Monday, May 4, 2009
Monday, December 1, 2008
Acts 2 Traditionally and Dispensationally Considered
I was reading through Acts and when I reached Acts 2, many thoughts and traditions of my former persuasion came to mind as I read the chapter. Acts 2 is traditionally where the church the Body of Christ begins or starts. It may not be tradition in all denominations or churches, however from the Baptist denomination and the 3 churches I formerly attended it was. I believe Acts 2 is the common place where most churches, denominations, and religions under Christianity find and begin the church the Body of Christ.
I write briefly and draw upon verses, so that we may renew our minds about when the church the Body of Christ began. Who was the first member of the Body of Christ? When did it start form?
I think it important to quickly note exactly what is the Body of Christ and what is it made up of. Quickly let us look at Eph. 2:13-17,
"But now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off are made night by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh."
The both, is the uncircumcised and the circumcised; the Gentile and Jew. The Body of Christ is made up of both Jew and Gentile and the focus is not your race, but Christ and Christ alone. The Body of Christ is individual Jew and Gentiles together in Christ. The middle wall of partition, that law covenant is out of the way, being abolished. God reconciles both in one body. Is this what starts to take place in Acts 2?
As we go through Acts 2, notice the exclusivity of people. Notice the Jewishness of the passage and lastly whom Peter is speaking to.
Acts 2:1, "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place."
When what day was fully come, the day of Pentecost. This was a Jewish feast day. Who is the they? The "they" can be found in chapter 1:13-15. The 11, with the women, and Mary in total about 120. Where are they? They are in Jerusalem.
Now in verses 2-4, we see the prophesied event of the disciples being baptized with the Holy Spirit, that is the Holy Spirit does not dwell in them, but comes upon them. Christ made this known in John chapters 14-16, about Him sending the Comforter, that is the Spirit. It was upon them and would fill them and then just be upon them and then fill them again in certain circumstances. They spoke in tongues.
Acts 2:5, "And there were dwelling at Jerusalem JEWS, devout men, out of every nation under heaven."
Astonishing, Jews from every nation under heaven, came to Jerusalem to celebrate and take fellowship in those feast days. These are devout men and they are dwelling at Jerusalem and notice what happens next.
Acts 2:6, "Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language."
God gives the 120 the Holy Spirit manifesting the languages of the nations. However it is the languages of the nations, it is not the Gentiles that God wants to speak to, but the Jews in those nations that came to Jerusalem. The day of Pentecost a Jewish feast day was not coincidental in God's plan of giving them the Spirit. Every Jew dwelling there that is witnessing this extraordinary event hears in their own language. The response?
Acts 2:7, "And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans?"
They were amazed at what they were witnessing, but most of all what they were hearing and who it was coming from. We know why they marvel, because each Jew can hear them in their own language, but why do they pose the question, "Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans?" (I desire to go into this myself, but read the article below by Keith Blades to get a grasp of why might these Jews be astonished at these Galileans who are manifesting this power.)
Acts 2:8-11, "And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappaddocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phyrgia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God."
All the nations represented and they heard in their own language the wonderful works of God. Now it is here that I can only see why it has become tradition that so many believe the church the Body of Christ began here. Tradition assumes that because the nations are represented here that this means the Body of Christ. We most not add to the Scriptures nor take away. The Jews out of every nation are at Jerusalem, not Gentiles. This must be clearly noted and understood. Yes, the devout Jews spoke the Gentile languages, however they were Jews and God is speaking not to the nations, but to the Jews out of those nations!!!
Acts 2:12-13, "And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine."
May we ask the same question, what meaneth this? Well may we not answer by tradition that this means the beginning of the church the Body of Christ, but may we let Peter answer for us.
Acts 2:14, "But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell in Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:"
Peter stands up, lifts up his voice and announces whom he is speaking to. Who? Men of Judea and all that dwell in Jerusalem. Judea (Judah=2 tribes) and Jerusalem (Israel=10 tribes) are represented here. Notice Peter doesn't say listen to what Christ said while on earth, but he says "hearken to my words". Granted his words are that of the Holy Spirit, but Peter is the main apostle of the circumcision. It is only appropriate as Christ gave Peter the keys to the kingdom, not only for him to stand up with the 11, but that he speaks. He says, "hearken to my words". May we hearken to Peters words as well.
Acts 2:15-16, "For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;"
Peter corrects their thinking, that is, they are not drunk, but what they are witnessing is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel. What is spoken by the prophet Joel, that Peter says it is that they are witnessing. Well Peter filled with the Holy Ghost quotes, Joel 2:28, with a slight change.
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prohesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: and my servants and on my handmaidens i will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prohesy: and I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the hearth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come: and it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Now compare with Joel 2:28-32
"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the hand maids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the lORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call."
Peter quotes Joel, but not saying that what those Jews are hearing and experiencing is a "new day" or a "new thing" such as, the Body of Christ, the one new man. In fact, he is speaking to Jews only warning them that what they are seeing is the manifestation of the Spirit upon the believers in the LAST DAYS. It is the last days Peter is in and referencing to and warning the Jews to repent (to change your mind), that is, change their mind about Jesus of Nazareth that He is the King of Israel and He is coming back. Peter is telling them to call upon the name of the Lord Jesus, because what is next after the manifestation of the Spirit is wrath, that is, "And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come." The next event on God's prophetic time schedule was His wrath, "the times of restitution of all things" (Acts. 3:21). God's restitution was next and Peter was warning them, telling those Jews that they crucified their Messiah and that He was going to stand and take vengeance and consummate His wrath at His second coming.
I pose two questions. When did this wrath take place? Did it happen, Peter said it was next? Did he lie? Why do so many institutions, churches, and schools hold to the church the Body of Christ, the one NEW man beginning in Acts 2 at the day of Pentecost? The setting is completely Jewish, on a Jewish feast day, at Jerusalem, speaking about the prophecy of Joel, the 12 (representing the 12 tribes of Israel)preaching about what was happening and what was going to happen, that is, the time of Jacob's trouble.
The church the Body of Christ started with an unexpected return of the Lord Jesus Christ to one man, the apostle Paul. Jesus Christ instead of pouring out His wrath and proceeding with God's prophetic time clock put on hold His wrath and did endure and is enduring with longsuffering to show and dispense His matchless grace. God saved Saul who became Paul (a man who was a born Jew, but a Roman citizen, both Jew and Gentile in one body) to send him to the Gentiles with the unsearchable riches of Christ, riches that God had not made known since the world began, but in His timing has made them manifest. The Body of Christ started the apostle Paul in Acts 9, him being the first member of the one new man, that he might be a pattern to show forth God's longsuffering for those who should after Paul believe that Christ died for their sins, was buried and rose again.
Folks, it is by God's grace that He is holding back His wrath and saving sinners, however this dispensation, that is this administration of God's grace was never promised nor is it given a time when it will end. God's wrath was next when Peter spoke and although on hold it is next after God ends the dispensation of grace. If no one has ever loved you enough to ask you where you would spend eternity if you died today, let me ask you. Where would you spend eternity? If you don't know for sure, you can know. God sent His Son the Lord Jesus Christ to die for your sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day. It is by His grace through your faith plus NO works that He will freely give you the complete forgiveness of sins; past, present, and future. Christ was delivered up for this purpose to be able to forgive sins and was raised again for justification, that's God's able right because of the sacrifice of His Son to give you His righteousness, a perfect position, standing and identity before Him. It is by His grace that today at this moment you can know for sure where you would spend eternity, that is in heaven. God does all the saving you do all the being saved, won't you trust Him today, never to be separated from the love of Christ. It is a gift. You don't have to pray a prayer, be water baptized, nothing, it is by grace through faith, just simply put your trust in Christ's work alone to save you.
I write briefly and draw upon verses, so that we may renew our minds about when the church the Body of Christ began. Who was the first member of the Body of Christ? When did it start form?
I think it important to quickly note exactly what is the Body of Christ and what is it made up of. Quickly let us look at Eph. 2:13-17,
"But now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off are made night by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh."
The both, is the uncircumcised and the circumcised; the Gentile and Jew. The Body of Christ is made up of both Jew and Gentile and the focus is not your race, but Christ and Christ alone. The Body of Christ is individual Jew and Gentiles together in Christ. The middle wall of partition, that law covenant is out of the way, being abolished. God reconciles both in one body. Is this what starts to take place in Acts 2?
As we go through Acts 2, notice the exclusivity of people. Notice the Jewishness of the passage and lastly whom Peter is speaking to.
Acts 2:1, "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place."
When what day was fully come, the day of Pentecost. This was a Jewish feast day. Who is the they? The "they" can be found in chapter 1:13-15. The 11, with the women, and Mary in total about 120. Where are they? They are in Jerusalem.
Now in verses 2-4, we see the prophesied event of the disciples being baptized with the Holy Spirit, that is the Holy Spirit does not dwell in them, but comes upon them. Christ made this known in John chapters 14-16, about Him sending the Comforter, that is the Spirit. It was upon them and would fill them and then just be upon them and then fill them again in certain circumstances. They spoke in tongues.
Acts 2:5, "And there were dwelling at Jerusalem JEWS, devout men, out of every nation under heaven."
Astonishing, Jews from every nation under heaven, came to Jerusalem to celebrate and take fellowship in those feast days. These are devout men and they are dwelling at Jerusalem and notice what happens next.
Acts 2:6, "Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language."
God gives the 120 the Holy Spirit manifesting the languages of the nations. However it is the languages of the nations, it is not the Gentiles that God wants to speak to, but the Jews in those nations that came to Jerusalem. The day of Pentecost a Jewish feast day was not coincidental in God's plan of giving them the Spirit. Every Jew dwelling there that is witnessing this extraordinary event hears in their own language. The response?
Acts 2:7, "And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans?"
They were amazed at what they were witnessing, but most of all what they were hearing and who it was coming from. We know why they marvel, because each Jew can hear them in their own language, but why do they pose the question, "Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans?" (I desire to go into this myself, but read the article below by Keith Blades to get a grasp of why might these Jews be astonished at these Galileans who are manifesting this power.)
Acts 2:8-11, "And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappaddocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phyrgia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God."
All the nations represented and they heard in their own language the wonderful works of God. Now it is here that I can only see why it has become tradition that so many believe the church the Body of Christ began here. Tradition assumes that because the nations are represented here that this means the Body of Christ. We most not add to the Scriptures nor take away. The Jews out of every nation are at Jerusalem, not Gentiles. This must be clearly noted and understood. Yes, the devout Jews spoke the Gentile languages, however they were Jews and God is speaking not to the nations, but to the Jews out of those nations!!!
Acts 2:12-13, "And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine."
May we ask the same question, what meaneth this? Well may we not answer by tradition that this means the beginning of the church the Body of Christ, but may we let Peter answer for us.
Acts 2:14, "But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell in Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:"
Peter stands up, lifts up his voice and announces whom he is speaking to. Who? Men of Judea and all that dwell in Jerusalem. Judea (Judah=2 tribes) and Jerusalem (Israel=10 tribes) are represented here. Notice Peter doesn't say listen to what Christ said while on earth, but he says "hearken to my words". Granted his words are that of the Holy Spirit, but Peter is the main apostle of the circumcision. It is only appropriate as Christ gave Peter the keys to the kingdom, not only for him to stand up with the 11, but that he speaks. He says, "hearken to my words". May we hearken to Peters words as well.
Acts 2:15-16, "For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;"
Peter corrects their thinking, that is, they are not drunk, but what they are witnessing is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel. What is spoken by the prophet Joel, that Peter says it is that they are witnessing. Well Peter filled with the Holy Ghost quotes, Joel 2:28, with a slight change.
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prohesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: and my servants and on my handmaidens i will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prohesy: and I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the hearth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come: and it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Now compare with Joel 2:28-32
"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the hand maids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the lORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call."
Peter quotes Joel, but not saying that what those Jews are hearing and experiencing is a "new day" or a "new thing" such as, the Body of Christ, the one new man. In fact, he is speaking to Jews only warning them that what they are seeing is the manifestation of the Spirit upon the believers in the LAST DAYS. It is the last days Peter is in and referencing to and warning the Jews to repent (to change your mind), that is, change their mind about Jesus of Nazareth that He is the King of Israel and He is coming back. Peter is telling them to call upon the name of the Lord Jesus, because what is next after the manifestation of the Spirit is wrath, that is, "And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come." The next event on God's prophetic time schedule was His wrath, "the times of restitution of all things" (Acts. 3:21). God's restitution was next and Peter was warning them, telling those Jews that they crucified their Messiah and that He was going to stand and take vengeance and consummate His wrath at His second coming.
I pose two questions. When did this wrath take place? Did it happen, Peter said it was next? Did he lie? Why do so many institutions, churches, and schools hold to the church the Body of Christ, the one NEW man beginning in Acts 2 at the day of Pentecost? The setting is completely Jewish, on a Jewish feast day, at Jerusalem, speaking about the prophecy of Joel, the 12 (representing the 12 tribes of Israel)preaching about what was happening and what was going to happen, that is, the time of Jacob's trouble.
The church the Body of Christ started with an unexpected return of the Lord Jesus Christ to one man, the apostle Paul. Jesus Christ instead of pouring out His wrath and proceeding with God's prophetic time clock put on hold His wrath and did endure and is enduring with longsuffering to show and dispense His matchless grace. God saved Saul who became Paul (a man who was a born Jew, but a Roman citizen, both Jew and Gentile in one body) to send him to the Gentiles with the unsearchable riches of Christ, riches that God had not made known since the world began, but in His timing has made them manifest. The Body of Christ started the apostle Paul in Acts 9, him being the first member of the one new man, that he might be a pattern to show forth God's longsuffering for those who should after Paul believe that Christ died for their sins, was buried and rose again.
Folks, it is by God's grace that He is holding back His wrath and saving sinners, however this dispensation, that is this administration of God's grace was never promised nor is it given a time when it will end. God's wrath was next when Peter spoke and although on hold it is next after God ends the dispensation of grace. If no one has ever loved you enough to ask you where you would spend eternity if you died today, let me ask you. Where would you spend eternity? If you don't know for sure, you can know. God sent His Son the Lord Jesus Christ to die for your sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day. It is by His grace through your faith plus NO works that He will freely give you the complete forgiveness of sins; past, present, and future. Christ was delivered up for this purpose to be able to forgive sins and was raised again for justification, that's God's able right because of the sacrifice of His Son to give you His righteousness, a perfect position, standing and identity before Him. It is by His grace that today at this moment you can know for sure where you would spend eternity, that is in heaven. God does all the saving you do all the being saved, won't you trust Him today, never to be separated from the love of Christ. It is a gift. You don't have to pray a prayer, be water baptized, nothing, it is by grace through faith, just simply put your trust in Christ's work alone to save you.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Article by brother Keith Blades
Here is an article from Keith Blades again. I have only a few men who I read and allow to guide me in my studies when I myself do not understand, brother Keith Blades is one. He has been in the Word "rightly divided" for sometime now and brings out the clarity of passages that Christendom have made so unclear. I pray you read with an open heart and ears as a Berean studying to see if these things are true. Enjoy and feast!!!
The Importance of the Effectual
Working of Romans 9–11,
Briefly Considered:
Plus a Closer Look at a
Significant Matter in Chapter 10
by Keith R. Blades
In Romans 9–11 the apostle Paul provides for us to have a clear and proper fundamental understanding of what has happened to God’s former program with Israel, seeing that not long after the Lord Jesus Christ returned to heaven God made a great dispensational change. As is evident following the conclusion of Acts chapter 7, God suddenly broke off His prophesied program and dealings with His nation. He unexpectedly ceased His operations for the continuation and fulfillment of Israel’s program. Whereupon He then raised up Paul to be His brand new apostle, as recorded in Acts 9, and He brought in this present unprophesied dispensation of His grace to us Gentiles with its new and different program. And as Paul explains, God did all of this intentionally as the result of deliberate forethought and planning. For He did it in accordance with fulfilling "the mystery of Christ"; the secret purpose that He has in Christ, which He had kept hid in Himself since before the world began until He revealed it to and through the apostle Paul.
Now in view of God making this unprecedented and unprophesied dispensational change, it is imperative that we have a clear and accurate understanding of what has happened to Israel and their program. We must know exactly what this dispensational change means, both to Israel and to us. Furthermore we must know what its consequences and ramifications are, both now and for the future. For if we do not clearly know these things we will not only misunderstand what has happened to Israel and be confused by the dispensational change, but we will also end up mishandling the things in God’s word that strictly pertain to Israel’s program. And what’s worse, we will foolishly, and in direct disobedience to God, misapply such things to ourselves today.
Wherefore it is essential right from the beginning of our Christian lives that we possess a proper and precise dispensational understanding and viewpoint; i.e. that we become dispensationally established and oriented. And the specific form of doctrine that God has designed to give this to us is Romans 9–11.
The Impact of Its Effectual Working
As we become dispensationally established and oriented, this first of all prevents us from being confused by what God has done, as well as preventing us from engaging in any of the aforementioned Bible-mishandling. However Romans 9–11 also provides for much more than this. For example it provides for us to think about the Bible’s entire teachings in accordance with how God has composed them, with the result that we actually learn to think Biblically as well. And this stands in stark contrast to what Christians so commonly do, which is to think about what the Bible teaches in either a topical, or categorical, or even systematic manner, according to man-made systems of teaching, learning, and theology. All of which more times than not simply result in Christians having a disjointed, or disconnected, or compartmentalized understanding of things, usually amounting to nothing more than a few ‘fundamentals of the faith.’ However this is not how God has designed for us to think, nor how he has designed His word to be handled and/or taught. And so as the effectual working of Romans 9–11 dispensationally establishes us and orients us, it also provides for us to both think and learn Biblically as well.
Furthermore the effectual working of Romans 9–11 also provides for us to learn to begin to think dispensationally on the whole, just like God does. In other words it provides for us to think expansively in accordance with the outworking of God’s overall plan and purpose, and to have our awareness, our viewpoint, our understanding, and all of our thoughts and decisions conformed to it.
Now there are a number of reasons why thinking dispensationally on the whole is needful for us in our sonship edification. However one in particular is that as we think like God does it enables us to learn to comprehend the genius of what He is doing. It enables us to perceive and discern His masterful detailed planning, purposing, and wisdom in formulating, and then carrying out, His complex dispensational scheme; along with being able to perceive how everything within it fits together, works together, and makes sense. And this is exactly what God wants us to be able to do as His "sons." In fact it is an essential part of our godly edification. For it is what will enable us to intelligently rejoice with Him in "the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God"; and to do so not only in connection with what He has being doing in the past and is doing now, but also with respect to what He will yet be doing in "the ages to come."
Now all of the doctrines that are designed to produce this full measure of our dispensational understanding and thinking are not taught to us in Romans, but they are given to us later on. Nevertheless it is the doctrines of Romans 9–11 that initially produce within us the capacity to eventually deal with that fulness of knowledge.
Therefore the impact of their effectual working is far-reaching, affecting so many things and extending throughout the entire curriculum of our sonship edification. Hence we must benefit from their effectual working, so that we become properly established and oriented dispensationally; and so that once this takes place we, like our Father, can begin to think dispensationally on the whole as well.
First Things First
In connection with establishing us dispensationally, one of the first things God does in Romans 9–11 is to pointedly confront us with the great dispensational change that He has made. In so doing He not only provides for us to acknowledge it, but also to honestly deal with it. And this in turn equips us to be "rightly dividing the word of truth" in accordance with it. Hence throughout the doctrines of Romans 9–11 we find Paul teaching us things that are essential to the formation of our fundamental dispensational understanding and handling of God’s word.
Simply put these ‘first things first’ issues range from things pertaining to the proper understanding that we need to have about God’s dealings with Israel before He suspended His program with them, to things pertaining to what Israel’s situation is now in view of the suspension of their program, to specific details about both the resumption and fulfillment of their program that is yet to come. Hence in connection with these things God first of all provides for us to clearly and properly identify the portion of His word pertaining to "time past," along with the portion that pertains to what He is doing with us right "now," and then the portion that pertains to what is yet "to come" when He resumes and fulfills Israel’s program. This once again enables us to be "rightly dividing the word of truth" accordingly, and by so doing to be properly handling the Bible so that we do not misapply any of its teachings that do not apply to us today. And with this our proper dispensational understanding gets underway.
The Basic Practicality of our Dispensational Establishment
Now even when we just consider this basic accomplishment, it is obvious that Romans 9–11 is an essential portion to the curriculum for our sonship edification. For by this simple aspect of its effectual working within us we are able to understand that we in this present dispensation are neither assume-ers or fulfill-ers of God’s program with Israel. For we are plainly taught that we have not replaced Israel in God’s plan and purpose, and therefore we are not to think of ourselves as if we have. Nor are we to think of ourselves as ‘spiritual Israelites,’ or any other such thing, as if we were somehow spiritually fulfilling Israel’s role, but just not literally doing so. Rather Romans 9–11 teaches us to understand and appreciate that God’s plan and purpose with Israel remains unchanged. God has not changed His mind about Israel at all, nor has He altered His intention with them one whit. Instead God’s program with Israel is not only still intact, but it will yet be fully resumed, as well as completely and perfectly fulfilled, just as God has promised and covenanted. And as Paul teaches, this will take place after God concludes His new and different program with us today, who are His "new creature," the church the body of Christ.
So then the effectual working of Romans 9–11 is highly practical for us. In fact our functional lives as Christians actually depend upon it, as much as they depend upon the effectual working of Romans 6–8. For most fundamentally of all Romans 9–11 is designed to ensure that we do not corrupt our Christian lives by misunderstanding, mishandling, and misapplying the portions of the Bible that expressly pertain to God’s program with Israel. More to the point its doctrines first of all prevent us from failing to ‘rightly divide the word of truth’ at all, by preventing us from either not acknowledging the reality of God’s two different programs, or from making no attempt at keeping them separate and distinct. Likewise they also prevent us from failing to ‘rightly divide’ God’s word precisely, by preventing us from mistakenly thinking, for example, that this present dispensation of God’s grace began before it actually did, and thereby misapplying things to ourselves that still pertained to Israel’s program. At the same time they prevent us from taking the portion of God’s word that pertains to the resumption and fulfillment of Israel’s program and mistakenly applying it to ourselves as well.
Therefore in view of the vital, practical nature of the dispensational doctrines of Romans 9–11, it should not surprise us that God has Paul teach them to us immediately following our sonship establishment at the end of Romans 8. Likewise we should perceive God’s wisdom in having them immediately precede the actual commencement of our sonship education in Romans 12. For it should be obvious that before we can actually begin our sonship education in earnest, we must not only have it firmly settled in our minds that we know exactly who we are in God’s plan and purpose, but we must also know exactly where God’s specific curriculum for our education today is to be found in the Bible. And it is on the basis of knowing how to be "rightly dividing" God’s word precisely, that we are able to clearly identify that Paul’s epistles is the portion of God’s word that expressly pertains to us in this present dispensation. They, therefore, contain the curriculum for our edification today. And once again it is the effectual working of Romans 9–11 that provides for us to have this clear understanding.
A Closer Look At The Role of Romans 10:14–21 in Our Dispensational Establishment
In connection with our need to be "rightly dividing the word of truth" precisely and not be mistakenly thinking that this present dispensation of God’s grace began before it actually did, it is essential that we clearly understand what was taking place during the time leading up to when God suddenly suspended Israel’s program and turned to us Gentiles. In other words we must clearly understand what was taking place during both the Gospel accounts and the opening chapters of the book of Acts. Otherwise we are liable to make the common, yet costly mistake of thinking that it was during this particular time that God brought in this present dispensation, and that what we find therein is about us and applies to us today.
Wherefore in the overall teaching of Romans 9–11 the latter half of Romans 10 is very important for us to understand and appreciate. For in it Paul focuses upon the time described in the Gospels, and particularly in the opening chapters of Acts, as they pertained to Israel’s program. And by what he teaches he shows how that it was during that time that the climactic stage to Israel’s program arrived, and that during the time of Acts 1–7 Israel "stumbled at that stumblingstone" in their unbelief; even though God gave them abundant opportunity to respond positively to the truth of Jesus Christ.
Now as Paul deals with this particular matter, he brings up an issue that is of great significance to the clear formation of our fundamental dispensational understanding. What he brings up is the issue of something special that God did in Israel’s past. Something by which He expressly provided for them to know in advance exactly what would be taking place during the time that would be recorded in the Gospels and Acts 1–7. Moreover in view of this special thing that God did, (and especially in view of the specific knowledge that it gave), Paul also points out how that God considers His people to have no excuse for being ignorant of, or misunderstanding the truth of, what was taking place during that time. Hence, as Paul sets forth, Israel is responsible for their own stumbling during that time.
In view of this we should readily recognize that what Paul brings up is very significant to the formation of our precise dispensational understanding. For by this same knowledge we too are given to clearly understand exactly what was taking place during the Gospel accounts and the opening chapters Acts. With the result that we should plainly recognize that this present dispensation of God’s grace did not begin, nor was it in effect, back at that time.
Moreover in view of this specific knowledge that God gave, we too can be considered to be without excuse if we should mistakenly think, (or continue to mistakenly think), that God had either brought in, or was bringing in, this present dispensation of His grace during that time.
Wherefore since we are giving brief consideration to the effectual working of Romans 9–11 within us, (especially as it pertains to ensuring that we not only ‘rightly divide the word of truth’ per se, but that we do it precisely), let us take a closer look at this special informative thing that God did and appreciate its impact.
A Significant Question and Its Equally Significant Answer
As Paul gives the evidence that proves Israel to be responsible for "stumbling at that stumblingstone," his final piece is the most forceful of all. And he enters it into evidence by asking a very significant and poignant question.
19 But I say, Did not Israel know? (Romans 10:19a)
The only thing that could legitimately excuse Israel for ‘stumbling at the stumblingstone’ would be if they honestly did not know how God was going to deal with them during that time, and therefore they truly did not know what to expect or know what was going on. If such was the case, then under the circumstances Israel would have a legitimate excuse for stumbling. Their ignorance would be justified. Hence the poignancy of the question.
However as Paul’s answer shows, Israel has no such excuse.
19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people. (Romans 10:19–21)
Paul’s answer makes it plain that Israel cannot claim or plead ignorance. They cannot claim they did not "know." In fact Paul’s answer is actually quite sobering as it ‘turns the tables,’ so to speak, on Israel and shows that far from being able to plead ignorance the exact opposite is the case. Instead of not knowing, Israel is completely inexcusable. For as Paul shows God first of all gave Israel a special ‘heads up,’ so to speak, by foretelling them exactly how He would be dealing with them during that time; which is what He set forth through Moses.
Moreover as that time approached God also gave Israel a special kind of advance testimony in Isaiah’s day. A testimony that actually served as an advance warning and as an admonition to that prophesied generation that was to come.
Therefore by means of Moses’ prophecy, and also by means of the effectual working of God’s advance warning and admonition through Isaiah, the people of Israel during the time of the Gospel accounts and the opening chapters of Acts were not only forewarned what to expect, they were also forearmed in connection with it.
The Special Nature of Deuteronomy 32 and Isaiah 65
21 They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation. (Deuteronomy 32:21)
1 I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.
2 I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; (Isaiah 65:1–2)
What God said to Israel through Moses in Deuteronomy 32:21 and then through Isaiah in Isaiah 65:1–2 are indeed of a special nature. This is because God specifically designed these two utterances to function more or less as announcements to which Israel was expected to give heed. As such they were designed to manifestly describe to Israel in advance exactly what would be taking place in God’s program with them immediately following the days of their Messiah’s presence among them.
Now these two passages were designed to do this because God placed them within two very special portions of His word to Israel. Two portions which God clearly described as being special, and then also told Israel to focus upon them, and begin dealing with them, once they began to experience the punishments of the Fifth Course of Punishment of the Law. For this reason what is set forth in Deuteronomy 32 is called "the song of Moses," which God commanded Israel to learn so that it would eventually function as a witness against them in the time to come. Hence God said to Moses,...
19 Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it to the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel. .....
21 And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware. (Deuteronomy 31:19–21)
In like manner the opening verses to Isaiah 65 occur within a very special portion of Isaiah, who was the first and foremost of the Fifth Course of Punishment prophets to Israel. The words of Isaiah 65:1–2 are spoken in the final portion of what God says through Isaiah, which is where He pointedly prepares Israel both for the coming days of the Messiah and for immediately thereafter by repeatedly instructing them to "Behold" what will be taking place in those days. In so doing God provided for the people of Israel’s eyes to see and for their ears to hear, and hence for them to be able to respond positively to Him, when He would be strongly and passionately appealing to them immediately after Christ was with them.
The Fulfillment of What Moses and Isaiah Said
As Paul points out, Moses told Israel that immediately following Christ’s presence among them God would be ‘provoking Israel to jealousy’ and He would be ‘angering them.’ Moreover God would do this by means of "them that are no people" and by "a foolish nation." Consequently in order for this to occur the "no people" would need to exist, and the "foolish nation" would need to be brought into existence, during the time of Christ’s presence in Israel. And this is exactly what the Gospel accounts describe.
Now though there is a tendency to think that the designations "no people" and "a foolish nation" might refer to people other than Israelites, (i.e. Gentiles or a specific Gentile people), this is not the case. Rather they both refer to the believing remnant of Israel, who began to be called out of Israel by the "gospel of the kingdom" during the opening days of the Messiah. And who then are established and identified as ‘the nation of God’s inheritance’ by the time that Christ is ready to return to His Father.
When a people is spoken of as "no people" it is because they are looked down upon by others, being thought of as inferior for some reason, or worthless, or of no account, etc. And those that look down upon them do so because they think of themselves as being something special.
So it is then that the believing remnant of Israel is spoken of as "no people" by God. Because this is exactly how they were going to be looked upon by the "very froward generation" of apostate Israel that would exist during the time of the Fifth Course of Punishment, and that would reach its zenith during the Lord’s presence in Israel.
Now in preparation for the fulfillment of what Moses declared, the Gospel accounts testify that during their time the "no people" and "foolish nation" Moses talked about is exactly what began to be called out and established. For example as the beginning of the Gospels relate, the "gospel of the kingdom" began to be preached by the Lord in the very place in the land of Israel that apostate Israel despised. In other words the Lord began to preach "the gospel of the kingdom" to the very people in Israel who were considered to be "no people." Hence we read,...
12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;
13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
15 The land of Zabulon and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
16 The people which sat in darkness saw a great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. (Matthew 4:12–16)
Those in Galilee who believed the Lord’s preaching were definitely "no people" to apostate Israel. Since the time of the beginning of the Fifth Course of Punishment Israel’s vain religious system had looked down upon Israelites who lived there, and they despised them because they were Galileans — (of "Galilee of the Gentiles") — and not of Jewry.
Moreover these Israelites who believed the "gospel of the kingdom" also individually failed to come up to apostate Israel’s standard for what they thought to be fundamental acceptance with God. For to apostate Israel they were not noble people in God’s sight at all, seeing that they were sinners, and publicans, and poor, and widows, and fatherless, and the like. Hence these believers of "the gospel of the kingdom" were doubly despised; doubly "no people."
Nevertheless they were the prophesied remnant of Israel; the "no people" of Deuteronomy 32. And as these "no people" believers of the "gospel of the kingdom" continued to be called out of Israel, the Lord also began to form them collectively into what they would soon constitute in God’s sight — i.e. the ‘nation of God’s inheritance’; His righteous people; "the Israel of God."
And indeed they would be "the Israel of God." For as the prophets also set forth, God would be consigning the apostate nation to destruction during the final round of punishments in the Fifth Course of Punishment. Therefore once the climactic stage of the program was underway there would be the conceiving of the righteous nation in the midst of Israel. It would be composed of the believing remnant of Israel; the ones who would be ‘called out of Jacob’ to be ‘the nation of God’s inheritance.’ And then following its conception it would develop, and it would then come to the birth during the travail of Israel’s "last days."
So then in view of the fact that these "no people" believers of the "gospel of the kingdom" constituted a national entity, the Gospel accounts also relate how the Lord began to deal with them as such. Hence, for example, when the Lord eventually appointed His twelve apostles He not only equipped them to function as apostles, but He also dealt with them in accordance with the governmental role that they would have in "the Israel of God" once the kingdom of heaven was established in the land. Therefore we read how that on one occasion the Lord said to Peter and the others,...
28 ..., Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:28b)
The twelve apostles, therefore, will be the tribal leaders of Israel; the righteous princes of "the Israel of God," when it as ‘the nation of God’s inheritance’ is established in the land.
Moreover with the believing remnant being the conception of the righteous nation, and with the issue of possessing the "kingdom of heaven" being Israel’s heritage according to the Abrahamic Covenant, the Lord also spoke to the whole remnant as "the Israel of God" that they were. He spoke to them as the very ones to whom the kingdom rightfully belonged, saying, for example, ...
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32)
In addition to this when the conception of "the Israel of God" was completed, and the Lord returned to Jerusalem to fulfill the final aspect of His ministry before going back to the Father, He then pronounced to the leaders of apostate Israel exactly what was going to soon happen to them, being the apostate nation that they were.
43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. (Matthew 21:43)
"The kingdom of God," (which had been vested in the leaders of Israel since the time it was originally conceived in the days of the patriarchs and then later brought forth), would soon be "taken from" the apostate nation and it would be given to "a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." That "nation" was the believing remnant of Israel, which had by then been completely conceived as ‘the nation of God’s inheritance.’ And in view of the fact that it was overwhelmingly composed of "no people" in the eyes of apostate Israel, it was also then ready to be looked upon as being nothing but a "foolish nation" in their eyes as well.
So it is then that as the Gospel accounts conclude their testimony, and as the time of the initial portion to the climactic stage in Israel’s program drew to a close, all of the preparations for the fulfillment of Deuteronomy 32:21 were in place. God therefore was ready to provoke His nation to jealousy "by them that are no people"; and He was ready to anger them "by a foolish nation."
Moreover the time for the effectual working of Isaiah’s special testimony and admonition was also then at hand. Isaiah’s prophecy about God providing for Israel to see with their eyes and to hear with their ears, and passionately appealing to them as such, was then ready to be fulfilled. And this is just what took place during the time recorded in the opening chapters of Acts.
The Record of Acts 1–7
Though Acts 1–7 is replete with issues which testify to the fact that God’s program with Israel was still in effect and on track following their rejection of Christ, we will simply note the reality of Deuteronomy 32:21 and Isaiah 65:1–2 coming to pass. And we do not need to look past Acts 2 to begin to see it. For when God baptized the remnant of Israel with the Holy Ghost, (and by so doing began to manifest to Israel that the "last days" of their program had arrived), at the same time He began ‘provoking Israel to jealousy by them that are no people.’ Moreover we find that God did this on a grand scale. For He did this to a world-wide gathering of Israel which was taking place in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. And because God was deliberately provoking Israel to jealousy by what He did, we read that Israel’s first response was to express amazement at whom God was using. For they looked upon them as being "no people." Hence we read,…
7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? (Acts 2:7)
Then shortly after this God turned His attention to apostate Israel’s leadership, and He particularly provoked them to jealousy by focusing their attention upon the "no people" status of His apostles. Hence we read that when God did this, their first response also was to marvel at this.
13 Now when they (Israel’s leaders) saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)
Following this, and as it began to become evident to apostate Israel that they were powerless against the apostles and that ‘the kingdom of God was being taken from them,’ their jealousy gave way to anger. In other words they began to be ‘angered by the foolish nation,’ just as Deuteronomy 32:21 had foretold. Hence the account goes on to describe, for example, that ...
17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,... (Acts 5:17)
Then finally when the prophesied time and "day" of Deuteronomy 32:21 and Isaiah 65:1–2 drew to a close, God concluded it through Stephen by having him criminally indict apostate Israel. When this took place we read that...
54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. (Acts 7:54)
Now apostate Israel did all of these things, even though throughout this entire prophesied ‘day of salvation’ God had been completely upfront with them and merciful to them. For He had been doing the very things He had foretold them about in Deuteronomy 32:21. Moreover He had been passionately appealing to them in the very manner Isaiah had said, by ‘all the day stretching forth His hands unto them’ and mercifully giving "repentance to Israel," just as Peter and the other apostles had declared unto them in Acts 5:29–32.
The Poignant Question of Romans 10:19 Revisited
19 But I say, Did not Israel know? (Romans 10:19a)
In view of what Moses and Isaiah said, it is obvious that when Paul answered this question he did not choose these two passages randomly. Instead God had Paul specifically cite them because He had expressly designed them to effectually let Israel "know." Including even informing them in advance that this was what these very passages were for.
Wherefore Israel certainly did have the ability to "know"; no ifs, ands, or buts. Consequently they are indeed without excuse for not knowing what was going on, or for not knowing what was taking place, especially during the time of Acts 1–7.
The Same Poignant Question and Us Today
Now though the question — "Did not Israel know?" — specifically proves Israel to be without excuse, by extending its application it also does the same thing with us today. For as previously noted the same information that God gave to Israel so that they could clearly know what was taking place during the Gospels and Acts 1–7, (and be held responsible for it), is available to us to learn from as well. God has made it part of the very doctrine designed to establish us dispensationally.
Wherefore by way of extended application, (and particularly in view of the misunderstanding that many Christians have regarding the Gospels and the opening chapters of Acts), the same poignant question can be asked of us. Do not Christians today know? Or more pointedly, Have not we also had ample opportunity to learn from Moses and Isaiah, and thereby should know what the Gospels and Acts 1–7 truly are all about? And also, Are not we responsible to learn this, with the result that we too are without excuse if we do not know the truth?
The answers to these questions are really no different from what was given to Israel. And they should have the same sort of sobering effect upon us as well. Yes, we too have the same knowledge given unto us about this particular time, along with the opportunity to learn the truth about it. And, yes, we too are responsible to learn it. And, yes, we too will be held accountable for it. And, yes, we too will be without excuse if we do not learn it.
Therefore we have no excuse for not "rightly dividing the word of truth" precisely; for not knowing the truth of what took place during the time of the Gospels and the opening chapters of Acts. We have no God-given reason for thinking that either Matthew through John, or the opening chapters of Acts, describe the beginning of this present dispensation of God’s grace; or that the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 is the ‘birthday of the church’; or any other similar thing. Instead what we have is a God-given reason for realizing that this is not so. With that God-given reason being the special testimony that He gave to Israel, clearly describing that time for what it would be in His program with them.
More Inexcusable
In fact the truth of the matter is that we today are even more inexcusable, so to speak, than Israel. For we not only have the ability to learn from the same two things that God gave to Israel, but we also have all of the further corroborating evidence and testimony contained in the record of the Gospels and Acts 1–7 themselves. Moreover we also have the testimony of Paul’s own epistles to us, testifying on numerous occasions not only about the great dispensational change that God has made, but also when He made it. All of which makes us all the more inexcusable.
Yet though this is true, the simple truth remains that the two issues cited in Romans 10:19–21 are sufficient of themselves to render us to be without excuse, as they did Israel.
The Same Poignant Question and the Judgment Seat of Christ
The day is coming when at the judgment seat of Christ each of us as God’s "sons" will give account of himself to God. What’s more, because of the effectual working of Romans 9–11 God will have reason to pose this same kind of telling question — "Did not you know?" — to every Christian, who in his or her Christian life has either not been "rightly dividing the word of truth" at all, or has not been doing so precisely.
So then this begs the question, In that day will you be one to whom the Lord will say, "Did not you know?" If so, your reply, "No, I did not know"; or, "I just assumed that what I was taught was right"; will not be acceptable. For you are clearly without excuse. For by the effectual working of Romans 9–11 in general, and by the effectual working of Romans 10:19–21 in particular, God has not only provided for you to know that you must be "rightly dividing the word of truth," but He has also provided for you to know how to do it precisely.
I need not say much more. If you have questions or comments please do so!!!
Until next time...
In Him,
Joshua Strelecki
***Check out my churches new website: www.twincitiesgracefellowship.com, and the new blog: www.twincitiesgracefellowship.blogspot.com.
The Importance of the Effectual
Working of Romans 9–11,
Briefly Considered:
Plus a Closer Look at a
Significant Matter in Chapter 10
by Keith R. Blades
In Romans 9–11 the apostle Paul provides for us to have a clear and proper fundamental understanding of what has happened to God’s former program with Israel, seeing that not long after the Lord Jesus Christ returned to heaven God made a great dispensational change. As is evident following the conclusion of Acts chapter 7, God suddenly broke off His prophesied program and dealings with His nation. He unexpectedly ceased His operations for the continuation and fulfillment of Israel’s program. Whereupon He then raised up Paul to be His brand new apostle, as recorded in Acts 9, and He brought in this present unprophesied dispensation of His grace to us Gentiles with its new and different program. And as Paul explains, God did all of this intentionally as the result of deliberate forethought and planning. For He did it in accordance with fulfilling "the mystery of Christ"; the secret purpose that He has in Christ, which He had kept hid in Himself since before the world began until He revealed it to and through the apostle Paul.
Now in view of God making this unprecedented and unprophesied dispensational change, it is imperative that we have a clear and accurate understanding of what has happened to Israel and their program. We must know exactly what this dispensational change means, both to Israel and to us. Furthermore we must know what its consequences and ramifications are, both now and for the future. For if we do not clearly know these things we will not only misunderstand what has happened to Israel and be confused by the dispensational change, but we will also end up mishandling the things in God’s word that strictly pertain to Israel’s program. And what’s worse, we will foolishly, and in direct disobedience to God, misapply such things to ourselves today.
Wherefore it is essential right from the beginning of our Christian lives that we possess a proper and precise dispensational understanding and viewpoint; i.e. that we become dispensationally established and oriented. And the specific form of doctrine that God has designed to give this to us is Romans 9–11.
The Impact of Its Effectual Working
As we become dispensationally established and oriented, this first of all prevents us from being confused by what God has done, as well as preventing us from engaging in any of the aforementioned Bible-mishandling. However Romans 9–11 also provides for much more than this. For example it provides for us to think about the Bible’s entire teachings in accordance with how God has composed them, with the result that we actually learn to think Biblically as well. And this stands in stark contrast to what Christians so commonly do, which is to think about what the Bible teaches in either a topical, or categorical, or even systematic manner, according to man-made systems of teaching, learning, and theology. All of which more times than not simply result in Christians having a disjointed, or disconnected, or compartmentalized understanding of things, usually amounting to nothing more than a few ‘fundamentals of the faith.’ However this is not how God has designed for us to think, nor how he has designed His word to be handled and/or taught. And so as the effectual working of Romans 9–11 dispensationally establishes us and orients us, it also provides for us to both think and learn Biblically as well.
Furthermore the effectual working of Romans 9–11 also provides for us to learn to begin to think dispensationally on the whole, just like God does. In other words it provides for us to think expansively in accordance with the outworking of God’s overall plan and purpose, and to have our awareness, our viewpoint, our understanding, and all of our thoughts and decisions conformed to it.
Now there are a number of reasons why thinking dispensationally on the whole is needful for us in our sonship edification. However one in particular is that as we think like God does it enables us to learn to comprehend the genius of what He is doing. It enables us to perceive and discern His masterful detailed planning, purposing, and wisdom in formulating, and then carrying out, His complex dispensational scheme; along with being able to perceive how everything within it fits together, works together, and makes sense. And this is exactly what God wants us to be able to do as His "sons." In fact it is an essential part of our godly edification. For it is what will enable us to intelligently rejoice with Him in "the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God"; and to do so not only in connection with what He has being doing in the past and is doing now, but also with respect to what He will yet be doing in "the ages to come."
Now all of the doctrines that are designed to produce this full measure of our dispensational understanding and thinking are not taught to us in Romans, but they are given to us later on. Nevertheless it is the doctrines of Romans 9–11 that initially produce within us the capacity to eventually deal with that fulness of knowledge.
Therefore the impact of their effectual working is far-reaching, affecting so many things and extending throughout the entire curriculum of our sonship edification. Hence we must benefit from their effectual working, so that we become properly established and oriented dispensationally; and so that once this takes place we, like our Father, can begin to think dispensationally on the whole as well.
First Things First
In connection with establishing us dispensationally, one of the first things God does in Romans 9–11 is to pointedly confront us with the great dispensational change that He has made. In so doing He not only provides for us to acknowledge it, but also to honestly deal with it. And this in turn equips us to be "rightly dividing the word of truth" in accordance with it. Hence throughout the doctrines of Romans 9–11 we find Paul teaching us things that are essential to the formation of our fundamental dispensational understanding and handling of God’s word.
Simply put these ‘first things first’ issues range from things pertaining to the proper understanding that we need to have about God’s dealings with Israel before He suspended His program with them, to things pertaining to what Israel’s situation is now in view of the suspension of their program, to specific details about both the resumption and fulfillment of their program that is yet to come. Hence in connection with these things God first of all provides for us to clearly and properly identify the portion of His word pertaining to "time past," along with the portion that pertains to what He is doing with us right "now," and then the portion that pertains to what is yet "to come" when He resumes and fulfills Israel’s program. This once again enables us to be "rightly dividing the word of truth" accordingly, and by so doing to be properly handling the Bible so that we do not misapply any of its teachings that do not apply to us today. And with this our proper dispensational understanding gets underway.
The Basic Practicality of our Dispensational Establishment
Now even when we just consider this basic accomplishment, it is obvious that Romans 9–11 is an essential portion to the curriculum for our sonship edification. For by this simple aspect of its effectual working within us we are able to understand that we in this present dispensation are neither assume-ers or fulfill-ers of God’s program with Israel. For we are plainly taught that we have not replaced Israel in God’s plan and purpose, and therefore we are not to think of ourselves as if we have. Nor are we to think of ourselves as ‘spiritual Israelites,’ or any other such thing, as if we were somehow spiritually fulfilling Israel’s role, but just not literally doing so. Rather Romans 9–11 teaches us to understand and appreciate that God’s plan and purpose with Israel remains unchanged. God has not changed His mind about Israel at all, nor has He altered His intention with them one whit. Instead God’s program with Israel is not only still intact, but it will yet be fully resumed, as well as completely and perfectly fulfilled, just as God has promised and covenanted. And as Paul teaches, this will take place after God concludes His new and different program with us today, who are His "new creature," the church the body of Christ.
So then the effectual working of Romans 9–11 is highly practical for us. In fact our functional lives as Christians actually depend upon it, as much as they depend upon the effectual working of Romans 6–8. For most fundamentally of all Romans 9–11 is designed to ensure that we do not corrupt our Christian lives by misunderstanding, mishandling, and misapplying the portions of the Bible that expressly pertain to God’s program with Israel. More to the point its doctrines first of all prevent us from failing to ‘rightly divide the word of truth’ at all, by preventing us from either not acknowledging the reality of God’s two different programs, or from making no attempt at keeping them separate and distinct. Likewise they also prevent us from failing to ‘rightly divide’ God’s word precisely, by preventing us from mistakenly thinking, for example, that this present dispensation of God’s grace began before it actually did, and thereby misapplying things to ourselves that still pertained to Israel’s program. At the same time they prevent us from taking the portion of God’s word that pertains to the resumption and fulfillment of Israel’s program and mistakenly applying it to ourselves as well.
Therefore in view of the vital, practical nature of the dispensational doctrines of Romans 9–11, it should not surprise us that God has Paul teach them to us immediately following our sonship establishment at the end of Romans 8. Likewise we should perceive God’s wisdom in having them immediately precede the actual commencement of our sonship education in Romans 12. For it should be obvious that before we can actually begin our sonship education in earnest, we must not only have it firmly settled in our minds that we know exactly who we are in God’s plan and purpose, but we must also know exactly where God’s specific curriculum for our education today is to be found in the Bible. And it is on the basis of knowing how to be "rightly dividing" God’s word precisely, that we are able to clearly identify that Paul’s epistles is the portion of God’s word that expressly pertains to us in this present dispensation. They, therefore, contain the curriculum for our edification today. And once again it is the effectual working of Romans 9–11 that provides for us to have this clear understanding.
A Closer Look At The Role of Romans 10:14–21 in Our Dispensational Establishment
In connection with our need to be "rightly dividing the word of truth" precisely and not be mistakenly thinking that this present dispensation of God’s grace began before it actually did, it is essential that we clearly understand what was taking place during the time leading up to when God suddenly suspended Israel’s program and turned to us Gentiles. In other words we must clearly understand what was taking place during both the Gospel accounts and the opening chapters of the book of Acts. Otherwise we are liable to make the common, yet costly mistake of thinking that it was during this particular time that God brought in this present dispensation, and that what we find therein is about us and applies to us today.
Wherefore in the overall teaching of Romans 9–11 the latter half of Romans 10 is very important for us to understand and appreciate. For in it Paul focuses upon the time described in the Gospels, and particularly in the opening chapters of Acts, as they pertained to Israel’s program. And by what he teaches he shows how that it was during that time that the climactic stage to Israel’s program arrived, and that during the time of Acts 1–7 Israel "stumbled at that stumblingstone" in their unbelief; even though God gave them abundant opportunity to respond positively to the truth of Jesus Christ.
Now as Paul deals with this particular matter, he brings up an issue that is of great significance to the clear formation of our fundamental dispensational understanding. What he brings up is the issue of something special that God did in Israel’s past. Something by which He expressly provided for them to know in advance exactly what would be taking place during the time that would be recorded in the Gospels and Acts 1–7. Moreover in view of this special thing that God did, (and especially in view of the specific knowledge that it gave), Paul also points out how that God considers His people to have no excuse for being ignorant of, or misunderstanding the truth of, what was taking place during that time. Hence, as Paul sets forth, Israel is responsible for their own stumbling during that time.
In view of this we should readily recognize that what Paul brings up is very significant to the formation of our precise dispensational understanding. For by this same knowledge we too are given to clearly understand exactly what was taking place during the Gospel accounts and the opening chapters Acts. With the result that we should plainly recognize that this present dispensation of God’s grace did not begin, nor was it in effect, back at that time.
Moreover in view of this specific knowledge that God gave, we too can be considered to be without excuse if we should mistakenly think, (or continue to mistakenly think), that God had either brought in, or was bringing in, this present dispensation of His grace during that time.
Wherefore since we are giving brief consideration to the effectual working of Romans 9–11 within us, (especially as it pertains to ensuring that we not only ‘rightly divide the word of truth’ per se, but that we do it precisely), let us take a closer look at this special informative thing that God did and appreciate its impact.
A Significant Question and Its Equally Significant Answer
As Paul gives the evidence that proves Israel to be responsible for "stumbling at that stumblingstone," his final piece is the most forceful of all. And he enters it into evidence by asking a very significant and poignant question.
19 But I say, Did not Israel know? (Romans 10:19a)
The only thing that could legitimately excuse Israel for ‘stumbling at the stumblingstone’ would be if they honestly did not know how God was going to deal with them during that time, and therefore they truly did not know what to expect or know what was going on. If such was the case, then under the circumstances Israel would have a legitimate excuse for stumbling. Their ignorance would be justified. Hence the poignancy of the question.
However as Paul’s answer shows, Israel has no such excuse.
19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people. (Romans 10:19–21)
Paul’s answer makes it plain that Israel cannot claim or plead ignorance. They cannot claim they did not "know." In fact Paul’s answer is actually quite sobering as it ‘turns the tables,’ so to speak, on Israel and shows that far from being able to plead ignorance the exact opposite is the case. Instead of not knowing, Israel is completely inexcusable. For as Paul shows God first of all gave Israel a special ‘heads up,’ so to speak, by foretelling them exactly how He would be dealing with them during that time; which is what He set forth through Moses.
Moreover as that time approached God also gave Israel a special kind of advance testimony in Isaiah’s day. A testimony that actually served as an advance warning and as an admonition to that prophesied generation that was to come.
Therefore by means of Moses’ prophecy, and also by means of the effectual working of God’s advance warning and admonition through Isaiah, the people of Israel during the time of the Gospel accounts and the opening chapters of Acts were not only forewarned what to expect, they were also forearmed in connection with it.
The Special Nature of Deuteronomy 32 and Isaiah 65
21 They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation. (Deuteronomy 32:21)
1 I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.
2 I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; (Isaiah 65:1–2)
What God said to Israel through Moses in Deuteronomy 32:21 and then through Isaiah in Isaiah 65:1–2 are indeed of a special nature. This is because God specifically designed these two utterances to function more or less as announcements to which Israel was expected to give heed. As such they were designed to manifestly describe to Israel in advance exactly what would be taking place in God’s program with them immediately following the days of their Messiah’s presence among them.
Now these two passages were designed to do this because God placed them within two very special portions of His word to Israel. Two portions which God clearly described as being special, and then also told Israel to focus upon them, and begin dealing with them, once they began to experience the punishments of the Fifth Course of Punishment of the Law. For this reason what is set forth in Deuteronomy 32 is called "the song of Moses," which God commanded Israel to learn so that it would eventually function as a witness against them in the time to come. Hence God said to Moses,...
19 Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it to the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel. .....
21 And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware. (Deuteronomy 31:19–21)
In like manner the opening verses to Isaiah 65 occur within a very special portion of Isaiah, who was the first and foremost of the Fifth Course of Punishment prophets to Israel. The words of Isaiah 65:1–2 are spoken in the final portion of what God says through Isaiah, which is where He pointedly prepares Israel both for the coming days of the Messiah and for immediately thereafter by repeatedly instructing them to "Behold" what will be taking place in those days. In so doing God provided for the people of Israel’s eyes to see and for their ears to hear, and hence for them to be able to respond positively to Him, when He would be strongly and passionately appealing to them immediately after Christ was with them.
The Fulfillment of What Moses and Isaiah Said
As Paul points out, Moses told Israel that immediately following Christ’s presence among them God would be ‘provoking Israel to jealousy’ and He would be ‘angering them.’ Moreover God would do this by means of "them that are no people" and by "a foolish nation." Consequently in order for this to occur the "no people" would need to exist, and the "foolish nation" would need to be brought into existence, during the time of Christ’s presence in Israel. And this is exactly what the Gospel accounts describe.
Now though there is a tendency to think that the designations "no people" and "a foolish nation" might refer to people other than Israelites, (i.e. Gentiles or a specific Gentile people), this is not the case. Rather they both refer to the believing remnant of Israel, who began to be called out of Israel by the "gospel of the kingdom" during the opening days of the Messiah. And who then are established and identified as ‘the nation of God’s inheritance’ by the time that Christ is ready to return to His Father.
When a people is spoken of as "no people" it is because they are looked down upon by others, being thought of as inferior for some reason, or worthless, or of no account, etc. And those that look down upon them do so because they think of themselves as being something special.
So it is then that the believing remnant of Israel is spoken of as "no people" by God. Because this is exactly how they were going to be looked upon by the "very froward generation" of apostate Israel that would exist during the time of the Fifth Course of Punishment, and that would reach its zenith during the Lord’s presence in Israel.
Now in preparation for the fulfillment of what Moses declared, the Gospel accounts testify that during their time the "no people" and "foolish nation" Moses talked about is exactly what began to be called out and established. For example as the beginning of the Gospels relate, the "gospel of the kingdom" began to be preached by the Lord in the very place in the land of Israel that apostate Israel despised. In other words the Lord began to preach "the gospel of the kingdom" to the very people in Israel who were considered to be "no people." Hence we read,...
12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;
13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
15 The land of Zabulon and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
16 The people which sat in darkness saw a great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. (Matthew 4:12–16)
Those in Galilee who believed the Lord’s preaching were definitely "no people" to apostate Israel. Since the time of the beginning of the Fifth Course of Punishment Israel’s vain religious system had looked down upon Israelites who lived there, and they despised them because they were Galileans — (of "Galilee of the Gentiles") — and not of Jewry.
Moreover these Israelites who believed the "gospel of the kingdom" also individually failed to come up to apostate Israel’s standard for what they thought to be fundamental acceptance with God. For to apostate Israel they were not noble people in God’s sight at all, seeing that they were sinners, and publicans, and poor, and widows, and fatherless, and the like. Hence these believers of "the gospel of the kingdom" were doubly despised; doubly "no people."
Nevertheless they were the prophesied remnant of Israel; the "no people" of Deuteronomy 32. And as these "no people" believers of the "gospel of the kingdom" continued to be called out of Israel, the Lord also began to form them collectively into what they would soon constitute in God’s sight — i.e. the ‘nation of God’s inheritance’; His righteous people; "the Israel of God."
And indeed they would be "the Israel of God." For as the prophets also set forth, God would be consigning the apostate nation to destruction during the final round of punishments in the Fifth Course of Punishment. Therefore once the climactic stage of the program was underway there would be the conceiving of the righteous nation in the midst of Israel. It would be composed of the believing remnant of Israel; the ones who would be ‘called out of Jacob’ to be ‘the nation of God’s inheritance.’ And then following its conception it would develop, and it would then come to the birth during the travail of Israel’s "last days."
So then in view of the fact that these "no people" believers of the "gospel of the kingdom" constituted a national entity, the Gospel accounts also relate how the Lord began to deal with them as such. Hence, for example, when the Lord eventually appointed His twelve apostles He not only equipped them to function as apostles, but He also dealt with them in accordance with the governmental role that they would have in "the Israel of God" once the kingdom of heaven was established in the land. Therefore we read how that on one occasion the Lord said to Peter and the others,...
28 ..., Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:28b)
The twelve apostles, therefore, will be the tribal leaders of Israel; the righteous princes of "the Israel of God," when it as ‘the nation of God’s inheritance’ is established in the land.
Moreover with the believing remnant being the conception of the righteous nation, and with the issue of possessing the "kingdom of heaven" being Israel’s heritage according to the Abrahamic Covenant, the Lord also spoke to the whole remnant as "the Israel of God" that they were. He spoke to them as the very ones to whom the kingdom rightfully belonged, saying, for example, ...
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32)
In addition to this when the conception of "the Israel of God" was completed, and the Lord returned to Jerusalem to fulfill the final aspect of His ministry before going back to the Father, He then pronounced to the leaders of apostate Israel exactly what was going to soon happen to them, being the apostate nation that they were.
43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. (Matthew 21:43)
"The kingdom of God," (which had been vested in the leaders of Israel since the time it was originally conceived in the days of the patriarchs and then later brought forth), would soon be "taken from" the apostate nation and it would be given to "a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." That "nation" was the believing remnant of Israel, which had by then been completely conceived as ‘the nation of God’s inheritance.’ And in view of the fact that it was overwhelmingly composed of "no people" in the eyes of apostate Israel, it was also then ready to be looked upon as being nothing but a "foolish nation" in their eyes as well.
So it is then that as the Gospel accounts conclude their testimony, and as the time of the initial portion to the climactic stage in Israel’s program drew to a close, all of the preparations for the fulfillment of Deuteronomy 32:21 were in place. God therefore was ready to provoke His nation to jealousy "by them that are no people"; and He was ready to anger them "by a foolish nation."
Moreover the time for the effectual working of Isaiah’s special testimony and admonition was also then at hand. Isaiah’s prophecy about God providing for Israel to see with their eyes and to hear with their ears, and passionately appealing to them as such, was then ready to be fulfilled. And this is just what took place during the time recorded in the opening chapters of Acts.
The Record of Acts 1–7
Though Acts 1–7 is replete with issues which testify to the fact that God’s program with Israel was still in effect and on track following their rejection of Christ, we will simply note the reality of Deuteronomy 32:21 and Isaiah 65:1–2 coming to pass. And we do not need to look past Acts 2 to begin to see it. For when God baptized the remnant of Israel with the Holy Ghost, (and by so doing began to manifest to Israel that the "last days" of their program had arrived), at the same time He began ‘provoking Israel to jealousy by them that are no people.’ Moreover we find that God did this on a grand scale. For He did this to a world-wide gathering of Israel which was taking place in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. And because God was deliberately provoking Israel to jealousy by what He did, we read that Israel’s first response was to express amazement at whom God was using. For they looked upon them as being "no people." Hence we read,…
7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? (Acts 2:7)
Then shortly after this God turned His attention to apostate Israel’s leadership, and He particularly provoked them to jealousy by focusing their attention upon the "no people" status of His apostles. Hence we read that when God did this, their first response also was to marvel at this.
13 Now when they (Israel’s leaders) saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)
Following this, and as it began to become evident to apostate Israel that they were powerless against the apostles and that ‘the kingdom of God was being taken from them,’ their jealousy gave way to anger. In other words they began to be ‘angered by the foolish nation,’ just as Deuteronomy 32:21 had foretold. Hence the account goes on to describe, for example, that ...
17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,... (Acts 5:17)
Then finally when the prophesied time and "day" of Deuteronomy 32:21 and Isaiah 65:1–2 drew to a close, God concluded it through Stephen by having him criminally indict apostate Israel. When this took place we read that...
54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. (Acts 7:54)
Now apostate Israel did all of these things, even though throughout this entire prophesied ‘day of salvation’ God had been completely upfront with them and merciful to them. For He had been doing the very things He had foretold them about in Deuteronomy 32:21. Moreover He had been passionately appealing to them in the very manner Isaiah had said, by ‘all the day stretching forth His hands unto them’ and mercifully giving "repentance to Israel," just as Peter and the other apostles had declared unto them in Acts 5:29–32.
The Poignant Question of Romans 10:19 Revisited
19 But I say, Did not Israel know? (Romans 10:19a)
In view of what Moses and Isaiah said, it is obvious that when Paul answered this question he did not choose these two passages randomly. Instead God had Paul specifically cite them because He had expressly designed them to effectually let Israel "know." Including even informing them in advance that this was what these very passages were for.
Wherefore Israel certainly did have the ability to "know"; no ifs, ands, or buts. Consequently they are indeed without excuse for not knowing what was going on, or for not knowing what was taking place, especially during the time of Acts 1–7.
The Same Poignant Question and Us Today
Now though the question — "Did not Israel know?" — specifically proves Israel to be without excuse, by extending its application it also does the same thing with us today. For as previously noted the same information that God gave to Israel so that they could clearly know what was taking place during the Gospels and Acts 1–7, (and be held responsible for it), is available to us to learn from as well. God has made it part of the very doctrine designed to establish us dispensationally.
Wherefore by way of extended application, (and particularly in view of the misunderstanding that many Christians have regarding the Gospels and the opening chapters of Acts), the same poignant question can be asked of us. Do not Christians today know? Or more pointedly, Have not we also had ample opportunity to learn from Moses and Isaiah, and thereby should know what the Gospels and Acts 1–7 truly are all about? And also, Are not we responsible to learn this, with the result that we too are without excuse if we do not know the truth?
The answers to these questions are really no different from what was given to Israel. And they should have the same sort of sobering effect upon us as well. Yes, we too have the same knowledge given unto us about this particular time, along with the opportunity to learn the truth about it. And, yes, we too are responsible to learn it. And, yes, we too will be held accountable for it. And, yes, we too will be without excuse if we do not learn it.
Therefore we have no excuse for not "rightly dividing the word of truth" precisely; for not knowing the truth of what took place during the time of the Gospels and the opening chapters of Acts. We have no God-given reason for thinking that either Matthew through John, or the opening chapters of Acts, describe the beginning of this present dispensation of God’s grace; or that the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 is the ‘birthday of the church’; or any other similar thing. Instead what we have is a God-given reason for realizing that this is not so. With that God-given reason being the special testimony that He gave to Israel, clearly describing that time for what it would be in His program with them.
More Inexcusable
In fact the truth of the matter is that we today are even more inexcusable, so to speak, than Israel. For we not only have the ability to learn from the same two things that God gave to Israel, but we also have all of the further corroborating evidence and testimony contained in the record of the Gospels and Acts 1–7 themselves. Moreover we also have the testimony of Paul’s own epistles to us, testifying on numerous occasions not only about the great dispensational change that God has made, but also when He made it. All of which makes us all the more inexcusable.
Yet though this is true, the simple truth remains that the two issues cited in Romans 10:19–21 are sufficient of themselves to render us to be without excuse, as they did Israel.
The Same Poignant Question and the Judgment Seat of Christ
The day is coming when at the judgment seat of Christ each of us as God’s "sons" will give account of himself to God. What’s more, because of the effectual working of Romans 9–11 God will have reason to pose this same kind of telling question — "Did not you know?" — to every Christian, who in his or her Christian life has either not been "rightly dividing the word of truth" at all, or has not been doing so precisely.
So then this begs the question, In that day will you be one to whom the Lord will say, "Did not you know?" If so, your reply, "No, I did not know"; or, "I just assumed that what I was taught was right"; will not be acceptable. For you are clearly without excuse. For by the effectual working of Romans 9–11 in general, and by the effectual working of Romans 10:19–21 in particular, God has not only provided for you to know that you must be "rightly dividing the word of truth," but He has also provided for you to know how to do it precisely.
I need not say much more. If you have questions or comments please do so!!!
Until next time...
In Him,
Joshua Strelecki
***Check out my churches new website: www.twincitiesgracefellowship.com, and the new blog: www.twincitiesgracefellowship.blogspot.com.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
The Lord Jesus Christ "The Head of All Principality and Power"
As I have been posting about "Paul's Gospel" and the intricate details therein, I want it to be properly understood that Christ is the issue. I write about "Paul's Gospel" and magnify not him as a man, but his office, his position of authority to proclaim Christ. I write about "Paul's Gospel", because in so doing ,rightly, Christ is preached and glorified most today. I write about "Paul's Gospel" because it is distinct and unique today, not because I say so, but because God's Word says so.
It is slanderously reported that Christ isn't glorified through recognizing that Paul has a distinct, unique, separate ministry and gospel. It has been said that Christ is taken from His proper place by recognizing Pauline authority. It is evident no man can take Christ from His proper place in the first place. It is through a failure to recognize Pauline authority that those who see it have to defend it, in so doing, not "putting Christ in His proper position", but glorifying Him in His already highest position of exaltation. Paul himself in Corinthians had to foolishly defend his authority and ministry, because they did not recognize it. He had to magnify his office HIMSELF, by talking about his sufferings and his ministry that was given to him from Christ Himself. It is now because few take a stand on Pauline authority that those who do have to defend it. The result of this is many claiming things they do not know, slanderously reporting that, those who do, do not put Christ in His proper position. How ignorant are these men for they know not what they say, nor affirm. They kick against the pricks, resulting in themselves not recognizing Christ proper position of authority and granduer that only Paul reveals. They have a lack of understanding and in so doing they, who seem to be wise, become fools. They mix Christ as the King of kings and Lord of lords over the earth, with Christ being the Head of ALL principality and power and in so doing glorify their theology rather than Christ.
Recognizing Pauline authority, magnifying his office results in recognizing Christ's proper glorified position today.
There is no doubt Christ has been the issue through the whole Bible. However, there have been numerous men throughout the Scriptures who spoke on God's behalf. It also has been the failure of countless men throughout the Scriptures who did not recognize these men (who spoke on God's behalf), resulting in their own destruction and became fools. It is no different today, men becoming fools because they do not believe the Word of God resulting in not recognizing God's spokesman. Men today listen to scholars, theologians, and tradition rather then God. They listen to traditions of men rather then the Word of God and sound doctrine.
Hebrews 1:1-3,
"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds: who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;"
Notice many things.
1)It is the book of Hebrews. Are you a Hebrew? Today do you look at someone else mail and apply it to you. Why do you, not being a Hebrew apply it to you? Believe it and in so doing you will not apply it to you, because you will believe you are not a Hebrew. We need to rightly divide.
2)God spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets.
3)"Hath in these LAST DAYS spoken unto us by His Son". Are we in the LAST DAYS? The days of revelation, the 70th week of Daniel? Are we fulfilling revelation, as we speak? How foolish, of course not! However, they were in the last days, they were about to go through the tribulation. The kingdom was AT HAND. Do you believe Israel's literal, physical, visible kingdom was at hand? Or, do you believe tradition that it was the kingdom of God in the hearts of men. Believe God's Word. But what happened?
4) He (Christ) appointed heir of all things. But what are the all things? Let's look into early Acts where they were teaching this doctrine.
In early Acts, they were in the last days, actually they were in the "one year" that Christ answered to God to give to Israel. Luke 13:6-9,
"He spake also this parable; A certain man (Christ) had a fig tree (Israel) planted in his vineyard (Jerusalem, Zion, etc); and he came and sought fruit thereon (first coming) and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years (Christ's earthly ministry, to Israel) I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also (Acts 1-7), till I shall dig about it, and dung it: and if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down."
Anyways, that is another study, however in Acts 3, the little flock is calling the nation of Israel to repentance, because they just killed their Messiah. Israel's fruit would have been repentance, turning from killing Christ to recognizing that He was the Christ. However, they did not and with the stoning of Stephen God cut them down. Paul sheds light on this issue in Romans 11. Israel was to go through the wrath of God. Anyways, in Acts 3, Peter is doing this very thing calling the nation of Israel to repentance. In verses 17-21,
"And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, He hath fulfilled. (That is all that Christ hath fulfilled, not His glory in the earth in the nation of Israel) Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out (when?), when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; (when is the refreshing? it comes from the presence of the Lord, His second coming) and He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things (here is the all things) which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began."
The times of restitution of all things, is the time of God's wrath, His pay back. It is focused on the whole world, but specifically the unbelievers of Israel, their leadership. The all things deals with, all things, but most specifically the authority under Satan's course of this world. This is the big picture so to speak. It is the authority on the earth under the enemies dominion and God has planned through Christ to reconcile it back unto Himself as the King of kings and Lord of lords. Christ through the OT, the Gospel accounts, Acts 1-8, and Hebrews through Revelation, is properly positioned over all things on the earth as prophesied. God had been dealing with the earth all along, however the earth is not the only place where Satan had dominion and, that God would have to reconcile back to Himself. The heavenly places would need to be reconciled back to God and He had the perfect plan to do so in and through Christ, however He hid it in Himself until "due time", until the time He appointed to reveal it. That time would end up being before He began "His day", the day of His wrath. Instead, He poured out His grace and revealed the mystery of Christ, to none other than Paul and Him alone, not to keep to Himself, but to tell all the nations.
When I mentioned before in my past blog that Paul is the authority over all the world, I did not mean that he is Christ. I meant Paul is the only man that has the message of they mystery of Christ, the gospel of the grace of God, to give to all the nations today. He is the only apostle that has this ministry. If we desire to know Christ (not only as King of kings and Lord of lords but fully)and what He is doing today we must listen to the apostle Paul. This does not mean we are to not study the rest of the Bible, because it is for our learning and is truth. Christ from heavens glory appeared to Paul through visions and revelations about the "one new man", "the church, the Body of Christ" to reconcile the heavenly places back unto God from Satan's dominion. However, the glory, the grandeur, the manifold wisdom, and the power that God manifested in doing so was and is awesome.
Ephesians 1:19-23, (Paul is praying for the Ephesians to know somethings)
"And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He reaised Him from the dead, AND set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, FAR ABOVE all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all."
Paul is not praying for us to know God's power, according to His mighty power, but to know the "exceeding greatness of His power" according to His mighty power. How did God manifest the exceeding greatness of His power? When He raised Christ from the dead and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places. Is that it, nope. "FAR ABOVE" all authority. See according to prophecy He would be in the heavenly places over authority, but not all authority. Christ would be placed over all authority on this earth as the King of kings and Lord of lords, however He would not be "FAR ABOVE" all authority. This was revealed solely to the apostle Paul to go along with the mystery of Christ, hence the reason Paul is praying for them to know it. In Ephesians 6:10, he tells them to be strong in it. How foolish are the ones who do not recognize Pauline authority which can only place Christ in the highest place of exaltation. The "exceeding greatness of His power" God manifested in placing Christ "FAR ABOVE" all authority and not only that of the earth, but both heaven and earth. It is through Christ revealing this to Paul and giving him an apostleship that Christ being the "HEAD of all principality and power" is only revealed.
When did this take place? Did it take place right after Christ's ascension from the 11? Paul gives us the answer in Ephesians 4:9-10,
"Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things."
Christ ascended twice, He ascended the first time according to prophecy as we saw Him depart from the 11. According to prophecy, He did this to go be their High Priest in the heavenly Jerusalem that will one day come down as their kingdom, and also to prepare many mansions for His followers. This information was all made known in the prophets or by Christ Himself while He was on earth. What wasn't made known was that He would save His chief persecutor Saul, come down, and extend His grace to him all to not go back to the heavenly Jerusalem, but to take His rightful place as Head over all principality and power in both heaven and the earth. It is only Paul that reveals this mystery of Christ. Why? This was hid in God as part of His manifold wisdom in Christ and Christ fulfilled not prophecy by ascending to the highest position of exaltation, but He fulfilled the mystery of God's will (Eph. 1:9). The exceeding greatness of His power is in accordance with His grace. Folks we must know this and be strong in it.
Those who say we do not put Christ is His place of authority, do not know what they say, and try to intimidate those who actually do, by their own earthly, scholarly authority which is in vain. We need not be educated by man, but by Paul's office of authority that reveals the highest position of Christ's exaltation. We need to be educated by our apostle and not by theologies and philosophies. Once not only Christ's position as King of kings and Lord of lords, but also as Head over all authority of heaven and earth is understood and recognized through our apostle, their is no going back for our allegiance is to Christ and the Word of God that reveals Him as so. Our allegiance is not to theologians, scholars, and tradition that have for so long gotten it wrong. They get it wrong because they do not recognize and believe Pauline authority resulting in mixing, adding, and taking away from God's Words. Our allegiance is to Christ and Christ alone, however it is through the apostle Paul that reveals these issues and rightly divides them for us. Christ through Paul clearly and with clarity ;), give us a proper education on not only these issues, but the whole Bible.
I write about "Paul's Gospel" because it reveals Christ as not only the Head of the Body, but the Head over all authority in both heaven and earth, not just the earth. Christ revealed Himself in His fulness to Paul, therefore we must be educated by him ending in our education of Christ, the mystery of Christ that reveals Him in His highest position of exaltation. Paul clearly by Christ states these issues and clearly sorts them out. As we study Paul and are certified in his gospel of Christ, the mystery of Christ and the preaching of the Cross, we will not only know, have some understanding, and be educated, but will be able to be strong in them and come unto the unity of the faith. It is only then that we as the Body will be able to manifest the exceeding greatness of His power in accordance with His grace. We will have recovered ourselves from the snare of the devil, to become a vessel of honour unto God, fit for the Master's use. I do not talk about "Paul's Gospel" to in some way not give Christ His proper position, but to proclaim, recognize, and give glory to His proper position of exaltation. Those who think otherwise are unlearned, wresting the Scriptures and need to come unto the knowledge of the truth. Christ through Paul will educate you and rightly divide the Scriptures in order to get the proper understanding and power from of the Word of Truth. May we humbly come to our Father and believe His Word through all its reproving, correcting, and doctrine.
We will speak more on this issue next time.
Until next time....
In Him,
Joshua Strelecki
It is slanderously reported that Christ isn't glorified through recognizing that Paul has a distinct, unique, separate ministry and gospel. It has been said that Christ is taken from His proper place by recognizing Pauline authority. It is evident no man can take Christ from His proper place in the first place. It is through a failure to recognize Pauline authority that those who see it have to defend it, in so doing, not "putting Christ in His proper position", but glorifying Him in His already highest position of exaltation. Paul himself in Corinthians had to foolishly defend his authority and ministry, because they did not recognize it. He had to magnify his office HIMSELF, by talking about his sufferings and his ministry that was given to him from Christ Himself. It is now because few take a stand on Pauline authority that those who do have to defend it. The result of this is many claiming things they do not know, slanderously reporting that, those who do, do not put Christ in His proper position. How ignorant are these men for they know not what they say, nor affirm. They kick against the pricks, resulting in themselves not recognizing Christ proper position of authority and granduer that only Paul reveals. They have a lack of understanding and in so doing they, who seem to be wise, become fools. They mix Christ as the King of kings and Lord of lords over the earth, with Christ being the Head of ALL principality and power and in so doing glorify their theology rather than Christ.
Recognizing Pauline authority, magnifying his office results in recognizing Christ's proper glorified position today.
There is no doubt Christ has been the issue through the whole Bible. However, there have been numerous men throughout the Scriptures who spoke on God's behalf. It also has been the failure of countless men throughout the Scriptures who did not recognize these men (who spoke on God's behalf), resulting in their own destruction and became fools. It is no different today, men becoming fools because they do not believe the Word of God resulting in not recognizing God's spokesman. Men today listen to scholars, theologians, and tradition rather then God. They listen to traditions of men rather then the Word of God and sound doctrine.
Hebrews 1:1-3,
"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds: who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;"
Notice many things.
1)It is the book of Hebrews. Are you a Hebrew? Today do you look at someone else mail and apply it to you. Why do you, not being a Hebrew apply it to you? Believe it and in so doing you will not apply it to you, because you will believe you are not a Hebrew. We need to rightly divide.
2)God spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets.
3)"Hath in these LAST DAYS spoken unto us by His Son". Are we in the LAST DAYS? The days of revelation, the 70th week of Daniel? Are we fulfilling revelation, as we speak? How foolish, of course not! However, they were in the last days, they were about to go through the tribulation. The kingdom was AT HAND. Do you believe Israel's literal, physical, visible kingdom was at hand? Or, do you believe tradition that it was the kingdom of God in the hearts of men. Believe God's Word. But what happened?
4) He (Christ) appointed heir of all things. But what are the all things? Let's look into early Acts where they were teaching this doctrine.
In early Acts, they were in the last days, actually they were in the "one year" that Christ answered to God to give to Israel. Luke 13:6-9,
"He spake also this parable; A certain man (Christ) had a fig tree (Israel) planted in his vineyard (Jerusalem, Zion, etc); and he came and sought fruit thereon (first coming) and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years (Christ's earthly ministry, to Israel) I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also (Acts 1-7), till I shall dig about it, and dung it: and if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down."
Anyways, that is another study, however in Acts 3, the little flock is calling the nation of Israel to repentance, because they just killed their Messiah. Israel's fruit would have been repentance, turning from killing Christ to recognizing that He was the Christ. However, they did not and with the stoning of Stephen God cut them down. Paul sheds light on this issue in Romans 11. Israel was to go through the wrath of God. Anyways, in Acts 3, Peter is doing this very thing calling the nation of Israel to repentance. In verses 17-21,
"And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, He hath fulfilled. (That is all that Christ hath fulfilled, not His glory in the earth in the nation of Israel) Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out (when?), when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; (when is the refreshing? it comes from the presence of the Lord, His second coming) and He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things (here is the all things) which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began."
The times of restitution of all things, is the time of God's wrath, His pay back. It is focused on the whole world, but specifically the unbelievers of Israel, their leadership. The all things deals with, all things, but most specifically the authority under Satan's course of this world. This is the big picture so to speak. It is the authority on the earth under the enemies dominion and God has planned through Christ to reconcile it back unto Himself as the King of kings and Lord of lords. Christ through the OT, the Gospel accounts, Acts 1-8, and Hebrews through Revelation, is properly positioned over all things on the earth as prophesied. God had been dealing with the earth all along, however the earth is not the only place where Satan had dominion and, that God would have to reconcile back to Himself. The heavenly places would need to be reconciled back to God and He had the perfect plan to do so in and through Christ, however He hid it in Himself until "due time", until the time He appointed to reveal it. That time would end up being before He began "His day", the day of His wrath. Instead, He poured out His grace and revealed the mystery of Christ, to none other than Paul and Him alone, not to keep to Himself, but to tell all the nations.
When I mentioned before in my past blog that Paul is the authority over all the world, I did not mean that he is Christ. I meant Paul is the only man that has the message of they mystery of Christ, the gospel of the grace of God, to give to all the nations today. He is the only apostle that has this ministry. If we desire to know Christ (not only as King of kings and Lord of lords but fully)and what He is doing today we must listen to the apostle Paul. This does not mean we are to not study the rest of the Bible, because it is for our learning and is truth. Christ from heavens glory appeared to Paul through visions and revelations about the "one new man", "the church, the Body of Christ" to reconcile the heavenly places back unto God from Satan's dominion. However, the glory, the grandeur, the manifold wisdom, and the power that God manifested in doing so was and is awesome.
Ephesians 1:19-23, (Paul is praying for the Ephesians to know somethings)
"And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He reaised Him from the dead, AND set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, FAR ABOVE all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all."
Paul is not praying for us to know God's power, according to His mighty power, but to know the "exceeding greatness of His power" according to His mighty power. How did God manifest the exceeding greatness of His power? When He raised Christ from the dead and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places. Is that it, nope. "FAR ABOVE" all authority. See according to prophecy He would be in the heavenly places over authority, but not all authority. Christ would be placed over all authority on this earth as the King of kings and Lord of lords, however He would not be "FAR ABOVE" all authority. This was revealed solely to the apostle Paul to go along with the mystery of Christ, hence the reason Paul is praying for them to know it. In Ephesians 6:10, he tells them to be strong in it. How foolish are the ones who do not recognize Pauline authority which can only place Christ in the highest place of exaltation. The "exceeding greatness of His power" God manifested in placing Christ "FAR ABOVE" all authority and not only that of the earth, but both heaven and earth. It is through Christ revealing this to Paul and giving him an apostleship that Christ being the "HEAD of all principality and power" is only revealed.
When did this take place? Did it take place right after Christ's ascension from the 11? Paul gives us the answer in Ephesians 4:9-10,
"Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things."
Christ ascended twice, He ascended the first time according to prophecy as we saw Him depart from the 11. According to prophecy, He did this to go be their High Priest in the heavenly Jerusalem that will one day come down as their kingdom, and also to prepare many mansions for His followers. This information was all made known in the prophets or by Christ Himself while He was on earth. What wasn't made known was that He would save His chief persecutor Saul, come down, and extend His grace to him all to not go back to the heavenly Jerusalem, but to take His rightful place as Head over all principality and power in both heaven and the earth. It is only Paul that reveals this mystery of Christ. Why? This was hid in God as part of His manifold wisdom in Christ and Christ fulfilled not prophecy by ascending to the highest position of exaltation, but He fulfilled the mystery of God's will (Eph. 1:9). The exceeding greatness of His power is in accordance with His grace. Folks we must know this and be strong in it.
Those who say we do not put Christ is His place of authority, do not know what they say, and try to intimidate those who actually do, by their own earthly, scholarly authority which is in vain. We need not be educated by man, but by Paul's office of authority that reveals the highest position of Christ's exaltation. We need to be educated by our apostle and not by theologies and philosophies. Once not only Christ's position as King of kings and Lord of lords, but also as Head over all authority of heaven and earth is understood and recognized through our apostle, their is no going back for our allegiance is to Christ and the Word of God that reveals Him as so. Our allegiance is not to theologians, scholars, and tradition that have for so long gotten it wrong. They get it wrong because they do not recognize and believe Pauline authority resulting in mixing, adding, and taking away from God's Words. Our allegiance is to Christ and Christ alone, however it is through the apostle Paul that reveals these issues and rightly divides them for us. Christ through Paul clearly and with clarity ;), give us a proper education on not only these issues, but the whole Bible.
I write about "Paul's Gospel" because it reveals Christ as not only the Head of the Body, but the Head over all authority in both heaven and earth, not just the earth. Christ revealed Himself in His fulness to Paul, therefore we must be educated by him ending in our education of Christ, the mystery of Christ that reveals Him in His highest position of exaltation. Paul clearly by Christ states these issues and clearly sorts them out. As we study Paul and are certified in his gospel of Christ, the mystery of Christ and the preaching of the Cross, we will not only know, have some understanding, and be educated, but will be able to be strong in them and come unto the unity of the faith. It is only then that we as the Body will be able to manifest the exceeding greatness of His power in accordance with His grace. We will have recovered ourselves from the snare of the devil, to become a vessel of honour unto God, fit for the Master's use. I do not talk about "Paul's Gospel" to in some way not give Christ His proper position, but to proclaim, recognize, and give glory to His proper position of exaltation. Those who think otherwise are unlearned, wresting the Scriptures and need to come unto the knowledge of the truth. Christ through Paul will educate you and rightly divide the Scriptures in order to get the proper understanding and power from of the Word of Truth. May we humbly come to our Father and believe His Word through all its reproving, correcting, and doctrine.
We will speak more on this issue next time.
Until next time....
In Him,
Joshua Strelecki
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