Rightly Dividing the Word of God in "the present age". A look at the Christian Life through an understanding of the dispensation of the Mystery. (Titus 2:12; 2 Tim 2:15; Eph 3). An Acts 28 / Ultradispensational Blog.
When we look across the vast wasteland that is Christendom, we may ask ourselves how has the faith fallen so far? Of the approximate 2.5 Billion professed "Christians" in the world, the vast majority are sacramentalists (over 60%). And that number (percentage) has grown since 2010 (Pew Research/World Christian Database).
Many of the rest preach a false gospel based on a mix of law and grace. And even among those who outwardly embrace the doctrines of Grace Alone and Faith Alone and Christ Alone, their hierarchical systems put believers under bondage. Pentecostalism has exploded in numbers over recent history. A system that utterly rejects the revelation of Paul in Ephesians. Though not alone in that (as most what we call denominations reject Paul), their embrace of the teachings to Israel in the Lord's ministry and in the Acts cements their rejection.
The false teaching that the New Covenant is somehow the gospel of Ephesians is destructive to our calling today. It has mixed law and grace and confused God's plans for Israel, the Kingdom, the earth, and his plan for blessings in the far above the heavens. We have covered that covenant elsewhere.
Let's turn to root cause of the confusion and the embracing of this man-centered, earth-centered religion.
Paul and his revelation of the Mystery age were rejected in the first century. Believers abandoned his teachings (he’s still hated today) and some believers even sought to make his bonds even harder.
You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me.
-2 Timothy 1:15
Second Timothy was Paul’s lase epistle.
Some [believers] indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of partisanship, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.
-Phil 1:15-17
One can be a believer, have the hope and free gift of resurrection by grace through faith, and still be an enemy of the current calling and even be an enemy of the cross of Christ. Certainly many are the enemies of Paul and his revelation.
Christ was still preached while Paul was in prison (for which he gives thanks), but many who preached sought to silence and diminish Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, the one to whom alone the revelation of the unsearchable riches in heavenly places was revealed. A revelation unknown to the Moses, the Prophets, or the sons of men.
Brethren, join in imitating me, and mark those [believers] who so live as you have an example in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction [Greek: apṓleia, waste, loss], their god is the belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
-Phil 3:17-19
You may have heard of the administration of the grace of God which was given me for you, how by revelation He made known to me the mystery, as I have written briefly already, by which, when you read it, you may understand my knowledge of the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed
-Ephesians 3:2-5a
Paul’s message of blessings in the far above the heavens was abandoned for ordinances, hierarchy, and ritual. So, while Christ is still preached by some, they have turned their eyes and their listeners’ (congregations’, seminaries’, denominations’, etc.) eyes and minds away from Paul’s doctrine of blessings “in the heavenly places.”
We are to consider ourselves dead to earthly hopes and ordinances.
If you have died with Christ to the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are you imposed upon with ordinances (Greek: dogmatízō, subjected to ceremonial rules imposed on you)?
-Col 2:20
We are to hold fast to the Head and not be subject to men. As I often note, one of the curses on the faith is the clergy/laity system. And from that, the system of Jewish ordinances and earthly rituals.
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh [Gentiles], 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.
-Col 2:13-14
And because the ordinances of Israel and the earthly calling were taken away as a source of separation of Gentiles (even believing Gentiles) Don’t let yourself be judged by the ordinances of the earth.
Therefore let no one judge you regarding food, or drink, or in respect of a holy day or new moon or sabbath days. These are shadows of things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.
-Col 3:16-17
Colossians 2 and 3 should be read closely and in full. We just note these few passages here and point the reader to his own responsibility to "compare the things that differ" in Paul's epistles between his Acts Age epistles and his Post-Acts epistles. We must all individually "study to show [ourselves] approved of God, rightly dividing the Word of Truth."
To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law.
-1 Corinthians 9:20-21 (NIV)
to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law [?], that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without aw toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law.
-1 Corinthians 9:20-21 (NKJV)
The NIV and other dynamic equivalency translations from the minority texts have inserted the idea that Paul was not under the law. Well, he was never under the law for justification as to that end, the law can only condemn. A very clear point Paul makes in regard to the doctrine of justification is that justification (resurrection life through his name) is by faith alone. Abraham was declared righteous before he was circumcised (and centuries before anyone heard of the law or Moses or the Sinai Covenant).
Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised.
-Romans 4:9-10 (NKJV, based on the Masoretic Text)
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.
-Romans 3:28 (NKJV)
So, back to our opening verses from 1 Corinthians 9, did Paul keep the law even though we have established it was never for justification for resurrection life? We note here the judgments pictured in the parables during the Lord's earthly ministry (to Israel alone, Matthew 15:24, etc.) and in The Revelation which distinguished between "good/bad" or "profitable/unprofitable" "servants" and "wise/unwise" "virgins," etc.
As with the casting into the outer darkness spoken by Lord first in Matthew 8:10-12, these judgments are for "the sons of the Kingdom." There. the sons are juxtaposed with "Gentiles." In other words, these are judgments that concern Israel and the earthly hope and Kingdom and New Jerusalem blessings. Things that are achieved. The free gift of resurrection life ("life in his name" John 20:31, by grace faith alone) is never achieved. It is granted to all who have been reconciled to God by faith (as he has already been reconciled to men through Christ alone, 2 Cor 5:16-21).
Paul surely did keep the law, however, as did the Jewish believers in the Acts age. Paul still taught circumcision for Jews too. What he didn’t do was put Gentiles under a Law they never had (apart from the laws in Leviticus for gentiles living among the Jews in Israel, Acts 15, Acts 21). That’s why he warned Gentiles not to get circumcised. We do not make these distinctions today.
Now then, why test God by putting a yoke upon the neck of the [Gentile] disciples, which neither our [Jewish] fathers nor we [Jews] have been able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we [Jews] shall be saved, even as they [Gentiles].”
-Acts 15:10
Would we teach today that if any believer is circumcised he is obligated to keep the whole law?
Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. I testify again to every man who is circumcised that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You have been cut off from Christ, whoever of you are justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
-Galatians 5:2-4
We have the clarification from the Apostles that the newly grafted in Gentiles would not be put under the entirety of the Law (which was never given to Gentiles anyway), yet we will see that these believing Gentiles were rather grafted in for the expressed purpose to make real, live, living Israel "jealous" (Romans 10:19; 11:11) that they might be converted.
Let us look at how the chosen, enlightened, Holy Spirit filled and approved Apostles handled the question of the Law in the Acts.
To the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:
Greetings.
Since we have heard that some of us [Jews], whom we did not commission, have gone out and have troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law,” it seemed good to us, being assembled in unity, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will also speak to you, saying the same things. 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 15:23-29
For freedom Christ freed us. Stand fast therefore and do not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you [Gentiles] become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. I testify again to every man who is circumcised that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You have been cut off from Christ, whoever of you are justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we, through the Spirit, by faith, eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith which works through love.
-Galatian 5:1-6
For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves
-Romans 2:14
When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. On the next day Paul went with us to James, and all the elders were present. He greeted them and recounted one by one what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. When they heard this, they glorified the Lord. Then they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who believe, and they [Jews] are all zealous for the law. They have been informed concerning you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to observe the customs. What then shall be done? The assembly will certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. Therefore do what we tell you. We have four men who have taken a vow. Take these men and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may have their heads shaved. Then all will know that what they were told concerning you is nothing, but that you yourself live in observance of the law. As for the Gentiles who believe, we have written and concluded [conversely to the instructions for Jewish believers] 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 21:17-25
Paul, in the Acts, kept the Law (but never for redemption or reconciliation with God) and taught Jews to circumcise. He gave no such burden to Gentiles who never had the Law. There was a rumor that Paul “[taught] all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to observe the customs.” This was a lie and James and Paul disputed it. “Then all will know that what they were told concerning you is nothing, but that you yourself live in observance of the law.”
The apostles contrasted the burden of the Law on Jewish believers in the Acts (again, never for justification, but for a position in the Kingdom) with the burden placed on Gentiles (drawn from the Laws for Gentiles living among, but not numbered with, Israel).
Gentiles were never given the Law.
We do not make these distinctions in the current (Post Acts) age.
I hear lots of things about what people think Ultra-dispensationalism teaches, but in the most simple terms in couplets:
There is a plan for the earth centered around the covenants and promises and Kingdom in Israel
There is a plan for unsearchable riches in the far above the heavens where Christ sits at the right hand of the Father.
The earthly plan was known by Moses and Prophets (which is all Christ taught and all Paul taught in the Acts as he testified) and was revealed since the ages began. Paul being in chains for “the hope of Israel” going always to the Jew first and the 12 waiting for “the restoration of the Kingdom in Israel.” Peter offering the restoration to Israel if she repents.
The heavenly plan was hidden from before the ages began and revealed only to Paul (unknown to the sons of men before). It has no ordinances, Sabbaths, or dietary restrictions (as both Jews and Gentiles had in the Acts); Paul in chains “for you Gentiles.”
The middle wall of separation was up in the Acts (very clearly up in the gospels), Jews and Gentiles with different sets of instructions, the Jew still first, Gentiles only warned they could be “cut off” from the blessings of Israel; Gentiles warned not to boast against Israel.
Middle wall comes down. The calling changed. No more distinctions.
Abraham is prominent in the gospels, Acts, and Acts epistles.
Abraham disappears post Acts as his blessings have to do with the earth.
The “Parousia” is the hope of the gospel and Acts (the presence of the King)
The “Parousia” disappears post Acts and the hope becomes the bright appearing.
Instructions for marriage change in light of the change of expectation. The tribulation and Kingdom were “near” and “at hand” in the gospels and Acts so young women instructed best to NOT marry and NOT bear children. The “time [was] short.”
Post Acts, young women and widows instructed they should marry and bear children as the expectation changed.
These couplets are obviously not exhaustive, simply differences for your consideration.
In a previous study we looked at the wedding guests in the Matthew 22 parable (often titled "Parable or the Wedding Feast" and similar). The “wedding” involves Israel. The Bride is connected to Israel and the earth (New Jerusalem, the restoration of the unfaithful wife, the regathering of the Ammi, etc.). Let's revisit and consider a few things in light of the differences between gentile inclusion in an earthly hope context and in a heavenly hope context (as we have in the current age).
In the earthly hope, reflected in the churches of the Acts age, you have local bodies of believers spoken of in the picture of "eyes" and "ears," etc. These local bodies were made up of Jews and Gentiles (1 Cor 12:16-17). The ONE Body of the current age as revealed in Ephesians (Post Acts) has Christ alone as its head and is male in character (Eph 4:14-16).
The middle wall of partition (or "separation," Eph 2:14) between Jew and Gentile is now down (and not before; see Acts 15, 21, Romans, etc.). The prophetic scenario (revealed by “Moses and the Prophets”) concerns God’s plans for the earth.
Since Adam, the restoration of the earth was the hope; through Abraham the land and the Kingdom (through the Son of David). The current plan and hope is not earthly, it is heavenly.
In short, the guests at the wedding are Gentiles, but not Gentiles of the current age (Matthew did not see that which was revealed to Paul alone, Eph 3). These Gentiles were NOT invited to the wedding, but grafted into blessings “to make Israel jealous” (as Romans clearly states). Those gentiles, invited last, after Israel had been invited, are NOT the Bride, but merely guests.
Even among Israel, there are things to be earned by faith and faithfulness. Not all Israel is the Bride (pictured as the New Jerusalem in the Revelation as a reward). Some of Israel qualified as the Bride (rewarded "the city whose builder and make is God") and some as guests.
By faith [Abraham] dwelt in the promised land, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs of the same promise, for he was looking for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
-Hebrews 11:9-10
We note again, The New Jerusalem (“adorned as a Bride for her Bridegroom”) is a reward that comes down from heaven to earth. The city has the names of the twelve tribes and the twelve Apostles to the Circumcision. Not Paul’s name.
Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
-Revelation 21:12-14
The Lord brings his reward with him to earth when he returns in the clouds. Those storing up treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:19-20) do not necessarily get their reward in heaven.
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work..."
-Revelation 22:12
As for that very literal return:
“Men of Galilee, why stand looking toward heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you to heaven, will come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
-Acts 1:11
He did not ascend "spiritually" and his return will be be "spiritual," but very literal.
Matthew is the Gospel of the King, John is the gospel of God. We have compare and contrast those two previously. You can refrence the post on the Parable of the Wedding feast linked above or consider this post.
The heavenly hope is very limited. ALL believers are part of God’s Kingdom, but there is a specific Kingdom that is earthly, ours is heavenly. The “restoration of the Kingdom in Israel” (Acts 1:6) is a very real, earthly Kingdom, fulfilling many promises and the New Covenant (which is for Israel).
We are not teaching "two kingdoms" here. Rather, there is the greater Kingdom of God (ruling over even principalities in the heavenly places) and the specific earthly Kingdom established in the promised land. This has been true since David sat on the throne in the united Kingdom. We would not call that period a "two kingdoms" doctrine. God was, is, and ever shall be King, yet he chose the line of David as the Kings in a kingdom within his kingdom.
What did the Lord mean when he spoke of the Kingdom being "within" his listeners?
When the Lord Jesus was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
-Luke 17:20-21
The KJV lets us down here. The idea here is that the Kingdom was in their midst. There are a number of translations that use this language. The New KJV reflects the KJV, but it notes the wording "in your midst" as a proper rendering. Conversely, the NRSVA (quoted below) uses "is among you" while noting it can also be "within you."
Nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (English Standard Version)
Nor will they say, “Look, here it is!” or “There it is!” For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.’ (New Revised Standard Version, Anglicized)
People won’t say ‘Look, here it is,’ or ‘Look, over there!’ No: God’s kingdom is within your grasp.” (New Testament for Everyone)
The Greek word suggests both. The King was there, he was among them. The Kingdom was offered to Israel in the Lord’s earthly ministry, rejected, then offered again in the Acts (particularly in Acts 3, and cp Romans 9-11, etc.). The idea of the Kingdom being "within you" suggesting the Kingdom is purely spiritual does not hold up against the rest of the witness of scripture. In my opinion, it doesn't hold up in the least.
The coming of the Son of David, the King, to sit in the throne in an earthly kingdom was prophesied, but it had to all come to fruition. The Kingdom of heaven was indeed at-hand when the Lord walked in Israel.
We note again the commission of the twelve in Matthew 10. When they are sent to preach the Kingdom to Jews only, this is the message:
And as ye go [to Israel only], preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Back in Luke, when the Lord speaks of the budding of the fig tree, he tells them:
So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
We could quote other verses along this line, but these will suffice.
The Greek word is used of a number of things including the Passover being “at hand” or “near” in time. Paul says in Romans that “the day” is “at hand” (Romans 13:12). Salvation from sin was near? No, the prophesied “Day” was near. That is "the Day of the Lord" (rendered "the Lord's Day" in the Revelation).
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
This is why (as previously noted in other studies) Paul instructs young women its better they NOT marry and NOT bear children in that age. Not some local (hence meaningless outside the area) teaching, but because, specifically in 1 Cor 7 (during the Acts) because the age was "passing away":
But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remains, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; and they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; and they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this [age] passes away.
The Lord echoed this back in the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24. He speaks of very real people, in very real places, seeing very real prophesied events. These are not "spiritual" places and things and activities. These are not generic conditions since the Lord's first coming. They speak of a literal tribulation coming to Israel. And when that day arrives, "woe to those who are with child." Hence, Paul instructs young women that is better to NOT bear children.
“So when you see the ‘abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. Let him who is in the field not return to take his clothes. Woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse in those days! Pray that your escape will not be in the winter or on the Sabbath. For then will be great tribulation, such as has not happened since the beginning of the [ages] until now, no, nor ever shall be.
Won’t go through all of Matthew 24 & 25, but we have a very real return seen there.
Post Acts (the current age where this no distinction and the time is not “at hand”), Paul gives very different instructions.
Therefore I desire that the younger women marry, bear children, manage the house, and give no occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
-1 Timothy 5:14
Just a small, but very clear, practical difference.
Paul speaks of the last days in his last epistle (2 Tim). We must compare and contrast those with the last days in the Matthew 24 and the Acts. What I can tell from the warnings there and in Philippians (as seen in the case of Demas who abandoned Paul, 2 Tim 4:10), the religious persecution of the last day’s will come from fellow believers who will abandon Paul's revelation in Ephesians.
having a form of godliness, but denying its power
Brothers, become fellow imitators with me and observe those [believers] who walk according to our example. For many [other believers] are walking in such a way that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ. I have told you of them often and tell you again, even weeping. Their destination is destruction, their god is their appetite, their glory is in their shame, their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, from where also we await for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our body of humiliation, so that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working of His power even to subdue all things to Himself.
OK for the Apostles to look for the restoration of the Kingdom in Israel on earth
Not OK today to look for any kind of earthly blessings or hope or earthly kingdom
Many will depart from Paul’s apostleship to the Gentiles, his teaching of unsearchable riches in the heavenly places (Ephesians), his warnings about earthly ordinances, and they will instead look to the earth for their blessings and hope.
Demas fell in love with this present world and has deserted me
If you then were raised with Christ, desire those things which are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on earth. For you are dead, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life shall appear, then you also shall appear [phaneróō ]with Him in glory.
phaneróō - the brightness, manifestation of his coming in the epiphenea, not in the parousia of the King to his Kingdom. The Greek parousia of the King disappears as a hope after Acts. It cannot be found in the Post Acts epistles.
Therefore let no one judge you regarding food, or drink, or in respect of a holy day [feast day] or new moon or sabbath days. These are shadows of things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.
-Colossians 2:16
"Things to come" in a future kingdom, in a future age. All the things concerning that earthly hope were revealed to Moses and the Prophets. In the Acts, Paul testified that he preached only what was in Moses and the Prophets (Acts 26:22). He witnessed to Israel only what was in Moses and the Prophets. What was revealed to Paul was not known before.
when you read it, you may understand my knowledge of the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, how the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members, and partakers of the promise in Christ by the gospel. Of this I [Paul] was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the incomprehensible [unsearchable] riches of Christ, and to reveal for all people what is the fellowship [dispensation] of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God, who created all things through Jesus Christ.
We are to follow Paul as he follows Christ. Always true for Gentiles (during and after the Acts age), now true for all in the current age.
The next verse we will consider is not preached as often as the verse in Luke 12 we reviewed in our last post, however, you will hear it preached. In this case, we are dealing with a promise of the Lord given during his earthly ministry. In my experience, this promise has been offered from pulpits across the theological spectrum from the Reformed to the Pentecostal Dispensationalist, from the Cessationist to the Continuist.
Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.
-Luke 21:14-15
Before we get the greater context of the promise in the passage, let us quickly "compare the things that differ" and look at Paul's admonition for the current age. This will not be our focus in this post, but it permeates this blog and permeates the current age regarding how we handle the Word of Truth.
Study to show yourself approved by God, a workman who need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
-2 Timothy 2:15
Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, wisely using the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you should answer everyone.
-Colossians 4:5-6
I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season [and] out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and doctrine.
-2 Timothy 4:1-3
The overall sense here is the responsibility to study and rightly divide the Word of Truth, pursue sound doctrine (the correct doctrine for the age in which we live), and be wise concerning the truths of the revelation of Paul towards those outside (unbelievers and those who do not walk in Paul's teachings).
As we contrast that with the promise of Luke 21 (God will provide answers as they are needed), we now look at the greater context of that promise. As we always endeavor to do, we will note those things which, although not directly to us, do contain principles by which we can learn. We stress that ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine (2 Tim 3:16).
Then He said to them, “Nation [éthnos]will rise against nation [éthnos], and kingdom against kingdom. Great earthquakes will occur in various places, and there will be famines and pestilence. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.
-Luke 21:10-11
We will not delve deeply ins this study into the full context of this quotation of Isaiah by the Lord except to say, that this is a reference to the Burden of Egypt in Isaiah 19:1-2. What we will note is that the verses that follow are meant to point to a specific time in response to a very specific question from is disciples, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when this is about to happen?” (Luke 21:7). It is thus not a condition of all time since Christ spoke these words.
“But before all these things, they will seize you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for My name’s sake. It will turn out as a testimony for you. Therefore resolve in your hearts beforehand not to practice your defense. For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your opponents will be able to neither refute nor resist.
-Luke 21:12-15
The promise of words given that cannot be refuted in is context of Israel. We see this in part as Paul contested daily in the synagogues. Stephen as well. There was no refutation of the word of Moses and the Prophets (which is all they taught in the Acts Age, Acts 26:22), and there was great persecution and even death. These are not the conditions all Christians have faced in the intervening 2000 years. Yes, many believers have faced death, but not at the hands of Jews in the synagogues and not because of the preaching of Moses and the Prophets to them.
As always, we want to stress that God can provide the words and inspiration in any situation a believer may find himself or herself in, but this is not an expectation or a promise to us in the current age. So many today quote any verse from anywhere in scripture and yet fail to see that it is clearly not consistently evident is his own life and testimony. And it is certainly not evident in the history of Christendom since the revelation to Paul in AD 64. As noted, Paul tells us to "study."
You will be betrayed by parents and brothers and relatives and friends. And they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all men for My name’s sake, but not a hair of your head shall perish. In your endurance you will gain your souls [psychḗ, "life"].
-Luke 21:16-19
Whereas some believers have surely been betrayed by loved ones (betrayed to whom?), clearly this is not the testimony that can be claimed by every believer over the last 2000 years. We do not even see this in full fruition in the Acts age. This promise is fully connected to the last days. There are glimpses of it in the Acts and there is a hint of God's overruling love, but it's full fruition is in an age yet to come, for a believing Israel.
And as day was about to dawn, Paul implored them all to take food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food, and eaten nothing. Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you.”
-Acts 27:33-34
What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul [your life]: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul [destroy your life] and body in hell [Greek: Gehenna]. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
-Matthew 10:27-30
Matthew 10 is part of the teachings of the Lord as he sends out the twelve. And we note that the twelve were to take the teachings of the Kingdom to Israel alone. The words in that chapter draw our minds back to the words we looked at last time in Luke 12 and the promise of provision.
These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
-Matthew 10:5-11
In the latter verses, 27-30. they are told they will be provided for as they are more valuable sparrows. As noted, this takes our minds back to Luke 12 and the passage in full.
And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations [gentiles] of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms...
-Luke 21:22-33
When pastors today slice these promises up when preaching on tithes, offerings, and giving, they do not give the full picture. They cannot do that as the congregation will look around and realize that all things do not reflect their everyday conditions nor the everyday conditions of believers around them, throughout the world, or throughout the history of the church.
Sell your possessions and give alms. Provide yourselves purses that do not grow old, an unfailing treasure in the heavens, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
-Luke 12:33-34
This is not an exhaustive study of all the Lord's commands and promises in Luke, just a quick look at a couple of verses I heard preached this past weekend.
I have highlighted above the phrase the Lord uses when addressing his "little flock" in Luke 12. This phrase was pulled out by a local preacher in a message on tithes and offerings. We have briefly covered tithing in previous posts, I'll just refer you HERE if you have interest in some context on that topic.
When we look at the commonly quoted phrase, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also," rarely, if ever, do we hear the whole passage. Even in small part here, noting just the previous verse, we see the call to "Sell your possessions and give alms." This is the Modern English Translation (which is from the Received Text), but if you prefer the KJV, it's even more pointed, "Sell that ye have..."
Wycliffe gives us, "Sell ye those things that ye have in possession..." As just one more example, The Worldwide English translation renders it, "Sell what you have and give it to poor people." The sense is clear. A pastor may urge his congregation to give to the local assembly under the promise that "where your treasure is, there will your heart be also," but he should also be quick to add the condition in the discourse from the Lord. That is, he should be instructing them to "sell your possessions."
Do I advocate such action? No. I'm not opposed to the idea, however. If someone can handle it, I would not stand in his way. But there comes no promise or hope in the courage age as laid out by our Lord for Israel (the singularity of his earthly ministry, Matthew 15:24). If a pastor is asking his congregation to give to the local work (which he certainly can do), he may also add that where their money is, there heart will be there.
Am I contradicting myself? No. What we have in that last phrase is a general truth. It is true in all ages (such as "God is Love" or "Love your neighbor"). But if I go to the Lord's earthly ministry and pull out a verse under the assumption the Lord is speaking directly to me in the entire book, I must lay out the verse in its context and demand all of it be observed.
When we use the principles of Right Division (2 Tim 2:15) we mark those things which are general truth and divide them (draw a straight line) from those things which are commands or promises for another people with a different hope.
Again, however, I say to those who say they embrace the words of the Lord in his earthly ministry to Israel for themselves, to be consistent, you must embrace ALL his words. All the commands that go alone with all the promises.
If you want to invoke Luke 12:34, you must invoke Luke 12:33. In fact, you should be telling your congregation that God will provide everything and give them the "kingdom."
And do not seek what you will eat or what you will drink, nor be of an anxious mind. For the [éthnos: gentiles] of the world seek all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be given to you “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
-Luke 12:29-32
When a pastor does invoke this passage, be sure he will spiritualize it as to render it meaningless in practical terms. When we see Christians (true Christians separated out from Christendom) being persecuted everywhere (even slaughtered in large numbers as we see in Nigeria today), we have no choice but to spiritualize these promise passages in light of all that. When we do so, we are telling the world the Lord does not truly mean what he promises. All of these things must be rightly divided.
As we continue to seek to "rightly divide the Word of Truth" (2 Tim 2:15) and to "compare the things that differ," (Phil 1:10) we take up the issue of obedience to government authorities and compare how pare deals with it during the Acts age and then after in his Post Acts epistles.
All of you must obey those who rule over you. There are no authorities except the ones God has chosen. Those who now rule have been chosen by God. 2 So whoever opposes the authorities opposes leaders whom God has appointed. Those who do that will be judged. 3 If you do what is right, you won’t need to be afraid of your rulers. But watch out if you do what is wrong! You don’t want to be afraid of those in authority, do you? Then do what is right, and you will be praised. 4 The one in authority serves God for your good. But if you do wrong, watch out! Rulers don’t carry a sword for no reason at all. They serve God. And God is carrying out his anger through them. The ruler punishes anyone who does wrong. 5 You must obey the authorities. Then you will not be punished. You must also obey them because you know it is right.
Romans 13:1-5
In context of the Acts Age, we see Peter referring to the rulers of the “people.” In context, the people there are a real, live, living Israel.
“Rulers and elders of the people! Are you asking us to explain our actions today?…”
-Acts 4:8b-9a
Peter in Acts 5 and the Apostles to the Circumcision tell them that they must obey God first.
“Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? Yet now you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring on us this Man’s blood.” Peter and the other apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of ourfathers [Israel] raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging on a tree…”
After the grafting in of Gentiles into Israel in Acts 10, Paul is sent to Jews and Gentiles and has to instruct them on how to deal with the rulers in light of the soon coming age. Paul will write in that age that the time is at had, the day is near, the time is short, etc. His Gentile readers were seeing the rulers in Israel and the civil authorities. In the time immediately preceding the expected tribulation and establishment of the Kingdom in Israel (Acts 1:3-7), they were to obey the Jewish and Roman authorities so long as they did not contradict God's instructions for them
We have to compare Romans 13 to the "churches." which was written to believers expecting the Tribulation and Kingdom on earth within their lifetimes, to a Body looking only for blessings in the heavenly places. This is stated in different ways, but here is just one example from Romans 13 itself:
The night is far spent, the day is at hand.
-Romans 13:5
And here is a similar example from 1 Corinthians:
But this I say, brethren, the time is short…
-1 Corinthians 7:29
We note here that this is why the instructions for young women and widows in regard to marriage and childbearing differs between 1 Corinthians 7 and 1 Timothy 5. In 1 Corinthians the instructions for marriage reflect the troubles of the age and Paul recommends that no one marry if they can handle that truth. He adds (as Christ does in Matthew 24) that children will be a particular burden when the tribulation arises. Conversely, in 1 Timothy with no tribulation at hand, Paul advises young women not only to marry, but also to bear children.
When we turn to the Post Acts epistles (1 Timothy), as we see with marriage, we see an adjustment to the exhortation about leaders:
First, I want you to pray for all people. Ask God to help and bless them. Give thanks for them. Pray for kings. Pray for everyone who is in authority. Pray that we can live peaceful and quiet lives. And pray that we will be godly and holy. This is good, and it pleases God our Savior.
Since Adam it has always been true that we must obey God rather than men. This was true even under Israel’s evil Kings who called for worship of pagan gods. We see this clearly in Daniel and the three young men who disobeyed the law and faced death for it.
Paul, even late in the Acts, recognized still the leaders in a very real Israel who were still his people.
Paul looked at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.” [Paul still observed the feast days, etc.] The high priest Ananias ordered those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit judging me according to the law, yet order me to be struck contrary to the law?” Those who stood by said, “Do you criticize God’s high priest?” Paul said, “Brothers, I did not know that he was the high priest. For it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people…’
-Acts 23
Let's consider the difference between the obedience to the rulers spoken of in Romans 13 and Paul’s Post-Acts instructions in 1 Timothy is the times in which they lived and who constituted the “governing authorities” (Rom 13:1).
In 1 Timothy prayer is to be offered for those in power, including Kings and any in authority over us specifically “that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty.” That does not mean that we cannot resist any power that infringes on that goal (or obviously any which make us disobey God). Since the time is not "short" nor do we face the events of the Day of the Lord, our approach is different.
I do not look to Romans 13 and force myself to agree that Pol Pot and Mao were somehow God’s servants and that resistance to them constituted resistance to God (as Romans 13 states). Rather, I would say to those believers being threatened by men like Mao that they should pray for him with the goal of leading quiet and peaceful lives.
If the government says to me I must sign up for Digital ID or something else for which there is no specific biblical prohibition, does that mean I must obey as though God ordained it as Romans 13 instructs ("So whoever opposes the authorities opposes leaders whom God has appointed. Those who do that will be judged)?
I believe the answer to that question is "no." This because the imposition of Digital ID is something government doing that I have determined will not lead to a quiet and peaceful life. On the other had, if the government says I can't drive 95mph through my neighborhood, should I obey? Well, "yes," as that is something intended to create a society based on a quiet and peaceful life.
Driving according to stated laws also fulfills the second part of that admonition, that is, that we can live in godliness and honestly. So, it is both halves that need to be considered.
Is obedience meant to be so I can live a quiet and peaceful life?
Does obedience move me to live in godliness and honesty?
As with other issues in this age of liberty in Christ, we must leave these questions to the individual believer who should take his heart before the Lord for guidance. We must examine our motives. Are we walking in the old carnal nature or are we walking in the new nature in our response to various rulers.
The American Founders wrote the Olive Branch Petition which was sent by the Continental Congress to King George on July 5, 1775. That was an attempt at a peaceful solution. In light of its rejection (despite them pledging allegiance to the Crown) the events that led to July 4, 1776 followed.
One of the complaints of the colonies was the quartering of soldiers, for example. Such a thing was not for their good and did not move them to a quiet and peaceful life.
How we respond must also be according to the new nature. The colonists sought a peaceful solution in reverence of the Crown. It was only upon forceful rejection of that approach that they had to determine to what degree they would seek an end that would lead to a quiet and peaceful life.
That may not be the best example, but I use it in part as it exposes the complexity of life in the current age. The great degree of liberty we have comes with great responsibility. We must act in accordance with the leading of the Spirit in the new nature.
