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Topic: another gospel
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WildB
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Indeed contend,
For it is best for the baseball fans we play for.
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Found in Him
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Earnestly Contend for the Faith
A too often prevailing attitude seen in the religious world and even in the Lord's church is that of doctrinal indifference. "So what if they teach thus and so, what does it really matter?" is the statement often made to express this doctrinal tolerance. The real question should be, "how would God have us view the matter of doctrine and does the truth really matter?" To answer this question and to establish what our thinking should be relative to matters doctrine, I introduce Jude verse 3:
"3: Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."
It is evident that the inspired Jude had intended to write a treatise unto these brethren about the "Common Salvation" but because of the presence of false teachers, he wrote this short epistle exhorting them to contend for the faith (see also verse four). No doubt, had Jude written on the common salvation, he would have pointed out that salvation is common to all in that salvation is available to all, both Jew and Gentile, male and female, Jn. 3: 16; Eph. 2: 16, 17; Gal. 3: 28). Doctrinal corruption can cause one to forfeit one's salvation (Gal. 5: 1-4, Col. 2: 7-9). Hence, the necessity for contending for the faith. Let us now examine more carefully the language used by Jude to determine the exact meaning and the intended lessons.
"…the faith." Let us begin our study of Jude 3 by noticing "the faith" for which Christians are to contend. The term "faith" is used in essentially two senses, the personal, subjective faith of individuals and the gospel system (Rom. 14: 22, 23; Acts 13: 8). "The faith" (te pistei) very appropriately stands for the gospel system in view of the fact that the faith has the design and goal of producing personal faith in the individual (Rom. 10: 17, Jn. 20: 30, 31). Jude 3 is tantamount to Paul's language, "…I am set for the defense of the gospel" (Phili. 1: 17). The gospel is more than just the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (these are the facts of the gospel, I Cor. 15: 1-4). The terms "the gospel" and "the faith" are used comprehensively to involve belief and consequent manner of life (cp. Gal. 2: 14).
Jude wrote, "earnestly contend for the faith." These words describe and teach what the Christian is to do for the faith and how he is to do it. The Greek word rendered "earnestly contend" is epagonizomai. This compound word is very descriptive. Consider W. E. Vine's comments concerning "earnestly contend:"
"Epagonizomai: signifies 'to contend about a thing, as a combatant' (epi, 'upon or about,' intensive, agon, 'a contest'), 'to contend earnestly,' Jude 1:3. The word 'earnestly' is added to convey the intensive force of the preposition" (Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words).
Some linguists point out that the primary physical action of "earnestly contend" was often applied to the skilled wrestler. His object was both defensive and offensive: to avoid being thrown and attempting to succeed in throwing his opponent. Involved in Jude's spiritual use, there is definitely much energy and aggression in epagonizomai.
Such spiritual militancy is often witnessed on the part of the apostles. When it came to matters of truth, the apostles were very protective. Early Christians were not indifferent in doctrinal matters, they expressed great concern for the truth and disdain relative to error. Consider the following example of what Paul and Barnabas did when error was introduced at Antioch:
"1: And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 2: When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question" (Acts 15).
Not only did Paul and Barnabas debate the teaching of these errorists, but also they traveled to Jerusalem in an effort to determine the origin of the false doctrine and to learn the extent of its acceptance in the church at Jerusalem. When they arrived at Jerusalem, they continued to discuss and debate the doctrine some of the brethren who had come from Jerusalem had taught (Acts 15: 4-12). Paul and Barnabas were determined that the matter be exhausted and that resolve be reached as to the truth regarding the spurious teaching (vs. 13-30). Paul and Barnabas were doing precisely what Jude commanded, they were "contending for the faith."
Why "earnestly contend for the faith?" We have briefly explored the language used by Jude in the command (it is a command) to earnestly contend for the faith. We have seen the fervor and intensity involved. We have noticed two out of the many biblical examples of Christians who defended the truth and offensively attacked error. The question is why all the concern over truth and error?
Beloved, contrary to popular thinking the truth can be determined and is imperative (Jn. 8: 32). The Christian must abide in the "doctrine of Christ" in order to maintain a saved relationship with God (2 Jn. 9-11). Man is sanctified or set apart by the truth of God's word (Jn. 17: 17). In order for man's worship to be accepted by God, it must be rendered in "spirit and in truth" (Jn. 4: 24). The truth must not be distorted or perverted and to do so incurs the severe wrath of God (Rev. 22: 18, 19, Gal. 1: 6-9). Man must love and obey the truth in order to be saved (2 Thes. 2: 10-12, Rom. 2: 6-9). Without the pristine gospel system, man can not enjoy faith (Rom. 10: 17).
We have noticed the apostle Paul's defense of the truth. Let us now allow Paul himself to tell us why he was so protective of the gospel:
"4: And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: 5: To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you" (Gal. 2).
As a result of dedicated men such as Paul who was willing to defend, debate, and stand for the truth against all error, we continue to have the truth in God's word available to us today. Paul's very style of preaching was dialectic, examining, and challenging. The writer of Acts frequently used a word to describe Paul's manner in his preaching. It is the word "reasoned" (Acts 17: 2, 17, 18: 4, 19, 19: 8, 9, 20: 7, 24: 12). The Greek word is dialegomai. Dialegomai means to think different things with oneself then, with other persons, to converse." Involved in dialegomai (what Paul did when he preached) is to form propositions or positions, often a false premise in contrast with the true, established premise. Hence, dialegomai is often translated "disputed" in the King James (a good rendering). Paul used the scriptures to form the truth, compared the truth as taught and established in God's word with the view of the errorists, and then refuted their flawed teachings (see Acts 17: 1-3).
Notice what Jude said next, "which was once delivered unto the saints." The advocates of latter day revelation maintain that all Jude is saying is that the faith was simply delivered. This deliverance was done on an occasion, but certainly there were to be additional deliveries," they reason. Many modern day religions are founded on the belief of additional revelation, following the completion of the New Testament. They must believe such because their religion in name and practice is not found in the Scriptures. For instance, how could Mormonism exist if it depended on the New Testament? Mormonism must have the Book of Mormon. The same is true regarding the so called Jehovah Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists, Christian Scientists, Islam, and Roman Catholicism (the list goes on and on).
Beloved, "once delivered" in Jude three does not mean simply something that was done one time. The word rendered once is the Greek hapax. Notice W. E. Vine's definition of hapax:
"Hapax: denotes (a) 'once, one time,' 2 Cor. 11: 25; Heb. 9: 7, 26, 27; 12: 26, 27; in the phrase 'once and again,' lit., 'once and twice,' Phil. 4: 16; 1 Thess. 2: 18; (b) 'once for all,' of what is of perpetual validity, not requiring repetition, Heb. 6: 4; 9: 28; 10: 2; 1 Pet. 3: 18; Jude 1: 3, RV, 'once for all' (AV, 'once'); Jude 1: 5 (ditto); in some mss. 1 Pet. 3: 20 (so the AV)" (Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words).
Observe the meaning Vine attaches to hapax (once) as used in Jude 3, "'once for all,' of what is of perpetual validity, not requiring repetition." The idea involved in hapax is not simply repetition, but the lack of all future occurrences because the first delivery was so complete that no additional deliverances are required. Hence, "Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many…" ("once" is again hapax, Heb. 9: 28).
Man urgently needs to cultivate an appreciation for the truth and then stand for that truth. The thinking that there are no absolutes but only shades of gray is diametrically opposed to scripture. The truth of God's word has been compromised, politicized, and twisted in every imaginable way (see 2 Pet. 3: 16, Eph. 4: 14, 15). We must return to the aggressive gospel concerning which we read in the New Testament, the gospel that has the power to save (Rom. 1: 16).
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~To Him That is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy...to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.~ Jude 24
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WildB
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quote:
Originally posted by Found in Him:
Good Day becausehelives!
We need to keep our eyes on Jesus don't we??
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee."
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
Your not at peace because you follow mans sillyness.
BHL aint right on this one.
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Found in Him
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Good Day becausehelives!
We need to keep our eyes on Jesus don't we??
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee."
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~To Him That is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy...to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.~ Jude 24
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WildB
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quote:
Originally posted by becauseHElives:
Found in Him that is the one and only True Gospel... ![[thumbsup2]](graemlins/thumbsup2.gif)
Gospel preached by the Apostle Peter, Paul and anyone else called to bring the Good News of the Gospel.....
this is the foundation.....
Wrong.
The foundation is Christ.
1Cor.3
[10] According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
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becauseHElives
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Found in Him that is the one and only True Gospel...
For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified'
there is no dispensation that change that fact...
same Gospel preached by the Apostle Peter, Paul and anyone else called to bring the Good News of the Gospel.....
this is the foundation.....
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Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )
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WildB
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QUIZ
1. What is a dispensation?
2. What other word (besides dispensation) is sometimes used in the Authorized Version to translate oikonomia?
3. Prove by Scripture that the moral law could not, in itself, save from sin.
4. Prove by Scripture that the ceremonial law could not, in itself, save from sin.
5. In what sense did works once save?
6. Were men of past dispensations saved by the death of Christ?
7. Was this preached to them?
8. Were they offered salvation by faith in the death of a coming Christ?
9. Prove by Scripture that salvation by the blood of Christ, apart from works, was not proclaimed in Old Testament times.
10. Draw a chart or state in geometrical terms the difference between truth and the revelation of truth.
11. Explain how the dispensation of law did not violate God's principle of saving men by grace through faith.
12. Would it be wrong today to observe ordinances once required for salvation?
13. Would it be wrong to observe an ordinance once required for salvation, if we acknowledged that it had no saving value?
14. Prove this by Scripture.
15. What statement by our Lord concerning baptism has been changed by most Fundamentalists to make it correspond with their views on baptism?
16. Through whom did God first begin to dispense His message and program for today?
17. Prove this by Scripture.
18. Could any Old Testament person, refusing to bring sacrificial offerings, be saved?
19. Could any under John the Baptist or at Pentecost, refusing to be baptized, be saved?
20. Give Scriptural examples.
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Found in Him
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Well, this is what I know and delight in friend:
'For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified'
(1 Corinthians 2:2)
Dats de power of God!!! ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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~To Him That is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy...to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.~ Jude 24
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WildB
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One of the first lessons the Bible student should learn is the difference between the principles and the dispensations of God.
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becauseHElives
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Stam can try to twist the scripture all he likes and you may chose to follow his twisted perverted path but it does not change the fact there is only one Gospel.... those saved by Peter's preaching are saved by the exact same Gospel as Paul preached.... "Salvation by the Blood alone"....that is the Gospel to the Jew or the Gentile....
Paul was chosen to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles during "the Time of the Gentiles"
"Jerusalem shall be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." (Luke 21:4
when the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled Yahweh will again turn His attention to the descendants of Abraham......
Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
read scripture as a total Book .... understanding will come through the Holy Spirit as you take all scripture together
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Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )
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WildB
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SO HATH THE LORD COMMANDED US
"Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
"FOR SO HATH THE LORD COMMANDED US, saying, I have set Thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that Thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth" (Acts 13:46,47).
Because of Paul's words: "for so hath the Lord commanded us" and his quotation of an Old Testament prophecy, it is contended that this ministry of Paul to the Gentiles still had the kingdom in view and was in no way connected with the mystery. Let us see:
When the Jews at Pisidian Antioch contradicted and blasphemed "those things which were spoken by Paul," he and Barnabas "waxed bold and said:"
"It was NECESSARY that the word of God should first have been spoken to you."
Why was this necessary? The answer is found in Peter's words to the multitudes at Jerusalem:
"Ye are the children of the prophets, and of THE COVENANT WHICH GOD MADE WITH OUR FATHERS, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
"Unto YOU FIRST God, having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities" (Acts 3:25,26).
The great Abrahamic Covenant guaranteed the blessing of the Gentiles through Israel; therefore Israel first must be saved and blessed. The whole prophetic program is founded on this great covenant.
This is why our Lord said to the Syrophenician woman: "Let the children first be filled" (Mark 7:27). This is why He said to the Samaritan woman: "Salvation is of the Jews." This is why He commissioned the eleven to begin their ministry at Jerusalem (Luke 24:47, Acts 1:8). And mark well: Peter explicitly states, in Acts 3:25,26, that God had sent Christ to bless Israel first because of the covenant made with Abraham.
As we have seen, Paul went to the Jew first, during his early ministry, confirming the fact that "Jesus is the Christ" and seeking to win his hearers to personal faith in Christ. He did this because God had not yet officially postponed the fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant. God was still stretching forth His hands to a disobedient and gainsaying people. He was not going to leave them with any excuse for rejecting Messiah. But let us continue with Paul's statement to the Jews at Antioch:
"It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: BUT . . ."
Does not this "but" indicate that there is to be a departure from the prophesied procedure?
Note, however, that it was not unfaithfulness on God's part, but their own unwillingness to accept the fulfillment of God's promise, that caused this change in the program -- a change which God, foreknowing all things, had accordingly planned in His secret, eternal counsels.
"SEEING YE PUT IT FROM YOU, AND JUDGE YOURSELVES UNWORTHY OF EVERLASTING LIFE, LO, WE TURN TO THE GENTILES."
Here let the reader carefully and candidly answer the following questions: Is salvation here being sent to the Gentiles because of Israel's acceptance of Christ, or because of her rejection of Christ? Is it going to the Gentiles on the basis of the Abrahamic Covenant or by grace? Is it going according to prophecy or according to the mystery?
There is but one answer to each of these questions. Paul at Pisidian Antioch departed from the prophetic procedure and began to do something never once prophesied, for the salvation of the Gentiles through Israel's rejection of Christ is never anywhere predicted in the prophetic Scriptures (See Rom. 11:11,12,15,25).
But why, it may be asked, does Paul then add:
"FOR SO HATH THE LORD COMMANDED US, SAYING, I HAVE SET THEE TO BE A LIGHT OF THE GENTILES, THAT THOU SHOULDEST BE FOR SALVATION UNTO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH" (Acts 13:47).
Paul does not mean here that the Gentiles are now to receive salvation according to the program outlined in prophecy, for we have already seen that the opposite is the case. The blessing of the Gentiles through Israel will have to wait until a future day.
The apostle simply points out here that God had "set" Christ to be "a light to the Gentiles" and "for salvation unto the ends of the earth" and that He would have it so, Israel notwithstanding. Since Israel refused to be the channel of blessing to the nations, God was now to bless the nations directly through Christ, apart from Israel, and Paul had been "commanded" to proclaim this fact.
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becauseHElives
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Hog Wash WildB!
Paul was an extraordinarily exceptional believer with a deeper revelation of the Lord than most can even imagine but his gospel was the same gospel Peter, James, John, Mark, Luke, Barnebas, Timothy, ect. preached.....
the Apostle Paul himself warned about the gospel you and Stam are trying to deceive with.
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Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )
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WildB
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THE RELATION BETWEEN PROPHECY
AND THE MYSTERY
Much harm and loss has come to the church because God's "workmen" have failed to note the distinctions and divisions in the Word of Truth. But serious harm can and does also result from a failure to recognize the unity of God's great plan for the ages; from a failure to observe connections as well as distinctions.
Extreme dispensationalists see many distinctions in the Scriptures -- even distinctions which do not exist! -- but they fail to see some of the most important connections. And, strange to say, in seeking to establish non-existent distinctions they frequently blunder back into the camp of the traditionalists and likewise fail to note some of the most basic distinctions!
An example of this is found in the contention that Paul, when he wrote his early epistles, had not yet come into his special Gentile ministry; that at that time he preached practically the same message as the twelve; that at that time he dealt primarily with the Jews; that his early epistles were addressed primarily to Jews and that during that time he offered the kingdom to Israel -- but that after Acts 28 his ministry had no connection whatever with that of the twelve!
The fact is, that from the beginning Paul's apostleship was clearly separate and distinct from that of the twelve. He was called and commissioned far from Jerusalem, on the road to Damascus. His appointment was "not of men, neither by man," but by the glorified Lord Himself (Gal. 1:1). Moreover, he was, from the beginning, called to a different ministry than the twelve: "to testify the gospel of the grace of God," to "preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ" (Acts 20:24, Eph. 3:8). But it must not be supposed from this that there was not, at the same time, a connection between the ministry of the twelve in Acts and Paul's ministry at that time, or even between the Acts ministry of the twelve and Paul's post-Acts ministry.
To begin with, Paul represented the same God as the twelve, against whom Israel was now rebelling. He represented the same Christ, whom Israel was now rejecting. And "the salvation of God," which Israel had refused, was now being "sent unto the Gentiles" (Matt. 1:21, Acts 4:12, 13:26,46, cf. Acts 28:28).
Furthermore, the apostles at Jerusalem soon came to realize that because Israel was now refusing the risen, glorified Christ, God had chosen Paul to preach salvation to the Gentiles through Israel's fall and, in a solemn covenant, their leaders gave to Paul and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, agreeing to confine their ministry to Israel while Paul went to the Gentiles.
Paul's ministry was not merely the starting of another program separately from the church at Jerusalem. It was the next step in the program of God, and unless we see the development in the whole program we miss a great deal.
This development is best demonstrated by some of the very passages which extreme dispensationalists use to prove that Paul's Acts ministry was "a Jewish kingdom ministry" in fulfillment of the prophetic program. We deal with some of these in the following pages.
more http://www.geocities.com/protestantscot/ttd/chapter14.html
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becauseHElives
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quote:
Note carefully that after the apostles had been preaching "the gospel" for some time (perhaps two or more years) they did not have the slightest idea what the Lord was talking about when He predicted His death.1 Obviously, then, "the gospel" which they preached was not "the gospel" which Paul later preached or "the gospel" by which we are saved (See I Cor. 15:1-4). "The gospel" which they preached was "the gospel of the kingdom" (Matt. 9:35 cf. Luke 9:2), not "the preaching of the cross" (I Cor. 1:18).
So WildB the 3000 saved on the day of Pentecost were not save by the preaching of the cross....please explain what saved those 3000?
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Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )
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WildB
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IS THERE ONLY ONE GOSPEL?
But while it is technically incorrect to call these four records four gospels, it is equally incorrect to say, as many have said, that the Scriptures present only one gospel.
First, the word gospel (Gr. evangelion) means simply good news and to say that the Bible presents only one gospel is like saying that God has sent man only one item of good news down through the ages.
Second, God uses distinctive terms to designate the various items of good news: e.g., "the gospel [good news] of the kingdom" (Matt. 9:35), "the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24), "the gospel of the uncircumcision" (Gal. 2:7), etc. Surely if God distinguishes between these gospels they cannot be exactly the same.
Next, it should be noted that God has revealed His good news to man progressively. To Adam and Eve He proclaimed the gospel, or good news, that the woman's seed should some day crush the head of the Serpent (Gen. 3:15). To Abraham He preached the gospel, or good news, that in him all nations should be blessed (Gal. 3:8). And all down through the Old Testament Scriptures we find God proclaiming more and more good news to man. Finally the Lord sent His apostles to proclaim "the gospel of the kingdom" (See Luke 9:1-6), but mark well: at that time they did not even know that Christ was to die. In this connection read carefully, Luke 18:31-34:
"Then He took unto Him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.
"For He shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
"And they shall scourge Him, and put Him to death: and the third day He shall rise again.
"AND THEY UNDERSTOOD NONE OF THESE THINGS: AND THIS SAYING WAS HID FROM THEM, NEITHER KNEW THEY THE THINGS WHICH WERE SPOKEN" (Luke 18:31-34).
Note carefully that after the apostles had been preaching "the gospel" for some time (perhaps two or more years) they did not have the slightest idea what the Lord was talking about when He predicted His death.1 Obviously, then, "the gospel" which they preached was not "the gospel" which Paul later preached or "the gospel" by which we are saved (See I Cor. 15:1-4). "The gospel" which they preached was "the gospel of the kingdom" (Matt. 9:35 cf. Luke 9:2), not "the preaching of the cross" (I Cor. 1:18).
This leads us to still another matter of vital importance in any consideration of God's good news to man: If a friend should come to the reader and say: "Did you hear the good news?" the reader would naturally inquire: "What good news?" We must always be sure to make this inquiry in our study of the Scriptures too when we come upon the term "the gospel," for this term alone in no way indicates what the good news might be.
This is illustrated by the passage referred to above. Luke 9:6 says that the apostles "departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel." From this it has frequently been assumed that they went forth preaching salvation through the cross, as we do. Yet Luke 18:31-34 makes it clear that they had no idea Christ would even die. A glance at the context in Luke 9, however, makes it all plain, for in verse 2 we read: "And He sent them to preach THE KINGDOM OF GOD," not His death for sin.
From what has thus far been pointed out, it is evident that many gospels could be discussed in this chapter. We will, however, limit ourselves to the five indicated on the foregoing chart, because in them we find something of the philosophy of God's dealings with men.
Before dealing separately with each of these gospels, the reader should turn to the chart and carefully note the following:
1. The gospel of the kingdom takes us back to David, with whom the covenant of the kingdom was made.
2. The gospel of the circumcision takes us back before David to Abraham, with whom the covenant of circumcision was made.
3. The gospel of the uncircumcision takes us back before David and Abraham to Abram who, as an uncircumcised heathen, was justified by faith.
4. The message of reconciliation takes us back before David, Abraham and Abram to Adam, the "one man" by whom the world was alienated from God.
5. The mystery takes us back before David, before Abraham, before Abram, before Adam to God Himself and "the good pleasure of His will."
more http://www.geocities.com/protestantscot/ttd/chapter11.html
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becauseHElives
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any teaching that separates the gospel truth into dispensations is a false teaching, another gospel.....
I am not saying there are not different dispensations, but I am saying Yahweh's Gospel has never changed in any dispensation.....
Old Testament look to the Lamb that was future tense....
New Testament look to the Lamb fulfillment in Yahshua's death burial and Resurrection ....
Salvation has always been by Grace....
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Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )
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WildB
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Those who struggle with rightly dividing the Word of truth will find this volume most helpful. Pastor Stam gives the reader an in-depth look at the major differences between Prophecy and the Mystery. Every Grace believer should read this work. This book, more than any other, has been used to bring people to an understanding of the distinctive ministry of the Apostle Paul.
THINGS THAT DIFFER
BY C. R. STAM
"UNDERSTANDEST THOU WHAT THOU READEST?"
by Cornelius R. Stam
This was the question Philip asked of the Ethiopian prince as he sat reading from Isaiah's prophecy (Acts 8:30), and it is a question which we should continually keep asking ourselves as we read the Holy Scriptures.
There are always those among God's people who do not much care whether or not they understand what they read, if only it warms their hearts! To them the Bible is little more than a fetish. Taking only those Scriptures which appeal to them, and leaving the rest, they actually feel themselves quite spiritual and often talk about believing the Bible whether they understand it or not!
But such "spirituality" is far from genuine, and such "faith" is blind and superstitious at best.
While it is true that the Bible teaches many truths which we believe, although they are beyond our comprehension (such as its opening verse!), yet how can we believe what the Bible says unless we understand what it says? God would have us understand what we read and believe it intelligently. Indeed, true faith will want to know and understand more and more of God's Word. One who does not care whether or not he understands what God has said is not interested in knowing what God has said at all. His faith is based on his own will rather than on God's Word, for regardless of the meaning of Scripture, he will take any passage that suits his fancy and use it as he wishes.
How great an emphasis God Himself puts upon the importance of understanding His Word! On one occasion, when our Lord saw the multitudes, He "was moved with compassion toward them because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and He began to teach them many things" (Mark 6:34).
And now that the secret of God's great plan has been made known, how much more reason there is to study the Scriptures with a view to understanding them! How Paul, by the Spirit, emphasizes this as he writes of his prayers for the saints:
"THAT the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, MAY GIVE UNTO YOU THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND REVELATION IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM:
"THE EYES OF YOUR UNDERSTANDING BEING ENLIGHTENED; THAT YE MAY KNOW WHAT IS THE HOPE OF HIS CALLING..." (Eph.1:17,18).
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That is all.....
Posts: 8775 | From: USA, MICHIGAN | Registered: Mar 2004
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