The Lightstreet Journal

Guilty no more!

Why it is important to fully understand the accomplishments of Christ at Calvary on our behalf......

And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: - Colossians 1:20,21

I was recently talking to a dear friend of mine about the embarrassment of past sins in our lives when the topic of guilt came into focus. I told him that whether or not he knew it, he had quoted the bible in his inward struggles! In Romans chapter 6, Paul talked of sin that believers would look back on with 'new eyes' and be embarrassed about. We read in verses 19 through 21 of that same chapter: I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. In this context, Webster defines guilt as: "feelings of culpability especially for imagined offenses or from a sense of inadequacy : morbid self-reproach often manifest in marked preoccupation with the moral correctness of one's behavior {aggressive responses originating in inner guilt and uncertainty}

The bible tells us that we are indeed sinners but believers must remember that the completed work of Jesus Christ not only removed our sins, but our guilt as well! As a matter of fact, nowhere in Paul's letters do we read about guilt being an issue for a child of God. The only guilt mentioned in the gospel of the grace of God has to do with unbelievers. (in this context; ref. Rom. 3:19 - RICK)

You may ask then; "If what you are saying is true, how can I overcome my feelings of guilt?" Some of the most frequent answers you will hear may or may not bring rest in a believers heart when being pounded with real, overwhelming, feelings of guilt. These answers include:

we're all human and after all not perfect
just forget about it
don't be so negative
read the bible, you'll feel better

While all of the above answers may have an element of truth in them, God has something for us that is much more complete! While we know through the definition above that guilt is "self-inflicted", Jesus Christ would approve of us doing more than just "reading the bible" for superstition sake for a certainty. Others may even feel compelled to read in order to avoid the perceived "wrath of God". Instead, God has made it clear in His word through what Paul received from Jesus Christ on this matter. It is here where reading the bible begins to form doctrine so that our lives take on new meaning and purpose according to the Master Architect!

One of the many great things about the message of grace is that nowhere in Paul's letters will you find him 'rubbing our noses' in past sin. The One who loved us enough to die for us while giving us His own righteousness in the process, does not want us to labor but to live for Him! It is this distinct gospel that He gave Paul that describes our former state in unbelief so that we may understand the consequences of sin from a practical sense. But Paul describes our position in Jesus Christ to be unchanging despite ourselves and our failures! "But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." - Colossians 1: 22,23

The bible presents an interesting dichotomy of sorts in regards to man's sin on this very issue we are discussing. How can we grasp the magnitude and destructiveness of sin while understanding it no longer has a grip on us? While digesting and 'chewing the cud' on Christ's accomplishments on our behalf, we also will read and study the bible as it refers to literally thousands of examples of sin, its destructive trail and the lives it ruins. But Paul refers back to our sinful past only to remind us of the abundance of the riches of His grace and for that purpose alone! Yes, he rebukes Corinth, but it's his doctrine which speaks of reconciliation, peace with God and a joyful remembrance of the new creatures we have become in Christ Jesus. This "gospel of grace" given only to Paul, speaks of God tabernacling in us as the 'new' temple. This "revelation of the mystery" encourages believers to renew our mind as part of our lives in order to think on things that edify us.

God wants His children to be thankful while expressing that thankfulness through love towards one another. It is the love of Christ that should constrain us to do just that!

"But exclusively and only through Christ do we have the opportunity to have His perfection charged to us, His righteousness deposited into our account and His liberty to sustain us forever!"

It is the understanding of Christ's great love for us that will free us from our self-inflicted state of guilt. After all, if God the Father says we are reconciled to Jesus Christ and that we have taken on His very righteousness, then where is the sin and its associated guilt? Secularism and other psychology will place the blame and guilt of sin on someone else including parents, relatives or maybe past romances. While horrific life events may shape us, we give them the power to rule us. These teachings continue to present man blameless and guiltless for all the wrong reasons! The bible condemns us yes; for all have sinned and we continue to fall short of God's bar of perfection. But exclusively and only through Christ do we have the opportunity to have His perfection charged to us, His righteousness deposited into our account and His liberty to sustain us forever! It is this reconciliation Paul had in mind when he said in 2 Corinthians 5: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. ¹⁸ And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹ To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

The Principles & Dispensations of God by Pastor Marvin Duncan

Introduction
Most Bible teachers have seen, to a limited degree, the distinction between Paul's ministry and that of the Twelve Apostles, but have taught at the same time that Paul labored under the so-called "great commission" given to the Twelve Apostles; that the church of this age began at Pentecost with Peter and the eleven; that the "the gospel of the grace of God" was proclaimed before Paul, etc. This failure to grasp fully the distinctive character of Paul's apostleship has contributed much to the confusion that exists among fundamental believers and has left a great deal still to be clarified for those who desire "the full assurance of understanding."
The re-discovery of Paul's special program, and the increased emphasis laid in the last few years upon what he calls "MY GOSPEL, EVEN THE PREACHING OF JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO THE REVELATION OF THE MYSTERY" (Romans 16:25) has provided God's people with the key to many problems which (because they have remained so long- unanswered) have caused the great dispensational Bible conferences of a generation ago to all but disappear.
In the study of the dispensations we enjoy true Bible ANALYSIS. We take the Book apart (2 Timothy 2:15), so to speak; not to cast ANY of it aside, but to examine its separate parts and to note the differences (Philippines 1:10). ("APPROVE THINGS THAT ARE EXCELLENT' in this verse means TEST THE THINGS THAT DIFFER).
But we also enjoy true Bible SYNTHESIS in study of the dispensations and see the perfect harmony of the whole Word of God. Many Bible schools advertise courses in Bible synthesis which really amount to nothing more than
brief summaries of it's sixty-six books. Any such course should be characterized as SYNOPSIS, not synthesis. Bible synthesis is a systematic study of the PROGRESSIVE UNFOLDING of God's revelation and of THE DEVELOPMENT of His dealings with men as well as of THE UNITY OF HIS PURPOSE in those dealings. It is a study of the dispensations IN THEIR RELATION TO EACH OTHER. Hence, no study which denies or ignores the doctrine of dispensations is true Bible synthesis
In our study of the Principles and Dispensations of God, we will not deal with the dispensations consecutively but rather with Dispensationalism in it's relation to God's message and program for today.

Rightly Diving The Word Of Truth ( 2 Timothy 2:15)
Those who seek to teach the Word rightly divided frequently encounter the objection that "ALL (or every) SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD, AND IS PROFITABLE.." (2 Timothy 3:16). It is argued from this passage that it is dishonoring to God to divide the Bible into dispensations and emphasize the differences between them since the Bible is ALL for us, from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21. Does this mean, then, that 2 Timothy 2:15 and 2 Timothy 3:16 contradict each other? Surely they do not. The fact is that, written only a few paragraphs apart, by the same author, to the same person, about the same Book, these two verses COMPLEMENT each other. 2 Timothy 2:15 explains HOW God's workmen may get the most out of the Bible, while Second Timothy 3:16 declares that ALL of it was given for the workman's profit. All Scripture is indeed profitable when "RIGHTLY DIVIDED," but when wrongly divided or not divided at all, the truth is changed into a lie and becomes most Unprofitable. Thus, 2 Timothy 2:15 is the KEY to 2 Timothy 3:16 and to the understanding and enjoyment of the Word of Truth.

One difficulty is that multitudes of Christians shrink from the EFFORT involved in STUDYING the Scriptures with a view to rightly dividing them. And, their spiritual leaders often encourage them in their lethargy.
Some years ago I heard a preacher exclaim: "Some say, This is for the Jew and that is for the Church. This is for us and that is not for us. I take the WHOLE Bible!"
Did he mean that we should NOT distinguish between God's programs for ISRAEL in the Old Testament times and His program for the BODY OF CHRIST today? Certainly not, but it sounded as if this was what he meant. Did he
mean that those who do thus divide the Word DO NOT believe the whole Bible? No, but he gave that impression. He discouraged his hearers from endeavoring to rightly divide the Word of Truth by implying that those who do so discard parts of the Bible as not for them. And this preacher is representative of a large proportion of the spiritual leaders in the Church today. Is it any wonder that the Christian masses use the Bible merely for devotional reading and often neglect even that? How can they be expected to have an interest in the STUDY of the Scriptures when their leaders themselves fail to set the example? And one need but look about him to see the delinquency here. Where are the Bible teachers of yesterday? What has happened to the great Bible conferences that were held all over the land not too man years ago? How many pastors TEACH the Word to their congregations? And the missionaries and evangelists; is there not a widespread feeling that they do not need to study the Scriptures too thoroughly since "their business is to win souls?"
As a result the vast majority of believers really UNDERSTAND very little of God's Word. They know the basic facts of salvation but seem quite satisfied to remain ignorant of precious truths which, if they but searched to find them, would make them WORKMEN whom God could approve, not needing to be ashamed of their service for Him. But rather than STUDY to attain to a better UNDERSTANDING of the Word and become proficient in its USE, many actually boast that they are satisfied with "the simple things."
And this after all the earnest prayers of Paul that believers might have the spirit of WISDOM and REVELATION in the KNOWLEDGE OF Christ (Ephesians 1:17) that they might KNOW what is theirs in Christ (Ephesians 1:18-23), and COMPREHEND the breath and length and depth and height of it! (Ephesians 3:18). This after all his LABOR and STRIFE and CONFLICT that they might have "THE FULL ASSURANCE OF UNDERSTANDING" (Colossians 1:9). This after his stern rebuke to those carnal babes to whom he could preach no more than Christ CRUCIFIED: whom he had to feed with milk alone because they were not able to digest solid food! ( 1 Corinthians chapters 2 and 3).

Slothful Christians often consider themselves quite spiritual merely because their EMOTIONS are easily aroused. They boast of their contentment with "the simple things" while they should be ashamed of their indifference to the written Word of God. They claim great devotion to God, yet neglect the one great means of knowing Him better. They profess fervent faith in Him, yet scarcely trouble themselves to find out JUST WHAT HE HAS SAID. They do not, like David, mediate upon God's Word day and night nor, like the prophets INQUIRE, AND SEARCH DILIGENTLY (1 Peter 1:11) as to it's true meaning.The results of this attitude toward the Word of God are appalling, for such may trust Christ for salvation, but beyond this they exercise, in most cases, a blind, superstitious faith that cannot but dishonor God.

Continued in the next column see "Dispensation"..........

Today's World News

Colosse - Paul the apostle was encouraging those saints who had become burdened by the 'silent, subtleties' as mandated by the legalists of his day: In chapter 2 verses 16 and 17 he stated: Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Like today, there are those that are quick to judge, "how you eat or drink" or how and where you keep your "holyday" in respect. However, these things are of no importance in God's instructions under this glorious dispensing of grace as these things are but a shadow in regards, to His Body and its Head; Jesus Christ!

(CON'T; DISPENSATION)

FEELINGS are taken for FACTS and their own WISHES for God's WORD. They go into wrong paths, saying, "But I prayed very earnestly about it and now feel perfectly at peace." They say, "The Lord spoke to me," and refer to some FEELING rather than to some passage of Scripture consistently applied. Thoughtlessly they say, "If it is in the Bible, I believe it," yet as they read the Bible they take to themselves only what warms their hearts and leave the rest un-applied, not knowing exactly why.
But those who boast of their contentment with "the simple things" and oppose dispensational Bible study on the ground that all the Bible is for us, have certainly missed the fact that a Scripture was given that the MAN of God might be PERFECTLY FITTED AND FULLY EQUIPPED FOR HIS WORK (2 Timothy 3:17).
There is a great difference between the "Child of God " and the MAN of God." How can one who remains an infant in the truth be approved as a WORKMAN for God or as a SOLDIER of Jesus Christ, when the workman God approves must know how to rightly divide the Word of Truth and the soldier He honors must know how to wield the Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17)?
We can sympathize with those who have BEGUN to study the Bible dispensationally and have found it confusing. The study of almost any subject is confusing at first, but as we preserver we begin to UNDERSTAND and to reap the fruits of our toil. Indeed, to any thoughtful person the Scriptures must continue to be confusing until he learns to rightly divide and so to UNDERSTAND them. And what joy can compare with that of coming into a fuller understanding of God's Word?
Studying the Bible dispensationally may seem confusing at first but actually it dispels confusion, explains difficult problems, reconciles seeming contradictions and lends power to the believer's ministry.
If I should step inside a modern U.S. Post Office, all would doubtless seem very confusing to me. But it would be a mistake to suggest piling all the mail neatly in one corner and handing it out promiscuously to all comers as some would do with the Bible. The postal employees must "rightly divide" the mail so that each person receives what is addressed to him. What seems like confusion to the novice is really a simplification of the work to be done in getting each person's private mail to him
It is granted that in the Bible even that which was addressed to those of other dispensations is given to us for our learning and profit, but we must not confuse this with our own private mail or make the mistake of carrying out instructions meant particularly for others.

"They say, "The Lord spoke to me," and refer to some FEELING rather than to some passage of Scripture consistently applied. Thoughtlessly they say, "If it is in the Bible, I believe it," yet as they read the Bible they take to themselves only what warms their hearts and leave the rest un-applied, not knowing exactly why."

Thus all the Bible is FOR us, but it is not all addressed TO us or written about us, and if we would really understand and enjoy it; if we would really know how to use it effectively in service for Christ, we must be careful always to note who is addressing whom, about what, and when, and why.
One of the first lessons the Bible student should learn is the difference between the principles and the dispensations of God.
The opponents of dispensationalism have often charged us with teaching that under the Old Testament men were saved by the works of the Law, whereas today they are saved by grace through faith.
This charge is at least misleading, for no thinking dispensationalist would teach that the works of the law IN THEMSELVES could ever help save, anyone.
We understand clearly that "BY THE DEEDS OF THE LAW THERE SHALL NO FLESH BE JUSTIFIED IN HIS SIGHT; FOR BY THE LAW IS THE KNOWLEDGE OF SIN" (Romans 3:20). Nor do we suppose that the works of the CEREMONIAL law had any essential power to save. We have not forgotten that the Scriptures also teach that "IT IS NOT POSSIBLE THAT THE BLOOD OF BULLS AND OF GOATS SHOULD TAKE AWAY SINS" (Hebrews 10:4)
We have no illusions as to man's utter inability to please God by works, AS SUCH, in any age. Man has always been saved essentially by the grace of God, through faith. There could be no other way to be saved. This is a fixed
principle to which Hebrews chapter 11 bears abundant testimony and it should be self-evident to those who accept as fact the utter depravity of a man and the infinite holiness of God.
But this does not alter the fact that God's dealing with men and the stated terms of acceptance with Him have changed again and again down through the ages and that faith in Him would therefore be expressed in different ways. Hebrews eleven also bears consistent testimony to this fact.
Faith would most assuredly approach God in God's way at any time, and to seek to gain acceptance with Him in any other way would, of course, be UNBELIEF and self-will. Thus, while works never did or could save AS SUCH, they did once serve as EXPRESSIONS OF FAITH.

^{COFFEE CORNER}

The real meaning of the impending perilous times and last days of 2 Timothy!

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their's also was. But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.- 2 Timothy 3:1-17

While most Christians focus on world-ending, cataclysmic events prior to the rapture, the message of God's wondrous grace continues its course steadfast and true, plodding through centuries of religion, treachery and deceit! I can't tell you how weary I have grown from the countless ministries that try to take the events of 9/11 while erroneously pointing to scripture as if to forecast this dreadful occurrence in advance. These teachers 'wrongly divide' scripture meant for the nation of Israel in time future and 'drop in' the United States in its place. In other cases, scripture that correctly references other nations in time future is taken out of context and applied to today. Friends, either God is in the judgment business or He is not. And believe me, if God were in the judgment business today, I wouldn't be writing this article, and you wouldn't be reading it (ref. 1 Thes. 5:19). Paul starts nearly all of his letters to the saints with "grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ". With this in mind, world events such as the bombing of the U.S.S. Cole, 9/11 and other battles are a result of "evil men and seducers waxing worse and worse". Unfortunately, Satan has successfully distracted believers to focus on end-time events in order to make the 'mystery of God' a 'mystery to man'. One set of events focuses on the sensational and spectacular while the other 'set of events' (the message of grace) requires study and the God-given ability to uphold "the faith".

Notice in the verses in 2 Timothy that Paul does not say; "Friends, know that in the last time world shattering, cataclysmic events will come." He says that dangerous, troublesome times await us. He does not say we are to watch out for terrorists, wage war or stock arms. While doing these things may be needed to defend our country, Paul had something different in mind. Paul told us that men (humanity - GK anthropos) will have too much intent in one's own interest. He said that men will love money, they will boast and be pretentious, they will treat others with contempt while placing themselves and their needs above the good of someone else. The apostle didn't stop! He said that also in the last times, men would be abusive, they would slander others and be reproachful. In verse 2, Paul also received from God news about how people would become disobedient to their parents. One of today's many "cataclysmic events" is occurring right in our homes and schools as parents are neglecting their responsibilities in teaching their children right from wrong. Today, discipline is perceived as a bad thing that will harm the self-esteem of a child. In turn, abusive boyfriends of single mothers often are the first suspects in children who are murdered each year. Yes, indeed Paul was on to something friends! Mankind would 'regress' into a state of unthankfulness when all the risen Christ would ask of us is to love one another with a thankful heart. Paul strikes at the heal of the 'self-righteous' when speaking about those that are "unholy". Today, a neo version of "unholy" only means those individuals who don't attend church (or if they do attend, don't go to enough of its functions). Paul did not have this in mind especially when referring to the 'legalizers' of his day. Alarmingly in verse 3, people would now lose the ability to naturally love what God instilled in us (natural affection)! Mankind will become implacable or lose the ability to agree on anything. After all, its all relevant to what one believes it is thought! The Greek definition for "false accusers" states that men will be prone to slander while illustrating the following metaphor: applied to a man who, by opposing the cause of God, may be said to act the part of the devil or to side with him. I find this particular metaphor amazing in how it relates to how Satan has successfully and effectively influenced men to side with him rather than God in regards, to the message of grace.

"....Friends, either God is in the judgment business or He is not. And believe me, if God were in the judgment business today, I wouldn't be writing this article, and you wouldn't be reading it..."

To be continued......