The God of Pronouns (Names of God Revisited)

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousnessof God in Him. 

-2 Cor 5:21 

There is a current rend in Christendom to use the Anglicized version of the Hebrew name of the Lord. We have looked at the use of "Yeshua" in other posts and on my podcast. For this short study, I want to revisit the topic as I am seeing and hearing this movement more often.

We have noted that what we call the New Testament (this name being problematic on its own) has been given to us by the Holy Spirit in the Greek language. Therefore, no matter what the Savior may or may not have been called while in the flesh by some in Israel, the Holy Spirit has preserved his name for us as (Anglicized) "Iēsoûs." This is where we eventually get the name "Jesus."

It must also be noted that while his earthly name is Iēsoûs in the Greek texts and Yeshua in Hebrew, his followers, while he ministered directly among them, did not use his name. They called him "Teacher" and "Master" and "Lord." 

We've also noted that there are other people in scripture called "Yeshua" (Joshua) in the Hebrew (Old Testament) canon and "Iēsoûs" (Jesus) in the Greek (New Testament) canon. The name is not unique to the Lord. We see the name used of others. The only unique name I see is "Immanuel."

There are also words in both canons which have multiple applications. The name of God in Hebrew (Anglicized), "Elohim" is used of the true God and also of false gods. Likewise, the Greek word for God, "theós," (θεός) is used of both the God of  the universe and of pagan gods.

So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god (θεός).’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God (θεός) who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man... 

- Acts 17:22-24

Pronouns are used in both canons of scripture. And, as in English, the pronoun is understood in its context. The Holy Spirit has no qualms about using pronouns. The Anglicized Greek word (autós) translated "him," "his," "himself," "her", "they," "their," etc. is used over 1000x in Luke alone. It is used of many different people (including both of the Lord and of Satan) in the texts. 

Both the great and glorious and holy God of all creation is called "father" in scripture. Satan (and others) are also referred to as a "father" (John 8:44). 

In Psalm 82, scripture (Yahweh, the Father) refers to men as "'ĕlôhı̂ym" (אֱלֹהִים). But we know from context the object and difference. 'ĕlôhı̂ym is also used of false gods (Deut 32:17; etc.). Context, is the difference.

God (אֱלֹהִים, 'ĕlôhı̂ym) standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods (אֱלֹהִים, 'ĕlôhı̂ym)... I have said, Ye are gods (אֱלֹהִים, 'ĕlôhı̂ym); and all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men... 

- Ps 82:1, 6-7a

Let's revisit our opening verse in its context.

 

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (autós). 

-2 Cor 5:20-21

Verse 20 gives us the context for verse 21, bit the word itself, autós, is just as inspired when used of Christ, the Father, Satan, or anyone else. 

Finally, we turn to two of the greatest evangelistic verses of the present age.

For God so loved the world that He gave His (autós) only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him (autós) should not perish but have everlasting life. 

-John 3:16

The common word is applied there and we use the similarly common pronouns in the English as we witness. Similarly, we see the common word translated "I" or "me" (egṓ) used in another powerful verse.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me (egṓ), hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

-John 5:24 

 When we speak of the powerful "name" of the Lord, we must remember there are two aspects of that name. It is not the name itself, it is the authority of that name. Many of the cults use "Jesus" and Paul warns us of "another Jesus." So, the name (Greek or Hebrew) on its own carries no power unless spoken or believed on in truth.

Let's look at 2 Cor 11:4.

For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus (Greek: Iēsoûs) , whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him

-Authorized King James version
 

For if a darshan shows up and preaches another Moshiach, another "Yehoshua" (“Yeshua”) (Greek: Iēsoûs) other than the one in our drashot, or if you receive a different "Ruach Hakodesh" from the One you received or a different Besuras HaGeulah from the one regarding which you were mekabel, you put up with that well enough.

-Orthodox Jewish Bible

When someone comes to you telling about another Yeshua (Greek: Iēsoûs) whom we didn’t tell you about, you’re willing to put up with it. When you receive a spirit that is different from the Spirit you received earlier, you’re also willing to put up with that.

-Names of God Bible


For if someone comes and tells you about some other Yeshua (Greek: Iēsoûs) than the one we told you about, or if you receive a spirit different from the one you received or accept some so-called “good news” different from the Good News you already accepted, you bear with him well enough!

-Complete Jewish Bible


For if someone comes and proclaims another Yeshua (Greek: Iēsoûs) whom we did not proclaim, or if you receive a different spirit that you did not receive, or a different “good news” that you did not accept, you put up with that well enough!

-Tree of Life Version

As we've noted in a number of posts and on my podcast, the true God of scripture is interested in you knowing him as your Lord. He is not impressed with our linguistic calisthenics.  There are literally billions who name the name of "Jesus" who do not know him. It will matter not which name they use upon death if they do not place their faith in the final and finished work of our Great God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Greek: kyrios Iēsoûs Christos).

Additional related posts:

• Quick Post on Yeshua Hamashiach
• Yet Another Post on Yeshua/Yahweh
• The Names of God and the Hebrew Roots Movement
• More on this Yeshua Business
• More on this Names of God Business
• What the Regression to Judaism Get Right and Wrong

Devon Dibley & His Golden Key (PDF Book)

 

Full text of the book:

Audio version via podcast coming soon...

Israel According to the Flesh

 In our 2-part look at the Parable of the Sheep and Goats we noted that the "least of my brethren" reference by the Lord in that passage in Matthew 25 is to Jews in the tribulation. We noted that those being judged are the "nations" (i.e. gentile nations). Remember, God sees the world, since Babel, as his chosen nation (Israel) and the 70 nations (see the list of nations descended from Noah after the Flood in Genesis chapter 10).

 

The Most High assigned nations their lands;
he determined where peoples should live.
He assigned to each nation a heavenly being,
but Jacob's descendants he chose for himself. 

[Jacob is the place of His inheritance]

-Deuteronomy 32:8-9

The physical descendants of Jacob (Israel) have a hope and a calling connected to the promised land and to a Kingdom. This hope was temporarily set at the end of the Acts Age (after it was preached by John the Baptist, The Lord himself, and the Apostles to the circumcision in the Acts Age). The promises, found in the Old Covenant, were conditional and specific to physical Israel on earth.

And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:‘ You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth [land] is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

-Exodus 19:3-6 

We know they failed, which is why the Lord will someday in the future institute the New Covenant with the same people.

For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming [FUTURE], says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

-Hebrews 8:7-10 

 

We can only read the physical children of Israel into this passage (which quotes from Jeremiah 31). Paul refers to those who had the first covenant ("them"). He refers to "their fathers." Israel had the adoption. That is, Israel has the promise of inheritance. In this case, the promise of being "a Kingdom of Priests and a Holy Nation" in the land. 

This is part of the "Gospel of the Kingdom" preached by the Lord and his Disciples in Matthew and in the Acts (and which will be preached again in a coming age, during the Tribulation). As the Lord preached it in Matthew 4 and Matthew 9, we know it had no cross, no death, no tomb, no resurrection. When he sends out the twelve in Matthew 10, he commands them to tell NO ONE but Jews in the land.

These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

This is ground we've covered before, but we must recall that during the Lord's earthly ministry to his earthly people with an earthly promise, he ministered Kingdom truths only to Jews (as did his discples after him.

But [Jesus] answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

We've looked at this in other studies in a number of ways; here I want to focus in on Romans chapter 9 and Romans chapter 11 (written during the Acts Age) in regard to Israel according to the flesh.

I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen [kinsmen/relatives] according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.

-Romans 9:1-5

To physical Israel pertain the adoption [inheritance as the first born], the glory, the covenants, the giving of the Law, the service of God [the priesthood], and the promises to the fathers. Paul reaffirms this last point later in the same epistle.

Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a minister to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers.

-Romans 15:8 

 We note that Romans 9 is dealing with national Israel (the root of Romans 11). It is spoken of as a whole. To the nation belong these blessings. These earthly blessing are the blessings into which the believing Gentiles in the Acts Age were "grafted in." This is NOT resurrection life truth as these same Gentiles (not Jews) could be "cut off" from the root (Israel) if they became haughty against that root. 

Let's walk through Romans 15, starting with verses 1 and 2.

 

I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew.

This is the physical seed of Abraham. There is also a spiritual see of Abraham spoken of in the epistle to the Galatians. That seed is made up of both Jew and Gentile believers. But here in Romans 11 (as we see earlier in this epistle in a number of places, including our selection from Romans 9) we see the physical seed of Abraham, that is, the Jews.

A believing Gentile could never say "of the tribe of" as he, by definition, was of no tribe of Israel. We are squarely in the ground of physical and earthly Israel. So as we move ahead in the epistle, we must keep this context in mind.

I say then, have they [Israel] stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their [Israel's] fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Now if their [Israel's] fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their [Israel's] fullness!

Before us are two distinct groups: Israel and Gentiles. In the Acts Age, the rejection of the Kingdom preached by the Lord and his disciples has opened the door to certain blessings to Gentile believers. When Peter preached to Cornelius in Acts 10, he tells us Cornelius already believed. And Peter saw Gentile believers in Matthew 8 (the Centurion) and in Matthew 15 (the Canaanite woman). 

Acts 10 was years after Pentecost. So we can conclude two things from that chapter:

• There were no Gentiles at the Jewish Feast of Pentecost in Acts 2
• What surprised Peter was not Cornelius' faith, but that he received prophesied spiritual gifts

 

And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.

-Acts 10:45 

They'd never seen that. The pouring out of the Spirit at Pentecost was a partial fulfilment of the prophecy of Joel for Israel. To Israel "pertains the promises." This is all connected to those promises made to Israel. These have to do with what was spoken in scripture to Israel. And we know why God started to pour out his Spirit on Gentile believers. Paul (chosen Apostle to the Gentiles, the uncircumcision, who was redeemed in Acts 9) tells us it was to make unbelieving Israel jealous. The goal was to drive Israel to faith in the Messiah; the Messiah believed on by these gifted Gentiles.

For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

The context demands that Paul is speaking of physical Jews. These are Jews who had not believed yet in the Messiah (the Christ). With physical, earthly Israel in mind, Paul continues his teaching on the inclusion of Gentiles into Israel's EARTHLY blessings. We cannot read here that Gentiles were grafted into spiritual Israel by the new birth (the new nature). To do so, we would have to ignore Paul's arguments in Romans 1-8 solidifying that for anyone (Jew or Gentile), the gift of Resurrection Life is by grace alone through faith alone. The grafting in MUST be to Israel's earthly promises and hope.

We pause here to reference two people from scripture: Adam and the Malefactor on the cross. Neither of these had a hope of a kingdom or a priesthood. When the Malefactor asks the Lord to remember him when he comes into his Kingdom, the Lord promises him a place in "Paradise." That is a specific word. It is was Adam lost by his sin. It was Adam's hope and the hope of all before Abraham. We see in the Malefactor, it was still the hope of  believing Gentiles before the grafting in.

With the earthly blessings and the promises to physical Israel in mind, we continue. 

 

For I speak to you Gentiles... For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches were broken off, and you [Gentiles], being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them [Israel], and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.

Gentiles are warned not to boast against the branches that were cut off. These would be unbelieving Jews. Remember, ONLY GENTILE believers receive this warning. As with all truths in scripture, we must ask, "is this truth for today?" Do we practice this in this hour? Do we warn Gentile believers only not to boast against unbelieving Jews? Here we pause again to note that a Jew is still a Jew, unbelieving or not. For more, see our 3-Part series on "Who Is A Jew?"

You [Gentiles] will say then, “[Jewish]Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you [Gentiles] also will be cut off.  And they [Jews] also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

The Olive Tree is Israel. It is the place whence their blessings flow. For Israel has the inheritance and the promises. Jews are the "natural branches" for these blessings. Gentiles are also olive branches, but wild olive branches, That is, they have no fatness (blessings) unless grafted into the blessings of Israel. And just as they were grafted in, the could be "cut off." 

If we ignore the context and hold that the grafting in to Israel is the free gift, then the cutting off would deny what Paul had argued in the first eight chapters of this epistle. We'd have to conclude that resurrection life is not a gift of God. We could then boast that God is our debtor for we maintained our free gift. The gift would then no longer be a gift.

Do you see the pernicious implications behind misinterpreting this passage? Do you see why we must rightly divide Israel from Gentiles? Earthly blessings from heavenly? The gift of life from blessings and rewards and hopes? Why we must understand the inheritances and hopes (plural) in scripture? Why we must see the Acts Age hopes as different from the hope of this age?

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

“The Deliverer will come out of Zion,
And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob [physical, national Israel];
For this is My covenant with them [Israel],
When I take away their [Israel's] sins.”

This teaches us, from the prophets (remember, Paul taught nothing that was not found in Moses and the Prophets, Acts 26:22) that God's Plan always included the restoration of the Kingdom in Israel (Acts 1:1-6; Acts 3:12-22). This truth is truth revealed "from" or "since" the beginning of the world [ages] ("things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world [time]began" -Acts 3:21). The truths for today were hidden from the prophets and were hidden in God from "before" the ages began. The truths for today and its blessings (and riches) concern heavenly places, not the blessings of earth. We find these truth in the epistles written AFTER the Acts Age

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. To me [Paul], 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 dispensation [stewardship]of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places.

We pause to also see that Paul is now casting himself as "the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles." rather than as in chains "for the hope of Israel" as he teaches in Acts 28 ("because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain - Acts 28:20). Paul also testified to this at his trial in the Acts Age ("And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers. To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain" -Acts 26:6-7).

Again we see the twelve tribes and the fathers. The contrast here is with physical promises to Israel. We can never claim access or inclusion in either way. 

Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Finally, for this short study, we note that physical and national Israel became enemies of the gospel for the sake of God's plan (which was spoken by the Prophets) to bless Gentiles. But in noting that fact from the Acts Age, Paul reminds us (the Holy Spirit thus reminds us) that God's calling and Plan for Israel and the Kingdom and the Priesthood and the land are "irrevocable." There will be an Israel made up of believing Jews. The New Covenant with the House of Israel will come to pass.

There is a plan for national, physical Israel, and the induvial responsibility of Jews to believe. We must rightly divide these truths when we read scripture. 

We note again, however, this does not involve the calling or hope of the present age.

Revisiting Tartarus, Hades, Gehenna, and Judgments

Quick Refresher

We must note, Tartarus is not Hades. Hades (Sheol) is the state of the dead. Paul only uses "Hades" twice: once in regard to the Lord and the other in regard to believers (who remain dead until resurrection). It is not a place of torment. Paul was no "hellfire and brimstone" preacher. The enemy is death and the rescue from death is resurrection Life (1 Cor 15:21-26; 1 Cor 15:54-56; Rev 21:4; etc.)

Tartarus is only used once in all of scripture and is specific to the angels who sinned. Not sure where Tartarus is, but it could be connected with water.

For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to Tartarus and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment... 

-2 Peter 2:4
 

Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. 

-Revelation 9:14-15

Another word often unfortunately translated as "hell" (like Hades and Tartarus) is Gehenna. Gehenna is a specific place in the land (the Valley of Hinnom or the Valley of Slaughter - Jer 19:6). It is where a great future fire will burn (literally) and "carcasses" will be thrown in it. As with "the gates of Hades," the Lord is quoting Isaiah and not introducing a new idea when he speaks of the place where "their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched" (Mark 9:43-48). Again, the context of Isaiah 66 is a future event, concerning the land.

And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses (Hebrew: פֶּגֶר "peger" dead bodies) of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh. 

-Isaiah 66:24

If you read the entire passage, the context is the fulfillment of the New Covenant for Israel (which is hers and still future). She will take her place as a witness to the nations (Gentiles) and her place as a Kingdom of priests (the subject of the covenants). That's a bigger topic (The New Covenant).

The gift of resurrection Life has always been a free gift, by grace, through faith, since Adam. Nothing can alter that. However, there is a judgment of service and faithfulness for all servants. There are also different families of God (Eph 3:15) which will come together only alluded to in scripture. Before that, there are several different hopes.

The Hopes of Scripture

Some are hoping for a restored Paradise, others in the restored Kingdom (the subject of the Lord's earthly ministry and the apostles to the circumcision). The kingdom was forbidden to be preached to Gentiles or outside the land. (Matthew 10:5-7; Matthew 15:24; Romans 15:8; etc.)

This ministry had to do with the earth and the land. In fact, most of scripture concerns these hopes. There is a greater hope which is the New Jerusalem which comes down from the heavens to the earth. This is the hope of the "better resurrection" (Heb 11:35), "the city... whose builder and maker is God" (Heb 11:9-11). Then there is a hope which is in the "far above the heavens" (or in heavenly places). (Eph1:3; Eph 2:6). This was hidden from BEFORE the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4). The other hopes are FROM or SINCE the foundation of the world.

Paul preached only that which was taught by Moses and the Prophets in the Acts. He testified to this in his ministry and at his trial (Acts 22:26). But in Ephesians, he reveals a Mystery (there are several Mysteries in scripture), that is, a secret, which was given to Paul alone (Eph 3:8-12). It was "hidden in God from the foundation of the ages." It has do with heavenly places and has nothing to do with the promises to Abraham (the land) or to David (the promise of a Kingdom). Note that the 12 disciples are promised to "sit on 12 thrones" in the land in the kingdom "judging the 12 tribes of Israel". Earthly callings.

Heavenly places is where Christ sits. It is the place of true Holy of Holies (the earthly one was but a shadow) where Christ is building the true heavenly temple (Eph 3:19-22). Currently, the heavenly places are corrupted with the evil principalities and powers (they're not in "hell" ; Eph 3:10; Eph 6:12).

The earthly hopes have much to do with Israel as does the New Jerusalem (which has the names of the 12 tribes on it as well as the names of the 12 apostles to the circumcision). All, of any family of God, are saved by grace through faith, and all will face a judgment for service.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.


Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

Those Cast Into Outer Darkness

The judgment of being "cast into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth" has nothing to do with "hell" or with losing the free gift of Life. It concerns faithfulness and service. It is connected to "the gospel of the Kingdom" (Matt 4:23; Matt 9:35; Matt 24:14) which was and will be concerning Israel. Big topic, so I'll circle back to the outer darkness.

We first see this in Matthew 8. All we have at this point is the proclamation of the King and the Kingdom from John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus Christ. No idea or mention of his death.

And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

This is a judgment of "the sons of the kingdom." How many preachers point that out? The context is Israel and Gentiles. Some Gentiles will come and sit down with Abraham, but some sons (heirs) of the Kingdom will be cast out among the nations for faithlessness or poor service.

Gonna try and finish by noting the two other references. The next is in Matthew 22 regarding a "guest" from outside the land ("the highways") not having a wedding garment. We know from the Revelation (another Kingdom book) that white garments are "the righteous acts of the saints" (Rev 19:8) and is connected to the wedding of the Lamb (Rev 19:9). The overcomers are clothed in white garments (Rev 2 & 3).

The last occurrence of the casting out in Matthew is in regard to "servants."

For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.... “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Unbelievers are not the Lord's servants. There are two paths all believers are on (no matter the hope in view). We are either on the road to faithfulness and perfection (maturity) or on the road to unfaithful service and perdition (loss). Life is not in question, but reward.

And faithfulness includes being faithful to the calling to which we have been called (Eph 1:18; Eph 4:1). Not just "obeying the Bible." I can build an ark. I can start walking to Jerusalem. I can build a tabernacle. I can build a temple. I can slay Amorites. I can believe one of my descendants will sit on the throne in Jerusalem. I can sleep on my side for 40 days, I can start out for Nineveh, I can observe days, feasts, and ordinances. I can try to observe the Ten Commandments. I can place myself under various covenants. But God has not called us unto those things. Not everything is for all people of all ages in all hopes.

We have the highest and greatest calling in this age! We have "unsearchable riches in Christ!"

So we can be wicked in our bodies (adulteries, fornications, greed, hatreds, etc. etc. etc.) or we can go about busying ourselves trying to please God in the flesh according to another calling for another hope. Either way, I cannot lose the free gift, but I can lose reward, crowns, or the Prize of the High Calling (Phil 3:14). Note, our calling is a "high calling." It has to do with a place in the far above the heavens. This is why we shouldn't busy ourselves with the ordinances and commands regarding the land, the kingdom, and the earth (Col 2).

Revisiting the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13)

 After looking back at my summation of the Parable of Sower in our series on the Kingdom parables of Matthew 13, I realized I needed to add some more context and depth. The two posts work together. 

Context

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.

-Matthew 4:23

 

We need to understand that the context of the parable is not the gospel of the grace of God by faith in the death burial and resurrection of the Lord. Apart from the obvious reason that none of that had happened yet, they didn't even know it was going to happen. The Lord announced his impending death in Matthew 16:21-23 to his disciples. They refused to believe it. So, they certainly were not preaching it (as we shall see) nor was the Lord referencing here in Matthew 13.

The context of Matthew 13 is the gospel of the Kingdom announced by the Lord in Matthew 4:23 and Matthew 9:35. Young's Literal Translation calls it "the word of the reign." This is the message he sent the 12 to preach in Matthew 10:5-7. Note that it was forbidden to be preached to anyone but to Jews and only in the land of Israel (Matt 10:5-7). It involves the Kingdom and Reign of the Lord on earth. 

This is what the Olivet Discourse and the Revelation and the Prophets (and related scriptures) are about. That is, this is part of God's plan for the earth (Israel land... as is The Book of Matthew). These are the "promises made to the fathers" and "the hope of Israel" taught by Paul and the Lord's mission during the Acts Age.

Matthew starts his gospel with the genealogy of the Lord back to Abraham (the promise of the Land) and David (the promise of the throne and a Kingdom for his seed). The meek shall inherit the earth (not heaven). They will pray in the Tribulation that God's will "be done on earth as it is in heaven." The twelve are promised to sit on 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel, in the kingdom, on the earth. Even the New Jerusalem comes down to earth (the land). Most of scripture deals with God's plan for Israel and for the earth. The Tree of Life and Paradise are not restored until the very end.

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: 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

We know from Matthew 15 that the Lord, in dealing with a Gentile woman who called him "Son of David" (for which she had no right) stated that he was "not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matt 5:24). He did not lie.

Peter confirms this in Acts 3 when he addresses "ye men of Israel" and promises them that if they repented, the Lord would return (we do not preach this today). Paul states in Romans 15:8 and at his trial that the Lord came to confirm the promises made "to the fathers." The Kingdom is "the hope of Israel." (As noted above)

[Here we should consider the gentile centurion in Matthew 8 and the future role of Israel as priests for the nations in Zechariah]

The Centrality of the Restoration of Israel

After the Lord's resurrection he spent 40 days teaching the disciples, who had their understanding opened about the Kingdom (Acts 1:3). They had one question: "will you, at this time, restore the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6). They didn't misunderstand him for 40 days about the Kingdom and the Lord does not correct them.

So, the sowing in Matthew 13 (The Parables of the Kingdom) is not about the individual gift of resurrection life (although that's part of it), it is about national Israel (which does include individuals). We note quickly here again that this specific "gospel of the Kingdom" will again be preached in the future (Matthew 24:9-14). It will preached during the tribulation "and then the end will come."

And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations [gentiles]; and then shall the end come.

In the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats in Matthew 25 we see the "nations" judged for how they treated "the least of these my brethren" (the Jews) during the Tribulation. We must see the centrality of Israel and the God's plan for the land and the earth in the synoptic gospels (especially in Matthew) if we are going to understand the parables.

What we see in the parable of the Sower: 

the different sowings of the gospel of the Kingdom to Israel.

In Matthew 12, The Lord was accused of being "possessed of a demon." This was the unpardonable sin. From that time, he began to speak in parables as a judgment (he left the HOUSE and went down by the sea). Part of that judgment was that he began to speak to the multitudes in parables (no longer plain speech). This judgment upon Israel was prophesied by Isaiah and thus quoted by the Lord here.

Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:

‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,
And seeing you will see and not perceive;
For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.’

-Matthew 13:13-15 

Parables are cryptic and hard to be understood. They are given so that only the diligent will understand.

And the disciples came, and said unto him, "Why speakest thou unto THEM in parables? 11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to THEM it is not given.

A Brief Summary

The parables of the kingdom are given to Israel and are difficult to discern. The Parable of the Sower lays out the different sowings to the people of Israel in the past and in the "end" (Matthew 24). We know the seed is, specifically, "the word of the kingdom" (Matthew 13:19) here. This is for Israel. "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The restoration of the Kingdom in Israel (Acts 1:3-6) was close, if they would accept it. 

We see four sowings in the parable. In the Parable of the Tares we are told the sower there is "the Son of Man," we are not told that in the first parable. There is a surface meaning which can apply in any age. There will always be those who reject scripture, those who accept gladly, but shrink away because of persecution or love of the world; and some who are radically changed. But here the meaning is deeper and the context is the "word of the Kingdom."

As we noted, the gospel of the kingdom is for Israel alone. In this parable we see the great prophetic sowings of the gospel of the kingdom offer to Israel (the land):

1. John the Baptist: Israel hardly affected. Birds representing the evil one.

2. The Lord Jesus: we see great swelling crowds cheering the Lord. But their faith is short-lived. Within days of hailing Him as the King of Israel, they are calling for his crucifixion.

3. The Apostles in the Acts: the 12 "went to Jews only" (Acts 11) and ministered the gospel to the circumcision. They wrote epistles to the Jewish dispersion. Paul went "to the Jew first" in that age. But while there was a great move of faith in the early days, when pressure and persecution came, many returned to the slavery of the law (minus the finished work). Jews kept the Law in the Acts age, but were to never mix it with grace or to impose it on Gentiles (apart from where scripture imposed it). We also see the future persecution during the tribulation in Israel. Many considered the message, but rejected it in the end.

[The present age, hidden from the prophets (Eph 3), is not seen in the parables of Matthew 13. This is the age of the Parable of the Wedding invitation which goes out to the highways and byways to find guests for the wedding, not a Bride, Matthew 22]

4. Fruit in the Tribulation and the End: Finally, during Israel's time of distress (the time of Jacob's trouble) the true is separated from the false... then when Israel sees her king, whom she has pierced, they weep for the ultimate son of Abraham. This is the message that goes out in the Revelation. Then the New Covenant with the House of Israel (to whom it is given)l comes in.

I can't quote the New Covenant here in toto, but it should be read in Jeremiah 31 and Hebrews 8. It is yet future. It is for Israel. Just a slice of it:

“Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— 32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

“And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn..."
-Zech 12:10

Israel and her promises and her kingdom and her covenants is the context (especially in Matthew).

If we do not see Israel and God's promises and plans in regard to the promised land and the promised earthly kingdom, we will not understand the parables. Quick food for thought: the Gospel of John contains no parables.

For Reference: The Prophetic Word on the Ministries of John the Baptist and of Our Lord:

The fruit shall be of Israel

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.  For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.  And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.  He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

There is also a future prophecy of the Lord's ministry and reign over Israel.

Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel...


And behold, you [Mary] will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever [for the ages], and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

Related: Are We Preaching the Right Gospel?

All the Bible Is For You, Very Little Is To You

We have covered the topic of "rightly dividing the Word of Truth" in many ways on these pages (it's the underlying scripture for Context or Confusion). But I wanted to pause again and remind us that while "all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable," not all of it is written to us. 

We've looked at obvious examples like the command to build an ark and the command to not eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil,  and the promise to sit on one of twelve thrones in the coming earthly kingdom, etc. But these age-specific commands and prohibitions and promises go far beyond our few examples. The New Covenant itself is claimed by the vast majority of Christendom while this covenant has nothing to do with the grace of this current age.

As noted, we've looked at this topic in many ways over the last few years, so I will simply pull out two of the more common abuses from the many examples of the robbing of Israel.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

-Jeremiah 29:11

 

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

-2 Chronicles 7:14

The ripping out of these verses from their contexts is a symptom of Christendom starting from the position that anything they want in scripture is theirs for the taking. God has a plan. That plan has many gaps in it. It has many facets. It has many families. Our goal is to find our place in God's plan and learn to "walk according the calling to which we have been called."

And much of this is coming from supposed, confessed dispensationalists. The problem gets much darker and far more sinister when we examine the current and historical evil fruits of Reformed and Replacement Theology. We have also looked at the evil coming out of the various Hebrew Roots movements. 

For this short study, let's quickly look at the context of the two verses we've chosen. This should remind us how we are to handle many things in scripture. First, let's look at the context of our verse from Jeremiah 29:

 

For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.

This part of an immediate and a future application for the nation of Israel. Of course, we can learn about the character of God from this passage (it is profitable), but we can't claim, as individual Christians, that God will "prosper" our business ventures or career choices or anything in particular in this age. We are not a nation being brought back to a promised land from captivity. The greater context of this promise is chastisement. Israel was brought back from a national chastisement. It's not really an individual promise at all.

Now we turn to 2 Chronicles. We looked at the context of this oft-quoted verse in a previous study from last April: CONTEXT OF 2 CHRONICLES 7

Pulling the lens back, this is what this blog is all about; rightly dividing the Word of Truth. We don't do this to be clever or to simply promote a theological position or distinction (certainly not to push any denomination). We do it so we can properly serve God in the age in which we live. We want to walk in truth. We want to walk according to the new nature according to the calling to which we have been called.

Just as sacrificing animals in this age is a denial of the work of Christ, so too are many things Christendom practices which are given to other ages and other families of God. Those sacrificing animals may feel holy, but it is an illusion. Similarly, those practicing water baptism and the Lord's Supper may feel they are being obedient, but they are missing the true blessings of the current dispensation and its hope.

We've looked at this topic in many ways on these pages. But for those who may be new to this understanding, let me link just a few studies and helpful website.

• The Bible from 30,000 feet
• Rightly Dividing the Epistles
• The Place of the Book of Acts
• The Present Age - Part 1
• Bibleunderstanding.com

This is not to say I separate from Christians who do not see these distinctions. Rather, I simply implore my brothers and sisters to mark the things that differ in scripture and seek to rightly divide the Word of Truth.

Applying Right Division to Firefly

On my podcast, I've covered the topic of filtering. That is, the practice of taking all you see and hear and filter through the lens of scripture and true Christianity. Two simple examples: Supertramp's "Lord is it Mine" or George Harrison's "Give Me Love" (with one lyrical correction) can bring my thoughts to the true Lord. 

Obviously, this has its limits (we can't filter porn, for example). It might also show up in places unexpected. As we have noted on this blog in several posts, some of the "beloved hymns of the faith" contain some bad theology. Sometimes, then, I have to filter the hymns. So, filtering is not just for secular things, it should apply to all things. Another way to look at some Christian content is to eat the orange and spit out the seeds.

Taking a purely secular case, a 2002 episode of the futuristic science fiction program "Firefly" features one of the main characters being marked as a witch for her "uncanny perceptions." When we're first introduced to the town which eventually tries to burn her at the stake, we hear them thanking the Lord and we are given the impression they run their society by biblical standards.

When the character mentioned is perceived to be a witch, a townswoman quotes from Exodus 22:18

Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. 

Well, that is scriptural. It's part of the Law. It is a command from God to His people... that is, his people, ISRAEL, in the land, under the covenant of the Kingdom of priests [Exodus 19:5-7].

Before we apply Right Division to verse 18, let's look at the immediate context and verse 20.

He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed.

Did Israel go about destroying every person and every nation anywhere which sacrificed unto any other God than unto Yahweh? No. This command, as the other, is for Israel, in her land, for her kingdom. Do we obey this command in the current age (whether in the land or not)? No. So, neither Israel in the age of the Law outside the land nor we in this age anywhere take this as a "Bible command to be obeyed" without recognizing its time and place.

Whereas most people think these are ridiculous examples, they are actually quite relevant. If we're going to go about grabbing verses and commands and instructions from anywhere we want in scripture, we're going to have to deal with these verses (and the many like them).

However, when we apply the sound scriptural practice of "rightly dividing the Word of Truth," we recognize that these commands are not only not for today, they were never given to anyone apart from Israel in the land. 

What the Regression to Judaism Gets Right and Wrong

A Dangerous Movement

On this blog, I have covered the emergence of the use of "Yeshua" (the Anglicized rendering of the Hebrew name for "Jesus"). We noted that while there is nothing wrong with this use, it is not particularly biblical or more correct than any other rendering of the Lord's earthly name.

• Post on Use of Yeshua HaMashiach 
• Post on Use of Yeshua and Yahweh
• Names of God and the Hebrews Roots Movement
• More on the Use of "Yeshua"
• More on the Names of God

I quote from one of these studies, a Judaizer I encountered in 2016:

As one writer chastised us in a group, “Yahushua Ha maschiach is the only way , truth , and life in the Father Yahuwah!” He went on to argue, “jzeus [sic] christ [sic] is not the messiah !!!!!!!” Exclamation points in the original.

Do you see the pride screaming through? Do you see the obsession with semantics over, ironically, Anglicized words? 

This sort of argument is not only destructive, it is a condemnation of the Holy Spirit and the chosen vessels who gave us the books of what we refer to as The New Testament (the Greek Canon). In a related bit of irony, the writers of the gospels and epistles often preferred to use the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Canon, in their books. 

We  also noted there are a number of people in scripture who share the name "Yeshua" (Hebrew and Greek canons). As notd above, the Holy Spirit has inspired the writers of the Greek texts to use the Greek rendering (ιησους [ee-ay-sooce]). 

There is also the matter of pronouns. That is, pronouns are used of all sorts in scripture, but, as we know, it is context that gives us the reference. Thus, as with pronouns, The Lord knows to whom we refer in our hearts when we say "Jesus" or "Yeshua" or "Joshua" or "ιησους " etc. And even then, to which  "Jesus" we are referring. Scripture says there is "another Jesus" (2 Cor 11) that Satan and false teachers teach. The Lord warned many would "come in my name" (Matt 24:5), yet be false. It is not just the name, it is the object of the name in the heart of the user.

While there is an innocent side to the sudden ubiquitous usage of the earthly name "Yeshua," there is a dark, sinister side lurking below. We have seen elements of this in our 3-part look at the booklet, "Who is a Jew" and in other studies on the Hebrew movement.

Who is a Jew?

• PART 1
• PART 2
• PART 3

We pause here to distinguish those who do accept and teach the finished work of the Savior and the free gift of Life gained by grace alone, with those factions which seek to combine grace and Law for Life. While we disagree strongly on any move towards slavery to the Law or false pride in assumed obedience, we still accept, as brothers and sisters in the Lord, those who teach an all-sufficient salvation in Christ's work alone. 

With that said, and without softening in the least previous warnings, I do want to show how even a misguided movement can get some things right.

We know the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches get the Trinity right while making horrific errors on so many other matters (especially on the gift of resurrection life itself). So as we recognize a correct doctrine which may help some see the truths of Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth, we certainly are not endorsing an entire movement. In fact, I can see essentially no good in any Hebrew/Jewish movement in the current age.

The concept the Judaizes get right: Paul was a Torah-Observant Jew

Let us revisit Paul's visit to James in Jerusalem. 

“You see, brother [Paul], 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. What then? The assembly must 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 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 21:20-25

Paul is accused by the Jewish believers (Christians) in Jerusalem of telling Jews living among the Gentiles (specifically) they no longer had to keep the Law (note: he's not accused of teaching this to all Jewish believers). This is the Acts Age. And we note that Paul does not argue that any believing Jew should not keep the (non-sacrificial) law. Paul goes out of his way to prove to the Jewish believers that he practices and teaches that he and Jewish believers should continue to practice elements of the Law (including circumcision). We looked at the circumcision of Timothy during the Acts Age in a previous post.

But just because this was a practice then, does not mean it is a practice for Jewish believers today.

Paul is quick to note that the grafted-in Gentiles as part of God's plan to make Israel jealous, do not have to keep the Law but "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" (cp Acts 15). Gentiles were grafted into Israel's blessings (Rom 11), not into the free gift of Life. They were grafted in to Israel promises having to do with the land and the earthly Kingdom, not into a future resurrection. The Jew was still "first" in the Acts Age. And Gentiles alone were warned they could be "cut off" from those blessings (Rom 11). This cutting off, also, has nothing to do with the gift of Life.

The Gift of Eternal Resurrection Life has ALWAYS been by grace alone.

So, Paul was "Torah-observant" in the Acts Age. And Gentiles were only temporarily grafted-in to the root of Israel for the sake of making her jealous. We refer again to Peter's offer in Acts 3 that if ISRAEL repented the Lord would return to restore all things. We refer again to the instruction the 12 had from the Lord concerning the restoration of the kingdom to Israel in Acts 1. 

Paul, late into the Book of Acts, gives witness to the promises made to the fathers (this was the Lord's earthly ministry as well, Rom 15:8) and to "the hope of Israel." Paul went about in the Acts Age, "witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come." This changed in Paul's Post-Acts ministry.

Preaching the earthly Kingdom, the coming of the King, the blessings and promises to the people of Israel is the setting of the Book of Acts. The Acts was a continuation of the offer of the Kingdom by the King while he was on earth. The Lord was rejected, but he forgave Israel on the cross and gave her another 35 years to repent (the Acts Age). She failed.

Israel will one day come to the Lord (in the age to come), but after the 35 year trial period, the Lord revealed through Paul alone the current age. The current Dispensation. The current Stewardship. This current age was hidden from "before the overthrow of the ages." It was not known. We are in the parenthesis. This age is from before the Law, before Adam, before all other ages. It's hope is "in the far above the heavens" and is not of the earth (as are Israel's Kingdom and blessings). 

This is why we do not observe "earthly ordinances" such as feasts (including the Lord's Supper, which is Passover), Sabbaths, cleansings (water baptisms) or the like. These have the appearance of humility and obedience, but it is a "false humility" and the perceived obedience will fail the flesh. These are works for another hope, another blessing, another age. There is no reward in them.

In this current parenthesis (and scripture has a number of these parentheses), all are Gentiles. The middle wall has come down. There is no call for being "Torah-Observant." And whereas that  was commendable in a previous age, it is condemnable in this age. 

Men and women, while believing they are pleasing God by pretending they actually keep things like the Sabbath, are losing reward. They are running the race according to the wrong rules. It's as though they are building an ark for a a flood that is not coming, in an age with no Nephilim. Is building an ark biblical? Yes, But for another age. It brings no reward for "obedience" in this age.

I do not stand in judgment of those who believe they are observing the Torah. That is the Lord's purview. What I am doing is warning them of the calling of this age to perhaps rescue some and to warn those tempted by the lure of false pride and outward appearance to be taken in by their doctrines. Some who are taken in will fall into slavery and fear, others into pride. Worst case scenario, some will deny the finality of the work of Christ from the cross to the resurrection.

We recently looked at related topics:

• Gentiles and the Law
• Back to Basics: We Must Rightly Divide to Understand Scripture

In our most recent study, we looked at the two possible destinies of the Christian. We are either headed for Perfection (Maturity) or Perdition (Waste and Loss). We can only achieve maturity if we run the race according to the rules of the calling to which we have been called. If not, if we try to run by the rules of another calling, we may find ourselves "disqualified" from prizes, crowns, rewards, etc.

Please consider two multi-part studies on the Christian Life:

• Walking in the Spirit - Part 1 (6-Part Series)
• Walk Worthy - Part 1 (5-Part Series)

Perfection or Perdition, Don't Find Yourself Disqualified

 Every believer has passed from death unto Life. Every believer has this future resurrection life hid in Christ in God. God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting our trespasses against us (2 Cor 5:18-19). When we come to Christ, we are reconciled to him (for he is already reconciled to us).

From that moment, we have the choice to walk according to the flesh (old nature)or according to the spirit (new nature). We are headed either towards Perfection (maturity) or Perdition (loss).

This is the choice in every age:

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age [the mature], even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection [maturity]; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. -Hebrews 5:12-14; 6:1-2

 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition [waste/loss]; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul [psychḗ]. -Hebrews 10:38-39

The context here is believing Jews in the Acts Age, but the principle remains and is consistent in all of scripture. Not all who left Egypt entered the land (including Moses). Not all who have an inheritance in the coming kingdom will enjoy it (some will be cast into outer darkness). Not all who sought a place in the New Jerusalem will earn it. Not all who seek to obtain the prize will obtain it.

Not all hopes are available to all men of all ages, but that's another matter for another time. The CONCEPT here is in the idea of running a race. In every age, a believer is running a race. The hopes and rewards and rules may differ, but they all run. We run the race to obtain the prize (for we cannot "obtain" that which is a free gift; reconciliation and resurrection life).

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. -1 Cor 9:24

There are BETTER things available for those who persevere and suffer for the Lord.

Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us. -Hebrews 35:35-40

Each family of God has an inheritance at stake. Again this is not the gift of life of which we speak, it is the right to the inheritance. This is the difference between a "child" and a "son" (don't trust the KJV on this point). We become children by faith, sons by right to an inheritance. A son can forfeit an inheritance. One can be a child and not the heir of an inheritance. We saw this pictured in Moses and Esau. We achieve, win, obtain, and qualify for certain hopes by both unyielding faith and our works.

The works of our hands are the "things that accompany salvation".

For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. -Hebrews 6:7-12

As we've noted in another post there are MANY sins into which a Christian may fall (which we listed). These range from gossip, to greed, to adultery, to murder. One simple sin is to become "sluggish" or "lazy." We have an inward enemy (the flesh) and outward enemy (Satan and the principalities and powers). The world system, our own old nature, and the prince and power of the air work to rob of us reward (for they cannot touch the finished work of Christ).

Instructions and Warnings for This Age

Now let's turn to the our apostle Paul's Epistle to the Philippians. Philippians is a parallel book to Hebrews. Both speak of moving on, not looking back, and striving. Whereas Hebrews addresses Jews and their history (in great detail) and the race that was set before them (and will be again), we find our instructions and hope for the current age in Philippians 

Paul is again encouraging striving, never for the free gift, but for maturity in this age wherein are the crowns, rewards, and prize laid out before us. Along with the aforementioned enemies which hider us, Paul warns there are fellow believers who may hinder our race as we strive to reach forward.

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction [perdition/waste], whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things...

The world has no choice but to set its mind on earthly things. In this passage, Paul is comparing his walk with the chosen walks of other believers. These are believers who have set their minds on earthly things. The key word here is EARTHLY. This is slightly different than WORLDLY things, but similar.

There are things "of the earth" which were good. The sanctuary was "of the earth." Hebrews 9 speaks of these "earthly" things which reflected other realities, but they were deficient. They had a place, and will have a place, in regard to the earth. But even in the Book of Hebrews, those there are warned not to fall back into the immaturity of these things.

It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect [mature/brought to full fruition] in regard to the conscience— concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation. -Hebrews 9:9-10

Even the Jew had to understand the limited and temporary place of the ordinances of the Law (even as he practiced them). We must be even more diligent in this age not to get caught up in earthly ordinances as we have never been given these as a matter of practice. They are particular to Israel and the earthly promises (as we saw in our look at Gentiles and the Law in Israel). In the current age, Paul warns us as well about certain fellow Christians. Note in Paul's warning to Gentile believers that the outward religion (even if holy and good) is insufficient even to deal with the flesh.

In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ... So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival [feast day] or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

There are earthly commands for an earthly calling to accomplish God's plan for the land and the earth. These have nothing to do with the heavenly calling. They may make us feel puffed up, but they are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh. It is a self-imposed, not a God-imposed religion.

Circumcision is given as an example here as in Romans. From Adam, to Abel, to Enoch, to Noah, to Abraham, ALL believed and were redeemed in uncircumcision. The circumcision has to do with the Earth/Land. It has to do with the earthly covenant. It has to do with Israel's promises. It is never commanded of anyone else. As we saw in our last study, only Gentiles in the land, under the terms of the Old Covenant, were subject to things like the Sabbath. 

Adam and Eve were given ONE command in the Garden. They knew nothing of any covenants. They had no hope in any particular land or throne. This held true for 2000 years until Abraham. From Abraham through the rest of scripture until the end of the Acts Age, no Gentile is ever seen or spoken of except in context of a Jew. 

Jonah (the prophet from Galilee) went to the great nation of Assyria. One Jew opens up a look at the great city of Nineveh. And in that encounter, he preaches nothing of the covenant of Exodus 19 unto them, for it has nothing to do with Nineveh. That wicked nation knew it was wicked. They need to turn from wickedness unto God, not unto the Passover or tabernacle or washings, etc. The King of Nineveh called for all to "turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands" (Jonah 3:8). 

Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it. -Jonah 3:10

How does one, in the matter of one day, turn from not keeping the Passover or the Sabbath? These were unknown in Nineveh. They had what all men have, a conscience. They knew what their works and their ways were evil in the mind and in the flesh. As with the uncircumcised gentile in Matthew 8 (to who it was forbidden to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom), there was a way to life by faith alone. 

Again, we looked at this and other examples in our previous study, so we'll leave it there.

Pulling the lens back to our look at Perfection or Perdition, if we want to qualify for the prize that is set before us, we must run the race according to the rules and in light of the inheritance before us in the age in which we live.

We turn again to the obvious and simple example of Noah. Noah's race had nothing to do with the Passover. Nothing to do with the Ten Commandments. Nothing to do with a heavenly calling. Noah obeyed the word of the Lord for his day. He was not concerned with "the promises made to the fathers" (Rom 15:8)  or the other ages listed and we are not concerned with following the edicts of his age (or Adam's or Moses' or David's or of the Acts Age, or the promises made to the fathers, etc.).

We must go on to maturity by running the race of this age of a heavenly calling. This is the race which is set before us. We are not to get dragged down into the commands and practices of another inheritance for another people in another age on the earth. This may puff us up, but our end will be perdition (loss, waste). 

Gentiles and the Law in Israel

We have looked at the Old and New Covenants many times before. I encourage readers interested in the future nature of the New Covenant to search the blog for that phrase. We have also discussed the book, "Who is a Jew?" and we've post a 3-part study under that title. The answer to that question might also interest the reader.

Here we want to focus in on Gentiles in the land, under the Law, and how it apples to this age (if at all).

We start with a little background.

The covenant of the Law is introduced 2400 years from Adam and 400 years from Abraham. It has to do with the land, the kingdom, and the priesthood. In this age, we are not "a kingdom of priests" and neither was Israel under the Old Covenant since they failed. This is part of the yet future New Covenant. It is all of the earth. Do you believe you are a priest? The you must answer the question: a priest for whom?

And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.” 

-Exodus 19:3-6

This covenant is not given to "strangers." In the Law, unless one got circumcised, he remained a "stranger" [Gentile]. If he was in the land, he was not to pollute it, but that only applied to Gentiles in the land.

But, there are more than just Israelites in view in this passage. In THEIR [Israel's] kingdom, THEY will be PRIESTS. Priests for whom? Themselves? No, priests for the nations in the coming kingdom age. This promise has nothing to do with the period from Adam-Abram (the land) nor  the period from Adam-Moses (the kingdom) nor with the Post Acts Calling in the heavenly places.

The Lord Jesus Christ forbade "the gospel of the Kingdom" to be preached to Gentiles or outside of Israel (Matthew 10:5-7). This is after he commends the centurion's faith and juxtaposes it with the "sons of the Kingdom" (Jews) in Chapter 8. But the kingdom was only to be preached to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

To whom does the Lord say he was sent? *“I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Is he a liar? No. Paul tells us in Romans 15:8, the Lord Jesus was sent "to confirm the promises made to the fathers." On Pentecost, Peter preached to Jews only. He made an offer to Jews only. The 12 (save once) preached to Jews only.

In Acts 21, we see Jewish believers keeping the Law (including circumcision) and the Gentile believers limited to the "necessary" things (cp. Acts 15:28) which are laid out in no uncertain terms.

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

In Romans 9, Paul speaks of the "grafting in" of Gentiles into the root of Israel.

We are told why the temporary grafting in happened. It was specifically to make Israel jealous. That is, there was still an Israel and Gentiles were grafted in (and could be cut out) to the earthly promises of Israel. Yet, they still did not have to be circumcised or keep all the Law. 

There have always been believers not part of Israel from Adam on. They are separate. They do not come under Israel or the Law by faith (and neither do we). Solomos speaks of a believer who comes from outside Israel. Such a person is not subject the rules of the land. Gentiles observing with Israel are only those in the land, for the sake of the land. They have no promise of a priesthood, etc., but they cannot pollute the land. 

Moreover, concerning a foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, but has come from a far country for the sake of Your great name and Your mighty hand and Your outstretched arm, when they come and pray in this temple; 3then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple which I have built is called by Your name.  

-2 Chron 6:32-33

I can't do an entire survey of the OT, but there are promises and warnings specific only to Israel and only in the land. Gentiles to whom Jonah preached in Nineveh, for example, since they did not live in the land, did not have to keep the Law. Daniel, outside the land, never told a Gentile to keep the law. It is land, kingdom, priesthood specific. And even then, a Gentile could not participate in the Passover unless he was circumcised (Ex 12:48; Num 9:14).

When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, when they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin because You afflict them, then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk; and send rain on Your land which You have given to Your people as an inheritance.

There were believers under the Covenant in Israel and "strangers to the covenants and promises" yet believers. The Covenants (both Old and New) have always dealt with the land; always with the priesthood of Israel. And the New Covenant is yet future. It is not here. There is no priesthood. And if there were, a priesthood for whom?

The Case of Cornelius

Cornelius was not the first Gentile to have faith unto Life. We saw the Centurion in Matthew 8 and the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15 have faith. But the disciples were forbidden to preach the "gospel of the kingdom" or that the kingdom was "at hand" to Gentiles. That did not mean Gentiles could not have Life. And did the centurion or the woman (called a "little dog" separate from "the children") obey the Law? No.

What astonished the 12 about Cornelius was not that he believed, but rather that he received the same gifts of the Spirit as they (Jews). This was start of the "grafting in." They knew Gentiles could believe, they'd seen it in the earthly ministry of Iēsoûs Christos [Jesus Christ]. Cornelius was a believer when Peter arrived. He then had the Spirit fall and he displayed gifts (before he was baptized, btw).

Then Peter said to them, “You know how unlawful it is [present tense] for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation [gentiles]. But God has shown me that I should [no longer] call any man common or unclean. 

-Acts 10:28 

 

Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— that word you know...
-Acts 10:34-37a

Cornelius knew the preaching of peace through Jesus Christ. So, why did he not already have the gifts seen on Pentecost? Because the grafting in started with him, and its purpose was to make Israel jealous. This is the purpose of the Acts Age. In our study on the Parable of the Sower, we saw that this is parallel to the third sowing (the first being John the Baptist and the second by the Lord Jesus).

The Canaanite woman in Matthew 15 (during the Lord's earthly ministry) addressed him as "Son of David." Gentiles do not have the right to address him that way. when a Jew addressed him that way, he listened. When the gentile woman used that title, the Lord ignores her and compares her to a little dog.

Earthly Ordinances

We saw that Gentiles living outside the land were never preached the Law nor the Gospel of the Kingdom.  We that the Lord forbade his disciples from doing so. These are not what we would call "salvation" truths. They are obedience and maturity and reward truths. They are connected to the promises of the land and the Kingdom in Israel as we have seen.

So, while in the land, a stranger could live among Israel, but he was required to observe the things pertaining to the earthly. These are the "earthly ordinances" of the hope of the Kingdom. 

We must distinguish between these two enemies of the Christian: things that are "worldly" (which appeal to the lower nature of the flesh) and thins that are "earthly" (which appeal to the religious nature and pride of the believer). Both can rob you of your reward. We must walk according to the calling to which we have been called (Eph 4:1).

Keep the Law

Why does the Lord tell the young ruler to keep the law to enter into life, he is speaking of the Kingdom on earth, not resurrection life in the far above the heavens. Matthew 19

Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good[Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”

So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

He said to Him, “Which ones?”

Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”

Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect [mature/qualified], go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

The Lord does not contradict that the man kept the commandments listed and adds a layer of requirement to test his heart. Is the Lord teaching "Justification by Law Plus Philanthropy" (we note "justification" as well as "salvation" are context dependent)? No. The Lord is still preaching the coming Kingdom. This is especially true in all of Matthew.

We see the Lord reference the "gospel of the Kingdom" (which he preached in Matthew 4 and 9) in regard to Israel and the Tribulation in Matthew 24.

But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

We do not believe this is "justification by endurance." This is physical salvation during the Tribulation. They must endure both in body and spirit. This does not mean martyrs miss out on anything. Quite the contrary. But he is about to tell "those who are in Judea flee to the mountains." The context is heeding his warning with promise of deliverance if they endure.

Remember, the gospel of the kingdom was to be preached to JEWS ONLY. When the Lord returns to rescue faithful Israel and take David's throne in the land THEM the gospel of the Kingdom will be preached by Israel to the nations [gentiles].

All of this is predicated on understanding God's different plans for different companies of believers and understanding the different between God's plans for earth, the New Jerusalem, the new earth, and the far above the heavens. 

Adam looked for Paradise restored. Abraham looked for the New Jerusalem. David looked for his seed to sit on an age-enduring throne. Israel looks for its promises in the land and kingdom and as a Kingdom of priests. We look for a calling with is not earthly, but rather it is in the "far above the heavens where Christ dwells."

If we muddle up those different callings, we'll miss our calling and our reward.