I am desirous of writing a blog everyday about the Word of truth rightly divided, for edification and education in Pauline authority. However, I know that I will not always have time and therefore will blog about other things or post articles on days that time just doesn't allow.
I start today with a short post. I titled it "Paul's Gospel". Paul in Romans 16:25-26 states,
"Now to Him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:"
Paul states clearly, if the verse is believed by the reader, that God is of power to stablish you according or in line with "my gospel", that is, Paul's gospel. In new translations the word "stablish" is changed to "establish" this changes the meaning of the word. "Stablish" deals with the issue working in your inner man from the inside out, "establish" deals with the issue working from the outside in. The word "stablish" is in accordance with "being grounded and settled in love" (Eph. 3:17), a good passage to compare this with is Col. 2:6-7,
"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him: rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving."
As ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9), so walk, by grace through faith, ye in Christ. A huge part of that is understanding your identification in Christ that you are planted (Rom. 6) and baptized (Col. 2:11-13) not into water, but into Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
Back to Romans 16:25-26. There is one thing I want to make mention and then I am going to show some differences between Paul and Peter that need to be seen and understood.
The issue that I want to be seen is "God's power". "God's power" today is "according to my gospel". "God's power" today is in line with Paul's gospel. Here we have the starting point of Pauline authority and it is distinct, separate, and different from not only Peter's gospel, but Christ's while He was on earth as He taught the "gospel of the kingdom of heaven". "God's power" will only be manifested today, God's salvation will only be received today by listening to Paul's gospel. Paul's gospel: (1 Cor. 15), that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day, according to the scriptures. That gospel if simply believed will save you from your dead position in sins (Eph. 2:1-2) and raise you to the highest place of exaltation in Christ. However, "God's power" doesn't stop there, it continues to work effectually in those who believe (1 Th. 2:13). Those who believe what? you may be asking. 1 Th. 2:13,
"For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God WHICH YE HEARD OF US, YE RECEIVED IT NOT AS THE WORD OF MEN, BUT AS IT IS IN TRUTH, THE WORD OF GOD, WHICH EFFECTUALLY WORKETH ALSO IN YOU THAT BELIEVE."
It is listening to what Paul taught and receiving it as God's Word as it is in truth, and simply believing it. This means to take God at His Word and God will worketh it effectually in you. The "eth" on work, makes it a continual thing, not a one time deal. One can only be saved by Paul's gospel today and one can only have the power of God working in them today through Pauline authority. We will study more of this out in the days to come.
Here are some differences between The Twelve and Paul:
1. Chosen by Christ on earth (Luke 6:13) 1. Chosen by Christ in Heaven (Acts 9:3-5)
2. Had known only Christ on earth (Acts 1:9) 2. Had known only Christ in Heaven (I Corinthians 15:8; Acts 26:16)
3. Representing Israel one apostle for each tribe (Matthew 29:28; Luke 22:29,30) 3. One apostle representing the oneness of the Body (Romans 12:5; I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians4)
4. The twelve offering Kingdomat hand to Israel (Matthew 10:7) 4. Proclaiming "Gospel of the Grace of God" to Jew and Gentile alike
5. Power to work miracles (Mark 16:17,18) 5. Miracles shown at first, signs of apostle (II Timothy 4:20) but later fading (Acts 19:11,12)
6. Ministry based on covenantsand prophecy (Isaiah 60:1-3; Acts 3:22-26) 6. Ministry based entirely upon the Grace of God (Ephesians 1:7) Mystery kept secret until that time (Romans 16:25; Ephesians 3:1-3)
7. Sent to Jew first (Matthew 10:5,6) Gentile salvation through Israel (Acts 3:25,26) 7. Jew and Gentile on same footing with God (Romans 3:22,23; 10:12,13)
8. Ministry in Palastine only (Matthew 10:5,6) 8. Forbade to minister in Jerusalem (Acts 22:21)
9. Labored, hoped and prayed for Christ's return as King (Acts 1:11; 3:20,21) 9. Paul's message explains Hiscontinued absence (Ephesians 1:18; 2:6)
10. Commissioned to baptize and signs as evidence of salvation (Mark 16:15-18) 10. Not commissioned to baptize (I Corinthians 1:17) Miraculous powers to vanish away (I Corinthians 8:10)
Don't take my word for it, study these things out, but believe God's Word. Tomorrow we will look at Paul's gospel and what it is "according to", is it according to what God has planned with Christ since the foundation of the world, or is it according to something else He hid before the foundation of the world?
In Him,
Joshua Strelecki
Friday, October 17, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
"Cheap Grace"
I desire to speak more on this issue. I was reading Keith Blades quote again and the comments I wrote and decided I wanted to write a little more on this issue. I write this short post, not to persuade men, or please men, because I won't however I have experienced in many discussions that I have had as soon as something comes out of my mouth the other person closes their ears and starts a rampage of assumptions. So my hope and prayer for this short post is that, you, the reader will not close your ears so fast, but to hear and study out to see if these things are so. I will not go to deeply into referencing verses and will do so in upcoming posts, however what I say can still be studied out through the Scriptures, be a Berean.
"Cheap Grace", I can only but see a multitude of Christians getting frustrated with a quote like Keith Blades because the term and phrase “Cheap Grace” is used to flippantly and in offense to a vast array of theologies and has become the norm under Christendom. May we stop and think about it. "Cheap Grace" without explaining it can and does damage the gospel and the vital element of God that not only is the power to offer His salvation to all men, but the power that actually saves, that element is God’s grace (element for a better lack of words). Christians in the Body of Christ who use this term result in adding and/or taking away from God's marvelous grace that He is offering to all of mankind, this is again accomplished when we as believers use the word cheap to describe it. The "grace" that we are saved by and are to proclaim to the world, to unbelievers that is so awesome and "exceedingly great", that magnifies not only the character of God but His essence and view towards mankind today, is called “cheap” by the hands and mouths of Christians within denominations and sects which is not only wrong, but in light of God’s Word truly is appalling and just plan sad.
I write this to tear the stronghold of this phrase in shreds and to magnify the grace of God and how "exceedingly great" it is. However, I know why the phrase is used, I once was in the Christian pool that so flippantly used this expression. The phrase "cheap grace" is used in defending that “grace” is not a license to sin and when others do take advantage of God’s grace this expression is used in defense against those who are, and some even go as far as saying that those who do are not really saved. It is a phrase with a two-fold purpose, to implant fear and insecurity in those who take advantage of God’s grace that they might “repent” and start doing good works and produce fruit, however it is the strength and motivation for those who are producing and also the unseeingly power to produce more, and can even be the pride to raise themselves higher than those who do not have that same fruit. I have been there. I have been in the position that raised myself so high that I could judge homosexual’s, adulterers, thieves, and the alike and could say they can’t be saved, because if they were they wouldn’t be doing that. I was also in the position that became fearful and insecure in my salvation because I was honest and knew there was still sin in my life that I just had the darnest time getting out of. The issue is the motivation behind the life pleasing to God. Oh, I pray so many read this.
I know so many people who are saved and walk in fear, don’t do this, don’t do that, don’t eat this, don’t eat that, don’t drink this, don’t drink that, don’t touch this, don’t touch that, don’t say this, don’t say that, and the list goes on and on. They live in fear and the guilt that they live in when they sin is tremendous. Then it goes so far that that guilt is from God and evidence of their salvation. Sure they want to please the Lord, but the motivation is to not experience the guilt and the “chastisement” of God. They live day by day walking by sight not by faith, by what they feel and how they feel rather than on the Word of God. By overwhelming senses and again feelings, instead of the powerful Word of God that is consistent and truth. The motivation of one who walks like this is fear, but the motivation God desires today to walk in and the power to not sin is one of a genuine love. How is the love produced? How does one get that motivation to serve God in love and walk worthy of the Lord? It is produced and reflected by how God views you. Is God putting you under the law today to produce the works of the law that revive sin an unhealthy fear of God, or are you standing in God’s grace under His grace, haven given you all spiritual blessings in Christ at the moment of salvation. See “grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts”, God’s grace is our teacher, not God’s law being a tutor and/or governor. Under that law, in that unhealthy motivation you need to forgive in order to be forgiven, but under God’s grace you are already forgiven and that is supposed to motivate you to forgive.
Many scholars and religious leaders use this phrase to help prove that "grace" is not a get out of hell free ticket and that's it, but that it does transform your life and if it has not or does not, they will tac on this phrase "cheap grace" to that person. They use this phrase to prove that people who call themselves Christians, but live a carnal life, who look and act no different from anyone else and blend right in with the world aren't truly Christians and that they have treated God's grace as "cheap". The idea is focused on the man or woman who doesn't bear the fruit of what they believe in and use God's grace as a license to sin and live a life that pleases them.
May I state boldly may we never, never, never look at God's grace through man's actions, works, or deeds, or the lack thereof. Grace is unmerited favor, it is God's Riches At Christ's Expense. Many believe that we are saved "by grace through faith" and "not by works", however after salvation they turn from this grace to the law to work and to prove their salvation as if there good works will give them assurance of their salvation. In this theology, in this thinking, in this man-made phrase we tear down the truth of the gospel and we work along Satan in not only being tossed to and fro by winds of doctrines, but help in the process of tossing believers and especially new believers in those winds of doctrines. We are saved "by grace through faith", why would God change our sanctification to be under the law and do the works of the law. NO! We are "created in Christ unto good works", not the "works of the law". We are to walk in the good works of grace.
The attempt behind this thinking I believe is out of a good heart, however the result of this phrase is devastating not only to one's faith or new faith, but devastating to the Word of God because it either adds or takes away. I pray ye, ye Body of Christ that we may never, never, never point to our lives, our works, our deeds, as proof of the Cross, as proof of our salvation, as proof of the grace that has saved us. May we only point to our belief in the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ as the proof of our salvation. The only thing that separates a person from being a Christian or not is belief is faith. Our assurance, our testimony, our proof of God's grace in our life, is our believe in God's Word, it is not our works of righteousness for we would NEVER be assured of salvation, for not only have we fallen short of the glory of God, but continue even in our Christian walk to continue to fall short of the glory of God, it is belief, it is faith in God's grace, in Christ's righteousness, in Christ's work that we attain assurance, that we attain sanctification, that we attain the glory of God, and that will never change whether you belief it or not.
Many at this point may be thinking that I am defending the position that our apostle Paul was "slanderously reported" in saying "let us do evil, that good may come", "continue in sin that grace may abound" as I teach and preach the same truths that the apostle Paul did in his epistles and as I defend in this pitiable attempt over a blog, but I am not defending the position or granting or giving the license to sin, nor am I adjusting my theology to my sinful lifestyle. I hate my sin, I hate my sin more than anyone, however I have realized after becoming a Christian that any attempts of my confession and confession and confession and confession and confession and confession to God did not take care of my sin. I realized that by putting myself under the law did not take care of my sin nor produced a fruitful life, nor manifested God’s power. I realized as many works that I performed that OTHERS saw and GAVE THEM AN ASSURANCE OF MY SALVATION, they did not give me an assurance of my salvation, because I knew of my sin, whether it was one or ten (just random numbers). God through His Word brought me to the same place that He had at salvation, the place of knowing my sin and not being able no matter how religious I was to take care of my sin and in turn produce a walk pleasing to God. It was then when I started to walk "by grace through faith" again, not unto salvation, I was already saved, but unto an understanding of how God would sanctify me. I stopped listening to the John MacArthur's and John Piper's who so easily used the terms "cheap grace" and the like, and started to take God's Word for it. I have been walking by grace through faith and in grace through faith ever since. I now understand my position in Christ, that God did not want me to confess, confess, and confess my sins, but to walk in the finish work of the Cross and thank Him for it, to walk in my complete forgiveness of sins, to walk in His grace by faith, not by sight. This grace in which I stood all along I began to understand and the sin I so zealously hated and still do, continues to lose it's power in my life, not because I see my own works, not because I rest my assurance on the life that I live, but because I believe in Christ's work, and rest my assurance in Him and the death He died for me and now I live in Christ and set my affection on things above.
"Cheap Grace" this phrase, focuses on our works, on our life and what it produces and does not produce, instead of looking and focusing on the "Expensive Grace" of God, instead of focusing on Christ's finished work, not on our life, but His death, burial and resurrection. Then may we walk not under the law to do the works of the law, for we are not under the law, but under grace but to walk in the good works that God has ordained the good works of grace which is our reasonable service.
It is to the Body of Christ's shame and especially the leadership thereof and in that we focus so much on ourselves and more on others comparing ourselves to others who commend themselves, esteeming ourselves higher than others, and measuring ourselves by others. Paul says this is not wise (2 Cor. 10:12). Grace is freedom, it is a great freedom that God has given to us not for an occasion of the flesh, not to sin, but in love to serve one another. However, grace is abused, there is no doubt, however every single believer in the Body of Christ has abused God's grace at one time or another, some more than others, some less than others, but our measurement of each other is not supposed to be our works, but it is supposed to be Christ. The Corinthians are hard for teachers and preachers who use the term "cheap grace" to explain, because they were so carnal, I am talking about, adultery, fornication, drunkenness, yet Paul deals with them as brothers and sisters, he points them back to their identity in Christ and to God's grace to correct them, to the love of Christ that motivates and produces an amazing and incredible strength in our inner man that no matter what we do good or bad God through Christ loves us loved them and will not remove us from Christ's Body, that is power and power over Satan and his devices. Grace treats us as adults, that God loves us so much He will take the punishment over and over and over for our sins, He did at the Cross (all of our sins were future at the Cross) and it is that sound doctrine, that grace, that truth, that works in our inner man, that produces a fruitful walk in the good works God has ordained in Christ, a growth not in our position in Christ for we cannot grow anymore in Christ, for we are complete in Christ, but a growth in our understanding of that position, in knowing God or rather how we are known by God, that is in Christ.
The differences,
"Expensive Grace" looks at others and oneself by what God has done "by grace through faith" and will do as you continue in Christ "by grace through faith", "Cheap Grace" looks at what you have done or have not done in order to determine the authenticity of your faith.
Why would you determine your faith by works you have done or not done? There are no grounds for this scripturally.
"Expensive Grace" focuses on what Christ did, what it cost God, His Son, and what is cost Christ, His life, "Cheap Grace" focuses on what you have done or not done or on what it has cost you to determine the authenticity of your faith.
"Expensive Grace" walks by faith not by sight, "Cheap Grace" walks by sight not by faith.
"Expensive Grace" is unconditional and never changing, "Cheap Grace" is conditional and ever changing because of your works.
"Expensive Grace" forgives all sins and the believer through faith thanks God for this forgiveness, "Cheap Grace" forgives sins based on your confession which is unbelief.
"Expensive Grace" is God's Riches At Christ Expense, "Cheap Grace" is God's Riches At Your Expense.
My point is not to show that there are two types of grace, because there isn't, however to uncover the underlying lies and false notions that the phrase "Cheap Grace" and its explanations thereof and in give.
I say again I do not defend a license to sin, however if you are struggling with sin, know that you are completely forgiven believe that and when you sin and sin and sin and sin and sin you are completely forgiven. It is this "great love" of God, it is this "exceeding greatness of His power", it is the "riches of His grace" that not only save you while you were dead in your sins, but it is these things that can and will renew your mind and your inner man and produce a genuine desire not to sin through belief of the truth. Grace takes you from the scum of the earth, the lowest of the low, from being dead in sins, to the highest position of exaltation in Christ, in fact that happens at salvation unknowingly, but it is that same grace through your faith in His Word that helps your realize that position and live in it. However terms like "cheap grace" and the like do not help because they go against God's Word and the Spirit in your inner man does not operate on words of man, but only by God's Word, only in truth, only on facts. Grace is not cheap no matter how you look at it and it slanders the grace of God.
Story: A man in Chicago who was a cocaine addict never thought that he could be saved, until he heard a preacher on the radio explain that you don’t have to clean up your life first and then believe, you believe right where your at and whatever your in, believe that Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. The cocaine addict had never heard that before, that he didn’t have to stop what he was doing, but that God would save him right where he was at. The man continued to learn about the grace that he believed in, however he also continued in the cocaine going to parties and getting drugged up. Again more grace (he wasn't being taught to continue to sin that grace may abound, but he was being taught about God's grace and how God views him in Christ, and that taught him even in his sin to deny), more drugs, more grace, more drugs, until one day he started cutting the drugs getting ready to get high and he stopped and told his buddies he could no longer do it. Praise God for the power of His grace that teaches to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts. That man didn’t become saved the moment he stop the drugs, he was already saved, but the love and grace of God taught him to deny the drugs and to serve Christ. I share the story and the point is, is that many would have looked upon that man and said he is not a Christian because of his outward actions, however God was working on the inward man, also that once he stopped it didn’t mean he was completely free from the cocaine he continued to grow in grace and continued to teach him to deny not only drugs, but ungodliness (legalistic religiousness) and worldly lusts (drugs, sex, drinking).
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Slandering the Grace of God: by Keith Blades
"Two of the most common of slanders, or slams, against the free gift of salvation and the simple requirement of faith in Christ are the belittling expressions "easy-believism" and "cheap grace." These denigrating expressions are often heard from ones who preach perversions of the gospel of Christ. They employ them to mock the idea that being saved can be as easy as the simple issue of faith makes it to be. Those that hear them are supposed to be impressed with the innuendo contained in the expressions, and they are made to think that the idea of free salvation is ludicrous. But, in truth, such expressions are only backlashes from the flesh nature of these false evangelists. They are expressions from their wounded fleshly pride and ego as they arrogantly take offence at the notion that they can't do something to justify themselves in God's sight. The flesh rejects and opposes the grace of the gospel in the first place, and pride is its grace-rejecting policy. In its pride the flesh spits out the foul taste of grace and expresses it through disparaging remarks such as these.
When examined in the light of the gospel these two expressions really fall into two separate categories of slander. The first --- "easy-believism" --- is just plain foolish slander. It foolishly speaks against what God so plainly declares. But the slam of "cheap grace" is abominable and God-insulting slander. It strikes out at the very character of God and declares that He Himself and what He offers is cheap. Only a highly offended flesh nature could express such things as this. Only one in full cooperation with the policy of evil, either by being one of Satan's false evangelists, or by being removed from the grace of Christ unto another gospel, could express such things as this.
"Easy-believism" is foolish slander because God Himself declares that that is just what He has made salvation to be --- something that is easy to hve because He offers it as a free gift and it is received simply on the basis of belief in Christ as one's completely sufficient Savior. When the apostle Paul warned the Corinthians about the tactics of Satan's policy of evil in their midst, and spoke to them about the ones who would be preaching "another gospel" and the like, he warned them that the "simplicity that is in Christ" was at stake and under attack.
"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, SO YOUR MINDS SHOULD BE CORRUPTED FROM THE SIMPLICITY THAT IS IN CHRIST." (II Corinthians 11:3)
Everything that needs to be done for our salvation has been accomplished by God in the redemptive work of Christ on the cross. Every single thing necessary for propitiation, expiation, forgiveness, imputation of righteousness, and the like, was fully provided for and completely settled through Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. All the work of salvation; all the difficult things in providing for it; all the effort expending activities required to bring it about; were accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ for us. As such, nothing difficult, hard, or laborious either remains for us or is enjoined upon us. Instead, God offers salvation as a free gift of His grace; as something easy for us to have since all the work for it has been done for us by our Redeemer. Indeed, there is simplicity in Christ. Simplicity because every single work necessary to provide for salvation has been done for us by Christ, and because the salvation is received on the basis of simple faith in Christ as the all-sufficient Savior. "Easy-believism" is really what God has made the appropriation of salvation to rest upon. He's made it easy to have, with it being the free gift of His grace, and with belief being the sole requirement for receiving it. Therefore, when the expression "easy-believism" is spouted off as a slam against the preaching of faith in Christ as the sole requirement for salvation, it is in truth downright foolish slander. Few things are more absurd and foolish than to deny what God so plainly declares, and nothing could be more foolish than to slander the only hope of salvation. Easy-believism, in reality, is men's only hope of being saved. If God did not make it so that salvation was an absolutely free gift to us, easily received on the simple basis of faith in Christ Jesus as Savior, THEN NO ONE EVER COULD BE SAVED. Therefore, how more foolish could one's words be than to ridicule the only hope one has of salvation.
On the other hand, the slam of "cheap grace" is abominable, ungodly, revolting slander. By this expression the arrogant rejecter of the gospel looks at God, and what He so freely offers, and declares both Him and it to be cheap. This is because, in the expression, cheap is not an adjective that can be applied to the issue of grace, without at the same time being applied to God. Grace is part of God's attitude towards us, because God is a God of grace. Therefore, by the expression, God Himself is declared to be cheap. This is an abominable insult to God. His grace can be abounding, great, exceeding, manifold, and the like, but it cannot by nature be cheap. There is nothing in God, or that He ever does, that is cheap, worthless, vulgar, inferior, or paltry. The word cannot be associated with God, except by those who on the basis of their pride reject Him and what He offers. Only the pride of man can see anything cheap in, or about, God.
The abomination of the expression, though, goes beyond this. Since the word cheap cannot legitimately be applied to grace without implicating God, it must also be applied to what it is that He gives by His grace. Therefore, not only the gracious giver, but also His gracious gift, is being described as cheap. This, horribly enough, is just what this expression really does. It declares that God Himself is cheap and His gift of eternal life is cheap. The blasphemy associated with this is appalling. There is nothing cheap about God setting forth His only begotten Son as a propitiation for our sins, and there is nothing cheap about the gift of eternal life. Instead, both defy the ability of language and heart to express the glory and magnificence of them. Nor is there anything cheap about the capacity of God's grace in Christ to motivate a Christian to live a godly life. Hence, only a heart and mind distorted and corrutped by fleshly sinful pride could possess such a low opinion of grace and respond to the gospel of God's grace in Christ with such slander as contained in the expression "cheap grace."
These two slanderous expressions, and others of their kind, often team up with the various perversions of the gospel to help enforce the acceptance of the perversion for the truth. The policy of evil against the gospel truly has a ready and capable ally in the flesh nature of man. Not only does the flesh nature find the false gospel naturally appealing, but the flesh of those who accept it will also boast itself and express its disdain for God's grace with such slanderous remarks as these. Therefore, men's flesh will gladly cooperate with the policy of evil in the propagation of, and vouching for, the false gospel. Also, unfortunately, too many careless and assuming Christians also cooperate in this by simply parroting misstatements of God's requirement, and not being clear and plain in their preaching of the gospel of Christ."
I quote this, because I used to use these terms very lightly and very strongly. I looked at these two terms and what they said about me and I did not like them. I wanted it to be hard to believe, to be able to do something, some good works, at least something in order to receive God's salvation. I looked at both terms and thought that if my life is not producing a life full of a healthy, fruitful, spiritual walk then I saw myself as taking advantage of God, therefore meaning really His grace was cheap, because if it did not cause that fruitful life in me and I continued sinning and sinning and sinning it really was cheap, and how others would view myself in that I was saying, "continue in sin, that grace may abound". These things hurt my flesh and the pride therein, because in God's salvation there is nothing I can do to earn it or no works I can do to receive it.
I came to learn that God's grace is not cheap, sure it doesn't cost us a thing, it really doesn't and anyone who says anything different does not believe God's Word. It does not cost us a thing, but it cost God His Son, and Christ everything. I learned that even a man or woman who believes in Chrsit that He died for their sins, was buried, and rose again, and then lived a carnal life whether it be a worldly life in the flesh, or a religious (legalistic) life in the flesh, or even stopped believing in Christ all alone, that still God's grace is still not cheap and in fact it is so great and so awesome it will still save that person. God's grace still saves that person even if I I myself do not see the outward appearance of one's faith that so many people want to see, and nothing can separate that person from the love of Christ. Even if that person stops believing if they initially believed, Christ cannot deny Himself, the person is a part of His Body and all the cutting, slashing, and tearing of His Body happened at Calvary, it won't happen again. I am not recommending that we should live a life in sin and unbelief, because God's grace does teach us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, however I am recommending for believers new and old "as ye have received the Lord Jesus Christ, so walk ye in Him". Stop looking at your outward appearance, stop comparing your walk in Christ with others, stop trying to live under the law, but continue to walk in grace through faith as you initially did. I pray that we would get our minds and eyes off of ourselves, especially when it comes to "believing in Christ" and when it comes to "God's grace", although our flesh may view them as not easy or we do not want it to be easy, because that means all your work is in vain, or that your religious status is nothing in God's sight, but that God has made it easy for us in Christ, if He didn't like brother Keith said we would have no hope. May we not view God's grace through our own eyes and through others works or walk in Christ, but may we view God's grace through His eyes and through His work in Christ, that we may not condemn our brothers in the Body of Christ, but instead edify them in the strong grace of our almighty Creator as Paul did with the Corinthians, though they lived a carnal life, He stood strong that they were, "washed, sanctified, and justified" in God's sight. Lastly, I hope that we stop using these slanderous terms, because they blaspheme God and His work in Christ, but instead humbly hold these truths that it is easy to believe for salvation, not always after in sufferings, but unto salvation and that God's grace is in no way "cheap", highly expensive at the cost of His Son, and that salvation is still expensive at the cost of His Son even if that believer turns from God it still has sealed Him, even though that believer chose to suffer loss in heaven rather than in this life. God's grace and faith are compatable and it is these two truths that need to be presented to the world in clarity and in truth, not only for salvation, but unto sanctification.
In Him,
Josh Strelecki
When examined in the light of the gospel these two expressions really fall into two separate categories of slander. The first --- "easy-believism" --- is just plain foolish slander. It foolishly speaks against what God so plainly declares. But the slam of "cheap grace" is abominable and God-insulting slander. It strikes out at the very character of God and declares that He Himself and what He offers is cheap. Only a highly offended flesh nature could express such things as this. Only one in full cooperation with the policy of evil, either by being one of Satan's false evangelists, or by being removed from the grace of Christ unto another gospel, could express such things as this.
"Easy-believism" is foolish slander because God Himself declares that that is just what He has made salvation to be --- something that is easy to hve because He offers it as a free gift and it is received simply on the basis of belief in Christ as one's completely sufficient Savior. When the apostle Paul warned the Corinthians about the tactics of Satan's policy of evil in their midst, and spoke to them about the ones who would be preaching "another gospel" and the like, he warned them that the "simplicity that is in Christ" was at stake and under attack.
"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, SO YOUR MINDS SHOULD BE CORRUPTED FROM THE SIMPLICITY THAT IS IN CHRIST." (II Corinthians 11:3)
Everything that needs to be done for our salvation has been accomplished by God in the redemptive work of Christ on the cross. Every single thing necessary for propitiation, expiation, forgiveness, imputation of righteousness, and the like, was fully provided for and completely settled through Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. All the work of salvation; all the difficult things in providing for it; all the effort expending activities required to bring it about; were accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ for us. As such, nothing difficult, hard, or laborious either remains for us or is enjoined upon us. Instead, God offers salvation as a free gift of His grace; as something easy for us to have since all the work for it has been done for us by our Redeemer. Indeed, there is simplicity in Christ. Simplicity because every single work necessary to provide for salvation has been done for us by Christ, and because the salvation is received on the basis of simple faith in Christ as the all-sufficient Savior. "Easy-believism" is really what God has made the appropriation of salvation to rest upon. He's made it easy to have, with it being the free gift of His grace, and with belief being the sole requirement for receiving it. Therefore, when the expression "easy-believism" is spouted off as a slam against the preaching of faith in Christ as the sole requirement for salvation, it is in truth downright foolish slander. Few things are more absurd and foolish than to deny what God so plainly declares, and nothing could be more foolish than to slander the only hope of salvation. Easy-believism, in reality, is men's only hope of being saved. If God did not make it so that salvation was an absolutely free gift to us, easily received on the simple basis of faith in Christ Jesus as Savior, THEN NO ONE EVER COULD BE SAVED. Therefore, how more foolish could one's words be than to ridicule the only hope one has of salvation.
On the other hand, the slam of "cheap grace" is abominable, ungodly, revolting slander. By this expression the arrogant rejecter of the gospel looks at God, and what He so freely offers, and declares both Him and it to be cheap. This is because, in the expression, cheap is not an adjective that can be applied to the issue of grace, without at the same time being applied to God. Grace is part of God's attitude towards us, because God is a God of grace. Therefore, by the expression, God Himself is declared to be cheap. This is an abominable insult to God. His grace can be abounding, great, exceeding, manifold, and the like, but it cannot by nature be cheap. There is nothing in God, or that He ever does, that is cheap, worthless, vulgar, inferior, or paltry. The word cannot be associated with God, except by those who on the basis of their pride reject Him and what He offers. Only the pride of man can see anything cheap in, or about, God.
The abomination of the expression, though, goes beyond this. Since the word cheap cannot legitimately be applied to grace without implicating God, it must also be applied to what it is that He gives by His grace. Therefore, not only the gracious giver, but also His gracious gift, is being described as cheap. This, horribly enough, is just what this expression really does. It declares that God Himself is cheap and His gift of eternal life is cheap. The blasphemy associated with this is appalling. There is nothing cheap about God setting forth His only begotten Son as a propitiation for our sins, and there is nothing cheap about the gift of eternal life. Instead, both defy the ability of language and heart to express the glory and magnificence of them. Nor is there anything cheap about the capacity of God's grace in Christ to motivate a Christian to live a godly life. Hence, only a heart and mind distorted and corrutped by fleshly sinful pride could possess such a low opinion of grace and respond to the gospel of God's grace in Christ with such slander as contained in the expression "cheap grace."
These two slanderous expressions, and others of their kind, often team up with the various perversions of the gospel to help enforce the acceptance of the perversion for the truth. The policy of evil against the gospel truly has a ready and capable ally in the flesh nature of man. Not only does the flesh nature find the false gospel naturally appealing, but the flesh of those who accept it will also boast itself and express its disdain for God's grace with such slanderous remarks as these. Therefore, men's flesh will gladly cooperate with the policy of evil in the propagation of, and vouching for, the false gospel. Also, unfortunately, too many careless and assuming Christians also cooperate in this by simply parroting misstatements of God's requirement, and not being clear and plain in their preaching of the gospel of Christ."
I quote this, because I used to use these terms very lightly and very strongly. I looked at these two terms and what they said about me and I did not like them. I wanted it to be hard to believe, to be able to do something, some good works, at least something in order to receive God's salvation. I looked at both terms and thought that if my life is not producing a life full of a healthy, fruitful, spiritual walk then I saw myself as taking advantage of God, therefore meaning really His grace was cheap, because if it did not cause that fruitful life in me and I continued sinning and sinning and sinning it really was cheap, and how others would view myself in that I was saying, "continue in sin, that grace may abound". These things hurt my flesh and the pride therein, because in God's salvation there is nothing I can do to earn it or no works I can do to receive it.
I came to learn that God's grace is not cheap, sure it doesn't cost us a thing, it really doesn't and anyone who says anything different does not believe God's Word. It does not cost us a thing, but it cost God His Son, and Christ everything. I learned that even a man or woman who believes in Chrsit that He died for their sins, was buried, and rose again, and then lived a carnal life whether it be a worldly life in the flesh, or a religious (legalistic) life in the flesh, or even stopped believing in Christ all alone, that still God's grace is still not cheap and in fact it is so great and so awesome it will still save that person. God's grace still saves that person even if I I myself do not see the outward appearance of one's faith that so many people want to see, and nothing can separate that person from the love of Christ. Even if that person stops believing if they initially believed, Christ cannot deny Himself, the person is a part of His Body and all the cutting, slashing, and tearing of His Body happened at Calvary, it won't happen again. I am not recommending that we should live a life in sin and unbelief, because God's grace does teach us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, however I am recommending for believers new and old "as ye have received the Lord Jesus Christ, so walk ye in Him". Stop looking at your outward appearance, stop comparing your walk in Christ with others, stop trying to live under the law, but continue to walk in grace through faith as you initially did. I pray that we would get our minds and eyes off of ourselves, especially when it comes to "believing in Christ" and when it comes to "God's grace", although our flesh may view them as not easy or we do not want it to be easy, because that means all your work is in vain, or that your religious status is nothing in God's sight, but that God has made it easy for us in Christ, if He didn't like brother Keith said we would have no hope. May we not view God's grace through our own eyes and through others works or walk in Christ, but may we view God's grace through His eyes and through His work in Christ, that we may not condemn our brothers in the Body of Christ, but instead edify them in the strong grace of our almighty Creator as Paul did with the Corinthians, though they lived a carnal life, He stood strong that they were, "washed, sanctified, and justified" in God's sight. Lastly, I hope that we stop using these slanderous terms, because they blaspheme God and His work in Christ, but instead humbly hold these truths that it is easy to believe for salvation, not always after in sufferings, but unto salvation and that God's grace is in no way "cheap", highly expensive at the cost of His Son, and that salvation is still expensive at the cost of His Son even if that believer turns from God it still has sealed Him, even though that believer chose to suffer loss in heaven rather than in this life. God's grace and faith are compatable and it is these two truths that need to be presented to the world in clarity and in truth, not only for salvation, but unto sanctification.
In Him,
Josh Strelecki
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Approved workman of God?
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." -2 Timothy 2:15
2 Timothy was the last book written by the apostle Paul and I believe was the last book written in the Bible, God did not place it doctrinally as the last book of the Bible, but through much time and typing it could be seen and proved clearly through sound doctrine that 2 Tim. was the last book written and that of the apostle Paul.
Paul is writing to local churches and the leadership in those local assemblies how they need to operate and lead. Paul writes and commands to all Christians especially to the leaders in the church, the one new man, the Body of Christ to "study". But how? "Rightly dividing the word of truth."
Let's think about this for a second. God is completing His Word, the full canon of Scripture and He tells Paul to write to "study" and that by "rightly dividing the word of truth". God's Word Is Truth, all of it, no if, and's, or but's about it. However, God desires for His Word that is all truth to be "rightly divided" and in return that that man or woman who "rightly divides the word of truth" will be an approved workman of God, that workman will not be ashamed as well. But why?
Lets take a look at 2 Tim. 2:14,
"Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers."
Paul commands "these things" to be "put...in remembrance". What are the these things? Let's go one step back and take a look at the "these things".
2 Tim. 2:11-13, "It is a faithful saying: for if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him: if we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us: if we believe not, yet He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself."
There is a greater context, but this will suffice for this very short survey. Paul says, it is a "faithful saying" that if "we be dead with Christ", "we shall also live with Him." Read Romans 6. Then he goes on, "If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him". Let's read Romans 8:17, "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together." If we suffer with Him, which is Christ, but His sufferings not only that happened on the Cross which are for our salvation, but the suffering of Christ marked through the apostle Paul for our sanctification.
"For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake; having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me." -Php. 1:29-30
"Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh (Paul's body) for His (Christ's) body's sake, which is the church: 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;" -Col. 1:24-25 (verses earlier talk about Christ's sufferings in His body)
Paul numerous of times mentions that Christ is speaking through Him and the sufferings that Paul is going through is not His sufferings, but Christ sufferings that Paul bears for the church, the Body of Christ. How did these sufferings come about? Paul preached Christ according to the revelation of the mystery, what God kept secret since the world began, some information, some good news God hid in the inner counsel of His will until due time, and that due time was when God revealed it to Paul through Christ on the road to Damascus. Paul didn't preach Christ according to prophecy to sit on David's throne, he mentions that He will, however Paul preaches Christ as Head of the Body, which is not "true Israel" or "reformed Israel" or anything like that it is a different "new creation" of God that He thought up of before the foundation of the world. This preaching of Christ went not only to Jews as Christ came only to "those under the law" the Jews during His earthly ministry, but this preaching of Christ went to all mankind, all nations, all Gentiles. This preaching of Christ even the 12 disciples did not know about and caused them to question, look down, and even go against Paul and what he taught about Christ according to the mystery. Paul's sufferings that he went through were the sufferings of Christ as Paul shared sound doctrine of His Body, the church and how so many rejected it and those in it were abusing it. Anyways, I can go through Scripture for all this, but just wanted to explain what Paul is saying in Timothy.
He goes on, "if we deny Him, He also will deny us" this has nothing to do with salvation, this is tied to the suffering that Paul just mentioned. If Christians today do not follow the Lord Jesus Christ through their God ordained apostle, the apostle Paul and the suffering that will follow that, they will not suffer on earth, but suffer at the "bema" seat or judgment seat of Christ. This judgment is not a judgment unto condemnation, however it is judgment that will happen, but the believer will still be saved, but that through fire. 1 Cor. 3:9-23.
Verse 13 of 2 Tim. 2 says, "If we believe not, YET HE ABIDETH FAITHFUL: HE CANNOT DENY HIMSELF. " As you believed in Christ for salvation that He died for your sins, was buried, and rose the third day according to the Scriptures, you became a part of the Body of Christ, it is this intimate position in Christ that seals you and even if you were to believe not in Christ anymore, YET HE ABIDETH FAITHFUL, why because, HE CANNOT DENY HIMSELF. This is grace, not an excuse to stop believing or live a sinful life, but God's Riches At Christ's Expense, that teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts.
It is "these things", plus more in verses before this one, that Paul wants to "put them in remembrance". But, why does Paul want "these things" to "put them in remembrance", well because there were men in the local assembly "Hymenaeus and Philetus" who erred concerning the truth and overthrew the faith of some (v. 17-18), so Paul is telling them "to put in remembrance" "these things" really the things Paul taught them concerning Christ. 2 Tim. 2:7, "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things." Overall men are in the local assemblies "strive (they dispute) about words to no profit", but what it really does "but to the subverting (overturn, catastrophe, demolition, apostasy, are all connected to this "subverting") of the hearers, and most do not know and most congregations do not know today. Men were going against Pauline authority what he had taught them and really what the Lord Jesus Christ was teaching them through Paul. Therefore, Paul commands that everyone is to "study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
Paul taught them all things they needed and these men were "saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrew the faith of some." The resurrection that Paul taught, 1 The. 4&5. The Body of Christ is to consider what I (Paul) says; and the Lord give (not will give, but "give") thee understanding in all things. We as the Body of Christ have Paul as our apostle today, just as the children of Israel had Moses as their God given authority and whose office was still intact even after he died, an office that even Christ told His disciples to observe. The office we are to observe is Paul's and when we see Paul as our God given authority, since Christ is not on earth, we are to follow Paul and what we really do are following the Lord.
Finally, Paul says to "rightly divide the word of truth" that our faith in what Paul has said about our Lord Jesus Christ will not be overthrown. Also that things like: baptism, tongues, gospel, works, circumcision, healing, and so much more will be recognized as truth, but be put in their proper context allowing the believer to be approved of God, because they are following what He is saying to follow and do and believe today, instead of what He was saying to follow and do and believe in the past or future.
It is unfortunate that many leaders let alone many Christians today do not recognize Pauline authority, they do not recognize God's one and only command in how to study His Word and to do it.
Yes, God's Word goes against not only the grain of our worldly system our carnality, but God's Word goes against our ungodliness our religiousness. God's Word rightly divided does not fit orthodox Christianity, I am not worried nor is God worried about His Word fitting tradition and mainstream, He desires that you be approved and a workman for Him by taking Him at His Word and rightly dividing His Word by having faith in what He says is alone truth.
It is unfortunate that some have entered in the Body of Christ, but to only be overthrown into the sea and winds of doctrines, having their faith overthrown almost immediately, some knowingly and willingly, some not. I pray that you would take God at His Word and to be an approved workman for Him, rightly dividing the word of truth and by considering what Paul says. I pray also, 2 Tim. 2:20-21, "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to hour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work." I pray for all believers that you and I would be vessels of gold and silver, of honour now, prepared for the master's use now. We will all be purged for the master's use either now by "rightly dividing" and doing the will of God today spelled out by your apostle Paul in Romans through Philemon, or you will be purged for the master's use by fire at the judgment seat of Christ, yourself being saved.
P.S. When the Bible talks about "rightly dividing the word of truth" and "Paul your apostle" it is not saying do not believe the OT, the NT, Christ's earthly ministry, or Heb. - Rev. Those things are no doubt and no question the "word of truth", however since the Bible with the exception of Rom. - Phi. is God dealing with Israel and with Gentiles through Israel's rise, they are not to us, but are for our learning (Rom. 15:4). Rom. 15:4, "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." The scriptures afore are for our learning, that we may learn of our God and what He was doing in time past and how He gave the covenants and through those covenants sent Christ and it is through that same Christ that we Gentiles through Israel's fall have received salvation not under a covenant, but under grace. The scriptures show us about God-given authority in Moses and how the children of Israel rebelled and murmured against that authority. This teaches us not to rebel and murmur against our God-given authority of the apostle Paul, because if we do it is rebelling and murmuring against God. All the Bible all 66 books are for us and I believe all 66 books. I study the OT like I have never studied it before and continue to get a grasp, but finally understand that I am not a Jew nor apart of Israel, but I understand what He is doing with the nation of Israel to accomplish His plans and purposes with the earth and I am a part of the Body of Christ to accomplish His plans and purposes with the heavenly places. Both are focused solely in Christ and the centrality and the salvation comes solely in Christ, however there are two programs of God, it is the manifold wisdom of God. All 66 books are for our learning, however God was not always dealing with us Gentiles and it is only in Rom. - Phi. that He is dealing with us apart from Israel and it is these 13 books that are written TO us. The Word of Truth, is all truth, it is all of God, but it needs to be "rightly divided" to be understood and obeyed, otherwise the result is confusion, overthrowing of faith, overthrowing of sound doctrine, a tossing to and fro by winds of biblical doctrines. Listen to Paul your apostle and consider what he says and the Lord give thee understanding in all things, take Him at His Word, not only will you see the divisions that need to be made and that rightly, but your Bible study will be fruitful and your understanding will rest in God and not in men.
2 Timothy was the last book written by the apostle Paul and I believe was the last book written in the Bible, God did not place it doctrinally as the last book of the Bible, but through much time and typing it could be seen and proved clearly through sound doctrine that 2 Tim. was the last book written and that of the apostle Paul.
Paul is writing to local churches and the leadership in those local assemblies how they need to operate and lead. Paul writes and commands to all Christians especially to the leaders in the church, the one new man, the Body of Christ to "study". But how? "Rightly dividing the word of truth."
Let's think about this for a second. God is completing His Word, the full canon of Scripture and He tells Paul to write to "study" and that by "rightly dividing the word of truth". God's Word Is Truth, all of it, no if, and's, or but's about it. However, God desires for His Word that is all truth to be "rightly divided" and in return that that man or woman who "rightly divides the word of truth" will be an approved workman of God, that workman will not be ashamed as well. But why?
Lets take a look at 2 Tim. 2:14,
"Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers."
Paul commands "these things" to be "put...in remembrance". What are the these things? Let's go one step back and take a look at the "these things".
2 Tim. 2:11-13, "It is a faithful saying: for if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him: if we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us: if we believe not, yet He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself."
There is a greater context, but this will suffice for this very short survey. Paul says, it is a "faithful saying" that if "we be dead with Christ", "we shall also live with Him." Read Romans 6. Then he goes on, "If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him". Let's read Romans 8:17, "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together." If we suffer with Him, which is Christ, but His sufferings not only that happened on the Cross which are for our salvation, but the suffering of Christ marked through the apostle Paul for our sanctification.
"For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake; having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me." -Php. 1:29-30
"Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh (Paul's body) for His (Christ's) body's sake, which is the church: 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;" -Col. 1:24-25 (verses earlier talk about Christ's sufferings in His body)
Paul numerous of times mentions that Christ is speaking through Him and the sufferings that Paul is going through is not His sufferings, but Christ sufferings that Paul bears for the church, the Body of Christ. How did these sufferings come about? Paul preached Christ according to the revelation of the mystery, what God kept secret since the world began, some information, some good news God hid in the inner counsel of His will until due time, and that due time was when God revealed it to Paul through Christ on the road to Damascus. Paul didn't preach Christ according to prophecy to sit on David's throne, he mentions that He will, however Paul preaches Christ as Head of the Body, which is not "true Israel" or "reformed Israel" or anything like that it is a different "new creation" of God that He thought up of before the foundation of the world. This preaching of Christ went not only to Jews as Christ came only to "those under the law" the Jews during His earthly ministry, but this preaching of Christ went to all mankind, all nations, all Gentiles. This preaching of Christ even the 12 disciples did not know about and caused them to question, look down, and even go against Paul and what he taught about Christ according to the mystery. Paul's sufferings that he went through were the sufferings of Christ as Paul shared sound doctrine of His Body, the church and how so many rejected it and those in it were abusing it. Anyways, I can go through Scripture for all this, but just wanted to explain what Paul is saying in Timothy.
He goes on, "if we deny Him, He also will deny us" this has nothing to do with salvation, this is tied to the suffering that Paul just mentioned. If Christians today do not follow the Lord Jesus Christ through their God ordained apostle, the apostle Paul and the suffering that will follow that, they will not suffer on earth, but suffer at the "bema" seat or judgment seat of Christ. This judgment is not a judgment unto condemnation, however it is judgment that will happen, but the believer will still be saved, but that through fire. 1 Cor. 3:9-23.
Verse 13 of 2 Tim. 2 says, "If we believe not, YET HE ABIDETH FAITHFUL: HE CANNOT DENY HIMSELF. " As you believed in Christ for salvation that He died for your sins, was buried, and rose the third day according to the Scriptures, you became a part of the Body of Christ, it is this intimate position in Christ that seals you and even if you were to believe not in Christ anymore, YET HE ABIDETH FAITHFUL, why because, HE CANNOT DENY HIMSELF. This is grace, not an excuse to stop believing or live a sinful life, but God's Riches At Christ's Expense, that teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts.
It is "these things", plus more in verses before this one, that Paul wants to "put them in remembrance". But, why does Paul want "these things" to "put them in remembrance", well because there were men in the local assembly "Hymenaeus and Philetus" who erred concerning the truth and overthrew the faith of some (v. 17-18), so Paul is telling them "to put in remembrance" "these things" really the things Paul taught them concerning Christ. 2 Tim. 2:7, "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things." Overall men are in the local assemblies "strive (they dispute) about words to no profit", but what it really does "but to the subverting (overturn, catastrophe, demolition, apostasy, are all connected to this "subverting") of the hearers, and most do not know and most congregations do not know today. Men were going against Pauline authority what he had taught them and really what the Lord Jesus Christ was teaching them through Paul. Therefore, Paul commands that everyone is to "study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
Paul taught them all things they needed and these men were "saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrew the faith of some." The resurrection that Paul taught, 1 The. 4&5. The Body of Christ is to consider what I (Paul) says; and the Lord give (not will give, but "give") thee understanding in all things. We as the Body of Christ have Paul as our apostle today, just as the children of Israel had Moses as their God given authority and whose office was still intact even after he died, an office that even Christ told His disciples to observe. The office we are to observe is Paul's and when we see Paul as our God given authority, since Christ is not on earth, we are to follow Paul and what we really do are following the Lord.
Finally, Paul says to "rightly divide the word of truth" that our faith in what Paul has said about our Lord Jesus Christ will not be overthrown. Also that things like: baptism, tongues, gospel, works, circumcision, healing, and so much more will be recognized as truth, but be put in their proper context allowing the believer to be approved of God, because they are following what He is saying to follow and do and believe today, instead of what He was saying to follow and do and believe in the past or future.
It is unfortunate that many leaders let alone many Christians today do not recognize Pauline authority, they do not recognize God's one and only command in how to study His Word and to do it.
Yes, God's Word goes against not only the grain of our worldly system our carnality, but God's Word goes against our ungodliness our religiousness. God's Word rightly divided does not fit orthodox Christianity, I am not worried nor is God worried about His Word fitting tradition and mainstream, He desires that you be approved and a workman for Him by taking Him at His Word and rightly dividing His Word by having faith in what He says is alone truth.
It is unfortunate that some have entered in the Body of Christ, but to only be overthrown into the sea and winds of doctrines, having their faith overthrown almost immediately, some knowingly and willingly, some not. I pray that you would take God at His Word and to be an approved workman for Him, rightly dividing the word of truth and by considering what Paul says. I pray also, 2 Tim. 2:20-21, "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to hour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work." I pray for all believers that you and I would be vessels of gold and silver, of honour now, prepared for the master's use now. We will all be purged for the master's use either now by "rightly dividing" and doing the will of God today spelled out by your apostle Paul in Romans through Philemon, or you will be purged for the master's use by fire at the judgment seat of Christ, yourself being saved.
P.S. When the Bible talks about "rightly dividing the word of truth" and "Paul your apostle" it is not saying do not believe the OT, the NT, Christ's earthly ministry, or Heb. - Rev. Those things are no doubt and no question the "word of truth", however since the Bible with the exception of Rom. - Phi. is God dealing with Israel and with Gentiles through Israel's rise, they are not to us, but are for our learning (Rom. 15:4). Rom. 15:4, "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." The scriptures afore are for our learning, that we may learn of our God and what He was doing in time past and how He gave the covenants and through those covenants sent Christ and it is through that same Christ that we Gentiles through Israel's fall have received salvation not under a covenant, but under grace. The scriptures show us about God-given authority in Moses and how the children of Israel rebelled and murmured against that authority. This teaches us not to rebel and murmur against our God-given authority of the apostle Paul, because if we do it is rebelling and murmuring against God. All the Bible all 66 books are for us and I believe all 66 books. I study the OT like I have never studied it before and continue to get a grasp, but finally understand that I am not a Jew nor apart of Israel, but I understand what He is doing with the nation of Israel to accomplish His plans and purposes with the earth and I am a part of the Body of Christ to accomplish His plans and purposes with the heavenly places. Both are focused solely in Christ and the centrality and the salvation comes solely in Christ, however there are two programs of God, it is the manifold wisdom of God. All 66 books are for our learning, however God was not always dealing with us Gentiles and it is only in Rom. - Phi. that He is dealing with us apart from Israel and it is these 13 books that are written TO us. The Word of Truth, is all truth, it is all of God, but it needs to be "rightly divided" to be understood and obeyed, otherwise the result is confusion, overthrowing of faith, overthrowing of sound doctrine, a tossing to and fro by winds of biblical doctrines. Listen to Paul your apostle and consider what he says and the Lord give thee understanding in all things, take Him at His Word, not only will you see the divisions that need to be made and that rightly, but your Bible study will be fruitful and your understanding will rest in God and not in men.
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