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This book of the bible is frequently and
erroneously
referred to as the start of "The Church, The Body of Christ".
99.44% of fundamental, bible-believing teachers and pastors
embrace this falsity as truth! The fact is, The Book of Acts is
primarily about the unbelief of Israel and God's postponement of
her program. |
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These books of the bible are where believers in this dispensing
of God's grace should go for their day-to-day doctrine on
living. These books contain the revelation of the mystery,
otherwise known as the gospel of Jesus Christ. |
Click here to
contact LMM
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For though
I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity
is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the
gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward:
but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is
committed unto me. What is my reward then? Verily that,
when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ
without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
1
Corinthians 9:16-18
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REMEMBER,
THE FOUR SYNOPTIC GOSPEL ACCOUNTS OF THE EARTHLY MINISTRY OF JESUS
CHRIST WERE WRITTEN
TO
ISRAEL UNDER THE LAW:
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SINCE
PROPHECY IS SUCH A HOT TOPIC THESE DAYS, DID YOU EVER WONDER WHAT THE
TRIBULATION SAINTS WILL STUDY AFTER THE BODY OF CHRIST IS RAPTURED?
Doctrine
for
The
Tribulation Saints after the rapture of the Body of Christ:
Here Israel is now back at the forefront under the law against the
imminent judgment and earthly return of The Messiah, Jesus Christ.
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1 For this cause I Paul, the
prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2 If ye have heard of
the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to
you-ward: 3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the
mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye
read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5
Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as
it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the
Spirit; 6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the
same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the
grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his
power. 8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is
this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the
unsearchable riches of Christ; 9 And to make all men see what is
the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the
world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus
Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and
powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the
manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose
which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12 In whom we have
boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. 13
Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my
tribulations for you, which is your glory -
Ephesians 3:1-13 |
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The Righteousness of God
Without The Law is Revealed!
 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is
manifested, being witnessed by the law and the
prophets; 22 Even
the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto
all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that
is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a
propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his
righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through
the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his
righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him
which believeth in Jesus. - Romans
3:21-26
At first
glance after reading verses 21 and 22 together, it
would appear that the 'righteousness of God by the faith of
Christ' as Paul preached was witnessed by the law and prophets.
In fact, most commentaries will imply or directly say just that.
However, this type of belief attempts to undermine Paul’s
distinctive ministry. As we examine the blessings of
righteousness under grace today, let’s first look at some examples of
Paul’s letters that tell readers how the mystery was NOT
disclosed in the OT and the very fact that Paul refers to the
grace of God as “the mystery” is for a reason as it testifies
that it was a secret hid in God through Christ. Understanding
this component of God's grace will help us understand that
although "righteousness" was imputed by God to faithful men in
time past, we have so much more as we are "made right"
with Jesus Christ through faith in His redemptive work!
Colossians 1:25-29
25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation
of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
26 Even the mystery
which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is
made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make
known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the
Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we
preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom;
that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29
Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working,
which worketh in me mightily.
Ephesians 3:7-12
Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the
grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his
power. 8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is
this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles
the unsearchable riches
of Christ; 9 And to make all men see what is the
fellowship of the mystery,
which from the beginning
of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by
Jesus Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the
principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by
the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the
eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12
In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith
of him.
Now, back to the passage here in
Romans 3:21…. What WAS witnessed by the prophets without the law was
indeed the righteousness of God and a good example of this is when Paul
discusses Abraham and David where God could declare a man righteous by faith
alone. Back in Genesis 15, God (before the law was given to Moses) declared
Abraham righteous because Abraham took God at His word concerning his
ability to raise a nation through a man and women who were past child-bearing
age!
Abraham
Genesis 15:2-6
2 And Abram said, LORD God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go
childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of
Damascus?
3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and,
lo, one born in my house is mine heir.
4 And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This
shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of
thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward
heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and
he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
6 And he believed in the
LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Look at
what Paul says in Romans 4:3 "For
what saith the scripture? Abraham believed
God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness."
David
Psalm 32:1,2
1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is
covered. 2 Blessed is
the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose
spirit there is no guile.
Here is my point, have you heard of
the expression don’t confuse God’s grace in a dispensation with the dispensation
of grace? In like fashion, do not confuse the righteousness of God in time
past with the abundant righteousness He has provided us today though Christ in
this marvelous dispensing of grace! The examples of God’s imputation of
righteousness through faith alone (as shown above in the life of Abraham and
David) were but a foreshadow of what was to come through Jesus Christ. Please do
not follow the commentaries that say otherwise or imply that ‘its all the
same righteousness’. We know this to be a false assumption because of Paul’s
distinctive ministry therefore we must look at righteousness as Christ revealed
it to him for our profit and edification.
In verses 23 through 26,
Paul tells us that now since the righteousness of God without
the law has been revealed and witnessed in time past that even
the righteousness of God through Christ Jesus is made available
to all that believe with no distinction or difference! Why???
FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD!
Interestingly, the proper interpretation of this verse (23)
tells us that not only have we come short, but we continue to
come short of the bar of God. Friends, we are missing the mark
but there is hope in Christ! Being made right freely by
God's grace through the redemption (deliverance) that is in
Jesus Christ of whom God The Father set forth to be the
atonement (AT-ONE-MENT) for sin! God The Father set forth His
Son Jesus to make us "at one" with Him through the shedding of
His blood beloved. God The Father sent His Son Jesus Christ to
take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God's anger
against us! We are made right with God when we believe
that Jesus shed his blood, thus sacrificing His life for us. In
fact, God was being entirely fair and just when he didn't punish
those who sinned in time past (forbearance) and He is entirely
fair and just in this present dispensing of grace declaring
sinners to be right in his sight (justified) because they have
trusted in Christ's accomplishments at the cross!
Take my Son
(This is an allegory that has been widely circulated on radio and email
and I thought it would be applicable as noted below -
RICK)
A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had
everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would
often sit together and admire the great works of art..
When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very
courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The
father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.
About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the
door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his
hands.
He said, 'Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son
gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to
safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly...
He often talked about you, and your love for art.' The young man held
out this package. 'I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great
artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.'
The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by
the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the
personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the
eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man
and offered to pay him for the picture.. 'Oh, no sir, I could never
repay what your son did for me. It's a gift.'
The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came
to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed
them any of the other great works he had collected.
The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his
paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the
great paintings and having an opportunity to
purchase one for their collection.
On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his
gavel. 'We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will
bid for this picture?'
There was silence..
Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, 'We want to see the famous
paintings. Skip this one.'
But the auctioneer persisted. 'Will somebody bid for this painting? Who
will start the bidding? $100, $200?'
Another voice angrily. 'We didn't come to see this painting. We came to
see the Van Gogh's, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!'
But still the
auctioneer continued. 'The son! The son! Who'll take the son?'
Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the
longtime gardener of the man and his son. 'I'll give $10 for the
painting...'
Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.
'We have $10, who will bid $20?'
'Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters.'
The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son.
They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections. The
auctioneer pounded the gavel.
'Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!'
A man sitting on the second row shouted, 'Now let's get on with the
collection!'
The auctioneer laid down his gavel. 'I'm sorry, the auction is over.'
'What about the paintings?'
'I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a
secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that
stipulation until
this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever
bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the
paintings.
The man who took the son gets everything!'
God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the
auctioneer, His message today is: 'The son, the son, who'll take the
son?' Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.
Most people
believe that sin still separates God and man but as you can read in the
verses below, that is a lie from The Adversary! Why is sin no longer the
issue? Because God dealt with sin through His Son!
And
all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus
Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 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. - 2 Corinthians 5:18,19
Jesus Christ told
Paul that He reconciled "the world"----the unsaved---to His Father, NOT
CHARGING THEIR SINS AGAINST THEM. God has committed TO US the word of
reconciliation!
Romans 5:8 says
the same thing:
But
God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us.
God has deemed us
worthy of His love through Christ's accomplishments!
Notice it
does not say that God recommended His love to those that were
NOT sinners friends...
So if sin is no longer the
issue what is still on the table? The Son, what will you do with
the Son? You see that is what separates a lost man from
God under this glorious dispensing of God's grace. "The world"
needs to believe 2
Corinthians 5:21
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For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we
might be made the
righteousness of God in him (Christ)
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Today's World News
THE LAW AND
GOD'S WRATH.....
Mt. Sinai, Egypt
13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of
the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but
through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if they which are of the law
be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: 15
Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no
transgression. 16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace;
to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only
which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham;
who is the father of us all, 17 (As it is written, I have made thee a
father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who
quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though
they were. - Romans 4:13-18
As seen in the
scriptures above in Romans 4:15, it
clearly states that "the law worketh wrath". How sad and
frustrating it is that so many people think
that by keeping the law they will be made right with God. If you follow
that logic then Jesus Christ's all atoning cross work was not needed and
He died for nothing but a political movement..
Many pastor's, teacher's,
priests and
clergymen tell people erroneously that God gave the Law to help us to be
good, when God Himself said the exact opposite! It amazes me that those
who think that they could read enough about the administration of the
law in the Old Testament, and attempt to understand its requirements
could miss Paul's admonition and edification on this matter in a
simple set of verses found clearly in the New Testament:
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Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there
had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness
should have been by the law. 22 But the scripture hath concluded all
under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to
them that believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law,
shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore
the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we
might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no
longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by
faith in Christ Jesus.
-
Galatians 3:21-26
The Book of Galatians is Paul's
"correction" book for those believers who thought that their
self-righteousness even after being saved could sustain their
Christian walk.
In like fashion as those who are
unsaved, there is no religious system. no mediator
and no law (not even God's law) that could ever make us right
with Him! the bible tells us in
Galatians 3:10
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For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it
is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which
are written in the book of the law to do them.
Please understand that "The Law" is holy, just, perfect and righteous
therefore in order to "keep it" or live according to its righteous
standard we could not break any part of it! Why? "for
cursed is everyone is not able to continue in ALL THINGS WRITTEN
THEREIN. to do
them.
Friends, man needed Savior to fulfill or complete that righteous
requirement and Jesus did just that.
Pastor Curt Crist from Grace
Bible Church in North Carolina said it best when discussing the
significance of 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 concerning this very
popular subject.
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. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God
did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled
to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that
we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Pastor Curt
teaches that since sin has been dealt with 2,000 years ago it is no
longer the issue keeping man apart from God. And we are not talking
about "universal' salvation by the way (where
it is believed that since Christ died on the cross for mankind and paid
for his sins, all of mankind is saved regardless of whether or not you
believe - RICK)!
If in fact sin has been dealt
with...and it has because God The Father was in Christ
reconciling the world unto Himself not counting their sins against them....then
man must have had some issue on the table that separated him from God
that is baked in to the accomplishments of the cross that we must claim
as ours....HIS RIGHTNESS!
8 But
God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified
(made right with
God)
by
his blood, we shall be saved
from wrath through him. -
Romans 5:8,9
How quickly the flesh kicks in
to take us from the liberty that is in Christ just as the foolish
Galatians did. But
the Bible has much to say on the subject as Romans 3:19,20
declares that the Law was given "that every mouth may be stopped, and
that all the world may be brought in guilty before God".
"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in
His sight; for by the law is the knowledge of sin." 2 Corinthians
3:7-9 calls the Law "the ministration of condemnation" and "the
ministration of death." And as we saw above in Galatians. 3:10 that
those who are "of the works of the law," i.e., who seek to make
themselves acceptable to God by keeping the Law, "are under a curse,"
because the Law can only condemn them!
More often than not, there are
many who approach God, expecting eternal life in return for "good works"
and are in fact offering God their terms for salvation which He
will never accept! God will not sell justification to those already
under condemnation for sin. But He does offer sinners to be made
completely right (justification) by His grace at Christ's expense
because:
"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law,
being made a curse for us: for it is written; cursed is every one that
hangeth on a tree"
Galatians 3:13
Praise His name
for those who trust in Christ, "having redemption, through His blood,
the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace"
(Ephesians 1:7), "being justified, freely by His grace, through the
redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24).
JEHOVAH IS HIS
NAME
by Russell S.
Miller
In Genesis
15:5,6, God told Abraham to look up and count the stars, for "So
shall thy seed be", and Abraham "believed in the Lord; and He counted it
to him for righteousness". But who is the "God" in whom Abraham
believed, what is His name?
When the Israelites were in the bondage of Egyptian slavery and Moses
was commanded to deliver them out of Egypt, he also inquired about God's
name:
"...Behold, when I come unto the children of
Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me
unto you; and they shall say to me, What is His name?, what shall I say
unto them?
"And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and He said, Thus shalt thou
say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you" -
Exodus 3:13,14
Now in
Exodus 6:3,
the Lord again spoke to Moses:
"And
I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God
Almighty, but by My name JEHOVAH was I not known to them".
So
it was Jehovah, the Lord God Almighty, in whom Abraham believed, the
same Lord who "made Heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is"
(Gen.1:1; Ex.20:11; Eph.3:9).
In John 8:56 Christ
spoke to the Jews of His day about Abraham's God: "Your father Abraham
rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad". How often in
John's gospel the Lord speaks this truth, that "...Before Abraham
was, I AM" (8:56; 6:35; 8:12; 10:7-11; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1-5). This
is most interesting, because, in the darkness of that night of Christ's
betrayal and arrest, they fell over "backward" upon hearing those two
little words, "I AM" (John 18:5,6). The Eternal God was in
their presence! And they could only arrest Him, as He voluntarily
surrendered to God's purpose.
So, Jehovah, of the Old Testament, is the Lord Jesus Christ, of the New
Testament.
In his epistles, the Apostle Paul relates that this same JESUS
"took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of
men:
"And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled
Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" -
Philippians 2:7,8
Thus, the Apostle points peoples of all nationalities to the Christ of
Calvary's cross as the only means of salvation today:
"For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed
God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
"Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned
of grace, but of debt."But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him
that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness"
- Romans4:3-5
Jehovah means Saviour, Jesus
Christ is our only Saviour, consequently, God will also "count" your
"faith" for "righteousness", if you will simply believe what the Bible
says about Jesus Christ:
"Whom
God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to
declare His righteousness for the remission of sins ... that He might be
just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in JESUS" -
Romans 3:24-26
PAUL, THE PATTERN
by Cornelius R. Stam
Many religious people take the Lord Jesus Christ as
their pattern in life. They call Him "The Great
Example". When problems arise, they ask themselves:
"What would Jesus do?" They seek salvation by "walking
in His steps".
While our Lord's moral and spiritual virtues are indeed
worthy of emulation, there were many details in His
conduct which we should not imitate. For example, none
of us would be in a position to pronounce upon the
religious hypocrites of our day the bitter woes which
our Lord pronounced upon the Pharisees of His day --
simply because we all have so much of the Pharisee in
us.
Certainly we cannot be saved by "following Christ," or
striving to live as He did. His perfect holiness would
only emphasize our unrighteousness and condemn us. He
came to save us, not by His life, but by His death.
"CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS" (ICor.15:3), and sinners are
"reconciled to God by the death of His Son" (Rom.5:10).
But God has given us a pattern for salvation. It is none
other than the Apostle Paul, the chief of sinners saved
by grace. Hear what he says by divine inspiration:
"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all
acceptation, THAT CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO
SAVE SINNERS, of whom I am chief"
(1
Tim.1:15)
Paul, as Saul of Tarsus, remember, had led his nation
and the world in rebellion against God and His Christ.
He was "exceedingly mad" against the disciples of Christ
and "breathed threatening and slaughter" against them.
Why then, did God save him? He goes on to tell us in the
next
verse 16:
"Howbeit [but] for this cause I obtained mercy, that in
me first Jesus Christ might show forth all
longsuffering, FOR A PATTERN to them which should
hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting"
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COFFEE
CORNER
PROPHETS
OF THE OLD TESTAMENT:
Hosea
I have found that over my time studying God's word that renown men of
old, chosen ambassador's of God throughout the bible were much like you
and I. Some had families, vocations and circumstances that were all
similar to people today in some way. Throughout the next series of
publications, I will be giving readers a mini-exposition on some of
these men and women of God through the eyes of the grace of God
looking back...
Vital Statistics:
-
Occupation:
Nothing specifically mentioned in regards to his
vocation.
-
Dates of
Prophecy: 760 to 722 B.C.
-
Unique
characteristics: Hosea was well educated and
very knowledgeable on Israel's history. The
disobedient nation paralleled his own life and
troublesome marriage to Gomer who like Israel, had
become unfaithful. Hosea preached the coming
judgment of God and the future reconciliation of His
people.
Background: Throughout the mid-700's B.C. there was much
turbulence and confusion. Hosea began his ministry
during the reign of Jeroboam II who was an evil leader but strong enough
to stretch the boundaries of Israel to those of the reign of David and
Solomon (ref. 2 Kings 14:25-28) Although Israel was in a state of
comfort and prosperity, Hosea's message was but a foreshadow of what was
to come of the northern kingdom of Israel by 722 B.C..
Ministry:
The first few chapters of this book of God's word describe the prophet's
life and unhappy marriage. God is using the life of the prophet to
illustrate Israel's unfaithfulness to Him. As faithless Gomer was to
Hosea so was Israel faithless to God through the worshipping of idols.
Hosea preached the judgment of God as well as His reconciliation back to
Him in time future.
Starting in chapters 4, Hosea
delivers messages of warning to Israel:
Hosea
4:1-3 - 1 Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of
Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the
land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the
land. 2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and
committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.
The prophet blasts Israel's leaders
in chapter 5 calling them idol worshippers and prostitutes. He condemns
Judah (v 10) for moving the boundaries that God had established
Yet he calls the nation to
repentance:
Hosea 6:1
- 1 Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will
heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
But he charges them for their
disobedience (chapters 7 through 13) and tells them that he sent his
prophets to cut them to pieces in the hope of national restoration for
both Israel and Judah.
Lastly in chapter 14, Hosea's prayer
is for a repentant heart on behalf of his nation. and a plea to stay
away from idolatry while seeking the righteous paths of the LORD.
Friends, isn't it wonderful to know
that looking back from the perch of the grace of God to the history of
Hosea's day how blessed we are?
How blessed it is to know that there
are no "IF YOU DO" "THEN I WILL BLESS " conditional
statements to forgiveness today under grace like their was back in Israel's day
under the law! Notice the distinct contract in what Paul says about
forgiveness in
Colossians 2:13
13
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh,
hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
But while Paul tells us about being
forgiven already, God's grace is magnified as we look back in the Old
Testament for in
Romans 15:4 we read
-
For
whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning,
that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Two Main Divisions
THE MOST IMPORTANT DIVISION IN THE BIBLE:
"PROPHECY & MYSTERY"
THE PROPHETIC PROGRAM: God's purpose
to establish a literal, physical, earthly, Davidic, Messianic kingdom,
with Jesus Christ as the king of kings, ruling over the twelve apostles,
who will rule over the twelve tribes of Israel, who will rule over the
nations of this earth.
THE MYSTERY PROGRAM: God's purpose
to form a spiritual body of believers called "the Body of Christ", with
Christ as the Head. This body will be perfectly "conformed to the image
of His Son" and will rule and reign with Christ in the heavenly places.
PROPHETIC
PROGRAM
GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM
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MYSTERY
PROGRAM
GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD
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1. SPOKEN
about since the world began
(Luke 1:68-70; Acts 3:21-24) |
1. Kept
SECRET, hidden since the world began
(Romans 16:25; Ephesians 3:5,9; Colossians 1:26) |
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2. Focus
is THE EARTH
(Genesis 1:28, 9:1, 13:14-17; Deuteronomy 11:21; Isaiah 11:9;
Jeremiah 23:5; Psalms 37:9-11; Matthew 5:5; Matthew 6:10) |
2. Focus
is THE HEAVENLY PLACES
(Ephesians 1:3, 2:6 Philippians 3:20; Colossians 3:1-4) |
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3. Jesus
Christ is THE KING of Israel and the whole world
(Isaiah 9:6-7; Daniel 7:13-14; Zachariah14:9,16; Matthew 2:2;
John 1:49; Luke 1:31-33) |
3. Jesus
Christ is THE HEAD of the church, the body of Christ
(Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18) |
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4. ISRAEL
is God's chosen nation and will be given supremacy over all
nations
(Deuteronomy 7:6, 28:13; Isaiah 6:1-5; Matthew 10:5-10;
Romans 9:6) |
4. In the
Body of Christ there is neither Jew nor Gentile (Romans 10:12,
3:22; Galatians 3:26-28; 1Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 2:16-17) |
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5.
Redeemed Israel to rule and reign with Christ on the earth
(Isaiah 62:1-4; Ezekiel 37:21-28; Exodus 19:4-6; Revelation
5:10) |
5. The
Body of Christ to rule and reign with Christ in the heavenlies
(Ephesians 2:6, 14-16, 3:6, Philippians 3:20; 1Corinthians 6:3) |
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6.
Gentiles to be blessed through Israel's RISE to kingdom glory
(Genesis 12:1-3; Isaiah 61:6-9; Zechariah 8:13-23) |
6.
Gentiles blessed through THE FALL of Israel
(Romans 11:11,12,15; Acts 28:27-28) |
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7. The
central gospel is the Gospel of the Kingdom
(Matthew 3:2, 4:17,23, 9:35, 24:14) |
7. The
central gospel is the gospel of the Grace of God
(Acts 20:24; Romans 1:16-17, 3:23-25) |
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8. The
chief Apostle is Peter
(Matthew 16:18-19; Acts 1:15, 2:14) |
8. Paul is
the Apostle for this age of grace
(Romans 11:13; Ephesians 3:1; 1Timothy 2:5-7) |
|
9. The
number 12 is associated with Israel
(Matthew 19:28; Revelation 7:4-8) |
9. ONE is
the number for the Body of Christ
(Ephesians 4:3-4) |
|
10.
Physical and spiritual baptism
(Exodus 29:1-7; Matthew 3:2-7, 28:19-20; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:32;
Ezekiel 36:25-27; Matthew 3:11; Acts 1:5,8) |
10.
Spiritual baptism only
(Romans 6:1-5; Ephesians 4:4; 1Corinthians 12:13;
Galatians 3:26-28) |
|
11.
Physical and spiritual circumcision
(Genesis 17:9-14; Luke 2:21; Deuteronomy 30:6) |
11.
Spiritual circumcision only
(Colossians 2:11-13; Romans 6:1-6) |
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12.
Atonement yet FUTURE
(Acts 3:19; Matthew 25:31-34; Romans 11:25-27) |
12.
Atonement NOW
(Romans 5:11; Colossians 2:13-14) |
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13. The
Goal: The God of Heaven to set up the Kingdom of Heaven on
earth, Christ to have preeminence
(Deuteronomy 11:21; Daniel 2:44; Matthew 25:34) |
13. The
Goal: To form a spiritual body of believers perfectly conformed
to the image of Christ and through whom Christ will have the
preeminence in the heavenly places
(Romans 8:29; Colossians 1:16) |
|
14. This
has been God's purpose FROM the foundation of the world
(Matthew 25:34) |
14. This
has been God's purpose from BEFORE the foundation of the world
(Ephesians 1:4, 3:11) |
|
15. This
program has been temporarily DELAYED
(Romans 9-11) |
15. This
program is NOW in effect
(Ephesians 3:1-11; Colossians 1:24-27) |
|
16. The 12
Apostles called by the Lord while He was on the earth
(Matthew 10:1-4) |
16. Paul
called to be an apostle from the ascended Lord
(Acts 9:1ff; 1Corinthians 15:8-10) |
|
17. The
apostleship of the 12 was to Israel alone, and then to Israel
first
(Matthew 10 ff, Acts 3:25,26) |
17. Paul
was commissioned as "the apostle of the Gentiles" because now
the program of God is different
(Romans 11:13; Ephesians 3:1-9) |
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18. The 12
Apostles had the gospel of circumcision committed unto them to
proclaim the "good news" of Israel's covenanted Kingdom and
Blessing
(Matthew 10:6-8; Galatians 2:7,8) |
18. Paul
had the gospel of uncircumcision committed to him. The "good
news" of God now being longsuffering towards ALL to accomplish a
secret purpose
(Galatians 2:7,9) |
|
19. Israel
has to be "born again"
(John 3:3-7) |
19. In
present program those "in Christ" are made a "new creature"
(Ephesians 2:15, 1Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15) |
|
20. The 12
Apostles, under their commission, sought to bring the nation of
Israel to repentance in view of them crucifying their Christ.
They indicted them for the crime but offered them the
forgiveness and blessing of God so they could participate in
Israel's "at hand" kingdom
(Acts 3:12-26, 5:27-32) |
20. Paul,
under his commission, announced that Israel had fallen and that
God has temporarily set Israel's program aside and Israel's
fullness and kingdom won't come until after the fullness of the
Gentiles come in
(Romans 11:11-25) |
|
21. The 12
Apostles announced to Israel that her last days were present.
They lived in the says that all the prophets from Samuel and
after had foretold of
(Acts 2:16-21, 3:24) |
21. Paul
announced that God is now long-suffering and He had set Israel
and the things on her time schedule aside and that the times and
seasons are not being fulfilled now in this dispensation of
grace
(Romans 11:11-25, 1Thessalonians 5:1-11; 2Thessalonians 2:1-7) |
|
22. The 12
Apostles under their commission operated on a God established
distinction existing between the Jews and Gentiles
(Numbers 23:9; Matthew 10:5-7, 15:21-28; Acts 3:25,26) |
22. Paul
under his commission declares that the "time past" distinction
is now done away and the middle wall of partition is broken
down, God having made both one. Now there is no difference
(2 Corinthians 5:14-19, Ephesians 2:11-14) |
|
23. The 12
apostles operated with the law still in view along with the
rudiments of the world that it employed
(Matthew 5:17-19, 23:1-3 James 2:10, Matthew 28:20) |
23. Paul
is given to declare to us that God has not put us under the law,
but under grace and that today He is not treating us as children
under the law with the rudiments of the world
(Romans 6:14; Galatians 4:1-11; Colossians 2:8-17; Romans 7:4-6) |
|
24. The 12
Apostles warned Israel of the coming wrath of God on the time
schedule and were prepared by the Lord to see and also go
through the tribulation period
(Matthew 24:1-35; Acts 2:14-40, 3:19-23) |
24. Paul
was given to declare the long-suffering of God, the coming of
the Lord for us to gather us together unto Himself, delivering
us from the wrath
(Romans 5:9, 1Thessalonians 1:10, 4:13-5:11, 2Peter 3:15,16) |
|
25. The 12
Apostles during the 3 years of the Lord's earthly ministry never
understood or appreciated the meaning or significance of Jesus
Christ's death and resurrection (Matthew 16:21-23; Luke
9:43-45,18:31-34) Following Christ's resurrection and the 40 day
Bible seminar they had from Him they understood the necessity of
Christ's suffering and the benefits received from it, as it
pertained to the establishment of Israel's kingdom glory
(Luke 24:25-27, 44-49, Acts 1:1-2, 2:22-36, 3:12-21, 4:8-12) |
25. To
Paul God committed the full meaning and significance of the
cross of Christ. He preached the cross and Christ crucified. The
good news about His death, burial and resurrection - proclaiming
it in all its glory as "the power of God and the wisdom of God."
Also to Paul was committed the testimony concerning Christ
giving Himself a ransom for all men
(1Corinthians 1:18, 23; 1Timothy 2:1-7; 1Corinthians 2:6-8;
Ephesians 1:8-10) |
26. The 12 Apostles were
commissioned in their apostleship to bring Israel's
rebelliousness to a head and in doing so vindicate the
outpouring of God's wrath upon that generation
(Matthew 23:29-36; Luke 11:45-51) |
26. Paul was commissioned to
proclaim that God is now longsuffering and is extending mercy
and grace to all in spite of Israel's climactic rebelliousness.
(Romans 11:28-36) |
"...that in all things He might have the preeminence ..". (Colossians
1:18)
It is by means of these two programs that
the Lord Jesus Christ will have the preeminence on the earth and in the
heavenly places.
_________________________
"Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus
Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from
this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father."
|
A
Letter from a Friend
been revoked".
Joe
knew that this could be a major problem in that he would not be able
to get his work completed without access to area XYZ! However, after
further review of the e-mail, the man quickly discovered that he was
not the intended recipient but instead "copied" or "cc'd" as a
reference only! As it turns out, a collogue of his was the man who lost
his access! Joe, as the superintendent of area XYZ, simply needed to
be aware of this. For a brief moment, Joe confused his TO
mail with his CC mail. Not understanding that distinction for
those brief seconds after reading the message caused severe anxiety for
Joe until he realized the message was indeed TO someone else!
In a much similar example, when
we
read the bible, identifying our TO
mail is very important lest
we make the same fundamental mistake as the person above. Without
understanding the distinction between our "to" mail and our
"cc" or our "reference only" mail, believers inadvertently
"read themselves" into areas of the bible that God did not intend.
The result when this happens: confusion!
(see
