentile with no inference of either being saved or lost.

We have these distinctions throughout the Greek scriptures. The Gentile centurion is juxtaposed against the "children of the Kingdom" in Matthew 8. And as we're seeing here, the Gentile believer is juxtaposed against he Hebrew believer in the Acts. But we are not contrasting their way to Life. That has always been by grace alone through faith alone. What is contrasted are promises, hopes, and callings. And we today must also compare and contract the promises, hopes, and callings of this present Age with the Acts Age. Compare the things that differ.

Now, let's look again at the repeated instruction from Acts 21, the chapter in which Paul defends himself against accusations that he is not teaching Jews to circumcise. .

As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.” (v.25)

We see that gentile believers are distinguished from Jewish believers AGAIN in Acts chapter 21. After the Jewish believers complained that the new Gentile believers were not keeping the Law ("The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses”). Did the Apostles say as some today, "No! Nobody had to keep the Law after Pentecost!"? Or did they say as others today say, "Jesus desired all his followers to be Torah observant!"? These are two popular answers in our day, but unknown to the Apostles. Both are in error and the root cause of these errors is a failure to rightly divide the Word of Truth, to distinguish between the earthly hope and the heavenly hope.

And as we dismiss both these errant theological systems, we must also dismiss any gathering that claims to somehow be an "Acts Church."   

The apostles' answer was to turn to Leviticus 17 (the Law) and keep Gentile believers separate in practice from Jewish believers. Jewish believers were to continue to circumcise and Gentile believers were to observe the "necessary things" of Leviticus 17. Do you now see how this would make Israel jealous? Making Israel jealous is the expressed reason God grafted Gentile believers into Israel in Acts 10. This pattern of the "Acts Church" has no place in the current age or plan.

Again I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, "I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation;
with a foolish nation I will make you angry.”

-Romans 10:19


So I ask, have they stumbled so as to fall? By no means! But through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.

-Romans 11:11

The error of some Jewish believers in Acts 15 was that one had to keep the Law "to be saved" (Acts 15:1,5). This was a reasonable misunderstanding. The keeping of the Law was connected to one's place in the Kingdom. There are good servants and bad servants in that House. What they failed to distinguish is that the gift of Life (resurrection from the curse of death) is separate from the Law. As Paul will clarify here (and specifically in Galatians and Romans) is that Life is by grace alone for all regardless of race.

Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

Why, then, do the apostles, including Paul, give out a separate set of rules for Gentile believers? And later in Acts 21 why was Paul still teaching circumcision and feast-observance for himself and for Jewish believers? So much so that he took a vow. Would the writer of Galatians who warned against circumcision so vehemently turn around in cowardice in the face of James?

The answer is again found in the Law itself. As we noted, they applied Leviticus 17. And this was approved by the Holy Spirit himself. We keep coming back to this, and related points, because almost all local gatherings of every denomination imaginable thinks its a successor to the Acts church.

It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you [Gentile believers] with anything beyond the following requirements...

The "following requirements" referenced being the Law of Leviticus 17 which is quoted in Acts 15 and again in Acts 21. The Holy Spirit fell upon Cornelius in Acts 10 (before he was baptized, for the record), which is what amazed Peter. He had seen Gentile faith in Matthew 8 ("greater faith than all in Israel") and Matthew 15. He saw the Samaritan woman and the Samaritans have faith. What he never saw was the power of the gifts in a Gentile before Cornelius. This was the beginning of God's plan to "make Israel jealous."

“Brethren, you know that in the early days God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God who knows the heart bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us; and he made no distinction between us and them, but cleansed their hearts by faith. Now therefore why do you make trial of God by putting a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?"

Many today would lay a yoke upon believers that they cannot bear. The Law was not the means of cleansing. The Law could and can only condemn if it is applied that way. In its proper place, it is part of a priesthood covenant with Israel, not a means of either being granted Life or maintaining Life in Christ. If so, "Christ had died in vain." But Christ has not died in vain! He saves to the uttermost! He is all sufficient!

The foolishness of trying to add the Law, in any way, to one's gift or resurrection life is even more profoundly foolish in the this Post-Acts age. Our blessings are from "before the foundation of the ages." Before Adam. Before the laying down of the current creation. Certainly no Law given to an earthly people for an earthly priesthood could annul these blessings "in the heavenly places." 

For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

-Col 3:3

Our life is "hid with Christ in God." It is untouchable. The Lord already sees us in the flesh as "dead." He sees us already in our risen life (Col 3:3) We are not subject to days and feasts or Sabbaths or things of the earth. We carry our bodies of death in dignity and seek to walk in the new nature and not according to the lusts of the old nature (the flesh), but this is not for a place in a priesthood in an earthly kingdom. We no longer walk in the shadow of Israel's blessings. That plan has been temporarily set aside. We walk in the light, in the new nature (spirit), and we let no man judge us according to the Law, not even the Law of Leviticus 17 for "strangers" among Israel.

 

And you, who were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, having canceled the bond which stood against us with its legal demands; this he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the principalities and powers and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in him. Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a sabbath. These are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, taking his stand on visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the universe, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations, “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things which all perish as they are used), according to human precepts and doctrines? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting rigor of devotion and self-abasement and severity to the body, but they are of 
no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh.

-Col 2:13-23

Before we leave, we turn back to the full passage in Exodus 12 where we began. 

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the ordinance of the Passover. No foreigner shall eat of it, but every man’s servant who is bought for money, when you have circumcised him, then shall he eat of it. A foreigner and a hired servant shall not eat of it. It must be eaten in one house. You shall not carry any of the meat outside of the house. Do not break any of its bones. All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. When a stranger lives as a foreigner with you, and would like to keep the Passover to Yahweh, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it. He shall be as one who is born in the land; but no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. One law shall be to him who is a native, and to the stranger who lives as a foreigner among you.”

Exodus 12:43-49

Can the Law more clear here? You must be circumcised to partake in the feasts. Are the self-proclaimed Torah-observant of our day holding to this Law, clearly stated? And we cannot miss the last verse which lays out one Law for all in the matter of the Passover Feast. Both native Israelite and the stranger living among Israel have the same requirement for the feasts: circumcision. The Lord states clearly that the "Lord's Supper" IS the Passover (Luke 22:8-15). This is why believers in Corinth were keeping that feast (1 Cor 5:7-8; 11:23-24). We have no such feast (or any feasts) in the current age (Col 2:16-17). 

There is no hint in Exodus of the gift of resurrection life. As we have seen, the Law cannot annul the promises to Abraham. Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness. There is no idea here or anywhere that obedience to things like feasts have any effect on one's free gift of resurrection in Christ. And just the thought is blasphemous. That's a strong word, but anything anything, even the good and holy law and covenants, that is added as necessary to what Christ alone accomplished deserve a strong word (and condemnation).  

 

  

    

   /body